that she began to waver and let go her first faith this the adversaries much rejoyced in and the poor flock of Christ in that place hearing of it were as much afflicted with the news but God left them not in this mournful condition long For a Monk one day going to her perswaded her to draw her sonne Martin to the same recantation with her self which she promised to do but when they came together Martin perceiving the grievous Apostacy of his Mother bewailed it with many tears saying to her Oh Mother what have you done have you denied him that redeemed you Alas what injury hath he done you that you should requite him with so great an injury and dishonour Now am I plunged into that woe which I most feared Ah good God that I should live to see this which pierceth me to the very heart His mother hearing his pittiful complaints and seeing him drowned in tears for her sake began again to renew her strength in the Lord and with tears cryed out Oh Father of mercies be merciful to me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Son Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even to my last breath Presently in came the seducers hoping to finde her in the same minde that they left her but she no sooner saw them but cryed Avoid Satan get thee behind me for henceforth thou hast nether part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first Confession and if I may not sign it with ink I will seal it with my blood and so after this time through Gods gracious assistance she grew stronger and stronger Then were they both condemned to be burnt alive and their ashes to be sprinkled in the aire When the sentence was passed as they returned to prison they said Now blessed be God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished hour our gladsome day is come let us not therefore forget to be thankfull for that honour that God doth us in thus conforming us to the image of his Sonne Let us remember those that have troden this path before us for this is the high-way to the Kingdom of heaven c. Hereupon some of the Friars being ready to burst for anger said unto Martin that was most valiant We see now Heretick that thou art wholly possest body and soul with a Divel as were thy father and brother who are now in hell Martin answered As for your railings and cursings God will this day turn them into blessings in the sight of himself and all his holy Angels When they came into prison there came to them two persons of great quality of whom one of them said to Martin Young man I have compassion on thee if thou wilt be ruled by me and return to the Church of Rome thou shalt not only be freed from this shameful death but I will also give thee an hundred pounds Martin presently replyed Sir you present before me many temporal commodities But alas do you think me so simple as to forsake an eternal Kingdome for the enjoyment of a short temporal life No Sir it s now too late to speak to me of worldly commodities I will hearken to no other speech but of those spiritual commodities which I shall enjoy this day in Gods Kingdome c. Soon after Martin and his mother were carried to the place of their Martyrdome and being bound to the stake the woman said We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther nor theft but because we will believe no more than the Word of God teacheth us The fire being kindled the heat of it did nothing abate the fervency of their seal but they continued crying Lord Jesus into thy hands we commend our spirits and so they blessedly slept in the Lord. A Friar at Gaunt called Charles Coninck being through Gods mercy converted to the truth left his Friars weed and joyned himself to the brethren for which he was apprehended and remaining constant was condemned then came a special friend perswading him to recant and he would procure him a Cannonship To whom Charles answered Sir I thank you for your good will and kind offer but I cannot accept them without offending God and that rest is no true rest and quietnesse which is obtained against the peace of a good conscience Shortly after his death one of his adversaries which had the greatest hand in procuring of it fell into grievous terrour and horrour of conscience whereof within a few dayes he died The Persecution of the Duke de Alva in the Netherlands WHen the light of the Gospel was much spread abroad in the Netherlands King Philip of Spaine sent the Duke de Alva with a great Army to root out the Professors of it who exercised unparalell'd cruelty against all sorts of persons both of the Nobility and Commons permitting his souldiers to ravish honest Matrons and Virgins many times causing their husbands and Parents to stand by and behold it This Duke on a time boasted at his own table that he had been diligent to root out heresie for that beside those which he had slain in war in the space of six years he had put into the hands of the common hangman above eighteen thousand persons His sonne also Don Frederick being sent by him to Zutphen was re-received by the Bourgers without any opposition yet was he no sooner entred but he fell to murther hang and drown a number of the inhabitants with infinite cruelties shewed upon wives and virgins yea not sparing the very infants From thence marching to Naerden in Holland the inhabitants made an agreement with him and he entred the town peaceably but never did Turks or Scythians or the most barbarous and inhumane Nations in the world commit more abominable cruelties than Don Frederick did in this town for when the Bourgers had given the best entertainment that they could to him and his souldiers he caused it to be proclaimed that they should all assemble themselves together in the Chappel of the Hospital where they should be made acquainted with such Laws according to which they should hereafter govern themselves but when these poor people were thus assembled he commanded his souldiers to murther them all without sparing any one the men were massacred the women were first ravished and then murthered most cruelly the children and infants had their throats cut and in some houses they tied the inhabitants to posts and then set fire on the houses and burnt them alive so that in the whole town neither man wife maid nor child old nor young were spared and then the town was wholly razed to the ground without pity or mercy After this Don Frederick besieged Harlem which held out against him for a long time
