A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles: wherein the text is explained, some controversies are discussed, divers common places are handled, and many remarkable matters hinted, that had by former interpreters been pretermitted. Besides, divers other texts of Scripture which occasionally occur are fully opened, and the whole so intermixed with pertinent histories, as will yeeld both pleasure and profit to the judicious reader. / By John Trapp M. A. Pastour of Weston upon Avon in Gloucestershire.

Verse 10. And he sent and beheaded John]

Put him to death in hugger-mugger, as the Papists did and do still (in the bloody In∣quisition-house especially) many of the Martyrs. Stokesby Bi∣shop of London caused M^r John Hunne to be thrust in at the nose with hot burning needles, whiles he was in the prison, and then to be hanged there; and said he had hanged himself. Another Bi∣shop having in his prison an innocent man, because he could not overcome him by scripture, caused him privily to be snarled, and his flesh to be torn and pluct away with pinsers; and bringing him before the people, said the rats had eaten him. And, I have heard of a certain Bishop, saith Melanchton, that so starved ten good men whom he held in prison for religion, that before they dyed, they devoured one another. Quis unquam hoc audivit in Thalaridis historiâ, saith he? who ever heard of such a cruelty? But so it pleaseth God, for excellent ends to order that all things here come alike to all, yea that none out of hell suffer more then the Saints. This made Erasmus say, upon occasion of the burning of Berquin a Dutch-Martyr, Damnari, dissecari, suspendi, exuri, de∣collari pijs cum impijs sunt communia. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, dissecare, in cru∣cemagere, exurere, decollare, bonis judicibus cum pirat is ac tyrannis communia sunt. Varia sunt hominum 〈◊〉〈◊〉; ille foelix, qui judice Deo absolvitur. The Athenians were very much offended at the fall of their Generall Nicias, discomfited and slain in Sicile; as see∣ing so good a man to have no better fortune. But they knew not God, and therefore raged at him. But we must lay our hands upon our mouths when Gods hand is upon our backs or necks: and stand on tiptoes, with Paul, to see which way Christ may be most mag∣nified in our bodies, whether by life or by death, Philip. 1. 20.

Notes

• Act. and Mon, fol. 15 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Ibid.
• Manl. loc 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pag 124.
• -Nec te tua 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pan∣theu 〈◊〉〈◊〉 texit pietas.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.