Popery Anatomized, Section 5
SECTION V.
Containing ſome instances in particular of the barbarous, and inhumane cruelty of Papiſts to Proteſtants, where they had the power over them.
I Have hitherto ſhown that both the principles and practiſes of Papiſts, tend to treaſons, rebellions, war, and blood-ſhed: I ſhal in this Section, to detect their cruelty, give ſome inſtances in particular of their barbarous & inhumane cruelty to Proteſtants, where ever they get power & authority, or the upper-hand over them. This is ſo well known, that none that knows any thing of Hiſtory are ignorant of it. Ought ever the ſad and deplorable caſe of England in Queen Maries time to be forgotten, when either the ſoul behoved to be ruined by Idolatry, or elſe the body to be burnt in a fire? This was an unanſwerable Dilemma, either ſoul or body muſt periſh. How many hūdreds of Martyrs were burnt in one year all the Countrey over.
Their inhumane cruelties executed on Proteſtants, are ſo many and terrible, that they would make up many Volumes, and make the hair to ſtand, and the ears to tingle. What greater torments are imaginable then is uſed in the Inquiſition of Spain and Italy, as it is deſcribed by M. Clerk in his Martyrologie? But that the Reader may know ex ungue leonem, their cruel and inhumane carriage to Proteſtants, I ſhal ſet down a few inſtances.
I ſhal begin with the Waldenſes in Provence, againſt whom Meinerus Preſident of Oppede anno. 1545. raiſed war, & coming to Cabriers, in which there were only 60. poor ſick peſants, who offered to open the gates and quite the Countrey, leaving all their goods behind them; but he entering the town cauſed all the men to be brought in a field and to be cut in pieces: The ſouldiers ſtriving who ſhould ſhow the beſt manhood in cutting of heads, arms and leggs. The women he cauſed to be locked in a barn with much ſtraw, and ſo put fire to it, where many women great with child were burnt. One ſouldier moved with pitie, opening a hole in the wall that ſome of them might come out, Oppede made them to be beaten back to the fire with picks and halberts: ſome of them that came forth, he ſlew with his own hands, ripping open their bellies, ſo that their children came forth, whom he trod with his feet. It is too tedious to tell the helliſh and unparalleled cruelties that he uſed upon that people. See Sleydans Commentaries, and M. Clerks Martyrology, pag. 133. Another inſtance of their inhumane cruelty was in Italy anno 1560. in Calabria: where 88. Proteſtants being ſhut up in a priſon, the executioner cometh in, taketh out one and blind-foldeth him, and ſo leads him forth to a large place adjoyning, where commanding him to kneel down, he cuts his throat, and leaving him half dead, he takes his butchers knife all bloody, and goeth back to the reſt; ſo leading one after another, he diſpatched them all. This was ſuch a ſad ſpectacle, that he that writes of it, could not repeat it without tears. See Clerks Matyr. pag. 238.
The next inſtance of their inhumane and bloody c…uelty ſhal be the Maſſacre of Paris, anno 1572. where when the Papiſts could not get the Proteſtants ſubdued by warr, they conclud a peace: And for ſecurity of it, the King gives his own ſiſter to the King of Navarre, and all the Proteſtants are invited to the marriage: But in the mean time, the Queen of Navarre is poyſoned and dies, and upon Bartholomews day, anno 1672. the gates were ſhut (under pretence of ſearching for one that ſhot the Admiral, but really to keep all the Proteſtants within the Citie) and they came in firſt and killed the Admiral, and threw his dead body into the ſtreets, and ſent his head as a preſent to the Pope: And then to work they went, and ſlew that night, and the two dayes following to the number of ten thouſand in Paris. In this maſſacre their cruelty was ſo great, that they ſpared not young children in the cradle, nor infants in their mothers wombs, ſo that the ſtreets were covered with mangled bodies, gates and doors filled with blood, ſhoutings and howlings of the murderers, mixed with the cryes and groans of the dying; the breaking open of doors and windows, with the noiſe of guns and piſtols, all which made an helliſh noiſe: multitudes of dead bodies were thrown into the river, which was dyed red with their blood: preſently after the King ſending letters to Meaux, Troys, Orleans, Angiers, Roan, Tholouſe, Bourdeaux, and other places, where they murdered all the Proteſtants moſt barbarouſly and inhumanely, and caſt out their dead bodies naked without the honor of burial, or threw them in the water, ſo that the rivers were dyed with their blood. The number that were maſſacred in France in a few weeks, amounted to thirty thouſand and above. Whoſoever deſires to hear a more full Relation of the miſchievous and horrid cruelty uſed in this Maſſacre, let them read Fox his Acts and Monuments, Vol. III. and Clerks Martyrology, p. 310. &c.
