through Germany with such successe of many victories as he could haue wished yet was notable by any meanes to conquer subdue the Gospell in Germany That in Fraunce six Kings continually succeeding one another and employing all their forces and vsing many and diuers meanes and practises for it yet haue not beene able to effect the suppression of the reformed Churches in Fraunce That Philip the second the greatest King that hath beene of Spaine hath wasted all the treasure which he had gathered in the East and in the West for the rooting out of Religion partly in Fraunce and partly in England and chiefely in the Low countries and that with no other euent and successe but that these huge masses of treasure being exhausted and lost and his Kingdome being cast into many great straits and difficulties of debt before his death full sore against his will he heard this message deliuered to him that the reformed Churches in France England and the Low-countriâ—s did prosper and flourish as they had done in any former time Which things being so worthily doe we all extoll and magnifie this most gracious goodnes and mercy of our God who in goodnes add power excelleth all whereby when we were drowned in the midst of a sea of errors and darkenesse in Popery hath illuminated and enlightned vs with the most clear goodly light of the knowledge of himselfe and of his Gospell For if in the old Testament the godly so often celebrated and praised with songs the redemption of the people of Israel out of Egypt and from their enemies of Madian surely we haue far greater cause why wee should magnifie with all praise and honour our maruellous deliuerances from the Idolatry of Anti-christ Moreouer this historicall commemoration and rehearsall of the admirable wonderfull worke which we haue heard to haue beene performed by God in his Church ought to giue encouragement to all the faithfull with greater alacritie and chearfulnesse and with greater strength and constancy to keepe and retaine the truth which they haue once acknowledged which being grounded and founded stedfastly and securely in the holy Scripture hath beene againe and newly confirmed in these last hundred yeares by so singular and excellent miracles And this we ought the rather to doe because wee knowe that our Sauiour Iesus doth still liue and wee are certainly perswaded that as he hath done hitherto so likewise alwayes hereafter hee will gather gouerne and preserue his Church Now let vs also remember that it is our part and dutie to worship and honour this Iesus our Sauiour with our mouth with our hearts and with all our strength For he it is as the Angell expresly testifieth which will saue and preserue his people Of which people they onely are to bee accompted who doe not walke nor liue according to the flesh but according to the Spirit whereof who seeth not this to follow That he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and that he who is none of Christs cannot in any sort enioy the comfort of this name of a Sauiour Let vs then embrace our most faithfull Sauiour let vs loue him let vs feare him and let vs honour him So without all doubt we shall prooue by experience that he wil renew againe hereafter vnto vs his auncient fauour and will most mightely protect vs his Christian Church by his patronage and defence from all our enemies both of soule and body For this saith Amen that is that true and faithfull witnesse the gates of hell shall not preuaile against my Church To this mighty and great Sauiour be thankes honour and glory for all the comfort helpe and benefits hitherto bestowed vpon vs both now and in all ages for euer and euer Amen THE PRAYER MOst Gracious God and mercifull father we giue thee thankes for all thy benefits wherewith hitherto thou hast largely and bountefully blessed vs. O Lord my God thy thoughts are great and thy workes admirable and wonderfull which thou settest before vs to behold and consider Nothing can nor ought to be compared vnto thee I will declare thy workes and speake of them although they exceed all account and number Wee acknowledge it to proceede from thy grace and fauour that in all places thou hast miraculously gathered a people that is pleasing and acceptable vnto thee that thou hast wisely gouerned and mightily preserued the same Especially wee praise thee that it hath pleased thee to call vs in these countries to the Communion of thy Sonne Iesus Christ and that this day thou hast graunted thy grace to vs sitting by the cratch of thy new borne Sonne to heare how sweetâ—ly the Angels sung their heauâ—nly hymne and song and how ioyfully they greeted and congratulated vs for the exceeding great benefit of thy Sonne sent to take our flesh and nature vpon him And not onely to heare this but moreouer also to see how the shepheards did adore him Simeon and Anna blessed him the wise men that came to him from the East did honour him with gold myrrh and frankincense Blessed bee thy holy name for euermore for these and all other benefits which thou doest bestow vpon vp and wherwith