A General Martyrology, Chapter 27

A General Martyrology · Chapter 27

p. 236CHAP. XXVII. The Original, Progresse, and Practice of the Spanish Inquisition.

WHen King Ferdinand and Isabel had expelled the Turks out of the City and Territories of Granata, The Spanish Inquisition.and other places of Spaine, who had lived there seven hundred, seventy, and eight years, they set upon the Reformation of Religion; and granted the conquered Moors liberty to stay, & to enjoy all their goods, provided that they would turn Christians; and whereas also there were very many Jews, who had continued there since Titus conquered Jerusalem, they gave them leave to stay upon the same condition; but all such as refused, were commanded presently to depart out of Spaine. Yet afterwards, finding that those Persons were only Christians in name, and had submitted only to save their estates, instead of providing godly Ministers with meeknesse to instruct them, and to draw them from their errours;Invented by Dominicans. (by the advice of the Dominican Friers) they erected the Inquisition; wherein the poor wretches in stead of instructions, were robbed of all their estates, and either put to most cruel deaths, or else suffered most intolerable torments by whipping, &c. and leading the rest of their lives in ignominy and poverty; Neither was this only inflicted upon such as blasphemed Christ, but for the observation of the least Jewish, or Moorish ceremony, or the smallest errour in the Christian Religion. But this Inquisition at first erected against Jews and Moors, was afterwards turned against the faithful servants of Jesus Christ, and for the suppressing of the Gospel, and the Profession of it; and thus briefly you have the Original of it; let us now see what their practice and exercise is.

As soone as information is given in against any one, though but for a very small matter, they do not presently cite the person to appear before p. 237them, but they suborn one of their Officers, called a Familiar, to insinuate himself into his company, who taking occasion to meet the pa…ty accused, uses thus to greet him; Sir, I was yesterday by accident at my Lords Inquisitors, who said that they had occasion to speak with you about certain of their affairs, and therefore they commanded me to summon you to appear before them to morrow at such an hour: The party not daring to refuse, goes to the place, sends in word that he is come to attend them, and so when he is called in, they ask him what suit he hath to them? and when he answers, that he comes upon summons, they enquire his name. For, say they, we know not whether you be the same man or not: but since you are come, if you have any thing to inform this Court of, either concerning your self or any other, you may let us hear it, for the discharge of your own conscience; The Parties safest way is constantly to deny that he hath any thing to declare to them. But if through simplicity he doth accuse himself, or any other they rejoyce, as having attained their desires, and so presently commit him to prison.

If nothing be confessed, they dismisse him, pretending that for the present they know not whether he be the Party or no: after his departure they let him alone for some space, and then send for him again, exhorting him that if he know, or hath heard any thing that concerns their holy Court, to disclose it to them; For (say they) we know that you have had dealing with some persons suspected in Religion, and therefore remember your self well; if you confesse you shall fare the better,Subtilty. and you shall but do therein as a good Christian ought to do. If still he refuse, they threaten, and so dismisse him.

Yet they have alwayes one or other to keep him company, to creep into his bosome, and grope his conscience: who under the colour of friendship shall visit him daily, and have an eye to all his dealings, observe what company he keepeth, with whom he conferres, &c. So that without Gods special assistance, it is not possible to escape their snares; The Inquisitors also if they meet him, speak courteously to him, promise to befriend him, &c. and all to make him more carelesse of himself, that they may undo him before he be aware. But if the Party be a stranger, or one that is like to make an escape;Their dealing with strangers. or that they hope to gain any thing by his confession, they presently clap him up in prison: in which prison great numbers die, either starved with hunger, or by extremity of racking of them, &c.

If any one that is accused chance to make an escape, they have many devices to finde and fetch him again. They have store of searchers, to whom besides the common signes, they give his lively picture, whereby they may easily know him:Their Familiars. An Italian at Rome having wounded an Apparator, fled to Sivil: the Familiars were sent to seek him, and when they had found him, though they had his counterfeit, yet by reason that he had altered his habit, they were doubtful whether it was he or no, the rather because he had changed his name, whereupon they followed him only upon suspicion: but one day as he was walking, and earnestly p. 238talking with some Gentlemen, two of these Familiars suddenly called him by his old name: The Party earnest in talk, and not minding it, looked behinde him, and made answer, whereupon they presently apprehended him, clapt him in irons for a long time, then whipt him, and condemned him to the Gallies during his life. So soone as any is arrested by the Familiars, they take from him all the keyes of his locks or chests whatsoever, and then they take an Inventory of all his goods, leaving them with some man that will undertake to be accountable for them: but in the sequestring and rifling the houses, if they have any gold, silver, or Jewels, these Familiars,Sequestration. which usually are bawds, theeves, shifters, and the vilest of people, will be sure to filch some of it; and the reason of this sequestration is, that if the Party be condemned, the holy Inquisition may enjoy his whole estate.

As soone as the Prisoner is entred within the first gate of the Prison, the Jailor asketh him if he have a knife about him, or money, or ring, or Jewels;Stript of all in prison. and if a woman, whether she hath knives, rings, chains, bracelets, or other ornaments, and all these the Jailor strips them of as his fee: And this is done that the poor prisoners may have nothing to relieve themselves with, during their imprisonment; They search them also to see whether they have any writing or book about them, which likewise they take from them: then they shut them up in a Cabin, like to a little-ease, where they have little room for cleanlinesse, and but little light.

Some are thus kept all alone for two or three moneths, some as long as they live, others have company, as the Lords Inquisitors please. When the Party hath been in prison a week or two, the Jailor perswades him to petition for a day of hearing, telling him the sooner the better, and that it will much further his cause,Subtil…y. and bring it to some good effect, &c. whereas it were farre better for him to stay till he be called for; for then he hath nothing to do but to answer their objections: But the poor Prisoner, not knowing this mystery, is usually ruled by his Keeper, intreating him to stand his friend to procure him a day of hearing, whose suit is easily heard, and the Prisoner is brought into the Consistory. Then do the Inquisitors ask him, what is his request? the Prisoner answereth, that he would gladly have his matter heard;How Inquisitors deal with the prisoners. then they labour by threatning him with worse usage if he conceal the truth, to cause him to confesse the thing whereof he is accused, and if they can but draw him to this, they have their desires; for usually they draw more from him than they could have proved against him: Then they advise him to let it come from himself, promising that if he acknowledge his faults, he shall presently be released, and sent home: If yet he stand mute, they then charge him to disburthen his conscience, and in the mean time to return to his prison, till he hath better bethought himself, and then he may sue for a new day of hearing, and so they dismisse him.

Then after some dayes they call for him again, asking him he be ye… determined to confesse ought? but whether he plead his innocency, or confesse some little, they still urge him to disburthen his conscience, perswading p. 239him that they advise him for the best, and in love and compassion to him; but if he now refuse the favour proffered, he shall finde them afterwards sharp Justices, &c. and so send him back again to prison.

The third time he is called for, they use the like subtilty to draw him to confession, telling him that if he refuse, they must use extremity, and do what they can by law; by which word they mean extream tormenting and mangling of him; Then if the Party confesse any thing; Nay, say they, we are not yet satisfied, we have not all you can say, you keep back something on purpose, and so they remand him to prison.

Having thus excruciated him day by day, if they can yet get nothing out of him, they then require an oath of him, and hold a Crucifix o… Crosse before him, whereby the poor Christian must at last neeeds shew himself: for knowing that he ought to swear by God alone, who hath reserved his honour to himself, he must refuse the oath; which if he do, then they read a large enditement against him, wherein they lay to his charge things that never no man accused him of, and which it may be, himself never thought of; and this they do to amaze him, and so to try if he will confesse any of these misdemeanours, or if they can trip him in his answers, and so catch him in their net. Then they put him to answer to every article particularly ex tempore, without any time of deliberation: Then they give him pen, ink, and paper, requi…ng him to set down his answer in writing, to see if they can find any difference betwixt his former answer and this: and if the Partie chance to confesse ought, then th…y enquire of whom he learned it, and whether he hath spoken of it before others, and who they are, and hereby many are brought into trouble; for whether they liked it or not, they are sure to be questioned, because they did not come and declare it to the fathers Inquisitors. Then pretending to shew him favour, they appoint him an Advocate to blind the peoples eyes, as if they proceeded according to the rules of Justice; but this Advocate dares not tell his Client any point of Law, that may do him good, for fear of angring the Inquisitors; neither may he speak privately with his Client, but either before an Inquisitor, or a Notary.

