and so was led from the stage to the stake with a merry and chearful countenance where by the notable example of his repentance at his death he made satisfaction to the Church of Christ for all his former unfaithful and hypocritical dealing with them and so quietly slept in the Lord. The Life of Doctor Aegidio DR Aegidio who is before mentioned was brought up in the University of Alcala where he took all his degrees and was a hard Student in School-divinity but the study of the holy Scriptures was there so neglected and contemned that if any one read it he was in contempt and scorn called a good Bibler Afterwards being publick Reader of Divinity in that University he grew famous all over Christendome and was sent for to Sivil to be Divinity-Reader in the Cathedral Church where he was so highly esteemed that soon after he was chosen Sub-Deane yet did he not attempt to preach openly nor had once so much as opened the Bible to read and study the Scriptures And therefore the first time that he came into the Pulpit contrary to all mens expectations he was found so unfit for such a function that he grew out of conceit with himself and was contemned by others insomuch as they fell to repent themselves the one for admitting him so unadvisedly the other for taking upon him that office so arrogantly But having passed over some time it so fell out that he met with a plain man which gave him such instructions that after a few hours conference he learned by him what the office and duty of a Preacher was and by what means he might attain thereto and through Gods blessing his advice was so effectual that now Dr. Aegidio was quite altered and become a new man thinking all his former life and labour ill spent and therefore he resolved to steer another course He also fell into acquaintance with Doctor Constantino a man excellently well learned by whose conference and advice he profited marvellously in his studies fell to the reading of good Authors and grew to profound knowledge in the holy Scriptures so that after a time he began to preach as learnedly godly and zealously as he had before done coldly foolishly and unskilfully Then did his hearers finde the marvellous force of that doctrine which was taught them by these three worthy men Aegidio Constantino and Varquia so that the more they crept out of their former ignorance and grew in knowledge the more they esteemed and honoured them Hereupon there were daily complaints made against them to the Inquisitors especially against Doctor Aegidio who did more openly than the rest inveigh against the adversaries of the truth But it so fell out by Gods Providence that just at the same time the Emperour Charles the fifth in respect of his singular learning and integrity of life elected him to the Bishoprick of Dortois Then did those hypocritical Inquisitors bestir themselves on all hands citing him to come before them where articles were exhibited against him and thereupon they cast him into prison and examined him But the Emperour who had elected him to the Bishoprick and the whole Chapter of the Cathedral Church in Sivil became very earnest Sutors to the Inquisitors in his behalf It fell out also that just at the same time whilst Aegidio was in prison three of his greatest adversaries amongst the Inquisitors and the prime enemies against the truth sickned and died shortly one after another whereby he was released and lived foure or five years after at the end whereof he was sent upon an Embassie in which journey he visited the brethren that professed the truth in Validolid and much comforted and confirmed them but in his return home his aged body being sore shaken in that long journey having not been used to travel of a long while before he sickned and within a few days departed out of this troublesome life to everlasting rest But within three years after the new Inquisitors thinking that the former had dealt too gently with him digged him out of his grave and buried in his place a puppet of straw then they brought his corps upon the Scaffold and used it in the same sort as they would have used himself if he had been alive The life of Doctor Constantino Doctor Constantino of whom mention hath been made before was a most famous Divine and endued by God with such rare abilities as the like were hardly found in that age he was a man of a very pleasant wit and wondrous facetious which he especially used against the hypocritical Monks and Friars and though he lived in a barbarous age wherein all good learning was almost lost yet by his wit and industry he attained to a great deal of skill both in Latin Greek and Hebrew and was also an excellent Oratour and studied the Scriptures so hard that he grew very exquisite therein He was also so eloquent in his own language that all his Auditors were brought into a great admiration of him He was very discreet in all his doings which parts he attained to both by his study and long practice and experience but especially by profound knowledge in the holy Scriptures Whensoever he preached there was so great a resort to his Sermons that three or foure houres before he began there was scarce a place in the Church to be gotten He was farre from covetousnesse and ambition insomuch as having a good Canonship in the Church of Toledo proffered him he refused it together with divers other Preferments In his Ministry in Sivil he did so plainly set forth and so sharply rebuke those hucksters that sold indulgences pardons c. That they were much incensed against him fearing that he would prove a plague to the whole generation of them so that they hated him deadly yet could finde nothing whereof to accuse him but what would redound to their own shame But for all this he neglected not to preach the truth faithfully though he knew that they lay at catch waiting for an opportunity to ensnare him And it was the singular Providence of God that that City should enjoy such preaching when there were so many powerful and malicious enemies to oppose it For at this time Varquio read upon the Gospel according to Matthew and upon the Psalmes Aegidio preached daily and Constantine though not so often yet to as great fruit and edification thus continuing till God sent storms to try each mans faith In the midst of which tempest Varquio dyed and Constantine was sent for by the Emperour to be his houshold Chaplain only Aegidio was left alone like a Lamb amongst wolves to be the object of their fury of whose end we have heard before after whose death Constantine left the Emperours Court and returned to Sivil where he preached the Gospel with as much zeale as ever he did before Then was he chosen to preach every other day in
High-Priest worshipeth for in my sleep I saw him in such an habit when I was in Macedonia consulting with my self how I might conquer Asia and he bad me to make no delay assuring me that he would both guide me and my Army and would deliver the Empire of the Persians into my hands Then gave he the High-Priest his hand and went with him to the City and comming to the Temple he offered sacrifice according to the direction of the High-Priest then did Jaddus shew him Daniels Prophecy wherein his victories over the Persians and his Monarchy were foretold which much rejoyced Alexander then did he command the Jews to ask some favours at his hands the High-Priest requested onely that they might live after the Ordinances of their forefathers and that every seventh year they might be exempted from taxes and tributes which he fully granted they besought him likewise that the Jews which were in Media and Babilon might be permitted to live after their own Laws which he willingly promised and so departed this was about the year of the world 3632. and before Christs nativity 332. After the death of Alexander his Kingdom was divided amongst his Captains amongst whom Ptolemy the son of Lagus held Egypt who falling out with Antigonus that held Asia minor there grew great wars between them wherein Ptolemy won from him all Syria and going to Jerusalem on a Sabbath day under pretence to offer sacrifice the Jews suspecting nothing he surprised the City carrying away many of the Jews into captivity into Egypt but after his death his son Ptolemy Philadelphus at his owne cost redeemed an hundred and twenty thousand of them paying twelve Crowns apeece for each of them and sent them back into their owne countrey He sent also by them fifty talents of gold for the temple and obtained of Eleazer the High Priest the Law of the Jews and 72 Interpreters out of every Tribe some who translated it into Greek in 72 daies and having finished their work Ptolemy returned them with great rewards for themselves and with many rich presents to Eleazer Antiochus and Ptolemy being at war each against other the Jews suffered much by them Mach. 1. Collected out of Josephus CHAP. III. The persecution of the Church of God under Antiochus Epiphanes before the nativity of Christ about 168 years AFterwards the Jews being divided amongst themselves one part of them went to Antiochus telling him that their purpose was to forsake the Religion and Ordinances of their forefathers and to follow that of the Kings and to live after the manner of the Greeks entreating him to license them to live in Jerusalem which Antiochus assenting to they went to Jerusalem where they behaved themselves very wickedly but finding opposition from the other party of the Jews they sent for Antiochus who led his army against Jerusalem and encamped before it and by his faction within had the gates opened and the City betraied to him about the year of the world 3796. and before the nativity of Christ 168. Being entred Jerusalem he slew many of the faithfull Jews and having taken great spoils he returned back to Antioch Two years after he came to Jerusalem again and having seen what quantity of gold was in the Temple and what a huge number of Presents and precious Ornaments were in the same he was so overcome with covetousness that he violated all conventions and conditions formerly made equally raging against his own and the adverse party sparing neither friend nor foe then he spoiled the Temple and carried away the Vessels dedicated unto God the golden Table the golden Candlestick the Censers c. leaving nothing behind him of any value yea he inhibited the godly Jews from offering their usual and dailie sacrifices to God and having spoiled the whole City he slew many of the Inhabitants and carried the rest away into Captivity with their Wives and Children to the number of ten thousand He also burned the fairest buildings of the City and brake down the wals and raised a Fortress in the lower City and having inclosed it with high wals he planted a Garison of Macedonians therein with whom remained the scum of the Apostate Jews He also caused an Altar to be erected in the Temple on which he commanded swine to be offered in Sacrifice contrary to the Law He constrained the Jews to forsake God and adore those Idols which himself vvorshiped he forbad them to circumcise their Children and appointed Over-seers to constrain them to fulfill his Commandments so that many for fear of punishment conformed themselves to his will But such as were of upright hearts and valiant minds little respected his menaces whereupon they were beaten and exposed to cruel punishment many days together in the midst of which they yielded up the ghost for after they were whipt and maimed in their bodies they were tortured and crucified the women vvere strangled and the circumcised children vvere hung up about the necks of their parents and vvhere any books of the sacred Scriptures vvere found they defaced and burnt them and such with vvhom they vvere found vvere put to most cruel deaths At this time there dvvelt at Modin a Village of Jury one vvhose name was Matthias a Priest of the rank of Joarib that had five sons John called Gaddis Simon called Matthes Judas called Maccabeus Eleazer called Aaron and Jonathan called Apphas This Matthias often complained to his sons of the miserable state of their Countrey of the sacking of their City the profanation of the Temple and the miseries of the people telling them that it was better for them to die for the Law then to live in Ignominy When therefore the Kings Commisaries came unto Modin and commanded the people to sacrifice according to the Kings Edict they first applied themselves to Matthias as to the most Honourable person amongst them requiring him first to offer sacrifice that others might follow his example promising that the King vvould much honour him for it Matthias ansvvered that he vvould by no means commit that Idolatry assuring them that though all other Nations either for love or fear should obey the Edicts of Antiochus yet that he nor his children could be induced to forsake the Religion of their fathers As soon as he had thus spoken a certain Jew stepped forth to offer sacrifice according to the command of the King wherewith Matthias inflamed with zeal was so displeased that he and his sons fell upon him and with their swords hewed him to pieces he also slew Apelles the Kings Captain and some other souldiers who would have withstood him Then he overthrew the Altar and with a loud voice he said If any one be affected to the Laws of their fathers and to the service of God let him follow me and so he retired into the deserts with his sons the like did the rest with their wives and children hiding themselves in caves and
