An Alphabetical Martyrology, Part I – Part K
I I
JAMES, the Son of Zebedee, and Brother of Iohn, brought by a Person to the Tribunal Seat of Herod, and condemned; the Person seeing he should now suffer death, being moved therewith in heart and conscience, did confess himself, of his own accord, a Christian; and as he and Iames were led together, he desired Iames to forgive him what he had done: After that Iames had a little paused with himself upon the matter, turning to him, Peace (saith he) be to thee Brother, and kissed him; and both were Beheaded together, Anno Christi 36. Vol. 1. p. 42.
Iames, the Brother of our Lord, who was Bishop of Ierusalem; called, for his holiness, Iames the just, had Knees like Camels Knees by praying; being by the Iews set upon the Pinacle of the Temple to give testimony concerning (as they expected against) Jesus, he declared Jesus to be the Christ: whereupon the Iews threw him down, and he not being dead, they came to stone him; who turned on his Knees and prayed, saying, O Lord God, Father, I beseech thee forgive them, for they know not what they do: Yet they stoned him, and at last, with a Fullers Instrument, struck him on the Head, and he dyed. Vol. 1. p. 43, 44.
Iohn the Evangelist was banished into Pathmos the 97. Year of Christ; and after the death of Domitian was recalled by Pertinax the Emperour; and being returned to Ephesus, he was desired to resort to the adjacent places to appoint Bishops: where he committed a comely ingenuous young Man to the Bishop of the place, to be by him kept with great diligence; in witness hereof, Christ and his Church: Which young Man the Bishop received, and with diligence brought up, baptized, and at length committed to him a Cure in the Lords behalf. The young Man now having his liberty, through the corruptness of his Companions, became dissolute, a Thief, and a Murderer, yea, the Captain of them: and S. Iohn being sent for again into those Parts, demanded of the Bishop, the charge committed to him; who said, he was dead to God, and become an evil Man, a Thief frequenting this Mountain: Whereat S. Iohn rent his Cloaths, and said, I have left a good Keeper of my Brother's Soul: And got him a Horse and presently fell into the company of the Thieves, and was designedly taken, desiring to be brought to their Captain who was well armed, yet beginning to know S. Iohn, fled; but when recalled by S. Iohn, he threw down his Arms and became truly penitent, and was received into Church again. After this, S. Iohn going to bathe himself, and seeing Cerinthus the Heretick in the Bath, would not go in lest the Bath should fall on them. Vol. 1. p. 47, 48.
Ignatius was given to be devoured of Wild Beasts the 111. year of Christ; when he was going to the Lions, he said, Oh, would to God I were come to the Beasts prepared for me, which I wish with gaping Mouths were ready to come upon me; whom I will provoke, that they may without delay devour me. I esteem nothing visible or invisible, so I may get or obtain Christ; let the Fire, Gallows, devouring of Beasts, breaking of Bones, pulling asunder of Members, bruising, or pressing, my whole Body, and the torments of the Devil, or Hell it self come upon me, so that I may win Christ: And when he heard the Lions roaring, he said, I am the Wheat, or Grain, of Christ; I shall be ground with the Teeth of Wild Beasts, that I may be found pure Bread. Vol. 1. p. 52.
Iustin Martyr was a profound Philosopher, and became a Christian by seeing the constancy of their sufferings; whence he gathered they could not endure carnality or vice, who could thus easily lay down their lives; and being a Christian, he wrote divers Apologies in their behalf, and prevailed not a little for their good; and was at last Martyred, soon after Polycarpus, in the 4th Persecution; he dyed chearfully, and with honour. Vol. 1. p. 58.63, 64.
Iulitta being spoiled of her goods by the Emperours Officer under the 10th Persecution; and complaining to the Emperour, that so she might have her goods again, the Officer pleaded her to be a Christian, and therefore not to have her goods; which being proved, and owned, she was sentenced to lose goods and life: whereupon she said, Farewel life, welcome death; farewel riches, welcome poverty: all that I have, were it a thousand times more than it is, would I lose, rather than speak Blasphemy against God my Creator. I yield thee thanks most hearty, O God, for this great gift of Grace, that I can despise this transitory World, preferring Christianity above all treasures. And whenever she was examined, she said, She was a Servant of Christ, and did detest their Idolatry. And as she past to the Fire, she exhorted the Women thus, O Sisters, stick not to travel after true Piety, cease to accuse feminine frailty; are not we Created of the same Mould with Men, and made after Gods Image as well as they? God used not Flesh only in Creating Woman to declare her weakness; but Bone also, in token that she must be strong in the living God; all false Gods for saking, constant in faith, and patient in adversity: wax weary of your lives my Sisters led in darkness, and love my Christ, my God, my Redeemer: Perswade your selves there is a future state, wherein the worshippers of Idols shall be perpetually tormented, and the Servants of the high God Crowned eternally. With which words she embraced the Fire. Vol. 1. p. 122, 123.
Ierome of Prage, a Bohemian, burnt 1415. being condemned, and to be Crowned with a Paper Mitre painted with red Devils; he willingly received it, saying, He would wear that for Christs sake, who wore a Crown of Thorns for him. And going to execution he sung Psalms, and prayed; and after the Fire was kindled, he said, O Lord God Father Almighty, have mercy upon me, and be merciful unto mine offences; for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved thy truth. And so the Fire consumed him; whose Ashes, as also the Ashes of Iohn Husse, were gathered up and cast into the River Rheine. Vol. 1. p. 837, 838.
Ioris of Aschen in Flanders, hanged on a Gibbit for the Gospel, 1567. being condemned, wrote to his Parents; he said, Comfortable News, namely, that in all my life I never saw one day so pleasing to me as this is, in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions to suffer for his holy Name; for which I give him most humble thanks. — I do take my last farewel of you, till we meet in Heaven; be not grieved, I pray you, but be patient; for the affliction which is befallen me is most acceptable to me; for which I bless and praise God. Additions to Vol. 3. concerning Massacre in Flanders. p. 96, 97.
K K
LEonard Keyser, of Bavaria, was, for maintaining Justification by Faith, degraded and to be burned; who as he went to execution spake and said: O Lord Jesus! remain with me, sustain me and help me, and give me force and power. And when the wood was fit to be set on fire, he cry'd with a loud voice, O Jesus! I am thine, have mercy upon me and save me; and so was burned August 16. 1526. Vol. 2. pag. 114, 115.
Kerby, a Suffolk Man, being apprehended at Ipswich 1546. was to be condemned; and one Mr. Wingfield much perswading him to accept of mercy and not burn, he said; Ah M. Wingfield, be at my burning, and you will say, There stands a Christian Souldier in the fire; for I know that fire, water, sword, and all things are in the hand of God, who will suffer no more to be laid upon me than he will give me strength to bear. Being condemned, he said, Praised be Almighty God; and at the fire he shew'd himself a Christian, and died calling upon God, and holding up his Hands. Vol. 2. pag. 569.