A General Martyrology, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. The Persecution of the Church of Christ in Italy, which began, Anno Christi, 1155.
ANno Christi, 1155. Adrian the fourth, an English man, being Pope, there was one Arnald of Brixia, who coming to Rome, preached boldly against the corruptions which were crept into the Church, and found great favour amongst the Senators, and people, insomuch as when the Pope commanded this Arnald to be driven away as an Heretick, they resisted his command, and defended Arnald, till at last the Pope interdicting the whole City, at the importunity of the Clergy, the Senators and Citizens were forced to send him away: and shortly after he was apprehended by the Popes Legat, Cardinal of St. Nicholas, out of whose hands he was rescued by the Vicounts of Campany, with whom he remained, and to whom he preached the Gospel of Christ, and was had in such esteem that he was accounted a Prophet.
Shortly after, Frederick Barbarossa the Emperour, coming unto Italy to be crowned, the Pope sent some Cardinals to him, requesting that he would deliver Arnald of Brixia into their hands, whom the Vicounts of Campania had taken from his Legat at Otriculi, whom they held for a Prophet in their Countrey, and greatly honoured him. The Emperour receiving these commands from the Pope, presently sent forth his Apparitors, and took one of the Vicounts prisoner, wherewith the other were so terrified, that they delivered up Arnald to the Cardinals; and this the Emperour did to gratifie the Pope that was to set the Imperial Crown upon his head.
Not long after the Pope being in his Ruff, marching with a brave Army into Apulia, commanded his Prefect at Rome to do execution upon Arnald, who accordingly most cruelly, first hanged, and then burned him for an Arch-heretick at the appointment of the Pope.
This Arnald was born in Italy, and was trained up under Peter Abailardus in France: His heresies were, that he preached against the Pride and Covetousnesse of the Clergy and Monks: That he inveighed against the corruptions which were crept into the Sacraments, &c. He first Preached in Brixia, and expounded to the people the sacred Scriptures, who earnestly embraced his doctrine; whereupon the Bishops and Monks of that City complained of him to the Council that was held at Rome by Pope Innocent, who (to prevent the spreading of his Doctrine) injoyned him silence, and banished him Italy. Then did he go beyond the Alps into a Town of Germany called Turengum, where, for a time he preached the truth, and did much good, till he heard of the death of Pope Innocent his old Adversary: at which time he returned into Italy, and went to Rome, where what his successe was we heard before: after his body was burnt, they gathered up his ashes, and threw them into the River Tybur. Otho Frising.
Encenas.Anno Christi, 1546. There was one Encenas, or Driander, a Spaniard, born in Bruges, who in his youth was sent by his superstitious Parents to be educated in Rome, where in process of time, through God mercy, he came to the knowledge of the truth, and thereupon manifesting his dislikes of the impure doctrine of the Church of Rome, he was betrayed by some of his own Countrymen and houshold friends,Treachery. and by them carried before the Cardinals, who committed him to strait prison: and afterwards, being called forth to declare his judgement in matters of Religion,Courage. he gave a notable testimony to the truth before the Cardinals and the Popes whole retinue, whereupon they cried out upon him that he should be burned; yet the Cardinals proffered him life, if he would wear the Sambito: but he constantly refused to wear any other badge, save the badge of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was, to seal his Profession with his blood: Hereupon he was condemned to the fire, and suffered Martyrdome with great patience and constancy.Constancy. Francis Encenas. His brother Francis Encenas, a very learned and godly man as any was in Spain, being in the Emperours Court at Bruxels, offered to Charles the fifth the New Testament translated into Spanish, for which he was cast into prison, … remained in great misery for the space of fifteen months, looking for nothing but present death: but at last, through the marvellous Providence of God, at eight a clock at night he found the prison doors standing wide open, and a secret motion in his minde to make an escape,A special Providence. whereupon going out of prison with a leasurely pace, he went without interruption, and so from thence went strait into Germany.
