An Alphabetical Martyrology, Part M 1 – Part N
M M
MArtyrs to the Number of 300 at Carthage under the 8th Persecution, being offered near Lime-kills, either to offer Incense to Iupiter, or to go into the Furnace of Lime, did all together rush into the Kill, and were there, with the dusty smoak of the Lime, smothered. Vol. 1. p. 94.
A Mother exhorted her Child of seven years of age, suffering under the 7th Persecution, to suffer joyfully; and while it was tormenting and slaying, she sang to God thus,
All laud and praise with heart and voice,
O Lord we yield to thee;
To whom the death of all thy Saints
we know most dear to be.
Vol. 1. p. 116.
Mary. See Ursula.
Michael Michfote, a Taylor in France, burned 1547. being apprehended for the Gospel's sake, and put to his choice whether he would turn and be beheaded, or not turn and be burnt; he said, God who had given him grace not to deny the truth, would also give him patience to abide the fire; and so he was burned. Vol. 2. p. 134.
Lodovicus Marsac, being with two others, at Lyons in France, apprehended and condemned 1553. they all sang Psalms; and the other two having a Rope put about their Necks, and he having not one, did desire that he might have one of those precious Chains about his Neck, in honour of his Lord; which request was granted, and they all three were cast into the fire. Vol. 2. p. 141.
88 Martyrs murthered at Calabria in Italy, 1560. whom the Executioner, bringing out one by one with a Muster, on a Stage before the People, took a Knife and slew, by cutting the Throat, of one, and leaving him half dead, bleeding, went for another; and so served every one till the 88 were murthered; which sight amazed the people, and shamed even some of the Romanists. Vol. 2. p. 184.188.
Walter Mille, a Scotch Man, 1558. was condemned to be burnt; whom the Popish Party could neither affright with threats, nor allure with proposals; but he said to them, I am accused of my life, I know I must dye once, and therefore ye shall know I will not recant the truth: I am Corn, not Chaff; I will not be blown away with the Wind, nor burst with the Flail, but will abide both: and at the Stake, the Bishops being constrained by the People to give him liberty to speak, he made his humble supplication to God on his Knees; and then said to the people, Dear friends, I suffer this day not for any Crime laid to my charge (albeit I be a miserable Sinner before God) but only for the defence of the faith of Christ Iesus; for which I praise God that he hath this day called me, of his mercy, amongst the rest of his Servants, the Martyrs, to seal up his truth with my life; which as I received on him, so I willingly offer it to his glory; and so he dyed: and was the last Martyr that dyed in Scotland for Religion. Vol. 2. p. 626.
George Marsh, of Deane in Lancashire, married, and was a Farmer; but after his Wife's death he went to Cambridge to study, and was a Minister of Gods Word, and zealous against Popery, for which he was imprisoned: His Mother, and divers other Friends, advised him to fly: To whose Counsel, saith he, My Flesh would gladly have consented, but my Spirit did not fully agree. Whereupon he prayed earnestly to God for direction, and unexpectedly in the Morning he had a Letter from a Friend, whose Bearer said to him, before he looked on the Letter, That his Friends advice was, not to flee, but to abide boldly and confess the Name of Christ; which he did. He was many wayes, and much sollicited to turn upon the account of his Children: whom, he said, he would gladly keep, could it be with a pure Conscience; and he would have accepted of Queen Mary's mercy, should he not thereby, by denying Christ, win everlasting misery. He was burned April 24. 1555. with a Firkin of Pitch over his head; which melting and dropping on him, added much to his torments; yet after much misery when they thought him to be dead, he spread his hands, saying, Father of Heaven have mercy upon me, and so he dyed. Vol. 3. p. 228.
Menas, an Egyptian, under the 10th Persecution, lived a retired life a great while; at length returning to the City Cotis, in the open Theatre, at a time of Pastimes, he loudly proclaimed himself a Christian; and being brought to Pyrrhus the President, and demanded of his Faith, he said, It is convenient I should confess God, citing Rom. 10.10. And being most painfully pinched and tormented, he said in the midst of his torments, There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the price of one Soul; and said, I have learned of my Lord and King, not to fear them who kill the Body, and have no power to kill the Soul. And being sentenced to be beheaded, he said, I give thee thanks my Lord God, which hast so accepted me to be found a partaker of thy precious death; and hast not given me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies, but hast made me to remain constant in thy pure Faith to my life's end. Vol. 1. p. 117, 118.
N N
SAintinus Nivet, being a Cripple, burnt at Paris 1546. when apprehended and asked if he would stand to what he said, he asked his Judges if they dare be so bold to deny what was so plain in express words of Scripture, and did so little regard his own life, that he desired his Judges for Gods sake, that they would rather take care of their own Souls and lives, and consider how much innocent blood they spilled daily, in fighting against Christ and his Gospel. He suffered at Paris. Vol. 1. p. 133.
Noblemen 100, and others, of Alsatia, were burned and martyred the 1212. year of Christ, under Pope Henricus 3. for holding every day was free for eating Flesh, so it be done soberly; and that they did wickedly who restrained Priests from their lawful Wives. Vol. 1. pag. 336.
Iohn Noyes, a Shoe-maker of Laxfield in Suffolk, burned 1557. in September, when he came to the place of Execution he kneeled down and sang the 50th Psalm; and being bound at the Stake, he said, Fear not them that kill the Body, but fear him that can kill both Body and Soul, and cast it into everlasting fire: And seeing his Sister weeping, he desired her not to weep for him, but for her sins. Having a Faggot thrown at him, he kissed it, and said, Blessed be the time that ever I was born to come to this. And in the fire he said, Lord have mercy upon me, Christ have mercy upon me, Son of David have mercy upon me. He wrote a Letter to his Wife containing nothing but consolation from Texts of Scripture, and bidding her farewell, he desired his Wife and Children to leave worldly care, and see that they were diligent to pray. Vol. 3. p. 850, 851, 852.
Nichaise of Tombe, born in Tournay, martyred for the Gospel, being condemned, he said, Praised be God. At the Stake he said, Lord they have hated me without a cause; and prayed thus, Eternal Father! have pity and compassion on me, according as thou hast promised to all that ask the same of thee in thy Sons Name. And so he continued praying until his last gasp. Additions to Vol. 3. of the Massacre in France and Flanders. p. 33.