A General Martyrology, Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII. The Persecution of the Church in France, which began, Anno Christi, 1524.
ANno Christi, 1209. There were certain learned men in France, disciples of one Almericus at Paris, whose names were, Master William a sub-deacon of Poictiers, well studied in the Arts, and Divinity: Bernard another sub-deacon: William Goldsmith, Steven, a Priest: Steven of the Seller, and one John, a Priest, who upon examination held, That God was no otherwise present in the Sacramental bread, than in any other bread: That it was Idolatry to build Altars to Saints, or to cense their Images. They mocked those that kissed the Reliques: They said that the Pope was Antichrist, and Rome Babylon: That God was not seene in himself, but by his creatures: For which (when they could not be drawn to recant) they were condemned to be burnt at Paris, which accordingly was executed: Bzorius out of Caesarius. And Almenneus who had been their Master, had his body digged up in the Church-yard, and was buried in the field. And all French books of Divinity were for ever condemned, and burned.
Anno Christi, 1524. At Melden in France there was one John Clark, who set up a Bill upon the Church-door against the Popes pardons,John Clark. lately come thither, wherein he called the Pope Antichrist; for which, being apprehended, he was adjudged three several days to be whipt, then to have a mark burned in his forehead as a note of infamy;A mother encourageth her sonne. his mother a good woman, when she saw her son so pitiously scourged & branded, encouraged him, crying with a loud voice, Blessed be Christ, and welcome be these marks for his sake. Afterwards he removed from thence, and went to Metz in Lorrain, where for a time he followed his calling of a Woolcarder. But the people of the City used once a year all of them to go forth into the Suburbs to worship some Idols there; whereupon John Clark, inflamed with an holy zeal, went the night before and brake down all those images; The next morning when all the Clergy and people came to the place to worship them, they found all their Idols broken upon the ground;Zeale. This set all in a tumult; and great searching there was after the Author of this deed; and quickly was John Clark suspected and apprehended▪ he presently confessed the fact, and told them the reasons why he did it.
The people hereupon cried out against him in a great rage: Before the Judges he professed the pure doctrine of the Sonne of God; and thereupon was condemned to a cruel death, which he sustained with admirable patience and constancy. First his right hand was cut off; then was his nose with sharp pincers pulled violently from his face: then were his armes and breasts pulled off with the same instrument: yet he, through Gods grace, endured all with great quietnesse,His torments. pronouncing the while that of Psalm 115. Their Idols are silver and gold the works of mens hands;His martyrdome. Lastly, he was cast into the fire, and there consumed.
Not long after Master John Castellane, Doctor in Divinity, borne at Tourney, Mr. Castellane.being through Gods mercy called to the knowledge of the truth, became a zealous, fervent, and faithful Preacher of it in divers places, and at last he was taken Prisoner by the Cardinal of Lorrains servants, by whom he was carried to the Castle of Nommenie, where he endured much cruel usage, yet still he persevered in confessing the true doctrine of the Sonne of God; then was he carried to the Castle of Vik, and after a time was condemned, degraded, and delivered over to the secular power, with this hypocritical speech; My Lord Judge, we pray you as heartily as we can for the love of God, Popish hypocrisie.and the contemplation of tender pity and mercy, and for respect to our Prayers, that you will not in any point do any thing that shall be hurtful to this miserable man, or tending to his death, or the maiming of his body;His Martyrdome. Then was he burnt alive, which death he underwent with much patience and comfort.
At Paris one James Panane a Schoolmaster was burnt for the truth.James Panane.
Dennis de ReuxAlso at Melda, Dennis de Reux was burned, for saying that the Masse was a plain denial of the death and passion of Christ: He used often to meditate of, and to repeat those words of Christ; He that denies me before men, him will I deny also before my Father; he was burnt in a slow fire, and so abode much torment.
John de Cadurco, preaching to his Countrymen of Limosine, was apprehended and degraded:John de Cadurco The Friar that was to preace at his degradation, took that text, 1 Tim. 4. The spirit speaks expresly, that in the latter dayes men shall depart from the faith, giving heed to lying spirits and doctrines of errors; Then did John call to him to read on, but the Friar stood dumb, and could not speak a word more;A special providence. Then did John read on, Teaching false doctrine in hypocrisie, having their consciences seared with an hot iron, forbidding to marry and to eat meats created by God to be received with thanksgiving, &c. Presently after he was burned.
Five burnt at Paris.About the same time, five men for scattering about certain papers against the Masse, and other popish superstitions, were apprehended and burnt at Paris. One of them for speaking freely, had his tongue burned through, and with a wire tied fast to one of his cheeks.
Alexander Canus, a godly Minister, for preaching and confessing the truth of Christ,Alexand. Canus was burned at Paris with a small fire, whereby he endured great paine.
Also John Pointer a Chirurgeon, had his tongue first cut out, and then was burnt about the same time.John Pointer.
