Martyrs in Flames OR POPERY In its true Colours DISPLAYED Being a brief Relation of the Horrid Cruelties and Persecutions of the POPE and Church of ROME for many hundred years past to this present Age inflicted upon Protestants in Piedmont Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Italy Spain Portugal Holland Scotland Ireland and England With an Abstract of the Cruel Persecutions lately Exercised upon the Prorestants in France and Savoy in the year 1686 and 1687. Together with a short Account of Gods Judgments upon Popish Persecutors Published for a Warning to all Protestants shewing what they must expect from that bloody Generation of Antichristians By R. B. LONDON Printed for Nath. 〈…〉 at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 〈…〉 3. TO THE Protestant Reader THE Imminent Dangers that we have so lately escaped from the cursed Principles and Practices of the Romish Faction who if they had not been prevented by an amazing Providence designed to involve the Three Nations into Popish Idolatry and French Slavery calls aloud upon us for the utmost praise and thankfulness to that Almighty Hand that has begun to deliver us and to beseech him to perfect the same and doth likewise oblige every man to be upon his Guard and to forewarn all Protestants of the danger of the return of that medly of Nonsence Blasphemy and Superstition There being very little difference between the Popish Religion if it deserves that name and none at all since Treasons Murders Rapes Burnings Perjuries and all the horrid Cruelties Hell it self can invent are so far from being counted Sins or Crimes by that Synagogue of Satan that they are oft reckoned Meritorious and a man shall deserve Heaven for committing them There being no Sin unpardonable but that which they falsly call Heresie or the True Worship of God according to the Scriptures â—or this they would have turnâ—d our Land into Blood Slaughter and Confusion For this they would have overthrown our â—eligion enslaved our Souls or else have burnt our Bodies to ashes as they did our Ancestors It is difficult to make a Draught of this bloudy Beast of Rome it would be a horrid sight to draw him in his full proportion yet take a short view of him so as to tremble at the thoughts of what-others have suffered and we might have felt had not the Divine Goodness discovered their black Designs and we hope will still prevent their damnable Enterprizes against us His Eyes are like Flames that have consumed the Bodies of many Thousand Marâ—yrs His Mouth is like Hell gaping for his prey Blood gushes out of his Jaws like Rivers His bloudy Tusks are the Racks and tormenting Engines wherewith he grinds the Bones of Gods Saints His Tail is armed with the stings of Scorpions wherewith he lashes Sâ—ates and Kingdoms From his Throat belch forth Curses and Excommunications denouncing Judgment Hell and Destruction upon all that oppose him It is this Monster of Persecution and Cruclty that the cursed Instruments and Vassals of Rome endeavour to advance in all places where they have power and opâ—â—â—unity and by this you may judge of thâ—â—â— Religion and Principles By these 〈…〉 at the Trâ—â—â—nd what Spirit they 〈◊〉 of and the 〈…〉 of this liâ—â—◠〈…〉 is 〈…〉 a brief Accâ—â—â—â—t of the Mâ—â—chiess and 〈…〉 perpetâ—â—â—d by that Man of Sin 〈…〉 his Agents upon the Sâ—rvants of God 〈◊〉 since he appeared in the World the like whereof were never Acted by Heathens Turks or Infidels neither is a large Volume able to contain the tenth part of their Horrid Massacres and Hellish Tortures To conclude Let this be a Looking-Glass to my honest Countreymen who have neither money nor time for perusing greater Histories and let us all strive to heal all kind of Divisions and Disagreements between the True Followers of the Doctrines of the Blessed Jesus and as one man let us by all justifiable and lawful Methods in our several places and stations oppose this Armed Beast of Persecution and Tyranny that we may have cause to bless the Lord of Heaven and Earth and to praise him in the Congregation who hath caused our Enemies to fall into the Pit which they had digged for these Three Kingdoms Introduction ABout Five Hundred Years after the Death of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ one Phocas who had Murdered his Master Mauritius Emperor of Constantinople and his Children first Advanced the Bishops of Rome to be Universal Bishops and Heads of the Church at which time they were endowed with these large Possessions and Donations which they call St. Peter's Patrimony and which they falsly assert to be the Gift of Constantine the Great After this the Church of Rome growing Great Mighty Rich and Proud at once lost its Humility and Purity of Religion and assumed Politick and Tyrannical Principles which caused her Defiled Hands to lay aside the Sword of the Spirit and to make use of the Temporal Sword which she used to the Deposing and Murthering of divers Kings Princes and Emrors I. For after they had once tasted the Sweetness of Wealth Ease and Prosperity the Popes began to swell in Pride and Pomp and the more they Flourished in this World the more the Holy Spirit of God forsook them so that in a short time those Bishops who were Poor Mean Indigent Persecuted and wanting all things began to Triumph over Princes to tread upon the Necks of Emperors and to bring the Heads of Kings under their Usurped Authority They were carryed upon Mens Shoulders in all manner of Magnificence as if the Earth were not good enough to bear them they were honoured as Gods on Earth and Soveraign Princes Dukes and Lords c. went bare headed before them And not only so but through their Pride and Ambition they grew so great Apostates from Christians that of being Persecuted they became Persecutors of others and at last were so great Enemies to God and Religion that the Pope may now be justly Reckoned and Accounted the Antichrist or Man of Sin so long before spoken of by St. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2. II. This Pride and Insolency of the Pope and his Clergy appeared in several Instances which might be given of it but out of the Multitude we shall only collect some few to shew what Slavery and Bondage both Princes and People were formerly subject to under this Antichristian Yoke About the Year 1158. Frederick Emperor of Germany Marching into Italy the Pope hearing of it went with his Clergy to meet him as soon as the Emperor saw the Pope he Allighted from his Horse to receive him and held the Popes Stirrup while he Alighted also but it seems he mistook the Left Stirrup instead of the Right at which the Pope seemed to be very much offended which the Emperor observing he smilingly told the Pope That he desired to be excused since he was not accustomed to hold Stirrups with which acknowledgment the Pope seemed to be satisfiâ—d After this there happened some difference
Executed for the Mutiny then were the Articles of Marriage agreed upon at Paris the Admiral Coligni was invited to the Wedding and those that belong'd to the Family of the Duke of Guise were forbid the Court which was very acceptable to the Protestants as judging it an assured pledg of the Kings fidelity since he declared much satisfaction in the Marriage saying That it was not so much for the Wedding as that it was a strong knot of Peace and would be for the good of the whole Nation The Admiral for his security was allowed to bring with him fifty Gentlemen armed and being come to Paris he was honourably received of the King who called him Father and protested that in his whole life he had not been better pleased as judging this day would end all his troubles and settle firm peace and quietness in his Kingdom Notwithstanding this the Admiral had several Intimations of some Treachery intended against him but though very wise yet he took little notice of it The Queen Mother likewise entertained him with great favour and the King sent him One Hundred Thousand Franks out of his Treasury for the loss which he had received in the Wars And the King to delude the People spake publickly That he did not give his Sister in Marriage to the King of Navarr only but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to joyn with them in an indissoluble union and as a tye to their peace and safety The Seventeenth of August the King of Navarr and the Lady Margaret were married with great Solemnity before the great Church of Paris on a Scaffold in the sight of all the People by the Cardinal of Bourbon the King of Navarrs Unkle and the Wedding was solemniz'd with Banquets Dancing and Masques with a strange mixture of Protestants and Papists together after which the Bride was led into the Church to hear Mass with great solemnity but the King of Navarr her Bridegroom the Prince of Conde and other Protestant Noblemen walked without the Church door till her return as misliking their Religion and Ceremonies In the mean time the Queen Mother and her bloody Councellors together with the Duke of Anjou and Guise contrive the Marder of the Admiral and the dividing the Protestants The Admiral after the Marriage moved the King for his departure home but the continual complaints of the Protestants still detained him at Court and going some days after thither in his return home while he was reading a Petition with divers Noblemen and Gentlemen about him He was shot by a Harquebuzie the Bullet taking off the forefinger of his right-hand and hurting him in the left Arm he feeling himself shat said without alteration of Countenance It came thorough yonder Window what kind of Ireachery is This The door of the House being brâ—ke open they understood that he which shot presently mounted upon a Spanish Jennet at a back door and made his escape leaving his Gun behind him and upon Examination it was found that the Harquebuz was brought to the house the day before by one Chally Steward of the Kings House and an acquaintance of the Duke of Guise The King having notice of this Villany seemed to be extreamly concerned causing all the Gates of Paris to be presently shut and swore to the Admirals Friends that those that had committed this horrid Fact should not escape the Queen Mother likewise seemed much discontented at it The King went to visit the Admiral assuring him of his love and care over him However the King of Navaâ—r Prince of Conde and other Protestants had private advice to depart speedily out of Paris and to look upon this but as the beginning of the Tragedy which was to follow but they trusting to the Kings word would not go The Dukes of Cuise and Anjâ—u imployed some to go to every house and bring them a Catalogue of all the Protestants and the King set a Guard of Fifty Harquebuzies at the Admirals Gate and abundance of Arms were sent into the Kings Pailace of the Louvre and in the Evening of the same day all the Papists were in Arms the Protestants observing all this many of them assembled at the Admirals Lodgings where it was advised that the Admiral should be Immediately conveyed out of Paris and the rest should change their Lodgings but this was again refused they still relying upon the Kings word who promised them Justice In the Evening divers Protestant Gentlemen offered to watch with the Admiral but he refused it and the same night the Duke of Guise sent for the Captain of the Switzers and shewed him his Commission to kill the Admiral and the rest of the Protestants and exhorted him and his Souldiers to be couragious in shedding their blood At midnight the Provost Sheriffs and Captains of every Ward had the same Orders given them with assurance that the like should be Executed upon the Protestants through the whole Kingdom of France and that the Signal for the General Massacre would be the ringing of the Bell in the Kings Pallace which would be about break or day and that the Murderers should have a white hand kerchief tyed about their Arms and a white Cross in their hats and Candles to be lighted in every house At the time appointed the Bell rung and the Duke of Guise hasted to the Admirals Lodging with his Cut-throats and knocking at the Door he that opened it was murdered the Admiral hearing the noise got out of his Bed and there being a Minister in the Room they both went to Prayers and the Admiral fervently commended his Soul to God and then said to those about him It is long since I disposed my self to die save your selves if it be possible for you cannot save my life I commit my Soul into the hands and mercy of God The Minister and the rest of his attendants got up to the top of the house and crept out of the Windows to save themselves yet most of them were slain in the next House Presently seven or eight men broke into the Admirals Lodgings and one of them set his Naked Sword to his Breast saying Art thou the Admiral To whom with a Christian Constancy he answered I am called so and withal said Young man thou oughtest to consider my Age and the weak condition I am now in but do what thou wilt for thou canst not shorten my life but a very little But the Wretch blaspheming God thrust him through the Breast and afterward strook him on the head another shot him with a Pistol and a third wounded him in the Thigh so that he lay gasping for life the Duke of Guise was below and with a loud voice cryed Have you done It was answered Yes the Duke replyed Our Chevalier which was the Kings Bastard Brother will not believe it unless he see it which being done his Face was all bloody which the Duke of Guise wiping said Now I know it is he and then kicked
