Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright

These which follow are French martyrs.

ANno 1524. James Pauan schoolemaister was persecuted by D. Martial of Paris, and there burned: he had once before been compelled to recant. Ex Crisp.

Anno 1528. Dionisius Rieux. was burnt with a slow fire at Melda, and did abide much torment: he much meditated upon the saying of Christ: He that denieth me before men. &c. Ex Crisp.

Ann. 1533. Johan. de Caduceo batcheler of the civil law, was burned at Limosin.

The same year, these 5. were burned at Paris, for casting abroad certain bills, which sounded against the mass. Bartholomew Mylen, a lame cripple, John. Burgess, merchāt, the receiver of Nantz, Henry Poole of Courbellin, Cantella a Schoolemistres, Stephen de la Forge, merchant. Henry Poylle had his tongue bored thorough, and with a wyre tied to one of his cheeks: they were atached by the Promoters of Paris. Crisp.

Anno 1534. Alexander Cano Priest, otherwise called Laurentius Crucenc, was burned at Paris with slow fire, Pantal.

Anno 1533. John Pointer, a Surgeon, was first condemned to be strangled, and then burned: but afterward (because he would not do homage to an Idol at the commandment of a Frier who came to confess him) his sentence was altered, to have his tongue cut out, and so to be burned. The persecutors were the Graye Friers of Paris, and the Garbonish doctors, Crisp.

The same yere, Peter Gandet, sometime knight of the Rhodes, was trained out of Geneva by his uncle, and after long torments, was burned, Crisp.

Anno 1534. Quoquillard was burned at Bezanson. Crispin.

The same year Nicholas a scrivener, John de Phoyx, Stephen Burlet, were burned at Arcas. Also Mary Becandella, for reproving false doctrine preached by a Frier, was accused by a Grayfrier at Rochell, and burned at Fountanis. Crisp.

Anno 1535. John Coruon of Moscon, was burned for the testimony of the truth: a man unlettered, yet to whom God had given such wisdom, that the Judges were amazed. Crisp.

Anno 1526. Martin Gouin being taken with letters of master Farel, and Peter Viret, and forced by the Inquisitor, to make confession of his faith, was drowned. Crisp.

Anno 1540. Claudius Painter, a goldsmith, was accused by his kinsfolks, whom he attempted to convert, & was committed to Morinus, a chief captain: who condemned him to be burned: but the high Court of Parlement of Paris, gave judgment, that his tongue should be first cut out. Crisp.

The same year, Stephen Brune a husbandman, was persecuted by Gasper Angerius, the Bishops renter, and Donucellus, a Franciscane, and Inquisitor: he was judged to be burned. At the place of his burning, called Planuoll, the wind blue the flame of the fire so from him, that he stood exhorting the people that continued there, about the space of an hour, scarce harmed, or touched with any flame. So that all the wood being wasted, they were fain to begin a new fire again: yet stood he constant, neither could he yet be burned.

Then the Hangman took a stake and let fly at his head: to whom the blessed man (being yet alive) said, when I am judged to the fire to be burnt, do you beat me with stones, like a dog? With that the hangman, with a pike thrust him through the belly and guts, and so burned him to ashes, scattering his ashes afterward with the wind. Ex Crisp.

Anno 1542. Constantine a citizen of Roan, with three other, were burned for the testimony of the truth. Crisp.

The next year John du Beck priest, abode the torment of the fire for the truth, in the chief city of Champaine.

The same year Aymond de lay voy a preacher, being accused by the parish priest of S. Faith in Angeow, & other priests, was taken (when he might have fled, and was also by his friends exhorted thereunto) & having been tormented three hours, that he sounded therewith, being a man of a weak nature, he was condemned to be burned at Bourdeaux. After sentence given he converted a Carmelite frier, who was his cōfessor. He was burned for denying purgatory, with other points of popish superstition: when he was brought to the place of execution, he sang the psalm, When Israel came out of Egypt, &c. and as he was oft repeting, O Lord my God I commend my soul, the hangman hailed him upon the steps, in such sort that he strangled him, & after his body was consumed with fire. Before his death, my flesh (saith he) striveth maruelously against the spirit, but shortly I shall cast it off.

Anno 1544. Francis Bribard the chief secretarie to the Cardinal of Bellay, his tongue first cut out, was after consumed with fire.

The same year W. Russen an Apothecary, was burned at Roan, for scattring books against popery. First, because he would not do reverence to the Image of our Lady, his tongue was cut out. The manner of the execution was, he had his hands & feet bound behind his back, & with a pulley was lifted up into the air, & when the fire was kindled, he was let down into the flame, where the blessed martyr with a smiling & cheerful countenance looked up to heaven, never moving nor stirring till he gave up his spirit: some said, he had a devil, others said nay, for then he would have fall̄ into despair. The Carmelite, who moved him, going to executiō, to do homage to the idol, was called De Lauda: he was afterward converted, and preached the gospel. Crisp. lib. 2.

Anno 1545. James Cobard a schoolemaister, was burned in the city of S. Michael, in the dukedome of Barens in Lorraine, for disputing with three popish Priests, and maintaining that the Sacraments do not avail without faith: and for other his confessions, which he sent of his own accord to the judges, by his mother. Crispinus.

An. 1546. Peter Clerke, brother to John Clerke, burnt before: Stephanus Mangius, James Bomplack, John Brisebar, Henry Hutmotes, Thomas Honorate, John Bardoninus, John Flesch, John Pitquer, John Mattheston, Phillip Little, Michael Chailow, Francis Clerke, Couberon a weauer, were burned at Melda or Meaux, 10. miles from Paris, were William Briconetus B. of the place did much good, and reformed the Church, but being straitly examined, relented, and there entertained a private congregation in Mangius house, & chose Peter Clerke to their minister. The congregation grew shortly to 400. and complaint being made thereof to the Senate of Paris, three score & two, men & women, were brought bound to Paris, singing Psalms by the way, especially the 79. psalm: of these 62. fourteen were steadfast & constant, & endured first racking, to bewray other of their brethren, but uttered none: y ^e rest were scourged and banished, the other persisting still in the profession of the truth, were sent in a cart from Paris to Melda, to be executed. In the way three miles from Paris, a certain weauer meeting them, cried alowde: bidding them to be of good cheer, and to cleave fast to the Lord, who also was taken and tied fast to the cart. Comming to the place of execution, which was before Mangius house, it was told them that they which would be confessed should save their tongues: so 7. (to obtain to speak) were confessed the other 7. would not As they were in burning the people song psalms. The priests also seeing that, song, O Salutaris hostia, and Salue Regina, while the sacrifice of these holy martyrs was finished. Their wives being compelled to see their husbands in torments, were after put in prison, from whence they being promised to be let go, if they would say, their husbands were damned, they refused to say so. The accusers wer, Frācisc. friers.

Anno 1546. Peter Chapet was first strangled, and then burnt at Paris, for scattering books of religion, and farther confession of his faith. His accuser was John Andre, promoter to Liset the President. Going to execution, he prayed, O L. Jesus, son of David have mercy upon me. Then said D. Malliard, who was one y ^t disputed with him before, & was appointed to be present at executiō: say Jesus Maria, or else (saith he) thou shalt be burned quick: which he refused to do, and afterward being struggled withal, to utter y ^e same, did let scape out of his mouth, Jesus Maria unawares: but he by & by, repressing himself: O God (saith he) what have I done, pardon me O Lord, to the truth I have sinned. Then was he strangled, yet so, that somewhat he felt the pains of the fire. After this, Malliard full of anger, went to the judgment house, and much blamed the judges, for suffering the heretics to have their tongues: whereupon, a decree was made, that all that went to be burned, unless they would recant at the fire, should have their tongues cut out: which law was afterward diligently observed. Crisp. lib. 6.

Anno 1546. Sauitinus Niuet a lame cripple of the town of Meaux, as they were examining him of certain points of religion, asked him, whether he would stand to that he had said or no? to whom he answered again: & I ask you Lord Judges, dare you be so bold, to deny that which is so plain, and manifest by the open words of the scripture. At last, he suffered death, with cruel torments, through y ^e means of Peter Liset, a great persecutor. Henric. Pantal. & Gallic. hist.

The same year, Stephen Polliot was apprehended at Fera, & burned at Paris, having his books hanged about his neck: after he had a long space been kept in a foul and dark dungeon.

Anno 1547. John English was condemned by the high Court of Paris, for the profession of the truth. Crisp. & Adrian.

The same year Michael Michelot was burned at Wēden by Turney: who being asked, whether he would recant, and be beheaded, or persist, & be burned. He answered: that he trusted, he which gave him grace not to deny the truth, would also give him patience to abide the fire.

The same year, Leonardus de Prato going to Bar, a town in Burgondie, from Dyion, with two false brethren: with whom, he talked of religion, was bewrayed of them, and burned.

Also, the same year, John Taffingnon, Joan his wife, Simon Mareschall, John his wife, William Michliot, James Bonleraw, and James Bretany, of the city of Langeres, wer committed to the fire, and suffered with great constancy: especially, John, Simon's wife, reserved to the last place, because she was the younger, confirmed her husband, and all the rest: declaring that they should the same day be married to the Lord Jesus Pantal. Crisp. & alii.

The same year, about the same time, were Michael Mareschall, John Cam, great John Camus, and John Seraphin condemned by the Senate of Paris, and there burned. Ex eisdem.

Anno 1548. Octauian Blonds, a merchant of precious stones, was first apprehended at Lions, and there after a while, confessing, and standing to the maintenance of the truth, at length through importunity of his parents, and friends, gave over his confession: notwithstanding, Gabriel of Sacconer, presentener, his persecutor, not leaving him so, appealed him up to the high court of Paris, where, being asked touching his faith, which of the two confessions he would stand to, (he being admonished before of his fall and offense given) said, he would live and die in his first confession: and so was he condemned to be burned, Crisp. l. 6.

Anno 1549. Hubert Cherrer, Taylor, a young man, of 19 years, constantly suffered at Dyion, for the testimony of the truth: notwithstanding all threatenings of persecutors, or allurements of parents.

The same yere. M. Florence Venot, after he had endured 4. years imprisonment at Paris, where he suffered grievous torments: and (among other) had been put in a brake, like an Hipocras bag, that he could neither stand nor lie seven weeks together. At length, when there was a great show in Paris, the king coming to the city, and diverse other martyrs in sundry partes of the City put to death, he (with his tongue cut out) was brought to the execution of thē all. And last of all, in the place of Maulbert, was burned, the 9. of July in the afternoon. Crisp.

The same year also, Anne Andebert, an Apothecaries wife and a widow, was burned at Orleans, and condemned by the council of Paris. When the rope was put about her, she called it her wedding girdle, wherewith she should be married to Christ: and being appointed to be burned vpō a Saturday, she said: On a Saturday was I first married, and on a saterday shall I be married again, Ex Crisp.

The same yere, when diverse were burned at Paris, for a spectacle, not long after the coronation of Henry 2, among them was a poor taylor, dwelling not far of the king palace, in S. Anthony's street, who (for that he wrought upon an holy day) was clapt in prison: and the matter being brought to the Court, the poor taylor was presented even before the king, into the Palace: where he so couragiouslie behaved himself against Petrus Castellanus, B. of Mascō, whom the king willed to talk with this poor Taylor in his presence, that the king seemed to muse with himself (as one amazed) so y ^t (least his behavior should be any means to work in the kings mind) he was commanded again to the hands of the Officer, and within few days condemned by the high steward of the kings house, to be burned alive. And so his execution was sharp and cruel, before y ^e church of Saint Marie, the king himself being present: where it pleased God to give such strength to his servant, in suffering, that the beholding thereof did more astonish the king, then all the other did before. Io. Crisp. Pantal. li. 7.

The same yere was one Claudius burned at Orleans, (coming from Geneva to his Country,) for the Gospel. Crisp.

The same yere the Council of Paris condemned Leonard Galimard, to be burned, the same time that Leonard Venate suffered at Paris. Also, at Troys suffered Macaeus Morreow for the testimony of the truth. Ex eod.

An. 1550. Ione Godean, and Gabriel Berardinus, were burned: being apprehended for rebuking a priest of swearing. Gabriel began to shrink for fear of torment: yet being confirmed by the constant death of Ione, recovered again: & (having first his tongue cut out) was burned, Eod.

An. 1551. Thomas Spaāulinus, of 18. years of age, for rebuking one that did swear, at Paris, was suspected of Lutheranism, and so miserably racked in prison, y ^t he should either forsake his opinion, or confess other of his religion: through the setting on of one Mallard, & other Sorbonists, that the sight thereof, made Aubertus, one of the Council, to turn his back, and weep.

The young man (when he had made the Tormentors weary with racking, and yet would confess none) at last was had to Maulbers place in Paris, to be burned: where he (being in the fire) was plucked up again upon the gibet, and asked whether he would turn: To whom he said, that he was in the way toward God, and desired them to let him go. And so he ended his life. Ibid.

Anno 1551. Mauricius Secenate was burned in Prouence, for the testimony of the truth: who first answered in such sort that they had no great advantage against him: for which he was so troubled in conscience, that being afterward called before the judge, answered so directly that he burned for the same. Ex eodem.

The same year was Johannes Put or de Puteo, surnamed Medicus, burned at Vzez in Prouence, for the Sacrament of the Lord's body. Ibidem.

The same year, at Lions was Claudius Mouerius, after much dangerous afflictions & prisonments, burned for the profession of the truth. He was noted to be of so mild conditions, & so constant, and learned withal, that certain of the judges could not forbear weeping at his death.

Anno 1552, Renat Poyet, the son of William Poyet, which was chauncellor of France, for the constant witnessing of the truth, was burned at Salmure.

The same year, John Loyer and his servant a young man, coming from Geneva, were taken by the way, and had to Toulouse, where they were both condemned. When they were brought to the stake, the young man first going up, began to weep, the Master fearing least he should give over, ran and comforted him: so they began to sing as they were in the fire: the Master standing upright to the stake, shifted the fire from himself to his servant, being more careful of him then of himself: and when he saw him dead, he bowed himself down into the fire, into the flame, and so died. Crispin. & alij.

The same year, Hugonius Grauier minister of Cortillon, was taken at Mascon, where he went to visit his wives friends, and was burned at Burg. Crisp.

Anno 1533. Martial Alba, Petrus Scriba, Bernard Segonie, Charles Faber, Peter Nauihew, coming from Geneva, and going to Lions, where they sitting at the table of one that met them by the way, and bad them home to his house, were apprehended and led to prison: where after they had continued a year, and disputed with the Friers, & had exhibited a learned confession of their faith, afterward were burned at Lions. They were examined sunderly of the sacrament of the Lord's body, of purgatory, of confession, invocation, free will, and of the supremacy. &c. Beyng set on the cart, they began to sing Psalms: at the place of execution Martial Alba being the eldest, was the last that went to the stake, who desired he might go about his fellows tied at the stake and kiss them, which being granted, he went and kissed everyone of them, saying: farewell my brother, likewise each one bad farewell my brother. The hangman thought first to have strangled them, but their faces being smeared with fat and brimstone, the rope was burnt before they were strangled: so the blessed martyrs in the midst of the fire, spake one to another to be of good cheer, and so departed Crisp. Pantal.

Shortly, after the five students before mentioned, Petrus Bergerius made the like confession, and was burned at Lions: he converted in the dungeon a certain thief, who for pain and torment in the prison cried out of God, and cursed his parents that begat him, being almost eaten with life, miserably handled, and fed with such bread, as dogs, and horses had refused: he by the prayers and teaching of this Bergerius was converted: his name was John Chanbone. Touching his conversion he wrote a sweet letter to those five students, wherein he praised God for them. Crisp. & Pantal.

Anno 1553. Dionisius Pelloquine, a moonke sometime, was burned at Ville Franch, sir miles from Lions, after long imprisonment, his articles were the Mass, the Sacrament, auricular confession, Purgatory, the virgin Marie, the Popes supremacy: He died the 11. of September. Stephanus Peloquinus his brother was taken with Anne Andebert above mentioned, and martyred at the same time, at a small fire. Crisp.

The same year Ludouicus Marsacus, who had been of the order of the Dimilaunces, that had served the king: Michael Gerard his cousin, Stephen Granot carpenter, were burned at Lions, by sentence of the kings Lieutenant. As they should be brought out to to the stake, by the hangman, he titied the rope about the neck of the other two, Marsacke seeing himself to be spared, for his order and degrees sake, called by the way to the Lieutenant, that he might have also one of the precious chains tied about his neck, in honor of his Lord: the which being granted unto, they were so led to the fire Crisp. Pantal.