Peter Gaudet living at Geneva, was by a popish Uncle trained into France, apprehended,Peter Gaudet. Popish treachery. condemned, and after many and long torments sustained in prison, was burned.
Divers others were apprehended, condemned, and burned at Arras.
A godly Virgin was burned at Fountains, Anno 1534.John Cornor. As also one John Cornon, an husbandman, but one endowed with such wisdome by God, that all his Judges were amazed at it; yet was he condemned and burned.
Martin Gonin was cast into the river and drowned.Martin Gonin.
Anno 1540. One Claudius endeavouring to convert his friends and kinsfolk in Paris, was by them betrayed,Claudius. Popish treachery. adjudged to have his tongue cut out, and then burned.
Stephen Brune at Rutiers, Stephen Brune.being for the constant Profession of his faith condemned to be burned; when the fire was kindled a great winde so drave away the flame from him, that he stood for ean hours space,A special providence. exhorting and instructing the people; Then did they bring oile vessels, and more fagots, yet still was the flame driven from him: Whereupon the hangman took a staffe, and struck him on the head, to whom he said, I am condemned to be burned, and do you strike me with staves like a dog? Note.with that the hangman with a pike thrust him through the belly, and threw him down into the fire, and afterwards scattered his ashes in the wind.
At Roan four Christians were condemned to be burned,An excellent speech. and being carried to the stake in a dung-cart, they said, Blessed be God, we are here reputed as the excrements of this world, but yet our death is a sweet savour unto God.
John de Beck a godly Minister,John de Beck. being condemned for the doctrine of the Gospel, constantly endured the torment of the fire at Troyes.
Aymond de Lavoy, a godly Minister,Aymund de Lavoy. preaching the truths of God faithfully, was complained of by the Popish Clergy to the Magistrates of Bourdeaux, who sent to apprehend him; hereupon some of his friends perswaded him to flie; but he refused, saying, that thereby he might cause the People to think that he had fed them with dreames and fables, and not with the pure Word of God;Flight refused. whereas he feared not to yield up both soul and body in the quarrel of the truth which he had taught, saying, That with Paul, Courage.he was ready not onelyonly to be bound for the testimony of Christ in the City of Bourdeaux, but to die also.
After the Sumner came, he stayed three dayes and preached three Sermons; and whereas the people would have rescued him out of the Sumners hand, he desired them not to stop his Martyrdome; for said he, Since it is the Will of God that I shall suffer for him, I will not resist his will. At Bourdeaux many witnesses came in against him, against whom he made many exceptions, but they would not be admitted. Nine moneths he remained in prison, suffering great misery, much bewailing his former course of life, though yet it had been such as none could charge him with any crime; Then the Judges proceeded to his condemnation, and he had greater fetters put upon him;His torments. he was also examined with torments, which he endured two or three hours, though but of a weakly body, comforting himself thus: This body must once die, but the spirit shall live, the Kingdome of God abideth for ever; During his torments he swowned, and when he came to himself again, he said, O Lord, Lord, why hast thou forsaken me? Nay said the President, wicked Lutheran, Thou hast forsaken God: Aymund replied, Alas good Masters, why do you thus miserably torment me?Prayes for his enemies. O Lord, I beseech thee forgive them, for they know not what they do; See said the President, this Caitiffe how he prayeth for us? Shortly after he was condemned; and when the Friars came to confesse him, he bade them depart from him, for he would confesse his sins to the Lord. He went to the place of execution with much joy, exhorting the people all the way; at the place of execution they tumbled him out of the Cart, and when he was upon the stage he said, O Lord, make haste to help me, tarry not, despise not the work of thy hands: and seeing some Scholars, he said to them, My brethren, I exhort you to study and learn the Gospel, for the Word of God abideth for ever: Labour to know the Will of God, and fear not them that kill the body, but have no power over your souls. Afterwards he said, My flesh doth wonderfully resist the spirit, but presently I shall cast it away. At the stake he often repeated, Oh Lord my God, into thy hands I commend my soul; and so he was first strangled by the hangman,His Martyrdome. and then burned.
Francis Bribard, Secretary to the Cardinal of Bellay, being convicted for adhering to the truth,Francis Bribard had first his tongue cut out, and then was burnt. Anno 1544.
About the same time, William Husson, an Apothecary, came from Bloys to Roan;William Husson. and in the Palace where the Counsel sate, he scattered sundry books concerning Christian doctrine, and against mens traditions; and presently taking horse rode away: The books being found, the Counsel made diligent search for the Author, and at last heard that probably this Husson had scattered them there; whereupon Posts were sent out every way to apprehend him, and by some of them he was taken, riding towards Deep, and brought back to Roan; who being examined, professed his faith boldly, and that he had scattered those books, and that he was going to Deep to do the like there. For this he was condemned to be burnt alive; and as he was carried to execution, because he refused to worship an Image, his tongue was cut out; afterwards his hands and feet beeing bound behind him, he was pulled up with a Pully, and so let down into the fire, in which he with a chearful countenance held up his head,His Martyrdome. and fixed his eyes upon heaven, till he yielded up his spirit unto God.