Two or three dayes after the Party hath had the Copy of his accusation, he is called into the Court, where his Advocate is, as if he intended to defend his cause; but indeed he dare say nothing to the purpose for fear of angring the Inquisitors; only he chears up his Client, and bids him tell the truth in any case, as the only way to prevail in that Court, and then is the Prisoner sent back again who hopes that now his cause will be heard, and his businesse dispatched, whereas usually these good fathers let him lie, two, three, or four years in prison, without ever calling for him again; and if through loathsomnesse and intolerablenesse of the prison any sue to come to hearing, it may be with much ado he obtains it, but usually that favour is denied him: yet at length when they please, they call for him to hear the depositions of the witnesses against him: which yet is not done till the poor Prisoner by his grievous imprisonment is brought so low, as that they think he will rather choose death than such a life, and p. 240therefore will be willing to tell all, that so he may be rid out of his misery. Then between rebuking and a gentle admonition, they tell him, that though he hath stood out so long, yet at length they would have him wiser to confesse the truth; but if he yet refuse to be his own accuser, then the Fiscal produceth the depositions, which are delivered to the Prisoner, but they are drawn up so intricately and ambiguously, that he knows not what to make of them; and this they do to conceal the witnesses, lest he should except against them, and to set him on guessing, that so if he chance to reckon up any others to whom he spake any thing about any of those matters, they may thereby get more grists to their mill. For they presently out-law such persons as favourers of hereticks, for suffering an heretick to sow such pestilent seeds amongst them, without complaining thereof to the Inquisitors.

The Keeper of the Prison also is examined what he hath seen and observed of him in the Prison, and his testimony is as good as two witnesses to take away the Prisoners life.

They have also Promoters to bring in accusations, who are admitted, though frantick Bedlams, or the veriest Varlets that be: and in their informations, if they chance to want words of weight, the Inquisitors will help them out, and prompt them word by word. Then after three or four dayes the Prisoner is called again to put in his answer to the depositions; but in the interim his Advocate never comes at him to assist or direct him, but he is left to himself without all help, save of God alone. His answer being viewed, he is remanded to prison again with this Item, that if he confesse not the truth, they will extort it out of him by extremity.

After two or three moneths more, he is called for once again, and required to speak what he hath for himself, or else they must draw to an end: and if he still shrinks not, but stands firme in his own Justification, they proceed to other dealings, in comparison of which all their former proceedings are not only sufferable, but seeme very reasonable and full of gentlenesse. For their future actions farre exceed all barbarousnesse, the Devil himself being not able to go beyond them in their monstrous tyranny: For not long after the Prisoner is called in before the Inquisitors, who tell him that they have deeply considered his whole case, and found out that he doth not declare the whole truth, and therefore they are resolved that he shall be racked, that by force they may draw from him what by fair means he will not acknowledge: and therefore they advise him rather to do it voluntarily, and thereby to avoid▪ the paine and peril that yet attends him▪ yet whether he confesse or not confesse, all is one, for to the Rack he must go; Then is he led into the place where the Rack standeth,They proceed to the Rack. which is a deep and dark dungeon under ground, with many a door to passe through ere a man come to it, because the shreekes and cries of the tormented should not be heard: then the Inquisitors set themselves upon a scaffold hard by the Rack, and the torches being lighted, the Executioner comes in, all araied from top to toe in a sute of black canvas, his head is covered with a long black hood that covereth all his p. 241face, having only two peep-holes for his eyes: which sight doth more affright the poor soul, to see one in the likenesse of the Devil to be his tormentor. The Lords being set in their places, they begin again to exhort him to speak the truth freely and voluntarily: Then with sharp words they command him to be stripped stark naked, yea though the modestest maid, or chasest Matron in the City:Their privy parts a…e only covered with linnen. whose grief in regard of the Rack is not half so great as to be seene naked in the presence of such manner of persons: For these wicked villains without any regard of honesty, will not by any Prayers of godly Matrons, or chast Maidens forbear one jot of that barbarous impudence: as if a shirt or smock could hinder the violence of the Rack from sufficiently tormenting them.

The Party being thus stripped, the Inquisitors signifie to the Tormentor▪ how they would have him or her ordered. The first kind of torment is the Jeobit, or Pully; but first one comes behind him, and binds his hands with a cord eight or ten times about, the Inquisitors calling upon him to strain each harder than other; they cause also his thumbs to be bound extream hard with a small line, and so both hands and thumbs are fastened to a Pully, which hangs on the Jeobit:The Jeobit. then they put great and heavy bolts on his heels, and hang upon those bolts, between his feet certain weights of iron, and so hoise him, or her up from the ground; and whilst the poor wretch▪ hangs in this plight, they begin to exhort him again to accuse himself, and as many others as he knows of; Then they command him to be hoised up higher to the very beam till his head touch the Pully. Having hung thus a good while,Inhumane cruelty. they command him to be let down, and twice so much weight to be fastened to his heels, and so hoised up again, and one inch higher if it may be: Then they command the hangman to let him up and down, that the weights of the iron hanging at his heels may rent every joynt in his body asunder. With which intolerable pains if the Party shreek or cry out, they roare out as loud to him to confesse the truth, or else he shall come down with a vengeance. Then they bid the hangman suddenly to slip the rope, that he may fall down with a sway, and in the mid-way to stop; then give him the Strappado, which being as soon done, it rends all his body out of joynt, armes, shoulders, back, legs, &c. by reason of the sudden jerk, and the weights hanging at his legs. If he yet remain constant, they adde more weight to his heels the third time, and the poor wretch already half dead is hoisted up the third time, and to encrease his misery, they raile upon him, calling him Dog, and Heretick, telling him that he is like there to make his end.Rail…ngs. And if the poore creature in his pangs call upon Christ, intreating that he would vouchsafe to aid and assist him, thus miserably tormented for his sake;Scoffs. Then they fall to mocking and deriding him, saying, Why callest thou on Jesus Christ? Let Jesus Christ alone and tell us the truth; what a crying out upon Christ makest thou? &c. But if the Party desire to be let down, promising to tell somewhat, that's the …eady way to make him to be worse used, for now they think that he begins only to broach the matter: for when he hath p. 242done they command him to be haled up again, and to be let down as before: so that usually these torments▪ are exercised upon him for three hours together. Then they ask the Jailor if his other torments are ready, to affright the poor soul; the Jailor answereth that they are ready, but he hath not brought them with him: Then the Inquisitors bid him to bring them against the morrow; for say they, we will try other ways to get the truth out of this fellow: and so turning to him that lies in miserable pain, having all his joynts out; How now, Sirra, say they, how like you this gear? have you enough of it yet? Well, see that you call your wits to you against to morrow, or look to die then; for what you have yet felt is but a flea-biting in comparison of what is behind; and so they depart.Threats.

Then the Jailor plays the bone-setter so well as he can, setting his joynts, and so carries him back to prison, or drags him by the armes or legs most pitifully; If they mean to rack him no more, after two or three dayes they send for him again, and cause him to be brought by the Rack, where the hangman stands in the likenesse of a Devil as before, the more to affright him. When he comes before the Inquisitors, they fall a perswading him to confesse the truth at last: and if he confesse any thing, he may chance to go to the Rack again, whereby they hope to extort more; and when indeed they intend to rack the Party again, then at three dayes end, when the ach in his joynts is most grievous and painful to him, they send for him, requiring him to declare all his heresies, and to peach all such as he hath had conference with, about them, and all such as he knows to be of that minde: or else he must prepare himself for the Rack; and if he continue constant, he is again stripped of his cloths, and hoisted up with weights at his heels as before, besides which,Another cruel tormen…. as he hangs at the Pully, they bind his thighs together, and legs about the calf with a small strong cord, and with a short piece of wood they twist the cord till it be shrunk so deep in the flesh that its past sight, which is an extream and terrible torment, worse than any that he hath yet endured, and in this plight they let the poor soul lie two or three hours: the Inquisitors in the mean time not ceasing to exhort, perswade, threaten and scoffe at him.