The same year, Mathaeus Dymonetus a marchaunt, who before his conversion, had led a vicious life: was burned at Lions, by the Lieutenant, Primacius, and Bnatherius official, and Orus inquisitour. He suffered the 15. of July. Crisp.

The same year, William Neele, an Augustine Frier, was burned at Eureux in France, for rebuking the vicious life of Priests, and the Dean named Legoux Pantal. lib. 6.

The same year also, Simon Laloe coming from Geneva, was taken: and after much racking, and torments, was burned at Dyion: the 21. of November. The executioner named James Sylvester, seeing the constancy of the martyr, was so touched in conscience, that he fell into such a despair, that he could hardly receive any comfort of all the promises of the Gospel: at length he was strengthened, and converted: and so with all his family removed to Geneva. Crisp.

Also the same year at Paris, Nicholas Nayle shoe-maker, coming thither, with certain fardels of books, was apprehended: and after diverse torments, so that his body was almost dissolved one joint from another (to utter his fellows) was last of all burned Crisp.

The same year also, Peter Serre about Toulouse, (who first was a priest, and then went to Geneva: where he learned the shoemakers craft, and so lived) was burned, being bewrayed by his brothers wife: to whom he came of kindness from Geneva, to do his brother good. The judge asking him what trade he was, said, of late he had been a shoomaker: the Judge asking what trade he had before used, said: he was ashamed to rehearse, or to remember, it being the vilest, and wickedest estate in the world. The Judge and the people hearing him say so, thought he had been some thief, or cutpurse, and were desirous to hear the same of him: but he very loath, and with shame refused to utter the same: nevertheless, at length, through importunity, was constrained to declare the truth: and said, he was a priest. His tongue being cut out, and so put to the fire, he stood so quiet, looking up to heaven all the time of his burning, as though he had felt nothing: bringing such admiration to the people, that one of the Parlement said: that way was not the safest, and best, which they used in bringing the Lutherans to the fire: for it would do more hurt than good. Crisp.

The same year Stephen King, and Petrus Denocheus, one King a Notary, and Petrus his Clearke, were after long imprisonment, burned at Chartris.

Anno 1554. Anthonius Magneus being taken at Burgess, by certain priests, was sent to Paris, where, after great rebukes, and torments, he was judged to have his tongue cut out, & to be burned at y ^e place, of Maulbert in Paris. He was sent from the 5. students at Lions, & other in captivity at Paris, unto Geneva, to commend thē to their prayers unto God: from whence having returned; within 3. hours after he was taken at Bruges. Crisp.

The same year, William Alencon book-binder, was burned at Mount-pelliers, y ^e 7. of January. There was y ^e same time at Mount pelliers, a certain clothworker, who for fear revolted: to whom it was enjoined by the judges, to make recantation publicly, and to be present at the burning of Alencon: at the beholding of whose constancy he gathered such boldness, that he desired the judges, either that he might burn with Alencon, or else to be carried back again to prison, saying: that he would make no other recantation: wherefore within three days after was burned. Crispin.

The same year, at Dola was beheaded a godly lawyer, named Paris Pamer, for the gospel of Christ. Pantal.

The same year, Peter du Val shoomaker, after most grievous torments, was burned at Nismes. Crispin.

Also the same year, Johannes Filiolus carpenter, & Julianus le Ville pointmaker, were burned at Sansare: they were apprehended by Gilles le Pers. After sentence of fire being given, they appealed to y ^e court of Paris, where they being presented, Gilles le pers was suddenly stricken mad, & so died. After this, the officer tormented thē from after dinner, til 3. of the clock, to make them recant: which, whē they constantly endured, they were brought to the place of execution, where the officer put into their hands, being bound, a wooden cross, which they took with their teeth, and cast away. Wherefore, their tongues were cut out: which not withstanding, they spake at their death, saying: We bid sin, the world, and the Devil, farewell forever, with whom we shall never have to do hereafter. At last, when the tormētor came to smeare them with brimstone, and gunpowder, go to (said Filiolus ) salt the stinking flesh, salt it. Finally, as the flame burst up to their faces, they constantly finished their martyrdom, Pantal.

The same yere also, Dionisius Vair was burned at Roan, his judgment being given, thrice to be taken up with the engine, and so to be let down again. He was first a popish priest: left that, and became a bookebinder at Geneva. Afterward, in the time of king Edward, was minister at Gersey till Queen Marie came in. He was apprehended at Roan, with I. Langoise, his brother: by one William, who stayed his books, & him y ^t had y ^e custody of thē: whereof Denis hearing, to redeem the keeper of his books, offered himself, and so after many terrible torments, he was executed with fire, where the flame went so high, that the hangman being not able to come near him, cried to the people standing by to help, but never a man would stir. So he finished his course and martyrdom. Pantal. lib. 10.

There was a rich man in Paris, that said in jest to the Friers of S. Francis order, you wear a rope about your bodies, because S. Francis should once have been hanged, but the Pope redeemed him, upon condition that ever after he should wear a rope. Upon this the Franciscans caused him to be apprehended, and so judgment passed he should be hanged, but he contented to recant, thought thereby to save his life. The Friers hearing of his recantation, commended him, saying: if he continued so, he should be saved: and so called on the Officers, that he might be hanged, while he was in a good way: and so, notwithstanding his recantation, he was hanged for jesting against the friers. Pantal.

Anno 1554. Tho. Galbergne a Couerlet-maker, was burned at Turney, cheerfully singing psalms, at the time of his execution. Crisp. lib, 4.

About which time also, Nicholas Paul was beheaded at Gaunt.

Anno 1551. Richard Feurus, a Goldsmith, was condemned at Lions, he appealing to the high Court of Paris: In the way as he was led to Paris, he was met by certain whom he knew not, and by them taken from his keepers, and set at liberty. And anno 1554. finding fault in an Inn in Daulphin, with grace said in latin, he was detected, and taken by the under Marshall, and brought to Lions, where he was condemned, first to have his tongue cut out, & then to be burned, ( Dignatius being Judge:) which he received willingly, the 7. of July, Crisp. & alijs.

The same yere, Nicholas de Chesne, as he went from Bezamon, to the Town of Grie, did not homage to a certain cross. Whereupon, he was detected by a Monk, and condemned by the Judge to be burned. Being carried to the place of martyrdom, by the way he was promised, that if he would kneel down and hear a mass, he should be let go as a passenger. Which Nicholas refusing to do, took his death patiently, Crisp. lib. 6.

Anno 1556. John Bertrand, a keeper of the Forest of March Noyce, was burned at Bloys, for the testimony of the truth, being condemned by Denis Barles, Counceller of Bloys: As he was tied to the post he sang the 25. Psalm. Of age he was young, and of countenance, amiable. Seeing the place where he should suffer, O happy journey (saith he) and fair place, that is prepared for me. O Lord (saith he) give thy hand to thy servant, I commend my soul unto thee, and so yielded up his spirit. Crisp. li. 6.

The same yere, Peter Ronsean, whilst he required his inheritance of his brother in law, was betrayed by him. He was put to the rack 3. times, which he suffered constantly with great torments. Afterward he had his tongue cut out, and a ball of Iron put into his mouth. He was drawn on a hurdle, all broken and maimed, to the fire: where he was drawn up into the air, and let down 3. times: and when he was half burned, the ball of Iron fell out of his mouth, and he with a loud voice cried out: saying, Jesus Christ assist me, and so gave up the ghost, Crisp.

The same yere suffered also at Burdeaux, Arnold Mouier, & John de Cases, who went to comfort Arnold. After many examinations, sentence was givē they should be burned, by Anthony Lescure, the kings Attorney. They were drawn thorough the dirt upon hurdles; to the place of execution, with a number of bills, glaiues, and gunnes, & trumpeters. The Magistrates commanded also the gates to be shut, and guarded with keepers.

Mouier was first strangled. Cases was set on fire before the hangman came, who chanced to fall from the top of the post, to the pavement, and so brake his head, that the blood followed in great quantity. When these two mild Martyrs were almost consumed to ashes, suddenly there fell such a fear among them, without any cause, notwithstanding their gates were guarded, their furniture of gunnes, & other weapons, that they all fled, and ran over one another. The Prior of S. Anthony's fell down, so that a great mumber went over him. The Judge Pontake, on his Mule, with his red robe, flying as other did, was overthrown in the press, in the street called Peterni, in such sort, that he was fain to be carried to a widows house, and there cried within: hide me, save me, I am dead, my friends: hide my Mule, that no man see her, &c. But no man knew any cause of all this fear, Crisp. li. 6.

The same yere, Bartholomew Hector, a Bookeseller of Geneva, as he came into the vale of Angrogn in Piedmont, was arrested by a gentleman called Perrere, & sent to Thurin, and was burned. At the stake he was offered his pardon, if he would recant, which he refused. At his death many wept, saying, why doeth this man die, that speaketh of nothing but of God? Crisp. lib. 6. He was condemned by Balthelmew Emie, President.

Anno 1557. Philip Ceur, Apothecary of Geneva, and James his fellow, were burned at Dyion, the most parte of the people wept bitterly, saying, be of good cheare, brethren, &c. whereat the adversaries were greatly offended, saying to the Magistrates, do you not see, how almost half parte of the people is on their side, and comforts them, Crisp. libro. 6.

The same yere, Archambant Seraphoni, and M. Nicholas de Russeaw, constantly suffered at Dyion. The same Archambant had been condemned 3. years before, at Tule, and as he was led to Burdeaux, escaped. Ibid.

The same yere, Philbert Hambis, sometimes a Prieste, then a painter, afterward the minister of Albenart in Santong, was apprehended at Saints Ville, and with him his host, a priest whom he had converted to the Gospel, and so carried to Burdeaux before the president. As he was in prison, on a Sunday a Priest came in with all his furniture, to say Mass, whom Philbert seeing invested, came and plucked his garments from him, with such zeal, that the mass-garments, with chalice, and candlesticks fell down and were broken, saying unto him: is it not enough for you to blaspheme God in Churches, but you must pollute also the prison with your Idolatry? The gaoler having first beaten him, upon this laid him in a low pit, laden with irons, that his legs were swollen withal, and there continued 8. days. A little before, perceiving the priest his host to have fallen, and to have flatly renounted his profession, after certain instruction, and warning to repent, he told him, his life should be never the longer, for he should die before him, and not for God's cause: and that he should be an ensample to all apostataes: he had no sooner ended his talk, but the priest going out of prison, was slain by two gentlemen which had a quarrel to him. At the place of his execution, the trumpets blew to hinder the people from hearing his exhortation: so first being strangled, he was consumed with fire. Crisp. lib. 6.

The same yere, Nicholas Startorius was attached by Ripet, a Secretary, and burned at Ost, by Piedmount: being first tried with the rack. He was afterward burned: being of the age of 26. He was apprehended for blaming a frier that preached false doctrine, Crisp. li. 6.

An. 1558. George Tardife was burned at Senes. Another at Tours, a broiderer of that place. Nic. a shomaker, at Ienuile. Nicholas was young: who, when he was condemned, and set in the Cart, his father (coming w ^t a staff) would have beaten him: but y ^e officers (not suffering y ^t ) would have stricken the old mā. The son seeing that, cried out, saying, he had authority over him, and therefore desired them to suffer him: finally having a ball of iron put in his mouth, he was consumed with fire. Crisp. lib. 6.

Anno 1558. the fourth of September, a company of the faithful to the number of three or four hundred were assembled at Paris in a certain house, having before it the college of Plessis, in the street of S. James, and behind it the college of Sorbone, who there assembled in the beginning of the night, to communicate the Lord's supper, were discovered by the Priests of Plessis, who made outcry upon them, that the whole city almost was in armor. The governors of the congregation exhorted the people to constancy, and fell to prayer. That done, (through the council of some, which knew the cowardly hearts of the multitude) order was taken, that the men which had weapons, should venture through the press, only the women and children, remained in the house, & a few men with them, which were less bold, to the number of six or seven score: where appeared the wonderful work of God, in thē y ^t went out with weapons: which (notwithstanding, that the lanes and passages were stopped, and fires made) did all escape, save only one, who was beaten down with stones, and so destroyed. Certain that remained in the house, afterward lept into gardens: where they were stayed till the magistrates came. The women, who were all of great wealth, only six or seven excepted, perceyuing the fury of the people, went up to the windows, crying mercy, showing their innocent intent required justice ordinary.

Thus as they were enclosed six or seven hours, came Martin, the kings Attorney, with force of Commissaries, and Sergeants, who entering the house, and viewing of the furniture, the women and children, for pity could not refrain from tears. Notwithstanding, proceeding in his office, he had them all to prison, in the little Castle. In the mean time, all manner of slanderous reports were raised of them, as incest, conspiracy, killing of children, &c. which rumour the Cardinal of Lorraine did greatly confirm. The brethren which escaped, hearing this, consulted, first to humble themselves with prayer before God in their private families. Secondly, to stop the brutes running of their assemblies, to write Apologies, one to the king, another to the people. The Apology to the king nothing prevailed: who was persuaded that all was but pretenced excuses. The other to the people did great good, in satisfying the rumors and defending the good cause of the Gospel: against which Apologies, and persons, diverse Sorbonists began to write, one called Doctor Demochares, the other Cualis Bishop of Auranches: besides these, yet a third Sorbonist. And finally the 17. of September, diverse of the poor afflicted Christians were brought forth to their martyrdom, a great part of them being delivered by the intercessiō of the Germans, who were then in a certain colloquy at Wormes, albeit certain of the company were executed before the coming of the Germane Ambassadors, whose names do here ensue: Nicholas Clynet one of the Elders of the congregation at Paris, before schoolemaister at Santong where he was borne, was there pursued, and had his image burned: he did so overthrow Maillardone one of the chief Sorbonistes, and a notorious Sodomite, the Lieutenant, that he confessed, he never heard a man better learned, and of more intelligence. With him suffered also Taurin Grauell an elder also of the same congregation, first a student of the law in Toulouse, then an advocate in the court of Paris: the third a gentlewoman of three and twenty years of age, named Phillip de Luns, widow of the Lord of Graueron: they had all their toongues first cut out, and then suffered the fire with great constancy, specially Grauell, and the widow, whoever before since the death of her husband used to go in mourning apparel: but the same day going to burning, she put on her French hood, and decked her self in her best apparel, as going to a new marriage. Grauell & Clinet were burned alive: Philip was strangled after she had a little tasted the flame with her feet, and visage. At the time of execution, she neither changed color nor countenance, being of an excellent beauty. Crisp. lib. 6.

Of the same company were Nicholas Cene a Physician, brother to Phillip Cene above mentioned, and Peter Gabart a solicitor of processes, about the age of thirty years: the time of execution being come, they had their tongues cut out, and were drawn to the Suburbes of Saint Germane, where they endured great torment: for they were holden long in the air over a small fire, and their lower parts burnt of, before their higher parts were much burned, notwithstanding they endured constant to the end. At the same time many Bibles, and Testaments, were burnt.

Of the same number also Frederick Danuile, and Francis Rebizies scholars, and neither of them past twenty years of age, were burned at Paris, the same year of our Lord, 1558. [ 1558] They were examined three times of diverse points of Popery: of the Church, of the Sacrament, of Purgatory, power of the Keies, &c. by the Sorbone doctors, and Friers.

About the two and twenty day of October, they were brought up to a chamber in the castle to be racked, that they might utter the rest of the congregation. Rebizies being drawn and stretched in the air, cried: come Lord and show thy strength, that man do not prevail, &c. After him they racked also his companion, and then burnt them both, at the place Maulbert in Paris, one of them comforting another, saying: be strong my brother, be strong. Satan away from us.

Of the same company were also Rene Seaw, & John Almericke, who were almost racked to death, that Almericke could not go when he was called to the court to be judged: both of them died in prison, constantly standing to the truth, Ibidem.

About this time 1558. Villegaignon Lieutenant for the french K. after y ^t he had a while professed the truth, revolted: and in the land of Bresil (where he had taken an Island) he murdered and drowned in the Sea John Bordell, and Matthew Vermeille, and Peter Hurdon for the profession of the truth. There was a fourth Andrew de Feaw, whō by allurements, and threatenings, he drew from the truth.

The same year Geoffrey Varagle (who before had said mass 17. years and was afterward a preacher in the valley of Angrogn) was first strangled, and then burned at Thuris in Piedmont by the kings lieftenant. He was questioned with about works of supererogation, justification, freewill, predestination, confession, satisfaction, indulgences, images, purgatory, the Pope, &c. It is said that at the time of his burning a Dove was seen (as is credibly reported of many) flying and fluttering diverse times about the fire. Crisp. lib. 6.