Anno 1545. James Cobard, a Schoolmaster in the City of Saint Michael, James Cobard.declared and proved that the Masse neither profited the quick nor dead, &c. for which he was burned,
Also at Melda fourteen godly persons were cast into prison, where they were cruelly racked to make them confesse their fellows,Fourteene martyred. which they stoutly refused to do, and at last were condemned to the fire; seven of them had their tongues cut out, and so all of them were burned together, their wives being compelled to stand by to see their torments; many others were scourged and banished.
Anno 1546. There was one Peter Chapot, Peter Chapot. Zeale.who having been a while at Geneva, out of a zeal to do good to the Church of Christ, carried divers Bibles into France, and dispersed them amongst the faithful; at last he was apprehended and carried to Paris; there he readily rendred an account of his faith, exhorting the Judges to do their office uprightly. Three Doctors of Sorbone were appointed to dispute with him, but he made them all to go away ashamed: then was he condemned to be burnt.Vincit veritas. At the stake, one of the Doctors pressed him sorely to pray to our Lady, which he refused, crying only, O Jesus Sonne of David have mercy on me; The Doctor bade him say only Jesus Maria, and he should not be burnt alive, but he for a while refused, yet at last through his importunity, he said Jesus Maria, but presently checking himself; he said,Humane infi…mity. Oh God what have I done? pardon me O Lord; for against thee only have I sinned; and so he was presently strangled and then burned; but upon the complaint of the Doctor, the Court made a Decree, that all which were to be burned, unlesse they recanted at the stake, should have their tongues cut out,A cruel law. which was diligently afterwards observed.
There was living at Meaux a lame Creeple, to whom God was pleased to reveal his truth, and after a time he was apprehended,A… Creeple martyred. and examined, at which time he confessed more than they desired to hear; Then did they ask him whether he would stand to that which he had said? To whom he answered; and I ask you again, Zeale.Dare you be so bold as to deny that which is so plain and evident in the holy Scriptures? being advised to take care of his life, he said to the Judges, for Gods sake take care of your own lives and souls, and consider how much innocent blood you spill daily in fighting against Jesus Christ and his Gospel;His Martyrdome. At last he was carried to Paris, where he endured many sorts of torments, and lastly was burned.
At Fera, one Stephen Polliot was apprehended, carried to Paris, Stephen Polliot.and there cast into a foul and dark dungeon, where he lay long in bonds and fetters; At last he was brought forth and condemned to have his tongue cut out, and to be burned with his sachel of books hanging about his neck, which was accordingly executed.
Anno 1547. There was one John English condemned by the Court of Paris for confessing the truths of God; and so sent to Sens in Burgundy, John English.where he was burned.
Also Michael Michelote, being apprehended for professing the Gospel,Michael Michelote. was put to his choise either to recant and be beheaded, or to persevere and be burned; he answered, that he trusted that he which had given him grace not to deny the truth,Faith, and Courage. would also give him patience to abide the fire, and so he was burned.
Another being betrayed by false brethren,Treachery. was burned at Bar in Burgundy.
Five men and two women were condemned to the fire at Langres, for adhering to the truth: one of the women being the youngest,Seven Martyrs. was reserved to be burned at last; and in the mean time she much encouraged them all, saying, This day we shall be married to the Lord Jesus to live with him for ever,Four Martyrs. and so they all quietly slept in the Lord. Four others about the same time were condemned, and cruelly burnt at Paris for the same cause.
Anno 1548. There was one Blondel, a Merchant of precious stones, that frequented many great Fairs in France, Blondel.and was well-known both in Court and Countrey; he was a man of singular integrity, and a Favourer of Gods Word; being at an Inne in Lions, he freely reproved the filthy talk and superstitious behaviour which he there heard and saw; hereupon the Host complained of him to an officer; withal, informing him of his rich Coller of Jewels; These two suborned one to borrow money of him,Popish malice. which because Blondel refused to lend, the fellow caused him to be apprehended for heresie, thinking thereby to attach his goods, but Blondels friends prevented it, privily conveying them away.
Courage.Blondel being examined of his faith, gave a plain and full Confession of it; whereupon he was sent to prison, in which he did much good amongst the Prisoners,Charity. paying the debts of some and so loosing them, feeding others, cloathing others, &c. At length through the importunity of his Parents and friends,Humane infirmity. he changed his Confession; yet was he sent to the High Court at Paris, where being examined again concerning his faith,Recovery. he adhered to his first Confession, much bewailing his former fall; Then was he condemned to be burnt, and great haste was made for his execution, left his friends at Court should save his life.
Hubert.Anno 1549. One Hubert, a young man of nineteen years old, was so constant in the faith, that neither the perswasions of his Parents, nor the threats of his adversaries could remove him from his stedfastnesse, for which he was burned at Dyion.