the horrible Murderers of the Admiral shewing his Sword which he said he brought from that exploit to slash the Rochellers but upon Tryal his heart failed him and he ran away and one of the Rochellers pursuing him slew him stript him and left his body in the Field and before next morning the dogs had torn his Face In one Months space the Papists discharged above Thirteen Thousand Shot against the Town and made many assaults but always came off with loss The Siege continued two Months and the Famine much increased upon them but by Divine Providence when all other Provision failed them there came a multitude of small Fishes into the Haven which were never seen there before and was a very great relief to them who continued during the siege but presently after the publishing the Edict of Peace they went away and were never seen more A while after the Rochellers were likewise freed from the siege by means of the Poland Ambassdors and enjoyed their former Priviledges It is very remarkable that most of those Persons which were employed in the Massacre of Paris and other Places were killed at this siege for there were slain before this Town three Masters de Camp divers Lords and Gentlemen above Threescore Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensigns and above Twenty Thousand Common Souldiers The next year after the King himself who was at least the Countenancer of all these horrible Massacres being in the prime of his Youth not above Twenty five years old fell sick of a languishing disease his Physicians let him blood and purged him to no purpose for he consumed away so strangely as astonished many He long strugled against his disease but at last betook himself to his Bed for about fourteen days before his death and was sore tormented with a great effusion of blood which issued from all parts of his body and one time to the terror of those about him he rouled himself in his own blood A while before he died he desired his Mother to pursue his Enemies to the utmost repeating the same with great cagerness and saying Madam I pray you heartily to do it and so expired May 30. 1574. And it was observed that the rest of the Chief Agents were strangely cut off The Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother afterwards King Henry the Third was stabbed by a Jacobine Monk in the same Chamber where he sate in Council for contriving the late Tragedies The Duke of Guize was murdered in the Kings own Chamber Five and Forty Persons waiting with Swords and Daggers to do it The Queen Mother broke her heart and died the first of January after And in short it hath been observed by a good Author that since the year of our Lord 1560 of a Thousand Murderers that remained unpunished by men there was not ten who escaped the Divine hand of God but came to deserved and wretched Ends suitable to their bloody and wicked Lives At a Town called Sansay in France in the year 1593 one Margaret Pieron was by her maid accused to the Jesuits for not going to Mass and for keeping a Bible in her house who complaining thereof to the Judges they sent for her and said Margaret are you not willing to return home to your house and there enjoy your Husband and Children Yes said she if it may stand with the good will of God Then said they If thou wilt do but a small matter thou shalt be set at Liberty If said she it be not contrary to Gods glory and my own Salvation you shall hear what I will say to it No such thing said they for all that we require is but this That a Scaffold being set up in the chief part of the Town you shall there crave pardon for offending the Law and a fire being made you shall burn your Bible in it without speaking a word I pray you my Masters said she tell me is my Bible a good Book or no Yes said they we confess it is only to please the Jesuits we would have thee throw it in the Fire Imagine it to be but Paper and then you may burn it and you may buy another at any time and thereby you may secure your Life They spent two Hours in perswading her that she might commit a less Evil to do a greater good But she couragiously answered them That by the help of God she would never do it Will not the People say said she This is a wretched Woman indeed that burns the Bible wherein all the Articles of Christian Religion are contained I will certainly burn my Body rather thaâ— I will burn my Bible Upon this shâ—wâ—s committed to Prison and fed only with bâ—ead and water and her Friends forbid to come to her but continuing stedfast in the Truth she was thereupon condemned to be set upon a Sâ—â—ffold to have the Bible burnt before her Face her self to be strangled and her body to be dragged through the Streets to a Dunghil which Sentence she willingly and cheerfully underwent In the year 1628. The City of Rochel was again besieged with a great Army by the French King whereby the Inhabitants were in such extremity for want of Victuals that they â—at Horses Dogs Cats Rats and Mice â—nd after that the poor Protestant's lived two Months upon Cow-hides and Goat skins boylâ—d They likewise eat old Gloves and whatâ—ever was made of Leather yea the poor peoâ—le cut off the buttocks of the dead and eat â—hem young Maids of Fourteen or Sixteen â—ears old looked like old Women of an â—undred years old a Bushel of Wheat was sold â—r Twenty Pound a Pound of Bread Twenty â—hillings a Quarter of Mutton above six â—ound An Egg eight shillings An Ounce of â—ugar Half a Crown a dryed Fish Twenty â—illings a Pint of Milk Thirty Shillings After a while the City was taken and some English that were therein when they came aboard looked like Anatomies or dead Bodies And since that to this very day the Protestants have suffered very great hardships and Persecutions in France by having their Churches palled down by Fires and Imprisonments and Banishments by being excluded from all Offices and Imployments of Trust or Profit and by all manner of discouragements whatsoever and that only upon the Account of their Religion and all this contrary to Oaths Protestations Edicts and Proclamations which have been solemnly made and granted to them for the free Exercise of the Protestant Religion The Persecutions of the Protestants in Italy Spain Portugal and the Low-Countries With an Account of the Original Progress and Cruel Torments of the Spanish Inquisition LET us next proceed to look into Italy which being under the Inspection of the Pope it may well be supposed not to harbour many Protestants at least such as dare openly appear to be such by reason of the Inquiâ—tim which was first Instituâ—â—d against the Moors and Jews in Spain but is now 〈…〉 the discovery and Tormentâ—◠〈…〉 Christians yet notwithstanding 〈…〉
and drown them some Wives were forced to help to hang their Husbands in one Town they caused a young Man to murther his own Father and then hanged him up in another place they forced a Woman to kill her Husband and then caused her Son to kill his Mother and then immediately hanged her Son and their cursed malice was thereby shewn that they might as much as in them lay destroy Soul and Body together Yea so detestable was their Cruelty that they taught Irish Children to kill English Children and two Boys boasted that they had at several times murthered and drowned thirty six English Women and Children The Irish Women followed this Army of Murtherers and provoked the Men to Cruelty crying out Kill them all spare neither Man Woman nor Child and many of them stoned the English Women and their Children to Death and cryed Slay them all the English are fit meat for Dogs and their Children are Bastards Yea so Implacable was their malice that one of them was very angry with her Husband because he did not bring the Grease of a Fat Gentlewoman whom they had slain for them to makes Candles of which was commonly practised by them in other places Yea they boasted that the day was their own and that ere long they would not leave one Protestant Rogue living but would utterly destroy every one that had but a drop of English Blood in him yea they vowed they would not leave one English beast alive nor any of their breed Alas who can comprehend the Sighs the Groans the trembling and astonishment of these poor Innocent Souls to sind themselves so suddenly surprized and that without remedy What Schrieks Cries and bitter Lamentations were there of Husbands Wives Children Servants and Friends howling and weeping finding themselves without all hope of deliverance from their present woful Miseries and Calamities For by these and all manner of Cruelties and Barbarities which Hell it self could invent the Irish and English Papists murdered and destroyed in a few Months near Three Hundred Thousand Protestants as it is commonly computed without any manner of provocation but only because they were Protestants whose deaths the Divine Vengeance in a short time after recompensed upon several of the Murtherers many thousands perishing by the Sword and the plague that followed it and the rest without doubt unless they heartily repent will receive the reward of their wickedness The Cruelties Plots and Treasons of the Papists against the Protestants in England AFter having briefly Epitomized the bloody Cruelties and slaughters of this Monster of Rome and his Vassals throughout Europe let us now return home and see if our own Countrey has escaped betterthan our Neighbours Englishmen are generally accounted to be of a merciful nature and pitiful disposition apt to be touched with the miseries of others are not in their own natures bloody barbarous or Cruel what then may be the cause of those dreadful marks of Rage and Fury that have been seen among us How has this Fair Island been made an Accldama a Field of Skulls and Martyrs bones All this we shall sind proceeds from corrupt principles of Religion I doubt not says a worthy Divine but Papists are made like other men Nature hath not generally given them such Savage and Cruel Dispositions but their Religion hath made them so I am loth to say it and yet I am confident it is true that many Papists would have been excellent Persons and very good men if their Religion had not hindred them if the Doctrines and Principles of their Church had not spoiled their natural Disposition Good God! that any thing that is called Religion should so presently strip men of all Humanity and transform the mild and gentle Race of Mankind into Wolves and Tigers It is Popery that alters the Nature of Englishmen and makes them act like Turks Infidels or Barbarians its principles infect the Blood and invenom the Soul instead of being Meek and humble it makes them Proud and Arrogant instead of performing the Commands of Christ it makes men obey the Pope though never so contrary to Religion If our Blessed Saviour says Hurt no man pray for your Persecutors submit to Magistrates and Governours The Pope and his Doctrines say Kill every man that is not of your Religion Curse those that disobey your Commands Kill Stab or depose your Kings or Governours This is the Doctrine and these are the Principles and Commands of the Romish Church It is some hundreds of years since this Bloody Beast of persecution began to shew his Fangs and armed Claws in this Kingdom and it was almost as soon perceived and testified against by some good men in those times For in the Year one Thousand Two Hundred John of Salisbury declared against the Corruptions and Superstitions of the Romish Church and plainly discovered the oppression of the burden of the Pope and his Ravenous Clergy and after him John Grostead Bishop of Lincoln wrote to the Pope and admonished him for which he had like to have lost his life yet the Pope did only hitherto shew his Teeth and could not take his full swing in Blood and Murther which he afterward attained to But since the Papists impertinently urge against us the Newness of our Religion and that it was not known before Martin Luthers days we shall produce much more early Testimonies against the Errors and Abuses in the Romish Churchâ— For we find in the Year 884. John Patrick Erigena a Britan who was ordained the first Reader in Oxford by King Alfred was afterward Condemned and Martyred by the Pope for writing a Book concerning the Sacrament And in the year 960. many Ministers and Divines wore the Mark of the Beast in their faces being by the Popes order Branded in the Faces with hot Irons for Dissenting in many things about the Mass Purgatory Monkery and the like and for saying that Rome was Babylon and that Cloisters were the Nurses of Sodomy In the year 1126. one Arnold an Englishman and a Preacher of the Gospel was Butchered at Oxford for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates and the wicked lives of the Priests In the Year 1160 the poor Persecuted Waldenses came hither for succour but instead thereof they were Persecuted Condemned Burnt Whipt and Stigmatiz'd for their Religion both at Oxford and other places After which almost in every Year it pleased God to raise up several learned and worthy men to testify against the Horrid Corruptions of Rome both by Speaking Writing and Disputing against them As in the Year 1170. Gualo and Gilbert Foliot Doctors of Divinity and after them Silvester Gerald Alexander a Divine Gualter Maxes Arch-Deacon of Oxford Sebald Archbishop of York William Stringham Doctor of Divinity Roger Bacon Fellow of Merton Colledge a divine and Mathematican John Scotus the Great Scotch-man and about the same time Doctor John Wickliff Jeoffery Chaucer William Wickham Bishop of Winchester and many other Learned men All these gave