which Dioclesian would needs be worshipped as God saying that he was brother to the Sun and Moon and adoring his shoes with gold and precious stones he commanded the people to kiss his feet Then also did he raise a great and grievous Persecution against the Church of God and the Feast of Easter drawing nigh he commanded all the Churches of the Christians to be spoiled and cast down and the books of the holy Scriptures to be burnt which was executed with all rigour and contempt that might be Then he sent forth his Edicts for the displacing of all Christian Magistrates and put all others out of their Offices imprisoning such of the common people as would not abjure Christianity and subscribe to the heathen Idolatries Then were cruel Edicts sent abroad for the imprisoning of the Elders and Bishops and constraining them by sundry kinds of torments to sacrifice to the Idols whereupon insued a great persecution against the Governors of the Church amongst whom many of them manfully passed through exceeding bitter torments Some were scourged all over their bodies with whips some with racks and tearings of their flesh were exceedingly cruciated some one way others another way were put to death Some were violently drawn to the impure sacrifices and as though they had sacrificed when indeed they did not were let go Others neither coming to their Altars nor touching any piece of their sacrifice yet were born in hand by those which stood by that they had sacrificed and so being defamed by their adversaries were let go Others as dead men were carried out and cast away being but half dead Some were cast down on the pavement and trailed a great space by the legs and the people made to believe that they had sacrificed Others with-stood them stoutly affirming with a loud voice that they had not sacrificed withal saying that they were Christians and glorying in the profession of that name Some cryed that they neither had nor ever would be partakers of that Idolatry who were buffetted on the face and mouth by the souldiers that they might hold their peace But if the Saints seemed never so little to do what their enemies would have them they were made much of yet none of these devices prevailed against the constant servants of Jesus Christ but of the weaker sort through frailty many fell at the first brunt When these Edicts were first set up at Nicomedia a Christian a noble man born moved with an holy zeal ran and took them down and tare them in pieces though the Emperors were present in the City for which he was put to a most bitter death which with great constancy and patience he endured to the last These furious Tyrants Dioclesian in the West and Maximian in the East raged exceedingly against the poor Saints of Christ. But Dioclesian proceeded more subtilly first beginning with the souldiers in his Camp to whom the Marshal of the field proposed that they should either offer sacrifice or leave their places and offices and lay down their arms whereunto the Christians resolutely answered that they were not only ready to lay down their weapons but to suffer death if it was imposed upon them rather then so to sin against God In the beginning of this persecution few were tormented but afterwards the Emperor grew to greater cruelty It cannot be expressed what number of Martyrs suffered what blood was shed through all Cities and Regions for the name of Christ. In Tyre certain Christians were given to the most cruel wild beasts which would not hurt them and the Lions Bears and Leopards which were kept hungry for the purpose would not touch them Yet did they vehemently rage against those that brought the Christians into the stage who though they stood as they thought without their reach yet were they caught and devoured by them Afterwards these Martyrs were slain with the sword and cast into the sea Silvanus Bishop of Gazenses with thirty nine more were slain in the Mettal-Mynes Pamphilus of Caesarea dyed a glorious Martyr In Syria all the chief Pastors were first cast into prison together with the Bishops Elders and Deacons Tiranion was throwen into the sea Zenobius a Physitian was slain with Brickbats At Antioch two young Maidens were thrown into the sea Also an aged Matron and her two beautifull daughters being sought after and at last found rather then they would be drawn to do sacrifice threw themselves head-long into a river Sylvanus Bishop of Emissa with some others were thrown to the wild beasts The Christians in Mesopotamia were tormented divers ways some of them were hanged up by the feet and with the smoak of a small fire strangled So out-ragious was the Emperor in the beginning of this Persecution that in Nicomedia he slew the chiefest Princes of his Court whom a little before he prized as his own Children Also one Peter was hoisted up naked and so beaten and torn with whips that his bones might be seen then they poured upon him salt and Vinegar and lastly rosted him with a soft fire Dorotheus and Gorgonius men of great Authority under the Emperor after divers torments were strangled with an halter Anthimus Bishop of Nicomedia with divers others having made a good confession were beheaded Yea Serena the wife of Dioclesian the Emperor was martyred for her Religion Some others were bound hand and foot to a post and so burnt Also many Christians of all ages and sorts being met together in a Church to celebrate the memorial of Christs Nativity Maximian the Emperor sent some to fire the Church and burn them all But first they commanded a Cryer to proclaim that whosoever would have life should come out and sacrifice to Jupiter otherwise they should be all burnt then one stepping up boldly in the name of all the rest said We are all Christians and believe that Christ is our only God and King and we will sacrifice to none but him hereupon the fire was kindled and some thousands of men women and children were burnt in that place In Arabia many Martyrs were slain with Axes In Phrygia the Emperor sent his Edicts to a City commanding them to sacrifice to the Idols but the Major and all the Citizens professed themselves to be Christians whereupon the Emperor made his Army environ the City and set it on fire whereby all the inhabitants were burnt together in it Eustratius an Armenian and skilfull in the Greek tongue highly honoured and advanced by the Emperor who also had executed many Christians beholding the marvellous constancy of the Martyrs privately learned the Christian Religion burned exceedingly with a desire of Martyrdom and not staying for Accusers professed himself to be a Christian openly execrating the vanity and madness of the heathens Being therefore apprehended he was tied up and bitterly beaten afterwards he was parched with fire put
punishment for the truth which I have professed I esteem not of this world nor the treasures of it more than for my necessary uses and the rest to bestow in the propagation and maintenance of the Gospel And I beseech God daily upon my knees for my wife and children that they may all continue in this quarrel even to the death And when he came to his execution he patiently and comfortably slept in the Lord. At the same time there was also brought forth one John Gonsalvo formerly a Priest but by his diligent study of the Scripture it pleased God to reveal his truth to him so that he became a zealous Preacher of it labouring in all his Sermons to beat into mens minds the true way and means of our Justification to consist in Christ alone and in stedfast faith in him for which he was apprehended and cast into prison where he endured all their cruely with a Christian courage At last with two of his Sisters he was condemned His mother and one of his brothers were also imprisoned with him for the truth and executed shortly after When he with his sisters went out at the Castle gate having his tongue at liberty he began to sing the 106. Psalm before all the People who had oft heard him make many godly Sermons He also condemned all hypocrites as the worst sort of People Whereupon they stocked his tongue Upon the stage he never changed countenance nor was at all daunted When they all came to the stake they had their tongues loosed and were commanded to say their Creed which they did chearfully when they came to those words The holy Catholick Church They were commanded to adde Of Rome but that they all refused whereupon their necks were broken in a trice and then 't was noised abroad that they had added those words and died confessing the Church of Rome to be the true Catholick Church There was in Sivil a private Congregation of Gods people most of which the Inquisitors consumed in the fire as they could discover any of them amongst others that were apprehended they took four women famous above the rest for their holy and godly conversation but especially the youngest of them who was not above one and twenty years old who by her diligent and frequent reading of the Scriptures and by conference with godly and learned men had attained to a very great measure of knowledge so that whilst she was in Prison she non-plus'd and put to shame many of those Friars that came to seduce her Another of these women was a grave Matron whose house was a School of vertue and a place where the Saints used to meet serve God day and night but the time being come wherein they were ripe for God they together with other of their neighbours were apprehended and cast into prison where they were kept in dark dungeons and forced to endure all the cruel and extream torments which are before mentioned At last they were condemned and brought forth to the scaffold amongst other Prisoners The young maid especially came with a merry and cheerful countenance as it were triumphing over the Inquisitors and having her tongue at liberty she began to sing Psalms to God whereupon the Inquisitors caused her tongue to be nipped by setting a Barnacle upon it After sentence read they were carried to the place of execution where with much constancy and courage they ended their lives Yet the Inquisitors not satisfied herewith caused the house of the Matron where the Church used to meet to be pulled down and the ground to be laid waste and a pillar to be erected upon it with an inscription shewing the cause There was also apprehended another worthy member of the same Congregation called Ferdinando he was of a fervent spirit and very zealous in doing good A young man but for integrity of life very famous He had spent eight years in educating of youth and had endeavoured to sow the seeds of Piety in the hearts of his Scholars as much as lay in him to do in a time of so great persecution and tyranny being at the last apprehended for a Lutheran he was cast into prison and terribly tormented upon the Jeobit and in the Trough whereby he was so shaken in every joynt that when he was taken down he was not able to move any part of his body yet did those cruel tormentors draw him by the heels into his prison as if he had been a dead dog But notwithstanding all his torments he answered the Inquisitors very stoutly and would not yield to them one jot During his imprisonment God used him as an instrument to recal and confirme a Monk who had been cast into prison for confessing the Gospel openly But by means of the Inquisitors flatteries and fair promises he had somewhat relented Gods Providence so ordering it that Ferdinando was cast into the same prison and finding the Monk wavering he rebuked him sharply and afterwards having drawn him to a sight of and sorrow for his sinne he at last strengthned him in the promises of free grace and mercy Hereupon the Monk desired a day of hearing where before the Inquisitors he solemnly renounced his recantation desiring that his former confession might stand whereupon the sentence of death passed against them both after which the Inquisitors asked Ferdinando whether he would revoke his former heresies to which he answered That he had professed nothing but what was agreeable to the pure and perfect Word of God and ought to be the profession of every Christian man and therefore he would stick to it to the death Then did they clap a Barnacle upon his tongue and so they were burned together There was also one Juliano called The little because he was of a small and weak body who going into Germany was there conversant with divers learned and godly men by which means he attained to the knowledge of the truth and became a zealous Professor of it and earnestly longing after the salvation of his Countreymen he undertook a very dangerous work which was to convey two great dry Fat 's full of Bibles printed in Spanish into his own Countrey In this attempt he had much cause of fear the Inquisitors had so stopped every Port and kept such strict watch to prevent the coming in of all such commodities but through Gods mighty protection he brought his burden safely thither and which was almost miraculous he conveyed them safe into Sivil notwithstanding the busie searchers and catch-poles that watched in every corner These Bibles being dispersed were most joyfully and thankfully received and through Gods blessing wrought wonderfully amongst Gods people to ripen them against the time of harvest But at last the matter broke out by the means of a false brother who going to the Inquisitors played the Judas and betrayed the whole Church to them So that there