Florent Venote.The same year there was a godly Minister, called Florent Venote, cast into prison at Paris, where he lay above four years, in which time there was no kind of torment,Cruelty. which he did not endure and overcome: amongst others he was put in to so narrow a place, that he could neither stand nor lie…, in which he remained seven weeks, whereas there was never any Malefactor that could endure it fifteen dayes, but he either grew mad or died.A miracle of mercy. Henry the second. At last when a great shew was made at the Kings coming into the City, and divers other Martyrs in sundry places of it were put to death, Florent also having his tongue cut out, was brought forth to see their execution,His Martyrdome. and lastly was himselfe burnt.
About the same time one Anne Audebert, as she was going to Geneva, Anne Audebertwas apprehended and brought to Paris, where she was adjudged to be sent to Orleance and burned there: when she was had forth to execution, a rope being put about her, she called it her wedding girdle, wherewith she should be married to Christ;Courage and comfort at death. and being to be burried upon a Saturday, she said, On a Saturday I was first married, and on a Saturday I shall be married again: She much rejoyced when she was put into the dung-cart, and shewed such patience and constancy in the fire, as made all the Spectators to wonder at it.
Not long after the Coronation of Henry the second, King of France, at whose coming into the City of Paris divers godly Martyrs were burned, there was a poor Tailor,A Tailor. that dwelt not farre from the Kings Palace, apprehended for working upon an holy day: Being by the Officer asked why he wrought upon that day? He answered that he was a poor man living only upon his labour, and that he knew no day but the Sabbath whereupon he might not work, his necessity requiring it; Then was he clapt up in prison; this being noised in the Court, some would needs have the Tailor sent for, that the King might have the hearing of him. Then was the Tailor brought thither, and the King sitting in his chair of State, commanded the Bishop of Mascon to question with him: The Tailor being nothing amated at the Kings presence, after he had done reverence to his Prince,Admirable courage. gave thanks to God for honouring him so greatly, being such a wretch, as to bring him where he might bear witnesse to his truth before so great a Prince: The Bishop questioned with him about the greatest matters of Religion, and he with an undaunted spirit so answered for the sincere truth, and with such pregnant proofs of Scripture, as was wonderfull; and though the Nobles that were present jeered and taunted at him, yet could they not dash him out of countenance,Popish pride. but that still with much liberty and freedome of speech he defended the truth of Christ, neither flattering their persons, nor fearing their threats. The King seeming to muse much within himself, that so mean and simple a person should shew such audacity in such a presence, the Bishop and Popish Lords taking notice of, cryed out that he was an obstinate and impudent Heretick, and therefore remanded him back to prison:Popish subtilty and within a few dayes after he was condemned to be burnt alive; and left the King should be affected with what he heard from the Tailor, the Bishops often suggested that the Lutherans were such as carried a vaine smoake in their mouthes, which being put to the fire would soon vanish; They also would needs have the King present at his execution: but it pleased God to give such strength and courage to the Tailor at his execution, as much more astonished the King than all his former carriage;Gods judgements on persecutors. for having espied the King in the window where he sate, he beheld him with so stedfast a countenance, that his eyes were never off him; yea, when the fire was kindled about him, he still kept his eyes so fixed upon the King, that the King was constrained to leave the window, and to withdraw himself, and was so wrought upon thereby, that he confessed that he thought the shadow of the Tailor followed him whithersoever he went, and for many nights after he was so terrified with the apparition thereof, that he protested with an oath, that he would never see nor hear any more of those Lutherans, though afterwards he brake his oath, as it follows in the story of Anne Du Bourg.
About the same time one Claudius a godly man, was apprehended as he came from Geneva, and burned at Orleance.Claudius.
Anno 1551. One Thomas, a young man of about eighteen years old,Thomas. coming from Geneva to Paris, rebuked one for swearing,Zeale. whereupon he was apprehended for a Lutherane, and carried before the high Court; by them he was committed to prison,Cruelty. and cruelly racked to confesse his companions, which he still refused to do, whereupon they continued to rack him, till one of the bloody Inquisitors turned his back and wept, and till the Hangman was a weary; then was he carried to be burned, and was let down with a pully into the fire; and after a while being pulled up again, they asked him if he would yet turn, To whom he said, That he was in his way to God, An excellent spirit.and therefore he desired them to let him go, and so he quietly slept in the Lord.
Anno 1553. There was apprehended at Lions one Peter Bergerius who for his bold and constant confession was cast into prison,Peter Bergerius and put into a dungeon, where was a thief that had lain there seven or eight moneths, who being in great pain and torment, cryed out of God, and cursed his Parents that begat him,An admirable example. being almost eaten up with lice, and fed with such bread as dogs and horses had refused to eat; but it pleased Almighty God of his goodness, through the instructions and prayers of Bergerius, that he was converted and brought to the knowledge of the truth, after which, the very next day, his lice which before extreamly abounded, so went away, that he had not one remaining; and God so stirred up the hearts of good men, that he was fed plentifully, and that with white bread, so that with much patience and joyfulness he bore his imprisonment, and had great comfort afterwards in his soule.
