The spirit of the martyrs revived in a brief compendious collection of the most remarkable passages and living testimonies of the true church, seed of God, and faithful martyrs in all ages: contained in several ecclesiastical histories & chronological accounts of the succession of the true church from the creation, the times of the fathers, patriarchs, prophets, Christ and the Apostles.

Persecuted by the Papists in Forreign Parts, &c.

A brief Relation concerning the Horrible Massacree in France, Ann. 1571.

When the Admiral was wounded in both his Arms he Immediate∣ly thereupon said to Maure, O my Brother, I do now perceive that I am beloved of my God, seeing that for his Name sake I do Suffer these Wounds; at this time were many great persons cruelly mur∣thered; two thousand were murthered in one day.

At Meldis Two hundred were cast into Prison, and being brought out as sheep to the slaughter were cruelly murthered.

At Orleans a Thousand Men Women and Children were Mur∣thered.

The Citizens of Augustobona, when they heard of the Massacree at Paris, shut the Gates of their Town, that no Protestant might escape, and cast all that they suspected into Prison, which afterward were brought forth and Murthered.

At Avericome in like manner the suspected for religion were cast into Prison.

At Roan five hundred were put to death; Thuanus who writeth the History of these things, writeth thus; this Example, saith he, passed into other Cities, and from Cities to Towns and Villages, so that it is by many Published, that in all the Kingdom above thirty thousand were in these tumults divers wayes destroyed by the Papists.

There was wonderful joy in Rome for this Massacree, and the Pope with his Cardinals went a Procession, to give thanks unto God for this great benefit bestowed upon the See of Rome, and the Chri∣stian World; a Jubily also was published; and in the Evening the great Ordinance was shot off at the Castle: Thus did this unholy Father delight to hear of the destruction of so many Innocent People; well might Christ say, You are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father you will do; he hath been a Murtherer from the beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him.

An Account of four Martyrs burnt at Lile in Flanders,* 1.1 in the year 1556. whose names were Robert Ogvier, and Jane his wife, Baudicon and Martin his two Sons.

Few places can be named where the Truth was more freely, and with greater zeal received then in this City of Lile, where Anti∣christs Tyranny was great; For three years together it was secretly preached amongst them sometimes in Houses, in Woods, in Feilds, and in Caves of the Earth, not without hazarding of their Lives, if they had been discovered; yet could not these apparent dangers under such Ty∣ranny cool or abate the burning Zeal, which almost consumed the hearts of his People, hungering and thursting after the spiritual food of their Souls.

What was amongst them preached, was accordingly practiced; works of Mercy and Charity were there exercised, not only towards those of the Houshold of Faith, but even towards them which were without, so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Christ: They ordained certain Persons, who were men fearing God, and approved of, who went weekly from house to house to collect the Alms of such as they knew to be faithful, admo∣nishing every one how to carry themselves in their Vocations, and of their duty in contributing towards the relief of the poor Saints.

And thus each one according to his place endeavouring to express and manifest his Faith by the Fruits thereof, namely, good works, in a short time the Lord raised up a flourishing Meeting in this place, so that they consisted of a competent number of Men, Women and Children, not only of the City, but of the Villages nigh.

In the mean while Satan and his Adherance ceased not to storm and rage hereat, not being able long to endure these their holy Meet∣ings.

Upon the sixth of the Moneth called March, about ten at night, the Provest of the City, with his Sergeants, armed themselves to make search if they could find any met together in houses, but as then there was no Assembly; therefore they went to the house of Robert Ogvier, and there violently entered, seeking here and there for their prey; they found certain Books, which they carried away, but he whom they principally aimed at was not then in the House, viz. Baudicon the Son of the said Robert, who, according to his usual man∣ner, was gone abroad to visit some Brethren, but returning home, knocking at the Door, his brother Martin watching his coming, bid him be gone, wishing him not to come in, he thinking his Brother took him for some other, said, it is I, open the Door, with that the Sergeants drew nigh, and opened it, and he came in.

