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1. THe Reuerend Father Nicholaus Picus guardian of a monasterie of S. Francis in Holland, to∣gether with ten of his brethren, Ierom Werdan viccar, Will. Hadne, Nicase Hez, Theodorique Emden, Anthony Hor∣narien, Anthony Werden, Godfrey Mer∣uellan, Frauncis Rod of Bruxells, Peter As∣tun a lay brother, Cornell Wican a lay man, who after much torment and affliction,
were sent to the towne of Bill, where they were beaten with clubbes, hanged on the topp of the common stoare howse of the towne in the night time, the 14. of August 1575. they cutt of their eares and their noses, they ripped vp their bellies, and pulled ou•• all the fatt they could gett, and sold the same in all places of the prouince. They al∣soe put to cruel death Leonard Veichle pastor of Barcomia, Nicholas Poppell ano∣ther pastor of that place, Godfrey Dimens somtime rector of the vniuersitie of Parris, but then Pastor Gorcomiensis, Iohn Oster, W••canus, cannon regular of saint Augusti∣nes order, and ouerseer of the Nunnes, Adrian Becan of the order of Premonstren∣sis, Iames Lacopins a monke of the same order, Iohannes Ons of the order of saint Dominique, Andrewe Walter Pastor Hair∣n••tensis, besides many other related by doctor Estius chauncelor of Douaie. In this cittie of Brill were put to cruell death 180. religious persones at seuerall tymes. And the Crucifix which stood in the church of Gorcomend for the consolation of the Christians, they pulled downe and hanged the same vppon the gallowes: they snatched also the Eucharist out of a Priests handes, & nailed it vnto a gibbet.
2. When the Prince of Orenge tooke the cittie of Ruremunde in Gerderlande, his soldiors, rushinge into the monasterie of
the Carthusians, murthered three lay bre∣thren vid. Albert Winda, Iohn Sittart, and Stewart Ru••emund. And entringe into the church of that monasterie, they found the Prior thereof called Ioachinus, with the rest of the religious people prayinge vnto God, all which they murthered: in which cittie 29. priestes and religious persons were mar∣tired. When the Gewes had gotte by deceit Adernard in Flaunders, after spoilinge and robbinge all the churches and monasteries therof, they apprehended all the priests and religious persons, and brought them bound with the gentlemen of that cittie vnto the castle there, amoungest whom master Peter, licentiate of diuinitie and pastor of that cit∣tie, a worshippfull aged man, was put to great tormentes, and at the last beinge tied hande and foote, was cast from the toppe of the tower headlonge into the riuer of Scaldis. After him also they cast headlonge down into the riuer Paulus Couis, pastor of that cittie, Iohn Brackett Batcheler of diui∣nitie, Iames Deckerie, Iohn Opstall and Iohn Anuanne a noble man, al priests. They tooke also that vertuous man, Iohn Machu∣sius of saint Frauncis order, somtimes Bis∣hopp of Dauentrie, who beinge sore woun∣ded of them, they left his poore carcasse like a dead carrion vpō the streetes; other priests they tooke by the cittie of Ipris, and buried them quicke in the earth, with their face a∣boue
the grounde, which insteed of a marck they shott at with bulletts.
3. When Delps, a cittie of Holland, was taken by the Prince of Aurenge, who see∣med to shewe great fauor, vnto a most reue∣rend and learned man called, Cornellius Musius confessor to the Nunnes of saint A∣gatha of that cittie, yet was he with vnus∣uall and exquisitt torments put to the crue∣lest death that could be inuented the 10. of December, 1575. The same crueltie they shewed vppon Egelbert of Burges a Fran∣ciscan friar in the cittie of Alcmaria, for they did ripp his belly, and cutt off his intralles with their kniues. With noe lesse crueltie did they putt to death two Mouncks of the order of saint Hierome at Ganda a cittie in Holland, their names were Iohn Rixtell, and Adrian Textor, whome the Generall of the Gewses caused to be stripe of their cloa∣thes, and with their swordes, forced them to runn vppon thicke hedges of quicksett, and to die thereon. The like crueltie he exe∣cuted vppon William Gandan a Franciscan, Friar, Iames Gandan, Theodorick Gandan Cornelius Sconhewe, and Iasper, cannone regular, Mr. Iohn Ierome natiue of Edome in Holland, who beinge taken with other Catholiques by Hornan, were brought vnto S••age in the north parte of that prouince, where after many horrible and abhomina∣ble interrogatorious, some of them died
in that miserable captiuitie, such as were left a liue, were bound hand and feete vpon their backes with their naked bellies vp∣wardes, and vppon euerie mans bellie, was set a panne, or caldron whelmed down∣wards, full of dormise and frogges in great quantitie: and vpon the said pannes or cal∣drons were put fiery coales, which burning heate of the fire when those frogges felt, and had noe other place to gett out, they turned all vppon the poore peoples Bellies, and did gnaw and teare there, vntill they made hoales through their backes, or at least some place to defend themselues from the rage of the fire.
4. Vrsula Tales a religious Nunne of the Begginage, after that her father (an ould man and magistrate of that place) with o∣ther catholiques were hanged by these re∣bells, she also was brought vnto a gibbett, and being asked whether shee would for∣goe her faith and religion, and marrie with a soldior, shee most constantlie denied, and was cast into the riuer, and there was drow∣ned. This religious Nunne, had a sister that was married, and because shee lamented the death of her father and kinsmen, her head was brocken by one of the soldiors, and that so sorelie, that the braines came foorth. Other & farr more detestable wickednesses were comitted by these tyrannicall repro∣bates, in other prouinces of Flanders, Hol∣land,
Zeland, Brabant, Gelderland and Fris∣land, which you may read in the histories of Flaunders: but this I ought not to omitt, that they were soe tormented with such an insatiable thirst to shedd innocent blood that in their detestable conuenticle at the towne of saint Trudan in a vaulte vnder the grounde, they purposed and decreed to make a massacre of ecclesiasticall persons in all places of the 17. Prouinces in one night, which God preuented afterwardes: vnto whome all honnor and glorie,* 1.1 for his prouident mercie shewed therin.
