A General Martyrology, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. The Persecution of the Church in Spaine, which began Anno Christi, 1540.
ANno 1540. there was one Francis Romane, F. Romanes Conversion.sent by the Spanish Merchants of Antwerp, to Breme to take up some money that was due to them; where, being at a Sermon (through the marvelous working of Gods Spirit) he was so effectually wrought upon, that after the Sermon he went to the Preacher, and repeated the contents of his whole Sermon to him, and then betaking himself to the searching of the Scriptures, and conferring with learned men, in a short space he had attained to a great measure of knowledge in the Word of life; which the Minister observing, and withal finding him of a fervent spirit, he directed and exhorted him to circumspection in his carriage, more and more instructing him in the knowledge of the Gospel, which he so greedily received as one that could never be satisfied. This made him give over seeking after temporal treasure, and instead thereof he bought good books, by reading of which, and conference with the Minister, he much improved his knowledge in all the chief Articles of Religion. Then did he write letters to his countrey-men at Antwerp, wherein he first gave thanks to God for revealing his truth to him;Zeale. then did he bewaile the grosse ignorance of his countrey-men, beseeching God to open their eyes to understand the word of salvation, and so promised shortly to returne to them to conferre with them about the grace of God, which he had received; and lastly he declared his purpose of going into Spaine to acquaint his parents and friends with that wholesome Doctrine which God had communicated to him.
Then wrote he other letters also to the Emperour Charles the fifth, opening to him the miserable state of Christs Church, desiring him to tender the good thereof; especially to reforme the grosse corruptions of the Church of Spaine; he wrote also a Catechisme, and some other Treatises in the Spanish tongue.
The Merchants at Antwerp having received his Letters, sent for him, pretending much good will, but secretly practising his destruction: For against his coming, they suborned some Friers, who so soon as he was alighted from his horse, seized upon him, rifled his books,Subtilty. and carrying him into a Merchants house, examined him;Treachery. But he mightily confuting them, they bound him hand and foot, calling him Lutheran; they also burnt his books before his face, threatning to burn him likewise. Then was he sent Prisoner to a Tower six miles from Antwerp, and cast into a deep dungeon, where he endured much misery for eight moneths, at the end whereof, the Merchants, supposing that he would be better advised for the time to come, released him. Then did he go to Lovain, where he had much conference with Driander, who advised him to continue in his calling of a Merchant,Good counsel. wherein he might have many opportunities of doing good; and for Religion, that he should do nothing for favour of men, whereby the glory of God should be diminished. He advised him also to take heed of inconsiderate zeal, lest he should do as some, who going beyond the bounds of their vocation, thinking to do good, and to edifie, they destroy and do harme. For said he, it is God that takes care of his Church, and will raise up faithful Ministers for the same: neither doth he approve such as rashly intrude themselves into that function without any calling thereto.Note.
This advice Francis willingly hearkned unto, promising to follow the same. Not long after going to Ratisbone, where the Emperial Diet was held,He goeth to the Emperour. having opportunity, he boldly stept to the Emperour, beseeching him to deliver his countrey and subjects of Spaine from false Religion, and to restore them to the sincerity of Christs doctrine, protesting that the Protestants of Germany were in the truth; and that the Religion of Spaine was greatly dissonant to the Word of God, &c. The Emperour all this while heard him gently, promising him to consider of the matter, and so to do therein as he trusted should be for the best.
Francis being encouraged with this answer, went again to the Emperour a second and third time, and still received a quiet answer as before; yet not satisfied herewith, he went a fourth time, but was repulsed by some Spaniards about the Emperour, who were so incensed against him, that immediately they would have thrown him headlong into the river Danubius, if the Emperour had not restrained them, willing that he should be judged by the Lawes of the Empire: Then was he cast into prison, till the Emperours voyage into Africk, Is imprisoned. Carried into Spaine.at which time he, with some other Captives, was carried into Spaine, and there delivered unto the Inquisitors, who cast him into a dark prison under ground; He was oft examined, loaden with many reproaches and contumelies, yet ever remained firme and unmovable, so that at last they condemned him to be burnt for an heretick.Condemned by the Inquisitors. As he was led to the place of execution, they put upon him a Miter of paper, painted all over with ugly Devils; as he passed by a woodden crosse, they required him to worship it, to which he answered, that the manner of Christians was not to worship wood: Being laid upon the pile of wood, when he first felt the fire, he lifted up his head towards heaven; whereupon the Inquisitors thinking that he would recant,Burned. caused him to be taken down, but when they found his constancy, they threw him on again, where he slept in the Lord. Then did the Inquisitors proclaime that he was damned, and that none should pray for him, and that they were hereticks whosoever doubted of his damnation.