Yea sometimes they proceed to another kind of torture called the Aselli, which is after this manner; There is a piece of timber somewhat hollowed on the top like a trough,The trough. about the middle whereof there is a sharp barre going a crosse, whereon a mans back resteth that it cannot go to the bottom: its also placed so that his heels shall lie higher than his head: then is the naked Party laid thereon: his armes, thighs and legs bound with strong small cords, and wrested with short truncheons, till the cords pierce almost to the very bone.Divellish cruelty. Then they take a thick fine lawn cloth, laying it over the Parties mouth as he lies upright on his back, so that it may stop his nostrils also; then taking a quantity of water, they pour it in a long stream like a threed, which falling from on high, drives the cloth down into his throat, which puts the poor wretch into as great an Agony as any endure in the pains of death, for in this torture he p. 243hath not liberty to draw his breath, the water stopping his mouth, and the cloth his nostrils, so that when the cloth is drawn out of the bottome of his throat, it draws forth blood with it, and a man would think that it tore out his very bowels. This is iterated as oft as the Inquisitors please, and yet they threaten him with worse torments if he confesse not; and so he is returned to his prison again.

Yet many times after he hath lain there a monethmonth or two, he is brought again to the rack and used as before, yea sometimes five or six times, even as oft as they please, for their lust is a law.Torment with fire. And yet they have another torment with fire, which is no whit inferiour to the former; They take a Pan of burning charcole, and set it just over against the soles of the Parties feet, just before he goes to the Rack, and that the fire may have the more force upon them, they bast them with lard or bacon. But if all the extremity of torments wil not force him to confesse what they desire, nor to deny the truth, they use other means by subtil interrogatories,Subtilty. and frequent questionings to draw him into some snare or other: Yea, if yet they cannot prevaile, then some one of the Inquisitors comes to him in private, and shews himself much affected with his misery, weeps with him, comforts him, gives him advice, seems to impart such a secret to him as he would scarce impart to his father, or dearest friend alive: and this they use most with women, whereas they are but faire baits upon deadly hooks, whereby they seek to destroy them; whereof we have this example.

At Sivil there were apprehended, a godly Matron, two of her daughters, and her Neece,A woman, and her tow daughters, and neece. who all of them underwent the forementioned torments with manly courage and Christian constancie, because they would not betray each other, nor other godly Persons in that City. Then one of the Inquisitors sent for the youngest maid oft to his chamber, pretended much compassion towards her, spake much to comfort her, told her what a grief it was to him to see her torments; then used familiar and pleasant communication to her, then told her that he would advise her the best way to free her self,A Judas. mother and sister from these troubles: That he would undertake the ordering of their businesse; and then perswaded her to disclose the whole truth to him, and he bound himself with an oath that he would stop all further proceedings against them, and procure their dismission. Having thus outwitted the poor maid, who gave too much credit to him, she told him of some points of Religion which they had wont to confer of amongst themselves, and so when he had gotten out of her what possibly he could, like a perfidious Villain, contrary to his vows, promises, and oath,Perjury. he caused her to be racked again to get more out of her, yea they put her also to the intolerable pain of the trough, and through extremity of pangs and torments they at last extorted from her a betraying of her own Mother, Sisters, and divers others, which were immediately apprehended, tortured, and at last burnt with fire. But when they were brought in great pomp upon the Scaffold, and had the sentence of death passed upon them, this maid went to her Aunt, who had instructed her in the principles of Religion, p. 244and boldly without change of countenance, gave her hearty thanks for that great benefit which she had received by her means▪ intreating her to pardon her for what she had offended her at any time, for that she was now to depart out of this life. Her Aunt comforted her stoutly, bid her be of good cheere, for that now ere long they should be with Christ. This woman was openly whipt, and kept in prison during her life; the rest were all presently burned.

Another device that they have is this: when they think that Prisoners which are together do talk together of Religion, exhorting and comforting one another as they have occasion or opportunity, the Inquisitors commit to prison under a colour,Flie. a crafty knave whom they call a Flie: who after two or three dayes will cunningly insinuate himself into the bosoms of the other Prisoners, and then pretending a great deal of zeal to Religion, he will proffer discourse to them, and by degrees get out of their mouths something whereof he may accuse them. Then doth he move for a day of hearing, and so getting to the Inquisitors, he peaches the Prisoners, who shall be sure afterwards to hear of it to their smart. Yea these Flies, as soone as they are out of one prison, for the hope of gain, will be content presently to be put into another, and then into a third, where they will lie in chains, as the other Prisoners do, enduring hunger, cold, stink, and the loathsomnesse of prison, and all to betray others. And this mans accusation is as strong and valid as the testimony of any other witnesse whatsoever. Other Flies also there be that serve the holy Inquisition abroad, slily insinuating themselves into the companies of the common people, who are suspected to be Lutherans, and when they can pump any thing out of them, they presently betray them. They have yet this other device, when they can catch any man that is noted for Religion, or a Minister that hath instructed others, after he hath been in prison awhile, they give it out that upon the Rack he hath discovered all his disciples, and acquaintance, and they suborn others to averr that they heard it, and this they do to draw the simple people to come of their own accord, and to confesse their faults to the Inquisitors, and to crave pardon, whereupon they promise them favour.

The Inquisitors and their Officers use to call their Prisoners Dogs and Hereticks:Their cruel prisons. and indeed they use them much worse than most men do their Dogs. For first, the place where usually each of them is laid, by reason of the straitnesse, ill air, and dampnesse of the earth, is liker a grave than a prison: and if it be a loft, in the hot weather, it is like a hot Oven or Fornace: and in each of these holes usually two or three are thronged together, so that they have no more room than to lie down in; in one corner is a stool of easement, and a pitcher of water to quench their thirsts. In these Cels they have no light, but what comes in at the Key-hole, or some small crany: other some there are much worse, not being long enough for a man to lie in, so that such as are put into them, never likely come out till they be half rotted away▪ or die of a consumption.

p. 245Their diet is answerable to their lodging: The rich pay large fees to the holy house, and every Prisoner is rated as the Inquisitors please: but such as are poor, the King allows them three pence a day, out of which the Steward, Landresse, and some other necessary charges are deducted, so that one half of it comes not to the Prisoners share; and if any be moved with compassion to relieve them, it is counted such an hainous offence, that it will cost him a scourging till blood come at least.

It once happened that there was a Keeper appointed for their prison, in the Castle of Triana in Sivil, that was of a courteous disposition by nature, who used the Prisoners well, and closely, for fear of the Inquisitors, shewed them some favour: at which time there was a godly Matron and her two daughters committed to prison, which being put into several rooms, had a great desire to see each other for their mutual comfort in their distresses; whereupon they besought the Keeper to suffer them to come together, if it were but for one quarter of an hour: the Keepe yielded, and so they were together about half an hour, and then returned to their former prisons. Within a few dayes after, these women being racked in a terrible manner, the Keeper fearing lest they would confesse that little favour which he had shewed them, of his own accord went to the Inquisitors, confessed his fact, and craved pardon; but they deemed this so hainous an offence, that they presently commanded him to be haled to prison, where by reason of the extremity shewed him, he fell mad. Yet this procured him no favour: for after he had been a whole year in a vile prison, they brought him upon their triumphing stage,All pity denied them. with a Sambenito upon him, and a rope about his neck, and there they censured him to be whipt about the City, and to have two hundred stripes, and then to serve in the Gallies for six years. The next day one of his mad fits coming upon him, as he was set on an Asses back to be scourged, he threw himself off, snatched a sword out of the officers hand, and had slain him, if the people had not immediately laid hold on him; whereupon he was bound faster on the Asses back, had his two hundred stripes, and was for this offence condemned four years longer to the Gallies.

