to the Castle for more powder and more combustible matter which being at last kindled with a loud voice he cryed Lord Jesus receive my spirit how long shall darknesse overwhelme this Realme and how long wilt thou suffer the tyranny of these men The fire was slow and therefore put him to the greater torment but that which most grieved him was the clamour of some wicked men set on by the Friars who continually cryed Turn thou Heretick call upon our Lady say Salve Regina c. To whom he answered Depart from me and trouble me not thou messenger of Satan And speaking to one Campbel a Friar that was the Ringleader who still roared on him with great vehemency he said to him Wicked man thou knowest the contrary and hast confessed the contrary to me I appeale thee before the Tribunal seat of Jesus Christ after which words he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1527. And within few dayes after the said Friar died in a phrensie and as one that despaired Anno 1534. The said Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews convented before him David Straton a Gentleman and Master Norman Gourlay The first of these having a Fisher-boat that went to sea the Bishop of Murray demanded tithe fish of him to whom he answered that if they would have tithe of that which his servants caught in the sea they should take it in the place where it was caught and so caused his servants to throw the tenth fish into the sea again All this while he had nothing in him for Religion But when hereupon he was summoned to answer for Herâ—sie it troubled him exceedingly and then he began to frequent the company of such as were godly and there appeared a wonderful change in him so that whereas before he despised the word of God now all his delight was in hearing of it read to him and he was a vehement exhorter of all men to peace and concord and contempt of the world He much frequented the company of the Laird of Dun Areskin whom God in those dayes had marvellously illuminated hearing the text read for he could not read himself He that denieth me before men or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked generation I will deny him before my Father and his holy Angels At those words being suddenly as one revived he fell upon his knees and stedfastly lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven at length he burst forth into these words O Lord I have been wicked and justly mayst thou withdraw thy grace from me but Lord for thy mercy sake let me never deny thee nor thy truth for fear of death or any corporal paine Being afterwards together with Master Norman brought to judgement in holy Rood-house the King himself being present much means was used to draw this David Straton to make a recantation but he persevered in his constancy still denying that he had offended and so they were both condemned to the fire and after dinner Anno 1534. they were both first hanged and afterwards burnt Not long after the burning of these two holy men There was one Deane Thomas Forret who used to preach every Lords day to his Parishoners out of the Epistles and Gospels as they fell in order This was counted a great novelty for none used to preach but the Friars and therefore they envying him accused him to the Bishop of Dunkelden for an Heretick and one that shewed the mysteries of Scripture to the vulgar people The Bishop instigated by the complaint of the Friars called the said Deane Thomas before him to whom he said My joy Deane Thomas I love you well and therefore I must give you counsel how to govern your self The Deane thanked him and then he proceeded My joy Deane Thomas I am informed that you preach the Epistle and Gospel every Sunday to your people and that you take not your dues from them which is very prejudicial to the Churchmen and therefore my joy Deane Thomas I would have you take your dues or else it s too much to preach every sunday for by so doing you make the people think that we should do so also It s enough for you when you find a good Epistle or Gospel to set forth and preach the liberty of holy Church and let the rest alone Thomas answered My Lord I presume none of my Parishoners complaine for my not taking my dues and whereas you say it s too much to preach every Sunday I think it is too little and wish that your Lordship would do the like Nay nay Deane Thomas said the Bishop let that be for we 〈◊〉 not ordained to preach Then said Thomas whereas you bid me preach when I meet with a good Epistle and Gospel I have read them all over and I know 〈◊〉 â—ad ones amongst them but when your Lordship shews me such I will passe by them Then said the Bishop I thank God I never knew what the Old and New Testament was and Deane Thomas I will know nothing but my Portuise and Pontifical Go your wayes and let all these fancies be for if you persevere herein you will repent you when t is too late I trust said Thomas my cause is good and just in the presence of God and therefore I care not what follows thereupon and so he went his way But shortly after he was summoned to appear before the Cardinal by whom he was condemned and burned for a chief Heretick and teacher of Heresies But notwithstanding all their bloody tyranny the knowledge of God did wonderfully encrease in that Kingdom partly by reading partly by brotherly conference which in those dangerous days was much used to the comfort of many which so enraged the Popish party that Anno 1538. there were burned in one fire foure persons of good quality The year after there were apprehended Jerome Russel a man of a meek and quiet naturâ— and Alexander Kennedy of about eighteen years old these two poor servants of Jesus Christ being brought before the Arch-bishop and his Associates to judgement Kennedy at first was faint and would faine have recanted but when all place of repentance was denied him the Spirit of God which seasonably comes in with comfort began to refresh him yea the inward comfort began to burst forth as well in his visage as in tongue and words for with a chearful countenance and joyful voice falling on his knees he said O eternal God how wonderful is that love and mercy that thou bearest unto mankind and to me a vile Caitiffe and miserable wretch above all others for even now when I would have denied thee and thy Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ my only Saviour and so have cast my self into everlasting damnation thou by thine own hand hast pulled me from the very bottome of Hell and made me to feele that heavenly comfort which takes from me that ungodly feare wherewith before