There was also dwelling at Saint Luca… in Spaine one Rochus, a skilful graver of images:Rochus. but the Lord pleasing to enlighten him with the saving knowledge of his truth, he gave over making of idolatrous images, and imployed himself in making of seals: only he kept standing on his stall an image of the Virgin Mary, artificially graven for a signe of his occupation.
An Inquisitor passing by, and liking the image, asked the price of it: Rochus set him a price, but was not willing to sell it: the Inquisitor bade him half so much: the other answered that he could not afford it so, and that he had rather break it than sell it; yea, said the Inquisitor, let me see that if thou darest? with that Rochus with a Chisel cut off the nose of the image; whereupon the Inquisitor presently commanded him to prison, and within three dayes he was condemned to be burnt. At the place of execution he poured out his fervent prayers to Almighty God,Condemned. and so made a blessed end, Anno 1545.
Divers other godly persons being by the Inquisitors cast into loathsome dungeons, ended their lives there.
Anno 1550. At Validolid, the Inquisitors brought forth thirty prisoners together, of high and low estate, as also the Coffin of a certain noble woman with her picture lying upon it, she being dead long before, to eceive judgement and sentence: for the solemnities whereof they had erected three great stages; the first for the Kings sister, the Lady Jane, and his eldest sonne Prince Philip, with other States: The second for the Fathers Inquisitors: And the third for the Prisoners. Multitudes of people being assembled together, these dear servants of Jesus Christ, clothed with Sambito's, a yellow cloth hanging down before and behind,Thi…ty Christians condemned. powdred with red crosses, and having burning tapers in their hands, and Miters upon their heads painted with Devils, were placed in their rankes: Then was a Sermon preached, after which an Oath was administred to the Princes and Nobles by the Inquisitors, that they should favour the holy Inquisition, and consent to the same, and that they should employ their uttermost endeavour to see all them executed which should swerve from the Church of Rome, and adhere to the Lutherans, without respect of persons, of what degree, quality, or condition soever;A wicked Oath. and that they should compel their subjects to submit to the Church of Rome, and to obey all its lawes, &c. Then was Doctor Cacalla called forth, a man of excellent learning, who had often preached before the Emperour whilst he was a Friar;Cacalla condemned. but being now accounted to be the Standard-bearer to the Lutherans, he was called forth to hear his sentence, which was, that he should be degraded, and presently burnt, and his goods confiscated.
The like sentence of condemnation was pronounced upon his brother Francis, a Preacher also, who having spoken boldly against the Inquisition, they so stopt his mouth that he could not speak a word. Then Blanch their sister received the like sentence, and so did most of the other, only some few of them were condemned to some years imprisonment, and to wear their Sambito's all their life time, &c.
Then was the Coffin of the dead Lady with her picture it upon condemned likewise to be burnt. This good woman, whilst she lived, was a worthy maintainer of the Gospel, of great integrity of life, and one that had divers assemblies in her house for the true preaching of the Word of God; wherefore her house was also sentenced to be razed down,Popish malice. and a Pillar to be set up in the place thereof, with an inscription shewing the cause.
Then were all these that were sentenced to death,Malice. together with the Coffin, delivered to the secular Magistrate, and so every one of them being set upon an Asse with their faces towards his taile, they were guarded by many souldiers to the place of execution: at which place there was for each of them a stake set up,Many burnt together. to which every of them were bound, and so they were first strangled, and then burnt to ashes; only one of them, who had been most vehement against them, was burnt alive, and his mouth stopped that he should not speak to the people. All men marvelled at their constancy and quiet end.
At the same time also there were in prison at Validolid thirty seven others, which were reserved for another Tragedy and Spectacle of the bloody Inquisition. But seeing much mention is made of the Spanish Inquisition, and of the cruelty exercised thereby against the poor servants of Jesus Christ, I shall here set down the first Original, and Progresse thereof, as hereafter followeth.