thou doest adorne vs. Gracious God and mercifull Father we beseech thee also for the time to come to shew forth thy maruellous workes amongst vs and alwayes to gather a Church to thy selfe amongst vs and graciously to preserue this which thou hast already gathered that the number of them may daily encrease who may truly acknowledge thee and thy Sonne Iesus Christ and may celebrate and magnifie thee both in this life and also in that which is to come for euermore Furthermore with earnest prayers wee beseech thee as thou hast done hitherto so likewise hereafter graciously and mercifully to turne away from vs the fury of warre the scarcitie and dearth of victuals and the plague of pestilence and whatsoeuer besides may bee hurtfull to our countries Driue away also farre from vs the most sauage crueltie of the Pope and of his adhaerents hinder and restraine his counsels that they take not effect Contrariwise we bâ—seech thee to grace and adorne with all maner of blessings the Emperours Maiesty the Royall dignitie of the King of great Britaine as also all other Christian Kings the Electors of the Empire and other Princes especially tâ—e most illustrious and gratious Prince Frederick Count-Palatine Elector our gratious Lord together with the most illustrious Princesse his wife and the Princesse daughter of the late Elector and our young Princes and all the noble house of the Counts-Palatines Princes Electors with their Counsellors and Officers maintaine and preserue them all with thy gracious patronage protection and defence Take care also we beseech thee of all Widowes and Orphanes and preserue our bodies with the comfort of health and crowne our life with Christian vprightnesse and integritie Helpe all those which endure diuers afflictions especially such as suffer grieuous persecutions for the truths sake Make them knowe by their experience that Iesus our Sauiour is more able to comfort them then all the world to make them to sorrow Finally when the short terme and time of our life shall passe away refresh and comfort vs before wee depart from hence and receiuing vs into the armes of thy mercy translate vs out of this old world to that new one which is not finished nor ended with any course of the Sunne or of the Moone but wherein thy selfe art to bee the Sunne the Moone and all in all things these mercies we aske in the name of Iesus Christ and pray also further as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. FINIS Errata PAg 3. helpeth r. fulfileth p. 4. adorned r. adored p. 17. Treptquine r. Trepto were r was p. 20. r. the Smalcaldian warre p. 22. r. with for which p. 24. retained for releeued p. 25. him r. them ibid. some r. home p. 52. l. 2. r. there was set out c. p. 33. r. in their Churches p. 39. adde for and. pag vltima daughter read Dowager
contrite and wounded hearts of men were led as by the hand from their confidence in their owne merits to the precious ransome of the death of Christ it is incredible to be spoken with how great celeritie and speede and with what great successe the puritie of true Religion pierced into all countries For it rested not now onely in Cities neither was it content to remaine amongst the inferiour of the Nobilitie and gentry but it entred into the Courts euen of Kings and Emperours and gat their allowance and approbation May it please you then for proofe hereof that we first viewe the Cities Amongst these the first that flourished and were famous for the praise of sinceritie of the Gospell were these Strausborough Breme Norinberge Worms Erford Hoslaria and Embden of Frize-land All these chearfully with ready mindes receiued and entertained the trueth comming vnto them in the very first beginning These also kindled by by a ferueÌ„t zeale of Religion in other countries Amongst these were Maydenborow Hamborow Lubeck Brunswick Wismaria Rostochium and almost all the Cities of the Empire Nay furthermore in Liâ—feland the cities of Riga Derbatum Renalia in Heluâ—tia or Switzerland Basile Scafhusium Tigâ—rum or Zurich Berne and diuers others All which Cities as they embraced the doctrine of the Gospell with great gladnes gratulations so Wolfgongus Capito hath left written a singular memorable act in this respect of the men of Berne which is this Hauing receiued the Gospell they set their prisoners at libertie and proclaimed freedome for such as they had banished out of the land to returne into their Country againe yeelding this notable reason for their so doing For said they if we would haue dismissed discharged our malefactors and prisoners in the honour of an earthly King that should haue come vnto vs. How much more now ought we then sith Christ the King of glory is come vnto vs bringing with him the most glorious benefit of euerlasting redemption And therefore we most earnestly wish and desire that as much as might be all men may be made partakers of so great a benefit and deliuerance as is now bestowed vpon vs. In going out from the Cities let vs view the degree of Knighthood In this degree there attained a perpetuall