Then said the Provest, I arrest you all in the Emperors name and commanded each of them to be Bound, to wit, the Husband and his Wife with their two Sons, leaving their two Daughters to look to the House; now as they conveyed them along through the Streets, Baudicon, with a voice somewhat extended, which might

easily be heard at that time of the night, said Assist us, O Lord by thy Grace, not only to be Prisoners for thy Name sake, but to confess thy holy Truth in all purity before men, so far as to seal the same with our Bloods, for the edification of thy poor Church.

Thus were they brought into several Prisons, where they were se∣verally handled, yet ceased they not to bless and praise the Lord with one consent; within a few dayes after, they were brought before the Magistrates of the City, and Examined, who first spoke to the Father in these words, It is told us, that you never come to Mass, and also diswade others from coming thereto, and that you maintain Conventi∣cles in your House, whereby you have Transgressed the Laws of the Em∣perial Majesty.

Robert answered to this effect, We read not in all the Scriptures that either Christ or any of his Apostles ever said Mass; for they knew not what it meant: As for the second Accusation, I cannot, nor will deny, but there have met together in my House Honest Peo∣ple fearing God, I assure you not with intention to wrong or harm any, but rather for the advancement of Gods Glory, and the good of many; I knew indeed that the Emperour had forbiden it, but what then, I know also that Christ had commanded it, who said, Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. Thus you see I could not well obey the Emperour, but I must disobey Christ; in this case then, I chose rather to obey my God then man.

When they were brought to the Fire, the last words they were heard to pronounce were, Jesus Christ, thou Son of God, into thy hands we commend our Spirits; and so they ended their Testimo∣ny. Within eight dayes after Jane the Mother, and Martin her Son were both Executed in the same City.

The manner of the Merciless Inquisitors Tormenting such as are brought into the Popish Inquisition in Spain.

When they purpose to torture any one, the Gaoler is commanded to bring forth his Prisoner into the accustomed place where it is to be given, which place is under the Earth, and very obscure, then go∣ing thorow many turnings, and thorow sundry Doors, so as the hor∣rible cries of those who are there tortured can in no wise be heard, there is a Seat prepared for the Inquisitors on high, with a Rigister also, to behold their Tragical Act; the Torches being lighted, those who are to Act their parts in this woful Tragedy are brought in, the Tormentor who attends their coming is covered all over with a black Garment, close to his Body, and on his Head a black Hood, which hides his Face from being seen, having only two or three holes made therein for himself to see and to breath at; and all this is to terrifie the more the poor patient, who beholdeth as it were a grim Devil ready to Torment him; these Fathers being set upon their Seat, begin again to charge the Prisoner voluntary to con∣fess the Truth, which if he refuse to do, and if it then happen, that

Arm, or any other Member of his Body be broken, or that they die on the Torture (for that is all the favour he hath shewed him) they made it his own fault, and none of theirs; after they have used all the terrible threats that can be, they cause him or her to be stripped stark naked, whether Man, Woman or Maid, though they be never so mo∣dest and bashful, many having fallen into their bloody fingers thus to to have their nakedness discovered in the sight of others, was more greivous then all their Torments besides which they endured, laying aside then all Humanity in unclothing them, they put upon them linnen Bretches, as if their secret parts were better and more honestly covered with Bretches then with Shirt or Smock, or as if the Tor∣ments they meant to put them to would not pierce deep enough as well in the one as in the other; with such shameless Spectacles the chast Inquisitors fed their Ages, and with such cruel Lust, satisfied their infamous and detestable virginity.

The Man or Woman standing naked, then only covered with lit∣tle Bretches, they beckon to the Tormenter, (who is well aquainted with their secret sign and watch word, and can readily discern what Torments the holy Fathers would have them put to, to teach them the Faith of the Roman Church.

