finding kinder entertainment among strangers than in their owne countrey We had perished said he if we had not perished So may we say That did not our naturall life perish here by persecutions we had never been saved in the kingdome of heaven Run we then my brethren with patience the race that is set before us let us not be ashamed with Simon the Cyrenian to carry the reprochfull Crosse of Christ and seeing we must die once let us desire rather to die gloriously for righteousnesse sake than ignominiously by shunning it If Princes had rather die in a breach than in their bed and to lose their life in the field than an eye at tilt or tourney let us imitate them in this our spiritual conflict-earnestly intreating the Lord if it be his blessed will that we may fight and die valiantly in the defence of his Truth and for the honour of his sonne If worldly minded men can and will suffer many hard adventures some for their honour others for their profits and pleasures though but vaine and temporary with what longing should we aspire to that certaine and eternall happinesse rest and glory wherewith all those shall be crowned who fight manfully and constantly for the cause of Christ But the world and worldings smile at this wisedome counting it foolishnesse the flesh also joyning therewith thinks all we have said to be either idle phantasies or meere paradoxes and no marvell for both of them being from the earth can savour nothing but what is earthly as Christ saith Betweene the judgement of the Church and that of the World there is a broad difference when the question is of determining what is true honour profit or pleasure whence it is that in a manner the one scornes that which the other admires and adores So as they never consent in approving or condemning with one voice that which is questioned for the belly hath no eares If therefore we meane to be ruled aright either in the matter of faith or outward manners let us not bee guided therein either by the worlds judgement or yet that of the flesh for the world is poreblinde and the belly as we have said hath no eares Ponder we then these things that so wee may be prepared to obey the will of God let us not wilfully râ—sh into dangers onely if God shall call us forth to suffer purposing thereby to conforme us to our Head and so to accompany that great cloud of witnesses through the narrow way that leads to his kingdome yeeld wee our neckes to beare the sweet and easie yoke of Christ Be it that Satan and his confederates doe persecute the Church of Christ yet hath she an assured hiding place The faithfull may be imprisoned but in the meane while they leave the world in a worse prison viz. shut up under the wrath of God They may be in bonds yet is not that so bad as to lie bound in the bonds of iniquity they are oft shut up in darke and unsavoury places but how can darknesse be grievous to them who are the children of light especially when God shines upon them with the light of his countenance Stinking holes and odious smels cannot so offend and annoy them but that the sweet savour of a good conscience purified by faith surmounts all They may be put into dungeons in the world yet being chosen of God out of the world they have their conversation in heaven Be it that they lose a few commodities here it is but as if they forsook counters to receive gold things terrestriall for celestiall A Christian may suffer but he cannot die he may lose his life but hee cannot lose Christ when he leaves the world he goes to God Wherefore let us then put on the whole armour of God and as good souldiers of Eph. 6. 11. 2 Tim. 23. Rev. 2. 10 Iesus Christ enure our selves to endure hardnesse So shall it come to passe that continuing faithfull in this spirituall Warfare unto the death we shall at length receive the crowne of eternall life THE HISTORY OF FOVRE MARTYRS BVRNT AT LILE IN FLANDERS IN THE YEARE 1556. WHOSE NAMES ARE ROBERT OGVIER AND HIS WIFE BAVDICON AND MARTIN their two Sonnes THe example which is set before us in this so godly a Family may well serve for an entrance to the Continuation of the History of forrein Martyrs in that weâ— may thence learne what those true ornaments are wherewith both parents and their children ought to bee decked and adorned namely with such a light shining forth from the sound knowledge of the Gospell as whereby the Church of God may be edified and confirmed in seeing them to hold the profession of their faith coustantly even unto the death THe City of LILE may Anno 1556. well bee placed in the first ranke of those Cities of Merchandise in the Low-countrey of Flanders Artols and Haynault upon which the Lord hath multiplâ—ed his blessings not so much of worldly good things as of his spirituall graces yea in so abundent measure that even under the tyraumy of Antichrist in the Countries aforenamed few places can be named where the Gospell in that time was more fréely published and preached or with greater zeale received than there For for thrée yeares together the Gospell was secretly taught among them sometime in houses then in woods in fields and in caves of the earth not without the haâ—arding of their dearest life if they had béen discovered yet could not these apparent dangers under such tyranny coole or abate the burning zeale which almost consumed the heart of this people hungring and thirsting after the spirituall food of their soules What was among them preached was accordingly practised workes of mercy and charity were there exercised not onely towards those of the houshold of Faith but even towards them which were without so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Christ They ordained in their assembly certaine Deacons to receive the almes which were given men fearing God being well approved of who went wéekely from house to house to collect the abnes of such as they knew to be faithful admonishing every one how to carry themselves themselves in their vocations and of their duty in contributing towards the reliefe of the poore Saints And thus each one according to his place endevoured to expresse and manifest his faith by the fruits thereof namely good works In a very short space of time the Lord by the Ministry of his Word though preached in secret erected here a flourishing Church so as the Congregation consisted of a competent number of men women and children not onely of the city but out of foure or five Willages besides bordering nigh unto it who came also with an eager appetite to be instructed In the meane while you may conceive that satan and his adherents ceased not to storm and rage hereat not being able long to endure these their holy méetings but