The same year also Benet Roman a mercer, first being pitifully racked, was hanged in the Air, and so burned at Draguinian in Prouence. The fame of his constancy being known in the town, Judge Barbose a man blind & ignorant, and no less deformed, came to see him, & asked, what do they believe (saith he) in any God at Geneva? Roman looking upon him said, what art thou, that so wretchedly dost blaspheme? I am (said he) the ordinary judge of this place.

And who hath put thee (said Roman ) so gross & deformed a person in such an office? Thinkest thou we be infidels: and no Christians? And if the Devils themselves do confess a God, suppose you that they of Geneva do deny their God? no, no, we believe in God, we invocate his name, and put all our trust in him.

Whereof Barbose took such indignation, that he pursued him to the death.

There was great disputation after his death: some said, if good men had been about him, it had gone better with him: and that those priests and monks, which were about him, were whoremaisters, and infamous. Other went away, maruelling and disputing of his death, and doctrine, &c. Crispine.

Anno 1558. Francis Viuax was strangled and burned at Dyion, being betrayed by a Priest, whose Sermon he reprehended, and who pretending friendship, required farther conference: which being appointed in the convent of the Iacobins, there was he apprehended, & witnessed the truth by martyrdom.

Anno 1559. Peter Arondeaw being taken by the priests at Rochelle, was conveyed to Paris, and the 15 day of Nouēber, was there burned quick at the place, called S. John in Greue. His chief accuser, was one Monroy, who was not long after stryken with an Apoplexy, and died. The Lieutenant also, for causes of extortion, was deposed within a while after. Crisp. lib. 6.

The same year was Thomas Montard, being converted from a vicious life, burned quick for the testimony of Jesus, at Valencius: because he said the God of the host was abhominable, Crisp. lib, 6.

The residue of Dutch Martyrs.

James de Lo, of the I will of Flaunders, John de Binsons, at Antwerp, Peter Pettit, John Denis, Simon Guilmyn, Simeon Herme, of the I will of Flanders, John de Lannoy, at Tourney, Alexander Dayken, of Brainchastell, William Cornu at Henalt, Anthony Carou, of Cambray, Renandine de Franckvile. Certain suffered at Tourney, Michel Robibert of Arras, Nichaif de la Tomb, at Tourney. Roger du Mont.

A note of Spanish Martyrs.

Anno 1540. Frances Sauromanus, a Spanish Merchant, so profited in one month by hearing of M. Jacobus, sometime Prior of the Augustine Friers in Antwerp, and afterward Preacher at Breame, that he exhorted diverse of his friends at Antwerpe by letters, bewailing their ignorance.

He wrote also to Charles the Emperor, requiring him, that he would reform the miserable corruption of religion in Spain. And besides this, he wrote a Catechism, and diverse other Treatises in the Spanish tongue.

This Frances coming to Antwerp, and purposing there to confer of matters of religion, and to instruct his Countrymen: was by them betrayed, and boldly confessed his faith, and religion: and reasoned with the Friers, with such zeal, that the Spaniards (thinking he had not been well in his wits,) conveyed him into a Tower six miles from Antwerpe: where he was detained in a deep Dungeon, with much misery, the space of 8. months. But afterward, the Spaniards thinking him better come to himself, discharged him out of prison. Which was about the time y ^t the Emperor was at the Council of Ratisbon, 1541: whether Frances went, and there having time & opportunity to speak unto the Emperor, he stepped boldly unto him: beseeching him to deliver his Country, and Subjects of Spain, from false religion, and to restore again the sincerity of Christ's doctrine. This did he three times, the Emperor giving gentle audience. But attempting the fourth time, he was repulsed by certain Spaniards about the Emperor: who incontinently would have thrown him into the river Danubius, had not the Emperor stayed them, and willed he should be judged according to the laws of the Empire. By which commandment, he was detained with other malefactors in bands, till the Emperor took his voyage into Aphrike, & when the Emperor came into Spain, he was there delivered to the Inquisitors, by whom he was laid in a dark prison under the ground, and at length after many examinations and much afflictiō, they perceiving him not to be reclaimed, proceeded to his condemnation, and pronounced sentence of burning against him. His articles were, that we are saved only by the free mercy of God in Christ: that the Mass is an horrible blasphemy: that auricular confession, satisfaction, purgatory, invocation of Saints, Image worshipping, be mere blasphemies against God, &c.

As he was laid on the heap of wood, and the fire kindled about him, he began a little at the feeling of the fire, to lift up his head towards Heaven: which the Inquisitors perceiving, thinking he would have recanted, caused him to be taken of the fire: but when they perceived him constant, they threw him in again, and so was he immediately dispatched. Francisc. Encenas.

Anno 1545. Rochus was burned at Saint Lucas in Spain. He was an Image maker, and as soon as he had received the light of the Gospel, he gave it over. and lived by making of seals, saving only he kept the Image of the virgin Mary artificially graven, for a sign of his occupation.

It fell so that an Inquisitor passing by, asked Rochus the price of the Image, which when Rochus did set (belike not minding to sell the Image) the Inquisitor bad him scarce half the money: which when he heard, he said, he would rather break it, then to sell it otherwise then he might afford it: yea (said the Inquisitor) break it? let me see thee: with that Rochus took up a cheesill and dashed it on the face of the Image, wherewith some part of the face was blemished: the Inquisitor seeing that, crying out as he were mad, commanded him to prison, and within three days after he was burned, for blemishing his own work. Pantal. lib. 5.

The execrable Inquisition of Spain.

IT first began by Ferdinandus and Elizabeth his wife, and was instituted against the Jews, which after their Baptism, professed their own ceremonies: but now it is practiced against the professors of the Gospel. The Spaniards, especially the great divines, do hold, that the holy Inquisition cannot err: and that the Fathers of the Inquisition cannot be deceived. By the order of the Inquisition, the party called in question, if anything be suspected or pretended, is incontinent commanded to a horrible prison, and there they find out crimes against him at leisure. In the mean time no man living so hardy (not the father for the child) as to speak for him: for if he do, he is also taken, and cast into prison: neither is it permitted for any one to enter into the prison, but there he endureth alone, where he cannot see so much as the ground, and where he sustaineth moreover whippings, rackings, irons, tortures, &c. Sometimes they are brought forth, and shown in some high place, for an open spectacle of rebuke and shame: and thus are some of them detained many years, & murdered by long torments whole days together: during all the time what is done in the prison no mā knoweth, but only y ^e holy Fathers and the tormentors: all is done in secrete: the accuser secrete, the crime secrete, the witness secrete, neither is the poor prisoner ever advertised of anything: if he can guess who accused him, wherefore and whereof, he may be pardoned peradventure of his life, but this is very seldom, and yet is he not set at liberty, before he hath endured long time infinite torments: and this is called their Penitence: and so he is let go, yet not but that he must wear a garment with yellow colors, for a note of public infamy to him and his whole race. And if he cannot guess right, showing to the judge by whom he was accused, and whereof, incontinent the horrible sentence of condemnation is pronounced against him, to be burned for an obstinate heretic: yet so the sentence is not executed till he hath endured imprisonment, in some heinous prison.

Three sortes of men, most principally be in danger of these Inquisitors. 1. They that be greatly rich, for the spoil of their goods. 2. They that be learned, because they will not have their secrete abuses espied. 3. They that begin to increase in honor, and dignity, least being in honor they should work them some shame. This Inquisition the King & Princes are bound by oth to maintain with all their power.

Anno one thousand, five hundred, and fifty and nine. The 25. day of May, in the town of Validoly, where commonly the council of the Inquisition is wont to be kept, there were eight and twenty godly Christians (saving one Jew) that did suffer for the testimony of the truth, whereof 14. were burned, and the rest had their goods confiscate, and a note of dishonor laid upon them, for the name of Jesus. They which were burnt, and their goods confiscate, were D. Cacalla, sometime an Augustine frier, priest of the town of Validoly, and sometime preacher to Charles the fifth, a man of great learning, John de Biuero priest of Validoly, and brother to Cacalla, Dame Blaunch, sister unto them, Francis de Biuero, brother unto the Dame, Constance de Biuero, another Sister, Dame Leoner de Biuero, her cousin: being already dead long before at Validoly, y ^e mother to the five aforesaid, above her coffine, was her picture laid, which was condemned with her dead corpse, to be burned for an heritike. Moreover, her goods being confiscate, her house, was adjudged utterly to be rased, and cast down to the ground: and for memorial thereof, a marble stone to be set up in the place: wherein the cause of her burning should be engraved. After these, were condemned M. Alfonz Perez, priest of Valence, Christoph. Del citizen of Samora, Christopher de Padilla, Anthony de Huizuelo, Katherine Roman, Francis Erreni, Katherin Ortega, Isabel Strada, Jane Valesques, and a certain Smith. They were all first strangled, saving Anthony Huizuelo: who was burned alive, because he did with more vehemency, detest the Pope, then the rest. They which had their goods confiscate, were these: Don Petro Sarmiento, knight of the order of Alcantara, dwelling at Valence, & son of the marques de Poza, was judged to bear a Sanbenita all his life, and condemned to perpetual prison, with loss of his order, & all his goods: to whō it was moreover enjoined, never to wear anymore gold, silver, precious stones, &c. Dame Mencia his wife was adjudged to the same punishment. Don Louis de Ropas, son and heir of the the marques of Poza, through great suit made for him, was condemned only to wear a Sanbenita unto the town-house, and his goods to be confiscat. The same judgment was also given of dame Anne Henriques, daughter of the marques Alcauses, & mother to y ^e marques de Peza, and wife to Lord Alphonsus de Fonseca.

Dame Jane de Silua, wife to John de Biuero, brother to Doctor Cacalla, was enjoined to bear a mantle all her life, for penance: & her goods confiscate. The like did Leonard de Lisuers, wife to Huizuelo, Doct. of divinity suffer. Item, Marina de Saiauera, wife of Cisneras de Sareglio. Itē, Daniel Quadra, born at Pedrosa: all which 3. were condemned to perpetual prison w ^t their mantels, & cōfiscation of all their goods: dame Mary de Roias was judged to bear her mantel to the town house, and her goods confiscate. Anthony Dominic de Pedrosa was condemned to three years imprisonment, clothed with a Sanbenita, and his goods cōfiscate. Anthony Basor an Englishman, was enjoined to bear his mantell to the Town house, and was thrust into a cloister for one year, there to be instructed. There was a Jew likewise burned at that time for revolting from his Christiandome to Judaism.

It is reported, besides these aforesaid 37. other prisoners yet remained at Validolie, reserved to another tragedy of that bloody Inquisition.

Besides Spain, Naples also, and Cicill are subject to to this barbarous Inquisition: in which kingdom of Cicill, it is credibly reported, that every third year a certain number are brought out to martyrdom: Sometime twelve, sometime six, sometime more or less: among whō an. 1559. [ 1559] One coming from Geneva to Cicill. upon zeal to do good, was condemned to the fire: and as he should take his death, was offered by the hangman to be first strangled, but he refused the same, saying he would feel the fire, and so endured singing with all his might unto the Lord, till he lost both life, and voice, by force of the fire.

A note of Italian Martyrs.

Anno 1546. N. Encenas, otherwise Dryander a Spaniard, brother to Franciscus Encenas, a man of great learning; he was also instructour to Diazius the Godly Martyr above mentioned: this man was first offered the Sanbenita made in form of a mantell before and behind him, with signs of y ^e red cross: which when he refused, he was adjudged to be burnt: & so was, at Rome, in sight of the Cardinals, and face of the Apostolical sea. Pantal. lib. 6. Crispin. &c.

Franciscus Encenas brother to this Nicholas, being in the Emperors court at Brussels, offered unto Charles the fifth the New testament translated into Spanish: for the which cause he was cast into prison, where he endured sorrowful captivity and calamity, the space of 15. months, looking for no other but death. At last, thorough the marvelous providence of almighty God, the first day of February, Anno 1545. [ 1545] at eight of the clock after supper, he found the doors of the prison open, and so took the occasion, and escaped, and went into Germany.

Anno 1550. Fauinus borne in Fauentia, was burned at Ferraria: by the earnest persuasions of his wife, & friends, he did first relent: whereof he conceived such sorrow of mind, y ^t he could not be quiet, till he had fixed his mind to venture his life for the testimony of the truth: whereupon, he went about all the country of Romaigna, publicly preaching the doctrine of Christ. So anno 1547. [ 1547] he was apprehended again in a place called Bagnacauallo: where also he was condemned to be burned: but he said, his hour was not yet come, and the same to be but the beginning of his doctrine, and so it was: for shortly after, he was removed to Ferraria, where he was detained two years. At last, the Popes Inquisitors condemned him to death, an. 1549. [ 1549] And yet his time being not come, he remained after that, till the month of September, an. 1550. [ 1550] At length, being brought to a prison, where diverse Lord's, and Captains were, that stirred up factions. They first scorned him, and took him to be of a melancholic brain: but after, he so wrought with them, that their merry cheare was altered into a new kind of countenance: having him now in admiration, whom before they had in derision.

When the imprisonment of this Fauinus was known to his parents & kinsfolk, his wife and friends came to him w ^t weeping persuasions: to whom he answered, that it was enough for them that he had once for their sake fallen into that cowardliness they knew, wherefore he desired them to depart in peace, and solicit him no more therein.

About the same time died Pope Paulus the 3. and after him succeeded Julius the 3. which then sent letters that Fauinus should be executed: the news whereof being brought him, he gave the messenger thanks. So early in the morning, after he had prayed most earnestly unto God, he was strangled three hours before day in the city of Ferraria, to the intent the people should not see him, nor hear him speak. Afterward about dinner time, his body in the same place was burned: at the burning whereof came such a fragrant smell to all them there present. and so stroke their senses, that they were therewith marvelously refreshed. Pant. lib, 7. & Crisp.

Anno 1550. Dominicus de Basuna, was hanged at Placentia, after certain months imprisonment, for preaching of true confession, against Purgatory, Pardons, &c. He was offered pardon, if he would recant: but he refused so to do, and received martyrdom. Pantal. lib. 7.

Anno 1551. Galeazius Trecius, a Gentleman of good calling, was burned at Laus Pompeia in Italy. A little before he should be burned, there was a controversy betwixt the mayor of the city, and the Bishops Clergy, for the expenses of wood which should go to his burning. He hearing thereof, sent word to both parties to agree, for he himself of his own goods, would see the cost of that matter discharged. But at the suite of his friends, and by persuasions, (after three several examinations, and testimonies given to the truth) he relented. Whereupon, he fell into such grief of mind, that he could not be quiet, till he had occasion offered to recover himself: which afterward he did, denying to the Judges again that which before he had yielded unto them. This Galleazius was first instructed in the truth by an Augustine Frier, named Maniardus, and afterwards more thoroughly confirmed by Celius Secundus, Ex Celio.

Anno 1538. Did one Johannes Mollins, a Gray Frier, secretly expound the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans, to a few. Which being known, his auditors increased, so that he was compelled to read openly in the Temple.

At the same time was one Cornelius at Bononie, a vain babbler: him did Cardinal Campeius require to interpret the same Epistle also, to disgrace Mollins. But Mollins excelled him, and drew to him his auditors. Which when Cornelius perceived, he persuaded the Cardinal to dispatch Mollins. So, a disputation was appointed betwixt them, which endured till three of the clock after midnight. From which disputation Johannes departing, was taken, coming down at the lowest steppes, and carried to prison. In the mean season, Laurentius Spatha, general of his order, in most speedy wise posted up to Rome, and so prevailed in Mollins behalf, that the P. wrote down his letters to Cāpeius, that Johannes should be delivered out of prison: so y ^t within 3. months after, he should personally appear at Rome. Thus, the 30. day of his imprisonment, he was delivered: who, but for the coming of the Popes letters, had been burned within 3. days after. Whē he came to Rome, he was not permitted (as he desired) to dispute openly, but enjoined to write his mind in articles, & to bring his proofs: which he diligently performed, entreating of original sin, justification by faith, free will, purgatory, &c. Upon this, certain Cardinals and Bishops were assigned to have the cause in hearing: who disputed with him. 3. days, and could not refell that which he had proved: At y ^e last, answer was made him, that it was truth which he affirmed, nevertheless, the same was not meet for this present time: for that it could not be taught nor published, without the detriment of the Apostolic sea: wherefor he should abstain hereafter from the epistles of S. Paul, and so again return safe to Bononie, and there profess philosophy. Thus being returned home, he declareth all the matter in the pulpit: wherewith Campeius more offended then before, obtained of the pope, that the general of the order, should remove Molins from Bononia, and place him elsewhere. So, from thence he was sent to Naples, and there was appointed preacher in y ^e Monastery of S. Laurence. But Petrus the viceroy there, could not abide his doctrine, and so nearly sought his life, that he departed, and went wandering into Italy from place to place, preaching Christ. Not long after this, Campeius being dead, he returned again to Bononia, being called thither by a good Abbot, named de Crassis, an. 1543. where he renewed again the reading of Paul's Epistles, after a secrete forte: but that could not long be vndiscouered. Whereupon, by means of Cardinal de Capo, and by Bonauentora the General he was apprehended the second time, and brought to Fauentia, and there laid in a filthy stinking prison: where he continued 4. years, no man having leave once to come to him. During which time, he wrote a Commentary upon y ^e books of Moses: which labor was suppressed by the adversaries. At length, through the intercession of the Earl Petilianus, and the good Abbot de Cassis, he was again delivered, and sent to Rauenna, where he made his abode a while w ^t the Abbot, after at Vitalem: and there again taught the gospel of Christ, as before. And whensoever he spake of the name of Jesus, his eyes dropt tears, he was so fraught with a mighty feruentnes of God's spirit. In process of time, whē y ^e abbot was dead, his sureties begā to be weary of their bond, and so was he again the third time imprisoned by the Popes Legates. There were then 4. men of great authority, who bayled him out of prison again: of whom, one took him home to instruct his childrē: at whose fame, such a concourse came to see him, that the adversaries consulted w ^t themselves to kill him: whereupon commandment was sent to the Popes Legates, to lay hands upon him, and to send him up fast bound to Rome, where again the fourth time he was imprisoned in the castle of Nouie, and there continued eighteen months, and at last the 5. of September, anno 1553. there sat upon him 6. Cardinals, beside the judge, and condemned him with a weauer of Perusium, in the temple of S. Mary, called De Minerva: first to be hanged & then burned: which sentence being pronounced against him, he cited them up to the tribunal seat of Christ: and so they were both had to the place of execution, and suffered meekly for the testimony of the truth. Pantal. lib. 19.