Then standing thus naked, they exhort them once again to tell the truth. If the Patient be to endure the Cord, they tye his hands behind his back pulling him up eight or ten times, according to the number of twitches limited by the Inquisitors to the Tormentor, that so nothing may be done there without order; at the first encounter are reckon∣ed up to him all his Articles, and then, besides binding his hands, they tye his Thumbs together with a small Cord, then they tye his Hands and Tumbs unto a greater Cord, hoisting him up by a Pulley very high, which done, they put upon his Legs heavy Bolts, if he have not them on before, to which are yet added for the first pull, an Iron weight of twenty five pounds, which is hanged to those Bolts between his Feet; being thus arrayed the Tormenter draws him up on high, the Register and Inquisitor mixing therewith their for∣mer Exhortations, confess; when he comes to touch the Pulley with his Head, they urge him yet then to confess; if he obey, they present∣ly let him down, if not, then they let him hang in this condition un∣til he have answered their demands; now after he hath hung thus without making any Confession, they let him down to redouble on his feet the former weight, and then pulling him up again, threat∣ning him, to hang there till he die, if he declare not to them, what they ask of him, commanding thet Tormenter to let him hang a long while, that through the heaviness of the weight, which hangs at his Feet, all his Members and Joynts are stretched out beyond mea∣sure; when the Patient through the extremity of Torment which he endures cryes out, they in like sort cry as loud as they can, that he should now confess what he knows, if not, then they let him fall; for when they perceive he continues constant, then they command∣ed the Officer to let go the Cord, which is as soon done as spoken, yet not wholly and altogether to the mid way, but a certain stop which

hinders his falling to the ground, by reason whereof he receives such a suddain check, his Body is pitifully and miserably stretched.

But yet this sufficeth not, for then if through their importunity he will confess nothing, they augment the weight the third time, and if the poor creature, in regard of his intollerable pain, call upon the Lord to help him, and desire to be let down, then they Scoff and Mock at him, pressing him to confess, telling him, that is not all, threatning him by the Strappado, as before. This Hellish Torture be∣ginneth at nine, and lasteth till one a clock; and when they please to make an end, they ask the Tormenter, if he have the other Engines ready, and at their going, all the comfort they give their dissolate Patient, is thus; this shall suffice, say they, for this time, but look between this and to morrow, thou advisest thy self well, what thou oughtest to confess, other wayes, thou art like to die under Torture; nor think to escape by what thou hast endured, for that is but a Bed of Roses in regard of the Torment which is to come; they being gone, his clothes is put on, and if he be not able to go, he is carried again unto Prison; a few dayes after they send for him again, re∣newing their threats, that if he will not reveal those that are of his O∣pinion, he must prepare himself for the Torture, wherein if he any way miscarry, or Death follows, the fault shall be his, and not theirs; if he continue unmovable in his mind, they cause the Goaler to bring him to the place of Torture, and there they sitting in their Tribunal com∣mand him to be stripped naked, and then tormented after the same manner as is before related; besides, as an addition thereunto, they tye his thighes and hamstrings together with a small Cord, forcing the same with pieces of Wood, so that the Cords do eat into his very Flesh, in which extremity they leave him for three or four hours plying him the whilst with infinite threats and derisions, which is all the comfort that they minister unto him in this his most miserable condition.

Thus in short the Reader hath an Account of the cruel Inquisition of these pretended Christians in Spain. Now I shall proceed to give a further Account of some that suffered under these Papists cruelty in divers parts of France and Flanders.

A Woman of Tours (whose Husband the Papists had not long before drowned) having an Infant sucking at her Brest, about seven weeks old, and a Daughter about sixteen Years Old, who was very beautiful; this Woman accompained with her Children, they hailed to the River side, where kneeling down, she prayed to the Lord, the Child suc∣king at her Brest, then she shifted her Child in the Sun, and laid it up∣on the Grass, commending it to God, in the mean while this Hellish Crew used many words to turn the Young Maid from her Religion; the Mother being ready to be plunged into the Water, exhorted her Daughter to persist in the Truth; the Daughter beholding their out∣rage, cryed out in these words, I will, said she, live and die with my Mother, whom I know to be a virtuous woman; as for your threats and promises, I regard them not, do with me what you please: The

Mother was not yet dead when these merciless wretches threw in the Daughter also,* 1.2 and so they yielded up their Souls together as Witnes∣ses against the Papists cruelty; the Infant was taken up by a Souldier, who having kept it a day and a night, laid it in a Steeple-House-Porch, whence being taken and given to a Nurse to keep, it would never take the Brest after, but within two dayes it died.