by all manner of cursed ways and methods imaginable In the year 1666. Sept. 2. about two a Clock in the Morning there began a sad and lamentable Fire in a Bakers House in Pudding-Lane near Fishstreet-hill London which raged with extream Violence being accompanyed with a strong North-east wind so that despising all means used for its extinguishing it spread far and near sometimes with and sometimes against the wind and so continued for the space of near four days till it had burnt down thirteen thousand two hundred houses which stood upon three hundred thirty seven Acres of Ground within the Walls and sixty three Acres three Roods without besides eighty nine Parish Churches the most spacious Cathedral of St. Paul the Royal Exchange the Great Guild-hall the Custom-House many Magnificent Halls of Companies several principal City Gates and other publick Edifices which was accompanyed with the loss of vast quantities of rich Houshold-stuff and Goods of all sorts but especially four or five that is Books of which alone were lost near the value of an hundred and fifty thousand pound Tobacco Sugar Wiens and Plumbs being heavy goods So that the whole loss is computed by an Ingenious Person to be Nine Millions and nine hundred thousand pounds and yet not above six or eight persons through Gods Providence were burnt in this vast desolation Upon the Eighteenth of September the Parliament met and the Commons appointed a Committee to examine into the Causes of the Fire to take Informations concerning it and in a short time so many and such very considerable Informations were brought in that it was no longer doubtful but the Papists were the Contrivers and Managers of this dreadful Fire For among other things it plainly appeared that divers of the Popish Party were made acquainted with it before it happened For Mr. Light of Ratcliff deposed That being in discourse with Mr. Richard Langhorn since Executed for High Treason in February before the Fire concerning Religion Langhorn took him by the hand and said to him You expect great things in sixty six and think that Rome will be destroy'd but what if it be London A French-man told one Elizabeth Styles in April before the Fire that the English Maids would love the French men better when there was not an house left standing between Temple-Barr and London-Bridge To which she replyed She hoped his eyes would never see that He said This will happen betwixt June and October Dr. Oats in his Narrative pag. 22. says That in July 1678. being in discourse with one Strange a Jesuit Strange told him that they had got fourteen thousand pound by the Fire of London in 1666. and that they spent seven hundred Fire-balls to effect their Villany and that when the Fire-Merchants were at work then other Papists both men and women were imployed by them to plunder what they could that they had a Warehouse in Wildstreet where some of their stolen Goods were laid and other Goods they concealed in Somerset-House as Hollands Cambricks Fine Cloth and some considerable quantities of Plate and a Box of Jewels Dr. Oats asked Strange How the King came to escape for it seems his death was designed then Strange replyed Indeed they were resolved to have out him off but seeing him so industrious about Quenching the Fire they could not find in their hearts to do it Strange said there were about Fourscore and six employ'd in it and John Grove since Executed for high Treason told Dr. Oates that he fired Southwork and that the Society of Jesuits got two thousand pounds by that Fire Robert Hubert a French Papist of Normandy began this Fire in London being hired thereto by Stephen Peidelow likewise a Papist and Hubert observing the ruin and desolation that followed could not be quiet till he had freely discovered the whole matter Affirming that by Peidelows directions he put a Fire-ball to the end of a long pole and lighting it with a piece of Match put it into the Bakers window and stayed till the house was in a Flame A French Merchant went to Hubert in the White Lion Prison in Southwark and told him He did not believe him Guilty of what he had confessed Hubert replyed Yes Sir I am guilty of it and have been brought to it by the instigation of Mr. Peidelow but not out of any malice to the English Nation but from a desire of reward which be promised me upon my return into France A while after Hubert was Tryed and Executed for this horrid Fact owning and acknowledging to the last his doing thereof by the Instigation of Pildelow But this not doing their work they took divers other methods for carrying on their design which they had very near brought to persection in the year 1678. had not the Divine Providence most eminently made use of Dr. Titus Oats in the Discovery thereof who notwithstanding the reproaches of his Popish adversaries was liberally Educated in St. John's Colledge in Cambridge where he took his Degree and afterward proceeded Doctor in Divinity at Salamanca in Spain no contemptible University In the year 1672. he was Vicar of Bobbing in Kent but the Air not agreeing with him he left it and was for some time Minister near Chichester in Sussex and afterwards came to be Chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk with an ample testimony of his sober Life and Conversation and whilest he was there he over-heard some whisperings among the Popish Priests who were very conversant in that Family that there was some Great Design in hand but could not learn the particulars He had heard from his Protestant Friends and had read in Sir Hammond 〈◊〉 History of King King Charles the First 〈◊〉 other Judicious Authors That the Papists had for many years carried on a design to introduce Popery once more into these Kingdoms which made him desire to know the bottom thereof and if it were possible to prevent it To this end he more freely conversed with that Party than he formerly used to do seemed dissarisfied in some things concerning our Church and desired to discourse with some Jesuits who are accounted the most Learned Men of the Popish faction This upon some Cautions he obtained and after divers Conferences with them in which he suffered himself to be overcome he was formally reconciled to the Church of Rome and a while after seeming to aspire to a higher degree of Persection he desired to be admitted into the Order of the Jesuits which after three days consideration they consented to and because he was a man of years being about Twenty eight they would not employ him as a Novice but made him a Messenger of the Society This being the mark he aimed at they sent him with Letters to Valâ—dolid in Spain which he judging to contain something of their Hellish contrivances dexterously opened by the way and thereby made some discovery of their wicked Intentions However he managed their Affairs with so much satisfaction that in a
be so sensible that he made a publick Declaration of it at St Germains in 1652. And every one endeavoured to proclaim loudest the merits of the Protestants the Queen Mother her self acknowledging That they had preserved the State Though to shew the little faith is to be given to men of that Religion the Kings Ministers instilled into his mind That since the Protestants were so potent to set up the King they night likewise upon another occasion remove him again From this Diabolical reasoning it was resolved they must be suppressed and ruined and therefore when the Kingdom was setled in peace three Protestant Towns Rochel Montauban and Millan which had shewed the greatest zeal 〈◊〉 the Kings Service were plundered by the Souldiers and otherwise impoverisht These were the forerunners of that general destruction designed against these innoâ—ent People which were every day succeeded by others â—n order to their utter extirpation They first condemned their Churches and Exercises of Religion by establishing Commissioners who pretended the Protestants had exceeded the grants that were allowed them though their Proceedings herein were so very unjust that the Judges often received order to condemn them when by the great evidence of their right they declared they could not in Conscience do it Yea in civil affairs and controversies about Lands Houses or Debts Religion was always urged the Monks Priests and the rest of that Crew crying out in Courts of Justice I plead against an Heretick against an Enemy to the State and to the Kings Religion whom he would have to be destroy'd So that the Judge durst not declare in their favour though never so much wronged lest he should be counted a Favourer of Hereticks And upon complaint the Protestants were told You have your remedy in your own hands why don't you turn Catholicks After this succeeded Processes to all the Cities Towns and Parishes in France to impower the Curates and Church-Wardens to inquire exactly what had been said or done for twenty years past by the Protestants about Religion or any other matters and to inform the Justices of the place who were to punish them with the utmost severity whereby the Prisons were soon fillâ—d there being no want of false witnesses and which was most horrible though the Judges were very sensible they were perjured villains yet they countenanced and incouraged them in swearing things that they knew were absolutely false whereby many innocent and virtuous persons were whipt and sent to the Gallies for Slaves But the Ministers suffered most thereby who seldom preached a Sermon but that a Troop of Priests and Monks were present as Informers and Observators who charged them with things they never thought of by turning them into a contrary meaning Yea pretended to divine their thoughts and make them criminal For if a Minister spake of Egypt Pharaâ—h the Israelites or of good and bad people These Spies report that by Egypt and the wicked they meant the Catholicks and by the Israelites the Protestants Yea the Judges and Ministers of state incouraged these Rascals so that they filled the Jayls with poor Protestants where they were kept whole years together and sometimes suffered corporal punishment They then proceeded to deprive Protestants of all Publick Offices and Imployments directly contrary to the Edict of Henry the great who made an express Article to the contrary Yea to hinder them from excercising several Arts and Trades whereby to maintain their Families This was in 1669 and in 1680 and 1681. all Lords and Gentlemen were ordered to discharge all their Protestant Officers and Servants Nay they would not suffer any Protestant Mid-Wives to do their Office but expresly ordained that no Women should receive any assistance in that condition but from Popish Mid-Wives by these strange and unheard of Methods many thousand Persons and Families were reduced to misery and ruin But because some could still sustain themselves there was an Order of Council that the New-Converts as they call them that is those who turned from Protestants to Papists should not be obliged to pay their debts in three years which fell heavily upon the Protestants who were generally concerned with them and hereby they found the secret to recompence the Apostates at the charge of those who continued constant who were likewise prohibited to sell or alienate their Estates to support themselves the King making void all contracts of that kind Yea to add to their misfortunes they were forbid