The next inſtance I ſhal give, ſhal be of their perſecution in the Valtoline, anno 1620. where ſetting upon the people as they were at Sermon, not dreading any ſuch thing, they murdered them all, not regarding ſex nor age: After which, they marched to Sanders, where the Papiſts in that place hearing of their coming, went to the Juſtice, proteſting that they ſhould guard him from danger, and that they would not permit ſuch villanies to be committed among them then did they arm themſelves, under pretence of defending and ſecuring the Proteſtants; who truſting to their promiſes; mixed themſelves among them to ſtand to their own defence. But they treacherouſly betrayed them, and joyned with the other Papiſts in murdering them all whereever they met with them. Their cruelty was monſtrous for they put a gag in the mouth of ſome, and then filled their mouth with powder, and put fire to it, which tore their head miſerably. Some had their mouthes ſlit up to their ears others had the fleſh cut from their faces, others were ſlaſhed in other parts of their body till they died, and others were often put to the ſtrapado, and then hewen in pieces.
The next inſtance is more recent and freſh in memory, in the late warrs in Germany, ſince anno 1630. where the Sweds poſſeſſed of a town, called Paſewalk, the Imperialiſts took it by ſtorm, beat, killed and drave out the Sweds; and not content therewith, they fell to torturing of the Towns men, raviſhing women and girles in the open ſtreets, and Church-yard▪ yea women in child bed; where they killed the men, fired their houſes, and burnt many in them. Thurſt ſtraw into cellars where children were hidden, and ſo burnt and ſmothered them. Then they burnt the Churches, and maſſacred the Miniſters, and at laſt burnt down the whole Town.
The like cruelty was uſed againſt the city of Magdeburg, famous for Religion, which being taken by Tilly anno 1631. was in twelve hours ſpace wholly turned into aſhes, except 139 houſes: No mercy was ſhown to any age, ſex, or condition; about twenty thouſand perſons were ſlain▪ burnt and ſmothered to death; ſix thouſand were drowned in the river: Ladies and Gentle-women like beaſts were yoked together, and led about the Countrey, and driven into woods to be raviſhed; and ſuch as reſiſted, were ſtript ſtark naked, whipt, had their ears cropt, and ſo were turned off.
The Popiſh army having taken the town of Hoxter anno 1634. they ſpared neither man, woman nor child, moſt inhumanely butchering, and hewing in pieces all, without reſpect of age, ſex or condition; and what the ſword could not ſpoil, they cauſed the fire to conſume, and the dead corps they caſt into the river Weſer.