Another Keeper at another time had a maid, who seeing how miserably the prisoners were used, pitying their distressed condition, who were hunger-starved, and almost pined, she would sometimes speak to them at the grate, exhort and comfort them as well as she could,A maid whipt for shewing them favour. and sometimes would help them to some good and wholsome food: yea, by her means the Prisoners came to understand one anothers condition, which was a great comfort to them. But this at last coming to the inquisitors ears, they enjoyned her to wear the Sambenito, to be whipped about the streets, to receive two hundred stripes, and to be banished the City for ten years, with this writing on her head, A favourer, and aider of Hereticks. And whereas all other sort of persons in prison and bondage are allowed to recreate and refresh themselves with singing at their pleasure,The prisoners denied leave to sing Psalmes. these poor souls are forbidden this small solace in their great misery: for if any of them sing a Psalm, or openly recite any portion of p. 246Scripture, the Inquisitors take it very hainously, and presently send to them, requiring them to be silent, upon the pain of Excommunication: and if the prisoner make light of this warning, he shall have a bit set on his tongue to teach him obedience: and this they do, both to deprive the poor souls of all kind of solace, and to keep other Prisoners from knowing how their friends do: So that it often falls out that a man and his friend, the Father and Sonne, yea the husband and wife shall be in one prison-house two or three years together, and not know of each others being there till they meet upon the scaffold upon the great day of triumph.

By reason of this cruel usage many of the Prisoners die, some, of their torments, others, of the stink of the prison, and others, of diseases contracted by hunger, cold, ill diet, &c. They have also an Hospital, unto which they remove such as fall sick in their prisons,Their hospital where yet they are not dealt more gently with in any thing, save that they have Physick allowed them for their healths sake: But none are suffered to come to them but the Physician, and the servants of the Hospital: And as soon as the Patient is on the mending hand, he is carried back to the place whence he came.

If the Prisoner be half naked, or want something to lie on, and thereupon pray the Inquisitor that his necessity may be considered▪ The answer which he receives is this, Well, now the weather is warm, you may live full well without either cloaths or couch; And if it be winter time, his answer is: True, it hath been a great frost of late, but now the cold is come down again, and it will be more seasonable weather. Care you for the garments wherewithal you should cloath your soul, Cruel mercy.which consisteth in uttering the truth, and discharging your conscien…e before this holy house: And if the Prisoner desire to have some good book, or the holy Bible to enable him to passe that troublesome and careful time to some profit; The Inquisitor answers him, that the true book is to speak the truth, and to discharge his conscience to that holy Court, and that he ought to be occupied in laying open his wounds to their Lordships, who are ready to give him a plaister: whereby it appears that all their care and desire is, that the poor Prisoner may have nothing to look on or think on but his present miserable state, that the grief thereof grating upon him, may force him to satisfie their requests.

The last act of the Tragedy remaineth, wherein both Parties are pleased and have their desire;Their condemnation. the Inquisitors in obtaining their prey, the Prisoners in finding some end of their miserable usage; but two or three dayes before the solemnity, they use severally to call before them, all such whose estates are confiscated, examining them what lands or goods they have, where they lie, charging them upon great penalties not to conceal one jot, telling them, that if any thing be afterwards found, felony shall be laid to their charge, and he with whom it is found, shall pay foundly for it, and when all is confessed, they are returned to prison again.

The night before the Festival, they cause all the Prisoners to be p. 247brought into a large roome, where they are informed of the several kinds of pennances that they are to do the next day: The next morning very early, the Familiars come and attire the Prisoners in their several habits, in which they are to appear before the people:Their habits. Some in Sambenito's, which is a long garment painted all over with ugly devils: on his head he hath an high-crown'd hat whereon a man is painted burning in the fire, with many devils about him, plying him with fire and fagots. Besides, their tongues have a cleft piece of wood put upon them, which nips, and pincheth them that they cannot speak; they have about their necks, cords, and their hands fast bound behind them. On this sort come these constant Martyrs disguised, first to the stage, and then to the stake; and in the like sort do all the rest come forth, arraied as the other, and set forth with the like notes of infamy, either more or lesse, as the Inquisitors please to disgrace them in the sight of the people. On each hand of every Prisoner goeth a Familiar, all armed, to guard him: as also two Friars with every one that is to die, who perswade him tooth and nail to deny that doctrine that formerly he hath professed, now at their going out of this world; which wicked importunity is a great grief to the poor servants of Jesus Christ.

The Inquisitors also passe in great pomp from the Castle of Triana to their scaffold: And when all are set in their places, a Sermon begins, framed on purpose in commendations of the holy house, and in confutation of such Heriticks as are presently to suffer: but the greatest part is spent in slanderous reproaches, wherewith they vilifie and disgrace the truth, and the Professors of it. The Sermon being ended, the sentences against the Prisoners are read; First, against such as have easiest punishments, and so in order to the greater; Which sentences are commonly these, Death without mercy; Whipping in such extremity that the Persons seldome escape with their lives; Condemnation to the Gally; Forfeiture of all their estates, &c.

Then doth the chief Inquisitor absolve all such as have forsaken Christ, and are come home to the Church of Rome, from all the errours for which they shewed themselves penitent; but though hereby they are absolved from the fault, yet not from the punishment; for notwithstanding their Recantation, they must abide the punishment without mercy.

And whereas multitudes of people resort to this spectacle, some coming twenty Leagues to see it; The Inquisitors have this trick to uphold their Kingdome, They cause all the people present,A wicked oath to take an oath to live and die in the service of the Church of Rome, hazarding both life and goods against any that shall oppose it; as also to their power, to uphold and maintain the holy Inquisition, and to defend all the officers thereof, &c.

Then if there be any amongst the Prisoners to be degraded, they proceed after this manner. First, they apparel him in his massing Robes▪ then they despoil him again of every part thereof; then are his hands,Degradation. lips, and the Crown of his head scraped with a piece of glasse, or a sharp p. 248knife till they bleed again, to scrape off the holy oyle, wherewith he was anointed at his ordination. In the end of their sentence which is pronounced upon such as are to be burned, they use this abominable hypocrisie: They bequeath him to the secular power, with this humble request to them,Hypocrisie. to shew the Prisoner as much favour as may be, and neither to break any bone, nor pierce the skin of his body: This shews their great impudence, that having already given sentence on him to be burned, they yet should pretend such mercy and clemency towards him, whom all along themselves have used with such extream cruelty.

They use also this trick further, that in reading the crimes for which he is condemned, they do not only misreport such things as he confessed upon his examination, but they devilishly father upon him such things as he never spake, or thought of in all his life: and this they do to disgrace him, and to make him and his opinions more abhorred of all men, and to encrease their own estimation and credit, as being necessary officers to rid the world of such pestilent persons; and all this while the Prisoners tongue hath a cleft piece of wood upon it to his intolerable pain and grief, that he cannot answer for himself, nor gainsay that they charge him with.

All these things being finished, the Magistrate takes them into his hand, and conveys them presently to the place of execution, with divers instruments of Satan about them, calling and crying to them to forsake the truth; and when they cannot prevail, after the Prisoner is tied to the stake, they break his neck in a trice, and then they report amongst the common people that they recanted their heresies at the last houre,Abominable lyes. and so came home to the Church of Rome, and therefore they felt no pain in the fire at all, which made them take it so patiently.

Such as are not condemned to die, are carried back to prison, and the next day brought out to be whipt, after which some of them are sent to the Gallies, others kept in prison all their life time: but all have this special charge given them,Their cruelty concealed. that they never speak of any thing that they have heard, seen, or felt, during their imprisonment in the Inquisition; for if the contrary be ever proved against them, and that they utter any of their secrets, they shall be taken for persons relapsed, and be punished with greatest severity, their judgement being death without Redemption; and hereby they keep in all their Knavery and Tyranny close and secret to themselves: And if any of them be released because their faults were but small, they are yet so careful lest their cruelty should come to light, that they inhibit them the company or conference with any other, than such as they shall appoint and allow them; neither will they suffer them to write to any friend, except they first have the perusing of their letters.

