The skilfull'st Physiognomers who Scan Each line and wrinkle in the face of man Can tell no more what Soules dwell there then wee By Seing Stars can tell what Angels be Then ask not at the door who 't is if so This Shadow cannot tell thee Read and know A Generall Martyrologie CONTAINING A COLLECTION Of all the greatest PERSECUTIONS which have befallen the CHURCH OF CHRIST From the Creation to our present Times Both in England and all other Nations Whereunto are added two and twenty LIVES OF ENGLISH Modern Divines Famous in their Generations for Learning and Piety and most of them great Sufferers in the Cause of CHRIST As also the Life of the Heroical Admiral of France slain in the Parisian Massacre and of Joane Queen of Navar poisoned a little before By Sa. Clarke Pastor in Bennet Fink London The second Edition Corrected and Enlarged having the two late Persecutions inserted the one in Piemont the other in Poland PSAL. 44.22 For thy sake are we kiâ—â—led all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Nihil crus seâ—tit in nervo cum animus est in caelo Tertul. Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 in Saint Pauls Church-yard near the little North-door MDCLX TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Especially to the suffering Saints in these three Nations Christian Reader THou hast here presented to thy view that strange sight which so much astonished Moses Exod. 8.3 A bush burning with fire and not consumed A lively Emblem of the Church oft times all on a light flame with the fire of Persecution and yet so far from being consumed that The bloud of the Martyrs proves the seed of the Church And indeed she is the only and true Salamander that can live in the fire Yet this not by any strength of her own but because the Angel of the Covenant even the Lord Jesus Christ is in the bush either to slack the fire or to strengthen the bush and make it incombustible In this Book thou maiest see as in a Mirrour what hath been the lot and portion of the Church and people of God from the Creation hitherto viz. Through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of heaven Here thou hast a certaine and infallible mark of the true Church of Christ viz. To be hated and persecuted by the Devil and his instruments Here thou maiest see what is the constant concommitant of the Gospel when it is received in the love and power of it viz. Persecution according to that of the Apostle Ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction c. Neither yet is God an hard Master in dealing thus with his faithfull servants He knows that heavy afflictions are the best benefactors to heavenly affections and that grace is hid in nature here as sweet water in rose leaves which must have the fire of affliction put under to distill it out He knows that when afflictions hang heaviest corrupt affections hang loosest upon his children Yet doth not the Lord afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men to crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth but he will hereby try who are his indeed and in truth not in name and profession only For as the Eagle tries her young ones by turning their faces to the sun beams so those Christians that can outface the sun of Persecution are sincere indeed One thing is very remarkable in this History that usually before any great Persecution befell the Church the holy men of those times observed that there was some great decay of zeal and of the power of godliness or some mutuall contentions and quarrels amongst the people of God or some such sin or other that provoked God against them and then as the shepherd sets his dog upon his sheep when they go astray to bring them in and then rates him off again So God le ts loose wicked Persecutors upon his own children but it 's only to bring them in unto him and then he not only restrains their rage but casts the rod into the fire If judgement begin at the house of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God Much excellent use may be made of this History As teaching us That whosoever will take Christ truly must take his Crosse as well as his Crown his Sufferings as well as his Salvation That persecution is the bellows of the Gospel blowing every spark into a flame and that Martyrs ashes are the best compost to manure the Church their bloud to water it and make it fertill That Gods children are like Starres that shine brightest in the darkest night Like Torches that are the better for beating Like Grapes that come not to the proof till they come to the presse Likes Spices that smell sweetest when pounded Like young Trees that root the faster for shaking Like Vines that are the better for bleeding Like Gold that looks the brighter for scouring Like Glow worms that shine best in the dark Like Juniper that smels sweetest in the fire Like the Pomander which becomes more fragrant for chafing Like the Palm tree which proves the better for pressing Like the Camomile which the more you tread it the more you spread it Yea God knoweth that we are best when we are worst and live holiest when we die fastest and therefore he frames his dealing to our disposition seeking rather to profit then to please us That when God exposeth us to Persecution he expects our speedy and thorow Reformation if we desire the affliction to be removed For as it were to no purpose for the Finer to put his gold into the fire except it lie there till it be refined So were it to small purpose for God to lay afflictions on us if so soon as we whine and groan under his hand he should remove them before we be bettered thereby Whereas afflictions like Lots Angels will soon away when they have done their errand Like plaisters when the sore is once whole they will fall off of their own accoâ—d That we should with patience submit to the afflicting hand of the all wise God and our mercifull Father saying with the Church I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Considering also that impatience under affliction makes it much more grievous As a man in a feaver that by tossing and tumbling exasperates the disease and encreaseth his own grief That all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution It hath been the portion of all the Saints from the creation hitherto What son is there whom the Father chasteneth not One son indeed God had without sin but not without sorrow for though Christ his naturall Son was sine corruptione without corruption yet not sine correctione without correction though he was sine flagitio with out crime yet not sine flagello without a scourge