And if they did these things to the green tree what shall be done to the dry And behold the wonderfull wisdom of God herein who by these afflictions separates the sinne that hates from the son that he loves and keeps him by these thorns from breaking over into Satans pleasant pastures that would fat him indeed but to the slaughter In an Appendix to this Book I have added the Lives of sundry of our Modern Divines which I conceive not to be heterogeniall to the rest of the Work for though they were not Martyrs yet may they well be stiled Confessors in regard of the great Persecution and Sufferings which most of them met withall whilest they lived here And if any ask the reason why I have added no more It is because my intelligence comes in so slowely and if such as are able will take the pains to inform me I shall if God spares life adde more to the end of the next impression of my Lives of the Fathers and modern Divines I hope that these my weak and poor endeavours will not prove ungratefull nor be judged unseasonable considering the times wherein we live For if the same sins abound amongst us in these daies which have been the forerunners of persecutions formerly we have cause to fear the worst and to prepare for it Forewarnd forearmed The reading of this History will manifest what wonderfull constancy and patience the Saints have shewed in their greatest sufferings what hath been the power of Almighty God in their support and what miserable ends many of their Persecutors have come to My hearty desire is That by reading of this Book God may have the glory and thy soul the comfort and I shall be well appaied for my pains Who am Thine in the Lord SA CLARKE From my study in Thridneedle-street Octob. 10. 1659. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas Dugard A. M. Rector Barfordiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tho. Dugard To the Reverend the Author of the Book CALLED A Generall Martyrologie c. WHat yet more Books what spirit now inspires Your Pen to write of Torments Warres and Fires What Will that Pen that drew to th' Life before Change stile draw Death and speak of Life no more What blustering Boreas rais'd these stormy Windes Which blew down Churches shook the steddiest Mindes Sure Hell 's broke loose and Devils in the flesh Are come out thence to try their wits afresh Who ever heard Troy's story with his ears And could restrain his eies from shedding tears I quake to hear what Saints in former daies Ne're shook to feel so they might win the Baies They conquer'd all Their patient disposition O're came both Pope and Spanish Inquisition They conquer'd Kings and won the Crown at last Prest towards the Prize forgetting what was past The Story 's sad 't is true yet the Authors skill Hath made that pleasant which in 't self is ill Away long-winded Volumes Times disease This Author doth our phansies better please Large Books are endlesse but 't is his design T' enclose great Volumes in his single Line Eli. Awn To the Reverend Mr. Sa. Clarke ON HIS MARTYROLOGIE OH Welcome home Divine Drake welcome home First girdle of the World of Martyrdome Who seeks for more can no new thing descry Y' have left no room for new discovery These Maps and Charts you bring nay every letter Makes you the worlds great Patron it your Debtor To call 't a Map doth but a Part imply 'T is the whole Globe of Martyrologie Each Picture is a Map each Figure breaths A little hist'ry of the Martyrs deaths Pisgah's too farre to see the Holy-Land Stand here on Calvary and view 't at hand Let others brag at large whose fancy 't is To say A SAINT by a Periphrasis Who doth this Book of yours with theirs confer Findes Saint and Martyr in one Character Though some there be that differ from the rest In judgement and account short-writting best Those I am sure will praise you when they eye Your skill in Tachyhagiography Th' are many words make Volumes do but look And you shall see 't is matter makes a Book All Volumes of this Subject here are set As 't were contracted in an Alphabet In characters for brevity 't is good That Vowels be by Cons'nants understood The least is best if no essentiall be Wanting to make 't a perfect Entitie Man 's but the World Epitomiz'd but this Compendium of Saints and Martyrs is It s commendation is it self 't is best Though 't were without this my Probatum est J. C. A Table of the Names of all those Martyrs that are mentioned in this book A ABel Pag. 1 Aber 21 Achaz 22 Achilleus 36 J. Addis 385 Aegidio 257 Agathonica 39 Agapetus 48 Agatha 51 Agathon 52 Agnes 77 Agricol◠75 Aimeri 147 Alcibiades 44 Alexander 36 49 Algerius 270 Aloisius 271 Ammonarion 51 Andas 81 Anthimus 64 Andoclus 47 Andrew 29 G.J. Annick 303 Anthea 36 Apollonia 51 Apollonius 45 Areth 22 Arias 254 Arnald 263 Antemìus 83 Armand 422 Asclepiades 47 Asyrius 59 Athanasia 75 Athanasius 85 Attalus 41 A. Audebert 320 Austin 290 B BAbilas Pag. 49 J. Baker 261 Barbara 78 Barlaam 75 Bartholomew 75 301 Baudison 293 Isa. Beard 390 de Beck 317 Benjamin 81 Bergerius 322 M. Bertino 422 Bertrand 292 D. Berto 361 Betkin 305 Biblides 42 de Bile 193 Blandina 41 Blondel 320 J. de Boisons 268 B. Bor 340 J. de Boscane 301 F. de Bossu 350 Bovellus 271 A. du Bourg 328 F. Bribard 318 P. Bruly 289 S. Brunes 317 W. Burgate 261 W. Burges ib. N. Burton 260 C CAcalla 235 Calepodius 48 Ja. Calvin 338 Campbel 351 A. Canus 316 de Cadurco 316 G. Carpenter 283 Carpus 39 Jo. Castellane 316 Cecilia 47 Cheremon 51 P. Chapot 319 Charlin 135 Chober 195 J. Clarke 315 Claudius 317 321 N. Clivet
shalt suffer eternal torments though thou art above others yet he that made other men made thee also of the same nature for all are born and must die alike He that kils another sheweth that he himself may be killed thou tearest and tormentest thine own Image all in vain In thy fury thou killest him whom God created like thy self c. thou pullest out our tongues tearest our bodies with flesh-hooks and consumest us with fire but they that have already suffered have received everlasting joyes and everlasting punishments attend thee Think not that I expect any favour I will follow my brethren and remain constant in keeping Gods Law The Tyrant herewith inraged caused him to be tormented but his mother comforted him and with her kind hands held his head when through violence of the torturers the blood issued out of his mouth nose and privy parts the tormentors not ceasing till his life was almost spent but then giving over God gave him strength to recover and to endure more then any of his brethren had done At last his hands and arms being cut off with his eyes lift up to heaven he cryed O Adonai be mercifull unto me and receive me into the company of my brethren