by divers Edicts under severe penalties not to go out of France to get their Bread in other Countrys which reduced them to the horrible necessity of dying with hunger in their own Country Their Cruelty ceased not here for they laid unreasonable and severe Taxes upon the Protestants so that he who before was charged at Forty or Fifty Livers was now raised to seven or eight hundred which if not instantly paid they quartered Dragoons upon them till they had discharged the utmost farthing In 1681 an Edict came out that Children at seven years of age might abjure the Protestant Religion forcing their Parents to give them yearly allowances above their ability which occasioned the seducing of many young people and brought ruin to a multitude of Families yea they took Children from their Parents and put them into Covents with strict charge not to let their Fathers or Mothers see them even Persons of the best Quality were so â—â—ed the ancient Duke De la Force having seven of his Chilâ—ren taken from him the eldest not exceeding twelve years and the like was done to other Noblemen a barbarity never heard of in the most Savage Nations They prohibited the Protestant Ministers to be School-Masters and suppressed three Universities which were absolutely granted by the Edict of Nants They forbid Papists to marry Protestants or Ministers to hinder their people directly or indirectly from imbracing the Roman Religion These and a murtitude of Grievances more they groaned under when the Elector of Brandenburgh being pleased to intercede on their Behalf the King assured him He was very well satisfied with the behaviour of his Protestant Subjects and that so long as he lived no wrong should be done them And yet at the same instant according to the usual perfidy of that party he gave order for demolishing several of their Churches and shut up others imprisoning their Pastors and using divers manifest injustices against those he pretended to protect Yea in 1682. When they had much advanced the work of their destruction the King declared That he had not the least intention to infringe the Edict of Nantes but would most religiously observe it Though at the same time he had treacherously resolved in Council to Ruin and Destroy it And accordingly in 1684. He absolutely concluded to cancel and make void that Edict and to banish all their Ministers out of the Kingdom yet still declaring That other Protestants might live peaceably till it should please God to enlighten and convert them Which was only designed
the Beast and the Kings and Princes of Christendom established the Authority of the Pope and Church of Râ—mâ— appointing to slaughter and destruction such as denied the horrid Blasphemies and Errors maintained by them it occasioned many good Christians to detest their Superstitions as unknown to the Apâ—stles and the Primitive Church And the first we reâ—d of was one Berengarius who boldly and faithfully published the True Religion contained in the Scripture and discovered the falseness of the Romish He lived about the time of William the Conqueror his coming into England about which time his Followers being taken notice of as dissenting from many of the Common received Opinions of those times they were branded with all the odious Name of Hereticks About Twenty years after this one Peter Bruis was a famous Preacher among them who taught them publickly a long time at Tholouse in Savoy in a short time after they were grown to so great a multitude that the Popes of Rome were resolved if possible by any means to extirpate and destroy them to which end they at first incited several of the most Learned of their Party to write against them and warned divers Princes to have a care of them and to banish them out of their Territories The first then that flung away the Spiritual Keys and began valiantly to brandish the bloody Sword of Persecution against them was Pope Alexander the Third who began therewith to hack hew and murther the poor Waldenses so named from Peter Waldo or Waldo of Lyons in France who appeared very couragious in opposing the many Corruptions of the Romish Church as Holy Oyl Consecrated Images Popes Indulgences Candles Merits Auricular Confession the Supremacy of the Pope False Miracles Purgatory Praying for the Dead Prayers to Saints extream Unction and many other Fopperies of the Popish Communion This Persecution of Waldo and his Followers who were encreased to a very great number began in France in the Year 1060. Waldo being compell'd to fly into the Mountains of France among the Savage Inhabitants to whom he taught his Doctrine others fled into Picardy from whence they were called Picards several into Flanders and Alsatia and thereby for the safety of their Lives they spread their Doctrine into all places King Philip of France being incited by the Ecclesiasticks raised Arms against them and destroyed Three Hundred Gentlemens Houses and likewise several Walled Towns And those that fled into Flanders escaped little better for they were pursued and many of them for their Religion put to Death And the Bishops of Mayence and Strasburgh raised great persecutions against those which fled thither there being Five and Thirty Citizens of Mayence burned in one Fire and Eighteen in another who suffered Death with very great constancy and at Strasburgh at the instance of the Bishop Fourscore were likewise burnt for professing the same Truth and yet by the exhortations constancy and patience of these Martyrs there were such multitudes who entertained their Doctrines that in a few Years after in the County of Passau and in Bohemia there were above Fourscore thousand persons that made profession of the same Faith Some of them likewise fled into England for shelter but were more barbarously and cruelly put to death at Oxford by the Papists there than ever any Christians were before that time for matters of Religion and Three years after Pope Alexander the Third made a Decree in the Council of Tours in France that these Gospellers and all their Favourers should be Excommunicated and that none of them should buy or sell according as it was foretold in Revelat. 13.17 At Colen in Germany Four Men and Two young Women were discovered hid in a Barn and the Papists not being able to disswade them from the Truth The Men were all tyed to the Stake to be burnt but the Râ—manists pretending to pity the young Women perswaded them to recant but they perceiving their design got out of the hands of those that held them and voluntarily leapt into the Fire where they were burned with thâ—m about this time a Proclamation was published in Aragon whereby it was made Treason to relieve these poor Christians or to suffer them to live in that Country and liberty was given to all people to abuse them at pleasure without being punished for the same But these people still encreasing the Pope was resolved to suppress them by all means possible and therefore about the Year 1201. he set up the Bloody Inquisition which with its Racks Tortures Fire and all manner of Cruelty hath destroyed an innumerable company of Good and Holy Men. And in the same Year a noble Knight called Emandus and one of the Waldenses was burnt at Paris and the persecution still continuing the people of Dat phine flying from their barbarous Enemies sheltred themselves in â—he Caves upon the Mountains but their cruel Adversaries having notice thereof pursued and destroyed many of them and the rest fled higher into the Mountains which were all covered with Snow together with their Wives and Children the Mothers carrying some in their Arms and others in Cradles and the Night coming on and having no means to make a Fire for their tender Infants they were so benummed with cold that in the morning above Fourscore of them were found dead in their Cracles and most of their Mothers died likewise Many also were burnt in the same Country of Dauphin and the Fire of Persecution raged through the whole Land so that there was scarce a Town or City in Pâ—edmont but many were put to death therein and at Turin one of them had his Bowels taken out of his Bâ—lly and put into a Bason and was afterward cruelly Martyred One Gerrard being at the Stake to be burnt requested the Hangman to give him Two or Three Stones which he at first refused thinking he would have thrown them at some body but afterwards did and Gerrard taking them up into his hands said When I shall have eaten up these Stones then shall you see an end of our Religion for which you now put me to death and then throwing them on the Ground he chearfully died These Countries being so hot with the Fire of Persecution many of these poor People fled into Calabria where they began to plant build Towns as Saint Xist La Gard and divers others where they continued till the year 1560. at which time they were most grievously persecuted by Pope Pius the Fourth and were forced to leave their Houses and Habitations and to fly into the Woods for the saving of their Lives but being there pursued by order from the Vice-Roy of Naples most of them were cruelly and barbarously murdered by the Souldiers and some flying into fortified places were so straitly besieged that they died with Famine And at the same time one Charlin was rackt in so horrible a manner that his Guts came out of his Belly Another was tormented upon the Rack Eight hours together to force him
with his Fist others pulled him by the Hair and Beard so that the poor man was all embrued in Blood before he came to Prisor The next day he was brought before the Judgâ— where by the instigation of the Bishops he 〈◊〉 burned the same day with two Bibles 〈◊〉 bout his Neck one before and anothâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ind where he made a most Christ 〈…〉 This long and Bloody Persecution of these Waldenses lasted near five hundred years in which time the Gospel spread into Bohemia Austria Germany Flanders England Poland Italy Spain Dalmatia Creatta Sclavonta Salmatia Bulgaria and in other places to which they were driven where they were tormented and persecuted according to the power and influence that the Pope and his Agents had over the Princes and Governors oâ— those Countries The Albingenses were the same with the Waldenses prosessing the same Doctrines and Principles and differing only in name their Country being called Albi the chief Preaches among them being one Arnold from whoâ— they were sometimes called Arnoldists Popâ— Alexander the Third began with them condemning them for Hereticks and Pope Inncent the Third raising a War against them calling it the Holy War giving the same Paâ—dons and Indulgences and promising Paradisâ— to all that would fight against the Heretickâ— with the same encouragement as thâ—se which went to the Holy Land against the Turks anâ— Sarazens In this War he so thundered oâ—â— Excommunications and used Temporal Arm against Reymond Earl or Prince of Tholousâ— that he was forced to submit and his Nobili◠〈◊〉 much astonished to see their Lord 〈◊〉 〈…〉 â—vested of his Possessions but led to thâ— Church to be reconciled to it where the Popes Legate commanded the Earl to strip himself stark naked all but his Linnen Drawers they then put a Rope about his Neck and led him nine times round the Grave of one Peter an Hermit who was kill'd in that War scourging him with Rods all the while of which the Earl complaining the Legate told him That he must submit if he would be reconciled to the Pope yea he must be thus scourged before his Earls Barons Marquesses Prelates and all the People He made him likewise Swear to be obedient to the Pope and Church of Rome all his life and to make Irreconcileable War against the Albingenses The Legate then acts the part of a General and Besieges Bezier and the Albingenses desiring to come to Terms the Legate would admit of nothing but the renouncing of their Religion and imbracing Popery which they absolutely refused upon those Conditions saying That God was able to defend them but if he would please to honour them to die for his sake they would rather displease the Pope than God Almighty In a short time the City was taken by Storm being assaulted by above an hundred thousand Papists the Enemy entring and slaying a great multitude killing all they met without distinction the Popes Legate bidâ— ding them kill all both Catholicks and 〈◊〉 ticks for the Lord knoweth who are 〈…〉 that there were threescore thousand persons slain in this City the Priests and Fryars going about the Streets in the mean time with Crosses and Banners and singing Te Deum Laudamus after which they set the whole City on fire and burnt it to Ashes They marched next to a Town called Carcasson which these bloody Villains who called themselves Holy Pilgrims took by Storm likewise killing burning and destroying all before them as they had done