the cause of Christ by Rackings Dungeons c. Nicephorus who writeth of this persecution under Decius declareth the horribleness of it to be so great and that so many Martyrs suffered That saith he it is as easie to number the sands of the sea as to set down the names of all those whom this persecution did devour Alexander Bishop of Jerusalem who was very aged having governed the Church forty years was from thence carried to Caesarea where after a bold and constant confession of his faith made before the Judge he was cast into prison and there died Babilas Bishop of Antioch also died in prison and forty Virgins were martyred there about that time And one Peter in the Country of Phrygia being apprehended by the Proconsul suffered most bitter torments for the name of Christ the like did divers others in Troada From Babylon divers Christians were led away by Decius into Spain and there exceuted the like sufferings had many in Caesarea Dionysius Alexandrinus writing of the Martyrs that suffered in Alexandria saith thus This Persecution began about a year before the Emperors Proclamation came forth by reason of a wicked South-sayer who coming to the City stirred up the multitude of heathens against the Christians perswading them to uphold their Idolatrous services wherewith the people being inflamed obtained full power to prosecute their wicked purposes conceiving all Religion to consist in the destruction of the Christians And first of all they fell upon a Minister called Metra whom they would have enforced to blaspheme Christ which when he refused they laid upon him with staves and clubs and with sharp Reeds they pricked his face and eyes and then bringing him to the Suburbs they stoned him to death Then they took an holy woman called Quinta and bringing her to the Idol-Temple would compell her to worship there which she constantly refusing they bound her feet and drew her thorow all the streets upon the hard-stones whipt her with Whips dashed her against Mil-stones and lastly stoned her to death Then the enraged multitude breaking into the Christians houses plundred them of all they had the rest of the lumber they carried into the market-place and burned it The Saints in the mean time taking patiently and joyfully the spoiling of their goods knowing that they had a more enduring substance in heaven Then they took an ancient Virgin called Apollinia whom they brought forth and dashing all the teeth out of her head they made a great fire threatning to cast her into it unless she would blaspheme and deny Christ whereupon she after a little pause leaped into the fire and so was burned Then they took Serapion out of his house whom they assailed with all kind of torments broke almost all the joynts of his body and lastly throwing him down from an high loft killed him The poor Christians could no where shelter themselves nor rest day nor night the multitude crying out that unless they would blaspheme Christ they should all be burned But through Gods Mercy the miserable wretches at last fell out amongst themselves turning their cruelty formerly exercised against the Christians upon their own heads whereby the Church had a little breathing time Shortly after came forth the cruel Edict of the Emperor which so terrified the Christians that some especially the rich partly through fear and partly by the perswasion of their Neighbours came to those impure and idolatrous sacrifices Others came boldly to the Altars declaring publickly that they were not of that Religion Of the rest some ran away others were taken enduring bands and torments constantly Others again after long imprisonment and sundry torments renounced their faith whilst others more strong in the faith valiantly endured Martyrdom Amongst whom was Julianus a man diseased with the gout and not able to go and Cronion who were laid upon Camels and there scourged and at last thrown into the fire where with much constancy they were consumed As Julianus went to Martyrdom a certain souldier took his part against those which railed upon him Whereupon the people crying out against him he was apprehended and being constant in his profession was presently beheaded Also Macar a Christian Lybian was burned alive Epimachus and Alexander having been long imprisoned after innumerable pains and torments with rasors and scourges were vvith four women consumed with fire Ammonarion a Virgin Mercuria an aged Matron and Dionysia a mother of many Children whom yet she loved not above the Lord these vvhen they could not be overcome by any torments inflicted on them by the cruel Judge but rather were unsensible of them all vvere at last slain vvith the svvord Also three Egyptians and a youth of fifteen years old vvere brought before the Judge who first began vvith the Child by fair words seeking to entice him then by torments to constrain him which not prevailing when he had tormented the other also he condemned them all to the fire But the Judge wondring at the wise answers and grave constancy of the child dismissed him Nemesion also an Egyptian vvas first accused to be a companion of thieves but being purged from that he vvas accused of Christianity tormented and scourged extreamly and then amongst other thieves burnt to death A certain Christian being examined before the Judge and through fear being ready to shrink back there were by certain souldiers of the degree of Knights and an aged man named Theophilus who were ready to burst for grief making signs to him by their hands and gestures to be constant vvhich being observed by the By-standers they vvere ready to lay hold of them but they of their own accord pressing up to the Judge professed themselves