Their rage was ſo great againſt the profeſſors of the Goſpel, that neither Turks nor Heathens did ever exceed them. In Saxony, Tillies ſouldiers tortured the Proteſtants, by half ſtrangling them, and preſſing their thumbs with wheels. In Pomeran they forced the people to eat their own excrements; and if they refuſed, they thruſt them down their throat, whereby ſome of them were choked. They tyed about the heads of ſome, ſtrong matches or cords, and with ſhort truncheons twiſted them while blood came out of their eyes, ears, and noſes, yea ſometimes till their eyes ſtarted out of their heads: to others they tyed burning matches between their fingers, yea, to their eyes, ears, noſes, tongues, cheeks, breaſts, leggs, and ſecret parts; yea, ſuch parts as nature hideth, they either ſtuffed with gun-powder, or hung bags of powder to them, and ſo giving fire to it, in an horrible manner they burſt their bellies, and killed them: with bodkins they made holes, or with knives they cut the skin and fleſh of many. They drew ſtrings and cords through the fleſhie parts of ſome, and through the muſcles of their thighs▪ leggs▪ arms, &c. or through their noſes▪ ears, lips, &c. Some they hung up in the ſmoke, drying them with ſmal fires, and ſometimes refreſhing them with ſmal drink or water, taking care leſt in their torments they ſhould die too ſoon. Some they put into hot ovens, roaſting or ſmothering of them there. Some they roaſted with fires of ſtraw: ſome they ſtiffled, ſtrangled or hanged, and this was a great favor, ſo ſoon to rid them out of pain. Of many they bound their hands and feet, that the blood ſpitted out of their fingers and toes ends. Of ſome they tyed their hands and feet backwards together, ſtopping their mouthes with clouts, to hinder them from praying. Some they hung up with ropes faſtened to their privy parts; and hearing their cryes, ſtrove by their roarings to drown their cryes, as in ſport. Many they drew up on high, hanging great weights at their feet, to pull their bodies out of joint. Of ſome they plained their faces with chiſſels. Some men they openly gelded in preſence of their wives & children. The mouthes of ſome they ſet wide open with gags, and then powred down their throats ſtinking water, urine, and other liquid things, till they grew ſick, and their bellies ſwelled like tuns, whereby they died leaſurely with greater torment. Down the throats of ſome they violently thruſt knotted clouts, & then with a ſtring pulled them up again, whereby they diſplaced their bowels, & put them to miſerable torment, in ſo much as ſome were made dumb, others deaf, others blind, and others lame. If the husband intreated for his wife, or the wife for the husband, they would take the interceſſor, and torture him in the ſame manner before the others eyes; and when any of theſe poor creatures in their torments or agonies of death, called and cryed unto God for mercy, they would command and ſeek to force them to pray and cry unto the Devil. Yea their deviliſhneſs proceeded ſo far, that they ſtudied to find out new and unheard-of torments. Some they bound, hung up and ſawed off their leggs; of others they rubbed off the fleſh of their leggs to the very bones: of others they tyed the arms backward, and ſo …anged them up by theſe diſtorted parts, many they drew through the ſtreets of the citie ſtark naked, then brake and wounded them with axes and hammers; & generally uſed them with ſuch barbarous cruelty that many begged to be ſhot or ſlain inſtantly, rather then to live and be partakers of ſuch miſeries. Rapts and raviſhings they committed beyond all humane modeſty: maids and matrons, wives and widows they forced and violated without diſtinction; yea, in the preſence of their parents, husbands and neighbors; yea, women great with child, and others in childbed, their beaſtlineſs was ſuch, that no pen can write it, no faith can believe it.
In Heſſen land they took diverſe poor women, ſome mad, ſome dumb, ſome lame, and tying up their coats about their ears, ſo uſed them as a modeſt pen cannot expreſs. In Pomeran they took the faireſt maids, and raviſhed them before their parents faces, making them ſing Pſalms the while: One beautiful maid being hid by her parents in a dung-hill, they found her out, had their pleaſure of her, then cut her in pieces, and hung up her quarters in the Church; yea very girls of ten years old and under, they raviſhed, till ſome of them died. Vertuous and chaſte women they would threaten to kill, or throw their children into the fire, if they would not yeeld to their luſts. Divers maids and women to avoid their luſts have leapt into rivers and wells, and ſome have otherwiſe killed themſelves: and that which was never before heard-of, they did not only violate ſickly and weak maids and women till they died, but committed the like filthineſs with the dead corps. Who deſires to ſee more of this, let him peruſe Clerks Martyrology, pag. 275 & ſeqq.