before at Beziers They next proceeded to the City of Carcasson which was about two miles from the Town and was defended by the Earl of Peziers when they offered to capitulate the Legate would grant no other Conditions but that the Earl and twelve more should come forth with their Baggage but all the rest both Men Women Maids and Children should come forth stark naked without any covering either of Shirt or Smock and humble themselves before him but the Earl disdained such unworthy Conditions upon which the Legate assaulted the City but they that were within threw down Stones Fire Pitch Brimstone and Scalding Water from the Walls which so galled the Legates Souldiers that the Earth was covered and the Ditch filled with their dead bodies The Legate finding Force would not avail 〈…〉 Policy and therefore upon pretence of Parley he perswaded the Earl to come out of the City with great Oaths and Execrations for his safe return but having him in possession they kâ—pt him Prisoner and then Instantly stormed the City to the amazement of the poor Citizens who expected nothing less but there being happily discovered a Vault in the Town which went to a Castle some miles from thence the Citizens in the the Evening began their Flight with their Wives and Children carrying Victuals with them only for some few days the next morning they arrived at the Castle and from thence dispersed themselves some one way some another leaving the City and all therein to the fury and rage of the unholy Pilgrims They then surprized the Castle of Bezon where they pulled out the Eyes and cut off the Noses of an hundred Albingenses leaving only one with one Eye to guide the rest to Calaret They took likewise the Castle of Menerly defended by the Lord of Termes whom they flung into a filthy Prison till he died his Wife Sister and Daughter who was a Virgin and likewise divers Noble Women after they had in vain by frowns and threats endeavoured to draw them to Popery were burnt in an huge fire all together And after that they burnt an hundred and fourscore more in another great fire who embraced the flames with joy giving God thanks that he was pleased so to honour them as to die for his Name Simon Monford succeeded the Legate in his Generalship and at the taking of the Castle of Lavaur all the Souldiers were put to the Sword except fourscore Gentlemen whom that cruel Earl caused to be hanged and the Lord Aimery on a Gibbet above all the rest the Lady his Sister was cast into a Ditch and covered with Stones the rest of the people who were about four hundred persons were forced into a great fire made purposely for them and so all burnt except those that would forsake their Religion which were very few About this time there was one Reynard Lollard a godly and learned man who by his preaching stirred up the English in Guiene to assist the Albingenses which they did accordingly but this worthy man was afterward burnt in Germany They say he foretold many things by Divine Revelation which came to pass in a short time In the year 1213. near Muret upon the Gavon there was a Battel between Simon Montford and the King of Arragon who assisted the Albingenses in which Fight the King of Arragon was slain and the Enemy reported above two Millions of Albingenses with him which the Albingenses attributed to the too great confidence of the King who depended much upon his numbers
of Angrognea Bobio Villaro Valguicharda Roras Tagliacetto and divers others in all which most of their Inhabitants are Protestants and had been long indulged in their Religion by the Princes of Savoy to whom they were Subjects but in the year 1565. a cruel Edict was published that all such as would not comply with the Church of Rome and go to Mass should within ten days be banished from their Country and Habitation but by the Intercession of the French King and the Elector Palatine of the Rhine this Edict was recalled and they continued quiet till the year 1655. wherein that late horrible Massacre was committed upon them for the sake of their Religion The Papists had all along by many cunning Plots and contrivances endeavoured their subversion by using all Arts to stir them up to Rebellion and by planting Jesuits Colledges among them which like Goads in their sides still annoyed them and prov'd a great trouble and affliction to them for they often procured some cruel and harsh Edict or Proclamation by their Complaints and Lyes which they raised in the Duke of Savoys Court against them As in the year 1602. they got an Edict for banishing all private and publick Protestant Schoolmasters as Enemies to the Government and disturbers of the Peace and likewise another Edict 1622. that no strangers either Ministers or others should be entertained among them In 1634. an Edict came out that all the Protestants of Compiglione should be banished and in 1654. the same was done against those of Martino and Perosa These Missionary Fathers behaved themselves among them more cruelly than Turks or Barbarians But at last resolving utterly to root out the Protestants from among them and throughly to perform the will of their Unholy Father the Pope they procured an Order in the midst of Winter that is January 25. 1655. which is very sharp in those Countries for the banishing of all Protestants out of the Valleys of Lucerna Lucernetta and seven other places within three days after publication unless they would turn Roman Catholicks and this extended to all in general none being excepted of what Rank Degree or Condition soever they were And thus these poor Creatures were forced in compliance with this cruel Edict to fly for the security of their Lives and Consciences in the depth of the Snow and when all the Valleys were covered with water there being among them some Women with-Child others newly delivered young children crying and lamenting old women and decrepit men leaning on their Staves all dragged over the lce through Rain Snow Waters and a thousand inconveniencies and hardships 〈◊〉 that it would have grieved the heart of a 〈◊〉 to have seen them leaving their Goods behind them or selling them for little to the Papists who took no pity of their bitter tears sighing wringing of Hands beating of Breasts mourning complaining and lamenting but all these calamities were but as the bleating of Sheep or the lowing of Oxen to Popish Ears and they rather rejoyced at than commiserated the condition of these poor Wretches They were no sooner gone but their Houses were pillaged rifled and ransackt of all that was left and then pull'd to the ground yea the Trees were cut down and such havock and devastation made as all was turned into a Wilderness This cruel Edict was put in execution by one Gustaldo and others but this was not all the Design was for the utter extirpating and rooting out Hereticks as they called these Religious Souls it would not satisfie them to have banished these few and the poor Protestants could have no redress at Court for all their humble Petitions and Remonstrances could not be heard The Papists had yet more wicked and bloody Designs against them and to that purpose they imployed some Romish Agents who had great influence over the Duke and Dutchess of Savoy It is next to impossible to reckon up the variety of Cruelties and Murders committed up 〈◊〉 â—hese poor Innocent Souls we shall therefore only give a brief Abstract of some remarkable passages that happened therein Upon the seventeenth of April 1655. whilst the Protestant Deputies were detained at Turin and delayed with hopes of redress some Souldiers were sent on purpose to fall unexpectedly upon the Protestants who peaceably attended the issue of their Petitions which caused some bustle for the poor people being prompted by the Law of Nature stood upon their defence and the Papists lost fifty men the Protestants only two Wednesday April 22. The Marquess of Pianessa the Popish General came to the Valley of Lucerna and promised them there should be no violence offered to them provided they would but quarter a few Souldiers as a Token of their Obedience which the well-meaning people consented to but no sooner were these Troops entred but they put all to Fire and Sword slaying all they met with that had but the likeness of Mankind and that in the most barbarous manner they could possibly devise There joyned immediately to this Army a great number of Out-laws Prisoners and other Offenders who thought to have saved their Souls and filled their Purses by killing Heretioks Six Regiments of French besides Irish likewise helped them in this good work the Country being promised to the 〈…〉 cleared of Protestants With 〈…〉 other Troops of Highway-men and Vagabonds by the Licence of their General and the encouragement of Popish Priests and Monks the most unheard-of Villanies were committed upon the poor Protestants So that there was nothing to be seen through the Protestant Vallies but Churches burning Towns smoaking Houses flaming Men Women and Children Missacred and Murthered nothing to be heard but the confused cries of people flying the piercing groans of others dying and the horrid shrieks of others that were tormented and indeed so dreadful was their usage that it is scarce to be expressed In one place they most cruelly tormented an hundred and fifty Women and Children and afterwards chopped off the Heads of some and dashed out the Brains of others against the Rocks they took multitudes of Prisoners and such of them who were fifteen years of Age and upwards if they refused to go to Mass some of them were hanged up others had their Feet nail'd to Trees with their Heads hanging down all which they constantly endured A Franciscan Fryar and another Priest set fire to all the Churches and Houses at S. Giovanni La Toure and other places so that they left not one standing In these Desolations the Mother was bereaved of her sweet Child the Husband of his dear Wife those that were richest among them 〈…〉 to beg their Bread yea they lay weltring in their own blood and the pretence for all those bloody Massacres and Cruelties was that they were Rebels to their Princes Commands in not performing an absolute impossibility by immediately departing from their Habitations in so short a time and likewise for their frequent Petitioning to the Duke to take pity upon them The truth is
ample Testimonies by their publick Writings against the many Corruptions evil Doctrines and Superstitious Worship of the Romish Church with the hazard of their Lives Honours Liberties Estates and Fortunes so that many were persecuted and some were burnt in the Reign of King Henry the second 1174. and in the Year 1380. Utred Bolton and John Ashwerly endured Persecution and a while after John Ashton Walter Bruce John Pateskul and Doctor Crump were persecuted and William Sawtree a Divine of Oxford was martyred and William Swinderly was Burnt in Smithfield In the Year 1407. William Thorp was Burnt and Laurence Redman and six others grievously persecuted In the Year 1417 the Lord Cobham was Burnt in S. Giles's Fields John Purey and Will. White and Richard White were burnt Peter Clark a Divine of Oxford for maintaining publickly the Doctrine of Wickliff was forced to flye but was taken beyond Sea his Tongue cut out then hanged and afterwards burnt Roger Ovely was hanged and Quartered In the Year 1447. Humfrey Duke of Glocester was murdered by the Papists for being a favourer of Wickliff and other Preachers of the Truth and divers others were many ways persecuted for the sake of Religion before the rising of Luther God having in all Ages raised up some to Testifie to the Truth and to maintain the purity of the Gospel And besides these Divines Learned and great men there were several other good men of a meaner quality who openly owned the Truth and suffered for the same and as the number of the professors grew greater who now began to be called Lollards so Persecution grew hotter and the Rage and Malice of the Papists increased In the Reign of King Henry the fifth 1413. Sir Roger Acton John Brown John Beverly and Thirty six more were all put to Death in St. Giles's Fields and John Claydon and Richard Turning Benedict Ulman and several others were burnt and many Imprisoned In the Reign of King Henry the sixth William Tailor one of Wickliffs followers was burnt in Smithfield Henry Web and Henry Florence were Curelly whipt and about an hundred and twenty Men and Women suffered persecution many of them were burnt William White was Martyr'd and at the same time two were burnt at Colchester Richard Hâ—veden a Citizen of London was Martyr'd for the same cause near the Town and several more severely whipt and terribly handled Thomas Baily and Richard Wiche both Ministers were burnt one in Smithfield and the other on Tower-hill In the Reign of Edward the fourth John Goose was