to be Christians which much imboldened the weak Christian that vvas before the tribunal and terrified the Judge This being done they departed away rejoycing for the testimony that they had given of their faith In other Cities many Christians were torn in pieces by the heathen Ischirion a servant to a noble man vvas commanded by his Master to sacrifice to the Idols vvhich vvhen he refused and vvould by no means be perswaded to his Master took a pike and ran him thorovv Multitudes of Christians vvandring in deserts and mountains vvere devoured by hunger thirst cold sickness thieves and vvild beasts amongst vvhom vvas Cheremon Bishop of the City of Nilus and his vvife vvho flying into the mountains of Arabia vvere never heard of more Dionysius also saith of himself I speak the truth before God and lie not I having no regard of my own life and not without the motion of Gods Spirit did flie and avoid the danger of this persecutian Yea and before that when one was sent from the Governor te seek me I remained three days at home to tarry for him The messenger in the mean time narrowly sought
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
trust in my God that he will graciously accept my contrite spirit When upon the Scaffold the Jesuites exhorted him he listned not to them but turned from the Crucifix and falling down on his knees he prayed softly Then looking up towards heaven he cried They can take away the body but they cannot take away the soul O Lord Jesus I commend that unto thee and so he ended his life being fifty six years old The next was an aged man about seventy years old that had been long lame his crime was that he had assisted Frederick with his counsel and wealth at the time of his death he said O Lord Jesus who being innocent didst undergo death grant that I may die the death of the righteous and receive my soul into thy hands The next was the Lord of Rugenia a man of excellent parts and full of zeal for God when he was iudged to die he said that it was more welcome to him then if the Emperour had given him life and restored him to his estate with addition of more afterwards he said to the Minister God is our witnesse that we fought for nothing but the Liberty of Religion and in that we are overcome and condemned to die we acknowledge and finde that God will not have his truth defended by our swords but by our bloud c. When he saw divers called out before him he said What is the matter my God thou knowest that I resign my self wholly unto thee Ah do not despise thy servant but make haste to take me away and when the Sheriff came for him he rejoyced and said Praised be my God that I shall now be taken out of the world that I may be with Christ and so he went to meet him On the Scaffold he comforted himself with that promise Father I will that where I am my servants may also be to behold that glory which thou gavest me Therefore said he I make haste to die that I may be with Christ and see his glory and so he suffered Martyrdom couragiously The next was Valentine Cockan of about sixty years old During his imprisonment he was full of heavenly discourse and at the Scaffold he said Grant me O God to passe through this valley of death that I may presently see thee for thou knowest my God that I have loved thy word bring me O God through the paths of life that I may see fulnesse of joy in thy presence and kneeling down he said into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit and so holily ended his life The next was Toby Steffick a man of a composed temper and sincere in Religion he spent most of the time of his imprisonment in silent sighs and tears Before his Execution he said I have received many good things of the Lord all my life long shall I not therefore receive this cup of affliction I imbrace the will of God who by this ignominious death makes me conformable to his son and by a narrow way brings me to his heavenly Kingdom I praise God who hath joyned me undeservedly to these excellent men that I might receive with them the crown of martyrdom When he was called to die he said My Saviour being about to die said Father not as I will but as thou wilt thy will be done Shall I therefore who am but a worm yea dust and a shadow contradict his will far be it from me yea I come willingly my God only have mercy on me and cleanse me from my sins that no spot or rinckle may appear in me but that I may appear pure in thy sight and so he lifted up himself full of sighs yet full of hope and as he was praying he rendered up his spirit unto God Then was Jessenius a Doctor of Phisick called forth a man famous for piety and learning all over Europe Having hard his sentence he said You use us too cruelly and disgracefully but know that our heads shall be buried which you ignominiously expose for a spectacle which afterwards came to passe Anno 1631. when the King of Sweden with his Army took prague and caused the Martyrs heads to be taken from the Tower and solemnly and honourably buried When the Hangman required his tongue to cut it off he willingly put it out and falling upon his knees as he was praying his head was cut off his body quartered and set upon four stakes The next was Christopher Chober who much encouraged his fellow-Martyrs and then cited the words of Ignatius I am Gods corn and shall be ground with the teeth of wilde beasts So we saith he are Gods corn sown in the field of the Church and that we may be for our Masters use we are now to be torn by beasts but be of good chear the Church is founded in bloud and hath ever encreased by bloud God is able to raise up a thousand worshippers of himself out of every drop of our bloud for though truth now suffers violence yet Christ reigns and no man shall throw him from his Throne Being called to execution he said I come in the name of my God neither am I ashamed to suffer these things for his glory for I know whom I have beleeved I have fought the good fight of faith and finished my course c. then praying into thy hands Lord I commend my spirit he received the Crown of