were taken at Sivil at one time eight hundred Christians whereof twenty of them were afterwards roasted at one fire Amongst these this Juliano was one of the first that was apprehended and sent to prison where he lay without any company laden with irons above three years yet was his constancy so great and wonderful that the tormentors themselves were sooner wearied in inflicting than he in suffering torments and notwithstanding his weak and wearyish body yet he remained undaunted in mind in undergoing all their tyrannies so that he never departed from the rack more dejected than he came to it neither threatnings nor pains nor torments made him shrink or yield one jot to them but when he was drawn back to his prison he would tell his fellows how he had conquered and confounded his enemies saying They depart vanquished they depart vanquished The wolves flie with shame they flie with shame In the day of their triumph when he was brought out to be apparelled with his other fellow Prisoners in all their shameful habits he exhorted them with a cheerful countenance saying My Brethren be of good cheere this is the houre wherein we must be faithful witnesses unto God and his truth before men as becomes the true servants and souldiers of Christ and ere long we shall have him to witnesse with us again and within a few houres we shall triumph with him in heaven for ever But hereupon they presently clap't a Barnacle upon his tongue that he should speak no more and so he was led to his execution but though he could not speak yet by his countenance and gestures he shewed his cheerful and quiet minde Then kneeling down he kissed the step whereon he stood and being tyed to the stake he endeavoured by his looks and gestures to encourage his fellow Martyrs in their sufferings and so they quietly and patiently resigned up their spirits unto God There was also John Leon a Tailor by Trade who out of a blinde devotion to serve God resolved to enter into a Monastery but by Gods Providence it so fell out that he entred into a Cloister at Sivil wherein most of the Monks were well affected to the true Religion amongst whom in two or three years space he was so grounded in the principles of Religion that he resolved to leave that kinde of life which accordingly he did and went into the Countrey yet after a time he had a great mind to conferre with his former Schoolmasters but when he came back to the Cloister he found that they were all fled inâ—o Germany hereupon he resolved to follow them and through many dangers and perils it pleased God at last after a long and tedious journey to bring him safe to Franckfurt where he met with some of his old acquaintance and with them he travelled to Geneva About which time Queen Mary suddenly dying and Queen Elizabeth of blessed Memory succeeding her the English Exiles that lived in those parts were called home whereupon divers Spaniards that sojourned at Geneva thinking England a fitter place for their Congregation resolved to accompany the English men and for this end they dispersed themselves into several companies that they might travel with the more safety The Inquisitors took the departure of these Monks so ill that not sparing any cost they sent their Flies abroad to apprehend them who way-laid them especially at Collen Franckfurt Antwerp and in all the ways that led from Geneva This John Leon had got him a companion with whom he travelled towards England who being discovered at Argentine were dogged into Zealand and as they were ready to take ship they were apprehended John Leon took his arrest very composedly never changing countenance at it They were presently carried back into the Town where they were miserably â—acked to discover their fellows and not long after were shipped for Spain having great irons wrought like a net that covered both head and face within which also was another piece of iron made like a tongue which being thrust into their mouths took away their speech they were also loaden with other engins and fetters of iron wherewith they were bound hand and foot and in these continual pains and torments they lay a shipboard till they came into Spain and then John Leon was sent to Sivil and his companion to Validolid where afterwards in defence of the truth he suffered Martyrdome But John remained long in prison where he tasted of the Inquisitors tyranny suffering both hunger and cold and enduring all their torments one after another and at last was brought out in their solemn shew arrayed after their usual manner It was a sad sight to see such a ghost as he was his hair so grown his body so lean that he had nothing but skin and bones left on him and his pain much encreased by having a Barnacle upon his tongue After sentence of death pronounced upon him they set his tongue at liberty hoping that he would have recanted but he made a stout and godly Confession of his faith and so quietly ended his life in the flames There was also burned at the same time a godly Virgin that had formerly been a Nun but being through Gods grace converted she left her Cloister and joyned her self to the Church of Christ Being apprehended by the Inquisitors she was intreated as others had been before her and at last was brought out to the Scaffold where with a manly courage she put the Inquisitors to a foul foil not only constantly affirming the truth but sharply rebuking those fathers calling them dumb dogs a generation of vipers c. being brought to the stake with a cheerful countenance she underwent the pains of death and so quietly slept in the Lord. There was also one Christopher Losada a Physician a learned man and very well studied in the Scriptures as also of a very holy conversation insomuch as he was chosen Super-intendent of the Church of Christ in Sivil which at this time was very great though dispersed into corners At last he was apprehended by the Inquisitors before whom he made a good Confession of his faith for which he endured haâ—d and sharp imprisonment with most cruel torments and the open infamy of their solemn shew and lastly was adjudged to the fire As he stood at the stake the Barnacle being taken from his tongue he disputed notably with some Monks that came to seduce him and when they spake Latin that the common People might not understand them Losada also began to speak in Latin so copiously and eloquently as was strange to hear that he should have his wits so fresh when he was ready to be burned after which he patiently resigned up his spirit unto God in the fire There was also in Sivil one Arias a man of a sharp wit and well-studied in Divinity but withal of a crafty wit and inconstant nature which vices he yet
covered with a cloke of Religion whereby he deceived many About this time there were also in that City two sorts of Preachers and both had a great number of Auditors The one taught School-Divinity and were continually calling upon their hearers to often fastings mortification self-denial frequency of Prayer humility c. But themselves practised nothing lesse than these things and indeed all their Religion consisted in works and bodily exercises as running to Masses hallowed places shrift c. The other sort dealt more sincerely with the holy Scriptures out of which they declared what was true righteousnesse and perfect holinesse by means whereof that City above all others in Spain bore the name for just and true dealing and it pleased God that the brightnesse of this light did discover all the counterfeit holinesse and Pharasaical devotion of the other party The chief Labourers in this harvest were Constantino Aegidius and Varquius all Doctors and sober wise and learned men who by this kind of preaching procured to themselves many enemies but above all others Arias was the most spiteful and malicious yet he carried it so cunningly that he still kept up his reputation with these men but it was not long before he discovered himself and that upon this occasion There was one Ruzius a learned man questioned before the Inquisitors for something that he had delivered in a Sermon about the Controversies in Religion The Inquisitors appointed him a day of hearing and two or three days before Arias met him saluted him courteously and discoursed familiarly with him then did he pump out of him all those Arguments wherewith he intended to defend himself before the Inquisitors When the day came and Ruzius appeared Arias went on that side where his opponents were which much amated Ruzius and in the disputation Arias being prepared did so wittily enervate all his Arguments that Ruzius had nothing to say for himself and so was fain to yield the cause and Arias went away with the honour of the field though he got it by treachery Yet did this Arias being of Saint Isidores Monastery preach so practically that a great light began to dawn in that dark place for the whole scope of his Sermons was to overthrow all their Profession he taught them that singing and saying of their Prayers day and night was no service of God that the holy Scriptures were to be read and studied with diligence whence alone the true service of God could be drawn and which alone teach us the true obedience to his Will to the obtaining whereof we must use Prayer as a means proceeding as well from a sense and feeling of our own infirmities as grounded upon a perfect trust and confidence in God By laying these foundations through Gods blessing he began to make them out of love with their Monkish Superstition and much provoked them to the study of the holy Scriptures Besides also his Sermons he read daily a lecture upon Solomons Proverbs very learnedly and made application thereof with good judgement and discretion also in his private conference he did much good The Lord also so ordered it in his wisdome that he met with Schollers that were very tractable such as were not greatly wedded to their Superstitions And such was the force and might of Gods Election that these few good seeds so fructified that in the end they brought forth a great encrease of godlinesse For divers of the Monks that hereby had their consciences awakened and cleared to see their former hypocrisie and idolatry sought out for further instructions and through Gods mercy they light upon those Preachers which taught the truth with more sincerity of whom they learned the Principles of pure and perfect Religion so that by degrees they left that evil opinion which they had formerly conceived against the Lutherans and were desirous to read their books And God miraculously provided for them that they had all sorts of books brought them that were extant at that time either in Geneva or Germany whereby it came to passe that there were very few in all that cloister but they had some taste of true Religion and Godlinesse so that instead of mumbling their mattens they brought in Divinity-lectures c. Vain fasting was turned into Christian sobriety neither were any taught to be Monkish but to be sincerely and truly religious But considering that when this should be once known they could not live in any safety they resolved amongst themselves to forsake their nest and to flie into Germany where they might enjoy more safety of their lives and freedome of their consciences But how to get thither was all the difficulty If one or two should go first the rest would be exposed to danger if many should go together a thousand to one but they would be taken again being to travel from the furthest part of Spaine into Germany yet upon debate they concluded that they must all either speedily depart or shortly be apprehended by the Inquisitors who now had got some inkling of the matter And God seeing them in this distresse shewed them a means how under an honest pretence a dozen of them might depart together within a month and each betake himself a several way towards Geneva where they appointed by Gods assistance all to meet within a twelve month The rest which were but young novices were left behind who yet not long after were so strengthned by God that they endured the brunt of persecution when it came three of them being burned and divers others diversly punished The aforementioned servants of Jesus Christ forsook that place where they lived in honour ease and plenty and by undertaking for Christs sake a voluntary exile exposed themselves to shame ignominy wants yea and were in continual danger of their lives also And under God Arias was a great means of this who by his ministry had first inlightned them with the knowledge of the truth for which he was often complained of to the Inquisitors and was convented before them where he so cunningly answered the matter that he was still discharged But his last apprehension through the mercy of God brought forth in him the fruits of true repentance for he did so deeply and unfainedly bewail and repent of his former with-holding of the truth in unrighteousnesse that whereas he used to be exceeding fearful of the Rack he being brought to it and upon it with a marvellous constancy withstood the enemies of Gods truth and took up the Inquisitors roundly withal telling them that he was heartily sorry and did most earnestly repent him for that he had wittingly and willingly in their presence impugned the truth against the godly defenders of the same Many other sharp rebukes he gave to the Inquisitors so often as he came to his answer But at last he was brought forth arraied in their accustomed manner upon their day of triumph at which time he also made a notable Profession of his faith