Burnt and in Henry the sevenths Reign one Jean Boughton of Fourscore years old was burnt in Norfolk another person was Burnt in Smithfield several were likewise â—igmatized and many did penance William Tilsworth was Burnt in the Town of Amasham where they forced his own Daughter to set fire to Faggots that were to burn her Father and two Years after Thomas Bernard and John Melton and one Roberts were burnt in the same County of Buckingham Thomas Chace after many Cruel Usages and Hardships was murthered in Prison Thomas Norrice was burnt at Norwich and Lawrence Guest at Salisbury and a Woman at Chipping-Sadbury with several other persons in the Reign of King Henry the seventh In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the Flames increased very much and abundance Suffered in every place In the Year 1511. William Sweetinâ— and John Brewster were burnt in Smithfield the same year William Carder Robert Harrison and Agnes Grebel were burnt they forcing the Husband and Daughter of the Woman to come in as Witnesses against her After this one Mr. Style with his Book of the Revelations and twenty five more were Burnt five other Persons were accused for reading an Heretical Book which contained many damnable Opinions and what should this Book be but only the Evangelists in English In the Year 1514. Richard Hun was murdered in the Lollards Tower and afterwards burnt John Brown John Stileman and Thomas Man were burnt in Smithfield Robert Cousin was burnt at Buckingham Christopher Shoemaker at Newberry Richard and Robert Bartlet and John Scrivener were likewise burnt and the Children of John Scrivener were forced to set fire to their Father for it was usual with them to compel Children to accuse their Parents and Parents their Children Husbands their Wives and Wives their Husbands Intimate Friends Brothers and Sisters to accuse one another and many Hundreds were likewise forced to recant and abjure against their Conscienecs or else be Burnt There were two things about this time that very much increased the Professors of the Gospel in England One was the appearance of Martin Luther in the World who boldly owned the Truth and loudly Declaimed against the corruptions of the Romish Church another thing was the Art of Printing which now began to be common whereby the True Religion was the more easily promulgated and Dispersed through every Countrey and in all Languages This allarum'd the Pope and his Debauched Clergy who were afraid to have their wicked Doctrines and Practices discovered to the people and thereupon they began to rage and bestir themselves raising Persecution and making Destruction and Slaughter in all places throughout the Kingdom against the Lutherans as they were now called In the Year 1519. several Protestants were apprehended at Coventry and imprisoned in filthy and nasty Dungeons six of whom were afterwards burnt Robert Silkeb and Thomas Harding were burnt shortly after One Sigal Nicholson a Stationer at Cambridge was hung up by the Privy-members for having Luthers Books in his house several likewise abjâ—â—ed and the Body of William Tracy Esq in Glocester-shire because he had left nothing for Masses for his Soul was taken out of the Grave and Burnt two Years after his Death Richard Brafield a Monk of Bury after he had been whipt and most cruelly handled in Prison and Gagged Beaten and bound and Degraded after a very shameful manner was burnt with much Cruelty in London continuing half an Hour alive in the Flames for want of Wood and when his left arm was burnt he rubbed it with his right hand and it fell down in the Fire he continued in Prayer without moving to the last moment several were imprisoned and fed with bread made of Saw-dust some were set in the stocks with Horse-leaches on their Legs â—â—d their hands so mangled with Irons that the Flesh grew higher than the Irons and with Iron Collars about their Necks nay many were racked till they were lamed John Tewsbury James Bainham Valentine Sheaf and his Wife John Bent and one Trapnel were all Burnt about the same time three were hanged in Chains for burning the Image or Rood of Dover Court John Frith Andrew Honor Thomas Benet William Tindal John Lambert William Leiton and Collins a Lawyer were burnt and Robert Packington Murdered Doctor Barns Thomas Garret William Hieron were burnt in Smithfield John Potter was murthered it Prison Robert Testwood Anthony Parker and Henry Filmer were burnt at Windsor About five
hundred persons in and about London either died in prison or were burnt in Smithfield In the Year 1541. Damlip Dod Saxy were Slain One Henry at Colchester Kerby and Clark at Ipswich and Bury were burnt In the Year 1546. Mistriss Ann Askew one of the Ladies belonging to Queen Katherine Parr because she would not confess any other Ladies was put upon the Rack and the Lord Chancellor himself being more Cruel he acted then the Executioner ordered her to be racked to the utmost she was afterward Burnt in Smithfield and at the same time and place were likewise Burnt Nicholas Belerrian a Minister iâ— Shropshire John Adams a Tailor and John Lacels a Gentleman belonging to King Henry the Eighth these beholding the Invincible Constancy and Patience of Mistriss Askew were thereby much incouraged in their Sufferings About the same time Sir John Blage of the Kings Privy Chamber was falsly accused to have spoken against the Mass upon which he was condemned to be burnt in Smithfield whereupon the Earl of Bedford begged his pardon of the King who Commanded it to be drawn immediately After his release Sir George coming to the King Ah my Pig said he for so he usually called him Yea said Blage if your Majesty had not been better to me than your Bishops were your Pig had been roasted before this time Presently after Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and his Confederates set forth a Cruel Proclamation in the Kings Name for abolishing the Scriptures and all other English Books that discovered the Truth to the people and having obtained this they very much rejoyced therein hoping that they had now for ever suppressed the Gospel so that it should never rise again and to strike the greater terror into mens minds they made a diligent search after the Professors of the Truth of whom they took the names of some drove away others and hereby doubted not but to attain their ends But it pleased God that in the midst of these subtil Contrivances for the destruction of his Gospel and Servants to take away King Henry the Eighth within four Months after the Proclamation and thereby all their hopes and projects were utterly disappointed King Henry the Eighth being dead his only Son Prince Edward our English Josiah ascended the Throne under whom the Protestant Religion was established and Popery and Superstition abolished for he caused all Images to be demolished and as Idolatrous to be taken out of all Churches within his Dominions the Learned mâ—n of his time he encouraged and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures 〈◊〉 abolished the Mass and ordered the Service to be read in the English Tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be administred in both kinds to the People But it pleased God in a short time to take him to himself for in the Seventh Year of his Reign and the Seventeenth Year of his Age he was taken with a lingring sickness during which time a Marriage was concluded between the Lord Guilford Dudley eldest Son to the Duke of Northumberland and the Lady Jane the Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose mother being then alive was Daughter to Mary King Henry the Eighths second Sister The Marriage being finisht and the King every day more sick than other so that he seemed past Recovery the Duke of Northumberland being ambitious to advance his Family perswaded the King that the Church and the True Religion would be in great danger if he did not choose a pious Successer and that it was the part of a good Prince to set aside all other respects when the Glory of God and the good of his Subjects were concerned The King partly for his great desire to have the Protestant Religion confirmed and partly for the intire love which he bore to his Cousin the Lady Jane signed Letters Patents under the Broad Seal to appoint the Lady Jane to succeed him in the Kingdom although her Title were excluded by the Lady Mary who was always a zealous Papist and the Lady Elizabeth This was afterwards confirmed by the Nobility and Chief Lawyers of the Kingdom and was subscribed to by all the Kings Council the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London who upon the Death of King Edward which happened in a short time after proclaimed the Lady Jane Queen in London and Westminster The Lady Mary being in Hartfordshire and hearing of it presently sent to the Lords of the Council commanding and requiring them to Proclaim her Queen which if they refused to do she threatned to recover her Right by force of Arms. The Lords returned answer That the Lady Jane was invested and possessed of the Crown by just Right and Title both by the Ancient Laws of the Land and by Letters Patents signed and sealed by the late King before his death and therefore they declared they would adhere to her and to none other requesting the Lady Mary that she would not upon any pretence endeavour to disturb the peace of the Kingdom promising her that if she would carry her self as a dutiful Subject they would be ready to do her any service The Lady Mary having received this answer withdrew further from the City and the Council being sensible of her stout and unquiet disposition they raised an Army which was commanded by the Duke of Northumberland The Lady Mary went into Suffolk and Norfolk gathering such aid of the Commons as she could and kept her self in Framingham Castle to whom the Suffolk men first resorted who being always forward in promoting the Gospel promised her their aid and assistance provided she would make no alteration of the Protestant Religion as it was established by her Brother King Edward To this she readily agreed and confirmed it with such Vows and Protestations that none could suspect her whereupon they joined with her and thus by the help of the Protestants she vanquished the Duke of Northumberland and his Army and was settled in the Kingdom but she soon forgot her promises for these very Suffolk men observing that Popery would be re-established they Petitioned to her to perform her word to them at which she was extreamly displeased and told them Forasmuch as you who are Members desire to rule your Head you shall one day find that Members must obey not seek to rule Yea one of the chief of these men Mr. Dob by name she caused for the Terror of others to be set in the Pillory several times and divers others that presented Supplications to her not to set up Popery she caused to be sent to prison Queen Mary being setled in the Kingdom the Lady Jane her Father the Duke of Northumberland and her Husband the Lord Guilford Dudley were soon after Beheaded and the Queen soon discovered her disaffection to the Protestant Religion by displacing all the Orthodox Bishops as Poinet Ridley Scorie Hooper Coverdale and by releasing out of the Tower Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester whom she made Lord Chancellor of England◠〈◊〉 Bonner who was
