The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 18
The life and Death of John Diazius, Who dyed Anno Christi 1546.
IOhn Diazius was borne in Spaine, brought up at Schoole, afterwards he went to Paris to study the Arts, where he continued thirteen yeers; but it pleased God that whilest he read over the holy Scriptures, and some of Luthers bookes, and other Protestant Divines, he began to see and abominate the errours of Popery; and therefore to further himselfe in the knowledge and study of the Truth, he went to Geneva, where he spake with Calvin, and was very dear unto him: From thence he went to Argentine, where Martin Bucer observed his learning, piety and diligence in his studie, obtained of the Senate, that he should be joyned with him to goe to the Disputation at Ratisb…ne; and when he came thither, he went to Peter Malvinda a Spaniard, the Popes Agent in Germanie; who when he knew that he cam… in the company with Bucer, and the other Protestant Divines, he was much a…tonished, 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 Germans: whereupon, he left no meanes untried to draw him backe againe to the Church of Rome; sometimes making large proffers and promises to him, other-sometimes threatning severe punishments, and mixing both with earnest entreaties: but when by no meanes he could prevaile to divert him from the Truth, 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 Germanie, bringing a notorious cut-throat with him, resolving either to divert or destroy him: when he came to Ratisbone, Diazius was departed to Neoberg about the Printing of Bucers Booke; which Alphonsus hearing of, followed him thither; where, after long debating of matters of Religion between the two Brothers, Alphonsus seeing the heart of his Brother Iohn to be so constantly planted …n th… sure rocke of Gods Truth, that neither Preferments could allure him, nor threats terrifie him, both having beene used by the Popes Agent, nor he by perswasion nor love could perswade him to returne to Popery; he feigned himselfe, friendly to take his leave of him, and so depar…d: …ut shortly after he returned againe with this ruffianly murtherer, and by the way they bought an Hatchet of a Carpinter; and Alphonsus sending this man disguised with letters to his Brother, he himselfe following after, as Iohn Diazius was reading the letters, this bloudy murtherer cleft his head with the Hatchet, and taking Horse they both rode away, Anno Christi 1546. and this inhumane Cain was highly commended by the Papists for it. But the Lord would not suffer such an unnaturall villanie to goe unpunished; for not long after, he was so dogg…d and haunted by the Furies of his own Conscience, that being at Trent, when the Council was held there, he hanged hims…lf about the neck of his own Mule.
Diazius in his youthfull dayes had cloath'd
His heart with Popery, and after loath'd
What he had done; for when he was inspir'd
By Heaven, he searcht for truth, and soon untyr…d
Himselfe; and having found the pathes of truth,
He hated what he acted in his youth.
Thus being turn'd from those wayes that lead
To utter ruine, Fame began to spread
Her wings abroad, and hover in the eare
Of the distasted Pope, who could not heare
Goodnesse without impatience, but strove
To win him with reward of promis'd, love:
But finding …'was in vaine, he chang'd his minde
From Love to Murther, and with spéed inclin'd
Himselfe to mischiefe; being voyd of grace,
Put out that light which shin'd so much in's face.