passing by before he was dead and hearing him implore Gods mercy kickt him on the head saying Is this dog yet living take him and cast him to the hogs Sixtly women were racked so violently that the cords pierced into their arms and legs and being then cast into prison they died there only nine of the handsomest being delievered to the fathers of the Inquisition were never heard off after Many others were delivered to the secular power to be burnt and if any interceded for them he was presently put on the rack as a favourer of Hereticks Pope Pius the fourth sent the Marquesse of Butiane promising that if he would wholly cleare Calabria of these Waldenses he would make his son a Cardinall But he was put to no great pains to do it for the Inquisitors and the Vice-roy of Naples had by sundry deaths killed all the men women and children that they could light of One of their Ministers was famished in prison Another was carried to Rome where he was condemned to be burnt The Pope and his Cardinals would needs see that pleasing spectacle But the Minister spake so many things out of Gods Word against the Pope that the Pope gnashed his teeth for anger wishing that he had been some where else And thus were these godly people wholly rooted out of Calabria CHAP. XXIII The Persecutions of the Waldenses in Provence THese came from Piedmont when their vallies were over-peopled The country of Provence at their first arrival was a desert but within few years by Gods blessing upon their labours it-abounded with Corn Wine Oil Chesnuts and other fruites There Habitations being near to Avignion many times the Popes seat they were exposed to sundry persecutions as Anno 1380. and at other times but the greatest of all began about the year 1360. in the time of King Lewis the twelfth who being informed that in Provence was a certain kind of people that lived not according to the Laws of the Church of Rome but were an accursed people committing all kindes of wickednesse and villanies He gave Commission to his Parliament in Provence to take cognizance of it and to punish them according to their demerits The Court prosecuting this order with rigour and the King hearing that diverse innocent persons were put to death he sent his Master of Requests and Confessor into Provence to finde out what kinde of persons these were who at their return certified him that all the former suggestions were untrue that they were neither Socerers nor Whoremongers but lived honestly did hurt to none caused their children to be Baptized taught them their Belief and the ten Commandments and that they carefully kept the Lords day and had the Word of God purely expounded to them Whereupon the King swore an oath That they were honester then himself and his Catholik subjects Upon this information he sent and staâ—ed the Persecution Then did the Waldenses send two of their Ministers George Morrell and Peter Masson to Oecolampadius Capito Bâ—cer and Haller to confer with them about matters of Religion and to have there advice in many things In their return Masson was apprehended at Dijon where he was condemned and put to death for a Lutheran Morrell escaped with his Letters and Papers and came safe to Provence where he much comforted and confirmed the Churches Yet all this while did the Parliament of Aix apprehend one or other of them condemning some to the fire others to the gibbet they which scaped best returned with marks in their forheads Anno Christi 1540. The inhabitants of Merindoll were summoned and some of the chief appearing for the rest they were all condemned to be burned alive their children and families to be outlawed and that the place of their habitation should be laid waste the woods cut down two hundred paces round about and so left desolate The King being informed of the rigour of this Edict and of the innocency of the people countermanded the execution of it but his Letters were suppressed and the Cardinall of Tournon obtained for a great some of money the revocation of them Anno 1545. The President of Opede proclaimed war against them both at Aix and Marseilles Divers companies of souldiers were listed and five bands of the old souldiers of Piedmont were joyned with them and presently they began to set fire on the Villages of Cabrieres Pepin c. The poor people without any resistance were slain women and their daughters ravished some great with child murthered the breasts of many women were cut off after whose death their poor infants died of famine Opede also proclaimed that on pain of death no man should give any relief or sustenance to them All their habitations were pillaged sacked and burnt and none of their persons spared but such as were reserved for the Gallies Opede comming to Merindol found none there but one simple lad who had yielded himselfe prisoner to a souldier and promised two Crowns for his ransom but Opede paid the money to the souldier and caused the lad to be shot to death then he utterly razed the Town and laid it levell with the ground Then did he march against Cabrieres and with the Cannon battered the wals There was within only about sixty poor sick Pesants who sent him word that he needed not to spend powder to batter the wals for they were ready to open the gates and quit the Country if they might but have leave with their wives and children to go to Geneva or Germany and to leave all their goods behinde them Opede entring the Town caused all the men to be brought into a field and to be cut in pieces the souldiers striving who should shew the best manhood in cutting off heads arms and legs The women he caused to be locked in a barn with much straw and so put fire to it where many women great with childe were burnt One souldier moved with pity opening a hole in the wall that some of them might come out but Opede made them to be beaten back againe into the fire with Pikes and Halberts Some of them that came forth he slew with his own hands ripping open their bellies so that their children came forth whom he trod under his feet many were fled into cellers and caves whom he caused to be dragged out had into the field stripped stark naked and then slain Others were bound by two and two together and slain by the Captains who rejoyced in their bloudy butchery Then did this Tyrant worse then Herod command one of his Captaines to go into Church into which many women children and infants were fled and to kill them all which the Captain at first refused saying that it was a cruelty unbeseeming men of warre Whereat Miniers being displeased charged him upon pain of rebellion against the King to do it The Captain fearing what might be the issue entred with his souldiers and destroyed them all sparing
against him against whom he made many exceptions but they would not be admitted Nine moneths he remained in prison suffering great misery much bewailing his former course of life though yet it had been such as none could charge him with any crime Then the Judges proceeded to his condemnation and he had greater fetters put upon him he was also examined with torments which he endured two or three hours though but of a weakly body comforting himself thus This body must once die but the spirit shall live the Kingdome of God abideth for ever During his torments he swowned and when he came to himself again he said O Lord Lord why hast thou forsaken me Nay said the President wicked Lutheran Thou hast forsaken God Aymund replied Alas good Masters why do you thus miserably torment me O Lord I beseech thee forgive them for they know not what they do See said the President this Caitiffe how he prayeth for us Shortly after he was condemned and when the Friars came to confesse him he bade them depart from him for he would confesse his sins to the Lord. He went to the place of execution with much joy exhorting the people all the way at the place of execution they tumbled him out of the Cart and when he was upon the stage he said O Lord make haste to help me tarry not despise not the work of thy hands and seeing some Scholars he said to them My brethren I exhort you to study and learn the Gospel for the Word of God abideth for ever Labour to know the Will of God and fear not them that kill the body but have no power over your souls Afterwards he said My flesh doth wonderfully resist the spirit but presently I shall cast it away At the stake he often repeated Oh Lord my God into thy hands I commend