In the same City suffered one Glee an honourable woman, and con∣stant to her Profession, and when news was brought her, that she was condemn'd to be hang'd, she received it with joy, being conducted with the rest of the Prisoners about the second hour in the afternoon towards the place of Execution, they would have put a lighted Torch into her hand, and have had her to acknowledge she had offended God and the King. Away, away with it, said she, I have neither offended God nor the King, I need no such light to help me ask for∣giveness of my sins, use such things your selves, who sit and walk in the Darkness of Ignorance and Errour.

The one of her Kindred meeting her in the way presented to her veiw her little Children, praying her to have compassion on them, seeing that by renouncing your Religion, you may preserve your life. This caused the tears to flow down, and this answer she made, I must needs say, I love my Children dearly, but yet neither for love I bear to them, or any thing else in this World, will I renounce the Truth, or my God, who is and will be a Father unto them; and therefore to his Provi∣dence and Protection I commend and leave them; and so passed on, and with cheerfulness finished her Testimony with the loss of her life.

The Body of Coqueville being stripped naked, was dragged by the Murtherers from Valongues (being low Normandy) up and down his House with derision into a Chamber, where they used to meet, and there spurning the dead body with their feet, they bid him, Now pray to his God, and preach if he could; the Priests stuffing the dead Mouth with the leaves of Bibles, and said to the dead Corps, Preach the Truth of your God, and call upon him now to help you.

A Letter written by Wouter Oom, Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerp, full of Consolation, against the fear of Persecution, directed to a Brother and Sister of his.

Grace and Peace from God the Father, and from his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen:

Well beloved Brother and Sister, whom I love dearly for the Truths sake, and for your Faith in Christ Jesus; these are to certifie you, that I am in bodily health, and enjoy the comfort of a good Consci∣ence, I praise my Lord God therefore, who is able to encrease the same more and more by the powerful Operation of his holy Spirit; whosoever they be that will forsake this present evil World, and be∣come Followers of their Captain Christ, must make account to meet with many Persecutions, and Afflictions; for Christ hath told us a∣fore-hand, That we should be Hated, Persecuted, and Banished out of the

for his Names sake;* 1.3 and this they will do, saith he, Because they have neither known the Father nor me; but be not afraid, saith he, for I have overcome the World; St. Paul also Witnesseth the same thing, saying, All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer Persecution. And a∣gain, To you it is given for Jesus Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake: And doth not our Lord Jesus Christ say, Blessed are you, when men persecute you, and speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my Names sake: Rejoyce therefore and be glad, for great is your reward in Heaven: Now whereto serveth all this, my belo∣ved, but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Jesus Christ? For Christ hath suffered for us, saith the Apostle Saint Peter, leaving us an Example, that we should walk in his steps; who also en∣dured the Cross, and despised the shame, for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him, and became Poor to make us Rich, 2 Cor. 8, 9.

By him also are we brought by faith into that state of Grace where∣in we stand rejoycing in the hope of the Glory of God, knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience, &c.