Sometimes also, after they have imprisoned men in such a miserable state, for a year or two, and can extort nothing out of them by their torments, nor prove any thing against them by witnesse, so that they must necessarily dismisse them, they then call them into the Court, and begin to flatter them, and tell them what a good opinion they have of them, and p. 249that they are resolved to send them home, for the which fatherly favour extended towards them in saving their lives & goods,Flattery. they are to account themselves much beholding to their Lordships, &c. And so at last they dismisse him with special charge of silence: and when he is gone, they have special Spies abroad to see how he takes the matter; and if they find that he complains of his punishments, or discloses their secrets, they presently commence a new suit against him. On a time the Inquisitors at Sivill apprehended a noble Lady; the cause was, for that a Sister of hers,A Lady imprisoned. a very vertuous Virgin, who was afterwards burned for Religion, had confessed in the extremity of her torments, that she had sometimes had conference with this her sister about matters of Religion: This Lady when she was first apprehended, was gone with child about six months, in respect whereof they did not shut her up so close at first, nor deal so severely with her as they did with others; But within foure dayes after she was brought to bed, they took the child from her; and the seventh day …fter, they shut her up in close prison,Their cr…el usage o… her. and used her in all things as they did other Prisoners; the only worldly comfort that she had in her misery, was, that they lodged her with a vertuous maiden that was her fellow-Prisoner for a time, but afterwards burned at the stake: This maid whilst they were together, was carried to the rack, and so sore strained and torn thereon, that she was almost pulled in pieces, then was she brought back and thrown upon a bed of flags, that served them both to lie on; the good Lady was not able to help her, yet shewed singular tokens of love and compassion towards her.

The maid was scarce recovered when the Lady was carried out to be served with the same sauce, and was so terribly tormented in the trough,They torment her in the trough. that by reason of the strait straining of the strings, piercing to the very bones of her armes, thighs and shins, she was brought back half dead to her prison, the blood gushing out of her mouth abundantly, which shewed that something was broken within her: but after eight dayes the Lord delivered her from these cruel Tygers by taking her mercifully to himself.She dyed.

Upon one of their dayes of triumph there was brought out one John Pontio, of a noble Family, a zealous Professor of the truth,John Pontio. and one of an holy and blamelesse life, and well learned; he was eminent also in works of charity, in which he had spent a great part of his estate: Being apprehended for the Profession of the Gospel, he was cast into Prison, where he manfully maintained the truth in the midst of all their cruel dealings with him; At last they cast into prison to him one of their flyes, who by his subtilty and craft, so wrought upon him that he drew from him a promise to yield obedience to the Romish Church.Humane frailty. But though God suffered him to fall a while to shew him his frailty, yet afterwards in much mercy he raised him up again with double strength to that which he had before, and before his execution he manfully defended the truth against a subtil Friar. The things which he was condemned for, were these; That he should say,Recovery. that from his heart he abhorred the idolatry which was committed in worshipping the Host: That he removed his houshold from place to place, that he might shun p. 250coming to the Masse: That the Justification of a Christian resteth only in the merits of Jesus Christ apprehended by faith, &c. That there was no Purgatory: That the Popes pardons were of no value, &c. And for my self, His speech at death.(saith he) I am not only willing but desirous to die, and ready to suffer any punishment for the truth which I have professed: I esteem not of this world nor the treasures of it more than for my necessary uses, and the rest to bestow in the propagation and maintenance of the Gospel: And I beseech God daily upon my knees for my wife and children, that they may all continue in this quarrel even to the death. And when he came to his execution, he patiently and comfortably slept in the Lord.

At the same time there was also brought forth one John Gonsalvo, formerly a Priest,John Gonsalvo. but by his diligent study of the Scripture it pleased God to reveal his truth to him, so that he became a zealous Preacher of it, labouring in all his Sermons to beat into mens minds the true way, and means of our Justification to consist in Christ alone, and in stedfast faith in him:Tormented in prison, for which he was apprehended and cast into prison, where he endured all their cruely with a Christian courage; At last with two of his Sisters he was condemned: His mother and one of his brothers were also imprisoned with him for the truth, and executed shortly after: When he with his sisters went out at the Castle gate, having his tongue at liberty, he began to sing the 106. Psalm before all the People, who had oft heard him make many godly Sermons: He also condemned all hypocrites as the worst sort of People:with a cleft stick. Whereupon they stocked his tongue: Upon the stage he never changed countenance, nor was at all daunted. When they all came to the stake, they had their tongues loosed, and were commanded to say their Creed, which they did chearfully: when they came to those words, The holy Catholick Church, They were commanded to adde, Of Rome, but that they all refused: whereupon their necks were broken in a trice: and then't was noised abroad that they had added those words, and died, confessing the Church of Rome to be the true Catholick Church.

There was in Sivil a private Congregation of Gods people, most of which the Inquisitors consumed in the fire,A Church in Sivil. as they could discover any of them; amongst others that were apprehended, they took four women, famous above the rest for their holy and godly conversation, but especially the youngest of them, who was not above one and twenty years old, who by her diligent and frequent reading of the Scriptures, and by conference with godly and learned men, had attained to a very great measure of knowledge: so that whilst she was in Prison, she non-plus'd and put to shame many of those Friars that came to seduce her.

Another of these women was a grave Matron, whose house was a School of vertue, and a place where the Saints used to meet, & serve God day and night; but the time being come wherein they were ripe for God, they, together with other of their neighbours, were apprehended and cast into prison,Some of them cast into prison where they were kept in dark dungeons, and forced to endure all the cruel and extream torments which are before mentioned: At last they were condemned, and brought forth to the scaffold amongst p. 251other Prisoners: The young maid especially came with a merry and cheerful countenance, as it were triumphing over the Inquisitors, and having her tongue at liberty, she began to sing Psalms to God, whereupon the Inquisitors caused her tongue to be nipped by setting a Barnacle upon it: After sentence read,A cleft stick. they were carried to the place of execution, where with much constancy and courage they ended their lives: Yet the Inquisitors not satisfied herewith,Their death▪ caused the house of the Matron where the Church used to meet, to be pulled down, and the ground to be laid waste,Malice. and a pillar to be erected upon it with an inscription shewing the cause. There was also apprehended another worthy member of the same Congregation called Ferdinando;Ferdinando. he was of a fervent spirit, and very zealous in doing good: A young man, but for integrity of life very famous: He had spent eight years in educating of youth, and had endeavoured to sow the seeds of Piety in the hearts of his Scholars, as much as lay in him to do in a time of so great persecution and tyranny; being at the last apprehended for a Lutheran, he was cast into prison, and terribly tormented upon the Jeobit, and in the Trough, His torments.whereby he was so shaken in every joynt, that when he was taken down, he was not able to move any part of his body; yet did those cruel tormentors draw him by the heels into his prison, as if he had been a dead dog: But notwithstanding all his torments,A special Providence. he answered the Inquisitors very stoutly, and would not yield to them one jot. During his imprisonment God used him as an instrument to recal and confirme a Monk, who had been cast into prison for confessing the Gospel openly: But by means of the Inquisitors flatteries and fair promises he had somewhat relented: Gods Providence so ordering it,Humane infirmity. that Ferdinando was cast into the same prison, and finding the Monk wavering, he rebuked him sharply; and afterwards having drawn him to a sight of, and sorrow for his sinne, he at last strengthned him in the promises of free grace and mercy; Hereupon the Monk desired a day of hearing, where, before the Inquisitors, he solemnly renounced his recantation,Recovery. desiring that his former confession might stand, whereupon the sentence of death passed against them both: after which the Inquisitors asked Ferdinando whether he would revoke his former heresies; to which he answered, That he had professed nothing but what was agreeable to the pure and perfect Word of God, and ought to be the profession of every Christian man, and therefore he would stick to it to the death:Execution. Then did they clap a Barnacle upon his tongue, and so they were burned together.