Three godly men.About the same time three godly men were apprehended at Lions, and being condemned for the truth, when they were to be led forth to execution, two of them had ropes put about their necks; the third, having served the King in his wars, was favoured to have none; whereupon he said to the Lieutenant,Note. that he also desired to have one of those precious chains about his neck in honour of his Lord the which being granted, they all went singing to the fire, where with much patience they yielded up their spirits unto God.
Not long after in the same place was apprehended one Matthew Dimonet, Matthew Dimonet a persecutor converted.who formerly had lived a most wicked life, full of all filthiness and abominations; he had been also a searcher out of the Professors of the Gospel, and a great Persecutor of them; yet at last it pleased God to shew him mercy, and he was converted to the knowledge of the truth: after which, being apprehended and examined, he made a stout profession of his faith; and during his imprisonment he had great conflicts with the infirmity of his own flesh, but especially with the temptations of his Parents, kindred, and friends; yet the Lord did so strengthen him that he endured constant to the end;Tentation resisted. At his burning he spake much to the people, and was hearkned to with great attention.
Simon Laloe coming upon some occasions from Geneva into France, was apprehended by the Bayliffe of Dyon, Simon Laloe.by whom he was imprisoned and racked to force him to confesse what fellows he had; but that not prevailing, he was condemned to be burned. At his death the Executioner,An hangman converted. seeing his great faith, patience, and constancy, was so wrought upon therereby, that he fell into great terrors of conscience, so that he was neer to utter despair, and all the promises of the Gospel could scarce comfort him; yet at last, through Gods mercy, receiving comfort, he with all his family removed to the Church of Geneva, where he afterwards lived till his death.
Nicholas Naile, carrying some good books to Paris, was there apprehended, and made a bold confession of the faith,Nicholas Naile. for which he was cruelly tormented sundry wise, and racked all his joynts asunder, and lastly being condemned, when he was carried to the stake,Popish cruelty. they put a gag into his mouth, vvhichwhich they tied in so hard vvith a rope about his head, that blood gushed out of his mouth: they also besmeared all his body vvith oyle and brimstone, so that at the first taking of fire, all his skin vvas shrivelled together, vvhilst his invvard parts vvere untouched; the cord being burnt in sunder, and the gag falling out of his mouth, he praised God in the midst of the fire, till he yielded up his spirit unto God.
Peter Serre vvas at first a Priest,Peter Serre. but God of his mercy revealing his truth to him, he vvent to Geneva, and there learned the Shoomakers craft, vvhereby he maintained himself; and having a brother at Tholouse, out of a singular love to his soule, he vvent thither to instruct him;Charity. his brothers vvife being not vvell pleased herevvith,Treachery. revealed it to one of her Gossips, vvho informed the Officiall against him; hereupon he vvas apprehended and carried before the Inquisitor, to vvhom he made an excellent declaration of his faith, and so vvas delivered to the Judge, vvho asked him of vvhat occupation he vvas? He said, that of late he was a Shoomaker; then did the Judge ask him of vvhat Occupation he had formerly been? he said, he had been of another formerly, but he was ashamed to utter it or to remember it, Note.being the worst and vilest Science of all others in the world; the Judge and people supposing that he had been some Cutpurse or thief, were more importunate to knovv vvhat it vvas but shame and sorrovv so stopped his mouth that he could not declare it; at last through their importunate clamour, he told them he had been a Popish Priest: this so incensed the Judge, that he presently condemned him to be degraded, to have his tongue cut out, and to be burned; vvhichwhich vvas accordingly executed: In the fire he stood so quiet, looking up stedfastly to heaven at the time of his burning, as if he felt no pain at all,Admirable patience. Note. which caused wondeful admiration in the people; and one of the Parliament said, that it was not the best way to bring the Lutherans to the fire, for it would do more hurt then good.
Anno 1554. There were two godly men, with one of their sons and daughter going towards Geneva, whom a Lieutenant overtaking by the way, like a Judas, he insinuated himself into their company,A Judas. pretended great favour to them and to that Religion, which he said, he supposed them to be of; and so with fair words he circumvented them, and drew out of them that they were Protestants, and their wives at Geneva, whither they were now travelling; Then did he apprehend them and carry them to the Castle of Niverne; During their imprisonment they were examined of many Articles,Courage. to which they made a full and clear answer according to their faith;Cruelty. after this they were racked extreamly for three houres together to force them to recant, which they bore with admirable patience; being therefore condemned, as they went to execution,Zeale. the Officer bound a woodden crosse between their hands, but they pulled it out with their teeth, and threw it away, whereupon their tongues were cut out, notwithstanding which God gave them utterance,A miracle. so that they spake plain, saying, We bid sin, the flesh, the world, and the devil farewel for ever, with whom we shall never have more to do hereafter, and much more to the like purpose. When the Officer came to besmear them with brimstone and gunpowder, they said, Go to, salt on, salt on the stinking and rotten flesh; and so persisting constant in the flames they finished their Martyrdome.