5. And although the hugonottes of France, sought diuers times to practise their tragicall plottes in that countrie, as in the times of Frauncis the first (in whose raigne they nayled a libell at the court gate of Par∣ris, of their damnable doctrine printed in the yeare 1534. which being brought vnto his maiestie, and perusinge part of the con∣ten••es thereof he said; Did I knowe my right ha••de to be infected with that venemous doctrine, I would presentlie cut it off from my bodie) Henrie the second, and Frauncis the second, yet they could neuer performe their desigmentes vntill the beginninge of Charles the 9. his raigne, who being but a childe of 12. yeares of age (and soe abusinge his minoritie) they watched their time and oportunitie in the yeare of our Lord 1562. when euerie one that was wickedly dispo∣sed
and irreligiouslie addicted, and as it were forsaken of God, began openly to shewe himselfe vpon the theater, wheron this wofull tragedie was plaied. For first they crowned their captaine generall Prin∣ce of Condie, kinge of Fraunce, and called him by the name of Lodouicke the 13. and the first Christian kinge of Fraunce. The cheefest rage of all their malice, was pra∣ctized vpon those thinges which were most sacred and holy, as vpon the blessed Eucha∣riste, by treadinge the same vnder their feete, and castinge it vnto their dogges, and vsed that sacred and dreadfull hoast, toge∣ther with the holy chrisme to cleanse their tayles withall, and called Christ vnder the veile of bread, Iohn le Blanch, White Iohn. The like outrage they extended vppon Churches, Monasteries, Alters, Chapples, Oratories, Images, Reliques, and Sepulchers, which they spoiled, ransacked destroied & burned. Vpon Priests Mounckes and reli∣gious persons which they put to the vildest and cruelest death that they could imagine: vppon sacred virgins and consecrated Nun∣nes, which they rauished and defloured: vppon challices and sanctified vessells and hallowed ornaments, which they propha∣ned and defiled.
6. Of 12. that shewed themselues the ringleaders vpon this bloodie theater, there were 9. of them Apostate Mounckes, which
Christ vomitted out of his sacred mouth: the captaine and leader of them all, was Beza, who sould his benefice for 700. crow∣nes, and then cast forth his venime amongest the licentious courtiers, whome he perswa∣ded with his doctrine (vid.) that it was noe offence before God to cōmit sacriledge, to spoile churches, to cogge, deceaue, lye, sweare and forsweare: whose doctrine he∣rein being the religion of these newe sec∣taries, was most plausible and pleasinge to all miscreantes and malefactors, who aboun∣dantlie resorted vnto him, from all partes of Fraunce, and by which he determined to robb and spoile all the churches and monaf∣teries of that kingdome in one night in the moneth of Ianuarie, and appointed people for that purpose in all places of the king∣dom which was first put in execution in the Prouince of Aquitaine, & had not the Duke of Gays come the sooner to Parris, they had not only surprised the churches & monaste∣ries there, but also the cittie, court, & kinge; Thus frustrated of their expectation, they fled vnto Orlians, where before they were lett in by the Cittizens,* 1.2 they did so∣lemnlie swere that they came thither by the comaundement of the kinge to keepe that cittie, and that they would offer violence to none, either in his person, conscience, or goodes, and that euerie one should haue the benefitt of the edict diuulged the last
of Ianuarie (wherein it was decreede that the hugonotts should not spoile churches or monasteries) but they noe sooner entred the cittie, but they spoiled the churches and monasteries, burned Images, cast downe alters, yea cast downe the verie walls of the churches, and shewed more execrable wic∣kednes towards all sacred thinges, then the verie Turckes, for they in takinge any cit∣tie or towne from the Christians, doe only vse to cast downe the Images and Alters, and not destroy the churches also.
7. All the holy Reliques which those hugonotts could gett, they burned them; they burned the reliques of S. Damianus, re∣ligiouslie reserued in that place, as they also did S. Hillaries reliques at Poytiers. S. Ire∣neus at Lyons. S. Iustus and S. Bonauentur, and the reliques of S. Martyn. At towers they burned the image of Christ; in another place they trayled the same through the dirte. They spared the image of the diuill, & burned the Corpes of S. Frauncis the se∣cond, which was buried in the Chapple of the holly crosse, as they did burne the bones of Lodouick the 11. The churches which they broake not downe, they turned into stables and storehowses. Moreouer Beza comaunded all the Priests to be murthered, of whome receauing monny for their re∣dēption, yet violated the faith and promise which he had formerly sworne, and broa∣ke
the oath and peace, which he had before vowed most religiouslie to obserue. Soe as it is manifest there were cruelly put to death, fiue thousand priests, of whom some were flayed aliue, others were rackte till they were dead. Aboue six hundreth mo∣nasteries razed to the verie earth, manny o∣thers were burned: they burned alsoe the holie auncient Bybles, which were kept in Fraunce for rare monuments, many citties were exhausted with continuall siege, their citizens were murthered, all the countrie was spoiled and ruinated, soe as these ciuill warres of the hugonotts, soe often renew∣ed, did more consume and oppresse France with greater miseries and calamities, then all former warres it euer had abroade; For there was no trueth respected, or oath per∣formed, if any garrison did yeld themselues vnto thē vpon hope of their oathes (which they neuer accomplished) to saue their li∣ues, (as in steede of many examples, that of Petraforte alone will serue) neuerthelesse contrarie to the lawes of armes, to the number of two hunderth, were cast downe head longe from the toppe of a mightie high Rocke: all which perished with that headlong and violent fall. Such crueltie as this, more then Turkish, they exercised vp∣pon euerie other place where they did car∣rie anny sway: but ecclesiasticall persons and religious people, of all others, felt the
greatest smarte, some whereof I will par∣ticularize in the next Chapter.
1. WHen the cittie of Engolisme in Fraunce was besiedged of the hugonottes, it was yelded into their handes vpon con∣dition, ratified with promises and oathes, that it should be lawfull for the catholickes, aswell ecclesiasticall as others, to continue there without anny molestations or inqui∣sition. The heretiques neuerthelesse, not res∣pectinge the religious obseruation of a so∣lemne oath, entring the cittie, gathered to∣gether all the selected catholiques, and cast them in to prison, amoungest whome was Michaell Grellett of saint Francis order, and guardian of the monasterie of saint Frauncis in that cittie, who the next daie, after the cittie was yealded, was hanged vpon a tree by the cittie wall in presence of Iaspar Cal∣ligne then Admirall of Fraunce and generall of those rebells, which death he suffred most constantlie and prophesied of the said Ad∣miralls
ruyne, and who when he was cast from the rope, al that wicked crue cried out, God prosper our Gospell.