my soul and so he was first strangled by the hangman and then burned Francis Bribard Secretary to the Cardinal of Bellay being convicted for adhering to the truth had first his tongue cut out and then was burnt Anno 1544. About the same time William Husson an Apothecary came from Bloys to Roan and in the Palace where the Counsel sate he scattered sundry books concerning Christian doctrine and against mens traditions and presently taking horse rode away The books being found the Counsel made diligent search for the Author and at last heard that probably this Husson had scattered them there whereupon Posts were sent out every way to apprehend him and by some of them he was taken riding towards Deep and brought back to Roan who being examined professed his faith boldly and that he had scattered those books and that he was going to Deep to do the like there For this he was condemned to be burnt alive and as he was carried to execution because he refused to worship an Image his tongue was cut out afterwards his hands and feet beeing bound behind him he was pulled up with a Pully and so let down into the fire in which he with a chearful countenance held up his head and fixed his eyes upon heaven till he yielded up his spirit unto God Anno 1545. James Cobard a Schoolmaster in the City of Saint Michael declared and proved that the Masse neither profited the quick nor dead c. for which he was burned Also at Melda fourteen godly persons were cast into prison where they were cruelly racked to make them confesse their fellows which they stoutly refused to do and at last were condemned to the fire seven of them had their tongues cut out and so all of them were burned together their wives being compelled to stand by to see their torments many others were scourged and banished Anno 1546. There was one Peter Chapot who having been a while at Geneva out of a zeal to do good to the Church of Christ carried divers Bibles into France and dispersed them amongst the faithful at last he was apprehended and carried to Paris there he readily rendred an account of his faith exhorting the Judges to do their office uprightly Three Doctors of Sorbone were appointed to dispute with him but he made them all to go away ashamed then was he condemned to be burnt At the stake one of the Doctors pressed him sorely to pray to our Lady which he refused crying only O Jesus Sonne of David have mercy on me The Doctor bade him say only Jesus Maria and he should not be burnt alive but he for a while refused yet at last through his importunity he said Jesus Maria but presently checking himself he said Oh God what have I done pardon me O Lord for against thee only have I sinned and so he was presently strangled and then burned but upon the complaint of the Doctor the Court made a Decree that all which were to be burned unlesse they recanted at the stake should have their tongues cut out which was diligently afterwards observed There was living at Meaux a lame Creeple to whom God was pleased to reveal his truth and after a time he was apprehended and examined at which time he confessed more than they desired to hear Then did they ask him whether he would stand to that which he had said To whom he answered and I ask you again Dare you be so bold as to deny that which is so plain and evident in the holy Scriptures being advised to take care of his life he said to the Judges for Gods sake take care of your own lives and souls and consider how much innocent blood you spill daily in fighting against Jesus Christ and his Gospel At last he was carried to Paris where he endured many sorts of torments and lastly was burned At Fera one Stephen Polliot was apprehended carried to Paris and there cast into a foul and dark dungeon where he lay long in bonds and fetters At last he was brought forth and condemned to have his tongue cut out and to be burned with his sachel of books hanging about his neck which was accordingly executed Anno 1547. There was one John English condemned by the Court of Paris for confessing the truths of God and so sent to Sens in Burgundy where he was burned Also Michael Michelote being apprehended for professing the Gospel was put to his choise either to recant and be beheaded or to persevere and be burned he answered that he trusted that he which had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Another being betrayed by false brethren was burned at Bar in Burgundy Five men and two women were condemned to the fire at Langres for adhering to the truth one of the women being the youngest was reserved to be burned at last and in the mean time she much encouraged them all saying This day we shall be married to the Lord Jesus
and these being all spent and no bread left in the City such as could get Linseed or any other seed ground it or beat it in a morter and made bread thereof as also of herbs mixed with bran if they could get it This being spent they eate bread made of straw-meal powder of nutshels yea of slates suet old ointments and other old grease served to make pottage and with it also they fried the excrements of horses and men which they did eate yea the filth in the streetes was not spared In this extremity a poor labourer and his wife were taken and executed for eating the head intrals and brains of their daughter of three years old that died of famine they had dressed also the rest of her body to eat at other times and that which aggravated their fault was that it was proved that that day there was given to them a little pottage made with herbs and wine which might have satisfied them in that necessity Such as went forth of the walls to seek relief were either slaine by the enemy or lived upon sprigs of vines black-berries red snailes and herbs Amongst other sad and lamentable spectacles one was of a labourer and his wife found dead amongst the Vines and two of their children crying by them the lesser being but sixe weekes old which a charitable Widow took home to her house and sustained Many dyed in this famine some in their houses others fell down in the streets and gave up the ghost most of the children under twelve yeares old died Lamentable it was to heare the poor fathers and mothers mourning and weeping to see their misery and yet they could not relieve them Neverthelesse most of them did wonderfully encourage themselves with the assurance of the grace of God whereof there is this notable example A boy of five years old languishing divers weeks ran along the streets till nature failing him he fell down in the presence of his father and mother who wept and lamented over him and feeling upon his armes and legs they were as dry as a stick whereupon the child said Why do you thus weep to see me die of hunger I ask you no bread mother for I know you have none but seeing it is the Will of God that I should die in this sort I must take it thankfully Had not the holy man Lazarus hunger Have not I read it in my Bible and saying so he yielded up his spirit unto God That which preserved all from being famished was this There were yet sixe Kine kept to give milke for some infants and certaine horses of service which were reserved for an extremity These were killed and their flesh sold to comfort those that lived Also some little corne was brought into the Towne by stealth which was sold for two shillings sixe pence a pound The war killed but eighty four persons but the famine killed above five hundred besides those which were brought so low that they hardly recovered During