Faninus.Anno 1550. There was at Ferrara one Faninus, who by reading of good books, was through Gods grace, converted to the knowledge of the truth, wherein he found such sweetnesse, that by constant reading, meditation and prayer, he grew so expert in the Scriptures, that he was able to instruct others: and though he durst not go out of the bounds of his calling to preach openly, yet by conference and private exhortations he did good to many: This coming to the knowledge of the Popes Clients, they apprehended and committed him to prison, where by the earnest solicitations of his wife and children, and other friends,Humane infirmity▪ he was so overcome, that he renounced the truth, and so was dismissed out of prison. But it was not long before the Lord met with him: so that falling into horrible torture of conscience, he was near unto utter despair for his Apostacy,Danger of Apostacy. and for preferring the love of his kindred and friends before the service of Jesus Christ, neither could he possibly by any means be free from these terrours, before he had fully resolved to adventure his life more faithfully in the service of the Lord. Wherefore being thus inflamed with an holy zeal, he went about all the Countrey,Recovery after his fall. doing much good wheresoever he came, whereupon he was again apprehended, and cast into prison, and condemned to be burnt:A prophesie. but he told his Judges that his time was not yet come, and so it fell out; for shortly after he was removed to Ferrara, where he continued in prison two years; Then was he again condemned by the Popes Inquisitors; and yet his time being not come, he remained a good while after in prison: in which time many godly people came to visit him, which caused the Pope to comm…d him to be kept more strictly: Then was he kept close Prisoner for eighteen moneths, wherein he endured many and great torments: After this, he was brought into another prison, where were many Nobles,A special Providence. great Lords and Captains for stirring up sedition, who when they first heard him speak, set him at naught and derided him: and some of the gravest of them, supposing it to be but a melancholy humour, exhorted him to leave his opinion, &c. Faninus gave them thanks for their friendly good will, but withal, modestly and plainly he declared to them, that the doctrine which he professed was no humour nor opinion of mans braine, but the pure truth of God held forth in his Word, which truth he was fully resolved never to deny, &c. With which instructions they were, through the mercy of God, clean altered in their carriage and judgement, highly admiring and honouring him now, whom a little before they derided and contemned; Then did he proceed still to impart the Word of grace to them, declaring, that though he knew himself to be a miserable sinner, yet through faith in Jesus Christ and his grace, he was fully perswaded that his sins were forgiven; assuring them likewise that if they did repent and believe on our Lord Jesus Christ, they also should have their sinnes remitted unto them.
There were in that prison also some that having formerly lived very delicately, could not now endure the hardship of prison, to whom he administred much comfort in this their distresse, insomuch as they rejoyced in …hese their sufferings, by which they had learned a better kind of liberty than ever they had before.
His Kinsfolk hearing of his imprisonment, his wife and sister came to him,Tentation resisted. pitifully weeping and intreating him to consider and remember his poor family, &c. To whom he answered, that his Lord and Master had commanded him not to deny his truth for his families sake: and that it was too much that once for their sakes he had fallen into that Cowardise, which they knew of: Therefore he desired them to leave him, and not to solicit him any further in that kind, for he knew that his end now drew near, and so he commended them to the Lord.
Presently after, the Pope sent a command that Faninus should be executed, whereof when an officer brought him word, he much rejoyced at it, thanking the Messenger: Then did he begin to make a long exhortation to his fellow-prisoners about the felicity of the life to come.
He had life proffered him if he would recant, and he was put in mind what a sad condition he would leave his wife and children in;Proffer of life refused. whereupon he answered that he had committed them to an Overseer that would sufficiently care for them; and being asked who that was?Faith. he answered, Even the Lord Jesus Christ, a faithful Keeper of all that are committed to him; the next day he was removed into the common Prison, and delivered to the secular Magistrate.
In all his words, gestures and countenance, he shewed such modesty, constancy, and tranquillity of mind, that they which before extreamly hated him, and thought that he had a devil, began now favourably to hearken to him, and to commend him: yea with such grace and sweetnesse he spake of the Word of God, that many of the Magistrates wives which heard him, could not abstain from weeping: yea the Executioner himself wept.
As he was going to execution, one that saw him so merry and chearful, asked him what was the reason of it, whereas Christ before his death sweat blood and water?Comfort in death. To whom he answered, that Christ sustained all the sorrows and conflicts with hell and death that were due to us,Note. that by his sufferings we might be freed from the sorrow and fear of them all.
At the place of execution, after he had made his most earnest prayers to the Lord, he meekly and patiently went to the stake, where he was first strangled,A special Providence. and afterwards burned; And during the time of his burning there came a most fragrant and oderiferous smell to the Spectators, the sweetnesse whereof did so delight and refresh their senses, as his words would have done, if they had heard him speak.