Martyrdom John Shultis was next who on the Scaffold said Why art thou so sad O my soul Hope thou in God for thou shalt yet praise him c. The righteous seem to die in the eyes of fools but indeed they go to their rest Lord Jesus thou hast promised that whoso comes to thee thou willt not cast off Behold I now come look on me pity me pardon my sins and receive my soul to thy self then kneeling down he said Come come Lord Jesus and doe not tarry and so he was he headed The next was Maximillian Hostialick a learned and pious man after his condemnation he was sadder then the rest and being asked by the Minister the reason of it he said The sins of my youth doe now come into my minde for though I know that nothing remains to condemn them which are in Christ Jesus yet I know that God exerciseth justice as well as mercy towards his own Being called to death he said Look upon me O Lord my God and lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death and lest mine enemies say We have prevailed Afterward repeating the words of Simeon Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation he was beheaded The next was John Kutnaur who when the Jesuites began to speak to them said Pray you trouble not our consciences we are sufficiently furnished against the fear of death we need none of your help and when they would have proceeded
by whom he was kept in bands having only a pad of straw to lie on and though his wife sent him a good bed and sheets yet did the Bishops officers keep them from him dividing it as a booty amongst themselves Thrice he was brought before the Commissioners where he boldly rendred a reason of his faith answering all their interrogatories with such evidence of Scripture and constancy of mind as astonished all that heard him yet afterwards at the importunity of his friends and kindred he was by much perswasion brought to assent to certain Popish points But through the mercy of God he was after a while brought to such repentance and bewailing of this fact that afterwards he became more valiant in the defence of Christs quarrel neither did he desire any thing more than to have occasion to recover again by confession that which he had lost by denial affirming that as he never had felt more joy of heart then when he constantly professed the truth so he never tasted more sorrow in all his life then when he turned from the same by dissimulation Professing to his Christian friends that death was much more sweet to him with testimony to the truth then life with the least denial of it and violation of a good conscience thereby So that afterwards through Gods mercy he was so full of comfort that divers which talked with him continued all day without meat or drink and if they might would have stayed all night too they were so delighted with him Galeacius thus waiting for some occasion to manifest his Recovery it so fell out that the Inquisitors came into the Prison to him supposing that now he would have confirmed what before he had granted unto them requiring him so to do But Galeacius on the contrary retracted that and boldly asserted the truth with more courage than he did before and hereby his mind was greatly refreshed and his adversaries went away ashamed yet did they condemn and deliver him to the secular Judge to be burned Then was he brought forth in the morning to the market-place and bound to a stake where he was left till noon to be a gazing stock to all the people during which time many came to see him exhorting him to recant and not so wilfully to cast away himself and thereby to undo his loving wife and young children c. But nothing could alter the firme mind of this constant Martyr and therefore at length fire was put to him and so he quietly slept in the Lord. A little before his execution he hearing that there was a controversie between the Bishop and Major of the City which of them should be at cost to buy wood for his burning he sent to them to end that quarrel for that he himself would be at the cost of it out of his own goods The life of John Mollius THere was at Rome one John Mollius who at twelve years old was placed by his Parents in the house of the Gray-friars where being of an excellent wit in a short time he so profited both in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made a Priest Then was he sent to study at Ferrara where he so profited in six years time that he was made Doctor and Reader of Divinity in that University and by his Sophistry shewed himself an utter enemy to the Gospel From thence he went to Brixia and the year following to Millaine where he read openly Then by Francis Sforce he was brought to the University of Papia to be the Philosophy Professor where he remained four years Then was he called to the University of Bononia about which time it pleased God so to inlighten him with the knowledge of his truth that he began secretly to expound The Epistle of Paul to the Romanes to a few but presently his Auditors increased so fast that he was compelled to read openly in the Church where the number of his Auditors daily increased and withal they shewed such fervency of mind that most of them came with pen and ink to write what they heard taking great care to come so early that they might have room to hear him This was Anno 1538. Hereupon Cardinal Campeius set up one Cornelius an arrogant Babler to expound the same Epistle who cried up the Pope and his traditions as John on the contrary commended and extolled Christ and his merits to the People But Cornelius his Auditors quickly decreased and the others increased exceedingly This angred Cornelius insomuch as by Cardinal Campeius his advice they came to an open disputation and when they could not agree as John was returning home in a narrow place where his friends could not come to his rescue he was apprehended and clapt up in prison but this caused such stir in the City that Cornelius was faine to hide himself Then did the Bishop send word to John in prison that he must either recant or be burnt To the first he answered that he would by