An Alphabetical Martyrology, Part C
C C
CAlocerius seeing the great patience of the Christians in so great Torments and Persecutions, cryed out, Vere magnus Deus Christianorum, that is, truly the God of the Christians is a great God. Which words being heard, he was apprehended, and brought to the place of execution, and made partaker of their martyrdom. Vol. 1. p. 53.
Cecilia the Virgin brought Valerian her espoused Husband, and Tiburtius his Brother, to the Faith of Christ, and with her exhortations made them constant to Martyrdom; after whose sufferings she was apprehended and brought to offer Sacrifice to Idols, but refusing, she was had to the Judge to be condemned; in the mean time the Serjeants and others began to perswade her to favour her self, and not cast her self away; to whom she so reply'd with Reasons and godly Exhortations, that by the grace of God they were converted also, and divers others were with them baptized, to the number of 400 persons; which being done she was condemned, and was inclosed in a hot Bath a day and a night without hurt, and was afterwards ordered to be beheaded in the Bath. Vol. 1.
Cyprian, being also named Statius, he was an African and born in Carthage, an Idolater and a Gentile, altogether given to the study of Magical Arts, who was converted to the Christian Faith, through the grace of God, by the means of Cecilius a Priest, and by the occasion of hearing the History of the Prophet Ionah; and was after his conversion ordained Priest and Bishop of Carthage: Soon after in which Office and Dignity he so shined in Gifts and Vertues, that he had the Covernment of all the East Church, and Church of Spain, and was called the Bishop of the Christian men: And was beheaded in the 259. year of Christ, under the Eighth Persecution. He is said to observe 12 abuses in mans life.
1. A wise man without good works.
2. An old man without Religion.
3. Youth without obedience.
4. Rich men without Alms.
5. A Woman shameless.
6. A Guide without vertue.
7. A Christian contentious.
8. A poor man proud.
9. A King unrighteous.
10. A Bishop negligent.
11. People without discipline.
12. Subjects without love. Vol. 1. p. 89, 90, &c.
Christians to the number of 2000 being assembled in their Temple at Nicomedia, to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, and fire being caused to be set to the Temple by the order of Maximianus, under the Tenth Persecution, with a Cryer, That all that would have life should come out of the Temple, and do sacrifice upon the next Altar of Iupiter. One in the behalf of all the rest answered, They were all Christians, and that they would do Sacrifice only to Christ, his Father, and the Holy Ghost, and that they were all now ready to offer. Whereupon they all and the Temple were burned. Vol. 1. p. 102.
Iohn Clardon, a Currier of London, was burned only for having English Books in his house, which as his Enemies said contained heretical Opinions, which he owned against the Popish Party, 1415. year of Christ. Vol. 1. p. 842.
Iohn Clerke of Meldon in France, a Wool-carder, for saying the Pope was Antichrist in a Bill he set upon the Church doors against the Pope's Pardons, was to be whipt three several times, and each time marked on the forehead with a note of infamy, whose Mother being a Christian woman, and seeing those things done to her Son, courageously emboldened him, crying, Blessed be Christ, and welcome be these marks. He afterwards removing to Metz in Lotharing, the night before the people idolatrously, according to their Custom, was to go out of Town to worship some Images, he brake them down; and the next day the Monks and people coming to worship, found their Images broken, whereof they suspected this Clerke, who being examined confessed the fact, and shewed his reason for it; whereat the people were enraged, and cut off his right arm, and with Pinsers pulled off his nose, arms, and breast, and then burnt him, An. 1514. who patiently endured it, singing, Their Images be of Silver and Gold, the work of mens hands. Vol. 2. p. 107.
Dr. Iohn Castellane, a French Divine, was degraded and burnt only for Religion, in which he continued constant to death, and so patiently underwent it, 1525. that many ignorant people were thereby drawn to the knowledge of the Truth, and many weak were greatly confirmed. Vol. 2. p. 107, 108, 109.