There was also one Dominicus, sometimes a souldier under Charles the fifth in Germany, Dominicus.where he received the first taste of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, after which by his conf…rence with learned men he much increased in knowledge, insomuch as he was able to instruct others; whereupon he returned into Italy, and in the City of Naples, he taught the Word of God to many, Anno 1550. From thence he went to Placentia, where he instructed the People also in many of the fundamentals of Religion, promising that he would next speak to them of Antichrist, whom he would paint out in his colours; but when he came the next day,Apprehended. he was apprehended by the Magistrate, whom he readily obeyed, saying, that he wondered the devil had let him alone so long: and being asked whether he would renounce his doctrine, he answered,Constancy. that he maintained no doctrine of his own, but the doctrine of Christ, Thanks for sufferings.which also he was ready to seal with his blood, giving hearty thanks to God for accounting him worthy to suffer for his name. Then was he committed to a filthy and stinking prison, where he remained some moneths, and was often solicited to revoke his opinions, or else he must suffer death: but, through Gods mercy, nothing could remove him from his constancy: being therefore condemned to death, he was brought forth into the market-place, where he most heartily prayed for his enemies, instructed the People, and then was hanged, resting in peace in the Lord.
In Saint Angelo, there was an house of Augustine Friars, to whom there often resorted a Friar from the City of Pavia, who was a man very expert in the Scriptures, and of godly conversation, by whose labours not only divers of the Friars, but other Townsmen were brought to the knowledge and love of Gods Word; and amongst the rest, one Galeacius Trecius, a Gentleman of good quality,Galeacius Trecius. very wealthy and bountiful to the poor, was wrought upon to embrace the truth, and was afterward much confirmed and strengthened by Caelius Secundus, who being persecuted from Pavia, came to this place. After some time Galeacius having much profited in knowledge, was inflamed with a godly zeal to promote and propagate the knowledge of the truth unto others; But a light shining in such darknesse could not be long hid: Insomuch as Anno 1551. he was apprehended and carried before the Bishop, by whom he was kept in bands, having only a pad of straw to lie on; and though his wife sent him a good bed and sheets, yet did the Bishops officers keep them from him,Cruelty. dividing it as a booty amongst themselves.
Thrice he was brought before the Commissioners, where he boldly rendred a reason of his faith, answering all their interrogatories with such evidence of Scripture and constancy of mind as astonished all that heard him: yet afterwards at the importunity of his friends and kindred, he was by much perswasion brought to assent to certain Popish points. But, through the mercy of God, he was after a while,Humane infirmity▪ Recovery. brought to such repentance and bewailing of this fact, that afterwards he became more valiant in the defence of Christs quarrel; neither did he desire any thing more than to have occasion to recover again by confession that which he had lost by denial: affirming that as he never had felt more joy of heart then when he constantly professed the truth, so he never tasted more sorrow in all his life, then when he turned from the same by dissimulation: Professing to his Christian friends, that death was much more sweet to him with testimony to the truth,Note. then life with the least denial of it, and violation of a good conscience thereby. So that afterwards, through Gods mercy, he was so full of comfort, that divers which talked with him, continued all day without meat or drink, and if they might, would have stayed all night too, they were so delighted with him.
Galeacius thus waiting for some occasion to manifest his Recovery,Joy unspeakable. it so fell out that the Inquisitors came into the Prison to him, supposing that now he would have confirmed what before he had granted unto them, requiring him so to do; But Galeacius on the contrary retracted that, and boldly asserted the truth with more courage than he did before: and hereby his mind was greatly refreshed, and his adversaries went away ashamed: yet did they condemn and deliver him to the secular Judge to be burned; Then was he brought forth in the morning to the market-place, and bound to a stake, where he was left till noon to be a gazing stock to all the people: during which time many came to see him, exhorting him to recant, and not so wilfully to cast away himself,Tentation resisted. and thereby to undo his loving wife and young children, &c. But nothing could alter the firme mind of this constant Martyr, and therefore at length fire was put to him, and so he quietly slept in the Lord.
A little before his execution, he hearing that there was a controversie between the Bishop and Major of the City,Note. which of them should be at cost to buy wood for his burning, he sent to them to end that quarrel, for that he himself would be at the cost of it, out of his own goods.
The life of John Mollius.