Anno 1554 [ 1554] two monks of S Augustine in Rome, were found in their selles, with their tongues & heads cut off, only for rebuking the outrageous excess of the Cardinals. Manlius in dictis P. Melanct.

The same year, Franciscus Ganiba was first strangled, and then burned at the city of Canum, in the diocese of Milan, for the testimony of the truth: having his tongue first bored, that he might not speak. Pantal. lib. 10.

Anno 1555. Pomponius Algerius was burned alive at Rome, after he had been long detained in prison at Venice: where being in prison, he wrote a notable Epistle to the afflicted Saints, full of consolation.

An. 1559. Johannes Aloisius suffered at Rome. And the same yere Jacobus Bouellus at Messina. They were both sent down from Geneva, to the parties of Calabria, there to minister, Ex Epist. Sim. Flo.

After Pope Julius 3. came Marcellus 2. After him Paulus 4. After whom, Pius 4. Who raised such sharp persecution in the kingdom of Naples, that many Noble men, with their wives, & others, were reported there to be slain. Pantal. lib. 11.

The same yere, 1560. 88. persons put together into one house, both young & old, one after another, were taken out of the house: and so being laid upon the butchers stall, with one blouddy knife were all killed in order in Calabria. Pantal. lib. 11.

It is to be noted, that the Pope did promise Marques Buccianus governor of the province of Calabria, to make his son a Cardinal of Rome, if all the Lutherans of that province were rooted out: which might be the cause of this butcherly cruelty.

The persecution of Merindole and Cabriers.

ABout 200. years ago, this people is said to come out of the country of Piedmount, to inhabit in Prouence, in certain villages destroyed by wars, and other desert places, wherein they used such labor, and diligence, that they had abundance of corn, wine, oil, almondes, with other fruits. They had of long time refused the Bishoppe of Rome's authority, and observed ever a more perfect kind of doctrine, then others, (delivered unto them from the Father to the son) ever since the year 1200. In the year 1530. [ 1530] understanding that the Gospel was preached in certain towns of Germany, and Switzerland, they sent thither two learned men, that is, Georgius Maurellus, borne in Delph, and Petrus Latomus, a Burgundian, to confer with the learned ministers in the doctrine of the Gospel. Which done, as they returned through Burgundy, Petrus Latomus was taken at Dyion, and cast into prison: Maurellus escaped, and returned to Merindoll, with books and letters, which he brought with him from the churches of Germany: Whereby they being instructed, sent for the moste ancient brethren, and chiefest in knowledge in all Calabria, and Apulia, to consult with them, touching the reformation of the Church. Whereby the Bishops were so moved, that they raged greatly against them. Among other, there was one John de Roma, a Monk, who was most cruel: and among other his cruelties, he used to examine them thus: he filled bootes with boiling greace, and put the bootes upon their legs, tying them backward to a form, with their legs hanging down over a small fire, and so examined them: thus he tormented very many, and in the end most cruelly put them to death. The first whom he thus tormented, were Michellotus Serra, and William Melius, with a number mo. But God's vengeance fell heavily upon him, for first he was condemned for this cruelty, by the high court of parlement of Prouence: and avoiding that sentence by flying to Avigno, he was stricken with such a horrible disease, that no man durst come nigh him, alive or dead. He did so horribly stink whē he was dead, there was none would come near him to bury him, but a young novice newly come to his order, caught hold with an hook upon his stinking carrion, and drew him into a hole, which was made for him hard by. While he was in torments and anguish, he cried out oftentimes in great rage, oh, who will deliver me? who will kill me, and rid me out of these intolerable pains, which I know I suffer for the evils & oppressions I have done to the poor men? &c.

After the death of this monster, the B. of Aix, by his official Perionet continued the persecution by the hands of the ordinary judge called Meiranus a cruel tyrant: who without form of law, such as the judge had pronounced to be heretics, he put to death with most cruel torments.

In the time of Bartholomew Cassanus president of the parlement of Aix, a most cruel tyrant: they of Merindoll in the person of 10. were cited personally to appear before y ^e kings atturney. But they hearing that the court had determined to burn them, without order of law; durst not appear at the day appointed, for which cause the court awarded a most cruel sentence against Merindoll, & condemned all the inhabitants to be burnt, both men and women, sparing none, no not the little children, and infants: the town to be rased, and their houses beaten down to the ground: also the trees to be cut down, as well Olive, as other, and nothing to be left, to the end it should never be inhabited, but remain as a wilderness. This sentence against the Merindolians, the concubine of the Bishop of Aix, labored greatly to have executed, especially because (as the Bishop of Aix told her) they held, that all Bishops, pastors and, priests, ought either to be married or gelded: for which she said, she hated them to the very death, and would employ goods, and freends, to work their destruction.

The Archbishop of Arles, the Bishop of Aix, & diverse Abbots, and Priors, consulted how to execute the arrest with all speed, and by the advice of the Bishop of Aix they went to Avigno, there with other Prelates to entreat of the matter: in which assembly they made a general composition, confirmed with an oth, that every mā should endeavor himself, that the arrest of Merindoll should be executed with all expedition, every man offering to furnish out men of war according to his ability, the charge whereof was given to the B. of Aix. After this council holden, the next day they banketted at the house of the Bishop of Rieux: to which banket all the fairest women of Avigno were called, to solace these good Prelates: after they had dined, they fell to dancing, dicing, and such other pastimes: which being ended, they walked abroad to solace themselves till supper: as they passed the street, everyone leading his minion upon his arm, they saw a man which sold bawdy pictures, and ballades, all which the Bishops bought up, being as many as a mule could well carry: and if any sentence were obscure in the rime, the Bishops did expound it, with great delight and laughter. In the same place walking along, they found one that sold certain bibles in French, & Latin, which when y ^e prelates perceived, they greatly raged against the man, who answered thē, is not the bible as good as these goodly pictures which you have bought for these gētlewomen? He had scarce spokē these words, when y ^e B. of Aix said, I renounce my part of paradise, if this mā be not a Lutheran: so he was laid hold on, and on the next morrow after, brought before the judges, in presence of the Bishops, & condemned immediately to be burned, with two bibles hanging about his neck: the one before, & the other behind. This sentence was executed the same day: and thereupon, proclamatiō made against all books in the french tongue entreating of the scriptures, under pain of death, to all them that would not bring them in.

After this, the B. of Aix goeth to the president Cassaneus, and laboreth him to put the arrest in execution: who being persuaded thereto, the drum was sounded up through out all Prouence, the captains were prepared with their ensigns displayed, and a great number of footmen, and horsemen, begā to set forward, & marched out of the town of Aix, in order of battle, well horsed and furnished against Merindoll, to execute the arrest. The inhabitants of Merindol hearing thereof, commended themselves, and their cause to God by prayers, making themselves ready to the slaughter, In this while the Lord of Alence, a man, wise and learned in the Scriptures, and in the civil law, altered again the presidents mind: and so the commission was called bark, and the army retired, which was come within a mile & a half, of the town of Merindol, to do the execution. The Merindolians hearing thereof, gave thanks to God, and determined to subject thenselves unto God's will, and to endure whatsoever affliction should be laid upon them. The fame of them, and also of the arrest, came to the king Francis ears; who gave commandment to the noble & virtuous Lord monsieur de Langeay: at that time his Lieutenant in Thurim, a city of Piedmount diligently to inquire the truth of the matter: who sent 2. deputies to inquire: the which deputies made report of y ^e virtue, & diligence of y ^e poor Merindoliās, in such sort that they had by their labor fructified Merindol; y ^t whereas before it was taxed but at 4. crowns, before the destruction & oppression which it suffered, paid yearly to the Lord 350. crowns, besides other charges: they declared also the great oppression, which they had suffered. Besides they had good testimony given of their neighbors of Prouence, what they held also: also, against the popes religion, was truly reported, and the copy of the arrest brought whereof the king was advertised by monsieur de Langeay: who understanding these things, sent letters to them of grace and pardon, not to those only which were condemned for lack of appearance, but also for all the rest of the country of Prouence, which were accused and suspected in like case: commanding the Parlement, that they should not hereafter so proceed: but if there were any that could be proved by sufficient information to have swerued from Christian religion, that then he should have demonstration made unto him by the word of God, out of the old, and new testament: & so by gentleness be reduced to the church of God: commanding also, that those which were convicted of heresy, should abjure, & that all prisoners should be set at liberty: which either were accused, or suspected of Lutheranism. By virtue of which commandment, & letters of the king, they were permitted to declare their cause, Whervpon, they made a confession of their faith,, which was presented first to the court of parlement, & afterward more at large, with articles thereunto annexed: it was delivered to the B. of Cabillon, and to Cardinal Sadolet.

About this time, the year 1542. the vicelegate of Avigno assembled a great number of men of war, at the request of the B. of Cauailon, to destroy Cabriers: when the army was come within a mile of Cabriers, the Cardinal Sadolet went with speed unto the Vicelegate, and shown the articles of the confession of Cabriers, and how they offered to be informed, wherein they had erred, by the word of God: whervppon, at that time, the army retired.

Afterward, it was ordained by the court of Parlement, that according to the kings letters, John. Durand, counselor of the court of parlement, with a secretary, and the Bish. of Cauaillon, with a Doctor of divinity, should go unto Merindoll, and there declare unto the Inhabitants, the heresies which they knew to be contained in their confession: & to make them apparent by good and sufficient information. And having so convicted them by the word of god, they should make them renounce, and abjure the said heresies, &c.

Whereupon, Durand signified the day that he would be present at Merindol, that none of the Inhabitants might be absent. At the day appointed, the parties above mentioned came unto Merindoll, whereas also were present diverse Gentlemen, and men of understanding of all sortes. There was called forth Anthony Mailard, Bailiff of the town of Merindoll, Ienon Roman, and Michelin Maynard, Sindiques, John Cabrie, and John Palenc, Ancients of Merindoll, and John Brunerol, under-bayliffe: who requiring that they might (because they were unlearned) answer by Advocate, were denied either to answer by Advocate, or by writing, but only in their own persons: who notwithstanding, did (by God's assistance) so answer, that the adversaries were ashamed, and durst put in no information of heresy against their articles. But the B. spake a long tale in y ^e Commissioners day, and would declare nothing: and the Doctor made a long tale in latin, and would give no otherwise any information against them. Many that came thither to hear this disputation, were much touched, and moved to require copies of their confession, and answers. Whereupon, many were converted to the faith: & namely, 3. doctors, who went about to dissuade the Merindolians from the truth: whose ministry God used afterward in the preaching of the Gospel. Of whom, one was D. Comband, Prior of S. Maximinie, afterwards Preacher in the territory of the Lord's of Bern: another was D. Semanti, who was also a preacher in the Bayliwike of Touon: the other was D. Herandi, pastor, and minister in the County of Newcastle.

After this, the Inhabitantes of Merindoll were in quiet for a time, until John Miniers, an exceeding bloody tirant, began a new persecution.

This Miniers, being Lord of Opedie, near to Merindol, first began to vex the poor Christians, by polling and extortion, getting from them what he could, to enlarge his own Lordship, which before was very base. For this cause, he put 5. or 6. of his own Tenants into a Cistern under the ground and cloasing it up, there kept them till they died for hunger, (pretending that they wer Lutherans) to have their goods and possessions.

By this, and such other practices, this wretch was aduāced in a short space to great wealth and dignity: and at length became the Kings Lieutenant general in the Country of Prouence, in the absence of the L. Grigitane, then being at the Council of Wormes in Germany: this wretch, impudently, and falsely, giveth the king to understand, y ^t they of Merindoll and Snatre, about the number of twelve or fifteen thousand, were in the field in armor, with Ensign displayde, intending to take the town of Marcelle, & to make it one of the Cantons of the Suitzers. By which lie he obtained the kings letters patentes, and through the help of the Cardinal of Tournon, commanded the sentence of the former arrest to be executed against the Merindoliās.

After this, he gathered all the Kings army, which was then in Prouence, ready to go against the Englishmen: and took up all (besides) that were ready to bear armor in the chief towns of Prouence: and joined them with the army which the popes Legate had levied for that purpose in Avigno, and all the Country of Venice, and employed y ^e same to the destruction of Merindoll and Cabriers, and of other Towns and Villages, to the number of 22. giving commission to his Soldiers, to spoil, ransack, burn, & destroy all together, and to kill man, woman, & child, without all pity, sparing none. Before he came to Merind. he rāsakt & burnt certain towns, namely, La Roche, S. Stephens, ville Laure Lormarin, la motte, Cabrieretter S. Martin, Pipu, and other places mo, notwithstanding the arrest only extended to Merindole, where the most of the inhabitants were murdered, and slain, without any resistance: women, and maidens ravished, women with child, and little infants most cruelly murdered, the paps of many women which gave suck to their children cut of, and the children starving at the breasts of there dead mothers: such cruelty, as was never before seen.

The Merindolians seeing all on a flaming fire about them, left their houses, with women and children, and other few, and with them certain ministers of their Churches. Miniers in the mean time, had divided his army into two parts, marching with the one party himself towards Merindoll: and having knowledge by espiall, whether the Merindolians were fled, he sent the other part of his army to set upon them on a sudden: who came and found them assembled at prayers, and spoiled them of all that they, had pulling their garments from their backs: some they ravished, some they whipped and scourged, some they sold away like cattle, &c. The women were in number about five hundred.

In the mean time, Miniers came to Merindoll, where he found none but a young man, named Maurice Blanc, who had yielded himself to a Soldier, promising him for his ransom 2. French crowns. Miniers would have had him away by force, but it was answered: the soldier ought not to loose his prisoner. Miniers therefore paying the two crowns, himself took the young man, & caused him to be tied to an Olive tree, & shot through with harquebushes, and so cruelly martyred the young man, still calling on God: so he razed Merindoll, and laid it even with the ground. When he had so done, he laid siege to Cabriers: which whē he could not overcome by force, he promised thē fairly, if they would let him enter in, swearing he would harm none of them, whereupon the people let him in: who when he was once entered, falsified his oth, and first picked out about thirty men, caused them to be carried to a certain meadow, bound, and there to be miserably cut and hewn in pieces of his Soldiers: he exercised also great cruelty over the women, and caused forty of them to be taken, of whom many were with child, and put them into a barn full of hey and straw, and caused it to be set on fire at four corners, keeping them that would break out, with pikes and halberts: there was a Soldier which being moved with pity at the lamentation of the women, opened a door to let them out, but as they were coming forth, the cruel tyrant caused them to be slain, and cut in pieces, opening their bellies, that their children might fall out, whom they trode under their feet: many were fled into the wineseller of the Castle, and many hid themselves in caves, whereof some were carried into the meadow, and there stripped naked, were slain, other some were bound two and two together, and carried into the hall of the Castle, where they were slain by the Captains, rejoicing in their buchery. That done, this tyrant commanded captain John de Guy, with a band of ruffians to go into the church (where was a great number of women, children, and young infants) to kill all that he found there: he although at first refusing, yet being threatened, performed the same. The number of them which were slain, was a thousand persons, men, women, and children: the infants which escaped their fury, were baptized again of their enemies.