deputies of the said Court added wee can neither find by our registers nor by any antiquity that the Princes of France ever subjected themselves so farre to the authority of the Pope nor that the Subjects have taken such knowledge of the Religion of their Princes The Court therefore cannoe determine ought thereupon unlesse first of all the Pope can cause his pretended right in translation of Kingdoms to appeare which Kingdomes were established and ordained of God before the name of a Pope was heard of in the world that he manifests not to us what title he hath to intermeddle with the matter of the succession of a young and vigorous Prince who for ought the Pope knows may have his succession yet in his loynes that he shews not with what appearance of justice or equity he should deny that priviledge which is allowed to such as ate accused of heresie against the decrées of antient canons namely that no man ought to be held as an heretique untill his defence be fully and fréely heard till he have received often admonitions from many Synodes and there upon sentenced by a Councell lawfully assembled Further they added that séeing the pope in stead of instruction breaths forth nothing in his Buls but destruction changing his shepherds crooke into a terrible thunderbolt rather to scatter then swéetly to call the erring flocke into the Bosome of the Catholique Church the Court cannot safely admit of or entertaine a Bull so permitious and opposite to the generall good of all the Christian World and to the soveraignty of the Crowne of France yea they further were of opinion that this Bull deserved to be throwne into the fire and burned and the sollicitors or upholders thereof for examples sake to be severely chastifed humbly deséeching the King to maintaine his Edicts in his owne Kingdome in peace This remonstrance tooke small effect for not long after the King being sollicited by the principall of the league set forth a declaration the seventh of October upon the Edict published in Iuly next before going wherein having confiscated the body and goods of these of the Religion with their associates who in any Province had taken armes against the fury of the league it was ordained that those of the Religion within sixe moneths were to depart out of the Kingdome unlesse within fiftéene daies fully accomplished after the said declaration they should abjure The Parliament suffering themselves to be carried downe by the violence of this streame accepted and admitted of this Edict The Princes framed an opposition against the Popes Bull appealing therefrom as a wrong done unto them offering to make it appeare in a frée and lawfull Councell that the Pope had malitiously belied them in calling them Heretiques so as if he refused this faire and lawfull course by them propounded they would hold and estéem him for that great antichrist and would proclaime an openirreâ— concileable war against him This opposition was affired and set up at Rome the seventh day of November Not long after among those of the Religion which were imprisoned others were more severely handled Among many take notice here of two honourable Women whose memory ought to be celebrated in this History of the Martyrs namely Radagonde daughter of Master Iohn Foucoult Atturney in the Parliament of Paris Widow of the age of fourty yeares and Claude Foucoult her sister a Virgin about thiryt six who were apprehended the nine and twentieth of October 1585. the one of the Village of Pierrepit néere Paris and the other in the suburbs of Saint German and brought prisoners into Chaâ—â—elet because they denied to goe to masse and would not abjure and forsake the true Religion Being severed one from the other in prison they were examined upon sundry Articles * To wit touching the supper of the lord prayer to saints prayer for the dead about abstaining from meats to which they made their direct answer according to the word of God Then being put together they were accused for disobeying the Kings commandement which was that these of the Religion were either tode part the Kingdome by such a time or else abjure They answered that they were willing toleave the Kingdome if they might obtaine a convenient time to take order about that little which they had there but refusing to yéeld to their request they were shut up again and theseventh of November in the presence of the Lieutenant as also of the Advocate for the King and a sorbonist they pleaded their Innocency These men getting no advantage against them but being rather confounded by the Wisedome of Gods Spirit speaking by these two sisters went and complained to the King that they were obstinate Heretiques This was in the beginning of the yeare 1588. They continued in prison many wéeks being cumbred with many disputes yet remained unshaken The Friday before Easter the King Hen. the third himselfe was to sée them asking them whether they would conforme themselves to the Catholique Apostolique Roman church as he called it They with such reverence and obeisance as became them gave him their reasons why they could not so doe confirming the same by texts of Holy Scripture His second question was why they had not obeyed his last Edict The Widow answered sir saith she I have thrée small Children to care for and whereas your Majesty allotted those of the Religion the teaâ—me of fiftéene daies after six moneths ended to depart the Kingdome I have done my utmost to take up such monies as were due untome but those who were indebted unto me neglected to pay me Besides hee that kept my vineyards of Pierrepit to quit Anno 1588 himselfe of me accused me of heresie causing my sister and my selfe to be here imprisoned where we have lien six moneths and if so be our petition presented by us find no acceptance in your Majesties sight we most humbly beséech you to grant that we may be fréed out of prison and wee will be gone instantly out of the Kingdome according to your Majesties Edict The date is past said the King nor will I shew you any favour unlesse you will promise to goe to masse He was much displeased in séeing their constancy Now at the same time there was presented before him one sirnamed Richelot who had béen apprehended that very day in which the women were taken for the cause of Religion unto whom the King used not many words only in conclusion hee said there wanted nothing but fagots to burne him This Richelot abjured that day in which these two sisters were executed The King had five or sixe Sorbonists which attended on him there who offered to reason with the prisoners by occasion of a word spoken by the widow But the King preventing it said we are not come hither to dispute let them be laid wast and none suffered to come to them Within halfe an houre after the Duke of Longueville came to visit them saying he was sorry for their
of his heavenly Father hath he not obtained a name which is above every name That at the name of Iesus every knee should bow c. If Gods glory ought to be preferred before all things yea our owne salvation and that Christ by dying to save us hath obtained the greatest glory that ever was what may we judge of that death we endure for his honour his word and for the maintenance of his pureworship and service Abraham never performed a more honourable act than in offering up his son Isaac at Gods command nor for which he is more praised I demand then that seeing our owne life is more deare and precious to us than the life of another whether the Martyrs who according to the will of God and for his honour have been so prodigall of their bloud have not deserved greater or at least an equall praise and commendation with Abraham The Bishops of old had such an honourable esteem of martyrdome that they preferred it before their Episcopall dignities so as both themselves and their Disciples and followers whom they had taught were so ambitious thereof that when they wanted opportunity to suffer being excluded therefrom by the interceding of friends or were not the first that suffered they took it so to heart that some of them carried the grief thereof to their graves