Crowne of honour that noble Frauncis of Sickengen Huldrick of Huttâ—n and Siluester of Schawenburg For when Luther was miserably vexed and persecuted by the Pope they vndertooke the defending and protecting of him with al their force and power And when Luther was excommunicated and was thinking to flie into Bohemia for refuge Schawenbergius before mentioned offered him free accesse vnto him and promised him a company of a hundred horsemen of Franconia to conduct him safely to him Of this praise are also pertakers the Landshadii Steinacenses Helmstatenses Gemingenses and Mensingenses who euery one of them from the yeare 1521 and 1522 had procured the sinceritie of the Gospell to bee publickly preached in their territories In whose steps Iohn of Salhausen of Bohemia treading did the same and being accused for it to Lewis King of Hungary and Bohemia hee defended himselfe with a notable Apology Now amongst the Princes that receiued the Gospell the heroicall worthies of the house of Saxonie obtained the principall place to wit Frederick the wise Iohn the sincere and Iohn Frederick the constant being Electors whose most commendable example euen straightwayes from the beginning followed Lewis Count Palatine the Duke of Bipont George Marques of Brandborow Marques Albertus Duke of Prussia Ernestus Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg Frauncis Duke of Luneburg Phillip Landgraue of Hassia Wolfgangus Prince of Anhalt and Frederick the second Duke of Silesia Lignicum and Briga From thence the fame of the Gospell sounding all abroad there opned their gates also to the Lord Iesus Christ in their countries these Princes Iohn Duke of Cleue and his successor William although there fell 1533. out some such causes and times as suffered them not to finish and perfect the reformation which they had begun so as it had beene to be wished These princes also embraced the Gospell Huâ—drick 1534. Duke of Wirtemberg with his brother George Earle of Wirtemberg and Mâ—nbelgard and Barâ—inus and Phillip 1537. Dukes of Pomerania Ioachin the second Elector of 1538. Brandenburg his brother Iohn Seuerus Henry Duke 1539. of Saxonie father of Mourice and Augustus Electors 1543. Hermannus Arch-bishop of Coullen Charles Marques of Baden Iulius Duke of Brunswicke Gotthardus Duke 1556. 1568. of Curland William Prince of Orenge to whom the lowcountrymen are much beholding in that respect For what should I speake of the Arch-Palatine countrey wherein wee haue the reformation made by the Electors that is begun by Frederick the second 1546. continued by Otto Henricus and finished brought to perfection by Frederick the third to his eternall and greatest honour and our vnspeakeable benefit and comfort Neither was Lewis the peaceable Elector estranged from fauouring the Gospel seeing that 1538. his brother Frederick graciously graunted free exercise of the Religion of the Gospell to eight cities lying in one precinct in the higher country of the Palatinate which are Amberg Neufore Kam Nafurg Weiden Nanpurg Auâ—bac and Châ—mnate Herein also it secmeth most worthy to be remembred that a Prince of the Empire George Earle of Anhalt a Prince of most 1548. approued pietie and holinesse is saide to haue esteemed the doctrine of the Gospell so precious that hee doubted not himselfe in his own person out of a rare and extraordinary zeale to deliuer it to his subiects preaching vnto them We haue heard also that the same Prince graâ—ed with a mariage-Sermon the Elector Augustus and his noble wife being publickely maried according to the accustomed right and manner of the Church For which cause the Queene of Denmarke ioyfully gratulating the spouse her daughter saide often that no greater grace could happen to her in the world After these Princes followed also Kings euery of them in their seuerall times and distances of yeares Amongst these the first was Frederick King of Denmarke who hauing shaken off the yoake of the Pope embraced the pure doctrine of the word of God Soone after followed him Gustarus King of Sweden Mary Queene of Hungary sister to the Emperour Charles Margaâ—et of Valoys Queene of Nauarre sister to Frauncis King of Fraunce to whom shee most earnestly coÌ„mended often-times the cause of such Christians as being exiled fled for refuge into Fraunce yeelding her selfe most gratious vnto them yea and as if she had borne the kind affection of a mother towards them Such a one was also Renata the daughter of Lewis the twelfth King of Fraunce who hauing beene maried to Hercules Duke of Ferrary enlightned the darkenesse of Italy it selfe with the light of the Gospell And when shee had returned widow and dowager into Fraunce in the tempestuous and stormy time of the most foule and