2. Iohn Virolea of that order, and reader to that monasterie, after that his preuie members were cutt off, was also murthered by them. Iohn Aurell also of that order, a ma•• 80. yeares of age, his head beinge cutt with a twibill, was cast into a priuie. Peter Bonnen doctor of diuinitie, after eight mounthes imprisonment was hanged at the wall of the cittie. In the house of one of the Cittizens of that cittie of Engolisme, they shutt vpp 30. catholiques which they cruelly put to death by diuers kindes of tormentes; They deuided them by couples, whom they soe chained and lincked together, that sufferinge noe food to be giuen vnto them, they were compelled to eate one another, and soe with extreame languor they peris∣hed with hunger. Some of them were diui∣ded and out asūder in two partes by mighty ropes, which were thruste through their bodies: Some of them also were tied vnto postes, and fire put to their backes, by which they were tormented more by the torment of a prolix death, then by the agonie of a violent flame.
3. The hugonitt garrison that kept the cittie of Vnstorne, though they were diuers times courteouslie entertayned of a most noble woman called the ladie of Maren∣datt,
yet they tooke her within her owne house and tyed her to hott glowinge gad∣des of Iron, and leauinge her in that tor∣ment, they departed withall the spoile of the house with them. The chiefe Iudge of the cittie of Engolisme, after they had cut away his priuie members, was hanged at his owne house. They tooke a vertuous priest also called Lodouicke Fiard, of a vil∣lage neere Engolisme, a verie vertuous man and of an exemplar life by the testimonie of all men, whome they compelled to hould his handes in a cauldron full of hoat scau∣linge oyle, vntill the flesh was consumed and nothinge lefte but the bare bones, and cast the burninge oyle into his mouth, and soe shott him with bullets and killed him. They tooke alsoe another priest called Co∣linus Ginlebantius the vicare of S. Auzann, and when they had cutt off his priuie mem∣bers, they cast him afterwardes into a sis∣terne full of burninge hoat oyle, where he ended his life. They killed alsoe two other priests, the one was of the parrish of Riniers, who after they had cut out his tounge, then they murthered him: the other master Iohn Bachelon, his foote beinge burned by a hoat burninge Iron, they strangled him.
4. Maister Simon Sicott viccar of saint Hillarie of Montierind, beinge a man of 60. yeares of age, and replenished withall ver∣tues, was betrayed by a hugonot whome
he ••upposed to be verie faithfull vnto him, and was brought captiue into Engolisme, but his life and libertie was restored vnto him for a great some of monny, that his fri••des did procure for his ransome, yet de∣partinge from the cittie he was pursued, & his tonge was cut off, and his eies were pulled out of his heade. Two other priests were hanged by one of their heeles, with the other heele free, and their heades down∣wardes: one of them was left in that mise∣rable torment and the other was kild out∣right. Another priest called maister Peter, of the parrish of Reulinēd was burried quicke. Maister Arnold Durande, and viccar of Flea∣cen was cast in the riuer being of 80. yeares of age. A Franciscan Friar of that age alsoe, was cast headlonge from the walles of the cittie. Maister Octauianus Ronier viccar of S. Cybard, after sundrie tormentes, was fastened to a tree, and soe shott to death. Maister Frauncis Robaleon in the parrish of Foncobrune viccar, was tyed vnto a yoke of Oxen that drewe a cart, and after manny str••pes and terrible torments, gaue vpp the ghoast: so that in the diocesse or Engolisme, in lesse then in two yeares space, 120. did there suffer martyrdome; priests, noblemen, gentlemen and others.
5. In the village called Floran, a little distant from S. Monehond, they tooke a priest, whose priuie members beinge cutt
off by the Surgean of Bethan, he bragged that he was the 17 priest that he had murthe∣red after that manner, and was afterwardes scourged vnto death. In the cittie of Hande, in the diocesse of Carnutensis, they caused a poore priest to say masse, only to scorne that blessed sacrifice, which Christ instituted for the quicke and the dead, and at the eleua∣tion, they snatched awaie the sacred hoast which they stabbed with their daggers, and then murthered the poore priest. In a cer∣taine Hamlett 7. miles distant from Orliās, called Patt, they tooke 25. catholiques who fled vnto the church, which they burned by puttinge fire to the doores thereof; they carried with them many priests bounde at their horse railes. After spoiling of the church of Clerins they burned the reliques and bo∣nes of the kinge of Fraunce called Lodouick the 11. as also the bones of the kinge of Na∣uar, somtimes their owne generall.
6. Att saint Mucarie in Gasconie, they cutt open the bellies of many priests, and made a deuise to draw out their bowells: in rhis cittie they buried many priests quick. In the cittie of Ancina, they tooke an ould prieste, whose preuie members after they had cutt off, they roasted them, and caused him to eat them. In the cittie of Vasett in Gasconie, when Frauncis Cassius was Lewetenant vnder the king of Nauare, two souldiers of that garrison, rauished a wid∣dowe,
and thē put gun ponder into her priuie partes and gaue fire to the powlder, and soe her bellie burst & her bowells came foorth. The Lord of saint Columba, the gouernor Go has and a great number of nobilitie being bes••edged by the Earle Mount Gomerie, yel∣ded themselues vnto him vpon certaine condicions, yet neuerthelesse they were kept in prison 9. mounthes, and paid their ran∣some: and being inuited to supper by the said Earle, of whome they suspected noe such guyle, he hauing promised them their libertie, yet he sent souldiers in their absence to their chambers, and as they returned from supper, were intertained with the bloodie edge of their swordes: and soe against faith and promise and after paying their rāsome, they were inhumanly murthered. In the cittie of Montbris, the Barron of Adrett caused many catholiques to be cast headlong from the topp of a high Turett, and caused also souldiers to attend their miserable fall, and to entertaine them with the pointes of their pikes.