by whom he was kept in bands having only a pad of straw to lie on and though his wife sent him a good bed and sheets yet did the Bishops officers keep them from him dividing it as a booty amongst themselves Thrice he was brought before the Commissioners where he boldly rendred a reason of his faith answering all their interrogatories with such evidence of Scripture and constancy of mind as astonished all that heard him yet afterwards at the importunity of his friends and kindred he was by much perswasion brought to assent to certain Popish points But through the mercy of God he was after a while brought to such repentance and bewailing of this fact that afterwards he became more valiant in the defence of Christs quarrel neither did he desire any thing more than to have occasion to recover again by confession that which he had lost by denial affirming that as he never had felt more joy of heart then when he constantly professed the truth so he never tasted more sorrow in all his life then when he turned from the same by dissimulation Professing to his Christian friends that death was much more sweet to him with testimony to the truth then life with the least denial of it and violation of a good conscience thereby So that afterwards through Gods mercy he was so full of comfort that divers which talked with him continued all day without meat or drink and if they might would have stayed all night too they were so delighted with him Galeacius thus waiting for some occasion to manifest his Recovery it so fell out that the Inquisitors came into the Prison to him supposing that now he would have confirmed what before he had granted unto them requiring him so to do But Galeacius on the contrary retracted that and boldly asserted the truth with more courage than he did before and hereby his mind was greatly refreshed and his adversaries went away ashamed yet did they condemn and deliver him to the secular Judge to be burned Then was he brought forth in the morning to the market-place and bound to a stake where he was left till noon to be a gazing stock to all the people during which time many came to see him exhorting him to recant and not so wilfully to cast away himself and thereby to undo his loving wife and young children c. But nothing could alter the firme mind of this constant Martyr and therefore at length fire was put to him and so he quietly slept in the Lord. A little before his execution he hearing that there was a controversie between the Bishop and Major of the City which of them should be at cost to buy wood for his burning he sent to them to end that quarrel for that he himself would be at the cost of it out of his own goods The life of John Mollius THere was at Rome one John Mollius who at twelve years old was placed by his Parents in the house of the Gray-friars where being of an excellent wit in a short time he so profited both in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made a Priest Then was he sent to study at Ferrara where he so profited in six years time that he was made Doctor and Reader of Divinity in that University and by his Sophistry shewed himself an utter enemy to the Gospel From thence he went to Brixia and the year following to Millaine where he read openly Then by Francis Sforce he was brought to the University of Papia to be the Philosophy Professor where he remained four years Then was he called to the University of Bononia about which time it pleased God so to inlighten him with the knowledge of his truth that he began secretly to expound The Epistle of Paul to the Romanes to a few but presently his Auditors increased so fast that he was compelled to read openly in the Church where the number of his Auditors daily increased and withal they shewed such fervency of mind that most of them came with pen and ink to write what they heard taking great care to come so early that they might have room to hear him This was Anno 1538. Hereupon Cardinal Campeius set up one Cornelius an arrogant Babler to expound the same Epistle who cried up the Pope and his traditions as John on the contrary commended and extolled Christ and his merits to the People But Cornelius his Auditors quickly decreased and the others increased exceedingly This angred Cornelius insomuch as by Cardinal Campeius his advice they came to an open disputation and when they could not agree as John was returning home in a narrow place where his friends could not come to his rescue he was apprehended and clapt up in prison but this caused such stir in the City that Cornelius was faine to hide himself Then did the Bishop send word to John in prison that he must either recant or be burnt To the first he answered that he would by no means condescend only it grieved him that he should be condemned and his cause not heard yet by the mediation of a friend he was released out of prison upon condition that within three moneths he should appear at Rome some of his friends disswaded him from going to Rome advising him rather to go into Germany and they would give him mony to bear his charges but he refused saying that he must preach the Gospel at Rome also When he came thither he requested of the Pope that he might have a publick hearing but that was denied him and he was commanded to write his opinion which accordingly he did About Original sin Justification by faith only Free-will Purgatory c. All which he confirmed by the Authority of Scripture and Fathers and so exhibited it to the Pope who referred it to some Cardinals and they disputed with him three dayes upon those points but could not confute them then was he answered That it was truth which he said yet not meet for the times and therefore he was commanded to abstain from preaching and to returne to Bonony to be the Philosophy Professour When he came back all men longed to hear how he had sped and in the Pulpit he openly declared the whole proceedings to them giving God thanks for his safe return But this so offended the Cardinal that by order from the Pope he was removed from Bononia to Naples There also his doctrine was so distasted by the Viceroy that he laid wait to take away his life yet through Gods mercy he escaped and wandred up and down Italy preaching the Gospel of Christ wheresoever he came At last he was called back to Bonony where privately he expounded Pauls Epistles which could not be long concealed whereupon he was apprehended and carried to Faventia where he was cast into a filthy stinking prison and lay there foure
after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise than as a Butcher doth kill his Calves and Sheep This was in Calabâ—ia Anno Christi 1560. Persecution raised by the Pope in Venice THe City of Venice was a long while from the cruel Inquisition whereby the face of a Church was discerned there from the year 1530. to the year 1542. yea and multitudes of good Christians flocked thither from other parts which so provoked the Divel to envy that he stirred up the Pope to send Inquisitors which erected an Inquisition in that City and for divers years the Pope sent them money to distribute amongst their Flies and such persons as would betray the faithful to them By this means many of the worthy servants of Jesus Christ were apprehended imprisoned and after a while sent to Rome to be there butchered Then was a new-found manner of death inflicted upon divers others never till then heard of whereby they were drowned in the bottome of the Sea The manner of it was thus After any of them had received the sentence of death by the Inquisitors an iron chain was fastned about their middle with a very heavy stone tyed thereto then were they laid upon a plank between two boats and so rowed to an appointed place in the Sea where the boats parting asudder the Martyrs presently sunk into the bottome of the Sea and were drowned Yet notwithstanding this cruelty many godly persons ceased not to assemble together in a place appointed for that purpose where they talked and discoursed of heavenly matters for their spiritual edification and made collections for the relief of the poor amongst them And Anno 1566. they called to them a Minister of the Gospel and constituted a Church where they enjoyed all the Ordinances with much comfort but some false brethren creeping in amongst them after a while betrayed them then were many apprehended cast into the Sea and drowned Others were sent to Rome where they were cast into prison till they rotted and dyed there Amongst others that were condemned to be drowned at Venice was one Mr. Anthony Ricetto to whom after his condemnation his sonne a youth about twelve years old came beseeching him with tears to yield that his life might be saved and himself not left fatherlesse To whom he answered A good Christian is bound to forgoe children goods yea and life it self for the maintenance of Gods honour and glory For which cause said he I am now resolved to lay down my life the Lord assisting me The Lords of Venice offered to restore to him his Patrimony which was partly morgaged and partly sold if he would submit to the Church of Rome but he resolutely refused that condition Not long after came a Captain to him and told him of one Francis Sega his prison-fellow that waâ— resolved to recant To whom he answered What tell you me of Sega I am resolved to performe my vows to the Lord my God Then was he carried forth bound to the boats and by the way a Priest presented him with a wooden Crosse exhorting him to recant c. But he on the contrary perswaded him and others to come out of the snares of the Divel and to cleave to Jesus Christ and to live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit For said he otherwise your unbelief will bring you into the lake of fire that never shall be quenched When he came to the place where he was to suffer the Captain lastned the chain and stone to him whereupon lifting his eyes to heaven he said Father forgive them they know not what they do Lord Jesus into thy hands do I commend my spirit and so in the sea he ended his life A few dayes after one Mr. Francis Spinola was apprehended and committed to prison and when he was brought forth before the Inquisitors they shewed him a Treatise about the Lords Supper demanding whether he was the Author of it which he acknowledged avouching that the doctrine that was contained therein was agreeable to the holy Scriptures Then was he return'd to his prison where the aforementioned Sega was who waiting for his coming as he passed by saluted him by his name after which they conferred together about the doctrine of the Gospel and Sega having heard that Spinola had stood stoutly in the Confession of the truth he was much comforted saying that God had reserved him for such a time as this to make him Partaker of so great consolation Shortly after the Jailor told Sega that he was to die one hour within night at the hearing whereof he entreated Spinola to pray with him and after prayer he said that his soul was heavy unto death Spinola answered Fear not for it will not be long before your soul shall partake of those joyes which shall endure for ever At the appointed time he was fetched out of the dungeon where he took his leave of Spinola and the other Prisoners As he went into the boat a Friar perswaded him to return to the Church of Rome Sega answered that he was already in the way to our Lord Jesus Christ and so passing on he called upon the name of God He seemed to be a little amazed at the fastning of the chaine and stone to his body yet presently recollecting his spirits he took it patiently and so commending his soul into the hands of God he quietly slept in the Lord. Spinola being again called before the Inquisitors he boldly reproved the Popes Legate and the other Judges for that contrary to their consciences they persecuted the truth of God calling them the off-spring of the Pharisees c. The third time that he was called before them they asked him if he would not recant his errours he answered that the doctrine which he maintained was not erroneous but the same truth which Christ and his holy Apostles taught and for which all the Martyrs both in former and later times did willingly lay down their lives and endured the pains of death Yet after all this Spinola by the crafty perswasions of some seeming friends began to strike saile and to faint but through Gods goodnesse he soon recovered again and being called before the Judges he openly confirmed the truth and so had sentence passed upon him that he should be drowned as an Heretick To which he answered I am no Heretick but the servant of Jesus Christ at which words the Popes Legate commanded him silence and told him that he lyed the night after he was conveyed into the sea and there drowned praising and blessing God with invincible constancy Anno 1595. There was at Rome a young Englishman who going into a Church and seeing their grosse idolatry was so inflamed with zeal that he could not endure the sight of those horrible impieties and therefore he went out into the Church porch and as the Procession passed by him he waited till the Bishop came