In token of this ioly victory, the Popes officers caused a pillar to be erected in the place of Cabriers, in which was engraven the year and day of sackyng the town by John Miniers Lord of Oped, and chief president of the Parlement of Prouence. In this mean season, they of Merindoll and Cabriers which had fled to the mountains, being in great necessity of victuals, procured certain men, which were in favor with Miniers, to entreat him, they might depart safely, only with their lives: although they had no more but their shirts to cover their nakedness. Whervnto he answered, not one of them shall escape my hands, I will send them to dwell in hell among the devils.

After this, there was a power sent unto Cossa, which likewise they ouerran, and committed there great slaughter. Many of the inhabitants fled away, and went into an Orchard, where the soldiers ravished the women, & maidens: and when they had kept them there a day and a night, they handled them so beastly, that they died shortly after. They which escaped to the woods, and went wandering by mountains, were taken, and set in gallies, or else were slain outright: many which hid themselves in rocks and dark caves: some were famished, some smothered with fire & smoke put to thē. And this was the destruction of Merindol & Cabriers.

This cause was afterward in the time of Henry the second, fifty times pleaded to and fro, by one called Aubrius, against Minerius, and another named Robertus, the defendant: but it could not be determined, and Minerius was let out of prison, and restored to his possessions, and liberty again: upon condition made to Charles, Cardinal of Loraine, that he should expel the true professors out of all provinces: which he after his restoring, practiced accordingly, till being stricken of God, he died of a rotting in his guts, his entrails being eaten with worms, yielding a horrible stēch. Lewis de Vanie, brother in law to y ^e president, & the brother, & son in law to Peter Durand, master Butcher of the town of Aix, flew one another, upon a strife that fell betwixt them: and on them the same day, the judge of Aix, who accompanied Minerius in the same persecution, as he returned home, going over the river of Durance, fell of his horse, and was drowned Pantal.

The histories of the persecutions and wars against the Waldenses, in the valleys of Angroigne, Lucern, S. Martin Perouse, and other in the country of Piedmount from the year 1555. till the year 1561.

ALbeit these people had before this time, certain to preach the word of God, & minister the sacraments unto them privately: yet in the yere of our Lord 1555. [ 1555] in y ^e month of August, the Gospel was openly preached in Angroign: for which cause, they built thē a church in y ^e mids of Angroign: wherein assemblies were made, & sermons preached. It happened at y ^t time, that one John. Martin of Griqueras, a mile from Angroign, which vaunted everywhere, that he would slitte the ministers nose of Angroign, was assaulted with a wolf, which bit of his nose, that he thereof fell mad.

The year 1556. [ 1556] the ministers of the valley of S. Martins, preached openly. At that time, certain Gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin, took a good mā ( Bartholomew a bookbinder) prisoner, as he passed by the valley, who they sent by & by to Turim, and there, with a marvelous cōstancy, after he had made a good confession of his faith, he suffered death. And moreover, they of the Parlement of Turim, sent one named the President of S. Julian, associating unto him one named de Ecclesia, and others, to hinder their enterprise, admonishing them in the Kings name, and the Parliament of Turim, to return to the obedience of the Pope, upon pain of loss of goods, and life, and utter destruction of their town: & withal he recited unto thē y ^e pitiful destructiō of Merindoll, and Cabriers, and other Towns near about, in the Country of Prouence. To whom they answered, that if it were shown in any point by the word of God, wherein they erred, they were ready to be reformed, & so remained constant, notwithstanding, they received great vexations frō y ^e president: insomuch, that they with one accord presented a brief confession of their faith, with an answer to certain interrogations, made by the president touching the Mass, Auricular confession, Purgatory, Councils, &c. requiring that seeing it is permitted to Turks, Saracens, and Jews, to dwell quietly in the fairest cities of Christendom, they might be suffered to inhabit the desolate mountains and valleis, having their whole religion founded upon the true word and Gospel of Jesus Christ. These articles returned to the Kings court, where they remained a whole year without any answer made: during which time they of the valleys lived in great quietness: whereby the number of the faithful so increased, that throughout the valleys, God's word was truly preached, and his sacraments duly administered, and no mass said in Angroign, nor in diverse places.

The yere following, the president of S. Julian returned with his associates, to Pigneroll, & sent for thither the chief rulers of Angroign, and of the valley of Lucerne: that is, for 6. of Angroign, & for two of every parish beside: saying unto them, that their confession was found to be heretical: & that therefore the K. commanded them to return to y ^e obedience of the church of Rome, under pain of loss, both of life, & goods: enjoining them moreover, to give him answer within 3. days: from thence he went to the valley of Lucern, & threatened them greatly. But this notwithstanding, they persisted constant, and desired that their confession might be amended by the word of God, if any fault were, and they would yield thereunto. With which answer the President was not content. Now, at the same season, the princes of Germany, & certain of the Swiss, sent unto the French K. desiring him to have pity of those churches: so that from that time, for 3. years after, the people were not molested by any of the K. officers: but yet they were sore vexed by y ^e monks of Pigneroll, and the gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin.

At the same time, a Minister of Angroign, named Geoffrey Variala, was taken at Berge, going to visit those churches, and from thence carried to Turin, and there put to death.

A few days after, a minister of the valley of Luserne was taken prisoner at Suse, and soon after sent to Turin, where he was condemned to be burnt, but the hangman at the time of the execution, feigned himself sick, and conveyed himself away, and so did another serve them, whereupon the minister was committed again to prison, where after long and painful endurance, seeing the prison door open, he escaped and returned to his cure.

Now four years being past, Anno 1559. [ 1559] there was a peace concluded, between the French king and the king of Spain: whereupon, the country of Piedmount, certain towns excepted, were restored to the Duke of Savoy: under whose regiment, the foresaid Churches, and all other faithful people of Piedmont continued in great quietness: the Duke himself being contented they should use their former religion. But the Pope and his Cardinals could not bear it, and the popes Legat, who followed the Court, persuaded the Duke by all means, not to suffer this people: y ^e people foreseeing their danger, wrote to the Duke with common consent, showing, that the cause why they were so hated, was their religion: which they desired to be tried by the word of God: but it is not certain, whether this advertisement were delivered to the Duke or not: for, in the month of March following, there was great persecution raised among the poor Christians which were at Carignon: among whom, there were certain godly persons, taken, & burnt within 4. days after: that is to say, one Mathurine and his wife, and John de Carquignan, dwelling in the Valley of Lucern, taken prisoner as he went to the market of Pigneroll. Many at that time fled away: others fearing the cruelty, returned to the church of Rome.

Within few days after, the Churches of Lelarch Meroun, Mean, and Suse, were wonderfully assaulted. The minister of Suse, and Mean, among others were taken, who was put to death in the fire. Of Larch and Meroun, some were sent to the galleyes, other some yielded, and some fled away. It is certainly known, that such as yielded were more cruelly handled than they that continued constant.

The beginning of this horrible persecution, rose of Proclamations made in all places, that none should resort to the sermons of the Lutherans, but should live after the custom of Rome, upon pain of the forfeyture of their goods, and to be condemned to the Gallies forever, or to lose their lives. Three of the most cruel persons that could be found, were appointed to execute this commission.

The first, was one Thomas Iaconel, a Sodomite, and a monster against God and nature. He was a Monk, an Inquisitor of the Romish faith, and a false Apostate.

The second was Collateral Corbis, who (after their refusals of going to mass) used to burn them within 3. days. But it is certainly reported, that seeing the constancy, and hearing the confession of the poor martyrs (feeling a remorse and torment in his conscience) he gave over, and protested he would meddle no more. The 3. was the Prouost de la Justice, a cruel, and crafty wretch.

In that season, one named Charles de Comptes, of the Valley of Luserne, and one of the Lord's of Angroigne, did write unto the Commissioners, that they should use some lenity towards them of the Valley of Luserne: by reason whereof, they were a while more gently entreated then the rest: but the Monks of Pigneroll, with certain ruffians about them, did torment, and burn, and sent to the gallies, such as were of the churches near unto them.

The gentlemen of the Valley of S. Martin, entreated their tenants very roughly, commanding them to return to the mass: and above the rest, two specially, Charles Truchet, and Boniface his brother: who the 2. of April before day, (with a number of Ruffians) spoiled a village of their Subjects, called Reuclaret, and certain of the retinue took a Minister of the same valley prisoner, which was come out of Calabria, and was going to visit the poor people of Reuclaret, and led him prisoner to the Abbey, where, not long after, he was burnt, with another of the Valley of S. Martin. The 3. night after, they of Pragella, sent about 400 to discomfite the company of the Trouchettes, & to restore those that were fled, to their houses: which they did, putting them to flight, with the only loss of one man.

This Charles Trouchet and his brother, did so incense the Duke against the poor people, with false reports, that they persuaded the Duke to build fortresses in the Mountains, and to place garrisons. The people withstood the Commissioners, and sent certain to the Duke: and immediately after, the Commissioners sent also to the D. Court, being at Nice, to inflame his anger more against them. But God otherwise ordained: for, the Trouchets being at Nice, went to sea with diverse noble men: and immediately were taken prisoners by the Turks, put into the gallies, sore beaten w ^t ropes: & long time after (denying their nobility) were sent home having paid 400. crowns for their ransom. Some say, that the D. himself was almost taken, but sure it is, that he fell sick soon after.

In April next following, by means of the L. of Raconis, who was present at a sermon near Angroign, they put up 3 supplications, one to the D. another to the duches, the 3. to D. council: wherein were debated the points of their religiō: they offering to reform what was the wed by God's word to be amiss. After this, the persecution seemed to be stayed for a little while. In June next following, the L. Raconis, & the L. of Trinity, came to Angroign, to persuade the people to put away their preachers, & to receive the mass: which if they would do, they promised to pacify the D. and to be a means to stay the persecution? but the people refused so to do. Wherupon, exclamations were made, & persecutiō began to be more furious on every side: amongst others the monks of Pigneroll were most cruel, who sent out a company of hired Ruffians, that spoiled all they could lay hold on, & led away men, women, and children, captives to the Abbey, where they were most pitifully tormented.

At the same time, also they sent a band of the fame Ruffians by night to the ministers house of S. German, in the valley of Perouse, where they took him, and sore wounded him, and pricked him behind with their halbards, to make him hasten his pace: at that time also many they slue, many they hurt, and many they brought to the Abbey, and there kept them in prison, & cruelly handled them. The minister, after long imprisonment, they roasted at a small fire: when half his body was burnt, he confessed, and cried on the Lord Jesus with a loud voice. Now, forasmuch as the misery was great, and these ruffians, to the number of 300. had made great spoil, that no man could dwell there in safety: it was demanded of y ^e ministers, whether it were lawful for men to defend thenselves against these ruffians, or no: the ministers answered, it was lawful: warning thē in any case, to take heed of bloodshedding. This question being once dissolved, they of the valley of Luserne, and Angroign, sent certain men to them of S Germane to aid them against the supports of these monks.

In the month of July, they of Angroign being in a morning at harvest, upon the hill side of S. Germain, perceived a company of soldiers spoiling them of S. Germain, and doubting they would go to Angroign, made an outcry. The people of Angroign assembled themselves upon the hill and some ran to S. Germain, over the hill, & some by the valley. They y ^t went by the valley met the ruffians coming from S. Germ. laden w ^t the spoil which they had gotten: & being but 50. set upon 20. well appointed, & gave thē y ^e overthrow. Then passing over y ^e bridge, being stopped, y ^e enemies were fain to take the river of Cluzon, where diverse were slain: many drowned, and some escaped very hardly, and such a slaughter was made of them, that the river was died with the blood of them that were wounded and slain, but none of the Angrognians were once hurt: if the river had been as great as it was wont commonly to be, there had not one man escaped alive.

The next day following, the commander of S. Anthony de Fosseaw came to Angroigne, accompanied with diverse gentlemen, saying: he was sent by the duke, commanding them to put away their ministers: which they refused to do. From thence he went to the abbay of Pignorell, where he and Iaconiell caused a number of the poor inhabitants of Campillon: and of Feuill, which be of the valley of Lusern, to be takē prisoners: spoiling them of their goods; driving away their cattle, and forcing them to swear, &c. Therevppon, they wrote unto the Lord of Ranconis, declaring unto him the proceedings of the commander.

After this, there were many commandments, & injunctions, given to banish y ^e poor Valdois, with the doctrine of the Gospel: and in the end of October, next following, a rumor went, that an army was levied to destroy them. And there were indeed certain hands levied ready to march at an hours warning, and those malefactors which heretofore were fled, or banished for any offense were now again called home, and pardoned: so that they would take thē to their weapons, and go to destroy the Waldois. They in y ^e mean time, by the council of their Ministers, fell to fasting, and prayer, and carried all that they could, of their substance, up to the mountains, praising God, and singing Psalms unto him.

The first day of November, Angroign (by proclamations and writings set up in every place) was exposed to fire and sword. The second of November, the army approached to the borders of the Valley of Lusern, and certain horsemē came to a place called S. John, a little beneath Angroign: then the people returned into the mountains: certain of S. John's perceiving that the horsemen not only spoiled their goods, but also carried their fellows away prisoners, set upon them: so they retired to Bubian, where their campe then was, and not one of them of S. John's slain or hurt.

It happened at the same time, that two of the foresaid horsemen, being sore amazed, galloped before y ^e rest towards the army, being ready to march towards Angroign, crying: they come, they come: at whose cry the whole army was so astonished, that every man fled his way: & they were all so scattered, that the captains that day were not able to bring them into order again, and yet no creature followed them.

On the saturday morning the army mustered in the meadow ground near to Angroign: they of Angroigne had sent certain to keep the passages, and stop the army that they should not enter, if it were possible: the number was but few, who perceiving their enemies prepared to fight, prayed first of all to God to assist them. When they perceived their enemies coming toward them, the combat began and endured a long time in the passages of Angroigne. At length the Waldois perceyuing themselves oppressed with the multitude of their enemies, retired to the top of the mountains, where they defended themselves till night. When they had found a place where they might withstand their enemies, still pursuing them, they turned themselves and slue diverse of them, and hurt many.

When the evening came, the enemies rested, & went about to encāp thenselves, there to rest all night. Which things when the Angroigniās perceived, they fell to prayer, but the enemies flouted them: then the people devised a policy, to send a drum into y ^e valleis hard by: & as they were making their prayer unto God, & the drum sounded in the valley, the Lord of Trinity caused his soldiers, which were about to encāpe themselves, to remove thence: which was a great refreshing to the poor people. Many of the enemies that day were slain, & many hurt, of the which very few escaped: of the Angroignians that day were but three slain, & one hurt, who was after healed well again. The L. of Trinity, after ward, placed garrisons there, & much molested y ^e Angroigmans: & after they had commended thenselves to god by prayer, they sent unto them of Perouse, & of S. Martin, and of Pragella for aid, sent them all the help that they were able.

The next day after, there came letters to Angroigne frō the L. of Trinity, in which he excused the outrage that was done: and required them to show themselves obedient to the Duke. They again complaining of their wrongs, offered thenselves w ^t all obedience to be reformed by y ^e word of God, where they had erred, beseeching him, and all the Lord's of Piedmont, to be their intercessors to the duke in this behalf.

Upon Monday being 4. of November, the L. of Trinity sent his army to Villers, & Tailleret: the lesser company ascended toward Villers: the people seeing their enemies approach, after they had with prayer comēded thenselves to God, strongly withstood them, & slue many: many also were hurt, & some fled. The other company ascended toward Tailleret, & although they of y ^e place were but few in mumber, & that part of y ^e army greater, yet making their prayers, & commending their cause to God, they likewise defended thenselves valiātly. In the mean season, they of Villers emboldened by their late victory, came to assist their neighbors, & being assembled together, courageously pursued their enemies, & put them to flight. In this pursuit, it chanced that this poor people by an ambush of their enemies, which came another way, were suddenly enclosed, and like to be destroyed: but yet by God's help they all escaped, and only three hurt, which were soon cured again: on the enemies side there were so many slain, that they lay together by cartlodes. The same day also 17. of Roccapiata put to flight a great number of the inhabitants of Sanson, near to Roccapiata, that went thither, and spoiled a rich man there, of all that he had.

After that the L of Trinity had received the request, and letters of the Angroignians, he sent his secretary Gastant, to move the people, to prosecute a supplication to the Duke, promising that he would return with his army. In which, while they of Angroign perceived, that a part of the army, ascended the hill of Tailleret, and the other part had already got̄ the way, which led to the meadow of Tower (by which means, they of Angroign might easily be enclosed) they sent certain to keep the way: who encountering with their enemies, obtained the victory, not one of them being so much as hurt that day. This treachery, the Lord of Trinity excused, putting the fault in them of Tailleret, who had slain certain of his men in the high way.