7. Such was the impudencie and barba∣rousnes of a certaine hugonott, that he did weare a chaine about his necke of the eares of priests, & shewed the same to the chiefest captaines of the hugonittes. They did ripp the bellie of a certaine priest, and tooke out his bowells, in steede whereof they putt oates to serue their horse for a maunger. The
heretiques of the cittie of Neemes in Lan∣guedoc, did cast a great number of catholi∣ques into a mightie deepe and large well of that cittie, and haue filled the same twise with mens bodies halfe dead. Iames Socius a wicked pirate, who obtaininge letters pa∣tentes of Ioan Alberte Queene of Nauare, which they call letters of mart, sayling to∣wardes the Iles of Madera, and Canaria, mett with a shipp of Portingall, goinge to∣wardes America, which he pursued and tooke. In which there were 40. of the fa∣thers of the societie of Iesus, who were sent to the Prouince of Brazill to instruct them in Christian religion, but the wicked and cruell Tyrant, like a deuouring woolfe, seased vppon these poore religious people, whome he massacred and after dismembring of them, of some he cutt a legg, of other∣some an arme, and soe he cast them all into the sea.
8. Lastly Anno 1567. in the Carthusian monasterie which they call Burfowtaine in the diocesse of Suesse 5. mounks of that bles∣sed order were murthered by the heretiques that came to robb that monasterie, Iohn Motto, proctor thereof a most vertuous priest, Iohn Megnē priest, Iohn Aurill priest, Benedict Lenes lay brother, and Theobald priest. All these that I speake of neuer tooke weapons against them, but most patientlie endured martirdome at their handes: But
if I should speake of soe manny as were put to most cruell death and were kild in al the Prouinces of Fraunce, citties, and townes thereof, and such that were betrayed by thē, I should make an infinitt volume, but I cannot omitt that worthie and inuincible. Prince Frauncis of Lorraine Duke of Gwise, whose murther was plotted by Beza and executed by Poltrott. These and the like e∣xamples ought to moue good christians to beware of these people.
9. Before the firie, and furious concu∣piscence of king Henry the 8. (who caused that vnfortunat deuorce betwixt him, and h••s vertuous Queene Katherine) there was no realme in Europe more opulent and more abundant in all things, then the king∣dome of England: no kingdome more pea∣ceable at home and more glorious and pros∣perous abroad: no king so victorious and t••iumphant ouer his enimies, as he: no courte so magnificent or so plawsible, being full of cheerfull shewes, and replenished with an vniuersall triumph, ioy and exalta∣tion, the king liued in securitie without feare of forraine princes abroad, or treason or conspiracy of his subiectes at home: bet∣wixt the one and the other there was inter∣changeable good offices, aswell of a princely bountifulnesse towardes the subiectes, as of a dutifull subiection towardes the prince: the king possessed the hearts of his sub∣iects,
& they againe enioye the loue of their Prince. But when he violated and dissolued the in dissoluble knott & bond of matrimo∣nie, which no power in earth was able to disioyne (as our Sauiour saith) by this sepa∣ration and diuorce,* 1.3 he separated himselfe al∣so from Gods church: all thinges were sub∣uerted and turned topsy turuie, all was fil∣led which feares and suspitions at home, with warres and diuisions a broad, and with continuall frights and stranges allar∣mes of attempts and garboyles, aswell in the court, as in the countrie. The treasures were exhausted, the subiects impourished, religion suppressed, religious howses dissol∣ued, the vertuous oppressed, the wicked aduanced and exalted, the nobilitie con∣demned and beheaded, and their goods confiscated, and all vertuous people, were fedd and sustained, Pane lachrymarum & a∣qua augustiae: with the bread of mourning and teares, and with the water of anguish and paine, so as whatsoeuer the prophett Hieremy spake of Hierusalem, may be ap∣plied to England after its apostacy; The flourishing nation (saith he) is like a poore widdow,* 1.4 that wailes at night and her tea∣res rune downe by her checkes, her priests doe waile, her virgins do complaine, and she is euerie where oppressed, her nobilitie are suppressed, and many of her people ouer∣pressed with vnsufferable miseries and cal∣lamities.
Facti sunt hostes eius in capite eius, & inimici eius locupletati sunt. Her enimies are promoted into her highest promotions, and her aduersaries made riche by her spoy∣les. Know yee and behold, how distastfull it is to forsake God, and nott to haue his feare before your eyes. A seculo consregisti iu∣gum Domini, thow hast bracken and cast off godes yoake euen from the beginninge, thy swoord deuoured the prophets, quasi leo •• astator generatio vestra, a destroieng lion is your generation. And as King Henry the 8. himselfe said in this booke against Lu∣ther. Eos qui pelluntur gremio matris Ecclesiae, stat in furijs corripi, atque agitari demonibus. Such as are expulsed and thrust out of the bosome of our mother the Church, are foorthwith ouercharged with the furious and raginge flames of hellish spirits, and vanquished which diuills: which assertion I would to God, it had not bene verified of him that said it, nor sutable to the purpose wherunto the same is applied. But En∣gland to their great cost by experience knoweth this to be trew, howsoeuer other∣wise they dissemble it.
6. But to retourne to him that applied the same against Luther, the stroake did re∣bo••nd and reflect vppon his owne neck,* 1.5 for being excommunicated by Clemens 7. for putting away his married wife, and for marrieng Anne Bullen, tradidit se (as the A∣postle
saith) impudicitiae,* 1.6 in operem immunditia omnis in auaritiam, he yelded himselfe ouer to impudicitie, to the exercise of all vnclea∣nesse, & couetuousnes: he caused himselfe to be decreed by perleamēt head of the church, made it high treason in him that would not sweare precisely in his conscience this to be trew, where many worthy personages, both ecclesiasticall and lay people for refusing this oath or otherwise resisting it, some were burned aliue, as father Foster of the order of saint Frauncis, Queene Cathrins confessor, other some were beheaded, as doctor Fisher-Bishopp of Rochester, and Sr. Thomas Moore L. Chancler of England, and may others were hanged drawen and quartered. Yea he condemned the whole cleargie in a premunire, which afterwardes they redeemed with a submission & paimēt of a hundreth thowsand pounds, for that they acknowledged Cardinall Campeignes and Cardinall Wolsey as legats from Rome, notwitstanding that the king himselfe by his Ambassadors procured their coming. In the 24. yeeres of his raigne, also he prohi∣bited all appeales in causes ecclesiasticall, re∣ducing all spirituall authoritie of determi∣ning the same to the English Cleargie. He forbid all license or dispensations, and facul∣ties from the church of Rome, and seemed to establish them in Thomas Cranmer Arch∣bishopp of Canterburie, that he should
grant the same to the king againe the 26. of his raigne. Other his bloody factes and furious behauiour, yow may well perceaue by the Catalogue following.