There was also one Juliano, called, The little, because he was of a small and weak body, who going into Germany, was there conversant with divers learned and godly men,Juliano. by which means he attained to the knowledge of the truth, and became a zealous Professor of it, and earnestly longing after the salvation of his Countreymen,Zeale. he undertook a very dangerous work, which was to convey two great dry Fats full of Bibles printed in Spanish, into his own Countrey: In this attempt he had much cause of fear, the Inquisitors had so stopped every Port,A special Providence. and kept such strict watch, to prevent the coming in of all such commodities; but p. 252through Gods mighty protection, he brought his burden safely thither, and, which was almost miraculous, he conveyed them safe into Sivil, notwithstanding the busie searchers and catch-poles that watched in every corner. These Bibles being dispersed, were most joyfully and thankfully received, and through Gods blessing wrought wonderfully amongst Gods people to ripen them against the time of harvest. But at last the matter broke out by the means of a false brother, who going to the Inquisitors played the Judas, A false brother.and betrayed the whole Church to them. So that there were taken at Sivil at one time, eight hundred Christians,Twenty burnt. whereof twenty of them were afterwards roasted at one fire.

Amongst these, this Juliano was one of the first that was apprehended and sent to prison, where he lay without any company laden with irons above three years; yet was his constancy so great and wonderful, that the tormentors themselves were sooner wearied in inflicting,Juliano's torments and constancy. than he in suffering torments; and notwithstanding his weak and wearyish body, yet he remained undaunted in mind in undergoing all their tyrannies, so that he never departed from the rack more dejected than he came to it; neither threatnings, nor pains, nor torments made him shrink or yield one jot to them: but when he was drawn back to his prison, he would tell his fellows how he had conquered and confounded his enemies, saying, They depart vanquished, they depart vanquished; The wolves flie with shame, they flie with shame.

In the day of their triumph, when he was brought out to be apparelled (with his other fellow Prisoners) in all their shameful habits, he exhorted them with a cheerful countenance, saying: My Brethren, be of good cheere, this is the houre wherein we must be faithful witnesses unto God and his truth before men, as becomes the true servants and souldiers of Christ, and ere long we shall have him to witnesse with us again: and within a few houres we shall triumph with him in heaven for ever; But hereupon they presently clap't a Barnacle upon his tongue that he should speak no more, and so he was led to his execution;His death. but though he could not speak, yet by his countenance and gestures he shewed his cheerful and quiet minde: Then kneeling down, he kissed the step whereon he stood, and being tyed to the stake, he endeavoured by his looks and gestures to encourage his fellow Martyrs in their sufferings, and so they quietly and patiently resigned up their spirits unto God.

There was also John Leon, a Tailor by Trade, who out of a blinde devotion to serve God,John Leon. resolved to enter into a Monastery, but by Gods Providence it so fell out that he entred into a Cloister at Sivil, wherein most of the Monks were well affected to the true Religion, amongst whom in two or three years space, he was so grounded in the principles of Religion, that he resolved to leave that kinde of life, which accordingly he did, and went into the Countrey, yet after a time he had a great mind to conferre with his former Schoolmasters: but when he came back to the Cloister, he found that they were all fled in…o Germany; hereupon he resolved to follow them, and through many dangers and perils, it p. 253pleased God at last after a long and tedious journey, to bring him safe to Franckfurt, where he met with some of his old acquaintance, and with them he travelled to Geneva: About which time Queen Mary suddenly dying, and Queen Elizabeth of blessed Memory succeeding her, the English Exiles that lived in those parts were called home: whereupon divers Spaniards that sojourned at Geneva, thinking England a fitter place for their Congregation, resolved to accompany the English men▪ and for this end they dispersed themselves into several companies that they might travel with the more safety: The Inquisitors took the departure of these Monks so ill, that not sparing any cost,Leon goeth towa…ds England. they sent their Flies abroad to apprehend them, who way-laid them, especially at Collen, Franckfurt, Antwerp, and in all the ways that led from Geneva. This John Leon had got him a companion, with whom he travelled towards England, who being discovered at Argentine, were dogged into Zealand, and as they were ready to take ship, they were apprehended. John Leon took his arrest very composedly, never changing countenance at it: They were presently carried back into the Town,Is apprehended. where they were miserably …acked to discover their fellows, and not long after were shipped for Spain, having great irons, wrought like a net, that covered both head and face, within which also was another piece of iron made like a tongue, which being thrust into their mouths took away their speech;Sent to Spaine. they were also loaden with other engins and fetters of iron, wherewith they were bound hand and foot, and in these continual pains and torments they lay a shipboard till they came into Spain, and then John Leon was sent to Sivil, and his companion to Validolid, where afterwards in defence of the truth he suffered Martyrdome: But John remained long in prison, where he tasted of the Inquisitors tyranny, suffering both hunger and cold, and enduring all their torments one after another,Tormented. and at last was brought out in their solemn shew, arrayed after their usual manner; It was a sad sight to see such a ghost as he was, his hair so grown, his body so lean, that he had nothing but skin and bones left on him, and his pain much encreased by having a Barnacle upon his tongue: After sentence of death pronounced upon him, they set his tongue at liberty hoping that he would have recanted, but he made a stout and godly Confession of his faith, and so quietly ended his life in the flames. There was also burned at the same time a godly Virgin, that had formerly been a Nun, but being, through Gods grace, converted, she left her Cloister,Martyred. and joyned her self to the Church of Christ:A ma…ds sufferings, and martyrdom▪ Being apprehended by the Inquisitors she was intreated as others had been before her: and at last was brought out to the Scaffold, where with a manly courage she put the Inquisitors to a foul foil, not only constantly affirming the truth, but sharply rebuking those fathers, calling them dumb dogs, a generation of vipers, &c. being brought to the stake, with a cheerful countenance she underwent the pains of death, and so quietly slept in the Lord.

There was also one Christopher Losada, a Physician, a learned man and very well studied in the Scriptures,Christopher Losada. as also of a very holy conversation, insomuch as he was chosen Super-intendent of the Church of Christ p. 254in Sivil, which at this time was very great, though dispersed into corners: At last he was apprehended by the Inquisitors, before whom he made a good Confession of his faith, for which he endured ha…d and sharp imprisonment, with most cruel torments, and the open infamy of their solemn shew, and lastly was adjudged to the fire: As he stood at the stake, the Barnacle being taken from his tongue, he disputed notably with some Monks that came to seduce him; and when they spake Latin that the common People might not understand them, Losada also began to speak in Latin so copiously and eloquently,His constancy. as was strange to hear that he should have his wits so fresh when he was ready to be burned: after which he patiently resigned up his spirit unto God in the fire.Death.

Arias.There was also in Sivil one Arias, a man of a sharp wit and well-studied in Divinity, but withal of a crafty wit and inconstant nature; which vices he yet covered with a cloke of Religion, whereby he deceived many: About this time there were also in that City two sorts of Preachers, and both had a great number of Auditors: The one taught School-Divinity, and were continually calling upon their hearers to often fastings, mortification, self-denial, frequency of Prayer, humility, &c. But themselves practised nothing lesse than these things: and indeed all their Religion consisted in works and bodily exercises, as running to Masses, hallowed places, shrift, &c. The other sort dealt more sincerely with the holy Scriptures: out of which they declared what was true righteousnesse, and perfect holinesse: by means whereof that City above all others in Spain, bore the name for just and true dealing; and it pleased God that the brightnesse of this light did discover all the counterfeit holinesse, and Pharasaical devotion of the other party; The chief Labourers in this harvest were Constantino, Aegidius, and Varquius, all Doctors, and sober, wise, and learned men; who by this kind of preaching procured to themselves many enemies; but above all others, Arias was the most spiteful and malicious;He turns persecutor. yet he carried it so cunningly, that he still kept up his reputation with these men; but it was not long before he discovered himself: and that upon this occasion; There was one Ruzius, a learned man, questioned before the Inquisitors, for something that he had delivered in a Sermon about the Controversies in Religion; The Inquisitors appointed him a day of hearing; and two or three days before, Arias met him, saluted him courteously, and discoursed familiarly with him; then did he pump out of him, all those Arguments wherewith he intended to defend himself before the Inquisitors: When the day came, and Ruzius appeared, Arias went on that side where his opponents were, which much amated Ruzius, and in the disputation, Arias being prepared, did so wittily enervate all his Arguments, that Ruzius had nothing to say for himself, and so was fain to yield the cause, and Arias went away with the honour of the field, though he got it by treachery. Yet did this Arias, being of Saint Isidores Monastery, preach so practically, that a great light began to dawn in that dark place; for the whole scope of his Sermons was to overthrow all their Profession; he taught p. 255them that singing and saying of their Prayers day and night was no service of God, that the holy Scriptures were to be read and studied with diligence, whence alone the true service of God could be drawn, and which alone teach us the true obedience to his Will, to the obtaining whereof we must use Prayer as a means, proceeding as well from a sense and feeling of our own infirmities, as grounded upon a perfect trust and confidence in God.