before that beene present at a collogue and conference at Marpurge his minde tooke such a tast of true Religion as that after hauing receiued his Dukedome hee procured carefully the same true Religion to be preached vnto his subiects Neither hath God vsed these meanes onely for the propagation and aduancement of his word but also many other courses that haue beene maruellous For I call Hungary to witnesse that euen Souldiers and men of Warre haue giuen furtherance to Gods word For whereas the Dutch Army brought thither by King Ferdinandus had in it many Lutheranes by their meanes that Kingdome better discerned of Popish Idolatry Italy also may testifie the like of it selfe when both the Army of Charles the fifth besieged the Pope and some dissentions began to growe betweene the Pope and the Venetians To the number of these other meanes I may also adde diuine and spirituall songs which hauing beene made by Preachers of the Gospell and accustomed to be sung by poore Schollers insinuated and closely conuaied the knowledge of the truth into an infinite number of men in Germany and the Low-countries and chiefely in Hungary where for the want of the Art of Printing this meanes was deuised that the songs which had beene endited by the teachers young boyes and schollers should deuoutely and sweetely sing not onely at mens doores but euen at feasts and banquets Moreouer I thinke that I may truely say that it hath beene a great meanes to further the knowledge of the trueth that particular Schooles haue beene founded and erected in many places and that disputations haue beene held by the professors of the Gospell with the Papists Of which sort are the disputations held at that time at Lipswick in the yeare 1519 1519. at Zurich and Bresla 1523 at Basile 1524 at Norimberge 1523. 1525 at Bathe in Switherland 1526 at Bern 1528 at 1524. London 1549 and such like 1525. 6 Another likenes betweene this age and the primatiue 1526. Church may bee in this that the enemies of 1528. the trueth set vpon the Christians of the primitiue 1549. Church sometimes with seueritie of edicts and proclamations after which grieuous punishments and at the length by open warre in the very like maner for the space of these hundred yeares grieuous Proclamations haue beene often published against true Religion and the professors of it And when they little preuailed they killed infinite multitudes of men by fire and water by the sword and by hanging and many other kinds of punishments and when neither these meanes had the like successe which they desired they came at length to this that strong Armies were leuied and brought into Germany the Low-countries and into France to haue rooted out true Religion if it had beene possible Further also as in that time the heathen Emperours whether they would or no heard the confessions and Apologies of the Christian faith which are extant and to be read in Iustin Martyr Athenagoras Tertullian and others Euen so in this our age Kings and Kesars haue of necessitie beene made to take notice and information of the trueth of the Gospell which in all things they did not approue of For who is ignorant that the Emperour Charles the fifth was present at the publicke reading of the confession of Ausburge so named of the Citie where this was done Likewise to King Ferdinandus a confession of their faith was both exhibited and read by the brethren and professors in Bohemia and Morauia We read likewise that Frauncis the first King of Fraunce heard with his owne eares the famous confession of the Christians of Merindole Also Theodore Beza in the conference at Poessy the King and the Queene yea all Fraunce in a manner hearing it deliuered the Articles of our faith so soundly and so effectually as that the Cardinall of Lorraine saide that hee wished that either Beza had beene dumbe or that all the States there present had beene deafe that day 7 Yet will we not stay heere but obserue another point of comparison for in the primitiue Church there were very many Christians who as the Ecclesiasticall History doth witnesse professed the truth of the Gospell with the losse of their goods and also of their very life it selfe So likewise in these hundred yeares last past God hath set before our eyes notable and famous examples of Christian constancy in an infinite number of most worthy persons men and women rich and poore learned and vnlearned noble and vn-noble The regard of the time will not suffer me heere to enlarge my selfe yet can I not by any meanes passe by in silence in Germany the houses and the families of the Electors to wit that the house of Brandeburge Saxony and the Palatine haue brought forth those heroicall persons to whom you may truely apply the speach which by the Apostle is vttered of Moses that they esteemed the reproach of Christ to be greater riches then the treasures of the Egyptians First let vs goe to the house of Brandburge and call to minde George the Marquesse of Brandenburge who being then to King Lewis the great Prefect and Gouernour of his Court retained with his helpe and defended with his aide the Christians in Silesia Bohemia and Hungary being charged and burdned with diuers slaunders After also when the Emperour Charles the fift in the assembly at Ausburge published a seuere edict and Proclamation with a most grieuous punishment added to it charging all men to abandon the