The laſt inſtance of the unſpeakable ruine and miſery of Proteſtants under the mercileſs rage of Papiſts, where they are maſters, is a home-bred one in our own days, and freſh in memory, and of our own brethren, to wit, the Engliſh and Scottiſh Proteſtants in Ireland, in that late perſecution raiſed by the Iriſh Papiſts againſt them, anno 1642. cōmonly called, The Iriſh rebellion. To make a full Relation of their horrid and barbarous cruelty, it would fill a whole Volume it ſelf, there being ſeveral Volumes written on that ſubject. I ſhal only name ſome few particulars. And firſt, when their plot was ripe, the Prieſts gave the Sacrament unto divers of the Iriſh, upon condition that they ſhould neither ſpare man, woman, nor child of the Proteſtants, ſaying▪ that it was very meritorious to waſh their hands in their blood. One Halligan a Prieſt, read an excommunication againſt all theſe that from thenceforth ſhould relieve or harbor any Engliſh, Scots, or Welſch Proteſtants, or give them alms at their doors, whereby many were famiſhed to death. The Friers with tears exhorted them not to ſpare any of the Engliſh. They openly profeſſed that they held it as lawful to kill a Proteſtant, as to kill a ſheep or a dog. One of their Prieſts ſaid, that it was no more pity or conſcience to take the lives or eſtats from them, then to take a bone out of a dogs mouth.
The day before this Maſſacre was to begin, the Prieſts gave the people a free diſmiſs at Maſs, with free liberty to go out and take poſſeſſion of all their lands: as alſo to ſtrip, rob and ſpoyl them of all their goods and cattel, the Proteſtants being as they told them, worſe then dogs; for they were Devils, and ſerved the Devil, and therefore the killing of ſuch was a meritorious act, and a rare preſervative againſt the pains of Purgatory; for that the bodies of ſuch of them as died in the quarrel, ſhould not be cold before their ſouls ſhould aſcend up into heaven, they ſhould not fear the pains of Purgatory. And that cauſed ſome of them to boaſt, after they had murdered many, that they knew that if they ſhould die preſently, they ſhould go ſtraight to heaven.
When this perſecution firſt began, many of the Iriſh Gentle-men perſwaded many of their Proteſtant neighbors to bring their goods and cattel to them, and they would ſecure them; and gave deep oaths and proteſtations to many, that if they would deliver their goods, they would ſuffer them, with their wives and children, to depart the Countrey: yet having got their goods, they murdered ſome of them; others they ſtript ſtark naked, man, woman and child, and ſo turned them out of doors; not ſuffering them ſo much as to ſhelter themſelves in buſhes, or in the woods. And they prohibited any of the Iriſh, under great penalties, to give them any relief: And their deſign was, that theſe whom they would not cruelly murder in cold blood, might miſerably periſh through cold, nakedneſs, and want: And therefore when any got any rags to cover their nakedneſs, they ſtript them again and again, and drave them to the wild woods, in froſt and ſnow, ſo that many of them ſtarved, and fell down dead on the high wayes. Others that got to any Engliſh town, died ſo ſoon as they came there, by reaſon of the cold and famine ſuffered in the way. But theſe were but the beginnings of ſorrows; for they fell on and murdered in cold blood, ſome at plough, others in their houſes, others travelling in the way without provocation.
In the Caſtle of Liſgool there were about 152. perſons conſumed with fire. At the Caſtle of Monea were an hundred ſlain together. All that was in the Caſtle of Tullah, were all cruelly murdered, after the Caſtle was yeelded upon compoſition, and faithful promiſes of fair quarter.
At Liſſenkea they hanged and killed above an hundred of the Scots Proteſtants: Some they cauſed upon hopes of life, to hear Maſs, and to ſwear never to alter from it, and preſently thereafter hanged or killed them.
At Portendoun-bridge they drave a thouſand perſons into the river, and drowned them all; yea in that County they drowned four thouſand perſons, driving them to the river: and if any were ſlack in their pace, they pricked them forward with their ſwords and picks: and to terrifie the reſt, they killed ſome, and wounded others: and if any eſſayed to ſwim to the ſhore, they ſtood and ſhot at them. Some they gave paſſes, and ſent of the Iriſh with them, under the pretence of ſafe-conducting them, while they came to ſome place fit for execution, where they either murdered or drowned them.