Wherefore, dear Brother and Sister, be not afraid of the fiery Try∣al which is now sent among us to prove us, for what Father loving his Child, doth not correct it? Even so doth the Lord chastice those whom he loveth; for if we should be without correction, whereof all true Christians are partakers; then were we Bastards, and not Sons. And therefore Solomon faith, My Son, despise not the Chastning of the Lord, neither faint when thou art corrected of him, for whom the Lord loveth, the same he correcteth, even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth; fear not then to follow the footsteps of Christ, for he is the Head, and we are his Members, even as Christ then hath obtained full Joy and Glory by suffering of Anguishes and Sorrows; so we al∣so according to his Example, must through many Tribulations enter into the heavenly places, even into the New Jerusalem. Let us then say with Saint Paul, Christ unto me is in life, and in death advantage: Let us cry out with him, O wretched Creatures that we are! who shall deli∣ver us from this Body of Death? See here how the Faithful have desi∣red to be with Christ; for with Abraham they had an Eye to that ho∣ly City, which hath Foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. Let us then, my beloved, cheerfully and willingly follow the Lord, possessing our Souls by Patience; For it is a good thing, as saith the Prophet Jeremiah, both to hope and quietly to wait for the Salvation of the Lord; and good also it is for a man to bear the Yoke, in his Youth; for such the Lord will comfort in the end, and restore unto them the joy of his Salvation.

Lo here, dear Brother and Sister, what Consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy Word; for us, I say, whose desire it is to fear the Lord, and to trust in his Grace and Mercy, for the Salva∣tion of the Righteous is of the Lord, he is their strength in the time of Trouble; wherefore giving all diligence, let us add to Faith Virtue, and to Virtue Knowledge, and to Knowledge Temperance, and to Temperance Patience, and to Patience Godliness, and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness.

and to Brotherly Kindness Love; for if these thing be in us, and abound,* 1.4 they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ: The which, God our Father grant us for his Sons sake our Lord, Amen.

Out of my Hole December the 11th 1562.

Wouter Oom, Prisoner for the Truth.

A Relation of such things as fell out under the Goverment of Alva; And of many men put to death, Anno 1567.

The Afflictions of the Protestants in the Low-Countries were multi∣plyed this year under the Dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva.

It is well known that the Spaniards using all their endeavorus to rule over this Country at their pleasures had no better opertunity, to accomplish their designs then to establish among them their Inquisi∣tion, thereby todomineer over the goods, honors and lives of every one; the noble Citizens and Commons did what they could to op∣pose the same, to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his Royal presence, that hearing once their Complaints, his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great Impor∣tance, alledging to this end the Example of the Emperour Charles his Father, who upon a business far inferiour to this, adventured him∣self with much diligence to pass through the Enemies Country, who were but a while before reconciled, only to stay some Mutinies be∣gun in the City of Cand. These things had so moved the King that he made them a promise by Letters of his coming; but his intentions were broken of by such as were the upholders of the Inquisition, that so they might with the more facility attain the end of their desires, instead of their King then, they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva, who at his Entrance found the Prisons replenished with Gentlemen, and other Personages of note, whom the Dutchess of Parma had left in bonds after her death.

Long did they languish in this Captivity, whilst the Duke of Alva by fair promises dissembled a kind of meek and gentle carriage of mind towards them giving them some hope of a General pardon, pro∣ceeding from the Kings Clemency, that thus he might catch the Lords, and Governours the more cunningly into his Nets, whereof the Lord Lemoral Earl of Egmond, Prince of Gaud Governour of Planders and Artois, and others of quality gave but too Lamentable experience, who being led with vain hopes were at length inhumanly put to death.

The sixteen Provinces also subjecting themselves under this new Government, lost their antient Liberties and Priviledges, which evi∣dently appeared by the exploits done from the year 1567. hitherto by a new Council of twelve, elected and setled there by the Duke, the principal of which were Vergas and Elrio Fathers of the In∣quisition, which Council was commonly called, the Council of BLOOD.

In the year 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the World his feigned meekness,* 1.5 puting to death two Brethren, Barons of Battembourg,* 1.6 and several others he Executed at the same time at Brussel. These two Brethren from the flower of their youth had con∣stantly professed the pure Doctrine of the Gospel, and in the end were put to death for their Testimony to the same.