George Carpenter burned in Munchen in Bavaria, Feb. 8. 1527. whose Crimes were, because he held a Priest could not forgive sins, nor call God out of Heaven, that God was not in the Bread in the Sacrament, nor that the Element of Water in Baptism did confer Grace; which four Articles he refused to recant: and being asked if he was let go if he would not go to his Wife and Children: he answered, If I was let go, whither should I go rather than to my Wife and well-beloved Children? And being told if he would recant he should be set at liberty; he said, My Wife and Children are so dearly beloved of me, that they cannot be bought from me for all the Riches of the Duke of Bavaria; but for the love of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them. And being led to the place of Execution, he promised a sign of his Faith, that while he could open his mouth, he would not cease to call upon the Name of Iesus; and being in the fire he cryed aloud, Iesus, Iesus, and so gave up his spirit joyfully. Vol. 2. p. 114.
One Cowbridge burnt at Oxford, he was a person distracted, and knew not what he said, and yet burned for an Heretick, who in the midst of the flames, lifting up his Head to Heaven soberly and discreetly called upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so departed. Vol. 2. p. 437.
Roger Clarke, a Suffolk Man, taken at Ipswich, and judged 1546. with one Kerby, by my Lord Wentworth; who, after Sentence given, talked with another Justice on the Bench a good while, to whom Clarke said, My Lord, speak out, and if you have done any thing contrary to your Conscience, ask of God mercy, and we from our hearts do forgive you; speak not in secret, for ye shall come before a Iudge, and then make answer openly, even before him that shall judge all Men. He was burn'd at Berry, and at Stake, kneeled down, and said, My Soul doth magnifie the Lord, &c. Vol. 2. p. 569.
Dirick Carver, a Beer-Brewer in Bright-Hamsted in Sussex, an ancient and pious Man, though not understanding a Letter of the Book, was apprehended for having, with some others, been at Prayer in his House; and after his apprehension he so improved his time in Learning, though ancient, that before he suffered, through Gods blessing, he could read any English printed Book. At the Stake in Lewis, Iuly 22. 1555. he went into the Barrel, having stript himself, and there spake to the People. Dear Brethren and Sisters, witness to you all that I am to seal with my Blood Christs Gospel, because I know it is true; and because I will not deny Gods Gospel, and be obedient to Mens Laws, I here am condemned to dye. Dear Brethren and Sisters, as many as believe on the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost unto everlasting Life, see ye do the works pertaining to the same; I ask ye all, whom I have offended, forgiveness, for the Lords sake, as I heartily forgive all you who have offended me in thought word and deed. Lord have mercy upon me, for unto thee do I commend my Soul, and my Spirit doth rejoice in thee. And so the Fire being kindled, he said, Oh Lord have mercy upon me, and sprang up in the Fire calling on the Name of Jesus, and so ended. Vol. 3. p. 386.
Richard Colliar of Ashford in Kent, being examined and condemned for the Gospels sake, as soon as he was condemned he sang a Psalm, and was afterwards burnt with five more Kentish Men, at three Stakes in one Fire, in August 1555. Vol. 3. p. 394.
Tho. Cranmer, a Gentleman of a Family ancient as the Conquest, born at Arselacton in Nottinghamshire, brought up at School, and at Cambridge was Fellow of Iesus Colledge, and afterwards one of the Heads of the University, used to examine all Graduates in Divinity, who would not admit any to be Batchellors or Doctors in Divinity, but those who were well read in the Scriptures; whereby he refused many Fryars, some of whom by being thereby brought to consult the Word of God were converted, and afterwards returned him thanks. This Cranmer was afterwards by King Hen. 8. made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, for his Service to him in endeavouring to satisfie his Conscience about the divorce of his Queen, Catherine his first Wife, the Widow of his late deceased Brother: He was of a mild Nature, soon reconciled to his Enemies, and so ready to do them good that it grew Proverbial, Do my Lord of Canterbury a displeasure, and then you may be sure to have him your Friend whilst he lives. Vol. 3. p. 637.