THere was at Rome one John Mollius, who at twelve years old was placed by his Parents in the house of the Gray-friars, where being of an excellent wit, in a short time he so profited both in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues, that at eighteen years old he was made a Priest:His education. Then was he sent to study at Ferrara, where he so profited in six years time, that he was made Doctor and Reader of Divinity in that University,His enmity to the truth. and by his Sophistry shewed himself an utter enemy to the Gospel. From thence he went to Brixia, and the year following to Millaine, where he read openly; Then by Francis Sforce he was brought to the University of Papia, to be the Philosophy Professor, where he remained four years; Then was he called to the University of Bononia: about which time it pleased God so to inlighten him with the knowledge of his truth,Conversion. Zeale. that he began secretly to expound The Epistle of Paul to the Romanes to a few, but presently his Auditors increased so fast, that he was compelled to read openly in the Church, where the number of his Auditors daily increased, and withal, they shewed such fervency of mind, that most of them came with pen and ink to write what they heard, taking great care to come so early that they might have room to hear him. This was Anno 1538. Hereupon Cardinal Campeius set up one Cornelius, an arrogant Babler, to expound the same Epistle, who cried up the Pope and his traditions; as John on the contrary commended and extolled Christ and his merits to the People: But Cornelius his Auditors quickly decreased, and the others increased exceedingly: This angred Cornelius, insomuch as by Cardinal Campeius his advice, they came to an open disputation, and when they could not agree, as John was returning home in a narrow place where his friends could not come to his rescue,His apprehension. he was apprehended and clapt up in prison; but this caused such stir in the City, that Cornelius was faine to hide himself; Then did the Bishop send word to John in prison, that he must either recant or be burnt: To the first he answered that he would by no means condescend; only it grieved him that he should be condemned, and his cause not heard;Constancy. yet by the mediation of a friend he was released out of prison, upon condition that within three moneths he should appear at Rome: H…s Release.some of his friends disswaded him from going to Rome, advising him rather to go into Germany, and they would give him mony to bear his charges; but he refused,Courage. saying, that he must preach the Gospel at Rome also.
When he came thither, he requested of the Pope that he might have a publick hearing, but that was denied him, and he was commanded to write his opinion: which accordingly he did, About Original sin,His appe…ring at Rome. Justification by faith only, Free-will, Purgatory, &c. All which he confirmed by the Authority of Scripture and Fathers, and so exhibited it to the Pope, who referred it to some Cardinals: and they disputed with him three dayes upon those points, but could not confute them; then was he answered, That it was truth which he said, yet not meet for the times; and therefore he was commanded to abstain from preaching,Note. H…s return to Bonony. and to returne to Bonony to be the Philosophy Professour.
When he came back, all men longed to hear how he had sped, and in the Pulpit he openly declared the whole proceedings to them, giving God thanks for his safe return.
But this so offended the Cardinal, that by order from the Pope, he was removed from Bononia to Naples: There also his doctrine was so distasted by the Viceroy, that he laid wait to take away his life; yet,A special Providence. through Gods mercy, he escaped, and wandred up and down Italy, preaching the Gospel of Christ wheresoever he came: At last he was called back to Bonony, where privately he expounded Pauls Epistles, which could not be long concealed; whereupon he was apprehended and carried to Faventia, where he was cast into a filthy stinking prison,He is again apprehended. and lay there foure years, no man being suffered to come to him: yet at last by the mediation of some friends he was again released,His Release. and went to Ravenna, where he preached the Gospel of Christ with such affections, that he never spake of Jesus Christ,Love to Christ but tears dropped from his eyes.
After a short time he was again cast into prison; but foure persons of quality proffering to be his Bail, through Gods mercy, he was released; after which so many flocked to him,Man…fold afflictions. that his adversaries consulted to kill him, lest his doctrine should spread further: and apprehending him, they sent him bound to Rome, where again he was cast into prison for eighteen moneths, in which time he was often assaulted, sometimes with flatteries and faire promises,Constancy. sometimes with terrible threats: but his constancy could not be shaken by either; whereupon he, with some others, were brought forth to receive the sentence of condemnation, at which time with great earnestnesse, he confirmed his former doctrine, affirmed the Pope to be Antichrist,His Martyrd…me. &c. citing them to appear before the Tribunal of Christ.