Religion of the Gospell the saide Lord Marquesse had this honourable report of his constancy that fearing nothing the Emperours indignation hee boldly saide kneeling before his Maiestie that he had rather yeeld his head to be smitten and cut off then to depart the least iot from the truth which he had once acknowledged and receiued which when hee once had spoken openly they say that the Emperour answered that the cutting off his head was not sought for Will yee goe from Brandeburg to Saxonie There we shall see Duke Henry the progenitour of the two most gratious Electors Mauricius and Augustus worthily shewing how deepe rootes the loue of the Gospell had taken in him For when his brother George Duke of Saxony who was a most earnest defender of the Popish Religion a litle before his death hauing caused it to be signified to him by messengers sent for that purpose that hee would make him his heire vpon condition that he would forsake the Religion Euangelical reformed but if he refused to performe the condition that he would giue all his dominions to King Ferdinandus Duke Henry of whom I spake answering presently saide plainly and expresly to him this your message euidently representeth and bringeth into my minde that which is written in the holy Scriptures when Sathan promised to Christ the Kingdomes of the whole world vpon condition that falling downe at his feete hee would worship and adore him Doe you thinke that I esteeme any worldly riches
Martyrs haue cased mee of that burden of rehearsing them as being set out purposely to declare and to register the names of these who haue borne witnesse to the truth and may be repaired and resorted vnto for this matter Yet cannot I in silence passe by any meanes that onely in Belgia containing the 17 prouinces of the Low-countries whiles Charles the fifth yet liued were slaine and murdered fiftie thousand Christians and that the Duke of Alua cruelly boasted that in the space of six yeares after hee had beene gouernour of that countrey eighteene thousand persons had ben killed by his commaundement and also from the yeare 1576 to the agreement at Gaunt there had perished by the tiranny of the Papists thirtie thousand Yet there was a greater Vintage and Haruest in Fraunce for it may be proued by arguments worthy to be belieued that from the yeare 1564 to the yeare 1564. 1586 that is in the space of two and twentie yeares that one hundred and forty thousand godly persons sealed and signed with their blood the sinceritie of Religion Which is so reckoned as that they are not numbred in this account who vnder Henry the second and Frauncis the first being roasted and burnt went vp to the fire with so great courage and constancy of minde and so to the death gaue testimony to the truth as that in the yeare 1533 the tongues of the Martirs were cut out that they might not be able to speake vnto the people Now in England it is incredible to be spoken what slaughter and how many dead corpes haue beene made how many excellent men amongst whom some were Bishops Arch-bishops in the Raigne of Queene Mary being burnt aliue with fire without feare endured that shamefull and cruell death with maruellous strength and power of Faith And if wee should also declare the notable and inuincible constancy of Rochell in Fraunce and of Maydenborowe in Germany heere wee should haue a large field to discourse to their immortall praise But wee are to proceed and make another new comparison betweene the auntienter Apostolick and latter reformations of the Church 2 In these times the Christians being miserably afflicted God appearing and shining through these cloudes vnto them then at length gloriously lifted vp and exalted his Church when it lay cast downe to the lowest was euen troden vnderfoote Therefore Sulpitius Seuerus was bould to say writing of the ten yeares persecution vnder the Emperours Dioclesian and Maximinian wee neuer conquered with greater glory and triumph then when wee could not bee conquered with the continuall slaughters and massacres of ten yeares together In like maner in these hundred yeares last past besides and aboue the expectation opinion and thoughts of all men God oftentimes mightely deliuered his Church taking it as it were out of the very iawes of the enemies In the yeare 1521 after the departure of Luther who in the assemblies of the States of the Empire at Wornis had appeared and presented himselfe before Caesar and the Princes of the Empire to make answere for his proceedings there was set and published an edict or proclamation of most sharpe seueritie against the professors of the Gospell whereof the Popes Legat Cardinall Ierome Alexander is reported to haue saide to Marinus Caracciolus Oh my Caracciolus if we haue done nothing else at this diet and assembly yet this we haue effected as I am in good hope that by this edict and mandate of Caesars wee shall shortly see the Germans at warre one with another and tumbling in their owne blood But what fell out a little after there arose an exceeding great trouble in Spaine so