Thinke I pray you what a shame it were for a Gentleman who being called by his Prince to fight in his warres should busie himselfe onely about combing curling and perfuming his haire tooting all day in a Looking-glasse to decke and attire himselfe and then judge by that what valiant souldiers we are and what a goodly reputation wee shall reap either at the hands of God or of good men if in our spirituall warfare wherein we are to be imployed during our whole life whilest the alarme is strucken up and every one mounted to give the onset in the face of the enemy we in the meane time will play least in sight hiding our selves behind every bush as Schollers that are loth to go to Schoole for feare of the rod. Good God That men of noble spirits should so much affect the renowne of being valiant fearing nothing more than to be reputed for base fellows and cowards yea some are so jealous thereof that they cannot endure to heare so much as a suspition of flying and yet all this their valour tends only to covet a fame which consists in skill how to kill and destroy mens lives Now we being kings then and the adopted children of God if either greatnesse of our courage or noblenesse of our house or birth whence we are descended may prevaile any thing with us then who I pray you ought to shew forth more valour than the faithfull or more dread the staining of their honour by playing the dastards This being yet one argument more to put spirits in them namely that their prowesse tends not to kill and slay mens bodies as that of worldlings doth but to save heale support and sâ—ccour as the arme and power of God which is far more honourable than the other CHAP. III. Manifesting the great profit and benefit which the faithfull reap by Persecution HAving shewed in the former Chapter that a more honorable condition cannot befall a Christian than to suffer affliction for the name of Christ wee are here to shew how nothing is more beneficiall and profitable which will the better appeare if wee reckon up some few particulars thereof To begin with the first then In affliction God manifests his readinesse to comfort us and his power in sustaining and upholding us that we sinke not under the weighâ—â—f them Examples whereof we have in Ioseph and David and sundry others who by the afflictions they suffered for righteousnesse sake were prepared in that which God had appointed the one to be Governour over the land of Aegypt the other over the kingdome of Israel For as in the time of warre a Captaine or a Generall Three similies of an army takes occasion there to let his souldiers see his fidelity vigilancy fortitude and skill he hath in leading them out and in and as a Physitian among the sicke and diseased is occasioned to exercise the profundity of his art and experience he hath atchieved Or as friends when we are in distresse doe give us to understand what love they beare towards us and how mindfull they are of us Even so or much more doth God declare how greatly he loveth us and how faithfull he is in performing his promises in the time of our distresses which is no meane benefit For the experience which we get from his bounty love power and care of our welfare causeth us with greater confidence to stay and rest our selves wholly upon him and the tryall also of his fidelity doth more and more confirme us in waiting for the performance of his promises which consequently occasionshim to accomplish the same in us Againe had we no other good for which wee ought to rejoyce in afflictions and accustome our selves to beare them both patiently and thankfully but this that they serve to set forth Gods glory which after a sort shines in us while during our troubles he upholds us in them and in due time delivers us out of them what can we desire more For his glory ought to be so deare unto us that if our damnation it selfe might be a means to advance it we should not refuse to undergoe it but freely and willingly offer our selves to be cast into hell Subjects and servants joy in nothing more than in seeing their lords and masters highly honoured as on the contrary nothing vexeth them more than when they see them disesteemed or ought to be broached tending to the impeaching or obscuring their estimation or honour Shall we then who are not only subjects and servants but have obtained the prerogative to be accounted sons and friends in our fathers house and family shall not we I say rejoyce The second fruit which we reap from affliction is that hereby God multiplies his gifts and graces upon us as it is written Mygrace is sufficient 2 Cor. 12. 9. for thee for my power is made perfect in weaknesse 2 Cor. 12. 9. Humility Faith Patience Prudence and Repentance are augmented and increased in us by suffering persecutions For look as bodily exercise is an help to increase health strength and heate in the outward man and catechising or posing of children to which we often call them is the way whereby they grow in knowledge even so the severall tryals and troubles through which God exerciseth and makes proofe of our faith cause it to grow from a lesse measure and degree thereof unto a greater A Captaine who hath once or twise besieged a city or castle becomes much more expert hardy and wary than a fresh water souldier so also is the prudence counsell courage fortitude and zeale much greater and resolution stronger in such as have often passed through
Lord. For as our desires to obtaine mercy grow stronger so are Psal 120. 1. our requests more or lesse servent our desire alway being according to our necessity Let a man be sicke poore or lie under any other greater tryall the prayers of such do beyond comparison exceed in earnestnesse and servour theirs who are well and at their hearts ease David in many of his Psalmes pressed the Lord in such wise by prayer Psal 17. 1 2. 28. 1 2. when troubles lay heavy upon him as if he meant to take no deniall With what vehemency prayed the Apostles to God for strength being persecuted Act. 4. 5 6. 24. 29. by the Rulers Elders and Scribes of Ierusalem insomuch as the place was shaken where they were assembled He that shall duely weigh with what prayers and teares our Lord Heb. 5. 7. Luke 22. 44. Iesus Christ solicited his father in his passion being nigh unto his death will confesse that fire is not more apt to be kindled by the winds which blow upon it than the prayer of Faith is fired and augmented by affliction Would any man have imagined that ever such voices of prayers and prayses should have been made in the belly of a Whale Ionah 2. reade the whole chapter as Ionas made being there as it were in the bottome of hell CHAP. IV. Wherein is shewed that afflictions are not onely profitable but pleasant also IGrant that afflictions considered in themselves are no way joyous but grievous as the Apostle declareth Heb. 12. 11. because they are rather messengers of Gods displeasure the root also from whence they spring being indeed our sins But as we see how our Apothecaries in their shops have the skill to mixe poisons with good and healthfull medicines So our God being infinitely more wise knows so to temper our afflictions for our good that our of things bitter and distastefull to us in the owne nature hee can compose not only a profitable but a most pleasant potion Yea even as Bees out of the bitterest herbs draw the most sweet honey so the Lord out of the tartest troubles extracts such sweets that at length wee shall with Sampson be Iudg. 14. 