these miseries divers souldiers and some townsmen gat out chusing rather to die by the sword of the Enemy than by famine of whom some were slain others imprisoned and executed So all hope of being saved in mans judgement failed to those of Sancerre for the King had sworne that he would make them devoure each other But mans misery is Gods opportunity The King of Kings found out a strange meanes to deliver his people that put their trust in him Just at this time by the sollicitations of the Bishop of Valence the Polonians had chosen the Duke of Anjou brother to the French King King of Poland and Ambassadors were come to fetch him into that Countrey who hearing of this siege sollicited the Bishop of Valence to perform the Promise which he had sworn to them in the name of his Master viz. to fet at liberty all the Towns of France that were molested for Religion by this means the poor Sancerreans halfe dead for hunger were delivered at the request of these good men who came from a farre Countrey to be their deliverers though their enemies had oft-times threatned them with a general Massacre They were suffered to depart with their armes and goods and such as would stay not to be questioned for any thing past they had a promise also that the honour of women and maids should be preserved and such Ministers and others as had fled thither for safety had Pasports given them and they were suffered peaceably to depart The Siege of Rochel Anno 1573. ABout the beginning of the same year Rochel was also besieged The Townsmen often sallied out and there were very hot skirmishes betwixt them and the besiegers in one of which there came a young Gentleman who with horrible blasphemy boasted that he was one of the Admirals murtherers shewing his Courtelace which he said he brought from that conflict with it threatning to slash the Rochellers yet when it came to trial his heart failed and he ran away but one of the City souldiers pursuing him slew him stript him and left his naked body in the field the dogs tearing his face before next morning In one moneths space the enemy discharged above thirteene thousand Cannon shot against the Rochellers and made many assaults wherein they still went away with the worst Then came the Duke of Anjou to the Army to be the General The siege having continued some moneths the Rochellers began to want victuals which famine after awhile much encreased upon them but behold the admirable Providence of God! when all other Provision failed them there came an infinite number of small fishes never before seene in that Haven as it were yielding themselves to the mercy of the poor People which gathered them every day so long as the siege lasted but presently after the publishing of the Edict for peace they went away and were never seen afterwards During this siege came the Ambassadors from Poland to fetch their new King by whose means a truce was granted to the Rochellers and lastly Articles of peace were agreed upon whereby the Army was withdrawn and Rochel enjoyed her Priviledges Yet this is further very remarkable that all the chief persons that were imployed in the Massacre of Paris and other places were drawn forth to this siege by God there to receive the reward of all their impieties some of them being slain and others receiving there those wounds whereof they shortly after died Amongst whom were the Duke de Aumale and Cosseins Marshal of the Field that first entred the Admirals lodging three Masters of the Camp divers great Lords and Gentlemen above sixty Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensignes and above twenty thousand common souldies Anno 1574. King Charles himself that was at least the countenancer of all these horrible Massacres being in the prime of his youth about twenty four years old fell sick of a languishing disease his Physicians let him blood and
lurk as a man ashamed that dare not shew his face hereby they perceived that his desire was to preach whereupon they said to him It 's most comfortable to us to hear â—ou but because we know the danger wherein you stand we dare not desire it But said he if you dare hear let God provide for me as best pleaseth him and so it was concluded that the next day he should preach in Leith his text was of the Parable of the Sower Mat. 13. The Sermon ended the Gentlemen of Louthâ—â—â— who were earnest Professors of Jesus Christ would not suffer him to stay at Leith because the Governour and Cardinal were shortly to come to Edinburgh but took him along with them and so he preached at Brunstone Languedine and Ormstone then was he requested to preach at Eneresk neer Muscelbrugh where he had a great confluence of people and amongst them Sir George Dowglas who after Sermon said publickly I know that the Governour and Cardinal will hear that I have been at this Sermon but let them know that I will avow it and will maintain both the doctrine and the Preacher to the uttermost of my power This much rejoyced those that were present Amongst others that came to hear him preach there were two Gray-friars who standing at the Church door whispered to such as came in which Wischard observing said to the people I pray you make roome for these two men it may be they come to learn and turning to them he said Come neer for I assure you you shall hear the Word of truth which this day shall seale up to you either your salvation or damnation and so he proceeded in his Sermon supposing that they would be quiet but when he perceived that they still continued to disturb all the people that stood near them he said to them the second time with an angry countenance O Ministers of Satan and deceivers of the souls of men will ye neither hear Gods truth your selves nor suffer others to hear it Depart and take this for your portion God shall shortly confound and disclose your hypocrisie within this Kingdom ye shall be abominable to men and your places and habitations shall be desolate This he spake with much vehemency and turning to the people he said These men have provoked the Spirit of God to anger and then he proceeded to the end of his Sermon Afterwards he preached in divers other places the people much flocking after him In all his Sermons foretelling the shortnesse of time that he had to travel and the near approaching of his death Coming to Haddington his auditory began much to decrease the cause as it was conceived was this The Earle Bothwell who had great observance in those parts by the instigation of the Cardinal had inhibited both those of the Town and Countrey from hearing him Presently after as he was going to Church he received a letter from the West-countrey Gentlemen and having read it he called John Knox who had diligently waited upon him since he came into Lothaine to whom he said that he was a weary of the world because he saw that men began to be weary of God for saith he the Gentlemen of the West have sent me word that they cannot keep their meeting at Edinburgh John Knox wondring that he should enter into conference about these things so immediately before his Sermon contrary to â—his custome said to him Sir Sermon-time approaches I will leave you for the present to your meditations Then did Master Wischard walk up 〈◊〉 down about half an hour his sad countenance declaring the grief of his mind at last he went into the Pulpit and his Auditory being very small he began on this manner O Lord how long shall it be that thy holie Word shall be despised and men shall not regard their own salvation