He was by many endeavours tempted to recant, and after much resistance did at last recant, chiefly out of a design to compleat an Answer against a Papish Book which he had begun; but though he subscribed, the Papists were ordered to burn him, March 21. at Oxford, by the Queen, who had ordered Doctor Cole to have a Funeral Sermon in readiness against that day; and accordingly at the day appointed, the Doctor did preach, and Cranmer was had to the Church not knowing the design; but as he was perswaded to publish his Recantation publickly, and after Sermon, when it was expected he should declare his Recantation, he with many tears and earnest desires did entreat the People to pray for him to God for pardon of his sins, amongst which, none troubled him more than his subscribing to Popery with his hand, which he hated in his heart; But, saith he, for as much as my hand hath offended, it shall be first punished; for may I come to the Fire, it shall first be burnt; and so he began to cry against the Papists and Popery, whereby the Papists expectation were frustrated and they grew mad at him, stopping his Mouth, and pulling him down, and led him forthwith to the Town-ditch to be burnt, where in the Fire he put forth his right hand into the flames as soon as they came near him, and held it there till it was burnt, his body being unburnt; often saying, Oh unworthy right hand; and saying often, Lord Iesus receive my spirit, he stood immovable in the flames, and dyed March 21. 1556. Vol. 3. p. 670, 671.
Iohn Carter, a Weaver of Coventry, dyed in the Kings-Bench a Prisoner for the Gospel, who expected and desired to have been burnt. In a Letter to Mr. Philpot he writes thus, My Friends report me to be more worthy to be burnt than any that was burnt yet, God's blessing on their hearts for their good report, God make me worthy of that dignity, and hasten the time, that I might set forth his glory. He wrote divers Letters of encouragement to the persecuted Brethren; and in one Letter to his Wife he begs, and chargeth her to rejoice with him in this his state of sufferings for Christ's sake. Vol. 3. p. 716. &c.
Peter Chevet: See Peter.
Mrs. Gertrude Crockhay, Wife to Mr. Robert Crockhay at St. Katherines by the Tower in London, being for the Gospel persecuted, fled 1556. to Gelderland, beyond Sea, to look after some Estate that should fall to her Children by a former Husband: but there also she was betrayed, and came to trouble at Antwerp; where, at the request of her Friends, she was set at liberty, and she came for England, where she was infested again by the Papists; and being very sick: They told her Daughter, that unless her Mother would receive the Sacrament she should not be buried with Christian burial: who hearing the same, said, Oh how happy am I that I shall not rise with them, but against them: The Earth is the Lords and all the fullness thereof, and therefore I commit the matter to him. Soon after she dyed, and was buried in her Husbands Garden. Vol. 3. p. 1013, 1014.
Christians to the number of 30000 slain in the Massacre at Paris in France, 1572. which was effected by the French King's inviting the chief Captains of them, and all other that would, to the Wedding between the Prince of Navarre, and the Kings Sister; at which being kindly received, some of them after the compleating of that Marriage were slain, and all the Souldiers in Paris charged to be in Arms at a watch-word, so that within three days 10000 of them were slain, besides many other in the days following in Paris, and the Persecution in other places in a Months time compleated the number of 30000 aforesaid; which News being sent to the Pope, he solemnly gave thanks for it as a mercy; and the French King also did the like; and the Messenger of the News had 1000 Crowns for his News: but the poor Protestants were much troubled, of whom some turned, others fled, and all had been destroyed, had not those in Rochel by God's mercy been courageous, and resolved to be stedfast and fight for the Faith; which being known, the French King besiegeth it, and chargeth all his Nobles and Gentry, on pain of great punishment, to besiege it; which was done with great vigour by the whole Force of France, and also of the Duke of Anjou, Duke of Alanson, Navarre, and Condee, which Forces assaulted it seven times and were resisted, so that they lost 122 Captains; and at last the Duke of Anjou being made King of Polony, which News coming to the Camp they rejoiced; whereat the new King treated with them of Rochel, and finding them not unconformable, made peace with them, and prevailed with the French King by Edict to let them have peace, and the liberty of Religion in that and other Cities, 1573. Vol. 3. p. 1028, to 1030.