By laying these foundations, through Gods blessing, he began to make them out of love with their Monkish Superstition, and much provoked them to the study of the holy Scriptures. Besides also his Sermons, he read daily a lecture upon Solomons Proverbs very learnedly, and made application thereof with good judgement and discretion; also in his private conference he did much good. The Lord also so ordered it in his wisdome, that he met with Schollers that were very tractable, such as were not greatly wedded to their Superstitions. And such was the force and might of Gods Election, that these few good seeds so fructified, that in the end they brought forth a great encrease of godlinesse. For divers of the Monks, that hereby had their consciences awakened and cleared to see their former hypocrisie and idolatry, sought out for further instructions, and, through Gods mercy, they light upon those Preachers which taught the truth with more sincerity:A special Providence. of whom they learned the Principles of pure and perfect Religion, so that by degrees they left that evil opinion which they had formerly conceived against the Lutherans, and were desirous to read their books: And God miraculously provided for them, that they had all sorts of books brought them that were extant at that time, either in Geneva or Germany: whereby it came to passe that there were very few in all that cloister but they had some taste of true Religion and Godlinesse, so that instead of mumbling their mattens, they brought in Divinity-lectures, &c. Vain fasting was turned into Christian sobriety, neither were any taught to be Monkish, but to be sincerely and truly religious.

But considering that when this should be once known they could not live in any safety, they resolved amongst themselves to forsake their nest, and to flie into Germany, where they might enjoy more safety of their lives, and freedome of their consciences; But how to get thither was all the difficulty; If one or two should go first, the rest would be exposed to danger: if many should go together, a thousand to one but they would be taken again, being to travel from the furthest part of Spaine into Germany: yet upon debate they concluded, that they must all either speedily depart, or shortly be apprehended by the Inquisitors, who now had got some inkling of the matter; And God seeing them in this distresse, shewed them a means how, under an honest pretence, a dozen of them might depart together within a month, and each betake himself a several way towards Geneva, where they appointed, by Gods assistance, all to meet within a twelve month; The rest which were but young novices were left behind, who yet not long after were so p. 256strengthned by God, that they endured the brunt of persecution when it came, three of them being burned, and divers others diversly punished.

The aforementioned servants of Jesus Christ forsook that place where they lived in honour, ease and plenty, and by undertaking, for Christs sake, a voluntary exile, exposed themselves to shame, ignominy, wants, yea and were in continual danger of their lives also: And under God, Arias was a great means of this, who, by his ministry, had first inlightned them with the knowledge of the truth: for which he was often complained of to the Inquisitors, and was convented before them, where he so cunningly answered the matter, that he was still discharged; But his last apprehension, through the mercy of God, brought forth in him the fruits of true repentance; for he did so deeply and unfainedly bewail, and repent of his former with-holding of the truth in unrighteousnesse,Arias his Re…covery. that whereas he used to be exceeding fearful of the Rack, he being brought to it and upon it, with a marvellous constancy withstood the enemies of Gods truth, and took up the Inquisitors roundly:His courage. withal telling them that he was heartily sorry, and did most earnestly repent him, for that he had wittingly and willingly in their presence impugned the truth against the godly defenders of the same: Many other sharp rebukes he gave to the Inquisitors so often as he came to his answer: But at last he was brought forth arraied in their accustomed manner upon their day of triumph, at which time he also made a notable Profession of his faith, and so was led from the stage to the stake with a merry and chearful countenance, where, by the notable example of his repentance at his death, he made satisfaction to the Church of Christ for all his former unfaithful and hypocritical dealing with them,His Martyrdome. and so quietly slept in the Lord.

The Life of Doctor Aegidio.

DR. Aegidio, who is before mentioned, was brought up in the University of Alcala, Scriptures contemned.where he took all his degrees, and was a hard Student in School-divinity: but the study of the holy Scriptures was there so neglected and contemned, that if any one read it, he was in contempt and scorn called a good Bibler;Grosse ignorance. Afterwards being publick Reader of Divinity in that University, he grew famous all over Christendome, and was sent for to Sivil to be Divinity-Reader in the Cathedral Church, where he was so highly esteemed, that soon after he was chosen Sub-Deane, yet did he not attempt to preach openly, nor had once so much as opened the Bible to read and study the Scriptures: And therefore the first time that he came into the Pulpit, contrary to all mens expectations, he was found so unfit for such a function, that he grew out of conceit with himself, and was contemned by others, insomuch as they fell to repent themselves, the one for admitting him so unadvisedly, the other for taking upon him that office p. 257so arrogantly: But having passed over some time, it so fell out that he met with a plain man, which gave him such instructions, that after a few hours conference he learned by him what the office and duty of a Preacher was, and by what means he might attain thereto; and, through Gods blessing, his advice was so effectual, that now Dr. Aegidio was quite altered and become a new man, thinking all his former life and labour ill spent, and therefore he resolved to steer another course; He also fell into acquaintance with Doctor Constantino, a man excellently well learned, by whose conference and advice he profited marvellously in his studies, fell to the reading of good Authors, and grew to profound knowledge in the holy Scriptures: so that after a time, he began to preach as learnedly, godly, and zealously, as he had before done coldly, foolishly, and unskilfully: Then did his hearers finde the marvellous force of that doctrine, which was taught them by these three worthy men, Aegidio, Constantino, and Varquia, Ministers honoured.so that the more they crept out of their former ignorance and grew in knowledge, the more they esteemed and honoured them.

Hereupon there were daily complaints made against them to the Inquisitors, especially against Doctor Aegidio, who did more openly than the rest inveigh against the adversaries of the truth. But it so fell out by Gods Providence, that just at the same time the Emperour Charles the fifth, in respect of his singular learning and integrity of life, elected him to the Bishoprick of Dortois:Aegidio chosen Bishop. Then did those hypocritical Inquisitors bestir themselves on all hands, citing him to come before them, where articles were exhibited against him, and thereupon they cast him into prison, and examined him. But the Emperour,He is persecuted. Imprisoned. who had elected him to the Bishoprick, and the whole Chapter of the Cathedral Church in Sivil, became very earnest Sutors to the Inquisitors in his behalf.

It fell out also that just at the same time, whilst Aegidio was in prison, three of his greatest adversaries amongst the Inquisitors, and the prime enemies against the truth, sickned, and died shortly one after another,Gods judgement on Persecutors. whereby he was released, and lived foure or five years after; at the end whereof he was sent upon an Embassie, in which journey he visited the brethren that professed the truth in Validolid, Released.and much comforted and confirmed them; but in his return home, his aged body being sore shaken in that long journey, having not been used to travel of a long while before, he sickned, and within a few days departed out of this troublesome life to everlasting rest.

But within three years after, the new Inquisitors thinking that the former had dealt too gently with him, digged him out of his grave, and buried in his place a puppet of straw; then they brought his corps upon the Scaffold, and used it in the same sort as they would have used himself if he had been alive.

p. 258The life of Doctor Constantino.

Doctor Constantino of whom mention hath been made before, was a most famous Divine, and endued by God with such rare abilities as the like were hardly found in that age; he was a man of a very pleasant wit, and wondrous facetious, which he especially used against the hypocritical Monks and Friars; and though he lived in a barbarous age, wherein all good learning was almost lost, yet by his wit and industry he attained to a great deal of skill both in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and was also an excellent Oratour: and studied the Scriptures so hard, that he grew very exquisite therein; He was also so eloquent in his own language, that all his Auditors were brought into a great admiration of him;His excellent vertues. He was very discreet in all his doings: which parts he attained to, both by his study and long practice and experience, but especially by profound knowledge in the holy Scriptures.