c. Then was his tongue pulled out and he of his own accord going into the fiery frying pan to the great admirarion of Antiochus died The mother seeing all her Children dead was inflamed with a holy zeal to suffer Martyrdom also and despising the Tyrants threats she offered her motherly brest to those torments which her Children had suffered before her Indeed herein she excelled them all in that she had suffered seven painfull deaths before she came to suffer in her own person and feared in every one of them lest she should have been overcome She alone with dry eyes did look upon them whilst they were torn in pieces yea she exhorted them thereunto rejoycing to see one torn with flesh-hooks another racked upon the wheel a third bound and beaten a fourth burned and yet she exhorted the rest not to be terrified thereby and though her grief in beholding their torments was greater then that which she had in child-birth yet did she frame a chearfull countenance as if it had been one triumphing wishing rather the torments of their bodies then of their souls for she knew that nothing was more frail then our lives which are often taken away by Agues Fluxes and a thousand other ways Therefore when they were first apprehended she thus exhorted them in the Hebrew tongue O my most dear and loving Children let us hasten to that Agony which may credit our profession and be rewarded by God with eternal life Let us fearlesly present our bodies to those torments which aged Eleazer endured Let us call to mind our father Abraham who having but one only son willingly sacrificed him at Gods command and feared not to bring him to the Altar whom with many prayers he had obtained in his old age Remember Daniel the three Children c. Antiochus being enraged against her caused her to be stripped naked hanged up by the hands and cruelly whipt then were her dugs and paps pulled off and her self put into the red hot frying pan where lifting up her eyes and hands to heaven in the midst of her prayers she yielded up her chast soul unto God But God suffered not the cruel Tyrant to escape unpunished for in his wars against the Persians the Lord struck him with madness his intrals were devoured with worms and stinking like a Carrion in the extremity of his torments he gave up the ghost Concerning this Antiochus Daniel chap. 8.9 10. c. saw in the vision that there came forth a little horn which waxed exceeding great towards the south and towards the East and towards the pleasant Land and it waxeth great even towards the host of heaven and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them Yea he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away and the place of the Sanctuary was cast down And an host was given him against the daily Sacrifice by reason of transgression and it cast down the truth to the ground and it practised and prospered Which afterwards is thus interpreted by the Angel unto Daniel verse 23. c. In the latter time of their Kingdom when the Transgressors are come to the full a King of fiery countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up and his power shall be mighty but not by his own power and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practise and shall destroy the mighty and holy people And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand and he shall magnifie himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many He shall also stand up against the Prince of Princes but he shall he broken without hand Collected out of Josephus and the Books of the Maccabees Here place the first Figure CHAP. VI. The Persecution of the Church from Christs time to our present Age and first of those mentioned in the New Testament HErod the great hearing by the wise men of one that was born King of the Jews and being informed by the chief Priests and the Scribes that the place of his birth should be Bethlehem of Judah he sent forth souldiers and slew all the Children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under hoping thereby to have destroyed Christ for which cruel fact the Lord gave him over to such a spirit of phrensie that he slew his own wife his Children and nearest kins-folks and familiar friends And shortly after Gods heavy Judgement fell upon him by a grievous sickness which was a slow and slack fire in his inward parts and withal he had a greedy appetite after food and yet nothing sufficed him he had also a rotting in his Bowels and a greivous flux in his fundament a moist and running humour about his feet and the like malady vexed him about his bladder his privy members putrified engendring abundance of worms which continually swarmed out He had a short and stinking breath with a great pain in breathing and through all the parts of his body such a violent cramp as humane strength was not able to endure Yet longing after life he sent for Physitians from all parts by whose advice he went to the hot bathes of Calliroe but finding no ease thereby his torments still encreasing he sought to lay violent hands upon himself if he had not been prevented by his friends and so in extream misery he ended his wretched life Then Herod the less having married the daughter of Aretas King of Arabia put her away and took Herodias who had forsaken her husband Philip brother to Herod for which incestuous and adulterous marriage John Baptist
most of the Ministers were turned out of their places so that they durst not preach nor pray but in private And a certaine Noble man having apprehended six of the Brethren cast them into prison and when they were brought forth to be burnt they went chearfully to the fire and when the chief officer taking affection to one of them offered him his life if he would recant his error profering him withall to give him a years time to consider of it he pawsed a while but by and by answered It is too much by such a delay to lose my Brethrens company and so going along with them they were burned together Shortly after the Chancellor that had procured the passing of the Edict against the Brethren as he returned from the Parliament visiting a certaine Noble man by the way he with great pleasure reported to him what was agreed upon against the brethren The Noble man having a servant by that was much edicted to the discipline of the Brethren asked him how he liked it the servant answered that all were not agreed The Chancellor suspecting some new conspiracy asked him who durst oppose the States of the Kingdom c the servant said In heaven there is one who if he were not present at your counsels you have consulted in vain The Chancellor replied Thou knave thou shalt finde that as