that did bear the Host and then stepping forwards he plucked it out of his hands threw it to the ground saying aloud Ye wretched Idolaters do ye fall down to a morsel of bread This so provoked the People that they had almost torn him in pieces and yet they spared him and sent him to prison Complaint being made to Pope Clement the eighth he was so incensed that he appointed him to be burnt the same day but some of the Cardinals advised that he should rather be kept in prison and examined by exquisite torments to find out his abettors and setters on This accordingly was put in practice yet could they draw nothing from him but these words Such was the will of God Then was he adjudged to be led from the Capitol naked to his middle and to wear on his head the form of a Devil his breeches to be painted over with flames of fire and so to be carried all about the City and then to be burnt alive When he heard this sentence he lift up his eyes to heaven and implored the help of Almighty God As he passed through the streets he was mocked and derided of all the People but he continued his fervent Prayers to God At last he spake something against the filthy lives of the Cardinals which so enraged them that they caused him to be gagged which cruelty he patiently endured When he came before the Church where he cast down the idol the hangman cut off his right hand and set it on a pole in the Cart to which he was tied then did two Tormentors with flaming torches scorch and burn his flesh all the way as he went through the City of Rome all which he bore with admirable patience By that he came to the place where he was to be executed his body was all over scorched blistred and bloody having no part free but his head Then was he taken from the Cart and seeing the Post to which he should be tied he went of himself to it and kneeling down kissed the chains which should bind him to it The Friars urged him to worship an idol which they presented to him but he turning away his face shewed his detestation of it holding on his Christian course unto the end and when the flames of fire seized on him he bowed his head and quietly yielded up his soul to God The same year there was an old godly man that had long lain in the Inquisitors dungeons who was at last brought forth and condemned after which the Friars brought to him a Crucifix importuning him to kisse and adore it He seeing their impudence said unto them If you take not this idol out of my sight ye will constrain me to spit upon it The Friars hearing this sent him away immediately to the fire where with great courage and constancy he resigned up his spirit unto God CHAP. XXIX The Life and Martyrdom of William Gardiner in Portugal Anno Christi 1552. WIlliam Gardiner was born at Bristol and well educated and when he was grown up was placed with one Master Paget a Merchant by whom when he was twenty six years old he was sent into Portugal to Lisbone the regal City to be a Factor there he learned the countrey language and became a profitable servant both to his Master and others He was careful to keep close to God and to avoid the superstitions of that countrey and there being divers good men in that City he associated himself with them used good conference and often bewailed to them his own weaknesse as being neither sufficiently humbled for his sins nor yet enflamed with a love of godlinesse as he ought he had also good books which privately he made much use of Now whilst he was here abiding it so fell out that a great marriage was to be solemnized betwixt the King of Portugals sonne and the King of Spains daughter Great preparations were made for it and a great concourse there was of Persons of all Ranks that came to it and upon the wedding day they went to Church in great pomp and amongst multitudes of Spectators William Gardiner made one rather for the novelty of the businesse than for any desire that he had to see their Ceremonies and going to Church early in the morning he got a convenient place to hear and see in When all were come to Church a Cardinal began to say Masse The People standing with great silence and devotion The fight of these superstitions did wonderfully grieve the mind of William Gardiner not so much to see the folly of the common People as to see that the King himself and so many sage Nobles should be led away with such abominable idolatry wherewith he was so exceedingly moved in his spirit that he had much ado to refrain himself from doing something whereby he might manifest his dislike but the great throng that he was in hindred him that he could not come neere to the Altar When all was ended he returned home very sad seeking out solitary places where falling down prostrate before God with many tears he bewailed the neglect of his duty and studied how he might revoke that People from their impiety and superstition At length his mind was fully setlet not to defer the matter any longer whereupon he renounced the world exactly made up all his accounts both what he owed and what was owing to him to a farthing Then did he continue night and day in Prayer unto God and in continual meditation of the holy Scriptures so that he would scarce take any meat by day or sleep by night as one Pendigrace his bed-fellow testified The Sabbath following Masse was to be celebrated with the like solemnity Whereupon William Gardiner went early in the morning handsomely apparalled to Church setting himself neer to the Altar After a while the King and States came Gardiner with a New Testament in his hand stood near the Altar privately reading it all the while A Cardinal began the Masse consecrated the Host lifted it up an high shewed his God to the people they adored it yet Gardiner contained himself all this while Then the Cardinal took the Host tossed it to and fro about the Chalice made divers circles c. With that Gardiner stept to him took the Host out of his hand and trampled it under his feet and with his other hand overthrew the Chalice At first all that were present stood amazed then arose a great tumult and one drawing his dagger wounded Gardiner in the shoulder and as he was about to have slain him the King commanded him to forbear whereby his life was saved for the present the tumult being ceased the King demanded of him what Countryman he was He answered Most noble King I am not ashamed of my Countrey I am an Englishmam by birth and Religion and came hither as a Merchant and seeing so great idolatry committed in this
was neither town nor City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual imprisonment neither was there any respect either of age or sex But especially at Gaunt many of the chief men were burned for Religion Also at the Emperours going to Bruxels there was a terrible persecution and slaughter made of Gods People in Brabant Artois c. so that two hundred men and women were apprehended at one time whereof some were drowned some buried quick some privily made away others sent to perpetual prison yea so many others were put to death that the hands of the hangman were tired with slaying of men Anno 1545. There was one Martin at Gaunt a Fishmonger who lived very dissolutely to his old age but it pleased God by a Sermon that he heard to bring him to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance for his former sins whereupon he left Gaunt and sought out the company of godly Christians who used much reading of the Scriptures by whom he was further instructed and grounded in the truth Then after three moneths he returned to the City again where he visited the Captives in prison comforted them in persecution and confirmed them in the truth which were led to the fire The Friars seeing this though formerly he had been very bountiful to them yet now they conspired against him whereby he was laid in bands and by sharp and cruel torments they would have enforced him to recant but not prevailing he was condemned and his goods confiscated as he stood at the stake a Friar said to him Martin except thou dost turn thou shalt go from this temporal to everlasting fire to whom he answered It is not for you to judge me and so he quietly slept in the Lord. The next day after two other men were burned and a woman buried alive for the same cause who joyfully and cheerfully suffered Martyrdome At Delden two Virgins of a noble stock who frequently and diligently attended Sermons being apprehended and examined couragiously confessed and maintained the truth whereupon they were condemned and the younger was first burned In the fire she prayed so ardently for her enemies that the Judges greatly marvelled at it Then did they exhort the elder that if she would not recant yet at least that she would petition to have her punishment changed into beheading instead of burning whereupon she answered that she held no errour of which she had cause to repent but the truth which was consonant to the Scriptures in which she trusted to persevere unto the end And for the kind of her punishment she feared not the fire but would rather follow the example of her dear sister and so being put into the fire she quietly slept in the Lord. But this was marvellous that after their death the bodies of them both remained white and unhurt by the fire whereupon some Christians privily in the night buried them Anno Christi 1545. There was in Mechlin one Andrew Thiessen who had three sonnes and a daughter whom he carefully brought up in the knowledge of the truth after which he went into England and there died Two of his sonnes went into Germany to study there and after a time returned home again instructing their mother brother and sister in the right knowledge of Christ which being taken notice of they were all carried before the Magistrate and exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome again The younger brother and sister being not so throughly grounded in the truth by reason of their yeares yielded something and so were sent home again the mother who remained constant was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment the two elder brethren defended the truth stoutly against the Friars Disputation not prevailing they proceeded to torments endeavouring to know of them who was their Master and what fellows they had they answered that their Master was Christ who bare his Crosse before them and for fellows they had innumerable dispersed in all places At last they were condemned to the fire and at the place of execution they began to exhort the people whereupon bals were put into their mouths which through vehemency in desiring to speak they thrust out again intreating them for the Lords sake that they might have leave to speak and so singing with a loud voice they were fastened to the stake where they prayed for their Persecutors exhorted one another and endured the fire patiently One of them feeling the violence of the flame said O what a small pain is this compared with the glory to come and so committing their spirits into the hands of God they finished their race Anno 1545. There was a great persecution in Dornick and amongst others there was one Adrian Tailor and his Wife apprehended and upon their examination the man being somewhat timorous relented something and so was beheaded but the woman being more constant was put into an iron grate and so buried alive There was also one Master Peter Bruly about the same time sometimes a Preacher in Strasburg but now at the request of the faithful in Dornick a diligent Preacher there He used to preach in houses the door standing open the Magistrate hearing of it laid wait for him shutting up the City gates and searching three days for him but the brethren in the night time let him down in a basket over the wall and when he was down one of them leaning over the wall to bid him farewel unawares threw down a loose stone which falling upon his leg brake it in pieces He complaining of his hurt the watchmen heard him and apprehended him Then did he give thanks to Almighty God who by that providence staid him there to bear witnesse to his truth whilst he was in prison he ceased not to instruct and confirm all them that came to him in the Word of grace after four moneths imprisonment he was condemned to be burnt and his ashes to be cast into the river The Friars took care that he should have but a small fire that his pain might be the more increased yet he constantly and chearfully suffered Martyrdom God made the Ministry of this good man very powerful to many amongst others there was one Peter Mioce who had lived long in all manner of wickedness and licenciousness but being through Gods grace converted he excelled all the rest of the brethren in zeale and holinesse at last he was apprehended and being asked whether he was one of Peter Brulies disciples he said that he was and that he had received much benefit by his Doctrine withall professing that his doctrine was consonant to the holy Scriptures whereupon he was let down into a deep dungeon full of Toads and other vermine Afterwards he was brought forth before the Senate who had provided some Friars to convert him To whom he said When I lived an ungodly life in all manner of