I have heard of thee O Haddington that in thee there used to be two or three thousand persons at a vain and wicked play and now to hear the Messenger of the eternal God of all the Parish can scarce be numbred one hundred present Sore and fearful shall be the plagues that shall ensue upon this thy contempt with fire and sword shalt thou be plagued yea thou Haddington in special strangers shall possesse thee and you the present inhabitants shall either in bondage serve your enemies or else you shall be chased from your own habitations and that because ye have not known nor will know the time of your visitation This Prophesie was accomplished not long after when the English took Haddington made it a garrison enforced many of the inhabitants to flie oppressed others and after awhile a great plague breaking forth in the Town whereof multitudes died the English were at last forced to quit it who at their departure burnt and spoiled great part of it leaving it to be possessed by such as could first seize upon it which were the French that came as Auxiliaries to Scotland with a few of the ancient inhabitants so that Haddington to this day never recovered her former beauty nor yet men of such wisdome and ability as did formerly inhabit it That night was Master Wiseheart apprehended in the house of Ormeston by the Earle Bothwel suborned thereunto by the Cardinal The manner was thus After Sermon he took his last farewel of all his friends in Haddington John Knox would faine have gone with him but he said Return to your children and God blesse you One is sufficient for one sacrifice Then went he the Laird of Ormestons with some others that accompanied him After Supper he held a comfortable discourse of Gods love to his children then he appointed the 51. Psalm to be sung and so retired to his chamber Before midnight the house was beset and the Earle Bothwell called for the Laird of the house and told him that it was in vain to resist for the Governour and Cardinal were within a mile with a great power but if he would deliver Master Wischard to him he would promise upon his honour that he should be safe and that the Cardinal should not hurt him Master Wischard said Open the gates the Will of God be done and Bothwell coming in Wischard said to him I praise my God that so honourable a man as you my Lord receive me this night for I am perswaded that for your honours sake you will suffer nothing to be done to me but by order of Law I lesse feare to die openly than secretly to be murthered Then said Bothwel I will not only preserve your body from all violence that shall be intended against you without order of Law but I also promise in the presence of these Gentlemen that neither the Governour nor Cardinal shall have their will of you but I will keep you in mine own house till I either set you free or restore you to the same place where I receive you Then said the Lairds My Lord
if you make good your promise which we presume you will we our selves will not only serve you but we will procure all the Professors in Lothain to do the same c. These promises being made in the presence of God and hands being stricken by both parties the Earle took Master Wischard and so departed Master Wischard was carried to Edenburgh But gold and women easily corrupt fleshly men for the Cardinal gave Bothwel gold and the Queen that was too familiar with him promised him her favour if he would deliver Master Wischard into Edenburgh Castle which he did and shortly after he was delivered to the blood-thirsty Cardinal who seeing that it was forbidden by their Cannon Law for a Priest to sit as a Judge upon life and death he sent to the Governour requesting him to appoint some Lay-Judge to passe sentence of death upon Master Wischard The Governour would easily have yielded to his request but that David Hamilton a godly man told him that he could expect no better an end than Saul if he persecuted the truth which formerly he had professed c. Hereupon the Governour sent the Cardinal word that he would have no hand in shedding the blood of that good man The Cardinal being angry returned this answer that he had sent to him of meer Civility and that he would proceed without him and so to the great grief of the godly the Cardinal carried Master Wiseheart to Saint Andrews and put him into the Tower there and without any long delay he caused all the Bishops and other great Clergy-men to be called together to Saint Andrews Feb. ult 1546. Master Wischard was sent for to appear before them to give an account of his seditious and Heretical doctrine as they called it The Cardinal caused all his retinue to come armed to the place of their sitting which was the Abby-church whither when Master Wischard was brought there was a poor man lying at the door that asked his almes to whom he flung his purse when he came before the Cardinal there was a Dean appointed to preach whose Sermon being ended Wischard was put up into the Pulpit to hear his charge and one Lawder a Priest stood over against him and read a scrowle full of bitter accusations and curses so that the ignorant people thought that the earth would have opened and swallowed up Wischard quick but he stood with great patience without moving or once changing his countenance The Priest having ended his curses spat at Master Wischards face saying VVhat answerest thou thou Runnagate Traytor Thief c. Then did Master VVischard fall upon his knees making his prayer unto God after which he said Many and horrible sayings unto me a Christian man many words abominable for to hear have ye spoken here this day which not onely to teach but even to think I ever thought it a great abomination c. Then did he give them an account of his doctrine Answering every Article as farre as they would give him leave to speak But they without having any regard to his sober and godly answers presently condemned him to be burnt After which sentence he falling upon his knees said O immortal God how long wilt thou suffer the rage and great cruelty of the ungodly to exercise their fury upon thy servants which do further thy Word in this world whereas they on the contrary seek to destroy the truth whereby thou hast revealed thy self to the world c. O Lord we know certainly that thy true servants must needs suffer for thy names sake persecutions afflictions and troubles in this present world yet we desire that thou wouldest preserve and defend thy Church which thou hast chosen before the foundations of the world and give thy people grace to hear thy Word and to be thy true servants in this present life Then were the common people put out the Bishops not desiring that they should hear the innocent man speak and so they sent him again to the Castle till the fire should be made ready In the Castle came two Friars to him requiring him to make his Confession to them to whom he said I will make no confession to you but fetch me that man who preached even now and I will speak with him Then was the Sub-Prior with whom he conferred a pretty while till the Sub-prior wept who going to the Cardinal told him that he came not to intercede for Master Wischards life but to make known his innocency to all men at which words the Cardinal was very angry saying We knew long ago what you were The Captain of the Castle with some friends coming to Master Wischard asked him if he would break his fast with them yea said he very willingly for I know you be honest men In the mean time he desired them to hear him a little and