no means condescend only it grieved him that he should be condemned and his cause not heard yet by the mediation of a friend he was released out of prison upon condition that within three moneths he should appear at Rome some of his friends disswaded him from going to Rome advising him rather to go into Germany and they would give him mony to bear his charges but he refused saying that he must preach the Gospel at Rome also When he came thither he requested of the Pope that he might have a publick hearing but that was denied him and he was commanded to write his opinion which accordingly he did About Original sin Justification by faith only Free-will Purgatory c. All which he confirmed by the Authority of Scripture and Fathers and so exhibited it to the Pope who referred it to some Cardinals and they disputed with him three dayes upon those points but could not confute them then was he answered That it was truth which he said yet not meet for the times and therefore he was commanded to abstain from preaching and to returne to Bonony to be the Philosophy Professour When he came back all men longed to hear how he had sped and in the Pulpit he openly declared the whole proceedings to them giving God thanks for his safe return But this so offended the Cardinal that by order from the Pope he was removed from Bononia to Naples There also his doctrine was so distasted by the Viceroy that he laid wait to take away his life yet through Gods mercy he escaped and wandred up and down Italy preaching the Gospel of Christ wheresoever he came At last he was called back to Bonony where privately he expounded Pauls Epistles which could not be long concealed whereupon he was apprehended and carried to Faventia where he was cast into a filthy stinking prison and lay there foure
16. 1642. having made her believe that the Papists were compelled to contribute towards the maintenance of the Protestant Ministers with some other such like fictions upon which they obtained an Order for the Officers called Castellani to give the Missionaries all the Writings they should demand of them by means whereof they usurped power over the said Castellani and so over the poor Protestants compelling the Castellani to make most unjust Ordinances against these poor people As for example when the question is concerning their habitation the Missioners do perswade them that come to witnesse the truth that so to do is to favour the Hereticks whereby they will fall irrevocably under the censure of Excommunication whereas its a meritorious work to witnesse against them by such officious lies as are suggested to them by the Popish Clergy Nay the Judges themselves durst not passe a righteous sentence when it reflected in the least upon the Catholick party And that they may have the opportunity of negotiating with the Protestants they procure of his Highnesse every year the Assignations of Grain and other Impositions that so they of the Reformed Religion being obliged to make their payments to these Publicans they may have the advantage to shew favour and give ample rewards to such as will comply with their superstitious Idolatry and to lay heavy burdens upon the backs of those that are true to their Principles Mention might here be made of their frequent falling into the said Valleys with Troops of Armed men under pretence of quartering them there whereby they have miserably surprized and made a prey of them As likewise the cunning stratagems which they have used in all their Treaties which have been as full of Jesuitical Equivocations as of lines and sentences following therein their old Maxime that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks To this may be added their diligent search and strict enquiry after all Protestant Books and Writings which they commit to the fire with much devotion lest they should discover their rotten principles and the wickednesse of their actions to the world Another stratagem they have to allure men to revolt wherein are proffers of great rewards made and published in the Princes name as may be seen in the Dukes own letter wherein are these words To encourage the Hereticks to turn Catholicks it is our pleasure and we do hereby expresly command that all such as shall embrace the Holy Romane Faith shall enjoy an exemption from all and every tax for the space of five years commencing from the day of their conversion c. Which term of five years he hath sometimes lengthned out to ten or fifteen years whereas indeed the burden that they took off from these Revolters they laid upon the backs of those that persevered in their Religion the better to break and destroy them But as if all this were too little to compass their ends the Duke erected a Congregation for extirpating the Hereticks who were to judge concerning the rights of the Protestants Their meeting place was in the Arch-bishops house the Bishop himself being President together with the Dukes Confessor and divers others every one of them hired by the Court of Rome to undermine the liberties of the Protestant Churches by robbing them of their Ancient Priviledges under sundry pretences and upon false Informations And the better to disguise their proceedings they usually incense the Duke by grievous accusations and so procure grievous Edicts from him against the poor Protestants These were they who procured from Charles Emanuel Anno Christi 1602. An Edict wherein he enjoyns the Protestants upon pain of death to banish from amongst them all manner of Schools both publick and private as Julian the Apostate had formerly done to extirpate the Christian Religion And by another Edict of Decemb. 18. 1622. he forbade them to receive any strangers amongst them that should be either Ministers or Schoolmasters as also from sending their youth into Forreign Schools suspected of Heresie He also debarred all manner of Protestants from publick Offices either great or small In another Edict all Protestants were commanded either to go to Masse or to depart within two moneths after the publication thereof And by another Edict the same was commanded and but fifteen dayes given them Another order was given out Novemb. 