to insnare and amuse them at present till they had by degrees incensed the Mobile against them to diminish the horror they naturally have to Cruelty to which end several young Priests were sent about the Kingdom to inflame the multitude in their Sermons and Orations and by publishing Scandalous Satyrs and Lyes against them And for those of greater Quality some Volumes were written against Calvinism and the Reformation one of whom affirmed highly That the Catholick Faith must be planted by Fire and Sword alledging for proof thereof the example of a King of Norway who converted the Nobles of his Countrey by threatning them to slay their Children before their eyes if they would not consent to have them baptiz'd and to be baptized themselves The Protestants were very sensible of these things and that further mischief was designed against them and therefore presented frequent Addresses to the King wherein they exposed their grievances with all humility and submission the last-being presented to the King himself by their Deputy General in March 1684. Exprest in Terms most capable of moving pity yet produced no other effect but the hastening what they had long before resolved on which was the using of open force to accomplish their ruine which was effectually done some months after in a manner so terrible and violent that there are few in Christendom who have not heard the report of it At first they quartered Souldiers in all the Provinces almost at the same time but chiefly Dragoons the most desperate Troops in the Kingdom Terror and Dread marched before them and all France was filled with the news That the King would no longer suffer any Protestants in his Kingdom and that they must resolve to change their Religion or else suffer the utmost cruelty that could be inflicted upon them They first summoned the Cities and Commonalties and affembling the Inhabitants of the Reformed Religion told them It was the Kings pleasure they should without delay become Catholicks and if they would not do it freely they must force them The poor people surprized at the proposal answered They were ready to Sacrifice their Estates and Lives to the King but their Consciences being Gods they could not in the same manner dispose of them Such answers immediately brought the Dragoons who were near hand upon them who instantly seized on all the Gates and Passages of the City where they placed Guards who came off with their Swords in their hands crying Kill Kill or else be Catholicks They lay upon the Protestants at free quarter strictly forbidding any to go out of their Houses or to conceal any of their Goods or Estates under great penalties the Papists were fordid to receive or any way relieve them the first days were spent in consuming all the Provisions the house afforded and Robbing them of Money Rings Jewels or any thing of Value After this they seized of all their goods in general inviting the Papists to come and buy them Lastly they fell on their Persons wherein they forbore no wickedness nor Villany to oblige them to change their Religion Amidst a thousand hideous cryes and blasphemies they hung Men and Women up by the hair of the head or by the Feet to the Roofs of their Chambers or else to 〈◊〉 Hooks within the Chimneys smoaking them with wâ—â—ps of wet straw till they were no longer able to bear it and when they were taken down if they would not recant their Religion they immediately hung them up again They threw them into great fires purposely provided and pulled them not out till half roasted They tyed Ropes under their Arms and plunged them up and down into Wells from whence they would not take them till they had promised to turn Papists They tyed them as Criminals to the Rack and with a Funnel poured Wine down their Throats till the fumes of it deprived them of their reason and then made them say they would be Catholicks They stript them stark naked and after a thousand indignities they larded or stuck them with pins from head to foot They cut them with Penknives and pluckt them by the Nose with Red hot Pincers and dragged them about the Rooms till they promised to be Catholicks or that for weariness they let the poor wretches go They beat them with Staves and dragged them all bruised to the Churches where their forced presence was reckoned their abjuring the Protestant Religion They kept them from sleeping seven or eight nights and days together relieving one another to keep them waking They threw buckets of Water on their Faces and tormented them several ways by holding kettles over their Heads turned downwards whereon they made a continual noise till these poor creatures had even lost their sences If they found any sick in bed they had the cruelty to bring several Drums sounding an Alarm about their beds for whole weeks together without intermission till they had promised to recant In some places they tyed Fathers and Husbands to the bed-posts and ravished their Daughters and Wives on the bed before their eyes In other places Rapes were publickly permitted for many hours together They pluckt off the Nails from the hands and toes of others with most intolerable pain They burnt the feet of others They blew up men and women with bellows even till they were ready to burst If after these horrid Usages any refused to turn they imprisoned them in Close Dark and Stinking Dungeons exercising on them all manner of inhumanity In the mean time they demolished their Houses destroyed their hereditary Lands cut down their Woods and seized their Wives and Children to imprison them in Monasteries When the Souldiers had consumed and destroy'd all in the House the Tenants of their Lands furnisht them with subsistance to whom they likewise sold the Lands If any endeavoured to escape by flight they were pursued and hunted in the Fields and Woods and Shot at like Wild Beasts The Justices and Magistrates rode about the highways stopping all without exception and using them like Prisoners of War Neither fell this Storm only on the common sort Noblemen and Gentlemen were not exempted from it who had Souldiers also quartered on them that plundred their houses wasted their Goods razed their Castles cut down their Woods yea their very Persons were exposed to the insolence and barbarity of the Dragoons as well as others which to avoid many Ladies and Persons of Quality hoped to find some retreat in Paris or at the Court not imagining the Dragoons would come to seek them so near the Kings presence but they soon found their mistake for immediately there was an Order of Council commanding them to leave Paris in fifteen days and return without delay to their own dwellings prohibiting all persons to entertain or lodge them in their houses And some addrossing to the King with complaints of such cruel usage and beseeching his relief had no other answer but being sent Prisoners to the Bastile It is observable
that usually in the head of these infernal Dragoons there Marched a Squadron of Bishops and Priests to see that the Souldiers executed the full Vengeance they desired upon the Protestants who upon all occasions did provoke and stir up the Souldiers to cruelty and barbarity if they found they had the least compassion and pity toward these poor Innocents If at any time the Master of an house had signed what they required in hope to get rid of the Dragoons yet he was not freed from them for all this if his Wife Children or the meanest of his Servants did not do the same and when any of them fled they continued to torment the Master or Father till he forced them to come back which being oft impossible for him to do the change of his Religion did not at all avail him When the poor Souls fancied they should be at rest by signing a form of abjuration of the Protestant Religion yet a while after these cruel men made them sign another which threw many into the very depth of despair Nay after all these barbarous Usages and Compulsions they forced these wretched people to acknowledge That they imbraced the Roman Religion of their own accord without being induced thereto by any violent means Though all these Frauds violences and cruelties and infinite numbers more have been acted toward the Protestants in the face of the Sun and before Millions of eye-witnesses and are notorious to all Europe Yet this is another method that their Persecutors have taken to shelter themselves from publick condemnation by denying the Fact and perswading the World That force and violence have had no share in the Conversions but that they were Soft Calm and Voluntary and that if there were any Dragoons concerned therein it was because the Protestants themselves desired them that they might have a handsom pretence to change their Religion Was there ever so much impudence seen or heard of what will they not deny who are arrived to such a height of boldness The revoking the Edict of Nants which was the Mâ—gna Charta of the Protestants formerly resolved on was put in Execution Oct. 8. 1685. Whereby all their Ministers were banished out of France being commanded to depart the Kingdom in fifteen days and supressing all Protestant Books whatsoever 'T is said the Chancellor of France shewed extraordinnry joy at the sealing this Edict but it lasted not long this being the last thing he did for as soon as he came home from Fountain Bleau he fell sick and died in a few days By this Edict the King declares That he had resolved upon this design ever since his coming to the Crown but had been hindred by his Wars against the Enemies of the State but being now at peace with all the Princes of Europe he wholly gave himself to unite all his Subjects in the Catholick Religion commanding that all the Protestant Churches should be pluckt down and demolished That those who will turn Papists shall be rewarded and prefer'd That no Children shall be educated in the Protestant Religion That those who are fled shall have four months to return and recant if not their Goods and Estates to be confiscate That no Protestant presume to depart the Kingdom under the penalty of the men being sent to the Gallies and the women to forfeit their Bodies and Goods The very day this was published in Paris they began to demolish the Church of Charenton and the chief Minister was commanded to leave the City in twenty four hours the rest in fifteen days but were neither permitted to dispose of their Estates nor to carry any of their effects with them nor to take along with them Father Mother Brother Sister or any of their kindred though many were infirm decayed poor and could not subsist but by their means yea they denied them their own Children if above seven years old nay some they took from them under that age yea those that hanged on their Mothers breasts refusing to allow Nurses for their new born Infants to whom the Mothers could not give suck Soon after the former barbarities or greater if possible were revived of which I shall give some few instances amongst many others and so conclude this dismal scene of sorrow The Dragoons that quartered with Monsieur Solignac at Montauban made his dining room a Stable for their Horses though the furniture thereof was valued at a thousand Livers and forced him to turn the Spit till his arm was almost burnt by their continual throwing Wood on the fire They beat an old man almost to death to force him to go to Mass whilst the constant Martyr to his last breath cryed He would never do it and only requested they would dispatch and make an end of him Monsieur de Garrison one of the chief men of the City and an intimate Friend of the Intendant went and cast himself at his feet imploring his protection and conjuring him to rid him of the Troopers that he might have no force put upon his Conscience adding That in recompence of the favour he begged of him he would give him all he had which was to the value of about a Million of Livres but all his intreaties were so far from prevailing that he ordered him for terror to be worse used than the rest by dragging him along the Streets Some of the lustiest Souldiers took their Land-lords or others in the house and walking them up and down continually tickled and tossed them about like a ball from each other without giving them the least intermission and keeping them in that condition three days together without Meat Drink or Sleep When they were so faint as not able to stand any longer on their Legs they laid them on a bed continuing to tickle and torment them as before and when a little recovered forced them to rise again lashing them with Rods to prevent their sleeping When one party of these cursed Tormentors were tyred and wearied out their Companions relieved them by which infernal invention many became distracted and mopish and so continue Isaâ—â— Faim a Citizen of Negreplisse was hung up by the armpits and tortured a whole night by pinching and tearing off his Flesh with Pincers though thereby they were not in the least able to shake his constancy The Wife of one Roussion a Joiner being violently drag'd by the Souldiers along the Streets to force her to hear Mass died of this cruel and inhumane treatment as soon as she reached the Church Porch They made a fire about a Boy of ten years of age who continually with hands and eyes lifted up to Heaven cryed My God help me And when they saw the Lad resolved to die rather than renounce his Religion they snatcht him from the fire when he was at the very point of being burnt In divers places they have indeavoured to tire out the Patience of the poor Protestants and overcome their constancy by applying red hot Irons to the hands and feet