Shortly after there were taken and imprisoned at Antwerp several persons whose constancy to Death will appear by what they writ to certain of their Brethren, Dated the 17th of March, as fol∣loweth.

Seeing it is the will of God, that we should suffer for his holy Name and in the Quarrel of his Gospel; we certifie you, Brethren, that we are hitherto of good courage, howsoever the flesh continually rebels a∣gainst the Spirit, counselling it ever and anon according to the ad∣vice of the Old Serpent; but we are well assured that Christ who hath bruised, will also still bruise the Serpents Head, and not leave us com∣fortless; true it is, we are now and then pricked in the heel, but that is all the Serpent can do, nor are we discouraged, but keep our faith close to the Promises of God, who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth, having created all things of nothing: He forsook not Joseph in Eygpt, nor left the three Young Men in the fiery Furnace; no nor Daniel in the Lyons Den; this is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and of their Righteous Posterity, so that we can without fear say with the Prophet David, The Lord is my Help, Tower, Strength and Refuge: By such, and the like Scriptures, dear Brethren, we com∣fort our selves in our Bonds, rejecting all confidence in man whatso∣ever; be not dismayed then, good Brethren and Sisters, for our Bonds and Imprisonment, for so is the good will of God now towards us; and therefore pray rather, that he would give us grace to persevere constantly unto the End, so be it.

One of these three imprisoned in Antwerp wrot a few Lines to the Church of God in Antwerp, as followeth; Brethren, I write unto you, being left alone; whereas we were three in number, John Hues is now dead in the Lord, I did my best to comfort him whilest he breathed so as now I am alone, and yet 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 as soon as I have laid down this earthly Tabernable: Pray unto God that he would strengthen me to the end, for from hour to hour I expect the dissolu∣tion of this house of Clay.

When Joris one of the three was examined before the Magistrates, the Marquess said unto him, I have hitherto spared you, hoping to see you recant, but you grow worse and worse.

Joris replyed, during the time of my Imprisonment I have shed many tears; and further said, he was now become resolute, and could not fashon himself according to their desire, although they burnt him as they had done his Brother Schoblant.

Marquess, I can tell you, it will cost you but little better cheap.

Joris, I am ready if it be to morrow.

Then said one of the Standers by, he has neither Wife, Child nor Goods to lose, and that makes him so willing to dye.

Joris, You shall answer these your doings at the last day, where you must all appear, and then there will be no respect of persons.

Marquess, We have heard you preach too long; take him Goaler, and cast him into the Hole; then was he put among Thieves as a Lamb among so many Wolves: Thus this constant Witness remained firm till death.

The Spectacles of dead Bodies slain by the Bloody Inquisition was a Dreadful sight, being gazed on in a manner, in every place, especial∣ly in the City of Tournay, and of the Valentians; in regard of the multitudes of Believers, both of men and women; who had long Languished in sundry Prisons, in great miseries and necessities. Now that we may not forget what fell out in the beginning of this Year 1569. Thus it happened in the City of Valence, seven and fifty persons were executed for no other cause but for cleaving to the true Faith of Christ Jesus, not without much astonishment of the poor people of that City.

Among these sad Relations, a little to quicken and refresh the Spi∣rit of the Reader, I will here insert a Letter, full of Consolations, written out of Prison, to the Faithful, by one William Tovart, Merchant, who had his dwelling in the City of Lile in Flan∣ders.

This honourable person being come to the Age of Eighty Years, or thereabouts, used his House for the space of Fourteen or Fifteen Years for the Assembly in the City of Lile to meet in: Being cha∣sed and Banished thence in the Year 1561. he withdrew himself for a while to Tournay, whence he was constrained to flie, and to go to Amiens and Moundediea, Cities of Prickardy; afterwards returning into his own Country, he came to reside in the City of Antwerp, where after he had continued many Years, he was at length condem∣ned to be burnt with two others, who suffered for the same cause, but they put him to another kind of Death, for they drowned him by plunging him in a Cistern of Water in Prison. Amongst many Letters which he wrote, during the time of his Imprisonment, my Author hath selected out this one, which here followeth.