Philber Hamlin.Anno 1557. Philbert Hamlin, a Priest, was through Gods grace brought to the knowledge of the truth, whereupon he went to Geneva, where he exercised Printing, and sent books abroad. Afterwards he was made a Minister, and preached at the Town of Alenart, in which and in some other places he did much good; At last he with his Host, a Priest, whom he had instructed in the knowledge of the Gospel, were apprehended and cast into prison at Bourdeaux; and whilst they lay there, in came a Priest with his furniture to say Masse;Zeale. but Philbert inflamed with a holy zeal, went and plucked the garments from his back, and overthrew the Chalice and Candlesticks, saying, Is it not enough for you to blaspheme God in the Churches, but you must also pollute the prison with your idolatry? the Jailor seeing this, fell upon him, and beat him with his staffe, and also removed him into a dungeon, loading him with irons which made his legs to swell: there he lay eight dayes. The Priest his Host,Apostacy. terrified with the prison and fear of death, renounced Christ and his Word, and was set at liberty; whereupon Philbert said to him, O unhappy and more then miserable man! Is it possible that you should be so foolish, A Prophesie.as for to save your life a few dayes, you should so start away from and deny the truth? Know you therefore that although hereby you have avoided the corporal fire, yet your life shall be never the longer; for you shall dye before me, and yet shall not have the honour to die for the cause of God: and you shall be an example to all Apostates. Gods judgemen… on an Apostate.Having ended his speech, and the Priest going out of Prison, he was presently slain by two Gentlemen, who formerly had a quarrel to him. Philbert hearing of it, professed that he knew of no such thing before, but spake as it pleased God to guide his tongue. Philbert being condemned, and had to execution, they laboured to drown his voice by sounding of trumpets, and so in the midst of the flames, praying and exhorting the people, he rendred up his soul unto God.
Nicholas of Jenvile.Anno 1558. Nicholas of Jenvile, a young man that had lived at Geneva, coming into France to get up some mony that was owing to him, was betrayed by a Lady, apprehended and condemned, and being carried in a Cart to execution,Popish treachery. his Father met him and would have beaten him with a staffe, but the Officers not suffering it, were about to have stricken the old man;Blind zeal. the son seeing it cryed to them to let his father alone, saying, that he had power over him to do to him what he would. At the place of execution he had an iron ball put into his mouth, and so he patiently took his Martyrdom at Jenvile.
About the same time a company of the faithful of about three or four hundred were met together at an house in Paris, in the beginning of the night, to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; some Priests getting intelligence of it,Popish malice. gathered many of that faction together, and came, and beset the house, making an outcry that the watch might come and apprehend them, so that in a short time most of the City of Paris was up in armes, supposing that there had been some conspiracy: The people following the noise, and perceiving that they were Lutherans, they grew into a great rage, seeking to murther them, and thereupon stopped the streets and lanes with Carts, and made fires that none might escape them; but, through Gods mercy, before this tumult began, the faithful had finished their administration and prayers, with as much quiet as ever they had done; and now seeing this sudden danger, they were somewhat amazed; whereupon the Pastors of the Congregation exhorted them and fell to prayer; after which, considering the cowardliness of the multitude, it was resolved that such as had weapons should adventure through the press; which being put in practice, the admirable power of God appeared, in that notwithstanding the fires, and stopping of the passages, yet they all escaped safe, only one was beaten down with stones and slain: The rest,A special Providence. which wanted weapons, being about one hundred and twenty, stayed in the house with the women and children, some of which leaped into Gardens, where they remained till the Magistrates came; The women, which were all persons of good quality, save six or seven, perceiving their danger by reason of the fury of the people, went up into the windows, shewed their innocency, and desired that they might be tryed in an ordinary way of Justice; yet there they were inclosed by the rabble for six or seven houres; At last came the Kings Atturney with many Serjeants and Officers, who with much ado appeasing the people, entred into the house, and their seeing the quality of the persons, and their innocency, the Atturney much pitied them, yet carried them to prison in the little Castle; but as they went, the furious multitude plucked and haled the Gentlewomen, tore their garments, pulled their hoods from their heads,Popish rage and cruelty. and all besmeared their faces with dust and dirt.