so he discoursed to them about the Lords Supper his sufferings and death for us exhorting them to love one another laying aside all rancor and malice as becomes the members of Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us to his Father Afterwards he gave thanks and blessing the bread and wine he took the bread and brake it giving it to every one saying eate this remember that Christ died for us and feed on it spiritually so taking the Cup he bade them remember that Christs blood was shed for them c. Then he gave thanks and prayed for them and so retired into his chamber Presently came two Executioners to him from the Cardinal one put on him a black linnen coat the other brought him bags of powder which they tied about several parts of his body and so they brought him forth to the place of execution over against which place the Castle windows were hung with rich hangings and Velvet Cushions laid for the Cardinal and Prelates who from thence fed their eyes with the torments of this innocent man The Cardinal fearing lest Wiseheart should be rescued by his friends caused all the Ordnance in the Castle to be bent against the place of his execution and commanded his gunners to stand ready all the time of his burning Then were his hands bound behind his back so he was carried forth In the way some beggars met him asking his alms for Gods sake To whom he said My hands are bound wherewith I was wont to give you almes but the merciful Lord who of his bounty and abundant grace feeds all men vouchsafe to give you necessaries both for your bodies and souls Then two Friars met him perswading him to pray to our Lady to mediate for him to whom he meekly said Cease tempt me not I entreat you and so with a rope about his neck and a chaine about his middle he was led to the fire then falling upon his knees he thrice repeated O thou Saviour of the world have mercy upon me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands
with moderation he had been hardly to have been paralleld The death of so brave a Commander and the wound of Captaine Gianavel in that juncture of time did not a little startle the Protestants But necessity often puts inconsiderable men upon bold enterprizes for these poor men did not despond nor lose their courage but assembling shortly after in a Mountaine of Angrognia they descended into the plaine where twice they were assaulted with violence the last of which was by a dangeros Ambuscado where the enemies were at least six thousand and they not above one hundred But God of his infinite goodnesse so encouraged their hearts and guided their hands that they slew very many of their enemies and amongst them many principal Officers whereas the Reformed party lost onely one Michael Bertino a Serjeant of Angrognia and had but one common souldier wounded The sonne of the said Bertino seeing his father fall dead at his feet was so farre from being discouraged that he immediately stepped into his fathers place with these words Though my father be dead yet be of good courage my fellow souldiers for God is a father to us all Munday following they had a very sharp dispute at La Torre and about Tagliaretto where they killed and wounded a great number of their enemies without the losse of any of their own men Indeed in this time the enemies reaped their Corne in the plaines of Saint Giovanni but they could not carry it away but with the losse of many of their lives About the same time there came to them one Monsieur Andrion a Major of a Regiment of Horse with two other Gentlemen that were strangers who were followed with some Volunteers whose friendly visit of their poor afflicted Brethren and their good advice in such a juncture of time was taken as it deserved very kindly and God made it a singular means to uphold the fainting spirits of some weak Brethren who seeing others come in to the help of the Lord against the Mighty went on with a great deale more chearfulnesse and alacrity and these staid with them till the peace was concluded at Pignerâ—l July the eleventh 1655. Sieur John Leger Pastor of the Church at Saint Giovanni who deserves to be remembred for the great paines and many services performed by him in the behalf of the Churches of the Valleys having notice that the enemies were of opinion that he was come back from his journey with Armes and Money and Ammunition and thereupon presuming that they would suddenly make some notable attempt to prevent what they so much feared he went to Colonel Andrion and pressed him to put his designe in execution The poor people had as yet no standing Army but the Bands of each Commonalty were quartered at a great distance the one from the other and certainly they had been cut off every man of them within a few dayes had not their Centinels been very watchful and above all if Captaine Charforan had not on the one side timely discovered the enemy an the poor people on the other side been exceedingly heartned to the Battel by the great valour and singular conduct of the Sieurs Andrion Michelin and Leger The Enemy was very numerous having been lately reinforced with many Troops They encamped themselves within half a League of the Reformed party and early in the morning they divided themselves into four Brigades three whereof fell upon the Protestants with a marvelous Resolution in three several places at once the fourth stood still ready to succour their friends if there were need The fight continued at least four hours without intermission and was the sharpest that ever was fought in the open field and that which made the enemies more fierce was their hopes to have beaten back the Protestants from their Post called the Castelas which if they could have effected they had been certainly Masters of the Valleys Perosa Saint Martino and Lucerna But the poor people having lifted up their hearts by earnest supplications to the Lord of Hosts as they used to do upon all such occasions Major Andrion and the two other Captaines which he had brought with him gave forth such orders as were necessary encouraging their men exceedingly so that without budging a foot they kept their ground all save a few who were either quite tired or faint for want of food or that wanted powder or flints in their fire-locks But these the Sieurs Mechelin and Leger imployed in rolling down great stones upon their enemies heads as they came to attacque them which proved very successeful doing much execution upon the enemy and causing them to abate much of their fury and whereas in the beginning of the fight they cryed alwayes Advance Advance ye relicts of Jahier the Protestants now began to cry as fast Advance Advance ye relicts of Saint Secondo and withal they ran upon those murtherers as so many Lions and caused them to turn back and flie towards La Torre and Lucerna as fast as they were able leaving behinde them fifty five upon the place and about fourty that were killed in the flight besides many others who were carried either dead or dangerously wounded to Lucerna Themselves confessed that in this encounter they lost at least three hundred men amongst which were many Officers of a Bavarian Regiment When such multitudes of dead wounded and dying men were brought into Lucerna the Syndick who was indeed a Papist but not so superstitious as many others said to some Hitherto the Wolves devoured the Barbets But now the Barbets devour the Wolves which words being reported to Monsieur Marolles the Commander in chief in Lucerna he threatened to