Being condemned and carried to the place of execution, he exhorted the People to have no Saviours but Christ alone, the only Mediatour betwixt God and man, and so he was first hanged, and then burned. This was Anno Christi, 1553.
Francis Gamba.The year after, Francis Gamba, born in Lombardy, having, through Gods grace, received the knowledge of the Gospel, went to Geneva, where he was much confirmed in the truth, and received the Sacrament with them; then returning into his own country he was apprehended and cast into prison, whither many Nobles, Doctors and Priests resorted to him, labouring by all means to disswade him from his opinions; But he disputing with them, constantly affirmed that what he held was consonant to the Word of God,Constancy. and the evident doctrine of Jesus Christ, and necessary for all men to believe if they would be saved; Assuring them that rather than he would be found false to Christ and his Word, he was there ready to shed his blood: He was long assailed by the intreaties of his friends and threatenings of his enemies,Tentations …esisted. but could by no means be discouraged, yea he gave thanks to God for accounting him worthy to suffer rebukes and death for the testimony of Jesus Christ: and so by order of the Senate of Millain he was had forth to execution.
He went with a great deal of chearfulnesse; and when a Crosse was brought him by a Friar,Comfort at death. he said, that his mind was so replenished with joy and comfort in Christ, that he needed neither his Crosse nor him: then, because he declared many comfortable things to the people, his tongue was bored through, and he was first strangled, and then burnt, undergoing death with admirable patience and constancy.
Anno 1555. There was one Algerius, a Student in Padua, a young man of excellent learning,Algerus. who having attained to the knowledge of the truth, ceased not by instruction and example to inform others that he might bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ; for this he was accused of heresie to the Pope; by whose command he was apprehended and cast into prison at Venice, where he lay long; during which time he wrote an excellent letter to the afflicted Saints, wherein, amongst many other excellent expressions, he thus writeth; I cannot but impart unto you some portion of my delectations and joyes which I feel and find: I have found hony in the intrals of a Lion; Who will believe that in the dark dungeon I should find a Paradise of pleasure? Joy in afflictions.In a place of sorrow and death, dwells tranquillity and hope of life· In an infernal Cave, I have joy of soul: where others weep, I rejoyce: where others shake and tremble, there is strength and boldnesse, &c. All these things the sweet hand of the Lord doth minister to me. Behold, he that was once far from me, is now present with me: whom I could scarce feel before, now I see more apparently: whom once I saw afarre off, I now behold near at hand: whom once I hungred for, he now approaches and reaches his hand to me: he doth comfort me, and fills me with gladness: he drives away all sorrow, strengthens, encourageth, heals, refresheth and advanceth me: O how good is the Lord, who suffers not his servants to be tempted above their strength! Oh how easie and sweet is his yoke, &c. learn therefore how amiable and merciful the Lord is, who visiteth his servants in tentations, and disdains not to keep them company in such vile and stinking dungeons, &c. And in conclusion he subscribes his letter, From the delectable Orchard of the Leonine prison, &c. After this the Pope sent for him to Rome, where, by manifold perswasions and allurements,Note. he was tempted to desert and deny the truth, which not prevailing, he was adjudged to be burnt alive,Tentation resisted. which death he most constantly endured to the great admiration of all that beheld him.
Anno 1559. John Aloysius, being sent from Geneva to be a Pastor in Calabria, was thence sent for by the Pope to Rome, John Aloysius.where he suffered Martyrdome.
Also James Bovellus; a godly Minister in the same place, and at the same time was sent for by the Pope, by whom he was sent to Messina, Iames Bovellus.and there Martyred.
Pope Pius the fourth raised an hot persecution against the people of God in all the Territories of the Church of Rome, whereby many constant Christians suffered Martyrdome. Yea,Persecution raised by the Pope. this persecution was so hot in the Kingdome of Naples, that many Noblemen with their wives, and divers others, were there slain; Anno 1560.