Dear Brethren and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

I most humbly thank my God, that he hath so fortified and comforted me by his Grace, that I feel my self more cheered by lying in this dark Prison, then if I were walking in the open Streets or Fields; I say, this I feel accor∣ding to the Spirit, for as touching the Flesh, what doth it apprehend here, but stinking Vapours and Smoke. Wherefore, my beloved, if it so fall out, that you be apprehended for the Name of Jesus Christ; fear not the prison, nor those that have power to Kill the Bo∣dy, for having done that, they can go no further; be not afraid then, seeing it is the reward which our good Captain Jesus Christ hath Pro∣mised to all his Faithful Souldiers and Servants; he who turns his back in this conflict goes by the loss; but whosoever fights manful∣ly, obtains in the end the Crown; not a Crown of Gold, but of

Glory Immortal; we here lay down a fading life, filled with griefs and troubles, to change the same for a Life Everlasting; we put off the Rags of this Mortal Flesh, to be clothed with Robes Immortal; we forsake a loathsome Life, for joy and felicity eternal; ought any gain or exchange to be compared with this? O sweet and happy Mar∣tyrdom! how dost thou dignifie and inrich us in despite of the World, Devil, and our own Flesh? and which of us now can com∣plain, seeing our Soveraign Lord and Master has so expresly foretold it to all his Followers? will any man come after me, saith he, Let him then take up his Cross, and follow me; Let us bear, Oh, let us then bear the Cross cheerfully, and with joyfulness, that we may be re∣ceived in the presence of his heavenly Father; for it is not only given us for to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake; and if we suffer with him, then we shall also Reign with him.

Oh, that we could admire his bounty, who no sooner imployes us in his Work, but hath the Wages ready in his Hand wherewith to recompence us; your sorrow, saith he, Shall be turned into joy; let us then cast off every weight that presseth down, and whatsoever else that stands in our way to Heavenward, be it Father, Mother, Bro∣ther, Sisters, Husband, Child, yea, and our own life also; let us with the wise Merchant-man sell all, that with him we may purchase that pretious Pearl; how happy do I esteem them that are called to suffer, and leave their Life for confessing the Name of Jesus Christ, for the Eternal Son of God will confess their Names before his heavenly Father and his holy Angels; they shall be clad with white Robes, and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of Heaven filled with gladness in the Presence of the Lamb; they shall eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God: Let us fix the Eye of our Minds upon these so great and pretious Promises of Jesus Christ, which he hath made to all those who persevere in well-doing unto the end. Oh! how happy shall we be when we are delivered from these Bodies of Death to live forever with our God? Let us then continu∣ally pray with the Disciples, Lord increase our Faith. Oh, dear Bre∣thren, remember me alwayes in your prayers, who am bound here in the Bonds of Anti-christ; remember those also who are in Bonds, as if you were bound with them: Pray, I say, without ceasing, for our Adversary the Devil is alwayes compassing us about to cause our Hearts to faint, and you are not ignorant what a potent Enemy our own Flesh is unto us; but I confidently believe that our God, who hath begun this good Work in me, will perfect the same, even unto the Day of Christ.

Farewel.

When the Massacrees began to play their parts in Rovan, they coun∣selled those of the Religion,* 2.1 to get themselves into the Prisons as into places of greatest security, from the fury and rage of the people, but such as followed this advice were there even ready to be devoured, as poor Sheep, by these greedy Wolves at their pleasure.

Those who were murdered in the City in a few dayes, some in

their Houses, and others in the Prisons amounted to six thousand, besides more then fifty Women, unto whom they exercised no less Cruelty then upon men.

Their names for brevity sake are here omitted, their dead bodies being piled together were conveyed out of the City in Tumbrils, and thrown by heaps one upon another into great pits, digged for that purpose: Their garments being washed in the River, from their Blood, by certain poor Women, were afterwards distributed here and there to the Poor by the Papists, that they might seem with their merciless and unjust Cruelty to mingle some Works of Justice and Charity.