imprison him and to give him the Strappado for them which so terrified the poor man that he presently sickened and within a few dayes died Two dayes after this great fight the enemy being much enraged for their great losse spread themselves all over Angrognia and began to set the Corne on fire which being seene by the Company of La Torre who at that time were upon the Mountaine of Tagliaretto they speedily gave notice to those of Saint Giovanni and Angrognia who hasted thither and charged them so fiercely that they forced them to flie and to leave most of their Ammunition behinde them and in the meane time Captaine Belin assaulted the Towne of La Torre killed the Centinel and souldiers upon the works and gave the Towne such an hot Alarum that most of them fled towards the River of Pellice and probably if he had had a few more men with him he had at that time made himself Master of La Torre July the eighteenth the General of the Protestants gave Order to fall upon the Towne of La Torre which accordingly was put in execution Captaine Belin gave the first onset who being followed with many other Officers and Souldiers they quickly made a considerable breach in the Garden-wall next to the Convent which so encouraged the rest that they
fell on with an invincible resolution and in a short space burnt both the Convent and most of the Towne down to the ground Those in the Fort finding themselves hardly beset began to Parley about surrendring of it upon honorable termes But some horse coming seasonably to their relief from Lucerna which the Protestants might have prevented if they had been so careful as they should have been they were frustrated of attaining their desires Besides these there were divers other battel 's fought in divers places where the Reformed party had considerable advantages against their enemies but for brevity sake they are here omitted CHAP. XLVI A brief account of the Intercessors to the Duke of Savoy in the behalf of these poor people and the successe therof UPon the first supplication of that terrible Order of Gastaldo which was a forerunner of the Massacre the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland being their near neighbours and therefore could soonest take notice of it wrote their Letters to the Duke of Savoy in the poor peoples behalf To which the Duke of Savoy shortly after gave a complemental but cold answer which was little better than a plaine denial of their request and mediation April the 29. being the Lords day newes of the horrible Massacre was brought to the Council of Zurick who immediately gave Order for a Publick day of Humiliation through all their Territories as also for making a Collection for their relief resolving to give notice of this doleful newes to their Protestant friends and amongst others they wrote to the States General of the united Provinces acquainting them with the sad condition of this poor people intreating them to consider of some expedient for the accommodating their affairs May the fifth they sent Monsieur Gabriel Weis Captaine General of Berne as their Deputy to the Duke of Savoy who in very respectful termes requested him to re-establish those who had survived the Massacre in their ancient priviledges the free exercise of their Religion and for the enlargement of their Prisoners delivering him a letter to the same purpose The answer which the Duke or rather his Mother gave was that though they were not obliged to give an account of their actions to any Prince in the world yet out of respect to the amity which they had compacted with his Masters the Cantons they had given order to the Marquesse of Pianessa to acquaint them with the truth of those affairs and shortly after when Major Weis spake with the Marquesse he laboured to justifie all his proceedings and to lay the load upon the backs of the poor people protesting that he never intended to force their Consciences and that all the reports about such strange cruelties exercised towards them were meer forgeries c. Major Weis replyed that the Massacre was so notorious that it could not be denied and that their right of habitation in those places was founded upon Justice being granted to them by the Dukes Predecessors and purchased by them of the present Duke for six thousand Ducatoons The Marquesse answered that all those Grants were upon condition that the Romish Religion should be freely exercised amongst them which yet they would never suffer Master Weis still pressing their sad condition and the necessity of finding an expedient for accommodation c. the Marquesse desired him to apply himself to the poor people and to cause them to desist from Hostility which would be the way to obtaine favour from the Duke and no marvel though he moved this For about this time through Gods mighty assistance these poor people began so to prevaile that their enemies began to fear what the successe might be and therefore the Marquess laboured to get the sword out of their hands by such a stratagem as this Major Weis went to Perosa propounding these things to the poor people who returned humble thanks to the Cantons for what they had already done in their behalf and said that if the six Evangelical Cantons would engage that the Treaty should be carried on upon honest and honorable termes they were ready to hearken to it Otherwise they were resolved never to trust those who had so oft deceived them and whose principle was that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks With this answer Master Weis returned and sued for the enlargement of the Prisoners or that at least he might be suffered to speak with them but neither the one nor other would be granted whereupon he returned to his Masters and upon his report to them being discouraged from any farther proceedings they resolved to expect what would be done by other Princes and States May 1655. Letters were brought to Oliver Lord Protector of Enland of this doleful newes whereupon he invited all the people of England to seek the Lord by Humiliation and Prayer and withal moved them to a liberal Contribution for the succour of these poor souls He sent also Master Samuel Morland as his Envoy to the King of France and Duke of Savoy to meditate on their behalf He wrote also to the King of Denmark to the States of the United Provinces and to the Evangelical Cantons of the Switzers requesting all their Mediations in the behalf of these poor people May the twenty sixth 1655 Master Morland set out on his journy and June the first he came to the King of France at La Fere to whom he delivered the Lord Protectors Letters wherein he solicited his Majesty to improve his power and interest with the Duke that the cruel Order of Gastaldo might be recalled and the poor people restored to their ancient liberties and habitations The King of France three dayes after returned an answer to the Lord Protectors Letter and Master Morland proceeded in his journey to the Court of Savoy and arrived at Rivole where the Court was June the 21. and demanded audience as the Lord Protectors Envoy which accordingly was granted and at his appearing he made a speech in the behalf of the poor people and delivered the Lord Protectors Letter Madam Royal the Dukes Mother answered That she could not but extremely applaud the singular charity of his Highnesse the Lord Protector towards their Subjects whose condition had been presented to him so exceeding sad and lâ—mentable as she perceived by Master Morlâ—nds discourse it was yet withal she could not but extremely admire that malice should proceed so far as to clothe their fatherlike chastisements of their rebellious Subjects with so black a character thereby to render them odious to all their neighbouring Princes and States with whom they desired to keep a good understanding especially with so great and powerful a Prince as the Lord Protector Adding that she doubted not but when the truth of all passages should be made known to him he would rest satisfied with the Dukes proceedings Yet for his Highnesse sake they would pardon their rebellious Subjects and grant them such priviledges and graces as should shew to the Lord Protector how great a