not altogether alone seeing the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is with me he is my exceeding great reward and will not fail to reward me so soon as I shall have laid down this earthly tabernacle Pray unto God that he will strengthen me to the end for every hour I expect the dissolution of this house of clay When he was brought forth before the Judges and examined of his faith he answered freely and proved what he said by the holy Scriptures and being asked whether he was resolved to die for the faith which he professed he answered I will not only venture to give my body but my soul also for the confirmation of it and so being condemned he was shortly after burned dying with much comfort The persecution growing hot in Flanders one Giles Annik and John his sonne removed to Emden but by reason of their sudden departure they could not take their wives with them whereupon in the year 1568. they returned back to fetch their wives who were at Renay yet in regard of the danger they durst not go into the town openly but took up their lodging in the evening at an honest mans house called Lewis Meulin Now it so fell out that that very night the enemies had appointed to make a secret search after such as professed the Gospel and so passing by this house and seeing the light of a candle in it expecting their prey they forced open the door and took these two together with their Host prisoners God having appointed them to bear witnesse to his truth After they had been in prison awhile they were all three condemned for Hereticks and presently after Giles the father was burned John the son being fetched to execution when he saw the man that first apprehended him he called him to him saying I forgive thee my death and so he with Lewis Meulin were both beheaded About the same time there was also a godly widow apprehended and cast into prison her crime was for that about two years before she had suffered a Minister to preach in an out-house on the backside of her dwelling She was very charitable in relieving the poor and every way shewed forth the fruits of a true saving faith After seven moneths imprisonment she was condemned to die and a Priest coming to her to hear Confession she spake to him with such a divine grace and with a spirit so replenished with zeal that he went from her with teares trickling down his cheeks saying I came to comfort you but I have more need to be comforted of you when she was carried forth to execution she went with much boldnesse and joy of heart and having her head cut off she sweetly slept in the Lord. There was also one Christopher Gauderin that at first was brought up under the Abbat of Hename but the Abbat dying he betook himself to the weaving of linnen and quickly grew expert in his trade But having been trained up in a bad schoole when the Sabbath came he spent riotously what he had gotten all the week by his labour Now through Gods mercy it so fell out that a godly man working with him would often tell him of the danger of his present condition exhorting him rather to distribute his gettings to the poor assuring him that if he spent his money so wastfully God would call him to an account for it These with the like exhortations so wrought upon him through the grace of God that he began to change his course and in stead of frequenting Taverns he became a diligent hearer of Sermons and gave himself much to reading of the holy Scriptures so that not long after he was called by the Church to the office of a Deacon which he discharged carefully and faithfully Shortly after having occasion to go to a place called Audenard to distribute some almes to the poor there he was apprehended and the Bailiffe that had formerly seene him in the Abbats house asked him how he came to turn Heretick Nay said he I am no Heretick but a right believing Christian and what I learned of him I am now ashamed to remember In prison he had many disputes about his faith which he so maintained and defended by the Word of God that he silenced all his adversaries Some told him that he would cast away himsef in his youth being but thirty years old to whom he answered That mans life consisted but of two dayes viz. The day of his birth and the day of his death and therefore he must needs die once And for my part said he I am now willing by death to passe into eternal life When news was brought him in the evening that he must die the next day he retired himself and poured out his soul in prayer unto God till ten a clock and after his rest the like he did the next morning Having ended his Prayer he put on a clean shirt and washed himself saying to his fellow-prisoners Brethren I am now going to be married I hope ere noon to drink of the wine of the Kingdome of heaven When he came down he found three other prisoners that were to suffer with him These four exhorted and encouraged one another to suffer patiently and constantly Then came a Friar saying that he came to convert them To whom Christopher said Away from us thou seducer of souls for we have nothing to do with thee The Hangman coming to put gagges into their mouths one of them said What shall we not have liberty at this our last hour to praise God with our tongues Christopher answered Let not this discourage us the more wrong our enemies do to us the more assistance we shall finde from God and so ceased not to comfort them till himself was gagged also Their sentence was that they should be hanged for hearing Sermons and so with admirable constancy they yielded up their souls to God One of them being a woman was condemned to be beheaded because she had sung Psalms and exhorted her neighbours out of the Word of God at a womans upsitting Her body was grown very feeble so that she was caused to sit on a stool where she received three blows with a sword overthwart her teeth yet did she constantly sit still till she received the Crown of Martyrdom Anno 1568. About the same time there was in a town a mile distant from Gand a Minister whom it pleased the Lord to illuminate with the saving knowledge of his Gospel whereupon he became a diligent and faithful Preacher of it both in his life and doctrine yea he went from house to house exhorting and comforting every one as he had occasion out of the Word of God and above all labouring with them to beware of the abominable superstitions of the Papacy The Popish Clergy of Gand having intelligence hereof fearing lest by this means their doctrine and authority
against him against whom he made many exceptions but they would not be admitted Nine moneths he remained in prison suffering great misery much bewailing his former course of life though yet it had been such as none could charge him with any crime Then the Judges proceeded to his condemnation and he had greater fetters put upon him he was also examined with torments which he endured two or three hours though but of a weakly body comforting himself thus This body must once die but the spirit shall live the Kingdome of God abideth for ever During his torments he swowned and when he came to himself again he said O Lord Lord why hast thou forsaken me Nay said the President wicked Lutheran Thou hast forsaken God Aymund replied Alas good Masters why do you thus miserably torment me O Lord I beseech thee forgive them for they know not what they do See said the President this Caitiffe how he prayeth for us Shortly after he was condemned and when the Friars came to confesse him he bade them depart from him for he would confesse his sins to the Lord. He went to the place of execution with much joy exhorting the people all the way at the place of execution they tumbled him out of the Cart and when he was upon the stage he said O Lord make haste to help me tarry not despise not the work of thy hands and seeing some Scholars he said to them My brethren I exhort you to study and learn the Gospel for the Word of God abideth for ever Labour to know the Will of God and fear not them that kill the body but have no power over your souls Afterwards he said My flesh doth wonderfully resist the spirit but presently I shall cast it away At the stake he often repeated Oh Lord my God into thy hands I commend my soul and so he was first strangled by the hangman and then burned Francis Bribard Secretary to the Cardinal of Bellay being convicted for adhering to the truth had first his tongue cut out and then was burnt Anno 1544. About the same time William Husson an Apothecary came from Bloys to Roan and in the Palace where the Counsel sate he scattered sundry books concerning Christian doctrine and against mens traditions and presently taking horse rode away The books being found the Counsel made diligent search for the Author and at last heard that probably this Husson had scattered them there whereupon Posts were sent out every way to apprehend him and by some of them he was taken riding towards Deep and brought back to Roan who being examined professed his faith boldly and that he had scattered those books and that he was going to Deep to do the like there For this he was condemned to be burnt alive and as he was carried to execution because he refused to worship an Image his tongue was cut out afterwards his hands and feet beeing bound behind him he was pulled up with a Pully and so let down into the fire in which he with a chearful countenance held up his head and fixed his eyes upon heaven till he yielded up his spirit unto God Anno 1545. James Cobard a Schoolmaster in the City of Saint Michael declared and proved that the Masse neither profited the quick nor dead c. for which he was burned Also at Melda fourteen godly persons were cast into prison where they were cruelly racked to make them confesse their fellows which they stoutly refused to do and at last were condemned to the fire seven of them had their tongues cut out and so all of them were burned together their wives being compelled to stand by to see their torments many others were scourged and banished Anno 1546. There was one Peter Chapot who having been a while at Geneva out of a zeal to do good to the Church of Christ carried divers Bibles into France and dispersed them amongst the faithful at last he was apprehended and carried to Paris there he readily rendred an account of his faith exhorting the Judges to do their office uprightly Three Doctors of Sorbone were appointed to dispute with him but he made them all to go away ashamed then was he condemned to be burnt At the stake one of the Doctors pressed him sorely to pray to our Lady which he refused crying only O Jesus Sonne of David have mercy on me The Doctor bade him say only Jesus Maria and he should not be burnt alive but he for a while refused yet at last through his importunity he said Jesus Maria but presently checking himself he said Oh God what have I done pardon me O Lord for against thee only have I sinned and so he was presently strangled and then burned but upon the complaint of the Doctor the Court made a Decree that all which were to be burned unlesse they recanted at the stake should have their tongues cut out which was diligently afterwards observed There was living at Meaux a lame Creeple to whom God was pleased to reveal his truth and after a time he was apprehended and examined at which time he confessed more than they desired to hear Then did they ask him whether he would stand to that which he had said To whom he answered and I ask you again Dare you be so bold as to deny that which is so plain and evident in the holy Scriptures being advised to take care of his life he said to the Judges for Gods sake take care of your own lives and souls and consider how much innocent blood you spill daily in fighting against Jesus Christ and his Gospel At last he was carried to Paris where he endured many sorts of torments and lastly was burned At Fera one Stephen Polliot was apprehended carried to Paris and there cast into a foul and dark dungeon where he lay long in bonds and fetters At last he was brought forth and condemned to have his tongue cut out and to be burned with his sachel of books hanging about his neck which was accordingly executed Anno 1547. There was one John English condemned by the Court of Paris for confessing the truths of God and so sent to Sens in Burgundy where he was burned Also Michael Michelote being apprehended for professing the Gospel was put to his choise either to recant and be beheaded or to persevere and be burned he answered that he trusted that he which had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Another being betrayed by false brethren was burned at Bar in Burgundy Five men and two women were condemned to the fire at Langres for adhering to the truth one of the women being the youngest was reserved to be burned at last and in the mean time she much encouraged them all saying This day we shall be married to the Lord Jesus