* 2.2 Upon the eight day after the Massacree at Paris, about eight of the Clock in the Morning, the chief of the Papists at Tholouse, received Advertisement of that which had passed, with Letters directing them what they were to do, then a Council was called; at the breaking up whereof, the great Gates of the City were shut, only the little Wickets left open, and shortly after, they entered into the houses of those of the Religion, whom they imprisoned in sundry Prisons of the City, about three weeks after they put all these Prisoners together into the Consciergery, which is a special Prison, deferring the Slaughter of them until they received Warrant and Authority from Paris, which having received, the Prisoners were called down to the Stairs foot, one after another, and there Massacred, not permitting them so much leasure as to speak; the Councellors who were of the Reli∣gion, after they had Massacred them, they hanged them up in their Gowns upon a great Elm which was in the Court of the Palace, and in the mean time sacked and pillaged their houses.

An English Man burnt at Rome.

In the year 1595 a young man, about the age of twenty five years being at Rome, was much stirred in a Religious Zeal, against their hornble Idolatry, as the Bishop was going a Procession the young man pluckt the Pix out of his hand, and threw it to the ground, cal∣ling, Wretched Idolater, for which he was apprehended and sent to pri∣son, and shortly after Pope Clement the eighth hearing of it, or∣dained, that he should be immediately burnt, but some of the Car∣dinals advised, that he might rather be kept till a further exami∣nation; and accordingly they kept him eight dayes in prison, but when they see nothing could be drawn from him, but these words, viz. such was the will of God: Then they stripped him naked to the middle, and put on the form of a Devil or Dragon upon his head, and then bound him in a Cart, and carried him to the place of Exe∣cution, where he was burnt alive.

* 2.3 I find also a Relation of three other English-men, put to death at Rome, the manner of their sufferings are as followeth: They meeting together entered into a Conference, concerning the state of the Church at that time, complaining that the Zeal of Gods Glory was wonderfully cooled amongst men; yea, and that even those of the Religion, were

grown but too worldly wise; that Sathan by little and little was sow∣ing the seed of Atheism every where, by rocking men asleep in the Cradle of Security; whereupon, commending themselves into the hands of God, they determined to take their Vogage to Rome, and there to encounter, with the Adversary of Christ; thither they came, and after two or three dayes, two of them behaving themselves mo∣destly, did in secret manifest to some the Truth of the Gospel, who being betrayed, were imprisoned and put to death, without any further ado; the third resolved to bear his Testimony more publick, and therefore taking an opportunity, when the Pope was in the midst of his Massing devotion, stept quickly to him, and pluckt the host out of his hands, and trod it under his feet, testifying against the Mass and Antichrist; the people in a rage fell upon him, beating and bruising of him, and he was forthwith bound and set upon an Ass, and the Executioners with lighted Torches burnt his Face, Mouth and Tongue first, when the flames came overthwart his Cheeks, he was heard to cry, Lord forgive them, they know not what they do; and then they consumed his body with Fire to Ashes.

And herein the Reader hath seen the invinceable Constancy, of these Martyrs, who in their burning Zeal for Religion, dryed up the Rivers of Persecution; and were never tyred in Suffering, until the Persecutors swords were blunt with the slaughter.

Blessed are they that are Persecuted for Righteousness sake, for their is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Q. Mary, An. 1559.
• * 1.2

  An. 1562.
• * 1.3

  An. 1562.
• * 1.4

  An. 1567.
• * 1.5

  An. 1568.
• * 1.6

  The names of three Martyrs, Imprisoned at Antwerp, were Schob∣lant, Son of Barthel, Jo. de Hues and Joris Comans.
• * 2.1

  Persecution and Massa∣cree at Ro∣van.
• * 2.2

  A Massacree at Tholouse.
• * 2.3

  Three Eng∣lish men put to death at Rome.