Whensoever he preached, there was so great a resort to his Sermons, that three or foure houres before he began, there was scarce a place in the Church to be gotten. He was farre from covetousnesse and ambition, insomuch as having a good Canonship in the Church of Toledo proffered him, he refused it, together with divers other Preferments. In his Ministry in Sivil he did so plainly set forth, and so sharply rebuke those hucksters that sold indulgences, pardons, &c. That they were much incensed against him, fearing that he would prove a plague to the whole generation of them, so that they hated him deadly, yet could finde nothing whereof to accuse him, but what would redound to their own shame.

But for all this he neglected not to preach the truth faithfully, though he knew that they lay at catch, waiting for an opportunity to ensnare him;Zeale. And it was the singular Providence of God that that City should enjoy such preaching, when there were so many powerful and malicious enemies to oppose it. For at this time Varquio read upon the Gospel according to Matthew, and upon the Psalmes: Aegidio preached daily; and Constantine, though not so often, yet to as great fruit and edification, thus continuing till God sent storms to try each mans faith; In the midst of which tempest Varquio dyed, and Constantine was sent for by the Emperour to be his houshold Chaplain: only Aegidio was left alone, like a Lamb amongst wolves, to be the object of their fury,He goes to the Emperour. of whose end we have heard before; after whose death Constantine left the Emperours Court, and returned to Sivil, where he preached the Gospel with as much zeale as ever he did before:His return to Sivil. Then was he chosen to preach every other day in the Cathedral, which he refused, because of a great fit of sicknesse which had made him very weak, but he was forced to undertake it, though he was so weak a creature, that sometimes he was fain to be carried to Church,His weaknesse. and by reason of his faintnesse was p. 259necessitated once or twice in a Sermon to drink a draught of wine to refresh himself. About this time there was one Scobario, a man famous for life and learning, chosen by the Magistrates of the City to the Government of the Colledge of Children, who out of his zeal to promote the Gospel converted his Stipend, to the erecting of a Divinity-lecture in the Cathedral Church; and Constantine, Chosen Divinity-Lecturer.having recovered his health, was chosen to read it; who performed it excellently well, beginning with the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Canticles; which having passed through very learnedly, he began upon the book of Job, and proceeded to expound more than half of it. But some evil spirit envying the Progresse of the Gospel in that City, under a pretence of fervent zeal, caused him to forsake this course, and encombred him so many ways, that he was never clear of those troubles to his dying day.

For not long after he was brought before the Inquisitors, and had many things laid to his charge; yet by his quick and ready answers he easily avoided them, and they could not by any means bring him to make an open Protestation of his faith, by which all their hope was to circumvent him; and so he might have escaped, had not God, by a special Providence, compelled him as it were briefly and plainly to confesse his faith; The occasion was this.

There was one Isabel Martin apprehended, in whose house Constantine had hid some special books for fear of the Inquisitors: This womans goods being sequestred, her son conveyed divers chests of her best goods away to another place. This coming to the Inquisitors ears by means of an unfaithful servant,A strange Providence. they sent their Officer immediately to demand those Chests: The womans sonne supposing that the Officer came for Constantines books, said unto him, I know what you come for, and therefore if you will promise me upon your honest word to depart quietly, I will bring you to them: the Officer supposing that he meant the Chests, promised him so to do: Then did he carry him into a secret place, and plucking forth a stone or two in the wall, shewed him Constantines Jewels; of paper indeed; but farre more precious than gold or pearle; the Officer astonished to finde that which he looked not for, told him that he came for no such thing, but for certain Chests of his mothers goods, which he had purloined from the Sequestrators; and that notwithstanding his promise, he must carry both him and his books to the Inquisitors: Thus came Constantines writings into the Inquisitors hands, out of which they quickly found matter enough against him. Then did they send for him before them, and demanded if he knew his own hand; he shifted it off at the first, but afterwards perceiving that it was the Will of God that he should bear witnesse to the truth, he confessed it to be his own writing, protesting openly that all things therein contained were full of truth and sincerity; Therefore, said he, trouble your selves no further in seeking Witnesses against me, seeing you have so plain and apert a Confession of my judgment and faith,Courage. but deal with p. 260me as you shall please; Then was he cast into prison, and kept there two whole years,Imprisoned. where partly by occasion of his corrupt dyet, but chiefly of grief to see such havock made of the poor Church of Christ, which himself and his brethren had with so great pains and care planted and watered, he began first to be crazy, and then not being able to endure the extream heat of the Sunne, which made his prison like an hot house, he was forced to strip himself to his very shirt, wherein he lay day and night, by occasion whereof he fell into the bloody flux,His death. and within fifteen days died in the stinking prison, rendring up his soul to Christ, for promoting of whose glory he had oft times manfully adventured it.

He never indeed felt those cruel torments which the Inquisitors used to inflict upon others, but it was not because they regarded such a man of eminency as he was, but because they intended to delay his punishment by keeping him long in prison, not expecting that he should so suddenly have been taken out of their hands. Yet did these Imps of Satan spread abroad a report, that before his death upon the Rack he had confessed to them who were his disciples; and this they did to make men come in and accuse themselves, upon hope to finde the more favour with the Inquisitors; They reported also that he opened one of his veins with a broken glasse whereof he died, that so he might avoid the shame and punishment of his heresies. And against the day of their solemn triumph, his corps was taken out of his grave, and set in a Pulpit, with one hand resting on the Desk, and holding up the other, just as he used to do when he preached: Then they passed sentence upon him,His Corps burned. and so afterwards caused him to be burned.

Thus we have seen in some few examples the rage of these bloody Inquisitors against the poor Saints and Servants of Jesus Christ, whereof a great number were cruelly murthered in a few years space in that one City of Sivil, whereby we may partly guesse how great numbers have suffered in all other places, since the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ brake forth, untill this day under their cruel and bloody tyranny.

Collected out of a book called, The Discovery of the Spanish Inquisition, &c. First written in Latin by Reynold Gonsalvius Montanus, and afterwards translated into English.

The Persecution of Nicholas Burton Englishman▪ by the Inquisitors in Spain, Anno 1560.

THis Burton was a Citizen of London, who being about his merchandise at Cadiz in Spain, Nicholas Burton.there came to his lodging one of the Familiars, desiring to take lading to London in the ship which Burton had fraited; and this he did, that he might learn where his p. 261goods were; Presently after came a Serjeant who apprehended Bur…ton, and carried him away to the Inquisitors, who, though they could charge him with nothing spoken or written against them since he came to Spain, yet they sent him to the filthy common prison, where he remained in irons fourteen dayes amongst Thieves: In which time he so instructed the poor Prisoners in the Word of God, that in short space he had well reclaimed many of those ignorant and superstitious souls: which being known to the Inquisitors,God… Providence. they presently removed him, laden with irons, from thence to Sivil, and put him into the more cruel prison in the Castle of Triana, He is sent to Sivil.where the Inquisitors proceeded against him after their accustomed cruel manner, by racking, &c. Neither could he get leave to write to, or speak with any of his Countreymen: Afterwards they brought him forth with many other godly persons upon their publick day of triumph, in his Sambito painted all over with ugly devils tormenting a soul in flames of fire, and with a Barnacle upon his tongue, where he received sentence of death,Condemned. and so with the rest was carried to the place of execution to be burnt; and he endured the flames with so much patience and cheerfulnesse of countenance, that his Popish adversaries said, that the Devil had his soul before he came to the fire, whereby his sense of feeling was taken away: They also sequestred all his goods, which could never be recovered out of their hands, though great means were used for the same. This was in Queen Maries days.

There was burned with him at the same time another Englishman: and not long after two more, called John Baker and William Burgate:John Baker. Will. Burgate. Will. Burges. Will. Hooker. And about the same time William Burges, Master of an English ship was burned there also: and William Hooker, a youth of about sixteen, was there stoned to death for the bold profession of his faith.

p. 262Here place the seventh Figure.