14. forced to say Out of the â—ater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetnesse Hunger in it self is sharp and hard to be endured yet our tast is greatly delighted when we can eat with an appetite Could any man judge how beneficiall a fire were if he were not some times pinched with cold Or with what delight could we accept of drink in the hear of Summer if we were not almost dried up with thirst Or how acceptable rest is if we were not tyred out with travell and labour As we see then that these accidents how grievous or incommodious soever now incident unto our nature corrupted by finne doe notwithstanding dispose us to receive exceeding contentments therefrom So persecutions albeit in and of themselves naturally abhorred proceeding partly as we have said from Gods displeasure and partly from Satan and his instruments yet doe they fit and prepare us for the injoying of those great consolations which God hath promised to his Elect. Afflictions cause us to feele first That God is the Father of mercies and of all comfort Secondly That the Office of Christ his Sonne is To revive the 2 Cor. 1. 1. desolate and broken in heart Thirdly That the holy Ghost is the comforter of his Mat. 11. 28. Iohn 14. 16 Rom. 15. 4. Church Fourthly That the word of God is it that ministers comfort to us in all our tribulations and adversities which for the most part befall us for adhering thereto For as he who would taste meat favoury to his palate useth falt therewith so if wee would to purpose finde the Word of God tastefull to us commonly it is when wee are in affliction When did the Apostles rejoyce more than after they had tasted of the whip Acts 5. 4. for the name of Christ When did Saint Stephens face appeare as if it had been the face of an Angell but when he stood before the Councell at Ierusalem to answer for his life Acts 6. 15. He that looked upon the three young men in the hot fiery furnace saw them walking up Dan. 3. 25. and downe there as in some pleasant and delightfull medow or garden Behold that antient father Ignatius who as himselfe records being led from Syria to Rome there to be devoured accompanied by sea and land with a band of souldiers which he tearmes ten Leopards wished by the way as he went that he were in the middest of those beasts which were ready to rent him in pieces and that their appetites might be whetted to dispatch him quickly fearing lest it should happen to him as to some other Martyrs that the beasts out of a kind of reverence and humanity would not dare to approch unto him being ready he said rather to provoke them to the fight than that they should suffer him so to escape Pardon me I pray you saith he for I know what is profitable for me I now begin to be a Disciple of Christ I affect nothing this world affords What is so deare to me as Christ If it be not sufficient for me to be torne with beasts let fires and all the tortures of men and Devils be prepared for me let all my body be dismembred my bones bruised to pieces so that I may enjoy communion with my God and come into the presence of my Saviour And when he heard the Lyons roaring he said I am the Lords wheat I must be ground with the teeth of wilde beasts that I may be found pure bread May we not now conjecture by the wishes of this holy Bishop what sweet delight hee Simile found in himselfe in approaching nigh unto his Martyrdome As a Queen then or great Lady takes no greater content than when she perceives in her husband some apparent signes of his favor especially then when she hath conceived some suspition of alienating his affection from her or it seems to be any way cooled or abated So the faithfull soule who loves the Lord entirely desires nothing more nor taketh at any time more delight than when she feeles from her husband Christ love for love but chiefly in the houre of temptation and tribulation which oft times causeth our heads and hearts to be possessed with jealousies and suspitions that we are out of his favour Let us conclude then that seeing in regard of the reasons heretofore alleadged persecutions are so honourable every way profitable and delectable to the true Christian What cause hath he either to be grieved or terrified when they befall him Nay he ought with the Apostles and Martyrs to triumph and rejoyce To which purpose may fitly bee applyed that saying of Themistocles to his children when hee saw the great honors that the King of Persia had conferred upon him by their exile
had we feared the same we had never exposed our bodies to this so shamefull and painfull a kinde of death Then he often reiterated these short breathings O God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well beloved Sonne Iesus Christs sake One of the Friers cried Heretike thou liest he is none of thy father the Devill is thy father And thus during these conflicts he bent his eyes to heaven and speaking to his father said Behold for I sée the heavens open and millions of Angels ready prest to receive us rejoycing to sée us thus witnessing the truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of heaven are set open unto us Then said one of the Fryers I sée hell open and millions of Devils present to carry you thither But the Lord who never forsakes any that put their trustin him stirred up the heart and opened the mouth of a poore man who stood among the multitude beholding this spectacle who being moved with compassion cryed aloud Be of good comfort Baudicon stand thou to it thou 〈◊〉 in a good quarrell I am on thy side after which words he departed thence and a way being made for him saved himselfe from danger Fire was forthwith put to the straw and wood which burnt beneath whilest they not shrinking for the paines spake one to another Baudicon often repeating this in his fathers eares Faint not father nor be afraid Yet a very little while and wee shall enter into the heavenly mansions In the end the fire growing hot upon them the last words they were heard to pronounce were Iesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits And thus these two slept swéetly in the Lord. Within eight dayes after Iane the mother and Martin her sonne were executed in the same City of Lile but of this more hereafter Iane the wife of Robert Oguier and Martin her sonne Martyrs THe wife here followes her husband and accompanies her sonne her conversion is admirable for being severed from him the Friers having seduced her laboured with her to turne her some also out of the right way but he understanding thereof recovers his mother againe and so they both gaue their lives for the truth to the great confusion of their enemies But before we come to describe their happy ends we will as briefely as may be note by the way the great conflicts of spirit which both of them sustained There were sent unto them many of the popish rabble to turne them from their faith Now that this their devillish enterprise might the rather be effected they sundred one of them from the other so as by the politique deuice of a Monke the poore woman began to waver and let goe her first faith At this their enemies rejoyced not a little whilest the poore little flocke of Christ hearing such sad newes were in continuall perplexity but the Lord left them not in this mournfull condition For on a day one of