The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, John Diazius
The Life of John Diazius, who dyed Anno Christi 1546.
IOhn Diazius was born in Spain, His birth.and brought up at School; afterwards he went to Par… to study the Arts, where he continued thirteen years;His education. but it pleased God that whilst he read over the holy Scriptures, and some of Luthers Books, and other Protestant Divines,His Conversion. he began to see and abominate the Errors of Popery: and therefore to further himself in the knowledge and study of the Truth,He goes to Geneva. he went to Geneva, where he spake with Calvin, From thence to Strasborough.and was very dear unto him: From thence he went to trasborough, where Martia Bu…er observing his Learning, Piety, and diligence in his study, obtained of the Senate that he should be joined with him to go to the Disputation at Ratisbone: So to Ratisbone.and when he came thither, he went to Peter Malvenda, a Spaniard, the Popes Agent in Germany, who when he knew that he came in the company of Buc…r and the other Protestant Divines, he was much astonished, and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris: and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them, presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germanes: whereupon he left no means untryed to draw him back again to the Church of Rome: He is tempted.sometimes making large profers and promises to him, other-sometimes threatning severe punishments, and mixing both with earnest entreaties: He also advised him by no means to stay at Ratisbon till the Emperours coming; for (saith he) that cannot be without great danger to you; rather haste to his Court and beg your pardon.
Also at another conference Malvenda asked him wherefore he was to Ratisbone? His conference with Malvenda.Diazius answered that he was sent thither by the Senate of Strasborough, that he might join his Prayers with the Prayers of the Church, and in the publick conference might endeavor reconcilement as much as he could in those Articles which were to be disputed of. Then (said Malvenda) you are come hither in vain, for nothing will be concluded at this conference: but if you would do good, you should rather go to the Council that the Pope hath begun at Trent. But when by no means he could prevail to divert him from the Truth,Popish treachery. he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers, from Rome; who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant, came speedily into Germany, bringing a notorious cut-throat with him, resolving either to divert or destroy him: when he came to Ratisbone, Diazius was departed to Neoburg about the printing of Bucers Book: which Alphonsus hearing of, followed him thither, carrying with him Letters to Iohn Diazius from Malvenda, wherein he wished him to obey his Brother Alphonsus who would give him good Counsel.
When Alphonsus came to Neoburg, his Brother Iohn wondred to see him there, asking him the cause of his so unlooked for presence: after some other excuses, at length he told him that he had undertook that long and dangerous journey to recall him into the bosome of the Church: Hereupon they had much conference about matters of Religion,He is tempted. and at length Alphonsus told him that he had five hundred Ducats per annum in Church revenues, all which he would make over to him if he would go with him to Rome: But when by no means he could prevail with him,Devillish hypocrisie fetching a deep sigh he said, Brother, I perceive the constancy of your Faith …nd your unmoveablness in adhering to the Doctrine of the Gospel to be so great, that you have almost drawn me unto your opinion: Yea upon further discourse he seemed to be in love with the Doctrine of the Gospel, and thereupon perswaded Iohn to leave Germany which abounded with learned men, and where there was less use of him, and to go with him into Italy, Rome, and Naples, there to spread his Doctrine privately, whereby also he might have the better opportunity of spreading it in Spain: but (said he) we will first go to Trent, where are many excellently learned men, and from thence into Italy: I beseech you therefore Brother go with me, and I will furnish you with all things necessary for your journey.
John Diazius being glad of this, presently wrote to Bucer, and others at Ratisbone for their advice what he should do: They counselled him by no means to stir or go with his brother.He is advised not to go with his brother. Then Alphonsus being frustrate of his hope, intreated him at least to bear him company to Auspurg: But in the interim Bucer coming to Neoburg would not suffer him to stir a foot, neither would leave him till his brother Alphonsus was gone.
Alphonsus hereupon three days after came to take his leave of his brother, where he had much conference with him, exhorting him to charity and constancy in the profession of the true Religion, and at last would needs thrust fourteen Crowns into his brothers hand, willing him therewith to buy new cloths, and so they parted not without tears.
Next morning the wagon being ready to depart wherein Alphonsus and his cut-throte were to pass to Auspurg, the two brothers again took their leaves with tears, and so Alphonsus set forward and came to Auspurg; but privately the next day, he and his cut-throte returned to Neoburg, and by the way they bought an hatchet of a Carpenter, and so stayed all night at a Village near Neoburg, and the next morning very early went thither disguised that they might not be known, and leaving one to hold their horses under an hedge, they entered into the City, so soon as the gates were open, and going strait to the Ministers house where Iohn lodged, the Executioner knocked at the door, and when a youth came, he asked him for Iohn Drazius; the youth answered that he was in bed: Go (said this villain) and tell him that I have brought him Letters from his brother: Iohn hearing this (being in bed with Senarcleus his intimate friend) presently leaped up, cast a cloke a bout him, and so went into a stove which was over against his chamber door, then calling for the messenger; he went in to him, leaving Alphonsus at the stair-foot, and presented the Letters to him; the effect whereof was the assoon as he came to Auspurg, he understood that he was in great danger, and therefore out of his brotherly love to him to advised him to beware of Malvenda & such as he, who being Enemies to Christ went about to shed his blood, &c.
Iohn being busie in reading these Letters,He is basely murthered. the Executioner that stood at his back, plucked forth his hatchet, and stroke it into the temple of this holy man in the right side of his head, even to the helve, which in a moment so deprived him of sense that he made no noise, and least the fall of his body should make a noise this villain caught it in his arms, and laid it own, and so went down the stairs softly to his Master Alphonsus, and both of them immediately repaired to their horses and fled. They of Neoburg hearing of this horrible fact, sent out certain Horsemen to pursue the murtherers: who coming to Auspurg, and hearing that hey were passed the City, being out of hope to overtake them, returned: only one, more zealous then the rest,The murtherers apprehended. would not return but pursued them still, and in the City of Oenopont, caused them to be apprehended, and cast into Prison. And Otto the Palatine being informed of all these passages, sent to the Magistrates, requiring Judgement against them:Escape unpunished. The Magistrates at first seemed very forward: But in conclusion, through the practice of the Papists, and crafty Lawyers suborned by them, judgement was deferred from day to day, till the Emperours Letters came in post haste to stop their further proceedings, pretending to reserve the cause to his own hearing. And thus this terrible murther of Cain and his fellow was slipped over by man: yea this unnatural act was highly commended by the Papists:Gods judgement upon Alphonsus. But the Lord would not suffer such an unnatural villany to go unpunished; for not longer after, he was so dogged, and haunted by the Furies of his own Conscience, that being at Trent, when the Council was held there; he hanged himself about the neck of his own Mule, fix years after the murther was committed, viz. An. Christi. 1551,