that were in prison to execution and procured a Commission from the King to certain Judges to hasten their trial But it fell out by Gods Providence that at this time the Protestant Princes of Germany were met at a Colloquy at Wormes to whom divers learned men resorted from Geneva requesting them to send their Ambassadors to the French King in the behalf of these poor Christians thus imprisoned by whose mediation and the Kings other business who was now in war with the King of Spain many of them were delivered yet some of them were executed before the coming of the Ambassodors Amongst them were Nicholas Clivet and one Granvelle both of them elders of the Congregation who stoutly defended the truth against the Sorbone Doctors and afterwards patiently resigned up their soules to God in the cruel flames Also a young Gentlewoman of about twenty three years old which came from Gascoigne to joyn her self to the Church at Paris was brought forth with the former and endured many conflicts with the Judges and Sorbonists who when she was urged to recant said That she had learned her faith from the Word of God and therefore therein she would live and die Her neighbours testified against her that there was much singing of Psalms in her house and that sometimes they had seen abundance of people come out of it and that at the death of her husband no Priest was called for c. But presently after two of these witnesses fell out and one slew the other with a knife The Cardinal of Sens much hastened this Gentlewomans death that he might have her estate When she was condemned she had her tongue cut as the two former also were served Going to execution she dressed her self like a Bride being that day to be married to her Spouse Jesus Christ she went to the fire without ever changing countenance and so quietly yielded up her spirit to God Divers others of this Congregation suffered in the like sort the rest at the mediation of the Prince Elector Palatine and the Protestant Switzers were released In other parts of France also sundry faithful Christians were imprisoned cruelly racked had their tongues cut out and finally were burned concerning whom because I find nothing extraordinary I have forborn to mention them Anno 1559. The King of France Henry the second coming into the the Parliament in Paris there was one Anne Du Bourg a noble Counsellour a man of singular understanding and knowledge bred and nursed up in the bosome of the Church of Christ who made a bold speech before him wherein he rendred thanks to Almighty God for moving the Kings heart to be present at the decision of so weighty a cause as that of Religion was humbly intreating him to consider well thereof being the cause of Christ himself which of good right ought to be maintained by Princes c. But the King instead of hearkening to his good advice was so far incensed against him that he caused him to be apprehended by the County of Montgomery Constable of France and to be carried to prison protesting to him in these words These eyes of mine shall see thee burnt and presently after he sent a Commission to the Judges to make his processe During his imprisonment there was a godly woman who was Prisoner also in a Chamber just over against his who at her window sometimes by words other sometimes by signes did much encourage him to persevere constantly in the truth whereby he was so comforted that when some of his friends perswaded him to recant he said God forbid for a woman hath taught me my lesson how I ought to carry my self in this business He was often examined about sundry points of Religion and being once asked whether he had conferred with any one about them he answered that he had conferred with his books especially with the holy Scriptures Having drawn up a confession of his Faith he intended to present it to the Parliament but some Advocates that belonged to that Court who pretended great love to him laboured to draw him to make another confession not contrary to the truth but in such ambiguous terms as might satisfie his Judges who would not stand strictly to examine it Du Bourg long resisted but at last was prevailed with to draw up such a confession supposing it sufficient that himself knew his own meaning So soon as this his confession came into the hands of his Judges great hopes were conceived of his enlargement but when the Christian Congregation had gotten a copy of it they were much grieved whereupon they ordered Master Augustine Marlorate a learned and godly Minister to write a large discourse concerning the duty of such as were called to bear witnesse to the truth of God before Magistrates wherein he set down Gods threatnings and judgements against such as either directy or indirecty deny the truth exhorting him more highly to prize the glory of God then his own liberty the truth of his Gospel then a short and transitory life shewing that he ought not now to give over having made so happy a beginning and progresse in his Christian course That the same of his constancy was spread not only through France but all Christendom over that he had been a means to confirm many weak ones and caused others to enquire after the means of salvation that all mens eyes were fixed on him to enquire by what means he gat out of prison so that if through fear and faint-heartedness he should enterprize ought that should contradict his first Profession he would give much scandal and offence and therefore he exhorted him to give glory to God to edifie his Church telling him that then he might assure himself that God would neither leave nor forsake him These Letters brought Du Bourg to a sight of his sin for which asking pardon of God without any further delay he wrote to the Judges retracting his last and protesting to stand to his first confession so that shortly after he was condemned In the mean time great feasts were preparing in the Court for joy of the marriages that should be of the Kings daughter and sister The day whereof being come the King imployed all the morning in examining the President and other Counsellors of the Parliament against Du Bourg and other his companions that were charged with the same doctrine intending to glut his eys in seeing their execution and then went to dinner After dinner the King being one of the Defendants at the Tilting which was near the prison where Du Bourg and his fellows lay entred the lists and behaved himself valiantly breaking many spears against Count Montgomery and others whereupon he was highly commended of the Spectators and all thinking that he had done enough desired him to give over with praise But he being puffed up with their commendations would needs run another course with Montgomery who kneeling
thousand villanies women and maids were ravished in the open market-place and streets some were beaten and hailed to Masse children were re-baptized others married again houses were pillaged and plundred Some that fled into the field died with hunger and cold Many men women and children were massacred and drowned infants were dashed against the walls and some others were hanged The Executioners running into divers places committed a world of mischief and divers Priests amongst them slew some of the Protestants with their own hands At Troys Bibles and Divinity-books were rent and torn in pieces They of the Religion were murthered and their houses sacked Eighteen men were hanged women were dragged through the streets and cast into the river and Infants were pulled from their Mothers breasts and re-baptized At Bar the Popish enemies entring the Town committed such cruelties as never were seen especially against women and little children Some of their breasts they cut open pulled out their hearts and gnawed them with their teeth rejoycing that they had tasted of an Huguenots heart A young Counsellor they hanged at the request of his own father with most horrible blasphemies they ravished women and girls Mounsieur de St. Esteen with his two brothers were cruelly stabbed by their own Cousin germane their wives were spoiled of all they had and led away prisoners The Pesants in some places committed infinine murthers and mischiefs against those of the Religion Monsieur de Vigney with his wife and servants they massacred in his own house which afterward they pillaged and spoiled In Crant the Pesants entring the Town murthered many one young child together with his father they burnt In Sens one hundred Protestants were cruelly murthered and their naked bodies thrown into the River one hundred houses were plundered the Church where they preached was defaced At Auxerre one Cosson was barbarously massacred a faire young Gentlewoman was stabbed and cast into the River many other outrages and robberies were committed At Nevers the Ministers were cast into prison whereof one perished miserably there Another miraculously escaped Children were re-baptized marriages reiterated and many houses plundred The Popish party entring Chastillon left no kind of cruelty un-exercised neither upon Women nor Children old nor young yea not sparing the women with childe that were ready to be delivered At Guyen they used all the cruelty that possibly could be invented and some Italians in hatred of the Religion cut an infant in two pieces and eat his liver At Montargis there lived the Lady Rene Dutchesse Dowager of Ferrara and daughter to King Lewis the twelfth The Duke of Guise sent thither one Malicorn a Knight of the Order who entring the Town murthered some of the Religion and committed other outrages Then he proceeded so far as to threaten the Lady to batter her Castle with Canon-shot if she would not deliver up those of the Religion which were with her To whom the Princesse bravely answered I charge you look what you enterprize for no man in the Realm can command me but the King only and if you proceed to your battery I will stand in the breach to try whether you dare kill the daughter of a King neither do I want means or power to be revenged on your boldnesse even to the infants of your rebellious race This stout answer made Malicorne to pull in his hornes and depart At Monlius Monsieur de Montare used all extremity against the Protestants and without any form of Law he hanged up two Artificers drave others out and plundred their houses and murthered many At Mans two hundred persons were put to death men women and children the houses of the Protestants were pillaged such as were fled were executed by their pictures their goods confiscated and their children made uncapable of their offices and estates yea of inheriting their Lands Some they beheaded Others they hung up Others they massacred and being half dead threw them into the River Above one hundred and twenty men women and children were murthered in the neighbouring Villages One Captain threw above fifty persons into his fishpond to feed his Pikes and above as many more were thrown into Ditches One godly man a Weaver had his throat cut and his moutastuffed with leaves of a New Testament which they found bouth him At Anger 's they murthered a godly Minister cast many into prison robbed the houses of others and slew such as they found therein In a Merchants house finding many books of the holy Scriptures they openly burnt them in the middle of the Town One fair guilt Bible they hung upon an Halberd and carried it in Procession saying Behold truth hanged the truth of the Huguenots the truth of all the Divels Behold the mighty God behold the everlasting God will speak and when they came to the Bridge they threw it into the River crying louder Behold the truth of all the Divels drowned Above eighty other persons were executed An aged Gentlewoman of the age of seventy years was beaten to death with their pistols then drawn through the dirty streets and thrown into the River terming her the mother of the Divel that preached to the Huguonets A Counsellors wife that lay bed-rid was murthered women and maids were ravished Two young maids were ravished before their Fathers face who was forced to look on the while All that were but suspected to be of the Religion were massacred and their houses pillaged A valiant Captain contrary to their faith given to him they broke upon a Crosse and so they left him hanging in great misery till he died Anno 1562. a Decree was made by the Parliament of Paris commanding all Catholicks presently to rise in Armes to sound the Bells in every place to destroy all those of the Religion without respect of quality sex or age to spoyle their Houses and utterly to root them out This encouraged all sorts of rascals to rise up in Armes forsaking their Vocations and to march against the Protestants In Ligueul they hanged up some put out the Ministers eyes and then burnt him in a small fire In other places they committed infinite villanies One young man they flayed alive The Village of Aze they burnt down and massacred thirty persons therein A godly Minister was drowned called John de Tour at seventy five years old At Tours one hundred and forty were murdered and cast into the River divers others were drowned sparing neither man woman nor child The President being suspected to favour them of the Religion was beaten with staves stript to his shirt hanged up by one foot his head in the water up to the breast and whilst he was yet living they ript up his belly pluck't out his guts and threw them into the River and sticking his heart upon the point of a Lance they carried it about saying It was the heart of