the Monkes resorted to her in the prison counselling her to win her sonne Martin and to draw him from his errors which she promised to doe But when he was come to his Mother and perceiued that she was not onely fallen but also quite turned out of the right way he began with teares to bewayle her miserable estate O Mother saith he what have you done Have you denyed him who hath redéemed you Alas what evill hath he done you that you should requite him with this so great an iniury and dishonour Now I am plunged into that woe which I have most feared Ah good God that I should live to sée this which pierceth me to the very heart His Mother hearing these his pittifull complaints and séeing the teares which her sonne shed for her began againe to renue her strength in the Lord and with teares cryed out O Father of mercies be mercifull unto me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Sonne Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even unto my last breath It was not long after this her change but the same instruments of Satan who had seduced her came in supposing to finde her in the same minde wherein they left her whom she no sooner espied but with detestation said Avoyd Satan get thee behinde me for henceforth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first confession And if I may not signe it with Inke I will seale it with my blood And so from that time this fraile vessell who for a while relented after her recovery grew stronger and stronger The Iudges séeing their constancy delayed not to dispatch them out of the way condemning them to be burned alive and their bodies being reduced to ashes the same to be scattered and dispersed in the aire The mother and the sonne having heard their sentence read in the way as they were going backe againe to prison said now blessed be our God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished houre our gladsome day is come Let us not then said Martin forget to be thankefull for the honour he doth us in thus conforming us unto the Image of his Sonne Let us remember those who have traced this path before us for this is the high way to the Kingdome of heaven Let us then good Mother goe on boldly out of the Campe with the Son Heb. 13. 13. of God bearing his reproach with all his holy Martyrs for so we shall finde passage into the glorious Kingdome of the everliving God Some of the company hearing but not being able to brooke these words said we sée now thou heretique that thou art wholly possessed body and soule with a divell as was thy father and brother who are both in Hell Martin said Sirs as for your railings and cursings our God will this day turne them into blessings in the sight of himselfe and of all his holy Angels A certaine temporizer said to Martin thou silly See here the sundry â—ights of Satan youth thou sayest thou knowest not what thou art too well conceited of thy selfe and of thy cause Séest thou not all this people here about thée what thinkest thou of them they beléeve not as thou doest and yet I doubt not but they shall be saved But you imagine to doe that which will never come to passe though you pretend never so much that you are in the faith and have the Scriptures for you The good woman hearing this answered Sir Christ Iesus our Lord saith that it is the wide gate and broad way which leades to destruction Mat. 7. 12. and therefore many gooe in thereat but the gate saith he is narrow that leades to life and few How we may know we are in the right way there be that finde it Doe ye
my friends for their love expressed toward me and salute them kindely with an holy kisse in the Lord. Your humble and obedient sonne Iohn Ioris of Asschen Thus were these two witnesses of Iesus Christ executed the fourtéenth of April 1567. ¶ A worthy answer of a constant Martyr called Guy de Brez Anno. Dom. 1567. GUy be Brez a Minister of the Gospell being committed prisoner into the Castle of Tournay was visited by many Ladies Gentlemen onely out of a desire to sée him in regard hee was a man so highly estéemed Some at the first view scoffed others railed on him but others were moved to take pitty and compassion on him Among the rest the Countesse of Ren accompanied with certaine Gentlewomen comming into the prison and at the first entrance beholding the iron chain to which he was fastned Master Guy said she I wonder how you can either eate drinke or sléepe in quiet for were I in your case the very terror thereof would goe nigh to kill me O Madam said he the good cause for which I suffer and that inward peace of conscience wherewith God hath endued me makes me eate and drinke with greater contentment than my enemios can which séeke my life yea so farre off is it that my bonds or chaine doe any way terrifie me or breake off my sléepe that on the contrary I glory and take delight therein estéeming them at an higher rate than chains and rings of gold or any other jewels of price whatsoever for they yéeld me much more profit Yea when I heare the raâ—ing of my chaine me thinkes I heare as it were some swéet instrument of Musicke sounding in mine eares not that such an effect comes méerely from my chaines but in regard I am bound therewith for maintaining the truth of the Gospell ¶ The same Martyr in a Letter to his wife acquaints her with Gods gracious dealing with him in all his assaults SPeaking of his apprehension he shewes how carnall reason began to play its part against the providence of God for saith he these thoughts came througing into my head What meant we to go so many in company together as we did had it not béen for such and such we had never béen discovered nor taken Vnder such like cogitations I lay for a while saith he even in a manner overwhelmed till by the assistance of Gods holy Spirit my minde was raised up to meditate on Gods providence After which my heart began to féel wonderfull rest and contentment saying thus in my selfe O my God the day and houre of my birth was before ordained by thee and ever since thou hast preserved and kept me in great perils and dangers and hitherto delivered me out of them all And if now the houre be come wherin I must passe out of this life into thy kingdom thy holy will be done I cannot escape out of thy hands yea though I could yet Lord thou knowest I would not seeing all my felicity depends upon conforming my will unto thine From these considerations I received no small consolation and therefore deare wife rejoyce with me I pray you and blesse our good God for these his mercies towards me for he doth nothing but that which is equall and right You have béene privy to and acquainted with all the travels crosses and persecutions which have befallen me yea and have your selfe béene partaker with me therein when you accompanied me in my voyages during the time of my exile and now after all these you sée my welbeloved in the Lord how he holdeth forth unto me his hand of providence to drive me home to himselfe into his blessed kingdome I now lead you the way and when his will is you shall follow me thither Our separation shall not be for ever it will not be long ere we be gathered under one head Iesus Christ This world is not the place of our rest no heaven is our home this is but the place of our banishment Let us therefore aspire after our true countrey namely heaven and long to be received into the Mansions of our heavenly father where