The 9. of November he used the like communication, as before, touching an agreement: sending for certain of Angroign, to that intent, as he pretended: whom he persuaded, in token of obedience, to lay down their armor, &c. Which when they had done, he falsified his promise, his soldiers in the mean time spoiling their armor.

A few days after, he sent his secretary Gastāt, to Angroign, to make a full resolution of y ^e agreement, y ^t the people of Angroign should sue for grace to y ^e Duke, in y ^t they had taken up armor for their defense, & y ^t they should humbly beseech him to give thē liberty to continue in their religion they professed, &c. Whervnto they of S. John, of Roccapiata, of S. Bartholomew of Perouse, w ^t other of the valley of Perouse, agreed. Now while they were treating of this agreement, the L. of Trinity vexed cruelly them of Tailleret, pretending the cause, for that they came not to this agreement: for which cause, his soldiers spoiled and sacked most lamentably diverse days together. Al which being done, the L. of Trinity caused the chief of the people to assemble together, and demanded 20000. crowns toward the charges of the Dukes maintenance of his army, against thē in time past. But by the means of his secretary Gastant, who was promised an 100 for a bribe, 4000. were cut of: so they granted 16. thousand, whereof the Duke released the one half.

The poor people being required to pay the 8000. presently, were fain to sell that they had for a little to make a sum: and although the money were paid, yet the army retired not but demanded anew, & forced them to promise the payment of 8000. crowns: which the Duke released. This done, he went about to slay their ministers, but chiefly the minister of Angroign, whom, when they could not get, they spoiled his house and burnt his books, and spoiled 40. houses in Angroign, broke their milles, and carried away the corn and meal, which they found there: and, to be short, the practices of cruelty shown upon the poor people continually, was very strange: as for example, they took at Tailleret, Odul Gemet, a man of sixty years of age, and put him to a cruel death: for when they had bound him, they took a kind of thing, called in French Escarboth, and put them to his nauell, covering them with a dishe, which within short space pierced into his belly, and killed him.

The messengers which were sent to the Duke, after they had been detained there 6. weeks, and cruelly handled, notwithstanding the miseries sustained before, brought a new commandment, that all must go to mass: whereupon, they sent, and declared their distress to them of y ^e same profession in Daulphin: who hearing thereof, joined themselves together in league, for maintenance of the truth: for which cause, certain of the ministers, and elders of the Church of Daulphin, were sent to the valley of Lusern: who arriving there at evē, at the village of Boly, word was brought, that such as would not go to mass, should be condemned to be burnt, or sent to y ^e gallies, which whē they heard, they exhorted one another, saying: let us now make solemn protestatiō, y ^t we will utterly forsake y ^e false religion of the pope, & that we will live and die in the constant profession of God's holy word, and truth. Let us go tomorowe to the temple to hear the word of God: and after this, let us cast down all the Altars and Idols to the ground. To this every man agreeed: and in the very same hour in which they were appointed to answer the commandment, they performed their agreement, both at Bobie, and at Villiers: whether as they went, they encountered a band of soldiers, and put them to flight, the 7. of Feb. In the mean time, the L. of Trinity (after he had committed diverse outrages) being sore beaten of the Angrognians, & diverse of his men slain, especially one of great authority in the D. court) blue a retrait, & descended to Angroign, and there (y ^e people being fled to the meadow of Tower) burnt 1000. houses, & made great spoil. Where, although they oftentimes assayed to set fire on the two temples, and the Ministers house, yet could they not fire them.

Afterward, the Lord of Trinity burnt Rosa, and destroyed it with fire and sword. But the Angroignians had afterwards such a hand of the adversaries, that they put them to flight, with great slaughter. There was one of 18. years of age, and but small of stature, which alone slue the Lord of Monteil, Master of the Campe, as it was told to the K. Another simple man threw down Charles Truchet, with the stroke of a stone, and a young man leapt upon him, and slue him with his own sword, which was four fingers broad, and clave his head in sunder. This Truchet was one of the principal authors of this war, and their chief enemy. The Angroignians pursued them more thā a mile, and made great slaughter.

The 18. of February, the L. of Trinity not satisfied w ^t burning, & destroying the greatest part of towns & cities, endeavored to burn and spoil all the little Villages round about, pertaining to the same: where his, were again by a few, discomfited, through the power of God. And when the enemies at any time rested them, the Angroignians prayed to God, which feared the enemies more, then anything else.

The 18. of March, the L. of Trinity, with an army of six or seven thousand, assailed them again, with the gentlemen of the country: but God gave them victory, after they had cried 3. or 4 times, help us O Lord. The captain of this band was named Bastian, of Vergil, a man very experte in feats of war. He, at the taking of his journey threatened to do great things that day: his hosts hearing that, said, Mōsieur, if our religion be better then theirs, we shall have the victory, else you shall not prevail. Shortly after, the Captain was brought again into his Inn, so wounded, and so feeble, that he was not like to live: then said his hosts unto him, Monsieur, it is now well seen that their religiō is better than ours. After that, being assailed again, they manfully defended themselves, and had almost stricken the L. of Trinity with an harquebush, for the shot brake the wand which he bare in his hand, who seeing his Soldiers in such great numbers slain, he wept bitterly. The next day, one of the principal captains of the army, surrendered his charge to the L. of Trinity, saying unto him, that he would never fight against this people anymore, and so departed.

In that combat there were but 2. of the Waldois slain, and 2. hurt. Through the whole country of Piedmount, every man said, God fighteth for them: and the Soldiers themselves confessed, they were so astonied, that they could not strike. Moreover, they said, that this people never shot, but they killed, or hurt. Some others said, that the ministers (by their prayers) conjured, or bewitched them, y ^t they could not fight. And in truth, such was the success of this people, that only 14. of them were slain in all these conflicts.

The 19. of March, there was a hot skirmish at Angroign: for 3. companies of soldiers went thither to burn all that remained: but they were manfully resisted, so y ^t they, seeing the loss of their men, retired. After y ^t , the L. of Trin. endeavored by all falsehood to destroy the poor people. It fell out, y ^t the L. of Raconis, seeming to be sory for this war, sent an honest man, named Fran. Gilles, to the meadow of Tower, to take advise how he might best further the agreement, who having consulted with the ministers & rulers, and returning home was murdered by two of Angroigne: which greatly grieved the Waldois, who wrote to the Lord of Raconis, excusing themselves, and declaring how it grieved them: promising that they would execute upon them such Justice as was meet in such a case. The L of Raconis writ unto them again, requiring that the offenders might be delivered unto him: whereunto they answered: that upon 3. conditions they should be delivered. 1. That they should not be compelled to do anything against their consciences, & as touching religion nothing should be spoken to thē, but out of y ^e word of God. 2. That spedy justice should be done on thē, & thereafter, this should be no prejudice to y ^e liberties & privileges of Angroign. 3. That the execution should be upon the borders of Angroign, for example: this was accepted, and the offenders delivered, which did redound greatly to the commendation of the Angroignians.

After y ^t the L. of Trinity had greatly vexed them, and yet could not prevail, the rulers of the Waldois requested earnestly the Lord of Raconis, to present a supplication, which they had made to the Duches of Savoy: wherein they declared y ^e equity of their cause, protesting all due obedience to y ^e Duke, their sovereign Lord: & if it might be proved by the word of god, that they had held any error, they would (w ^t humble submission) receive correction, & be reformed: Hūbly beseeching her grace, to appease the displeasure that the D. had conceived against them, by the untrue surmises of their adversaries: and if in anything they had offended, they craved his most gracious pardō. About this time, the L. of Trinity was in danger of death by sickness. Soon after the supplication was delivered, the duches sent an answer to y ^e Valdois, by the L. of Raconis, of hard conditions: as, that they should banish their ministers, receive the mass, & suffer no more preaching: & y ^t the D. would at his pleasure make fortresses all the country over: which when they understood they made request unto her again, that these conditions might be moderated with certain other demands for their liberty: and above all, they beseeched her to take pity on them, and that they might not be compelled to do anything against their conscience, &c. After which supplication viewed and read of the Duches, she so persuaded the Duke, that answer was made according to their mind, preaching permitted with free liberty, their goods restored, and freedoms, liberties, general and particular restored. Yet so, that Mass should be said in all the parishes of these Valleis, & no man compelled to come to the same: the captives were also restored, that were sent to the gallies, and reasonable ransom taken for the prisoners of the Waldois: and so, through the means of the Duchesse, the poor Waldois have been quiet until this day.

Anno 1526. [ 1526] a certain Jew in Constantinople, was converted to the faith, which when the Turks knew, they slue him, and cast out his dead body, not suffering it to be buried: which lay 9. or 10. days incorrupt keeping color and freshness, as if it had not been dead, with a pleasant & delectable savor: which when the Turks beheld, they buried the body themselves, being greatly astonied thereat.

The Abridgement of the second volume of the Ecclesiastical history of the Acts and monuments of Martyrs from the time of King Henry the eight, to Queen Elizabeth, our gracious Lady now reigning.

ANno 1519. Mistress Smith widow, Robert Harchets shoomaker, Archer Shoemaker, Thomas Bond Shoemaker, Wrigsham a Glover, Lansedall a hosier, were on Ashwednesday taken and put in prison, and the week next before Easter were condemned for relapse, (because most of them had borne fagottes in the same City before) to be burned at Coventry: the principal cause of their apprehension was, that they taught their family the Lord's prayer, and ten commandments in English; Mistress Smith only was dismissed for that present, and sent away, but as Mourton the Somner was leading her home, (because it was somewhat dark in the evening) by the arm, hearing the rattling of a scrol within her sleeve, yea said he, what have you here? and finding that it was the Lord's prayer, the belief, and the ten commandments in English, Ah syrah (said he) as good now, as another time, come, and so he brought her back again to the Bishop, where she was immediately condemned, and so burned with the six before mentioned, the fourth day of April in a place thereby called the little Park.

Anno 1521. Robert Sylkes who was one of the former company, and by flight escaped, was brought to Coventry two years after, and burned the morrow after he came thither, which was about the 13. day of January These Martyrs being thus dispatched, the Sheriffs took their goods and cattle to their own use, their wives and children being left destitute.

Anno 1527. Patrick Hamleton a Scotchman borne of a noble house, the first day of March was condemned for the testimony of the truth, and burned at Saint Andrew's in Scotland, he (at the University of Marpurge in Germany, by conference with Franciscus Lambertus ) did so grow in knowledge and zeal, that he first there set up conclusions to be disputed of concerning faith and works, The articles wherefore he was condemned, were these: 1. Man hath no free will. 2. Man is justified by faith in Christ. 3. A man so long as he liveth is not without sin. 4. He is unworthy to be called a Christian which believeth not that he is in grace. 5. Good works do not make a good man, though a good man doth good works. 6. An evil man bringeth forth evil works, which being repented of, do not make an evil man. 7. Faith, hope and charity cannot be severed in one man in this life. For the condemnation and burning of this man, the divines of Leuven, by letters gave thanks unto the Archbishop of Saint Andrew's, and the Divines of Scotland,

This Patrick Hamleton cited the black Frier called Cambell who accused him, to appear before God, to answer the innocence of his death, and named a certain day when, before which time the Frier died without remorse of conscience. Patrick Hamelton wrote a Treatise of divinity called Patrickes places: and they were translated out of Latin (wherein he wrote them) into English by John Frith.

A few years after, the Archbishop of S. Andrew's burned Henry Forest (who had taken orders of Bennet and Collet ) for saying, Master Patrick was a martyr, and his opinion good. He was betrayed by Walter Long a Friar: to whom he confessed himself. He suffered death at the North Church style of S. Andrew's.

Within a year after the martyrdom of Henry Forest, or there about, James Hamleton, the brother of Patrick Hamleton the martyr, was called in question for maintaining the opinions of his brother: but the king, James the 5. gave him counsel to depart, and not appear: which if he did, he could not help him; for the Bishops had persuaded him, that the cause of heresy did not appertain unto the king. So he fled and was condemned as an heretic, and all his goods confiscate.

Catherine Hamleton his sister, and Aunt to the king, recanted her opinion touching justification without respect of works, being thereto persuaded by the king: and so escaped.

At the same time also an honest woman of Lieth, for crying in her travel; Christ help me, when the mydwife bad her say, Our Lady help me, was caused to recant.

About the same time Master Norman Gurley, because he denied purgatory, and said the Pope was Antichrist, and would not recant, was condemned by James Hay Bishop of Rose, & commissioner of James Beton Archbishop of S. Andrew's, and burned upon the greenes side betwixt Lieth and Edinburgh. With him was burned David Straton, for saying there was no purgatory, but the passion of Christ, and tribulations of this world he was also falsely accused to have said, no tithes were to be paid, for that he casting his fishes to the Vicar of Eglisgrige, some fell into the Sea.

Anno 1532. Thomas Harding, who with his wife, before had abjured, after long penance was burned (as a relapse, being condemned by John Longland Bishoppe of Lincoln) at the North ende of the town of Chesham in the Dell going to Botley; when they had set fire on him, there was one that dashed out his brayns with a billet. It was supposed of them, that they might have forty days of pardon that should carry wood to his burning, on hope whereof many people caused their children to bear billets and fagottes to the burning of Martyrs. He was burned on the even of Corpus Christi day, being of the age of threescore years and above.

About the same time, diverse others suffered trouble for the doctrine of the truth, as under Doctor London, Maistresse Alice Dolie being accused of her maid Elizabeth Wighthill, for holding against Purgatory, against Images, for the articles of the Creed in English: this was about 1520.

Anno 1525. [ 1525] Frier Hackman for holding free salvation by grace.

Anno 1525 Also Robert West priest of S. Andrew under shaft, for commending Martin Luther &c. for which he was abjured, ibid.

Anno 1530. John Ribourne was accused by both his sisters, his own wife, and of his own father; (who were compelled by John Longland Bishop of Lincoln, to depose against him concerning meats, Purgatory, pilgrimage, prayer in the English tongue, &c.

John Eaton and Cecil his wife of the parish of Spure were detected by Richard Ryburne, for holding down their heads at the sacring time, and when the belles did ring at the feast of exaltation of the holy cross, between Mattines and Evensong, for saying What a clampering of belles is here?

Thomas Lounde priest who had been with Luther two years, being afterward cast in the Fleet at London was a great instructer of John Ribourne afore mentioned.

At the same time under John Longland Bishoppe of Lincoln, John Simonds, was molested for denying Purgatory, for denying singleness of priests, it was also testified against him, that he converted eight priests, & had holpen two or three friers out of their orders.

Under the same Bishop about that time, were these persons following examined, excommunicated, and abjured, for being together in John Tailors house of Hichenden, and there hearing Nicholas Fielde of London, to read a parcel of Scripture in English to them, and expound to them many things against images offerings, prayer in the Latin tongue, against the Sacraments of the Altar, purgatory, &c. Their names were these: William Wingrave, Thomas Haukes of Hichenden, Robert Hawes of West Wickam, John Taylor, John Hawkes, Thomas Herne of Colshill, Nicholas Fielde, Richard Dean, Thomas Clarke the younger, William Hawkes of Chesham.

Under John Longland Bishop of Lincoln, Simon Wisdom of Burford was molested for the Gospel, the Psalter, the sum of holy Scripture in English, so James Alger, or Aliger, because he said every Christian man living after the laws of God is a Priest, he would no dole for his soul, and denied Purgatory &c. He had not of long time been confessed, and for denying the Priests power of absolution, with the other before was compelled, to seek reconcilement in the Church and to abjure the truth.

Anno 1526. [ 1526] Pope Clement the seventh absolveth the oath made of the French king to the Emperor, and joineth together a confederacy of the Venetians and other Princes against the Emperor, whereof the Duke of Burbone and other of the Emperors Captains having intelligence, gathered their armies together, and after much fighting and bloodshed about Milan, Hawde and Cremona at length they approached, and bent their siege against Rome, and after three sharp assaults obtained the City with the whole spoil thereof. Where he besieged the foresaied Pope with his Cardinals in the mount of Adrian, and took him prisoner.

Anno 1527. [ 1527] In the Castell of saint Angel, at which time Rome suffered more spoil then of the Goathes and Vandalles, the Soldiers that daily lay at the siege of the Castell made iestes of the Pope: sometime they had one riding like the Pope with a whore behind him, sometimes he blessed, and sometime he cursed, and sometime they would with one voice call him Antichrist, &c.