18. 1634. enjoyning the Protestants of Campiglione to leave that place within twenty foure houres and that upon pain of death which was executed without mercy The same was done Anno Christi 1655. by Gastaldo who gave no longer than twenty foure houres to those of the Valleys of Saint Martino and Perosa to depart upon pain of death and to those that lived beyond Pelice but three days Many times when these Missionary Fathers could not possibly perswade his Royal Highnesse to an open Persecution against the generality of the Protestants then they usually tormented them one by one upon sundry false pretences whom they delivered up to the Inquisitors who contrary to all Forms of Justice forthwith condemned them without so much as hearing them or letting them know their accusers Anno Christi 1622. They took one Mr. Sebastian Basan and after the Inquisitors had cruelly tempted and tormented him for the space of fifteen months they burned him alive at Turin Novemb. 23. 1623. where he dyed singing the praises of God in the midst of the flames Anno 1655. These Missionary Fathers stole away very many of the Protestants children in the time of the Massacre whom they would not afterwards restore though his Highness had promised it by his Patent which practice is the most execrable of all the Turkish tyrannies Yet there is this difference that the Turks do so only to their own Subjects whereas the Popes Ministers do it to those over whom they have no right at all Two instances may be given amongst many others of the subtile insinuations of the Jesuites to withdraw men from the truth There were two Ministers the one Mr. Peter Gros the other Mr. Francis Aguit with whom they had thus prevailed But the Lord in mercy shewing them the greatnesse of their sin they made a publick Recantation in a full Congregation August 28. 29. 1655. at Pinache in the Valley of Perouse wherein they testified their extream sorrow for their defection through infirmity from the true Religion during the time of their Imprisonment at Turin together with their abjuration of Popery which they conclude thus Do not think us unworthy your holy communion although we have been an occasion of offence Suffer us to poure into your bosomes a torrent of tears to deplore our condition and to assure you in the anguish of our souls that our grief is greater than we can expresse Help us by your holy prayers to the Lord and publish our repentance in all places where you conceive our sin hath been or shall bee known that so it may be evident to all the world that from
Christianity accounted superstition Tertullians speech The stock of David sought for A just reward Phocus Martyr Sulpitius Nereus and Achilleus Martyrs Adrian Emp. Alexander Herenes and Quiriâ—us martyrs Zenon Ten thousand crucified Eustachius Martyr Monstrous ingratitude Faustinus and Jobita Martyrs More Eleutherius Anthea and Symphorissa Martyrs With her seven sons Quadratus his Apology for the Christians and Aristides and Serenus Christians falsly accused An. Pi. Emp. shews them â—avour An excellent Law Polycarp martyr Germanacus Constancy Metrodorus Pionus Apollggy and Martyrdom Carpus Papilus and Agathonica Felicitas and her seven children Justin Maâ—tyas Apology and Martyrdom Malice Ptolemaus Lucius Note Concordus Persecutions in France Gods Providence Patience Divers torments Vetius Epagathus his zeal Humane frailty Christians slandered Sanctus Maturus Attalus Blandina A miracle of Mercy Tormentors wearied Note Admirable constancy A miracle of Mercy Biblides Photinus Danger of Apostacy Recovery after fals Alexander Note Blasphemy Ponticus a boy of fifteen years old Joy unspeakable Blasphemy Justin Martyr Alcibiades Clau. Apolinaris and Melito Apologize for the Christians The thundring Legion A good Edict Apollonius A just reward of treachery Vincentius Eusebius Peregrinus and Potentianus Zeal Julius Zeal Severus Emperour Christians charged with sedition and rebellion c. Leonides father of Origen Zeal Plutarch Serenus Potamiena Marcella and Rhais Bâ—silides his strange conversion Narcissus False Witnesses plagued by God Andoclus Asclepiades Irenaeus Tertullian Perpetua Felicitas Revocatus Satyrus Secundulus Zepherinus Urbanus Tiburtius Valerianus Cecilia A great Conversion Agapeâ—us a boy of fifteen years old Gods judgement on a persecutor Calepodius Pamachius Martina Maximinus Emperor Urbanus and Philip. Sectaries dangerous Note Probably it was by the terrors of his own conscience Decius Emp. Fabian Martyr A cruel Edict Alexander Martyr Babilus Peter A South-sayer stirs up a persecution Metra Martyr Quinta The Christian houses plundred Apollinia leaps into the fire Serapion Persecutors divided amongst themselves The danger of riches Zeal Apostacy Julianus Martyr and Cronion Macar Epimâ—chus Alexander Ammonarion Mercuria Dioâ—ysia A boy of fifteen years old Nemesion Humane frailty Zeal Courage Ischirion The miseries of Christians Cheremon Dionysâ—us A miracle of Mercy Flight in persecution Courage of seven souldiers Nicetas his raâ—e chastity Theodora condemned to the Stews Her strange deliverance Cruelty Agathon Two Ministers Secundianus Zeal Gods Judgement on persecutors Serapions Apostacy and Recovery Danger of Apostacy Constancy A Vision The beginning of the Novatian schism Pride the cause of schism A Synod against Novatus Aurelius Mappalicus Gods Judgement on persecutors A terrible plague The brotherly love of Christians A special Providence Cyprians consolatory letter Persecution stirred up by a Sorcerer Sin the Forerunner of persecution A Vision Christians charged as the causes of all plagues Confuted by Cyprian and Tertullian Cyprian Martyr Sixtus and his Deacons The courage and constancy of Laurence The rage of Tyrants In all these things we are more then Conquerors Dionysia banished The power of the Word of God Gods Providence The cruel torments of the Christians Priscus Malchus Alexander Zeal Three hundred Christians