IN the first rancke of these blessed mar∣tyrs, I ought not to forgett that blessed martyr S. Thomas of Canterburie, alias, Becket, who for defending the immunities of the Church, was murthered in king Hen∣ry the 2. his raigne, now againe was by king Henrie the 8. by act of parleament at∣tainted of high treason, his ashes and holy bones and reliques were burned, and of all churches dedicated to God in his honor, it was decreed by parleament that they should not be named after him any more: to which purpose comissioners were appointed in all places of England and Ireland, and in the towne of Rathode in Meath, the church wherof is dedicated to God in S. Thomas his honor, the parishioners being commaunded to name their church after saint Peter, they answered, that the king may aswell by parleament proclaime saint
Peter a traitor as saint Thomas, and to preuent that, they nominated their church after the blessed Trinity.
1. WIlliam Walsh natiue of Don∣buinein the diocesse of Meath first depriued of his bushoprick and spoiled of all his goods, for not conforming himselfe, to the Queens iniunctious about the oath of her ecclesiasticall supremacie, and other lawes made against the holy Camons of the ca∣tholique church, was put into a deepe dun∣geo••, wherein he was many yeeres afflicted with giues and fetters, vntill by the fauor of his keeper he made an escape and fled into Spaigne, and so ended the remainder of his blessed dayes at Alcala 1578.
2. Thomas Leorus Bishopp of Kildare willingly resigned his bishoprick in king E∣dwards dayes, for that he could not with a safe conscience possesse the same, and being to the great consolation of his hart restored againe vnto the same in Queene Maries dayes, was againe in Queene Elizabeths dis∣possessed therof, and of all other his liuely∣hood, well contented rather, abiectus esse in domo Deimagis quam habitare in tabernaculis peccatorum, he applied himselfe being ba∣nished to Munster in Ireland, in teaching
yong children to reade their books and ins∣tructing them in the christiā doctrine: lightly he neuer came to any mans howse butt he exhorted therin, nor euer supped or dined, but in the later end therof he tooke occasion to edifie the people with one exhortation or another. Once being at the Earle of Des∣mounds howse at supper, a gentle woman beinge there, retourning home told to her friends as a great wounder, that Bishopp Leorus preached not at the later ende of his meat as he was accustomed: he neuer did forbeare to reproue and reprehend vice & wickednesse in any man whatsoeuer who was reproueable, and persisting still in all hollinesse and zeale of godes euerlasting trueth, vntill the last gaspe of his breath, he died of the age of 80. yeers at the Nasse in the prouince of Leinster in Ireland 1577.
3. Morris fitz Gibbon Archbishopp of Cashall, for the like cause was spoiled of all his goodes and suffred much laboure and trauaile, and at lenght fled out of the king∣dome of Ireland and died in the porte of Portingall 1578. Edmond Taner Bishopp of Clone and Corcke doctor of diuinitie, who first being of the societie of Iesus, out of which through great sicknesse not without licence of his superiors and aduise of the phisitions was enforced to come foorth, and through the importunat sute of his frinds, was persuaded to take vppon him the
dignitie, or rather the heauie bourden of a Bishopp, especially in dangerous seasons of turbulent heresies, by whicn he suffred great penury and want aswell in prison, as out of it, he died about the yere of our Lord 1578.
4. Hugh Lacy Bishopp of Limericke, did suffer great callamitie, aswell vnder king Henry the 8. as king Edward his sonne, in whose times he was thrust from his place and function, and also compelled to fly the Real me for not yelding to the supremacie of the yong king in the spiritually regiment of the church: but being restored to his former dignitie in Queene Maries dayes by Cardi∣nall Poole, his hollinesse legat in England and Ireland, was in Queene Elizabeths time enforced to suffer the like reuolution, aswell of his bishippricke, as of all other things, and so to carrie the burden of Christs crosse, he liued in woe, and ended the same in ioy, Anno Domini 1577.
5. Nicholas Skerret Archbishopp of Tho∣mound a man of an innocent life, and most zealous in the profession of the christian faith, after suffering many difficulties and hard vsuadg in prison, out of which he made an escape, fled into Portingall, and ended his holy life at Lisborne 1583.
6. Thomas O Hierly Bishopp of Rosse, a man of great fame for good life and blessed conuersation, after long imprisonnent in the Tower of London, out of which he was
enlarged by the entreatie of Sr. Cormocke Ma-Teighe Lord of Munstre, who then was at the Court in Englād, and after much affliction and tribulation liuing in woodes and montaines, ended his holy life Anno 1581.
7. Patricke Ohealy of the order of saint Frauncis Bishopp of Maio, coming out of Spaine into Ireland, no sooner landed, then by the sherif and officers of that place, (which was at Dingell in the weast part of all Irland) but he was apprehended, together with a religious man of that order nobly descended, call Con Ornorcke, and were sent to the Contesse of Desmōd, who either to currie fauour which the state of the king∣dome, or for feare to be ill thought of if he had dismissed them, or to be impeached of any imputation or suspitiō of any conspi∣racy with Sr. Iames fitz Morrice then on foote, reddy at that time to passe out of Gallicia in Spaine into Ireland with a sup∣ply of Spaniardes, did remitt them ouer to Limerick to be presented before Mr. Iames Gould, then the Queens Attourney in the Prouince: as about that time also shee yel∣ded her eldest sonne to Sr. William Drury Lord Iustice of Ireland as an hostage that he should rest himselfe secure without feare of the Earles Ioialtie & fidelitie to her maiesty for yelding her sonn and heire apparent of Desmond as a pleadg, and the holy Bishopp as a prisoner: but as shee was carfull to con∣tinew the Earldome in her Ioynes, so the o∣ther
was as warrie to preserue his owne re∣putation and creditt in his new promotion of Lord iustice, who was no les suspected to fauor the catholique religion (for he was in harte and will of that profession) then the other was to further rebel∣lion. Sed quis vnquam tetigit Christum Domini & innocens fuit? both the iustice and the con∣tesse, were frustrated of their hope & decea∣cea••ed of their expectation. Maledictus qui conf••dit in homine, and thincking to possesse the fauor of the world, they respected nott the fauor and iustice of God, whose wis∣dome surpasseth the prouidence of man. ti∣midae & inepta prouidentiae nostrae.