as the Emperour went thither to pacifie it and the professors of the Gospell had a litle breathing time as some milder aire appearing For the Imperiall edict being mittigated and qualified by the States of the Empire assembled at Norinberg the true doctrine was seene daily to bee more largely and more couragiously spread and aduanced In the yeare 1526 and the fourteenth of Ianuary Charles the fift being Emperour and Frauncis the first being King of Fraunce with great coniunction and agreement of minde and affections endeauoured and went about it ioyning their forces together to pull vp by the rootes the Lutheran Religon as they call it but altogether in vaine For the Pope himselfe brake the bond and league making the Emperour so much busines in Italy that hee professed by publicke writing that the Pope was in all the fault that he had hitherto with lesse successe suppressed the heresie as he termed it of the Lutherans Againe in the yeare 1530. did not all men feare and tremble at the publishing of that most cruell edict of the Emperour Charles wherewith at the Dyet at Ausburg hee thundred against the professors of the Gospell but behold God as from heauen deliuered them For the Turke as one that had beene drawen thither by the haire of his head came into Austria which rumour caused the Emperour not vnwillingly to grant peace to the Protestants that hee might obtaine aide of them against the Turke the common enemy of all Christendome So likewise the league agreed vpon at Smale-cald being broken prosperous successe making all subiect vnto Caesars power who knoweth not that which hapned For when it was thought that the cause of reformation had now beene vtterly ouerthrowen in Germanie Almightie God fully ouercame and subdued the Conquerers minde and so perplexed him that he not onely no more vrged the Generall Councell to whose determination the States of the Empire had before promised to yeeld all obedience but also made an vnnecessary and needles warre with the Pope and despaired of successe in fighting any more with the Germanes who yet before he supposed to haue bin wholly conquered and subdued Neither was it otherwise with the Heluetians who being cōstrained to defend with Armes the libertie of the Euangellicall profession were once or twise ouercome by papists yet notwithstāding the truth triumpheth as inuincible their Churches euen to this day England also may be a witnesse hereof wherein men almost despaired of the maintainers of the Gospell when as by the raigne of Queene Mary many goodly lights had beene extinguished and so many strong buttresses and pillars had beene ouerthrowen cast downe to the ground But the Lord who calleth light out of darkenes he called that most gratious Queene Elizabeth out of the prison placed her in the royall throne of the Kingdome whereby all the hope of the Papist was disappointed and exposed to shame and ignominie Likewise Fraunce will testifie this which was most shamefully defiled and stained with that horrible massacre and slaughter that was made of true professors in the yeare 1572. For at that time there was celebrated and kept at Rome a solemne thanks-giuing to God for that action performed with so great successe so agreeably to their desire in the rooting out of the Hugonets as they called the professors of
the trueth of the Gospell But within a yeare after the multitude of professors appeared in so great number as a man would haue thought that all those had beene risen from the dead and restored to life againe Neither are there wanting like examples in Hungary Bohemia Morauia Silesia Ausâ—ria For about some thirteene yeares agone these aduersaries with very great endeauours desired to cut off all meanes of exercising the Religion reformed But vtterly in vaine God withstanding them who sending them his helpe from heauen brought the matter to that passe that greater libertie was granted to these countries then they euer enioyed in any time before Finally for the last point of this comparison In the primitiue Church God by manifest signes and tokens shewed the seueritie of his iust iudgement vpon many tirants and persecutors of the Church by their fearfull ends and tragicall deaths In like maner Sigismund the Emperour 200. yeares agone hauing burnt at Constance Iohn Husse a most pious and godly Preacher together with him burnt and consumed all his owne royall estate For deceasing without heire male Ladislaus his Grand-sonne by his daughter succeeded him and so hee confined the celebritie and honour of his name in the space of a fewe yeares So likewise in this last age wee haue receiued by report and seene with our eyes that vengeance hath followed them at their heeles which bearing impietie and vngodlinesse in their hearts and shewing it openly by strange crueltie went about with all their power to assaile and to plucke vp by the rootes the pure doctrine of the Gospell In the yeare 1546. George Wisehart a Preacher of the Gospell in Scotland after burnt to ashes by the commaundement of Cardinall Beton in the midst of