In the prison they were used no better; for the Villains and Thieves being let out of their holes, and stinking Caves, these Lambs of Christ were put into their rooms.Popish lyes and slanders. Then followed the cruel and slanderous reports of the Friars, who in their Sermons railed upon them, told the people that they were assembled to make a banquet in the night, after which, putting out the candles, they went together Jack with Jill, after a filthy and beastly manner;Satans subtilty. they charged them also with sedition, as if they conspired against the King, &c. And these cursed defamations were no sooner vented, but they were spread abroad farre and wide, yea in the Court itself, and the Cardinal of Lorraine procured a certain Judge to come to the King, who testified that he found in the House divers Couches, upon which they intended to commit their whoredomes and adulteries, which much enflamed the King against them.
These things made the enemies to triumph exceedingly, and on the contrary, the brethren which escaped, were full of perplexity, and lamentations, sorrowing not so much for themselves, as for the imprisonment of their friends; yet they much comforted themselves in the consideration of ther own wonderful deliverance. They upon debate also resolved, First, that all of them should humble themselves before God in their own families.Christian wisdom. Secondly, That they might stop the false rumours, to write two Apologies, one to the King, and another to the People. Thirdly to write consolatory letters to their friends in prison.
The Apology to the King was written and conveyed privily into his Chamber, where it was met with and read openly before the King and his Nobles; yet this prevailed little; for their adversaries suggested to him that all was false, and a pretence to hide their wickedness: But that to the people did very much good, and so did their consolatory letter to their friends in prison.
The adversaries all this while did bestir themselves to bring them that were in prison to execution, and procured a Commission from the King to certain Judges to hasten their trial. But it fell out by Gods Providence, that at this time the Protestant Princes of Germany were met at a Colloquy at Wormes, Gods merciful providence.to whom divers learned men resorted from Geneva, requesting them to send their Ambassadors to the French King, in the behalf of these poor Christians thus imprisoned; by whose mediation, and the Kings other business, who was now in war with the King of Spain, many of them were delivered, yet some of them were executed before the coming of the Ambassodors.
Amongst them were Nicholas Clivet, and one Granvelle, both of them elders of the Congregation,Nicholas Clivet and one Granvelle. who stoutly defended the truth against the Sorbone Doctors, and afterwards patiently resigned up their soules to God in the cruel flames. Also a young Gentlewoman of about twenty three years old, which came from Gascoigne to joyn her self to the Church at Paris, was brought forth with the former, and endured many conflicts with the Judges and Sorbonists; who when she was urged to recant, said, That she had learned her faith from the Word of God, and therefore therein she would live and die: Her neighbours testified against her that there was much singing of Psalms in her house,Popish malice. and that sometimes they had seen abundance of people come out of it, and that at the death of her husband no Priest was called for,Gods judgement on persecutors. &c. But presently after, two of these witnesses fell out, and one slew the other with a knife.
The Cardinal of Sens much hastened this Gentlewomans death, that he might have her estate. When she was condemned, she had her tongue cut, as the two former also were served. Going to execution, she dressed her self like a Bride,Courage. being that day to be married to her Spouse Jesus Christ; she went to the fire without ever changing countenance, and so quietly yielded up her spirit to God.
Divers others of this Congregation suffered in the like sort: the rest at the mediation of the Prince Elector Palatine, and the Protestant Switzers were released.
In other parts of France also sundry faithful Christians were imprisoned, cruelly racked, had their tongues cut out, and finally were burned, concerning whom because I find nothing extraordinary, I have forborn to mention them.
Anno 1559. The King of France, Henry the second, coming into the the Parliament in Paris, there was one Anne Du Bourg, a noble Counsellour, a man of singular understanding and knowledge, bred and nursed up in the bosome of the Church of Christ, who made a bold speech before him, wherein he rendred thanks to Almighty God,A Christian speech. for moving the Kings heart to be present at the decision of so weighty a cause as that of Religion was, humbly intreating him to consider well thereof, being the cause of Christ himself, which of good right ought to be maintained by Princes, &c. But the King instead of hearkening to his good advice, was so far incensed against him, that he caused him to be apprehended by the County of Montgomery, Constable of France, and to be carried to prison, protesting to him in these words, These eyes of mine shall see thee burnt;Popish malice. and presently after he sent a Commission to the Judges to make his processe.
During his imprisonment there was a godly woman, who was Prisoner also in a Chamber just over against his, who at her window, sometimes by words, other sometimes by signes,Gods mercy. did much encourage him to persevere constantly in the truth, whereby he was so comforted, that when some of his friends perswaded him to recant, he said, God forbid, for a woman hath taught me my lesson, how I ought to carry my self in this business; He was often examined about sundry points of Religion,Tentation resisted. and being once asked whether he had conferred with any one about them, he answered that he had conferred with his books, especially with the holy Scriptures.