well as the rest And rising up in fury immediately a Carbuncle rose upon his foot which turned to a disease called Ignis sacer whereof he died miserably Another of the great sticklers in this businesse returning homewards as he was a lighting out of his Chariot to make water he struck his member on a sharp nail that was in the boot whereby he drew out his entrails with him and not long after he gave up the ghost Also D· Augustine who by slanderous libels had endeavoured to stirre up the King against the Brethren died suddenly as he was at supper Another Noble man of these persecutors as he was hunting his horse threw him and his arrow ran into his thigh and came out at his loins whereby he died a most paineful death Many others of them felt the like judgements of God so that it grew into a proverbe amongst them If you be weary of your life attempt something against the Piccards and you shall not escape a year to an end About this time God stirred up in Germany undaunted Luther the thunderbolt against the Pope which occasioned many of the Calixtines to resolve to embrace the purer Doctrine of the Gospel and to seek for the Ordination of their Ministers from Wittenberg rather then from Rome But amongst these there was one Zahere an Apostate who to ingratiate himselfe with the King and Pope would enforce the Pastors and Citizens of Prague to subscribe to sundry Articles or else they must be proscribed And first of all six Pastors were banished then sixty five of the chiefest Citizens Then to colour greater cruelty a rumour was spread abroad of a conspiracy made by the Brethren against the Calixtines and to extort a confession hereof three Citizens were brought to the rack who rather chose to suffer all torments then falsly to accuse the innocent Yet divers were persecuted Amongst others a Cutler that had found an Orthodox Book about the Sacraments was whipped openly in the market-place and banished Another was branded in the forehead a third was thrust into prison and there murthered Then in the Assembly of Estates it was decreed that the Mandate of the King should be put in execution against the Piccards Whereupon a new persecution was raised against the Brethren their Churches being shut up and their Exercises forbidden Anno 1526. A godly and learned man together with his Hostesse with whom he lodged a widow of sixty years old were both burnt in the fire for Picardism together with the books that were found about them Another godly woman being brought before the Magistrate made a hold profession of her faith and then being required to prepare her garments to be burnt in she answered They are ready leade me away when you please The Crier declaring openly that she had blaâ—phâ—med she with a loud voice denied it saying It is false I am condemned because I deny the Reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament give no credit to these Priests they are dissembling Hypâ—crites Adulterers Sodomites Epicures c. Being commanded to pray to the Crucifix she turned her back to it and lifting up her eyes to heaven she said There is our God thither we must look and so chearfully mounting the pile she was burned Anno Christi 1527. The year after two German tradesmen were caught at Prague accused by the Monks of Lutheranism and condemned to be burnt As they went to execution such gracious words proceeded out of their mouths as drew tears from the spectators eyes When they came to the pile they exceedingly encouraged one another onâ— of them saying Since our Lord Christ hath suffered such grievous things for us let us chearfully suffer for him and rejoyce that we have found so much favour with him that we are counted worthy to die for the Law of God The other said I in the day of my marriage found not so much inward joy as I do now When fire was put to them with a loud voice they said Lord Jesus thou in thy sufferings prayedst for thine enemies therefore we also do the like Forgive the King the men of Prague and the Clergy for they know not what they do and their hands are full of bloud and so they slept in the Lord. But one of their chief persecutors who wished that all the Piccards were hanged beheaded or burnt by his own hands had all these befall himself by Gods just judgement For being much in debt he hanged himself and when his friends had privately buried him the common people hearing of it digged up his carcasse and cast it away which by the Magistrates command was ordered to be burnt but when the woodstack was consumed and the carcasse only scorched his head was stricken off Zahera the Apostate when under colour of an Inquisition against the Piccards he raised up civil commotions was by the King banished where he died miserably The like befell another of those cruel persecutors Anno 1535. Ferdinand the first succeeding in the Kingdom the Popish party cunningly stirred up the Calixtines to persecute the Brethren Whereupon they suffering many grievous things sent a petition together with a confession of their Faith to Ferdinand at Vienna subscribed by twelve Barons and thirty three Knights complaining how unjustly they were accused by their enemies and that the Priests ordinarily cried out that the Piccards might be slain without controul and that a lesse sin was thereby committed than if one killed a dog Ferdinand returned answer that he had not leisure to consider of their Papers yet promised
condemned to be burnt but he told his Judges that his time was not yet come and so it fell out for shortly after he was removed to Ferrara where he continued in prison two years Then was he again condemned by the Popes Inquisitors and yet his time being not come he remained a good while after in prison in which time many godly people came to visit him which caused the Pope to commâ—â—d him to be kept more strictly Then was he kept close Prisoner for eighteen moneths wherein he endured many and great torments After this he was brought into another prison where were many Nobles great Lords and Captains for stirring up sedition who when they first heard him speak set him at naught and derided him and some of the gravest of them supposing it to be but a melancholy humour exhorted him to leave his opinion c. Faninus gave them thanks for their friendly good will but withal modestly and plainly he declared to them that the doctrine which he professed was no humour nor opinion of mans braine but the pure truth of God held forth in his Word which truth he was fully resolved never to deny c. With which instructions they were through the mercy of God clean altered in their carriage and judgement highly admiring and honouring him now