8. The Earle therfore of Desmond, within one month after the good Bishopp suffred, was proclaimed traitor, and most part of the Geraldines with their followers in a serious conflict betwixt themselues and the English (of whome Sr. Nicholas Malby was Cheeftaine) were ouerthrowen and putt to flight at the Abbay of Bertiff, in Irish called Eanighbegg, within 7. miles of L••mericke weastward, and that most noble ancient howse which was the only strenght and Bulwarcke for the Crowne of England it dangerous seasons of that kingdome heer∣tofore, is nowe altogether extinguished. And the Lord Iustice continewed no lon∣ger in his new dignitie then one month after the Bishopps execution, which was
the space of time that he challenged the Lorde Iustice to answer before the dread∣full throne of God for their innocent blood, I meane of him and his followe, and for their vniust iudgment, which was that they should be executed by Marshall law: wher∣fore they were deliuered to a band of sol∣diors, their handes being tide behind their backs, and their feete with roppes vppon garrans, of whome they were cruelly en∣tertained al the way vntil they came to Kil∣malocke, a towne distant 12. miles from Li∣mericke, where they were hanged vppon trees; the foolish & cruell soldiors a whole senight after their death (for they were not permitted all that time to be buried) made butts of their carcases, to shutt and leuill att them with their bullets, calllng them by the name of papists, traitors, idolators. Imme∣diatly after their execution, the said L. ius∣tice sickned in the campe, and ended his life at Waterfoord, crieng out vpon those blessed martirs, whome he had putt to death, but one moneth before.
9. Derby Ohurley Archbishopp of Cas∣hall, doctor of both lawes, and professor of that facultie in the vniuersitie of Rheames in Fraunce, vnder Cardinall Guise Archbis∣hopp of the same, was taken in Ireland, and cast into a darck Dungeon in the Castle of Dublin: and being sore vexed with this vg∣ly prison and pensiue restrainct, was more
vexed and tormented by an vsuall and ex∣quis••••t torment of bootes full of boylling oile and talloe, into which he was cōpelled to putt his legges already wearied with heauie bolts, and to stād by a great fire, with which his flesh was consumed vnto the bare bones; all which he endured with great patience and constancy. And afterwardes, when by that torment he could not be won••e, nor by feare and alluring promisses of vncertaine and deceitfull promotion, could nott be inueigled, to relent or to faint in the profession of the catholique religion, or to embrace the protestant negatiue reli∣gion, was vpon fridaie morning in the dawning, strāgled with a wyth, in the mo∣neth of May 1584. and so suffred a blessed martirdome, and enioieth a blessed crowne.
10. Redmond Ma-Goran primat of Ard∣magh, was slaine in Conaght by Sr. Richard Bingham Anno 1598. Redmond Ogulloglior Bishopp of Derry, being almost 100. yeers of age, and 50. yeers a Bishopp, was with 3. prie••ts about midnight, slaine in his owne howse neere Derry, by the garrison of Log hefoile, thorough the craft and drift of one Sr. Neyle Garrath Odonel, who after∣wards falling into disgrace with the English, was impeached and arraigned for taking part with Odohirtyes conspiracy, and was co∣mitted together with his sonne, prisoner in the owner of london anno 1600. Morihirtagh
Obrien Bishopp of Emly, being apprehen∣ded, was cast into the castle of Dublin where through penurie and straightnesse of his restraint, he died in the yeare 1586.
11. Peers Power Bishoppe of Fearnes, being taken and apprehended, was cast into the castle of Dublin, who either through the frailtie of the flesh, or through the extremity of his restraint, or els through the deceitfull promisses of temporall promotions, yelded to the supremacy of the Queene in the spi∣rituall iurisdiction of the church: which being once granted, he destroied all articles of our catholique beleefe, and therfore he was sett at libertie. But being afterwardes sore amased and strocken with an inward sorrow for being so weake and so incons∣tant, in a point so highly importing the in∣crease and honor of christian religion, and consequently our saluation, retourned like another Marcellinus vnto the place where he fell, and where he gaue so vild a scandall, deplored his fall, and greeuously lamen∣ted his errors: and so he was hardlier dealt with all, then euer before: but after long imprisonment and much affliction through godes prouidence, he made an escape and fled into Spaine (the common support and sanctuary of al distressed catholiques) where he died with great probation of a blessed and constant catholique Bishopp.
12. Richard Creogh, natiue of the cittie
of Limericke in the prouince of Munster in Ireland, descended of welthie and honest pa∣rents, of an auncient familie in that cittie, who notwithstanding he imploied the prime of his youthfull dayes in the trade of marchandice, yet he profitted more in the spirituall exercise of deuotion and pietie then he did in the acquiring of riches and wordly designementes. And after some worldly losse, went beyond the seas, where he gaue himselfe to the studdy of vertue and learning, & made therin great and admirable encrease, and so became a priest, and not without expectation of such a one, as he liued and died afterwards. For his rare vertues he was made Archbishopp of Ard∣magh and primat of all Ireland, and com∣ming for his Country (where he perfour∣med the office of a diligent pastor and a zealous prelate) was betraid by one of the country, and committed to close and ghastly prison in the Castle of Dublin. And after suffering much trouble in prison, was brought to his triall in the kings bench be∣fore Sr. Iohn Plunkett, then cheef iustice of that court, and being there endited and ar∣raigned of high treason and enforced to a∣bide a Iury of gentlemen of the pale, he was found guilties, but they for acquiting of him were all comitted to the said castle, and put to great fines. When they could get no way by law to make him away, or that his con∣stancy
could not be infringed, he was re∣mitted ouer to the Tower of London, out of which he made an escape. But after ar∣riuing in Ireland to helpe his flocke, the best he could, was againe apprehended, and sent ouer againe to the Tower, where he ended his life.
13. Cnohor O Duanna Bishopp of Dow∣ne Patricke and Connor, was apprehended the moneth of Iuly 1612. and committed to the Castle of Dublin, wherin he liued in continuall restrainct many yeers before, by the apprehension of one maister Smith se∣cretary to Sr. Nicholas Bagnall, but being ta∣ken the 2. time, was hanged, drawen, and quartered, the first of Februarie 1612. One Patricke a vertuous priest suffred also with him.