At Armach, Onel got together all the Proteſtants thereabout, pretending to conduct them to Colrain; but before they were gone a days journey they were all murdered, and ſo were many others, though they had Oneals protection. In Armach town there were 500. perſons murdered and drowned. In Kilmore all the inhabitants were ſtript and maſſacred, being 200. families. The whole County was a common butchery, where many thouſands periſhed in a ſhort time, by ſword, famine, fire, water, and all other cruel manner of deaths that rage and malice could invent: yea, their cruelty was ſo great, that they would not grant them ſo much liberty as to pray before they murdered them. Some when they were kneeling and praying, they would cut off their head. When ſome on their knees begged but leave to pray before they were ſlain, they would bid them bequeath their ſouls to the Devil. Others would ask them, Why do you deſire to pray, your ſouls are already with the Devil? and ſo would immediatly ſlaughter them. Some they put in filthy dungeons, full of dirt and myre, and there clapping bolts on their legs, ſuffered them to periſh at leaſure. Some they barbarouſly mangled, and left them languiſhing upon the high ways, crying out but for ſo much mercy as to be diſpatched out of their pain. Some they buried alive. Some when they were half hanged, they caſt into pits, covering them with a little earth, where they ſent out moſt lamentable groans for a good while after. Some they hacked, ſlaſhed, and wounded and then put and kept them under with ſtones, where they lay languiſhing and groaning, while their own wives ſtopped their breath with handkerchiefs to put them out of pain. Some they buried alive, yet ſo as their pityful cryes were heard afar off. Some were deadly wounded, and ſo were hung by the chocks upon tenter hooks. Some with ropes about their necks, were drawn through the water. Some with ropes about their middles, were drawn through woods and bogs. Some were hung up by the arms, and then with their ſwords they made experiment how many blows an Engliſh Proteſtant would endure ere he died. Some had their bellies ript up, and ſo were left with their guts running about their heels.
Many women great with child they hung up, then ript their bellies and let the infants fall out, and gave them to be devoured of dogs and ſwine. Many children they took by the heels, and daſhed their brains out againſt a tree. Many they pucked and ſtabbed with their skeens, forks and ſwords, ſlaſhing, cutting and mangling them, in their heads, faces, breaſts, arms, and other parts yet killed them not, but left them wallowing in their blood▪ to languiſh, ſtarve, and pine to death; and when they deſired them to kill them out of their pain, they refuſed; yet ſometimes after a day or two, they would daſh out their brains with ſtones or clubs, which they accounted as a great favor. In the cold weather many thouſands of Proteſtants of all ranks, ages and ſexes, being turned out ſtark naked, periſhed of cold and hunger Thouſands of others were drowned, caſt into ditches, bogs, and turff-pits. Multitudes were incloſed in houſes, which being ſet on fire, they were burnt miſerably. Some that lay ſick of fevers, they drew out of their beds, and hanged them. Some men, women and children, they drove into boggy pits: and if any of them endeavored to get out, they knockt them on their heads. Some aged men and women, they forced them to carry their own children to the river, where they were drowned; yea ſome children were compelled unnaturally to be the executioners of their own parents. Wives were forced to help to hang their own husbands, and mothers to caſt their own children into the water, after all which themſelves were murdered In Slego they forced a young man to kill his own father, and then hanged him up. In another place, they forced a woman to kill her husband, then cauſed her ſon to kill her, and then immediatly hanged the ſon: and this they did that they might deſtroy both ſoul and body: yea, the women were as bloody as the men, killing women and children; yea, they boyled a child of twelve years of age in a caldron: and in ſome places, the women ſtoned the Engliſh women to death. In ſome places they plucked out the eyes, and cut off the hands of the Proteſtants, and ſo turned them out into the fields to wander till they periſhed.