A Papist writing to a Noble Lord about the cruelty shewed to some Christians, hath these expressions: When I think upon it, I verily quake and tremble: Horrible Cruelty.for their manner of putting to death may fitly be resembled to the slaughter of Calves and Sheep; for eighty eight of them being thrust up together in one house as in a sheepfold, the Executioner cometh in, taketh one and blindfoldeth him, and so leads him forth to a larger place adjoyning, where commanding him to kneel down, he cuts his throat: and leaving him half dead, he takes his Butchers knife and muffler, all gore blood; and goeth back to the rest, and so leading one after another, he dispatches them all: How sad this spectacle was, I leave to your Lordship to judge; for my own part I cannot but weep to think of it; neither was there any of the Spectators which seeing one to dye, could endure to behold another: But truly so humbly and patiently they went to their death, as is almost incredible to believe: Patience of the Saints.All the aged Persons went to death more cheerfully, the younger were something more timerous: I tremble and shake to remember how the Executioner held his bloody knife between his teeth, with the bloody muffler in his hand, and his armes all gore blood up to the elbows, going to the fold, and taking every one of them one after another by the hand, and so dispatching them all, no otherwise than as a Butcher doth kill his Calves and Sheep. This was in Calab…ia, Anno Christi, 1560.
Persecution raised by the Pope in Venice.
THe City of Venice was a long while from the cruel Inquisition, whereby the face of a Church was discerned there, from the year 1530. to the year 1542. yea, and multitudes of good Christians flocked thither from other parts, which so provoked the Divel to envy, that he stirred up the Pope to send Inquisitors, which erected an Inquisition in that City, and for divers years the Pope sent them money to distribute amongst their Flies, and such persons as would betray the faithful to them: By this means many of the worthy servants of Jesus Christ were apprehended, imprisoned, and after a while sent to Rome to be there butchered.
Then was a new-found manner of death inflicted upon divers others, never till then heard of, whereby they were drowned in the bottome of the Sea; The manner of it was thus; After any of them had received the sentence of death by the Inquisitors, an iron chain was fastned about their middle, with a very heavy stone tyed thereto, then were they laid upon a plank between two boats, and so rowed to an appointed place in the Sea, where the boats parting asudder, the Martyrs presently sunk into the bottome of the Sea and were drowned. Yet notwithstanding this cruelty, many godly persons ceased not to assemble together in a place appointed for that purpose, where they talked and discoursed of heavenly matters for their spiritual edification, and made collections for the relief of the poor amongst them. And Anno 1566. they called to them a Minister of the Gospel, and constituted a Church, where they enjoyed all the Ordinances with much comfort: but some false brethren creeping in amongst them, after a while betrayed them; then were many apprehended, cast into the Sea and drowned: Others were sent to Rome, where they were cast into prison till they rotted and dyed there.
Amongst others that were condemned to be drowned at Venice, was one Mr. Anthony Ricetto: to whom after his condemnation, his sonne, a youth about twelve years old,Anthony Ricetto. Tentation re…sisted. came, beseeching him with tears to yield, that his life might be saved, and himself not left fatherlesse: To whom he answered, A good Christian is bound to forgoe children, goods, yea, and life it self for the maintenance of Gods honour and glory: For which cause (said he) I am now resolved to lay down my life, the Lord assisting me.
The Lords of Venice offered to restore to him his Patrimony, which was partly morgaged, and partly sold, if he would submit to the Church of Rome; but he resolutely refused that condition. Not long after came a Captain to him, and told him of one Francis Sega, his prison-fellow, that wa… resolved to recant: To whom he answered, What tell you me of Sega?Constancy. I am resolved to performe my vows to the Lord my God: Then was he carried forth bound to the boats, and by the way a Priest presented him with a wooden Crosse, exhorting him to recant, &c. But he on the contrary perswaded him and others to come out of the snares of the Divel, and to cleave to Jesus Christ, and to live, not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; For, said he, otherwise your unbelief will bring you into the lake of fire that never shall be quenched. When he came to the place where he was to suffer, the Captain lastned the chain and stone to him, whereupon, lifting his eyes to heaven, he said, Father forgive them, they know not what they do. Lord Jesus, into thy hands do I commend my spirit; and so in the sea he ended his life.