we shall sée our head and Brother our husband and Saviour Iesus Christ with the noble triumphant assemblies of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and so many millions of Martyrs to whom I hope shortly to be gathered having finished the course of that administration which I have received of the Lord Iesus Wherefore deare wife be you comforted in the meditation of these things Take into your consideration the honour the Lord doth you in giving you a husband who is not only called to be a Minister of Christs Gospel but also so highly advanced of God as to be accounted worthy to partake of the crowne of martyrdome It is an honour which the Angels in heaven are Angels not capable of being Martyrs not capable of I now rejoyce in my sufferings my heart leapeth within me in my afflictions I finde nothing wanting unto mee I am filled with the abundant riches of my God yea so far am I comforted therewith that I have sufficient store not onely for my selfe but to impart thereof also to as many as I have opportunity to speake unto Which bounty and favour I beséech my Eternall Lord God to continue to me his poore prisoner yea I am perswaded that he will perform it unto the end for by good experience I féele that he never forsakes them that trust in him I Gods goodnes to his afflicted children is oft above and beyond their expectation could never have imagined that God would have béene so gracious as he hath béen to me his poore creature I now taste of the fidelity and bounty of Christ my Saviour I am here taught to practise what I have preached unto others Yea let me not be ashamed to confesse that when I heretofore preached I spake but as a Parrat in regard of that which I have now better learned by proofe and experience I have profited more in the schoole-house of this prison than ever I did in all my life before Prisons prove Gods schoole-houses to the faithfull for I have the holy Ghost who is my constant instructor and schoolmaster teaching me how to handle my weapons in this fight of afflictions Satan on the other side who is the sworne enemy of all Gods Elect compasseth me about on every side as a roaring Lyon thinking to devoure me But he who hath said Feare not I have overcome the world puts as it were new courage into Iohn 16. 33. Rom. 16 20. 2 Cor. 12. 9. me and then I sée the Lord bruising Satan under my féet féeling the power of God perfected in my weakenesse And thus the Lord causeth mee one while to féele my infirmity and weakenesse that so I may take knowledge how I am but a poore earthen Vessell even weakenesse it selfe to humble mee that God may have all the glory It is profitable for the godly sometimes to feele their
as now we may cry out with saint Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory She was often admonished by him to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tended to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne declaring Rom 6. 23. moreover that by this her chastisement she might discerne what she had deserved if God should now enter into iudgement with her not onely in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt Rom. 5. 12. she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her owne personall sinnes séeing the best of men or women in the world are in themselves but poore miserable and wretched offendors yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternall death and condemnation At these words she began with her hands and eies lifted up to heaven to acknowledge that her Psal 19. â— sinnes which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up But yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole affiance would be mercifull unto her From the later clause of her spéech the Minister tooke occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ séeing the whole have no need Mar. 2. 17. of Phisitian but they that are sicke and therfore Christ saith in that place Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners unto repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. whereas in the meane while he sends the rich empty away Of all which said he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your conscience by how much the more the holy spirit witnesseth to your spirit that you are the childe of God Crying in you Abba Father For what is Rom. 8. 15. What faith is faith else but a firme trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed sonne Now the Minister fearing he might some way offend her by his overlong discourse held his peace the rather because the Physitians thought that a long continued spéech might bee hurtfull unto her but she on the contrary earnestly requested him not to forbeare speaking unto her about these matters of life and eternall salvation adding that she wow felt the want of it in regard that since her comming to Paris shee had béen somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the word of God And therefore I am now the more glad saith she to receive comfort out of it in this my so great extremity The Minister then endeavoured to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joyes Psal 16. 11. were which the faithfull there possesse in the presence of God which when the scriptures intend to discover unto us they onely tell us that the eie 1 Cor. 259. hath not seene nor hath the eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what these things are which God hath prepared for them that love him To which purpose he used this simllitude as if a King minding greatly to honor Simile some noble persome noble personage should bring him to his court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Iewels even so saith he will the Lord one day reveale to all his elect and faithfull people his magniâ—cence and glory with all the treasures of his Kingdome after he hath gathered them home to himselfe decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality This happiness therefore being so great her highnesse he said ought to be the lesse carefull about the leaving of this transitory life seeing that for an earthly kingdome which she was now to forgoe she should inherit an heavenly and for temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using she should for even enjoy those that were eterenall and everlasting For her faith being now firmely setled upon our Lord Iesus Christ she might be suffered to obtaine eternall salvation by him on which words he tooke occasion to direct his speech in more particualar manner unto her saying Madame doe you verily beleeve that Iesus Christ come into the world to save you and doe you expect the full forgivenesse of all your sinnes by the shedding of his bloud for you To which she readily answered she did believing that he was her only Saviour and Mediator looking for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sinnes of the whole world and therefore was assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promises in him would have mercy upon her Thus you have in part the goodly speeches which passed from this religious Lady in the beginning of her sicknesse all which was within the space of three or foure daies Howsoever before that and since also she ceased not to continue the same her fruitfull and comfortable communications now and then sending forth most affectionate slighings to God as a testimony of that hope and desire Anno 