whom a little before they derided and contemned Then did he proceed still to impart the Word of grace to them declaring that though he knew himself to be a miserable sinner yet through faith in Jesus Christ and his grace he was fully perswaded that his sins were forgiven assuring them likewise that if they did repent and believe on our Lord Jesus Christ they also should have their sinnes remitted unto them There were in that prison also some that having formerly lived very delicately could not now endure the hardship of prison to whom he administred much comfort in this their distresse insomuch as they rejoyced in â—hese their sufferings by which they had learned a better kind of liberty than ever they had before His Kinsfolk hearing of his imprisonment his wife and sister came to him pitifully weeping and intreating him to consider and remember his poor family c. To whom he answered that his Lord and Master had commanded him not to deny his truth for his families sake and that it was too much that once for their sakes he had fallen into that Cowardise which they knew of Therefore he desired them to leave him and not to solicit him any further in that kind for he knew that his end now drew near and so he commended them to the Lord. Presently after the Pope sent a command that Faninus should be executed whereof when an officer brought him word he much rejoyced at it thanking the Messenger Then did he begin to make a long exhortation to his fellow-prisoners about the felicity of the life to come He had life proffered him if he would recant and he was put in mind what a sad condition he would leave his wife and children in whereupon he answered that he had committed them to an Overseer that would sufficiently care for them and being asked who that was he answered Even the Lord Jesus Christ a faithful Keeper of all that are committed to him the next day he was removed into the common Prison and delivered to the secular Magistrate In all his words gestures and countenance he shewed such modesty constancy and tranquillity of mind that they which before extreamly hated him and thought that he had a devil began now favourably to hearken to him and to commend him yea with such grace and sweetnesse he spake of the Word of God that many of the Magistrates wives which heard him could not abstain from weeping yea the Executioner himself wept As he was going to execution one that saw him so merry and chearful asked him what was the reason of it whereas Christ before his death sweat blood and water To whom he answered that Christ sustained all the sorrows and conflicts with hell and death that were due to us that by his sufferings we might be freed from the sorrow and fear of them all At the place of execution after he had made his most earnest prayers to the Lord he meekly and patiently went to the stake where he was first strangled and afterwards burned And during the time of his burning there came a most fragrant and oderiferous smell to the Spectators the sweetnesse whereof did so delight and refresh their senses as his words would have done if they had heard him speak There was also one Dominicus sometimes a souldier under Charles the fifth in Germany where he received the first taste of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after which by his confâ—rence with learned men he much increased in knowledge insomuch as he was able to instruct others whereupon he returned into Italy and in the City of Naples he taught the Word of God to many Anno 1550. From thence he went to Placentia where he instructed the People also in many of the fundamentals of Religion promising that he would next speak to them of Antichrist whom he would paint out in his colours but when he came the next day he was apprehended by the Magistrate whom he readily obeyed saying that he wondered the devil had let him alone so long and being asked whether he would renounce his doctrine he answered that he maintained no doctrine of his own but the doctrine of Christ which also he was ready to seal with his blood giving hearty thanks to God for accounting him worthy to suffer for his name Then was he committed to a filthy and stinking prison where he remained some moneths and was often solicited to revoke his opinions or else he must suffer death but through Gods mercy nothing could remove him from his constancy being therefore condemned to death he was brought forth into the market-place where he most heartily prayed for his enemies instructed the People and then was hanged resting in peace in the Lord. In Saint Angelo there was an house of Augustine Friars to whom there often resorted a Friar from the City of Pavia who was a man very expert in the Scriptures and of godly conversation by whose labours not only divers of the Friars but other Townsmen were brought to the knowledge and love of Gods Word and amongst the rest one Galeacius Trecius a Gentleman of good quality very wealthy and bountiful to the poor was wrought upon to embrace the truth and was afterward much confirmed and strengthened by Caelius Secundus who being persecuted from Pavia came to this place After some time Galeacius having much profited in knowledge was inflamed with a godly zeal to promote and propagate the knowledge of the truth unto others But a light shining in such darknesse could not be long hid Insomuch as Anno 1551. he was apprehended and carried before the Bishop
a young Gentleman named John Poltrot who watching his opportunity shot him with his pistol laden with three bullets whereof he shortly after died and Poltrot declared at his death that he did it to deliver France and especially the City of Orleance from the violence of the Duke of Guise After whose death peace was shortly after concluded between the Queen-mother and the Protestants But before this peace took place those of the Religion suffered much in sundry parts of the Realm In Paris they were persecuted cruelly the Popish people being wholly set upon blood and the Parliament there sparing neither great nor small that fell into their hands either of that City or such as were brought thither upon appeal or summons At Senlis many godly Christians suffered much some were beheaded some murthered in a popular tumult some were whipt some imprisoned some fined and others sent to the Gallies not sparing the simple women Yet through Gods mercy some escaped amongst whom was one Iohn Gardens and his Wife who living with his Wife and child in the fileds at length determined to go back into the City casting themselves upon Gods providence but when they came into the suburbs they met some who bade the souldiers to put