respect they bore both to his person and Mediation And withall Master Morland was requested to go to Turin where by the Dukes Order he was entertained with all outward demonstrations of Civility and respect imaginable during his abode there Master Morland after a while pressed for his dispatch and had it and so according to the Lord Protectors Order he went to Geneva There was Collected in England and Wales towards the relief of these poor souls the full summe of thirty eight thousand ninety seven pounds seven shillings and three pence the greatest part whereof was at several times transmitted to them and what remained being about nine thousands pounds was put out to Interest that so both the Principal and the Improvement might be disposed of for their best advantage and further to shew what effects the Lord Protectors intercession had I finde that presently after the King of Sweden the King of Denmark the States of the United Provinces the Prince Elector Palatine the Elector of Brandenberg the Duke of Wittenberg and many other Protestant Princes and States did either by their Letters to the Duke of Savoy or otherwise declare their deep resentment of the bloody Massacre especially the Lantgrave of Hessen wrote most zealously in their behalf They had also many Consolatory Letters written to them from sundry particular Churches viz. From Franckfort Zurick Hanaw Flushing Middleburgh c. and large Contributions according to their respective abilities Divers Commissioners also were sent from England and Holland to joyne with those of the Evangelical Cantons for the procuring a well-grounded peace for those poor people but before they came the Switzer Ambassador had concluded a Treaty with the French Ambassador and betwixt them they had hudled up a Peace the woful effects whereof these poor people were quickly sensible of and to this day they labour under heavy burdens laid upon their shoulders by their Popish Taskmasters they forbid them all manner of traffique for their sustenance they rob them of their goods and estates they drive them from their ancient habitations and force them to sell their Birth-right for a messe of Pottage They banish their Ministers that the Shepherds being gone they may the more easily devour them they ravish their young women and maidens they murther the innocent as they passe along the high-wayes upon their occasions they continually mock and revile them and threaten another Massacre sevenfold more bloody than the former Through the malice and subtilty of their Popish adversaries their Valleys are no other than a Dungeon to which the Fort of La Torre serves as a door whereby at their pleasure they may let in a Troop of murtherers utterly to destroy and extirpate those innocent people and notwithstanding all those large supplies that have been sent them from England and other States yet so great are the necessities of those poor hungry creatures and so grievous are the oppressions of their Popish adversaries who lie in wait to bereave them of whatsoever is given them that some of them are yet ready ever and anon to eate their own flesh for want of bread their miseries are more sad and grievous than can be expressed they are dying even whilst they live When that which was collected for them is once spent they must inevitably perish unlesse the Lord in whose hand are the hearts of Princes shall incline the heart of their Prince to pity these his poor harmlesse and faithful Subjects who are so farre from thoughts of Rebellion that could they but enjoy the freedom of their Consciences in peace they would be the first that would be ready to sacrifice their lives for the good and safety of his Royal Highnesse How long Lord Holy just and true c. Rev. 6.10 If any desire to see a fuller account of these things together with the Letters and Transactions about them they may finde them fully and faithfully set down by Master Samuel Morland in his History of the Evangelical Churches in the Valleys of Piemont Here place the Eleventh Figure CHAP. XLVII A brief Description of Piemont and the Valleys thereof PIemont is so called because it is situated à pede montium or at the feet of the Alps which separate Italy from France It 's but a little spot of earth yet very pleasant and of incredible fruitfulnesse It 's bounded on the East with Millan Montferrat and the Common-wealth of Genoa on the South is the Mediterranean Sea On the West and North part it hath the Alps for a Bulwark by which it is separated on the VVest side from Provence and Dauphine and on the North from Savoy and the Countrey of Valley It 's almost all covered with high mountains and watred with four great Rivers viz. Po Tanaro Stura and Dora besides which there are about twenty eight Rivers more great and small which render it exceeding fruitful in Cattel Wine Corne Hay Nuts and many other fruits in great abundance The principal Valleys are on the North part those two Aosta and Susa on the South side Stura and some others and in the midland Lucerna Angrogni◠Roccapiatta Pramol Perosa and Saint Martino The Valley of 〈…〉 been and still is a part of Dauphine as farre as La Capella which is situated at the lower end thereof and divides it from Perosa which was the ordinary passage of the French Armies into Italy These Valleys especially that of Angrognia Pramol and Saint Martino are strongly fortified by nature by reason of their many difficult passages through Rocks and mountains as if from the beginning it had been designed by the all-wise God to be as a Cabinet wherein he would keep some rare Jewel Those Valleys of Piemont which have been for some hundreds of years inhabited by the Waldenses are Lucerna Perosa and Saint Martino Lucerna contains fifteen miles in length the highest Communalties thereof viz. Bobio Villaro and La Torre are for the greatest part mountains but Lucerna Saint Giovanni Fenile Campiglione and Garcigliana though they have both on the North and South side a little of the mountains yet they extend themselves into a very fair Plaine Angrognia is but a little Valley on the North side of Lucerna as also Rorata and Vallon which are on the South side of Lucerna wholly within the mountains So is also Roccapiatta and Pramol which are enclosed between the Valleys of Lucerna and Perosa The Communalty of La Torre took its name from an high Tower which stood upon a little hill near Bourg But Francis the first King of France considering how prejudicial it might be to the affairs and interest of France and the safety of Pignorole he caused it to be demolished But the Duke of Savoy rebuilt it Anno 1652. which afterward served as a slaughter-house of many poor innocent souls Bricheras which is joyned to the Valley of Lucerna is on the East of Angrognia and Saint Giovanni and on the South of Roccapiatta almost all in the