the flames of fire prophetically foretold the Cardinall of the death and ouerthrow that hung ouer his head And that not in vaine for hee was killed that very yeare and that so as in the same place where the stake and ashes of that constant Martyr had beene seene not long before in the same place so soone after the dead body of that tyrant was to be seene exposed to the hate and scorne of all men With him reckon also Steuen Gardner who being Bishop of Winchester and Cancelor to Queene Mary emploied his seruice power very busily to destroy the Christians But his punishment followed not long after for being taken with a sore disease and despairing of the fauour and mercy of God he cried out alasle for me I haue sinned with Peter but I haue not wept nor seriously truly repented as Peter did In Fraunce remember Minerius making war with the innocent men of Merindoll and miserably killing and murthering them with more then Scythian and Barbarian cruelty What art thou sorry and doest thou sigh and lament to heare it stay a while and thou shalt see and acknowledge the wonderfull iudgment and vengeance of God vpon him For this tyrant Minerius falling into a most grieuous and fearefull sicknesse ended his vngodly life with horrible crying and howling Kings also furnish vs with some examples of tragicall ends For Fruancis the first king of Fraunce in the agony of death felt how heauily the blood of the Waldâ—nses and Merindolians lay vpon his conscience wherefore hee gaue commandement and charge to his sonne Henry that hee should put to death Iohn Monke by whose counsell and perswasion he had begun the persecution which Monke perceiuing speedily fled and so escaped the present danger Likewise we haue heard that Henry the 2. King of France hauing often threatned and said that with his own eies he would see Burges to be consumed burnt with fire vpon a wound taken in the eye in his running at-Tilt ended his life with very great torments Neither was the end of Frauncis the second of that name any better who hauing denied the Christians free exercise of the Religion of the Gospell who by supplication had requested it hee also by an Apostume risen in his braine and running at his eare died with his eare putrified and rotten And thou also Charles the ninth King of Fraunce goe thou also and defile thy hands with the blood of thy subiects Thou also didst miserably perish in thine owne blood And you two tirants I speake of Henry the third and the Duke of Guise doe you also take paines in the hainous crime of the massacre and slaughter at Paris doe you also kill murder and destroy but with what successe euen and issue haue you done it either of you ended your life with a violent and bloody death but the reformed Religion you haue not driuen out of Fraunce But what doe I speake of these things the Emperour himselfe Charles the fist hee confessed that hee had vsed and emploied all his force and power to establish the authoritie of the Pope and to maintaine his dignity but that his endeauour had beene all in vaine that his mony and treasure was spent which losse was tollerable and might be borne but that which was altogether intollerable he had lost his honourable name amongst men and his estimation dignitie the losse whereof was not to be recouered by any meanes Heere it were worth our labour to note marke the perfidious falling away of Apostatates and the infirmity of the faithfull Heere also intestine and inward dissensions and discords were to bee touched and to be compared with the contentions of the ancient and primitiue Church but the regard of this present time doth not suffer me so to doe Therefore let it suffice to haue heard that Christ the Lord hath most effectually expressed and accomplished really and in powerfull act and deede the name of Iesus and Sauiour that was giuen him by order from God in that hee doth so fatherly gather so wisely gouerne so mightely preserue and so iustly protect his Church against all the aduersaries and enemies of it Now let the Iesuits goe and vain-gloriously boast of the miracles which they say haue beene done in the East and West Indiaes but wee most worthily publish and magnifie the miracles iustly to be admired wondred at which God hath done in our own dayes and in the age of our fathers in Germany England Spaine Italy Fraunce Hungary Bohemia Pole-land Denmark and Swed land For these are indeed that which they are said to be miracles That God hath wrought so great things by so meane and base instruments That the doctrine of the Gospell within so fewe yeares hath like the lightning enlightned so many countries and Kingdomes That by meanes altogether contrary to the reason of man the sinceritie and puritie of the doctrine of the Gospell flourisheth at this day being propagated and spread faire and neare That by how much the greater the crueltie of tyrants hath beene in blood sheding in burning hanging of the godly so much the further hath the sound of the Gospell bin heard passed into more places That a most puissant and mighty Emperour going