them to the sword The woman kneeling down begged of the souldiers that if they must needs dye they would kill her child first saying that so she should die with the more comfort which speech of hers so wrought upon the souldiers that they spared all their lives In Chaalons there was a godly Minister called Fournier apprehended and spoiled of all that he had They stripped him also of his apparel instead whereof they put on him a thredbare cloak and so carried him away in a Cart by reason of an hurt that he had gotten in one of his feet by the way they did nothing but jeere and scoffe at him and every moment he was in danger of his life the rude people also had almost pulled him in pieces but it pleased God that he was preserved by those which had designed him to death When he came to Munchon he was cast into prison and after a while there came a Captain to him with many souldiers who mixing mocks and threatnings together sware that within three houres he should be hewen in pieces After them came in some of the Judges commanding the Jailor to load him with irons saying to him You are no better I am sure then Saint Peter whom they laid in irons but if you have as much faith as he God will then deliver you as he did him by sending an Angel to you I will not said Fournier compare my self with Saint Peter yet it is not twelve years ago since for preaching the same doctrine that Peter did I was imprisoned at Tholouse and there was admirably delivered And though Peter was delivered out of prison yet in the end he glorified God by his death and if I should be counted worthy with him to suffer for the truth may it not be said that I have the like precious Faith with Saint Peter When they were gone the Jailor forbore putting bolts upon him because of his sore legg yet did he put him into a straiter prison Afterwars the Duke of Guise being made Governour in that place he was put to the torture where first they strained his thumbs so hard with a small cord that blood came forth Then turning his armes behind his back they hoisted him up with a rope put between his thumbs twitching him up and letting him down five or six times they tied also great stones to both his great toes and let him hang till his spirits failed then they let him fall with such violence upon his face that he was grievously hurt thereby Then was he thrown into prison and they would not suffer him to have a Chirurgion to cure him of the gashes which the cords had made in his flesh even to the bare bones so that his torment and anguish was very great neither could he lift his hands to his mouth which he was likely to lose the use of But it so fell out by Gods Providence that after he was condemned news coming of the Duke of Guise his death his enemies began to tremble and some of his Judges coming to him in prison asked him if he did not bear them ill will He answered that men of his Profession and Religion ought not to bear malice to any being enjoyned by God to love and pray for those that persecuted them Shewing also that whatsoever troubles had befallen him were none other but such as God had fore-ordained for the setting forth of his own glory for which he esteemed himself most happy yet he warned them to lay to heart the wrong that they had done him lest the vengeance of God did sooner or later overtake them for it The next day Bussi one of his persecutors having received letters from the Constable of France to release him swore that he should be delivered indeed but into the hands of the multitude But it pleased God that just at that time there came by the Prince of Portion with his Germane Souldiers which were for the Protestants who sent word that they would not leave so much as a house standing except they would deliver Fournier This so affrighted his enemies that they released him out of prison protected him from the violence of the multitude and conveyed him in safety to the Prince There he was kindly welcomed and entertained all grieving for the miseries which he had endured and two dayes after he preached before the Prince and his followers and the day after at the instant request of the Protestants of Vitri he went to them to preach and baptize their children and shortly after was called to Ver where he gathered a Congregation and spent some time amongst them with wonderful fruit but by reason he was so extreamly weakned by his strait imprisonment and tortures being above fifty years old he soon after finished his course and quietly resigned up his soul unto God At Amiens all Bibles New Testaments and Psalm-books were sought for and openly burnt as also the Ministers Pulpit Then did the Guisians proceed to killing of the Christians and casting them into the River some they shot to death and others they hanged At Abbevilli they slew the Lord of Haucourt with divers others one Beliart they dragged along the streets with his face downwards and then drowned him in the river At Meaux the Protestants were the stronger Party and therefore continued the free exercise of their Religion for a while but the Parliament of Paris gave judgment against them and exposed them to the spoil of such as would undertake it Then a company of Souldiers entring the Town disarmed the Citizens and slew about foure hundred of the Religion Then Mounsieur de Boisy entring with more Souldiers committed a
of sheding the blood of that notable Instrument of God Master George Wisheart who though he was consumed by the fire before men yet cries it for vengeance upon thee and we from God are sent to revenge it for here before my God I protest that neither the hatred of thy person the love of thy riches nor the feare of any hurt thou couldst have done me moveth me to strike thee but onely because thou hast been and still remainest an obstinate enemie against Jesus Christ and his holy Gospel and so he thrust him through the body who falling down spake never a word but I am a Priest I am a Priest Fie Fie all is gone The death of this Tyrant was grievous to the Queen Mother with whom he had two much familiarity as with many other women as also to the Romanists though the people of God were freed from their fears in a great measure thereby Anno 1550. There was one Adam Wallace a man that had no great learning but was zealous in Godlinesse and of an upright life him the Bishop of Saint Andrews caused to be apprehended and carried to Edenburgh where after a while he was brought to judgement before Duke Hamilton Huntly and divers others The Bishops and their instruments accused him First that he took upon him to preach to which he answered that he never judged himself worthy of so excellent