1. IOhn Traners doctor of diuinitie, being accused that he wrott against the sup∣premacy of the king, was hanged drawen and quartered at Tiburne Anno 1535. which being at the place of executiō, he confessed, plainly, shewing the 3. fingers with which the wrott that matter: and his hand beinge strooken of and cast into the fire, euerie whitt was burned, but those 3. fingers could nott be burned, as Surius writeth.
2. Lawrence Moore (whom doctour Sā∣ders in his letres. 1580. to the Cardinall
Commen of the warres of Ireland, called a holly priest) being with the Spaniardes at the Forte called Dowy Nore, was betraied and deliuered ouer to the Lord Gray, then Lord deputie of Ireland (with two proper gentlemen, the one called Oliuer Plunker an Irish gentleman, the other called Wil∣liam Welsh an English gent.) by the Cor∣ronell of the Forte, called Sebastian de saint Ioseph, for that they refused vppon any composition to yeld ouer the said Forte, which they could well defend hauing no want of any thinge neither victuals, nor mu∣nu••iō were comanded by the said L. deputy to be brought to a smiths forge, and al their bones and Iointes to be beaten and crushed with a hammer, and this for the space of a day, and night, the priests fingers being cutt off with a knife: but in that extreame paine they suffred, yett their liues were promised vnto them, if they would turne protestātes. Al the Spaniards to the nūber of 900. except the said Corronell and 10. more, were stript of their weapons, and were all slaine, and cas•• ouer the cliffs into the sea, for that Forte stood vppon a mightie rocke ouer the sea, notwithstanding the L. deputies word and faith vnto al them for their life, libertie, goods, and for safe conduct into Spaine. Of this euent the good prieste told the said Corronell, and the rest of the Spaniards: this hapened vpon saint Martins eue 1580.
3. Morris Kent natiue of Kilmalock, and bachelor of diuinitie, was apprehended and accused for hauing been Chaplaine to the Earle of Desmond. And for as much as a good and worshippfull Alderman, named Victor White, had of a pious zeale, and for the comfort of his owne soule, kept the said. Morris in his house, was for that cause appre∣hēded & putt in prison for his guest: but the good priest to saue his hoast harmeles, ap∣peared before the said L. president of his owne accord, who was hanged drawen and quartered. He was a holy and a vertuous man, of few wordes & very zealous: he suf∣fred the 30. of Apprill 1585.
4. Edmond Odonel natiue of Limerick of the societie of Iesus, was apprehended for being suspected to carry letters from Rome to Sr. Iames fitz Morris, and therfore was hanged drawen and quartered at Corck by Sr. Iohn Perrot L. president of Munster, about the yeere of our Lord 1575. He was sent ouer as a fellow with father Goad an English Iesuit, who in company with F. Dauid Woulf priest of that society, were sent in a mission into that country by the pro∣curement of primat Creogh to teach gram∣mer about the beginning of Queene Eliza∣beths time.
5. Daniell Okeilan was apprehended at Yonghull by Sr. William Morgan and cap∣taine Peers which then kept garrison in that
towne. He was hanged with his legges vp∣wardes, and his head downewards: and then all the souldiors were comaunded to leuell at him with their bulletts; Comaun∣dement was also giuen that none should le∣uell at his harte, therby to encrease his paine by his lingering death: he was a priest of the order of S. Frauncis: this hapned the 28. of march 1580.
6. Daniell Hinnichan, Phillipp O See, Morris O scanlan of the order of S Frauncis, being old, impotent, and blind as other friers were, were all three slaine at the high alter of their monasterie called Lislagh∣tine 1580.
7. Teigh Odulan of the order of saint Frauncis, was apprehended at the monastery of Askettin and brought to Limericke, and there was hanged drawen and quartered. After his head was cutt of, he was heard to speake these woords. Vias tuas demonstra mih•• 1579.
8. Richard French natiue of the coun∣trie of Wexford a vertuous priest, after long imprisonment in the castle of Dublin and, in the castle of Wexford, ended his life 1581. Thomas Coursey viccar of Kensale, a most vertuous priest, was hanged by Marshall lawe, by Sr. Iohn Perrot L. president of Munster, for entreating Iames fitz Morris to restore the pray which he tooke from his parishioners of Beasale. 1577.
9. Glasuy O Boyll Abbot of Boyll of the diocesse of Elfyne in Connaght, and Ouen O Mulkeran Abbot of the monaste∣rie of the holly Trinitie of that diocesse, were hanged and quartered by the L. Gray Anno 1580. Iohn Stephen priest, for that he said Masse to Feigh Ma-Hugh was hanged and quartered by the L. Burrowes 1597. Thady O Boyll guarden of the monasterie of Downigall, was slaine by the English in his owne monasterie. 6. Freers were slaine in the monasterie of Moynighan in Shaane O Neals warrs. Iohn O Onan, was hanged by Marshall lawe at Dublin 1618. Patricke O Dyry was hanged and quartered at Der∣ry 1618. Brien O Carulan was hanged by Marshall law 1606.
10. Iohn O Calyhor, Brien O Trower moncks of the order of S. Bernard, were slaine in their owne monastery de Sācta Ma∣ria in Vlster. Felymy O Harra, a lay brother of the order of S. Fr. in his monasterie: so was Eneas Penny parish priest of Killagh, slaine at the alter in the parish church ther∣of. Donoshew Ma Recdy priest was hanged at Colrahan. Cahall Ma-Goran, Rony O Donillan, Peter O Quillan, patricke O Ke∣nna a Franciscan Freer, Georg Power vic∣car generall of the diocesse of Ossory, An∣drew Strich of Limericke, Brien O Muri∣hirtagh viccar generall of the diocesse of Clonefart, Donoghow Omulony priest of
Thomond, Iohn Kelly of Louth, Sr Patrick of the Anally, Iohn Pillin P. of the order of saint Frauncis, Rory Ma-Henlea, Tirrelagh Ma-Inisky a lay man of the order of S. Francis, al these were catholique & died in the Castle of Dublin through hard vsadg and restrainct. Walter Fernan priest died in th••t castle through too much tortur of the racke. Iohn Walsh a vertuous priest died through famine and cold in the Castle of Weastchester. Two Welsh gentlemen, the one called Richard Waghan, that other Ri∣chard Downs, died through hard vsadg in in the Castle of Dublin.