Neither did their cruelty end with the lives of the Proteſtants, but extended after death, to the denying burial to their carkaſſes, caſting ſome into ditches, leaving others to be devoured of ravenous beaſts and fowls; yea ſome that had been formerly buried, they digged up, and left them as dung upon the face of the earth; and they vowed if any parents, or wives digged graves to bury their husbands or children in, they ſhould be buried therein themſelves. Yea, they abuſed and triumphed over the dead; for at Kilkenny, when they had committed many cruel murders, they brought ſeven Proteſtant heads, among which was the head of a Miniſter, all which they ſet on the Market Croſs, on a Market day, triumphing… ſlaſhing, and mangling of them, and putting a gag into the Miniſters mouth, they ſlit up his cheeks to his ears, and laying a leaf of the Bible before it, they bid him preach, for his mouth was wide enough. When they put many Proteſtants in houſes, and ſet fire in them, and burnt them, they exulted over them, imitating in ſcorn their cryes, and ſaying, O how ſweetly do they fry. Yea, they made their, boaſt how many Proteſtants they killed; yea, they burnt and blaſphemouſly abuſed the Bible. At Slego they put all the Proteſtants in the Goal, and about midnight they were all ſtript ſtark naked, and there moſt cruelly and barbarouſly murdered, with ſwords▪ axes, skeens: ſome of them being women great with child, their infants thruſt out their arms and legs at their wounds; after which execrable murders, they laid the dead naked bodies of the men upon the dead naked bodies of the women, in a moſt immodeſt poſture, where they left them while the next day, to be looked on as a delectable ſpectacle to the Iriſh.
About Dunganon were 316. Proteſtants in the like barbarous manner murdered: about Charlmont above 510. about Tiron 250. One M. Crew, murdered 31. in one morning: Two young villains murdered 140. poor women and children: An Iriſh women with her own hands murdered 45. At Portendown-bridge were drowned above 300. At Lawgh were drowned above 200. In another place 300. were drowned in one day. In the Pariſh of Killamen there were murdered 1200. Proteſtants. In the County of Antrum they murdered 954. Proteſtants in one morning, and afterwards about 1200 more in that County. Sir Philem Oneal boaſted that he had ſlain above 600 at Garvagh, and that he had left neither man, woman, nor child alive in the Barrony of Munterlong. In other places he murdered above 2000. perſons in their houſes, above 12000, were ſlain in the high wayes, as they fled towards Down.
Not only the men, but alſo the boyes murdered Proteſtants, for there were 15. Proteſtants all murdered in one night by a Popiſh boy of 14. years, who ſlew them with his skeen, they being impriſoned, and their feet in the ſtocks.
Another of twelve years killed two women. An Engliſh Papiſt woman killed ſeven men and women of her neighbors in one morning; and it was uſual for the Papiſts children to murder the Proteſtants children; and ſometimes with their wooden ſwords, ſharp and heavy, they would venture upon people of riper years. An Engliſh woman who was newly delivered of two children, ſome of theſe vilains violently compelled her in great pains and ſickneſs, to riſe from her bed, and took one of the infants that was living, and daſhed his brains againſt the ſtones, and then threw him into the river. The like they did with many other infants. Many others they hanged without all pity; yea many young children they cut into quarters and goblets. Eighteen Scots infants they hanged upon a clothiers tenter-hooks. One fat man they murdered, and made candles of his greaſs. Another Scottiſh man they ript up his belly, and an end of his ſmal guts tyed it to a tree, and forced him round about it, till he had drawn them all out of his body, ſaying they would try whither a Scots-man or a dogs guts were the longer. They took one M. Watſon, and cutting two colops out of his buttocks, they roaſted him alive. They ript up a Scottiſh woman great with child cut the child out of her womb, and ſo left it crawling on her body. They uſed alſo to ſend their children abroad in troups, armed with long watles and whips, wherewith they uſe to beat dead mens bodies about the privy members, till they beat them off. They brake the back-bone of a young youth, and ſo left him in the fields; and ſome days after, he was found, having like a beaſt, eaten all the graſs round about him; yet neither then would they kill him outright, but removed him to a place of better paſture.
Theſe and many mo cruelties were uſed among the poor Proteſtants: who deſires to ſee their monſtrous, and more then barbarous cruelties at more length, let him peruſe a book written on purpoſe, called Irelands tears, and M. Clerks Martyrology, from pag. 347. to pag. 369. which books never Papiſt could convince of falſhood.