a Vocation and therefore never took on him to preach yet he denyed not that in private places he used to read the Word and out of it to exhort such as were willing to hear him Knave quoth one What have you to do to meddle with the Scriptures I think said he it s every ones duty to labour to know the will of God and to get assurance of his salvation which is to be found in the Old and New Testament What then said another shall we leave to the Church-men to do To whom he answered their work is publickly to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to feed the flock which he hath redeemed with his own blood as all true Pastors are commanded to do c. The Bishops being angry hereat caused his charge further to be read as that he denyed Purgatory praying to Saints and for the dead c. To which he answered that he had oft read over the Bible and yet found no mention of Purgatory nor command to pray to the Saints or for the dead Therefore I believe said he they are but meer inventions of men devised for covetousnesse sake Then did they ask him what he thought of the Masse He answered I say as my Lord Jesus Christ said That which is greatly esteemed before men is abomination before God Then cryed they all out Heresie Heresie and so and so adjudged him to the fire which he patiently underwent the same day upon the Castle-hill Anno 1553. Henry Forrest was accused of Heresie but when they brought him to trial nothing could be proved against him whereupon they sent him to Friar Langius to be confessed The Friar amongst other questions asked him what he thought of Patrick Hamilton who had been formerly burned for Religion He answered that he was a good man and that his Articles were to be maintained This wicked Friar discovered his Confession which was taken as a sufficient proof against the poor man who thereupon was condemned to be burnt As he went to the place of execution he complained of the Friar who had betrayed him saying Let no man trust the false Friars after me They are despisers of God and deceivers of men and so in the flames he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno 1558. Andrew Oliphant accused one Walter Mill formerly a Priest who being at Prayer Oliphant said to him Rise up Sir VValter But when he had ended his prayers he said My name is VValter I have been too long one of the Popes Knights Then said Oliphant Thou keepest my Lords too long here therefore make an end He answered I must obey God rather than men When he was brought forth to judgement they asked him concerning Priests marriage he answered It is Gods Ordinance that they which cannot abstain should marry But you abhor it vowing chastity which you cannot keep but take other mens wives and daughters Then they asked him if there were not seven Sacraments he answered Give me two and take you the rest after other questions they asked him if he would recant He answered I am corn and not chaffe I will not recant the truth Then they commanded him to go to the stake but he said By the law of God I am forbidden to lay hands on my own self therefore do you put me into the fire and you shall see my resolution Having made his Prayer to God he said to the people Although I have been a great sinner yet it is not for that but for Gods truth contained in his VVord of the Old and New Testament that I now suffer and God out of his abundant mercy doth honour me so farre as to make me amongst other of his servants seale his truth with my blood Dear friends as you would escape eternal death be no more seduced with lyes of Archbishop Bishops Abbots Priors c. but only trust in God and so he quietly slept in the Lord and was the last man that died for Religion in Scotland Collected out of the History of the Reformation in Scotland CHAP. XL. The Persecution of the Church in Ireland Anno Christi 1642. THough the barbarous cruelty used by the Irish against the English go usually under the name of Rebellion yet I rather look upon it as and chuse to call it a persecution because their cruelties were exercised upon Protestants only so farre as ever I could hear neither were the English Papists murthered yea they joyned with the Irish in murthering of their brethren Besides the Jesuites Priests and Friars were the chief instigators to these murthers stirring up continually all sorts both of the Gentry and Communalty to shew the utmost of their zeal therein and when their designe was so surely laid that they thought it impossible to be prevented they did in their publick devotions recommend by their Prayers the good successe of a great designe tending much to the advancement of the Catholick cause and that they might stir up the people with the greater animosity and cruelty to put it in execution they everywhere declaimed loudly against the Protestants saying That they were Hereticks not to be suffered any longer to live amongst them that it was no more sin to kill one of them than to kill a dog and that it was a mortal and unpardonable sin to relieve or protect any of them They also with much acrimony represented the severe courses taken by the Parliament of England to suppresse the Romish Religion and utterly to extirpate the Professors of it They told
Providence His delivery His death At Amiens Bibles burnt At Abbevilly At Meaux Abominable villanies At Troys Bibles burnt At Bar. Popish cruelty At Crant At Sens. At Auxerre At Nevers At Chastillon At Guyen At Montargis A brave answer of the Lady Rene. At Monlius At Mans. At Anger 's Bibles burnt Horrible blasphemies Popish perfidiousnesse A bloody Edict In Ligueul John de Tour. At Tours Barbarous cruelties Popish subtilty The Mother and her daughter drowned Glee Vincit veritâ—â— Joy in tribulation Tentation resisted Faith Her Martyrdome Ponteou de Mer Impudence Marliorat hanged At Valougnes Monsieur Valougnes Popish profaneness and blasphemy At Vire At Agen. At Reime At Blâ—is Blasphemy A miracle In Guillac Horrid cruelties Peter Domo Popish perfidiousnesse In Souraize Prodigious villanies Blasphemy Faith and patience Faith A special Providence Peter Roch buried quick Two crowned with thorns Janetta Calvin At Mont de Marson In Tholouse Horrible cruelties Popish perfidiousness Carcasson Popish lies At Limox Abominable villany At Nonnay Blasphemy Barbarous cruelties At Foix. At Aurange Horrible cruelties Perfidiousness At Grenoble At Cisterno At Beaune At Mascon Bonnet Bor a godly Minister Barbarous cruelty Courage and constancy His martyrdome See this more fully in the life of the Admiral at the end of this book Divellish dissimulation Sin the forerunner of persecution The Queen of Navar dieth Dissimulation