put into a lime-kiln Three Virgins cruelly tormented Fructuosus Valerian Emâ—peror Gods Judgement on persecutors Marinus Asyrius Satans subtilty Power of prayer Peace in the Church A special Providence Pâ—ace causeth the Church to flourish Sin the Forerunner of persecution Contention amongst Christians Pâ—ide Bibles burnt Cruel Edicts Horrible torments False Accusations of Christians Courage Humane infirmity Zeal Subtilty Constancy A miracle of Mercy Silvanus Pamphilus Tiranion Zenobius Sylvanus Peter Dorotheus Gorgonius Anthimus Dioclesian's wife Christians burnt in a Church A Christian City burnt Eustratius a Persecutor converted and martyred Peter A legion of Christians martyred Inhumane câ—uelty Cruel torments Hellish cruelty Admirable patience Courage and constancy Tormentors wearied Humane infirmity The story of Mauritius and his legion A most Christian speech Christian courage The mercies of the wicked are cruelty Gods judgements on persecutors Hypocrisie Silvanus Lucianus Peter Quirinus Cruel torments Gods judgements on persecutors A terrible famine Pestilence Charity of Christians Gods judgements on persecutors Hypocrisie Wicked Laws Cruâ—lty Theodorius Romanus's noble courage True nobility Note Blasphemy A child tormented An appeal to Christ. The childes Martyrdom Gordius Courage Flattery Constancy Menas Note Humane infirmity Fourty young gentlemen Tentaâ—ion of flattery A mother encourageth her son to die Cyrius John Athanasia Sebastian Barlaam Vitalis Constancy Agricola Vincentius Horrible cruelty Joy unspeakable Procopius Georg. Zeal Hermogenes Eulalia Zeal Tentation Eulalia Horrible cruelty Agnes Tentation Courage Faith A remarkable judgement Faith Julitta An excellent story Strength of Faith Tentation Constancy Barbara Magitâ—aâ—s stâ—r up persecution Simeon The Persion King requâ—â—ed Divine worshâ—p Usthazares Zeal Recovery after fall Tentation Repentance His Martyrdom Simeon beheaded Pusices His Martyrdom Magicians authors of persecution Simeon sisters Slanders Bâ—shops and Minâ—steâ—s persecuted Andas Hormisda Constancy Suenes Benjamin His Apostacy Devilish subtilty Christians might not study They may be in no Offices The most dangerous persecution Christâ—ans made the object of scorn Barbarous cruelty Emilianus Domitius Theodorus A miracle of Mercy Artemius Two brethren Martyrs Barbarous cruelty Marcus Arâ—thusius Courage Barbarous cruelty Cyrillus God's judgement on Persecutors Marisâ—oldly â—oldly reproveth Julian Blasphemy Devilish subtilty Christian wisdom Juventius and Maxentius Christian courage Apollo's Image broken with lightning Christians fined Athanasius driven away Courage A special providence Blasphemy Zeal Courage Note Athanasâ—us accused of sedition His miraculous deliverance His banishment and danger His miraculous deliverance He is restored for a time and again banished Christian virgins shamefully abused The Arrians cruelty B. Paul banished Subtilty An. Christi 364 Persecution raised by Valens He succeeded Julian Miletius Eusebius Pelagius An admirable story Courage Gods Providence Eighty godly Ministers burned Cruelty of hereticks Peter Cruelty The Emperour refused admonition Gods judgement â—n persecutors Bloody schismaticks Profane Schismaticks Turbulent Schismaticks Profane Schismaticks Gods Judgement on them Impure schismaticks Profane Hereticks Cruelty of Hereticks Prodigious Ministers loaden with burthens Cruelty to Infants Pampinian Hippo besieged A special providence Pride A noble Earl martyred An evil conscience Constancy Rome sacked Charity Gods providence A special Providence Moors converted Cruelty of Hereticks The Bishop of Habensa Christians murthered at a Sermon Horrible profaness Armogastes tormented A special providence Saturu's noble courage Tentation Resisted Gensericks death Manichaeans punished Eugenius chosen Bishop Envy Cruelty of Hereticks Constancy Constancy Barbarous cruelty Multitudes banished Foelix Tentation Constancy An excellent story Cruelty of Hereticks Cyprians sympathy Charity Barbarous cruelty A special providence Subtilty of Hereticks Pride of Hereticks Unjust cruelty A confession of â—aith A wicked Edict Cruâ—lty of Hereticks Devillish subtilty A wicked sentence Dionysia Impudence of Hereticks Courage She encourageth her son The benefit of good examples Slanders Tentation Courage and constancy Gods Mercy Many burned in a ship Admirable courage
and comfort Tentation Constancy of a boy An excellent example of an Heathen Profaness of Hereticks The destruction of the persecuting Vandals Sin the forerunner of persecution The fâ—â—st Reformers Peter Valdo Charity Popish malice Christian courage Pope Alexander raiseth persecution Godâ— Providence Persecution spreads the Gospel King of France persecutes them Many burnt The spreading of the Gospel Malicious slanders Vindication The greate encâ—ease of the Waldenses Popish rage and malice Five burnt at Collen A bloody Edict against the Waldenses They defend themselves by Arms. Valdo's Zeal and Courage Sangâ—iâ— Martyrum semen Ecclesia Dominicans instituted Inquisitors begun An. Chri. 1176· Injustice Prodigious cruelty A Knight burned A Disputation between the Popelings and the Waldenses The Popelings bafled Horrible cruelty The number of the Waldenses Their godly lives Good Pastors Persecution raised Popish cruelty In Pragela Popish malice Infants starved to death Popish cruelty Frassiniere Popish cruelty The King forbids the persecution Yet the Arch-Bishop continues it Popish malice Slanders Ja Pateneri The Arch-Bishops cruelty Gods judgement on persecutors Popish lies Gods providence Popish subtilty Barbarous crueltie A girevous persecution The Lieutenant repulsed Plain dealing Popish uncleannesse In Dauphine The weaknesse of a woman The innocency of the Waldenses Popish subtilty and injustice A speciall providence In Piedmont Love Popish malice Slanders Persecution in Piedmont Cruelty Cat. Girard Popish malice Prayer Profanenesse A just judgement A specall prouidence Gods judgement on persecutors Gods mercy Slanders