When the Cardinal Wolsey here in England heard how his father of Rome was taken prysoner, he labored to the Kinge to fight against the Emperor for the delivery of the Pope, which the Kinge refused by his own person or his people to do: but yielded to the Cardinal of his treasure, to take what himself thought convenient: who thereupon made out of the Kings treasure, twelve score thousand pounds, and carried it over the sea with him: which when he came to the kings court at Amiens, he converted to the hiring of Soldiers, and furnishing out the French kings army, appointing also certain English Captains in the king of England's name, to go against the Emperor to restore the Pope: all which army was paid with the king of Englandes money. The cause why the Cardinal bare the Emperor this malice, after some writers, appeareth to be this: At what time as Pope Clement was taken prysoner, the Cardinal wrote unto the Emperor, that he should make him Pope, but when he had received an answer that pleased him not, he waxed furious mad, and wrote many menacing letters unto the Emperor, that if he would not make him Pope, he would make such a ruffeling between Christian princes as was not this hundred years before, yea though it should cost the whole Realm of England. Whose ambitious endeavor the king himself did also favor, as it appeareth by instructions given of the King to his Ambassadors at Rome, to that effect that Wolsey might be placed in the papacy after the death of Pope Clement: to the ende, he might compass his cause of divorce.

While the Ambassadors were traveling at Rome for the advancement of the Cardinal to be Pope, if Clement were dead; he played here the Persecutour at home: First, he caused Friar Barns an Augustine Friar, to bear a fagotte, for certain pointes which he called heresy: he caused two merchants of the Still yeard to bear fagottes, for eating flesh on Friday. This was about, Anno 1526.

Anno 1528. [ 1528] The Cardinal caused Arthur Bilney, Geffery Lound, and Garret to be abjured for speaking against the Popes authority and his pompous pride.

Anno 1529. The Cardinal was cast in a Premunire and execution performed upon him, he forfeited all his Lands, Tenementes, goods and cattle, and should have been put out of the Kings protection: but the king sent him a sufficient protection, and of his gentleness left to him the Bishoprics of York and Winchester, and gave unto him plate and stuff convenient for his degree.

Anno 1530. In the month of November was summoned a general parliament to be holden at Westminster, in which, Syr Thomas Moore succeedeth in the Lord Chauncelourship unto the Cardinal. The Commons in this Parliament propounded their griefs against the spiritualty, which were especially six. First, the excessive fynes that the Ordinaries took for probate of Testaments: as, a thousand marks paid for the will of Syr William Compton knight, as Syr Henry Guilforde knight, one of the executors, declared in open Parliament. The second [ 2] cause, the great polling which the spiritual men used in taking of corpse, presents or mortuaries. The third, that [ 3] priests being surueyors, stewards, and officers to Bishops, Abbots &c. had and occupied farms, graunges and grasing in every country. The fourth cause was, that Abbots, Priors, [ 4] and spiritual men kept Tannehouses, and bought and sold wool, cloth, and all manner of merchandise, as other temporal merchants did. The fifth cause was their non residencie [ 5] from their flocks, and residencie in the court of Lord's houses. The sixth was, that unlearned priests had ten or [ 6] twelve benefices, and learned scholars in the universities wanted both benefice and exhibition: all which grievances were redressed the same parliament. During the same parliament, there was brought down to the commons the book of Articles, which the Lord's had put up to the king against the Cardinal, the chief whereof were these: First, that he without the Kings consent had procured himself to be Legate. 2. In all writings that he wrote to Rome, he wrote I and my King. 3. That he slandered the Church of England to the Court of Rome, which he said was facta in reprobum sensum. 4. He without the Kings assent, carried the great seal with him into Flaunders, when he was sent Ambassador to the Emperor. 5. Without the kings consent, he sent commission to John Gregory de Cassalis Knight, to conclude a league between the king and the Duke of Ferrarie. 6. That he having the Frenchpockes, presumed to come and breath on the king. 7. That he caused the Cardinals hatte to be put on the kings coin. 8. That he had sent innumerable substance to Rome for the obtaining of his dignities, to the impoverishing of the Realm. These Articles were confessed all, of the Cardinal, and assigned with his hand.

Anno. 1531. [ 1531] Notwithstanding the kings goodness towards him, the Cardinal being in his Dioces, wrote to the Court of Rome, and to diverse other Princes, letters in reproach of the king, and endeavored to win favor of the people with pomp, and great gifts to the Gentlemen; which the king (although he knew his doings) dissembled all that year, till he saw his heart so lift up with pride, that he thought it not convenient to suffer him any longer; so he directed his letters to the Earl of Northumberland, willing him with all diligence to arrest him, and to deliver him to the Earl of Shrewsburie; which was accordingly done, and the vi. day of November he was conveyed from Cawood to Sheffielde Castle, and there delivered to the Earl of Shrewesburies keeping.

When the Cardinal was thus arrested, the king sent Sir William Kingstone, knight, Captain of the Garde, and Constable of the Tower of London, to fetch the Cardinal to the Tower; when the Cardinal saw the Captain of the Garde, he was so sore astonished, that shortly after he became sick; men said he willingly took such quantity of a strong purgation, that his nature was not able to bear it, and the matter that came from him was so black, that the stayning thereof could not be gotten out of the Blankettes by any means. By easy iourneies he was brought to the Abbey of Leicester, the xxvij. day of November, where (for very feebleness of nature, caused by purgations and vomits) he died, the second night following, and there lieth buried.

It is testified by one yet living, in whose arms the Cardinal died, that his body being dead, was black as pitche, and was so heavy that six could scarce bear him: and furthermore, did so stink above the ground, that they were constrained to hasten the burial thereof in the night season, before it was day. At the which burial, such a tempeste, with such a stink there arose, that all the Torches went out, and so he was thrown into the Tomb.

This Cardinal founded a new College in Oxford: for the furniture whereof he had gathered together all the best learned he could hear of: amongst which number were these, Clarke, Tyndale, Summer, Frith, and Tauerner, with other mo. Which holding assembly together in the College, were counted to be Heretics, and thereupon were cast into a prison of the College where was kept Saltfish, through the stink whereof the most part of them were infected, and Clarke thereof died, being young and tender, and a man of singular learning among them all. And other in other places in the Town also, of the same infection deceassed. In the time of the Cardinal, Master Humfrey, who was a right godly and sincere Alderman of London, was troubled and put in the Tower for the Gospel of Christ, and for the maintaining of them that favored the same: but at length he was forced to abjure, and after was made knight by the king, and Sheriff of London.

Anno 1530. Thomas Hitten a Preacher at Maidstone, after long torments & sundry imprisonments, by Will. Warham Bishop of Canterbury, and Fisher Bishop of Rochester, was burned at Maidston for the testimony of y ^e truth.

Anno 1531. Thomas Bilney of Cambridge, professor of both Laws, converted Thomas Arthur, and M. Hugh Latimer, then Crossebearer at Cambridge on procession days, and preached against the intolerable pride of the Clergy, and the authority of the Bishop of Rome, being associate with Arthur; whereof the Cardinal hearing, cast him into prison, and anno 1527. accompanied with a great number of Bishops, as Canterbury, Cutbert of London, John of Rochester, &c. came into the chapterhouse at Westminster, where Bilney & Arthur were brought before them. Where the Cardinal demanded, whether Bilney had preached any of the opinions of Luther, contrary to the Catholic Church Whereto Bilney answered negatively, & being asked again of the Cardinal, whether he had not taken an oath not to preach, or defend any of the opinions of Luther, he granted he had so sworn, but not lawfully. Which Interrogatories so ministered, and answer made, the Cardinal caused him to swear to answer plainly to the Articles and errors, preached and set forth by him. Who having been thus sworn and examined, the Cardinal proceeded to the examination of M. Arthur there present, causing him to take the like oath. Then the Cardinal and the Bishops by their authority, ex officio, did call for witnesses against M. Bilney, John Huggen, chief Provincial of the Friars Preachers throughout all England, Geoffrey Iulles, and Richard Iugwoorth, Professors of divinity of the same order. Also W. Ierkett Gentleman, William Nelson, and Thomas Williams: and so the Cardinal (because he was otherwise occupied in the affairs of the realm) committed the matter to the hearing of the Bishop of London, and two other Bishops there present, or to three of them.

The xxvij. of November, in the year aforesaid, the B. of Londō, with the B. of Eli & Rochester, came into the B. of Norwiches house, whereas likewise ex officio, they did swear certain witnesses against M T. Arthur, in like sort as before against M. Bilney, & warned him on his oath, he should not reveal his examinations, nor answers, nor any part of thē.

The second day of December, the B. of London with other Bishops, assembling in the place aforesaid, after that Bilney had denied utterly to return to the church of Rome, the B. of London did exhibit into the Notaries, in the presence of M. Bilney, v. Epistles, w ^t one schedule in one of the Epistles, containing his articles & answers, folded therein, & another epistle folded in manner of a book with vi. leaves, which all he commanded to be registered, & the originals to be delivered unto him again, & bound the Notaries w ^t an oath for the safe keeping of the copies. The Interrogatories were concerning Ecclesiastical constitutions; Luther's doctrine; the church Images; a third place; Images; fasting days; prayer to Saints, faith without works, prayer in an unknown tongue, &c. to the number of 34. Whereto Bilney made such answer as the Prelates were nothing satisfied,

The iv. day of December, the Bishop of London with other Bishops his assistants, assembled again at the Chapter house of Westminster, whither Master Bilney was also brought, who being often, and earnestly required to submit himself, answered diverse times, Fiat iustitia & iudicium in nomine Domini. Then the Bishoppe after deliberation, putting off his cap, said: In nomine patris, &c. And making a cross on his forehead and on his breast, gave sentence against M. Bilney there present, in this manner.

I by the consent and counsel of my brethren here present, do pronounce thee Thomas Bilney, who hast been accused of diverse articles, to be convict of heresy, and for the rest of the sentence, we take deliberation till tomorrow.

The v. day of December, the Bishops assembled there again, and exhorted Bilney diverse times to return to their Church, and permitted him to go into some secrete place, there to consult with his friends, till one of the clock at after noon of the same day. At after noon, the Bishop of London again asked him whether he would return, and acknowledge his heresies. But Bilney required to bring in witnesses to clear him, which would not be granted him. And when they urged him again, he said he would give no other answer than he had. If they should prove that he was sufficiently convict, he would submit himself, and desired again to have time and space to bring in his refused witnesses.

After great instancie on the Bishops parte with Bilney to recant, or else the sentence must be read, he required the Bishoppe to give him license till the next morrow, to deliberate with himself, whether he might abjure the heresies, wherewith he was defamed, or no: Whereto the Bishop at the last granted, and gave him two nights respite to deliberate, that is, till Saturday at nine of the Clock in the forenoon.

The vii. day of December, in the year and place aforesaid, the Bishop of London, with the other Bishops, being assembled, Bilney also personally appeared, and being demanded whether he would now recant, he answered, he was persuaded by Master Dankaster & other of his friends so to do, and so there openly read his abjuration, and subscribed to it, and delivered it to the Bishoppe, who then did absolve him, and enjoined him penance, that he should abide in prison appointed by the Cardinal, till he were by him released. And moreover, the next day he should go before the Procession in the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul bare headed, with a fagotte on his shoulder, and should stand before the Preacher at Paul's Cross, all the sermon time.

The space of two years after his abjuration, that is, from the yere 1529. to the yere 1531. Bilney lived in great anguish of mind, and half in despair for his grievous fact, and at length, by God's grace, and good counsel, he came to some quiet of mind and conscience, and fully resolved to give over his life for the confession of that truth which he before had renounced And thus being fully determined, he took his leave at ten of the clock at night, of certain of his friends, and said that he would go to Jerusalem, alluding to the words of Christ, what time he was appointed to suffer his passion. So from thence he departed into Norfolk, where he preached in private households, and confirmed an Anchres, whom he had converted to Christ. Then preached he openly in the fields, confessing his fact, and preached publicly the doctrine which he before abjured. And at Norwich he was apprehended, and carried to prison, there to remain, til blind Bishop Nixe sent up for a wryt to burn him. Who after his examination and condemnation before Doctor Pells, Doctor of law and Chancellor, first was degraded by Suffragane Vnderwood, according to their popish manner, by the assistance of all the Friers and Doctors of the same suite. Which done, he was immediately committed to the lay power, and to the two Sheriffs, of whom Thomas Necton was one, Bilneys especial good friend.

After this the Friday following at night, which was before the day of execution, he bare himself very cheerfully among his friends, to their great comfort. The Saturday next following, he was brought forth to execution without the city gate, called Bishops gate, in a low valley, called the Lollards pit, under Saint Leonards hill, accompanied with Doctor Warner his old acquaintance, parson of Winterton. Goyng to execution, he was comforted secreetly by one of his acquaintance, that willed him to stand sure and constant: to whom he answered, that whatsoever storms he passed in this venture, yet shortly after said he, my ship shall be in haven: and desired him to help him with his prayer. Before his going to the stake, he confessed his faith, and after that, went to it, and prayed: which done, he stood upon the ledge of the stake made for him, to the end he might be the better seen, and the chain was cast about him: and standing thereon, Doctor Warner came to him to bid him farewell: which spake but few words for weeping: upon whom Thomas Bilney did gently smile, and inclined his body to speak with him a few words of thanks, and the last were these: O Master doctor feed your flock, Feede your flock: that when the Lord cometh, he may find you so doing: and farewell good master Doctor, and pray for me. While he stood thus vpō the ledge of the stake, certain Friers, Doctors & Priors, being present at his examination & degradation, prayed him to clear them to the people, least they should withdraw their alms from them: which he did according to their request. Then by reason of the great wind, the fire thrice departed, and had recourse before it could be sharp enough to consume him. In the which (til he gave up the Ghost) he knocked his breast, sometime crying, Jesus, sometime Credo, and so gave witness to the truth, and slept in the Lord.

About Anno 1527. Simon Fish, who fled over the seas, as Tyndale, for fear of the Cardinal, whom he had offended, in playing a parte against the Cardinal in a play, made the book of the Supplication of the beggars: and the next year sent it to the Lady Anne Bulleine, which book her brother seeing in her hand, took and read it, and gave it her again, willing her to give it to the King: which thing she so did.

About Anno 1528. [ 1528] The king understanding who made it, and how for fear of the Cardinal he had fled over seas, kept it in his bosom iii. or iv. days: which Fishes wife understanding, and having encouragement of certain about the King, that signified tokens of the kings good liking, she made suite to the king for the safe return of her husband: whereto he most graciously granted. Whervpon after two years and an half of absence he returned, and was of his wife brought unto the king, about the year 1530. who embraced him with most loving countenance: and after iii. or iv. hours talk, as they were riding on hunting, dismissed him, and gave him his protection.

About the same time also, M. Moddis the kings footman, being in talk with the king, of religion, and of new books that were come frō beyond seas, said: if his grace would pardon him, & such as he would bring to his grace, he should see such a book as was marvelous to hear of. The king demanded who they were: he said ii. of your merchaunts, George Eliot, & George Robinson. The king appointed a time to speak with them, & so did: & caused one of them, G Eliot to read the book unto him. Which being read, the king made along pause, and then said, if a man should pull down an old stone wall, & begin at the lower part, the upper part thereof might chance to fall on his head. And then he took the book and put it into his deske, and commanded them upon their allegiance, not to tell to any that he had seen the book. Against the supplication of the beggars, sir Thomas Moore wrote, under the title of poor seely souls pewling out of purgatory, to which John Fryth made a pithy and effectual reply.

When the Cardinal and Prelates understood of the supplication of beggars, and other English books, they gave out a commission against reading of English books, and namely the book of Beggers, and the New Testament of Tindals translation, which was done out of hand by Cutbert Tunstall bishop of London, and a short time after, they had procured an inhibition by the kings proclamation, Anno 1529. [ 1529] both against English, & other in the Latin tongue, which contained ought against their superstition, whereupon ensued great persecution and trouble, whereof first tasted Thomas Bilney aforesaid.

Anno 1529. came forth the New testament of Tindals translation, which Tunstall and Moore devised to suppress (through the counsel of Augustine Packington a Mercer and Tindals freend) by buying all the copies, for which he gave very largely, and so furnished Tyndale with monie, that he corrected them and set them forth again in greater plenty then before, being relieved with the Bishops money, wherewith the bishop being grieved, declared unto Packington, how they swarmed more then before, to whom said he: my Lord, you were best to buy the stamps too, and so shall you be sure: at which answer the bishop smiled, and so the matter ended.