The K. of Navar married The Admiral shot Dissimulation Good counsel neglected Deep dissimulation The Massacre suspected The Kings Commission shewed for it The Massacre begins Of Merlins miraculous escape see in my book of Examples The Admiral slain His head imbalmed and sent to the Pope Popish cruelty Ten thousand slain in Paris Popish lies The river died red with blood Prince of Conde's zeal and courage Divellish dissimulation Above thirty thousand massacred in three moneths The Lord de la Place hâ—s holy zeal The Lord de la Place murthered Peter Ramus murthered A dutiful and loving son Two Ministers murthered Hellish cruelty An Infant murthered At Meaux Two hundred Protestants murthered At Troys Gods Providence Prodigious wickednesse and cruelty Courage and constancy of Gods people The Massacre at Orleance A Noble Counsellor Monstrous ingratitude Blasphemy A Doctor of the Law An Apothecary A Cook The reward of Apostates The patience of the Saints Gods providence Popish malice and cruelty Three hundred and fifty murthered Francis de Bossu and his two sons The father encourageth his sons to die Prodigious cruelty Their grease is sold. The murtherers absolved At Angiers Hypocrisie A Minister murthered A godly Minister pistolled And his wife murthered At Roan six thousand murthered At Tholouse Popish subtilty And cruelty Three hundred murthered At Bourdeaux A special Providence A bloody Jesuite The Lord of Obiers murthered and a Minister An holy speech Gods providence Gods care of his people A special Providence A terrible Famine Two executed for eating part of their own daughter A remarkable story A wicked oath An admirable Providence Gods judgement on a bloody Persecutor A famine An extraordinary Providence Rochel delivered Gods judgements on Persecutors Gods judgement on the Duke of Aâ—jou see in my book of Examples The Kings sicknesse and death Anger implacable Rochel besieged Anno 1628 A terible famine Margaret Pierrone Tentation She chooses to be burnt rather than to burne her Bible Popish treachery Cruelty A Noble Gentleman murthered Christ preferred before all Protestants murthered at Church At Sondres Popish treachery A special Providence A noble Lady Courage and constancy Faith A special Providence Horrible cruelties Dominico Berto Barbarous cruelty A special providence Theophilus Messino Constancy Tentation resisted Prodigious cruelties A noble Virgin An excellent speech A wicked Edict Popish perfidiousnesse Courage and constancy Patrick Hamilton Zeale Popish subtilty His condemnation Constancy His Martyrdome Gods judgement on a persecutor David Straton Norman Gourlay Stratons conversion His prayer Tentation resisted Thomas Forret Grosse ignorance His martyrdom Jerome Russel Alexander Kennedy Humane infirmity Joy in tribulation Their condemnation and martyrdome Popish cruelty John Rogers His Character His charity A special providence Popisâ— malice A Prophesie He goeth into the West He is opposed by the Bishop The power of the Word His Prohesie accomplished His second coming to Dundee Charity He is in danger of being murthered Gods Providence He preserves the murtherer He goes to Montrosse Meditation Popish malice A Prophesie His fervent Prayer in the night A Prophesie He comes to Leith Faith and Courage Hiâ— departvre from Leith Popish malice A Prophesie He goes to Haddington John Knox See his liâ—e in my first part A Prophesie His apprehension by Bothwell Bothwels promise He is carried to Edenburgh Bothwel falsifies his promise He is carried to St. Andrews His accusation His patience His Prayer Popish subtilty He administreth the Sacrament The Cardinals feare His Prayer at death His exhortation to the People He prayes for his Persecutors A Prophesie The Cardinals pride and carnal confidence The Castle surprized Popish uncleannesse The Cardinal slain Adam Wallace His accusation The Ministers work His Martyrdome Henry Forrest Popish perfidiousnesse His Martyrdome Walter Mill. Popish uncleanness His speech at death His Martyrdome Popish malice Popish lyes The malice against the English Popish malice and cruelty Popish perfidiousnesse Prodigious cruelties Many starved and stripâ— Horrible murthers Popish perfidiousness An Irish Monster Multitudes drowned Popish treachery A just reward Prodigious cruelties They deny them liberty to pray Some buried alive Some were hung upon tenter-hooks Blasphemy Many had their bellies ript Children had their brains dashed out Many burned Some perish by famine Unnatural cruelties Children kill English children Some boiled in Cauldrons Some had their eyes pulled out Prodigious cruelties Bibles burnt Blasphemies Aposttaes murthered Constancy and Courage Gods judgements on Persecutors Popish perfidousnesse Many knocked on the head A boy murthered by his Master Berbarous cruelty and impudence Many drowned They made candles of their grease Prodigious cruelties Popish uncleannesse Their cruelty to the cattel Henry Cowel Constancy Robert Ecklin A childs constancy Childrens beastly cruelty Popish uncleannesse Monstrous câ—ueâ—ty to a boy Many burnt One hundred and fifty thousand murtheâ—red in Ulster Gods judgements on persecutors Boys and women murderers Souldiers hanged Constancy Popish perfidiousnesse Gods judgements on Persecutors Some worried with dogs The Munster Remonstrance Gods judgements on Persecutors Apparitions at Portendown Bâ—idge A Miracle An Edict in favour of the Protestants A cruel Edict The Elector Palatine intercedes for them They are cruelâ—y dealt with Gods Providence for them King of France intercede for them Popish malice Gods mercy The Duke favours them Satans malicâ— Popish subtilty prevented Courage and Constancy They are favoured but again molested They are encouraged Their prudence Satans policy Dissembling Hypocrites They are confuted Popish policy Persecution renewed Gods Providence Gods mercy The massacre of Paris A special providence The Dukes letter to draw them to Popery Their answer A cruel Edict Popish subtâ—â—ty Courage and constancy They are banished Popish subtilty They are forced to flie They are forced to flie Popish subtilty Popish subtilty Humane frailty Repentance Reason why they persecuted the Protestants A bloody Order Popish cruelty They go into banishment Constancy Popish cruelty Popish dissimulation Popish injustice Popish subtilty Popish cruelty The Protestants defend themselves Popish subtilty Barbarous cruelty Women tipt up Base cruelty Horrid cruelty Courage and Constancy Popish subtilty and perfidiousnesse A special Providence Gods Judgements on persecutors Many Irish slaine A special Providence His Charactea A special Providence