1567. she had in enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to that felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by these her words onely but therewithall shewed a joyfull and resolute countenance as the vehemency of her sicknesse could beare which gave sufficient proofe to all that beheld her that the feare of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith When she had finished these her consolatory spéeches they usually went to prayer intreating the Lord that he would arme her with constant patience and have mercy upon her Which praier it shall not be altogether impertinent to insert in this place serving as a forme of praier upon the like occasion ¶ The Prayer O Lord our God we confesse hee before thy Divine Majesty that wee are altogether unworthy of thy infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre off from deserving to be heard of thée in our requests that we are rather worthie thou shouldest reject both our persons and our sutes but séeing it hath pleased thée to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beséech thee fréely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousnesse of thy deare Sonne that through him our selves and poore services may be well pleasing before thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out unto us by thine hand who art a most just Iudge in regard we have every way provoked
them to make good spéed in the businesse lest somewhat might fall out in the meane time which might trouble the motions of peace Richardotus spake somewhat more plainly That he knew not what in this interim should be done against England Not long after Doctor Rogers was sent to the Prince by an expresse commandement from the Quéene to know the truth whether the Spaniard had resolved to invade England which he and Richardotus séemed to signifie He affirmed that he did not so much as thinke of the invasion of England when he wished that the busines might proced with spéed and was in a manner offended with Richardotus who denied that such words fell from him The twelfth of April the Count Aremberg Champigny Richardotus D. Maesius and Garnier delegated from the Prince of Parma met with the English and â—éelded to them the honour both in walking and sitting And when they affirmed that the Duke had full authority to treat of peace the English moved thot first a truce might be made Which they dented alledging that that thing must néeds be hurtfull to the Spaniard who had for six moneths maintained a great army which might not be dismissed upon a truce but upon an absolute peace The English urged That a Truce was promised before they came into Flanders The Spauiard against that held That sixe moneths since a Truce was promised which they granted but was not admitted Neither was it in the Quéenes power to undertake a Truce for Holland and Zealand who dayly attempted hostility The English moved instantly that the Truce might be generall for all the Quéenes Territories and for the Kingdome of Scotland but they would have it but for foure Dutch towns which were in the Quéens hands that is Ostend Flushing Bergen up Zom and the Briel and these onely during the Treating and twenty daies after and that in the mean time it might bee lawfull for the Quéene to invade Spaine or for the Spaniard to invade England either from Spain or Flanders At last when the English could not obtaine an abstinence from armes and could by no means sée the Charter by which the Duke of Parma was authorised to treat of peace they proposed these things That the antient leagues betwéene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgondy might bee renewed and confirmed That all the Dutch might fully enjoy their own priviledges That with fréedome of conscience they might serve God That the Spanish and forraine fouldiers might bee put out of Dutchland that neither the Dutch nor their neighbouring nations might feare them If these things might be granted the Quéene would come to equall conditions conceming the townes which now she held that all might know that she tooke tooke up armes not for her owne gaine but for the necessary defence both of her selfe and of the Dutch so that the money which is owing therefore be repayed To the which they answered that for renewing the old leagues there should be no difficulty when they might have a friendly conference of that thing That concerning the priviledges of the Dutch there was no cause why forraine Princes should take care which priviledges were most favourably granted not onely to provinces and townes reconciled but even to such as by force of armes are brought into subjection That forraine souldiers were held upon urgent necessity when as Holland England and France were all in armes Touching those Townes taken from the king of Spaine and the repaying of the money they answered That the Spaniard might demand for many myriads of Crownes to be from the Quéene repayed him as the Belgicke war hath cost him since the time that she hath favoured and protected the Dutch against him At this time Doctor Dale by the Quéens command going to the Duke of Parma did gently expostulate with him touching a booke printed there set out lately by Cardinall Allen where in he exhorts the Nobles and people of England and Ireland to joyn themselves to the King of Spains forces under the conduct of the Prince of Parma for the execution of the sentence of Pope Sixtus the fifth against the Quéene declared by his Bull in the which she is declared an heretike illegitimate cruell against Mary Quéene of Scots and her subjects were commanded to help Parma against her for at that time a great number of those Bulls and Books were printed at Ant werp to be dispersed through England The Duke denied that he had séen such a Bull or Booke neither would he doe any thing by the Popes authority as for his owne King him he must obey Yet hee said he so observed the Quéen for her princely vertues that after the King of Spaine he offered all service to her That he had perswaded the King of Spaine to yéeld to this treaty of peace which is more profitable for English than Spanish for if they should be overcome they would easily repaire their losse but if you be overcome the Kingdome is lost To whom Dale replyed That our Quéea was sufficiently furnished with forces to defend the Kingdome That a Kingdome will not easily be gotten by the fortune of one battell séeing the King of Spaine in so long a warre is not yet able to recover his antient patrimony in the Netherlands Well quoth the Duke be it so these things are in Gods hands After this the Delegates contended among themselves by mutuall replications weaving and unweaving the same web The English were earnest in this that fréedome of religion might be granted at least for two yeares to the confederate Provâ—â—ces They answered That as the King of Spain had not intreated that for English Catholikes so they hoped the Quéen in her wisedome would not intreat any thing of the King of Spaine which might stand against his honor his oath and his consâ—tence When they demanded the money due from the States of Brabant it was answered That the money was lent without the Kings authority or privity but let the account be taken how much the money was and how much the King hath spent in these wars ond then it may appeare who should looke for repayment Thus the English of set purpose were from time to time driven off untill the Spanish fléet was come néere the English shore and the noise of Guns were heard from Sea Then had they leave to depart and were by the Delegates honorably brought to the borders néere to Calts The Duke of Parma had in the meane time brought all his forces to the Sea shore Thus this conference came to nothing undertaken by the Quéene as the wiser then thought to avert the Spanish fléet continued by the Spaniard that he might oppresse the Quéene being as he supposed unprovided and not expecting the danger So both of them tryed to use time to their best advantages In fine the Spanish Fléet well furnished with Preparation for setting forth of the Spanish fleet men munition Engines and all warlike preparation the best indéed that was
