Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 7 · Account 3
A note of Spaniſh Martirs.
Anno 1540. Frances Sauromanus, 1540 F. Sauromanusa Spaniſhe Marchant, ſo profited in one monethmonth by hearing of M. Iacobus, ſometime Prior of the Auguſtine Friers in Antwerp, and afterward Preacher at Breame, that hee exhorted diuers of his friendes at Antwerpe by letters, bewayling their ignorance.
He wrote alſo to Charles the Emperor, requiring him, that he would reforme the miſerable corruption of religion in Spaine. And beſides this, he wrote a Catechiſme, and diuers other Treatiſes in the Spaniſh tongue.
This Frances comming to Antwerp, and purpoſing there to conferre of matters of religion, and to inſtruct his Countreymen: was by them betrayed, and boldly confeſſed his faith, and religion: and reaſoned with the Friers, with ſuch zeale, that the Spaniards (thinking he had not béene wel in his wittes,) conueied him into a Tower ſixe miles from Antwerpe: where he was deteyned in a déepe Dungeon, with much miſerie, the ſpace of 8. moneths. But afterward, the Spaniards thinking him better come to himſelfe, diſcharged him out of priſon. Which was about the time yt the Emperor was at the Councell of Ratiſbon, 1541: whether Frances went, and there hauing time & oportunitie to ſpeak vntounto the Emperor, he ſtepped boldly vntounto him: beſeeching him to deliuer his Countrey, and Subiects of Spaine, from falſe religion,The Emperor three times admoniſhed by Sanromanus. and to reſtore againe the ſinceritie of Chriſtes doctrine. This did he thrée times, the Emperor geuing gentle audience. But attempting the fourth time, hee was repulſed by certaine Spaniards about the Emperor: who incontinently would hauehave throwen him into the riuer Danubius, had not the Emperor ſtaied them, and willed he ſhould be iudged according to the lawes of the Empire. By which commandement, he was deteined with other malefactors in bands, till the Emperour tooke his voyage into Aphrike, & when the Emperour came into Spaine, he was there deliuered to the Inquiſitors, by whom he was laid in a darke priſon vnderunder the ground, and at length after many examinatiōs and much afflictiō, they perceiuing him not to be reclaimed, procéeded to his condemnation, and pronounced ſentence of burning againſt him. His articles were, that we are ſaued onelyonly by the frée mercy of God in Chriſt: that the Maſſe is an horrible blaſphemy: that auricular confeſſion, ſatiſfaction, purgatory, inuocation of Saints, Image worſhipping, be méere blaſphemies againſt God, &c.
As hée was layd on the heape of wood, and the fire kindled about him, hée beganne a little at the féeling of the fire, to lifte vp his head towardes Heauen: which the Inquiſitours perceiuing, thinking hée would hauehave recanted, cauſed him to be taken of the fire: but when they perceyued him conſtant, they threw him in againe, and ſo was he immediatly diſpatched. Franciſc. Encenas.
Anno 1545. Rochus 1545 Rochus.was burned at Saint Lucas in Spaine. Hée was an Image maker, and aſſoone as hée had receyued the light of the Goſpell, hée gaue it ouer. and liued by making of ſeales, ſauing onelyonly hée kept the Image of the virgin Mary artificially grauen, for a ſigne of his occupation.
It fell ſo that an Inquiſitor paſſing by, aſked Rochus the price of the Image, which when Rochus did ſet (belike not minding to ſell the Image) the Inquiſitour bad him ſcarſe halfe the mony: which when hée heard, hée ſayd, hée would rather breake it, then to ſell it otherwiſe then hée might affoord it: yea (ſayd the Inquiſitour) breake it? let me ſée thée: with that Rochus tooke vp a chéeſill and daſhed it on the face of the Image, wherewith ſome part of the face was blemiſhed: the Inquiſitour ſéeing that, crying out as hée were madde, commaunded him to pryſon, and within thrée daies after he was burned, for blemiſhing his owne worke. Pantal. lib. 5.