11. Morris Vstace of Castle Martin in the diocesse of Kildare esquier, master of Arte and a Nouice of the societie of Iesus, being sent for by his father into Brugis in Flanders, came into Ireland (not without his superiours direction) to satisfie his Fa∣thers will, who was apprehended hanged & quartered: who being so well descended, and religious withall, was much feared he wold work much amongest the people. In the meane time the L. viscont of Balinglas and L. Barron of Bilquillin was in open hostilitie, which agrauated the ielousie and suspition that he was accessary therunto.
12. For the like suspition these that fol∣lowe were hanged drawen and quartered. Ma. Nicholas Nugent esquier cheef Iustice of the Common pleas Ma. Dauid Sutten
esquier together with his bother Mr. Iohn Sutton Gentleman. Mr. Thomas Vstace Gentleman, together with his sonne and heire, who said the letanies together with his father going vpp the ladder. Maister Wil∣liam Ougan of Ruth-Coffy esquier. Maister Robert Scurlock gentleman, maister Clench of the Scrine gentleman, maister Nether∣fild gentleman, maister Robert fitz Gerrad Bacheller of diuinitie, all these suffred for suspition of Baltinglas his warres 1581.
12. Mathew Lamport priest, a very godly and a deuout man, for that vppon a cer∣taine night he entertained father Richford priest of the societie of Iesus, was hanged drawen and quartered. Robert Miller, E∣dward Cheeuers, Iohn O Lahy, for bringing ouer the said Richfoord with the L. of Bal∣tinglas was hanged drawen and quartered Anno 1581. Peter Miller after hauing stu∣stied in Spaine, for that he could nott haue his health, came into his countrie which is the county of Wexfoord, & being examined touching points of religion, and nott finding him conformable to the pro∣testancie, many suspitions being laid to his charge, was hanged drawen and quartered Anno 1588. Christopher Roche natiue of Wexfoord, for that he could not enioy his health in Flanders where he was a stu∣dent, passing by Bristoe to come for Ireland, was there apprehended, and was putt to
the oath of the supremacy; which when he refused, he was carried vp to Lōdon where he was sore whipt about the streetes, and was putt into a most filthy prison in gyues & fetters, and died there through extreami∣tie Anno 1590.
14. Iames Dudall of Drodart mar∣chant, comming out of France was by con∣trarie windes driuen to the South coast of Englād, vnto whom the oath of the Queens supremacy was tendred: and for that he re∣fused the same, he was sent to Exceter Gay∣le, and there was hnaged drawen and quartered anno 1600. Patricke Hea of Wex∣foord and honest man and zealous Catho∣lique, being accusedsed vnto the Lord Gray then deputie of the kingdome, that he did not only releeue Bishoppes and priests in his house, but allso transported them ouer into Spaine and France, was committed to the castle of Dublin, where through hard restraint he fell sore sicke; and by entreaty of his frinds was remit∣ted to his house, where the died of the sick∣nesse he tooke in the prison.
15. 20. Laymen, old, blind and impo∣tent, retired themselues vnto their parish church of Mohono (dedicated to S. Nicho∣las in the diocesse of Limericke) for a san∣ctuary wherin they liued many dayes vntil such time as the English Army passing by that way and finding them there, they sett
fire in the church and burned them all anno Domini 1581. these poore old people, a∣moungest whome ther weare some old wo∣men, who could nott long haue liued, al∣though they had beene lett alone, for they were some of the age of 100 & of 80. yeers, very sicke and euen already languished for want of foode, which they could nott gett by reason the countrie was altogether spoiled and left wast by the soldiors, and the people of the countrie, fled into the montaines: yet nedes these people must add sorrowe vppon sorrowe, and crueltie vpon crueltie, to shew their rancore and the fruict of their ghospell. All these fornamed per∣sonnes, except the good and most vertuous Bishopp of Duanna with his chappleine, Brien of Carrulan, and Iohn O Onan, and Donoghowe Ma-Reddy, and Iohn Luneus priest who suffered vnder kinge Iames, all the rest suffred vnder Queene Elizabeth.
Mense Iu∣lij 1566.
Vide Sur.
Matt. 19.
Hier. c. 1.
Anno Do∣mini 1533 Regni eius 24.
Ephes. 4.
Nic. Sād. lib. 1. de Schism. Ang. pag. 128. 129. 130.
Ric. Hal. in eius vita. Staples. de tribus Thom.
Sand. ibi. l 1. pag. 176. 177.
Sand. ibi. pag. 183. Boucher. de pass. Fratr. Fransc. pag. 8. 13. & 17.
Boucher. ibid. & pag. 26. Sand. ibid.
Sand. l. 1. pag 973.
Sand. pa. 181. 194. 197.
Sand. ibi. pag. 216. 217.
Sand. pag. 180.
Sand. pag. 227.
Nicol. Sander. l. 7. de visib. Monarc. pag. 734. & 736.
Concert. Eccles. Aug.
Concert. Eccles. Aug.
Concert ibid.
Concert. Eccles. Aug. Sand. l. 3. de schism Angl.
Concert. Eccles. Angl. & Sand. vbi supra.
Concert. Eccles. Angl. & Sand. pa 465. 466.
Concert. Eccles. Angl. pag. 127. 134. 140. 143. 156. cum Sand. vbi supra.
Concert. Eccles. Angl. pag. 203. Sand. pag. 485.499.
Concert. Eccles. Angl. pag. 204. 410. Sand pa. 499.
Concert. Eccles. Ang. pag. 207.
Didacus de Yepes Episcop. Taracon. de persec. Angl. Hispanicē.
Didacus de Yepes Episcop. de persec. Angl. Hispan.
Andr. Philop. cont. Edic. Reginae Angl. pag. 482.
Did yepes ibi. pag. 651.
Yepes vbi supr. pag. 633. 640. 641.
Did yepes in hist. persecut Angl. pag. 64••.
Yepes vbi supra. pag. 710. ••. ••.
Relatio 16 Mart. à Th. VV. edit.
Relat. 16. Mart. pag. 93. & 94.