Having drawn up a confession of his Faith, he intended to present it to the Parliament; but some Advocates that belonged to that Court, who pretended great love to him,Tentation. laboured to draw him to make another confession, not contrary to the truth, but in such ambiguous terms as might satisfie his Judges, who would not stand strictly to examine it; Du Bourg long resisted,Hum…ne infirmity. but at last was prevailed with to draw up such a confession, supposing it sufficient that himself knew his own meaning; So soon as this his confession came into the hands of his Judges, great hopes were conceived of his enlargement; but when the Christian Congregation had gotten a copy of it, they were much grieved; whereupon they ordered Master Augustine Marlorate, a learned and godly Minister, to write a large discourse concerning the duty of such as were called to bear witnesse to the truth of God before Magistrates, wherein he set down Gods threatnings and judgements against such, as either directy or indirecty deny the truth, exhorting him more highly to prize the glory of God then his own liberty;Good counsel. the truth of his Gospel then a short and transitory life; shewing that he ought not now to give over, having made so happy a beginning and progresse in his Christian course: That the same of his constancy was spread, not only through France, but all Christendom over: that he had been a means to confirm many weak ones, and caused others to enquire after the means of salvation: that all mens eyes were fixed on him to enquire by what means he gat out of prison, so that, if through fear and faint-heartedness, he should enterprize ought that should contradict his first Profession, he would give much scandal and offence, and therefore he exhorted him to give glory to God, to edifie his Church; telling him that then he might assure himself that God would neither leave nor forsake him.
These Letters brought Du Bourg to a sight of his sin, for which asking pardon of God,Recovery after a fall. without any further delay he wrote to the Judges, retracting his last, and protesting to stand to his first confession; so that shortly after he was condemned.
In the mean time great feasts were preparing in the Court, for joy of the marriages that should be of the Kings daughter and sister; The day whereof being come, the King imployed all the morning in examining the President, and other Counsellors of the Parliament against Du Bourg, and other his companions that were charged with the same doctrine, intending to glut his eys in seeing their execution, and then went to dinner.
After dinner the King being one of the Defendants at the Tilting, which was near the prison where Du Bourg and his fellows lay,A special providence. entred the lists, and behaved himself valiantly, breaking many spears against Count Montgomery and others, whereupon he was highly commended of the Spectators, and all thinking that he had done enough, desired him to give over with praise; But he being puffed up with their commendations, would needs run another course with Montgomery, who kneeling on his knees craved pardon, refusing to run against him; the King being eagerly set on, commanded him upon his Allegiance to run, and put the spear into his hands; Montgomery thus enforced, addressed himself to the course, and the King and he meeting together, brake their spears, and the Kings He…met falling down at the same instant,Gods judgement on Persecutors. one of the splinters of Montgomeries spear entred just into his right eye, and so pierced his head that the brains were perished; which wound, despising all means of cure, killed him within a eleven dayes, whereby his hope of seeing Du Bourg burned was frustrated, and thereupon Du Bourg his execution was deferred for six moneths longer; at the end whereof, he having constantly persevered in the confession of his faith, was first degraded, and the next day carried out to execution; The Judges appointed six or seven hundred Horse and Foot well armed,Du Bourg executed. to guard him; he was first hanged, and then his body was burnt to ashes.
Popish crueltyPresently after, divers others were burnt in Paris, and in many other places for their Religion: many also were massacred as they passed along the streets for not doing reverence to the images, which were then newly set up in the corner of every street; such also as refused to contribute money to buy wax candles to burn before them,The Church prospers under persecution. it cost them their lives. Notwithstanding which cruelties, those of the Religion increased daily, both in zeal and number in all parts of the Realm.
This much incensed the Duke de Guise in his Government of Dauphine, whereupon he sent Mangiron, a cruel man,A great persecution in Dauphine. and great enemy to the Protestants, with charge wholly to root them out; This Mangiron first played his part very subtilly; but at last he fell upon Valence, lacking the houses of the Protestants, as if he had taken the Town by assault; and the more to strengthen him in his mischief, he had many Troops of Horse, and some Lanciers sent him: Truchon also, President of Grenoble, cast sixty of the chiefest of the Protestants into prison at Valence, whilst Mangiron pillaged those of Montelimart, Popish crueltyto whom he had promised and sworn to do no wrong.
Truchon caused two Ministers at Valence to be hehaded,Two Ministers beheaded. and three of the principal Citizens to be hanged; the rest he punished with great fines, whippings, and banishments.
At Roan he hanged two men, whipt one, and afterwards sent him to the Gallies.
Anno 1559. In Provence, a godly Gentleman was traiterously massacred for his profession of Religion.
Those of the Religion,Ar… Ecclesiae. seeing themselves destitute of all humane aid, resolved in all their dangers instead of seeking to man for help, to pray to God, to hear his Word, to continue in true obedience unto it, living in great love and concord one with another, whereby abundance of Papists were so edified,A great conversion. that by whole Troopes they left the Masse, and made open profession of the Protestant Religion.
Anno 1561. There happened a great mutiny in the City of Paris, raised by some Priests, which rang a Bell while those of the Religion were hearing a Sermon: from which proceeded wounds, murthers,Popish malice. and imprisonments; foure of the Protestants were hanged to please the people, and the rest paid a fine.