Now leſt any ſhould think this was a natural quarrel that the Iriſh had againſt the Engliſh. Anſ. Certainly that could not be, becauſe they were no more merciful to the Scottiſh, whom all acknowledge to be of their own Nation. 2. The Engliſh Papiſts were no whit inferior, but rather exceeded the natural Iriſh, in their cruelty againſt the Proteſtants that lived among them within the Pale, being never ſatisfied with their blood till they had ſeen the laſt drop thereof.
Now was ever ſuch inhumane cruelty heard or read of among Turks or Heathens, as they exerciſed againſt the poor Proteſtants, who never provoked them thereto, yea, that had always lived peaceably with them, adminiſtring help and pitie to them in diſtreſs, cheriſhing them as friends, and loving neighbors? yet they ſhewed them no favor nor pity: Alace! who can conceive the fears, terrors, anguiſh, bitterneſs and perplexity that ſeazed upon the hearts of the poor Proteſtants, finding themſelves ſo ſuddenly ſurprized without remedy, and inextricably wrapt up in all kind of outward miſeries, which could poſſibly by man be inflicted upon humane creatures? What ſighs and groans, trembling and aſtoniſhment? What ſchricks, cryes, and bitter lamentations of wives, children, ſervants and friends, howling and weeping, finding themſelves without all hope of deliverance from their preſent miſeries? How inexorable were their torments without all bowels of compaſſion? The moſt barbarous Nation never uſed more cruelty, then they did upon the poor Proteſtants all the land over. I believe the Iriſh in this maſſacre deſtroyed by ſeveral ſorts of torments ſeveral hundred thouſands: for there were given up upon oath 150000. put to ſeveral ſorts of death in the Province of Ulſter. What the number of the ſlain was in the three other Provinces, is not on record, but certainly it was very great. As among other things, the Remonſtrance of the diſtreſſed Protestants in Munſter, ſet down in M. Clarks Martyrology evidenceth.
By all that is ſaid, I hope it is ſufficiently proved, that the principles and practiſes of Papiſts are bloody, treaſonable, cruel and inhumane; yet they are not only ſo impudent as to deny this, calling it a loud ſlander, but alſo to charge Proteſtants of integrity (as they call us) with treaſonable and rebellious principles. Whereas we in all our Confeſſions acknowledge that Magiſtracy is an ordinance of God, and that every ſoul is to be ſubject to the higher powers, and that fidelity and obedience is due to them, in, and for the Lord. The publick Confeſſions of our Churches, plead for this. See the Augustan, French, Belgick, Helvetick▪ Bohemian, Saxonick, Suevick, Scottiſh, Engliſh, and the Aſſemblies Confeſſions.
Did ever any of our Divines teach any ſuch doctrine? or to commit any ſuch practiſes as Papiſts teach? Do we not all hold that an oath is ſtrictiſſimi juris, of moſt ſtrict obligation, and can be diſpenſed by none under heaven, and ought to be kept even to hereticks, infidels, or any other whatſoever? We acknowledge that Church-men, as well as others, are ſubject to the Magiſtrat, according to the Word of God, Rom. 13.1. None of us did ever teach, that the Pope, or any Church-man may dethrone Kings, and alien at their Crowns to others; neither do we teach that Church men are looſed from the poſitive laws of Emperors and Kings; much leſs do we hold, that the Pope may looſe all ſubjects from their oath of loyalty, and command that a Jeſuit ſtob, or poyſon a King, when he turneth enemy to the Roman faith. Satan himſelf cannot charge us with theſe; therefore we intreat that none would hearken to the Author of Philanax Anglicus, or the like, who endeavor to traduce and calumniat us, as if the Proteſtants of integrity did teach and practiſe rebellion, &c. Look to our Confeſſions and the approved writings of our Doctors, and to the practiſes of Proteſtants in the Kingdoms and Common-wealths where they live, and they will be forced to confeſs we own no ſuch doctrine. Who more loyal ſubjects then the Proteſtants in France to King Henry the third, and King Henry the fourth? They owned them▪ aſſiſted and fought for them, when almoſt all others abandoned them? How faithful were our predeceſſors in Scotland to King James, they crowned him in his cradle, they preſerved him, owned and aſſiſted him, and made him a glory to Europe, for underſtanding, learning and wiſdom?