A few dayes after one Mr. Francis Spinola was apprehended and committed to prison, and when he was brought forth before the Inquisitors,Francis Spinola they shewed him a Treatise about the Lords Supper, demanding whether he was the Author of it, which he acknowledged, avouching that the doctrine that was contained therein was agreeable to the holy Scriptures. Then was he return'd to his prison, where the aforementioned Sega was, who waiting for his coming, as he passed by, saluted him by his name; after which they conferred together about the doctrine of the Gospel;Sega. and Sega having heard that Spinola had stood stoutly in the Confession of the truth, he was much comforted, saying, that God had reserved him for such a time as this to make him Partaker of so great consolation. Shortly after the Jailor told Sega that he was to die one hour within night, at the hearing whereof he entreated Spinola to pray with him, and after prayer he said, that his soul was heavy unto death. Spinola answered, Fear not, for it will not be long before your soul shall partake of those joyes which shall endure for ever. At the appointed time he was fetched out of the dungeon, where he took his leave of Spinola and the other Prisoners: As he went into the boat, a Friar perswaded him to return to the Church of Rome; Sega answered, that he was already in the way to our Lord Jesus Christ, and so passing on, he called upon the name of God: He seemed to be a little amazed at the fastning of the chaine and stone to his body, yet presently recollecting his spirits, he took it patiently, and so commending his soul into the hands of God,Sega's Martyrdome. he quietly slept in the Lord.
Spinola being again called before the Inquisitors, he boldly reproved the Popes Legate, and the other Judges, for that contrary to their consciences they persecuted the truth of God, calling them the off-spring of the Pharisees, &c.
The third time that he was called before them, they asked him if he would not recant his errours? he answered, that the doctrine which he maintained was not erroneous, but the same truth which Christ and his holy Apostles taught, and for which all the Martyrs, both in former and later times, did willingly lay down their lives,Humane infirmity. and endured the pains of death. Yet after all this, Spinola by the crafty perswasions of some seeming friends, began to strike saile and to faint; but, through Gods goodnesse, he soon recovered again, and being called before the Judges,Recovery. he openly confirmed the truth, and so had sentence passed upon him that he should be drowned as an Heretick. To which he answered, I am no Heretick, but the servant of Jesus Christ;Spinola's Martyrdome. at which words the Popes Legate commanded him silence, and told him that he lyed; the night after he was conveyed into the sea, and there drowned, praising and blessing God with invincible constancy.
Anno 1595. There was at Rome a young Englishman,An English man at Rome. who going into a Church, and seeing their grosse idolatry, was so inflamed with zeal that he could not endure the sight of those horrible impieties, and therefore he went out into the Church porch, and as the Procession passed by him, he waited till the Bishop came that did bear the Host, and then stepping forwards, he plucked it out of his hands, threw it to the ground, saying aloud, Ye wretched Idolaters, do ye fall down to a morsel of bread? An heroical actThis so provoked the People that they had almost torn him in pieces, and yet they spared him and sent him to prison.
Complaint being made to Pope Clement the eighth, he was so incensed that he appointed him to be burnt the same day; but some of the Cardinals advised that he should rather be kept in prison, and examined by exquisite torments to find out his abettors and setters on. This accordingly was put in practice, yet could they draw nothing from him but these words,His cruel torments. Such was the will of God. Then was he adjudged to be led from the Capitol, naked to his middle, and to wear on his head the form of a Devil, his breeches to be painted over with flames of fire, and so to be carried all about the City, and then to be burnt alive.
When he heard this sentence, he lift up his eyes to heaven, and implored the help of Almighty God. As he passed through the streets he was mocked and derided of all the People, but he continued his fervent Prayers to God; At last he spake something against the filthy lives of the Cardinals, which so enraged them, that they caused him to be gagged, which cruelty he patiently endured. When he came before the Church where he cast down the idol, the hangman cut off his right hand, and set it on a pole in the Cart to which he was tied; then did two Tormentors with flaming torches scorch and burn his flesh all the way as he went through the City of Rome, all which he bore with admirable patience; By that he came to the place where he was to be executed,Patience. his body was all over scorched, blistred and bloody, having no part free but his head; Then was he taken from the Cart, and seeing the Post to which he should be tied, he went of himself to it, and kneeling down, kissed the chains which should bind him to it; The Friars urged him to worship an idol which they presented to him, but he turning away his face shewed his detestation of it, holding on his Christian course unto the end: and when the flames of fire seized on him,His Martyrdome. he bowed his head, and quietly yielded up his soul to God.
The same year there was an old godly man that had long lain in the Inquisitors dungeons, who was at last brought forth and condemned; after which the Friars brought to him a Crucifix, importuning him to kisse and adore it; He seeing their impudence, said unto them; If you take not this idol out of my sight, ye will constrain me to spit upon it; The Friars hearing this,Idolatry detested. sent him away immediately to the fire, where with great courage and constancy he resigned up his spirit unto God.