a Letter which he drew out of one sléeve which whilst the King attentively read the Frier pulled forth a poysoned knife out of his other sléeve wherewith he stabbed the King into the lower part of his belly The King féeling himselfe hurt therewith snaching it out of the wound strucke the same into the Friers eye who hasting to get away the King crying out His Lords and Gentlemen perceiving what the Frier had done slew him presently with rapiers and swords The King before hee died having raigned fourtéene yeares and seven moneths called for the King of Navarre all the Princes Lords and Noblemen that were in his campe and declared that the King of Navarre was the true lawfull heire to the Crowne of France willing them all to acknowledge him for their King and that notice should likewise be given throughout all his camp and Kingdome also Thus the soveraigne Iudge of the world made The raigne of Henry the fourth over the kingdome of France way for the entrance of Henry the fourth to have dominion over the Kingdome of France Now howsoever from the yeare 1589. to this present yeare 1598. the Churches of Christ have séene marvellous changes and how the league for a time made many furious onsets yet it pleased God so to moderate things that the faithfull were preserved from being persecuted yea they obtained of their Prince many priviledges and favors For the King in the first yeres of his raigne continuing in the profession of the true Religion wherein he had béen bred and brought up did manfully resist both these of the league and the Spaniards the great God of battels blessing the right and just wars undertaken by this Prince to the confusion of all his enemies till he fell to side with Popery though the affairs of his Kingdome gained but little thereby ¶ A Note touching the Popes Bull. THe Leaguers séeing what prosperous successe God gave King Henry the fourth in his wars undertaken against them fearing that in the end all would yéeld unto him they procured a new excommunication from Rome against him and all his faithfull subjects causing the same to bee published at Pontâ—e I'Arch in Normandy by Marcellus Laudriaâ—us a malapert Iesuite The king being advertised thereof commanded his Court of Parliament holden at Cane to proceed against Pope Gregory the fourtéenth who sent it and his Nuncio that brought it as against Tyrants conspirators with Rebels perturbers of the state sowers of seditions and the common and notorious enemies of God and all goodnesse Then taking the Popes Bull he caused it to be fastened to a Gibbet at Tours by the common hangman of the towne and there to be consumed to ashes to the great rejoycing of all the beholders ¶ The History of one Margaret Pierrone who chose rather to be burned her selfe than willingly to burne her Bible Anno 1593. THere was one Margaret Pierrone borne in a village of Cambray called Sansay who with her husband retired into the City of the Valencians Now because she could not endure the bad qualities of a maid servant of hers shee was by her said maid accused to the new sect-Masters sirnamed the Iesuites for that shee had not béen in many yeares at the masse as also for kéeping in her house a Bible in reading whereof was her whole delight They acquainting the Magistrate herewith she was by and by apprehended some friends sent her an inckling thereof before hand once or twice that shée should get her some where out of the way but the errand was not done God having a purpose that she should beare â—vitnes of his truth to fill up the number of those that were to die for the name of Iesus Being in prison the Iudges calling her before them said Margaret are you not willing to returne home unto your house and there live with your husband and children Yes saith she if it may stand with the good will of God They added further that they had so wrought with their Fathers the Iesuites that in doing a small matter she might be set at liberty If saith she it be not a thing contrary to Gods glory and mine owne salvation you shall heare what I will say No such thing Margaret said they for a scaffold shall be erected in the chiefe place of the City upon which you are to present your self and there to crave pardon for your offending the Law then a fire being kindled you must cast your bible therein to bee consumed without speaking any word at all I pray you my masters tell me saith shee Is my Bible a good booke or no Yes we confesse it is said they If you allow it to be good said the woman why would you have me cast it into the fire Only said they to give the Iesuits content Imagine it to be but paper that you burne and then all is well enough doe so much for saving your life and we will meddle no more with you you may buy you another when you will They spent about two houres in perswading her hereunto shewing how she might doe a lesse evill that a greater good might come of it By the help of God saith shee I will never consent to doe it What would the people say when they sée me burne my Bible will they not exclaime and say yonder is a wretched woman indéed that will burne the Bible wherein are contained all the Articles of our Christian faith I will burne my body sure before that I will burne my Bible Then séeing she would in no sort conforme her selfe either to the will of the Iesuites or to theirs they caused her to be committed close prisoner and to be fed only with bread and water none to be permitted so much as to speake unto her thinking by this hard usage to overcome her but all was to no purpose Being thus long shut up and no newes heard of her one way or other every one imagned that they had put her to death privily Her Iudges were wiâ—â—ing to have saved her life sending often a Doctor unte her called N. of Vivendyne to turne her from her resolution Anno 1593. but he found it too hard a taske for him to effect often confessing to them that sent him that he found no cause at all in her why they should put her to death But on Wednesday the two and twentieth of Ianuary 1593. shee was condemned to be brought upon a stage set up in the Market place before the towne-house there to sée her books burnt then her selfe to be strangled at a post and her body dragged to the dunghill without the City Shee comming to the place and ascending the Scaffold distinctly pronounced the Lords Prayer Then seeing her books burned in her presence she uttered these words with an audible voice you burne there the word of God which your selves have acknowledged to be good and holy Having againe repeated the Lords Prayer she was strangled and died peaceably in the