I ſhal not inſiſt further on this, ſeeing Peter du Moulin hath learnedly vindicated the Reformed Churches from this falſe aſperſion hatched in hell, of purpoſe to alienat the affections of the Magiſtrat from us. But this only ſay, as we deſire to render to God the things that are Gods; ſo we deſire to render to Ceſar the things that are Ceſars.
But to conclud, Doth not the truth and honor of God, (which ought to be dearer to us then our own ſalvation) our own and poſterities welfare and ſafety in body, ſoul, and all that is near and dear to us, call us to conſider and ſeriouſly to lay to heart the increaſe and prevalency of Popery? Since the Reformation, there was never generally more prevailing of Popery, and more hazard of being ruined thereby, then now, and yet never leſs ſenſe thereof, & zeal againſt it. In former times, the leaſt appearance of the prevalency of Popery did alarm all, to deal according to their place and ſtation, moſt ſeriouſly, for ſuppreſſing thereof. I ſhal not inſiſt in ſhewing how zealous our predeceſſors in Scotland were againſt Popery, and how they left no mean uneſſayed for total extirpation thereof out of the land; nor how ready they were upon the leaſt appearance of any danger, to diſcover the danger, and petition and ſupplicat the Kings Majeſty and Eſtats of Parliament for remedy. For inſtance, when news came of the preparation of the Spaniſh Armado 1588. what faſting, praying, and humiliation was all the Land over; and all other means eſſayed for preventing that diſmal-like ſtroke? And anno 1592. when the plots of the Popiſh Lords, who had conſpired to bring in the Spaniards in the Kingdom, was diſcovered; what zeal and forwardneſs did all the Land ſhow for defence of the Reformed Religion, and ſuppreſſing of Popery? I will not, I ſay, inſiſt at large on theſe, ſeeing the Acts of our Parliaments (wherein there are ſo many excellent ſtatuts and laws made againſt Popery) and the Hiſtories of theſe times doth abundantly declare what ze…l and hatred all ranks and degrees had againſt that Romiſh Whoor. But I ſhal only make this inference. If they had ſuch love to the truth, and ſuch zeal againſt Antichriſt, who had not ſuch light, and were not ſo ſtrongly engaged, as we are; ſhal they not ariſe in judgement againſt us, and condemn us? For ſhould not the truths of God be as precious to us, as to our predeceſſors? Are there not as many obligations lying upon us, as was upon them? Is not Popery that ſame damnable Antichriſtian idolatry now, that it was then? Why then are we ſo dreadfully lukewarm and indifferent, and ſo little zealous againſt it? Should we be ſilent when Chriſt ſuffers? If in any thing, and at any time we be obliged to confeſs him before men, and to contend earneſtly for the faith once delivered to the Saints; is it not in this thing, and at this time, when Antichriſt is endeavoring to rob us of the purity of the Goſpel, and to entangle us with the yoke of his Idolatry and ſuperſtition? Do we not ſee what we may expect, if Popery prevail, notwithſtanding of all their ſpecious pretences, and fair and plauſible inſinuations.
The maſſacre of Paris, the Spaniſh Inquiſition, and their unheard-of cruelty in Ireland to our own fleſh and blood, together with the Marian days in England, ought never to be forgotten by us, but alwayes raiſe in us a perfect deteſtation of, and holy zeal and indignation againſt that Scarlet Whoor. What may we expect if Popery prevail, but that ſad Dilemma, either to be burnt at a ſtake, or looſe our ſouls and bodies eternally: for the portion of theſe that worſhip the Beaſt, and receive his mark, is to be caſten in that lake that burneth night and day, Rev. 14.10.11.