the times For when the Church had rest and ease he wrote strange things and cryed out of the abuses in Popery But in times of persecution he usually played the Hypocrite and laboured to draw others to do the same by which means he had a multitude of followers and amongst them the Lord of Valgrane and Maximilian de Saluces who set his name to Baronius to add luster to his writings against the Ministers reproaching them for that they would not give way to any dissimulation in their Disciples whereby they exposed them to great extremities This Lord had some learning and knowledge of the truth but to avoid the bearing of the Cross he thought it convenient to dissemble and condemned those who any way gain said the Papists Yet Monsieur Gelido Minister of Aceil opposed them both very learnedly in several letters that he wrote unto them So did Monsieur Truchi Minister of Dronier together with other Pastors of the Neighbouring places demonstrating both by Scripture Testimonies and by the Example of the Primitive Church that they had done nothing but what they ought to do and what every faithful Christian was bound to and consequently that the opinion of Baronius and his followers was pernicious to the Church in times of persecution The other instruments that Satan made use of to the prejudice of the Church were the Roman Clergy with their passionate Proselites who would faine have done to these godly Christians as their brethren in iniquity had done to their neighbours in the Dukedom of Savoy viz. Banish imprison kill and confiscate the goods of the Protestants But through Gods mercy they were hindred by the Kings Edicts confirming to those his Subjects of Saluces a peaceable habitation without being molested for their Conscience and religion or questioned for any thing they did in their private houses provided they abstained from the publick exercise of it by which means their Ministers had opportunitie of assembling in small Companies baptizing marrying comforting the sick and instructing every one in particular which provoked their adversaries to bend themselves chiefly against the Ministers thinking that if they could find out any meanes to extirpate them they should easily prevaile upon the common people having none to animate and instruct them Accordingly they published an Edict of Octob. 19. 1567. in the name of the Duke of Nevers Governour for the King on this side the mountains injoyning all of the religion there inhabiting or abiding that were not the Kings natural Subjects to depart together with their families within the space of three dayes and never to return thither to inhabit pass or otherwise to abide without a special safe conduct upon pain of life and confiscation of their goods Now the greatest part of the Ministers not being natural subjects to the King by this Edict were to quit the Marquisate oâ— to obtain a safe conduct or lastly to incur the penalty A safe conduct they could not obtain and yet they thought themselves bound in Conscience not to abandon their people wherefore continuing with their Congregations two of them were apprehended and imprisoned viz. Monsieur Francis Truchi and Monsieur Francis Soulf where they were detained four years four moneths and odd dayes the poor people being not able by any means to obtain their deliverance though they continually sollicited de Berague their Governour and others that had undertaken the management of these affairs yet the Lord was so pleased to restrain the power of their Enemies that they could not take away their lives yea by degrees they obtained for them a more spacious and convenient prison than that whereunto they were at first confined To procure their full deliverance the Churches of the Marquisate sent their supplications to the King by the aforesaid Minister Galatâ—e and another who set out July 27. 1571. and went as far as Rochel to implore the intercession of the Queen of Navar as also to intreat the assistance of divers others in several places and the great Patrons of the reformed religion disputed their case before the King and in the end obtained Letters under the Kings own hand for their enlargement Octob. 14. 1571. which was accordingly effected but it was four moneths after before it could be done When Sieur Galatee returned he was overjoyed as well for the prosperous successe of his negotiations as for the great hopes of a profound peace founded upon the smooth promises of his Majâ—sty and upon the alliance which he had made by the marriage of his sister to the King of Navar who professed the reformed religion But this joy lasted but from the moneth of May 1572. to the beginning of Septemb. at which time there arived the lamentable news of the massacre of many noble persons and multitudes of others who were most inhumanely murthered in divers places of France to the great astonishment of all the faithful in those parts About the same time there arived letters from the King to the Governour Birague by which he was required to have an eye that at the arival of the news of what happened at Paris they of the Religion should make no combustion remitting the rest of his pleasure to those instructions which he had sent him by the bearer the contents whereof were that he should put to death all the chief of the Protestants within his jurisdiction whose names he should find in the Roll that should be presented to him Birague having received this command together with the Roll aforementioned was much troubled and immediately called his Council together whom he acquainted with the Kings Orders whereupon some were of opinion that they should be immediately executed But others seeing the King in his late Patents not many moneths before had enlarged the Ministers that were imprisoned and had ordered that those of the reformed Religion should not be any wayes molested for their Conscience sake as also upon consideration that nothing had occurred since that time worthy such a change they therefore thought it sufficient to secure the persons of such as were enrolled and to defer execution for a while and in the mean time to inform the King that they were persons of Honour faithful to his Majesty living peaceably with their neighbours and inoffensive in their lives adding that in case his Majesty was resolved that they should be put to death there was yet time enough to execute his pleasure therein This advice Birague approved of and accordingly apprehended some but others escaped and concealed themselves and in the mean time he dispatched a Messenger to the King to inform him as abovesaid and to know his further pleasure This Messenger met another at Lions where the King had sent to Birague to advertise him that in case his former Order was not already executed he should desist from it and only have a special care that those of the Religion should make no insurrection nor have any publick exercises But they
of the reformed Religion in the Marquisate were not a little troubled when they heard of the cruel massacre of their brethren in France without distinction of age sex or quality insomuch as divers of them fled many Papists also secretly caused the families of their kindâ—ed and friends of the Religion to retire their families and themselves till such time as Birague had published the Kings pleasure after which they returned by little and little and though their publick exercises were prohibited yet they were well satisfied with the assurance of their lives and estates besides that they had the liberty of private exercises in their families This was the condition of the Protestant Churches in Saluces during the time that it was under the Dominion of the King of France which continued to the year 1588. at which time the Duke of Savoy took the possession who for a while suffered them to enjoy their priviledges in general But in particular some of the chief Members of the Church of Dromier being cited to Turin were so befooled with subtile Artifices that one part of them promised to go to Masse which gave a considerable blow to the said Church yet it lost not its courage in general although the great failings of the former encouraged their adversaries to attempt the like upon others by both words and letters Anno Christi 1597. the Duke of Savoy wrote his Letter to them wherein he told them how desirous he was that all his Subjects in the Marquisat of Saluces should embrace the Romish Religion and finding that his exhortations had prevailed with some he hoped that they would have the same effect upon the rest desiring that laying aside their Heretical obstinacie they would embrace the true Religion out of respect to Gods glory and their own good making large promises to such as should submit and telling them that it should return to their great advantage The Churches of the Marquisat having received this letter they answered first that they returned his Highness many thanks for that he had suffered them to enjoy their Religion hitherto as he had found them in the year 1588. when he took possession of the Marquisat Secondly they humbly intreated him to continue to them the said benefit as also to grant them his protection seeing that they knew that their Religion was founded upon the holy Scriptures according to which they ordered their lives and conversations so as none had any just occasion of offence and considering that even the Jews and other enemies of Christ were suffered to live in peace and to enjoy their Religion they hoped that those which were found Christians faithful to God and loyal to their Prince should not be denyed the same priviledge After this aâ—swer they lived a while in peace and the Duke took a voyage into 〈◊〉 after which followed a War so that they continued as aforetime But after the exchange of the Marquisat was established upon him his soft Letters were turned into sharp Edicts wherein he commanded all those of the Religion within the Marquisat that every one should go and declare to his ordinary Magistrate within the space of fifteen dayes whether he would renounce his religion or go to Mass or no which if they would do they should not only enjoy their habitations and Estates but many other favours also But if they resolved to persist in their Religion they were enjoyned to depart out of his Highness Dominions within the space of two moneths and never to return without expresse permission and that upon pain of death and confiscation of all their goods yet they were permitted within the said term of two months to transport their goods as they should think meet This unexpected Edict being published through the Marquisate July 1601. much troubled those of the reformed Religion who immediately sent Deputies to his Highness to obtain a revocation or at least a moderation of it and indeed they had some hopes given them by divers persons of quality so that many of the poor people resting upon this broken reed let slip much of the said prefixed time without preparing for their departure whereby they were the more amazed when they understood not many dayes before the time was expired that all hope of favour was now wholly taken away yet most of them prepared for their departure some recommending their goods to their kindred and friends who remained in the Country others leaving all they had at random except what they could carry with them to serve for their present necessities In these two moneths space they who were resolved to depart were continually set upon by their friends and kindred with all manner of perswasions to divert them from their purposes especially when they presented themselves to the Magistrate to give in their answer in writing For then they were caused to stand in a certain Pew in publick view where the Magistrates had either Monks or other Ecclesiasticks who ceased not to urge them by all possible arguments and motives thereby to shake their faith and constancy Amongst others a certain Capuchin Friar called Philip Ribo who a little before had been imployed in the same manner in the Valley of Perosa being now imployed in this place ran up and down using all subtilties imaginable especially among those who through feebleness of age weakness of sex or want of estates might probably make them more easie to be seduced they caused them also to be brought before the Magistrate one by one that so the constancy of some might not encourage others Yea hardly were Husbands permitted to declare for their Wives and Children and they so sifted the tender ones that it was hard for them to escape without making shipwrack of their Faith and Religion and to promote their design they prohibited all upon pain of death not to disswade others from revolting Yet through Gods mercy they were so fortified in their spirits that most of them withstood the tentations and went forth as Providence guided them not knowing whither they went Some steered their course beyond the Alps to France Geneva and other places Others retired themselves into the Valleys of Piedmont and remained there without trouble though the Edict required that they should depart out of his Highnesses Dominions In the beginning of this Persecution the adversaries fearing some resolute union amongst these poor persecuted souls to prevent any combustion they gave it out in the Churches of the Mountains that though the Edict was general yet the intention thereof was only to unlodg those in the lower Plains in the great Villages and other publick places and that such as inhabited amongst the Mountains might be sure to live in peace and quiet This indeed was a cause that at the first there was not such an universal union amongst those of the Reformed Religion that were destinated for slaughter as they could have desired But this fraud at length appearing occasioned a