Zeole and courageth Persecution renued Constancy The antiquity of the Faith Unity Zeal The first French Bibles printed One of them drowned A speciall providence The Pope stirs up persecution Courage A special providence Bar. Hector Persecution renewed Profanenesse Prudence Popish malice The German Prince interceds for them Popish malice A great persecution Humane infirmity Popish malice A speciall providence Treachery Prodigious villany A miracle of Mercy A special providence Popish subtilty Popish dissimulation and perfidiousness Fasting and Prayer A special providence Power of Prayer Profaneness A special providence A just reward Prayer A speciall providence Popish subtilty Perfidiousness Papist trechery A notable story A speciall providence Barbarous cruelty Gods judgement on persecutors Uncleannesse Popish Perfidiousness Their Ministers sent away Cruelty Barbarous cruelty Prayer in danger A League A good resolution Images demolished A speciall providence Popish subtilty A special providence Gods Providence Joy in tribulations Prayer in danger Speciall providences Thanksgiving A speciall providence Prayer The enemies every where beaten Prayer in danger A speciall providence Scorners punished Subtilty Perâ—idiousnesse The Spaniardsâ—epulsed â—epulsed Peace obtained Bar. Copin Zeal Christ best of all Tentation Constancy His exhortation to his wife and children Copin murthered Gods providence Their holy lives Their godly conversation The Pope persecutes them Popish lies Humane frailty Popish cruelty A speciall providence Barbarous cruelty Prodigious wickednesse Zeal Horrible cruelties Their totall extirpation Devilish slanders Note P. Masson martyred A cruel decree K. Francis the first Called Miâ—â—irs Barbarous cruelty Prodigious cruelty A bloody speech Gods judgement on persecutors Miniers his horrible death Gods judgement on persecutors Popish uncleannesse Profanenesse A godly Book-seller burnt Popish subtlity Popes rage against Earl Remund He goes to the Popes Legate The Earl whipt naked Beziers besieged Faith and courage Beziers stormed Barbarous cruelty Carcasson besieged Popish cruelty A brave speech Popish cruelty and unleannesse Carcasson stormed The Pilgrims repulsed with great losse Popish Profaanenesse and perfidiousness The Earl made a prisoner A speciall providence Carcasson taken Simon of Montfort made Generall Eearl of Beziers dieth The King of Arragon encourageth the Albingenses Earl Simons pride abated Prodigious cruelty Menerbe taken Courage and constancy The Castle of Termes taken Six thousand Pilgrims slain Horrible cruelty Popish subtilty The Legate dies The English help the Albingenses Popish pride Popish hypocrisie Articles against Earl Remund Earl Remund in danger His brother betrays him Tholouse besieged The Pilgrims beaten The siege raised Popish perfidiousnessâ— and cruelty Popish perfidiousnesse Subtilty Prince Lewis retires Earl Simon beaten Young Remunds successe Earl Simon honoured And disgraced A Council against the Albingenses Popish cruelty A new Army of Pilgrims Cruelty A popish brag E. Sâ—mon beaâ—en Thanksgiving Many Pilgrims slaine E. Simon slain by a woman Prince Lewis his cruelty Earl Guido slaine The Emperours cruell edict against them The Gospellers dispersed Persecuted The Gospellers encrease The King of France against them Avignion besieged A Famine in the Kings Army A dreadfull Judgement Many of them drowned The French beaten The Kâ—ng removes further from the City A plague in the French Camâ— The King of France dyeth Avâ—gnion taken by treachery The young â—ing of France persecuts them His armies beaâ—en Tholouse besieged A great Famine Popish treachery Unreasonable terms put upon the Earl of Tholouse Pope Gregories Counsells against them Persecution continued A cruell Edict against them The bones of one of them burnt A brave answer Albingenses in Spaine Persecuted and destroyed Trancavell and others defend them He prevailes exceedingly A dying woman burnt Earl Remund escapes He is forced to submit Persecution in Italy 1240. Earl Remund prospers Persecution in Millan Earl of Provence beaten A great Persecution Pope Urban Persecutes them Another Persecution A cruel Edict They increase and are persecuted Lollard Christianity brought into Bohemia Persecution begun Tyranny Persecution in Prague A speciall providence The Christians prevaile Subtilty 300. Christians slain Gods judgement on persecutors Wenceslaus reigns Ludomilla murthered Wenceslaus murthered Gods judgement on persecutors Woytich banished The Pope usurps over the Bohemians John Melicius The Pope Antichrist Melicius imprisoned M. Mathias Mathias banished John Husse Jerome 〈◊〉 Prague Popish malice and subtilty The Pope excommunicates the Bohemians Multitudes martyred Encouragment Apostacy Constancy Unnaturall cruelty Many drowned A loving wife Cruelty A Minister and others burned Profanenesse and blasphemy Martin Loquis Prodigious cruelty Some beheaded Schism Calixtines Popish subtilty Thaborites destroyed Reformation begun Popish malice A Minister racked A wicked Edict Popish cruelty Elders chosen A Synod Ordination of Ministers The Waldenses· Admonition The Waldenses persecuted The Church increaseth Popish subtilty Slanders Confession The Brethren banished Persecution Popish malice Gods judgement on persecutors Anno 1510. A cruel Edict Devillish wickednesse Tentation resisted Gods judgement on persecuâ—ors Anno. 1523. Luther Zahere an Apostate Popish lies and slanderous Persecution Two burnt A godly woman burnt Two godly men burnt Comfort in death Gods judgement on persecutors A new persecution Popish malice Charles the fifth warres against the Protestants A great persecution Persecution causeth reformation A speciall providence Popish malice Ministers persecuted A speciall providence Conversion John Augusta Popish lies and slanders A wicked Edict Two hundred Ministers banished The Baron of Schanow Jesuites first brought into Prague Maximilian Emperour Rodulphus Emperour Sin the forerunner of persecution Mathias Emperour Ferdinand