fragments and being in a merry humor would needs go dance telling their Host he must be one of their company but that he must first pull off his Stockings and Shoes to move the more nimbly in short they forced him to dance barefoot upon the sharp points of Glass which when they had continued so long as they were able to keep him on his Legs they laid him on a Bed and stripping him stark naked rolled his body from one end of the Room to the other upon the sharp Glass till his Skin was stuck full of the fragments and returning him to his bed sent for a Surgeon to take out all the pieces of Glass out of his body which was not done without frequent incisions and horrible and extream pain Another having the unwelcome company of these Villanous Souldiers and having suffered extreamly by them with the utmost constancy one of them looking earnestly on him told him he disfigured himself with letting his beard grow so long who answering That they were the cause of it who would not let him stir out of doors to go to the Barber The Dragoon replyed I can do that for you as well as your Barber telling him he must needs try his Skill upon him and so fell to work but instead of shaving him flead all the Skin off his face One of his Companions coming at the cry of this poor sufferer and seeing what he had done seemingly blamed him for it and said he was a bungler then said to his Host Come your hair wants cutting too and thereupon begins in a most cruel manner to pluck the hair Skin and all off his head and flead that as the other had done his Chin Thus making a sport and merriment of the extream sufferings of these miserable wretches By these inhumane and more than barbarous means they labour to overcome the most resolved patience and to drive people to despair and faint-heartedness by their Devilish inventions refusing to give them death which they desire and only keep them alive to torment them till they have vâ—â—â—â—isht their courage telling them The King will have obedient Subjects but neither Martyrs nor Rebels and that they have order to convert them but not to kill them Let us conclude with a prayer used by these blessed Souls in the agony of their Spirits O great God who from thy heavenly Throne dost behold all the outrages done to thy people haste thee to help us Great God whose compassions are infinite suffer thy self to be moved by our extream desolation If men be insensible of the Calamities we suffer If they be deaf to our cries not regarding our groans or supplications yet let thy Bowels O Lord be moved and affect thee on our behalf Glorious God for whose names sake we suffer all these things who knowest our innocency and weakness as well as the fury and rage of our adversaries and the small support and help we find in the World Behold we perish if thy pity do not rouze thee up to our relief It is thou art our Rock our God our Father our Deliverer We do not place our confidence in any but in thee alone Let us not be confounded because we put our must in thee Haste thee to our help make no long tarrying O Lord our God and our Redeemer Amen An Abstract of the Persecutions of the Protestants in Piedmont and Savoy in the years 1686 and 1687. NOtwithstanding a perpetual and inviolable Law was ordained and solemnly confirmed to the Protestants for the free exercise of their Religion in Piedmont by the several Dukes of Savoy in the years 1638 1649 1654 and 1655. as you read before in the Persecution of the Waldenfes yet the old Maxim of the Romish Antichristian Church That no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks prevailed so much that the most solemn Oaths and Protestations were insignificant For after that bloudy Massacre in 1655 which seemed to have irrecoverably destroyed the Waldenses yet many escaped the fury of these Butchers and defended their lives with such undaunted courage that they defeated in several Rencounters a considerable party of their Enemies and by the mediation of several Protestant Princes and States a solemn Patent was granted them confirming all their priviledges forever Yet soon after the Spanish Inquisitors violated the most essential points thereof which since they only opposed by petitions and complaints their Implacable adversarys believing they could oppress them without resistance in 1663. they imployed Fire and Sword once more against them The Waldenses knowing by experience that to stand in their own defence was the only way to save themselves were constrained to take up arms and defended themselves so well that they re-established their affairs again the same year and in 1664 another solemn perpetual and irrevocable Patent was past and inrolled in the Senate but was executed with no better Faith than the former yet not absolutely broken till the year 1685 For though they had rendred the Duke of Savoy very considerable services the year before in the War of the Banditi of Mondavi Yet now the Governour of the Valleys of Piedmont published an order which forbid all Forreigners to inhabit there or stay above three days without permission under severe penalties The Waldenses had already heard of the violences used in France to compel people to change their Religion but never believed it would have been their own case till the Duke published an order Jan. 31. 1686 prohibiting the exercise of their Religion on pain of Death and confiscation of goods and commanding all their Churches to be demolished their Ministers banished and their Children to be educated in the Romish Religion under the penalties that their Parents should be sent to the Gallies containing almost the same things with the French Kings Declaration that annuals the Edict of Nantes It is impossible to express the fears grief wherewith the Waldenses were seized at the sight of an Order so surprizing so unjust and rigorous whereby they were utterly deprived of their Liberty of Conscience yet judging this order was gained by surprize they present four Petitions to the Duke of Savoy for revoking it but found no râ—â—â—ess yea saw their misfortune without remedy when they understood that the French King who had hitherto protected them had obliged the Duke to publish it and caused his own Troops to advance into Piedmont for the execution of it and therefore they resolved to defend themselves and preserve their lives from the danger that threatned them Mean time the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland being informed of this Order thought they ought not to abandon a People Persecuted for their Religion and therefore sent Ambassadors to the Duke to know the reason thereof who returned no other answer but That the ingagements wherein he had entred with France opposed the success of their Negotiation whereby he had obliged himself to extirpate all the Protestants out of his Countrey Hereupon the Waldenses
and was feasting while his Enemies were in Council Fryar Conradus of Marpurg the Popes Inquisitor made terrible havock of all that professed the Gospel under the names of Hereticks whom he tryed by making them pass over red hot Irons laid at an unequal distance blindfold and those that were burnt were accounted Hereticks few escaping the hot Irons so that neither Noble nor Ignoble Clerks Monks Nuns Burgesses Citizens nor Country people escaped the Flames By means of this bloody Inquisitor Prince Lewis of France took the Town of Miramond and therein destroyed five thousand men women and children of the Albingenses And in the year 1234. many of them being fled into France the Pope caused a Crusado to be preached up against them whereby a great Army of Pilgrims assembled together and were sent against them by Pope Gregory who slew the poor Protestants with their Bishops and Ministers burnt their houses destroyed their Towns and plundered and carried away their Goods And about the same time some who had retired into Germany Millain and other parts of Italy were likewise burnt and destroyed A while after four hundred and twenty of these Albingenses were burnt at Tholouse A great Persecution was raised against the Protestants of Albi in the year 1281. so that they were almost all extirpated and rooted out and forced to fly to all parts for safety of their lives and at the same time by the Popes Order the Bones of several famous Ministers among them were digged up and burnt twenty or thirty years after they were buried In the year 1315. the Fryars Inquisitors raised an hot Persecution against these Gospellers in Pashaw and burnt many of them who died chearfully and constantly in the Faith and one of them who was burnt at Vienna confessed that there were fourscore thousand of them in Bohemia and Austria at that time In the year 1332. Lollard Walterus a famous Preacher from whom his Followers were called Lollards was taken and burnt at Collen But notwithstanding all these horrid Cruelties used by the Papists against these Saints and Servants of God yet they could never prevail to a total extirpation of them but they still encreased and revived and their Posterity profess the same Faith to this very day In the year 1620. in a Country called the Valtoline or the Grisons Country the Papists committed very great cruelties those poor people had for a long time enjoyed the Freedom of their Religion but about the time afore-mentioned when the Minister of a Town called Tell was preaching to his Congregation the bloody Papists rose in Arms and set upon them beating and killing several of them and among the rest there was an Honourable Lady who was exhorted to change her Religion if not for her own sake yet out of pity to her young Insant that she held in her Arms which otherwise together with her self should be immediately slain But the Lady with an undaunted courage answered I have not departed out of Italy my Native Country nor forsaken all the Estate that I had there to renounce the Faith of my Lord Jesus Christ No I will suffer a thousand deaths if it be possible rather than do it And why in this case should I have so much regard to my Infant since God my Heavenly Father spared not his own Son my Lord Jesus but delivered him up to death in love to me and such sinners as I am And then giving her Child to one that stood by she said Behold my Child the Lord God who hath care of the Birds of the Air is much more able to save this poor creature although it should by you be left in these wild Mountains Then unlacing her Gown she opened her Breast saying Here is the Body which you have power to kill but my Soul on which you have no power to lay your hands that I commend to my God And then these Blood-hounds presently slew her and cut her to pieces The Infant being a lovely sweet Child they spared and delivered to a Popish Nurse to be brought up These Villains carried divers Women and Children to the tops of high Mountains and if they would not promise to go to Mass they were thrown down headlong and torn to pieces One Dominico Berto a young man of sixteen years of age because he would not turn Papist was set upon an Ass with his face to the Tail and the Tail in his hand for a bridle and with many scoffs and mocks was brought into the Market place there they cut off his Nose Ears and Checks and then burnt many holes in divers parts of his body with hot Irons and thus they barbarously continued to torment him till he died They likewise seized upon a Noble young Virgin and carried her through the Streets with all imaginable disgrace They put a Miter of Paper upon her head besmeared her face with dirt and buffetted her on the Cheeks with their Fists and then bid her to call upon the Saints but she smiling said My trust and my salvation is only in my Saviour Jesus Christ and upon him only will I rest as for the Virgin Mary though she be blessed above all women yet she is not Omniscient and therefore knows not our requests yea she her self hath need of the Merits of her own Son without which she could not have been saved But they reviling and abusing her she couragiously said I willingly endure all this as it becomes me to do desiring no better usage since the same was done to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and to his Apostles and to thousands of the holy Martyrs Upon this they carried her away and murder'd her in the Fields In one house they slew a man and his Wife and there being a little Girl in the Cradle of about three years old of a very amiable countenance the poor Child seemed to smile upon them whereupon one of these bloody Villains took her by the Heels and dashed out her Brains From thence these Wretches went to a Town called Bruse where they murthered many by shooting some drowning others burning others and grinding their very bones to powder Amongst others they found an ancient Woman of fourscore years old whom they earnestly perswaded to hear Mass and that she would respect her age to whom with a worthy resolution she answered God forbid that I who now of a long time have had one foot in the Grave should forsake my Lord Jesus Christ who hath so long preserved me in the knowledge and profession of his truth and that I should now put my trust in Creatures and should receive the Traditions of men instead of the holy Word of God Upon these words they immediately slew her The sufferings of the poor Protestants in Piedmont continued still they are under the Government of the Duke of Savoy and are the Off-spring of the old Waldenses which inhabited there and have ever since professed the same Religion they have Evangelical Churches in the several Valleys