The same year that Bilney suffered Anno 1531. the month of November, Richard Bayfield suffered for the testimony of the truth, and was burned in Smithfield, he was sometime a moonke of Surrie, and converted by Doctor Barns, and two godly men of London brickmakers, Master Maxwell and Master Stacie Wardens of their company. He so profited in the doctrine of Christ in two years, that by the Moonkes of this house; he was caste into prison, and there endured sore whipping with a gagge in his mouth, and then stocked, and so continued in the same torments three quarters of a year, before Doctor Barns could get him out; which at length he did by the means of one doctor Ruffani of the same house. From thence Doctor Barns carried him to Cambridge, where he greatly profited in good letters, and never returned to his Abbie, but went to London to Maxwell and Stacie, who kept him secreetly a while, and after carried him beyond the seas, (Doctor Barns being then in the Fleet for God's word) where he was beneficial unto Tyndale and Fryth, and at the last returning to London to Masters Smiths house in Bucklers bury, there was he bewrayed, & dogged to his bookebinders in Markelane, where he was taken and carried to Lollards tower, and from thence to the Colehouse, by reason that one parson Patmore parson of much Haddaine in Essex, that lying in Lollards tower was confirmed by him in the doctrine of Christ, who after abjured, and was condemned to perpetual prison, but delivered again by the kings pardon. But Richard Bayfield continued constant, & in the Colehouse was worse handled then before in Lollards tower: for there he was tied both by neck, middle and legs, and standing upright by the walls, diverse times manacled, to accuse others that had bought his books. He was thrice in the Consitory at Paul's put to his trial whether he would abjure or no: but he standing to his trial by disputation, to the confounding of his adversaries, by Stokesly then his judge, with the assistance of Winchester and other Bishops, he continuing constant in the cause of Christ, was condemned the twenty day of November, Anno 1531 in the queere of Paul's and disgraded. After which the Bishop took his Crosier staff, and smoote him on the breast that he threw him down backwardes, and brake his head that he souned. When he came to himself again, he thanked God that he was delivered from the malignant church of Antichrist. Anon after he was led through the quire to Newgate, and there rested about an hour in prayer; and so went to the fire in his apparel ioyfullie; and there for lack of a speedy fire, was half an hour alive: and when the left arm was in the fire and burned, he rubbed it with his right hand, and it fell from his body, but he continuing in prayer without moving.

On Wednesday the xxj. of April the year 1529. John Tewksburie (who was converted by reading of Tindals testament, & the wicked Mammon, he had also the bible written) was brought into the cōsistorie at London, before Cutbert bishop of London and his assistants, Henry bishop of S. Ass, & John abbot of Westminster, & was examined of diverse errors (as they called them) in the book of y ^e wicked Mammon: Which John Teuksbury justified for truth: three sessions he appeared, & manfully stood to the truth: being examined of articles touching Antichrist, iustificatiō by works, saints, alms, other men's prayers for us &c. The examination of which articles being done, the B. of London did exhort him again to recant, and appointed him to determine with himself against the next session: in which session he submitted himself and abjured, and was appointed penance the eight of Maie, Anno 1529.

Two years after, having received more grace and strength at God's hands, moved by the example of Bayfield that had before done the like, he returned to the constant professiō of the truth: & being apprehended, was brought before sir T. Moore and the B. of London, where certain articles were objected against him, touching faith, keeping of forbidden books, purgatory, sacraments of the altar &c. & confessing his articles, the bishop pronounced sentence, and delivered him to the Sheriffs of London, Richard Gresham, and Edward Altam, who burned him in Smithfield upon S. Thomas even, the xx. of December.

This year Edward Frese, first apprentice to a painter in the city of York, who for his pregnancie of wit, his yers were redeemed by the Abbot of Bersie Abbey, and became a novice; but after long space, not liking that trade, he ran away, and came to Colchester in Essex, where he followed his vocation, married a wife, and lived honestly. After he had been there a good time, he was hired to paint certain clothes for the new Inn, which is in the middle of the market place: in the border of which clothes, he wrote certain sentences of scripture: for which he was apprehended in the same Inn, and brought to Fulham to the B. house where he was cruelly imprisoned, with one Johnson and his wife of Colchester, Wyly with his wife and son, and father Bate of Rowshedge: they were fed with manchet, made with the greater part of sawdust, and were so straightly kept, that their wives and friends might not come at them.

After the painter had been there a long space, by much suit he was removed to Lollards tower: his wife in the mean time of his suit, whiles he was yet at Fulham, being desirous to see her husband, & pressing to come in at the gate, then big with child, the porter lift up his foot, and stroke her on the belly, that at length she died of the same, but the child was destroyed immediately.

After that they were all stocked for a long time, afterward they were let loose in their prisons again. This paynter, because he would always be writing on the walls with chalk to their discontentment, was manacled by the wrists, til the flesh of his arms was grown higher thē his irons: whereby he could not keame his head, that his hair was folded together. After the death of his wife, by suit of his brethrē to the king, he was brought out into the consistory of Paul's, and as his brethren reported, they kept him iii. days without meat, before he came to his answer: so that with imprisonment and hunger, the man grew out of his wits: which when they had procured by cruelty, they sent him again to Bersie Abbie, but he would not tarry among them, and so continued out of his wits till his dying day. His brother Valentine Freese and his wife, gave their lives at one stake in York, for the testimony of the truth.

Father Bate gate out of the prison in a dark night, and was caught no more, but died shortly after.

In this year Frier Roice was burned in Portingall for the truth. In the beginning of this year, the Bishops, who had burned Tindals testaments, were enjoined by the King to cause a new Translation to be made; notwithstanding which commandment they did nothing at all. But contrary in the month of Maie, the Bishoppe of London caused all the translations of Tyndale, and many other Books which he had bought, to be burned in Paul's Churchyarde.

James Baynam who married the wife of Simon Fish, a Gentleman of the middle Temple, was accused to sir Thomas Moore lord Chancellor, and arrested of a sergeant at arms, and carried to the Chancellors house at Chelsey, where he continued in free prison, until sir Thomas Moore perceived he could do no good of him. Then he put him in prison in his own house, and whipped him at a tree in his garden, called the tree of Truth: and after sent him to the Tower to be racked, and so he was; Sir Thomas being present himself, till in a manner he had lamed him, because he would not accuse the Gentlemen of the Temple of his acquaintance, nor show where his books lay. And because his wife denied them to be in his house, she was sent to the Fleet, & their goods confiscate. After they had thus practiced against him by torments, then was be brought before I. Stokesley B. of London, the xv. of December. An. 1531. in the town of Chelsey, & there examined touching purgatory, Intercession of Saints, Confession, vows, concerning Luther's marriage, the Sacrament of anneyling, of Baptism, whether matrimony were a Sacrament, for his books of Scripture, and what he judged of Tyndale &c. to which articles he subscribed according to the truth.

The next day following, he appeared in the same place as before, & after much persuasion he submitted himself the B. notwithstanding committed him to one of the Counters for further trial. And the year 1532. [ 1532] In the month of February he was called for again, and although he was yet abjured, not yet seemed he to satisfy the Chancellor: so he was for that present returned to his prison again: and the viii. day of February appeared as before, and made a full abjuration, and subscribed it. Which done the Chancellor put him to his fine, to pay twenty pound to the king: and enjoined him penance, to go before the Cross in Procession at Paul's, and to stand before the Preacher at Paul's cross during the Sermon, with a fagot on his shoulder, and so to return with the Summer again to prison, there to abide the Bishops determination. And so the 17. of February he was dismissed home, where he had scarce abode a month, but he bewailed his fact, and was never quiet in conscience, til he had asked God and the world forgiveness, before the congregation in those days, in a warehouse in Bowe lane. And immediately the next Sunday after, he came to S. Augustine's, with the New Testament in his hand, in English, and the obedience of a Christian man in his bosom, and stood up there before the people in his pewe, and there declared w ^c weeping tears, that he had denied God, and prayed the people to forgive, and to beware of his weakness. Besides, he wrote certain letters to the Bishop, to his brother, and to others: so that shortly after he was apprehended, and committed to the Tower of London, and after three appearanrances, the 19. of April, the 20. and the 26. of the same month, before Master John Foxforde. Vicar general of the Bishoppe of London, in the presence of Matthew Grifton, Register, Nicholas Wilson, and William Phillips, &c, he was condemned to be burned, and so was he delivered to sir R. Gresham shiriffe then being present, who caused him by his officers to be carried to Newgate, & was burned in Smithfield the last day of April at iii. of the clock in the afternoon. After he had endured great torments, stocks and irons in prison before, as he was in the midst of the flaming fire, and his arms and legs half consumed therewith, he spake these words: Oh, ye papists behold, ye look for miracles, here now may ye see a miracle, for in this fire, I feel no more pain, then if I were in a bed of down, but it is as sweet to me as a bed of roses. About this present time or not long before, John Benet a tailor, dwelling in a village called Vrchuant, was burned in the town of Deuies, within the County of Wiltshire, for the denying of the Sacrament of the Altar. And much about the same time was one Traxnell burned, in a town called Brodford within the same County.

The same year 1532. [ 1532] Robert King, Nicholas Marsh, and Robert Garner men of Dedham, Robert Debnam of Estbergholt, had overthrown and burned the rood of Douercourt, ten miles of Dedhā, of which Idol a brute was blown that no man had power to shut the door where he stood, wherefore the door was always kept open: for which fact half a year after they were hanged in chains, Kinge in Dedham at Burchet, Debnam at Cattawaie Cawsie, Marshe at Douercourt: Gardener escaped and fled.

The same year, and year before, many Images were caste down and destroyed in many places, as the Crucifix by Cogshall in the highwaie: Saint Petronell in the Church of great Horksleigh: S. Christopher by Sudbury, S. Petronell in a Chapel by Ipswich: also John Seward of Dedham, overthrew a cross in Stoke park, and took two Images out of a chapel in the same park, and cast them into the water.

An. 1533. [ 1533] John Frith was first a student in Cambridge and after, one of those whom Cardinal Wolsey gathered together, of the choice learned men, to furnish his College, which he gave the name of Saint Frideswide, now called Christ's College. He that yere, the xx. day of June, was condemned by the Bishop of London, to be burned, and the sentence read, he was delivered to Sir Steeuen Peacock, Mayor of London, and the Sheriffs of the same City, and the fourth day of July was burned in Smithfield: who at the stake, cheerfully embraced the Fagottes, and fire which was put unto him, and seemed to rejoice for his fellow, that was burned with him, rather than to be careful for himself, though (by reason the wind bare away the flame from him) he was somewhat long in burning.

After the death of certain whom the Cardinal had before imprisoned in the cave of his College, where Saltfish was used to be laid, Frith, with other, were dismissed, upon condition, not to pass above ten miles out of Oxford. But Frith, after the hearing of the examination of Dalaber, and Garret, which bare the fagottes, went over Sea, and after two years came again for exhibition of the Prior of Reading, as is thought, and had the Prior over with him.

Being at Reading, he was there taken for a vagabonde, and was set in the stocks, and through the means of one Leonarde Coxe, Scholemaster of the Town, who woondered at his excellent learning, was again set at liberty: but his safety continued not long. Sir Thomas Moore then Lord Chancellor, did so deadly pursue him, both by Lande and Sea: And at last, being traiterouslie taken, he was sent to the Tower of London. Where he had many conflicts with the Bishops, but especially in writing with Sir T. Moore. The occasion whereof, was a Treatise which he made, and communicated it with W. Holte, a Taylor of Londō, that carried it to Moore y ^e chācellor, who endeavored to confute it: The pointes of Frithes treatise were, First, that the controversy of the Sacrament is no necessary Article of faith under pain of damnation. 2. That Christ is not in two places at once. 3. that Christ's words in the institution of the Sacrament, are to be understood according to the phrase of speech, comparing phrase with phrase, according to the analogy of Scripture. 4. That the order and institution of Christ is to be retained, although the order of the priests do never so much differ from it. A treatise of these points Frith did write, and it was carried by Holt unto Moore, which he answered him again out of prison: omitting nothing, belonging to the perfect handling of the matter. He wrote also a Treatise of Purgatory, in which quarrel he withstood the violence of the moste obstinate enemies, Rochester, Moore, and Rastall: and converted Rastall to his part, who was Moors son in law.

After he had sufficiently contended in writing with those men, he was at last carried to Lambith, first before the Bishop of Canterbury, and after unto Croydon before Winchester, and last of all, before a common assembly of Bishops at London, where continuing constant in his righteous cause, was condemned.

With Frith was Andrew Hewet burned, he was borne at Feuersham, in the County of Kent, of the age of four and twenty years, and was apprentice with one Master Warren, Taylor in Watlingstreet: he was betrayed by the false Judas William Holt, and cast into prison in the Bishops house: from whence having fyled off his irons, he escaped; but was bewrayed again by one Withers, a false hypocrite as Holt was: and with him were taken John Tibauld, who was banished from his own house by an injunction, and had been four times in prison for Christ's sake, and John Chapman in whose house they were, who all were carried to the Bishops house: but Hewet they sent to Lollards Tower, and kept Chapman and Tibauld asunder, watched with two priests servants.

The next day Bishoppe Stokesley came from Fulham, and committed Chapman to the stocks, and shut up Tibauld in a close chamber, but by God's providence he was delivered out of prison, albeit he could not enjoy house nor lande, because of the Bishops injunction, but was fain to sell all that he had in Essex. Chapman after five weeks imprisonment, whereof three he sat in the stocks, by much suite made to the L. Audley, who was then Chancellor, was delivered: but Andrew Hewet after long and cruel imprisonment was condemned to the fire with Frith, after that he had given testimony to the truth.

Anno 1531. [ 1531] The fifteenth of January, Thomas Benet a Schoolmaster of fifty years of age, borne in Cambridge, was delivered unto Sir Thomas Dennis knight, to be burned in Exceter. He hid himself six years in Devonshire: but kindeled with zeal, he resolved to adventure his life for the testimony of Jesus: and in the month of October, he did set upon the Cathedral church door of Exceter scrolles, in which were written: The Pope is Antichrist, and we ought to worship God only and no Saints: the Author of which bills could not be found. At the last, the priests fell to curse with book, bell and candle, the Author of the same, Bennet being by: who fell into a laughter within himself for a great space, and could not forbear: Whereby some say he was bewrayed and taken: other, that his enemies being uncertain whether it were he or not, suffered him to depart home. And, not being able to digest the lies which were preached, sent his boy with other scrolles, as before he had done, who being examined, confessed whose boy he was, and so Bennet was known, and taken, and committed to ward, and being called to examination before the heads and cannons of the City, confessed the fact, and after much disputing with the Friers, especially, one Gregory Basset, who had lien in prison at Bristow for the truth, and revolted (being threatened, he should have his hands burned off with a panne of coals, which was brought ready at his examination, ) he was condemned to death, and burned. At whose burning, John Barnehouse Esquire being present, took a fyrre bush upon a pyke being set on fire, and thrust it unto his face, because he would not say: Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. But he answered, Pater ignosce eis: and so fire being put to him, patiently he ended his life.

By reason of the rigorous proclamation above specified, procured by the Bishops, great persecution ensued, so that a great number were troubled, and either burned, or constrained to abjure.

Thomas Cornwell or Austy, Anno 1530. for not keeping his fagot upon his shoulder after his abjuration, was condemned to perpetual prison in the house of S. Bartholomew: from whence he afterward fled and escaped.

Anno 1530. Thomas Philip's made his appeal from the B. to the king, and would no otherwise abjure, then generally all heresies: for which the B. did excommunicate him, and denounced him contumax: and what after became of him, it is uncertain.

A little before this time, William Tracie a worshipful Gentleman of Glocestershyre, and then dwelling at Toddington; made in his will, that he would have no funeral pomp at his burial, neither passed he upon Mass: and said he trusted in GOD only, and hoped by him to be saved, and not by any Saint. This Gentleman died, and his son his executor brought the Will to the Bishoppe of Canterbury to prove, which, he shown to the Conuocation, and then most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground, and be burnt as an heretic. Anno 1532. [ 1532] Wherof the King hearing, the Chancellor was fain to fine three hundredth pounds to have his pardon of the king.

Anno 1531. Henry Tomson taylor, notwithstanding he submitted himself to the Bishop, yet therewith sentence condemned him to perpetual prison. His cause was the denying of the host to be God.

The same year was Thomas Patmore parson of Hadham in Hartfordshire, a godly man and painful teacher, persecuted by Richard FitzIames bishop of London, who was desirous to prefer another to the good man's benefice: and so hardly was he dealt withal, that in the end he submitted himself and abjured, and was notwithstanding committed to perpetual prison. Howbeit, one of his brethren made such suite unto the king (by the means of the Queen) that after three years imprisonment, he was both released out of prison, and also of the King obtained a Commission unto the Lord Audley, then Lord Chancellor, and to Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury, and to Cromwell then Secretary, with others, to inquire of the unjust dealings of the Bishoppe and his Chancellor against Patmore: but what was the ende thereof, it is uncertain.

Anno 1531. Christopher a Dutch man of Antwerp was put in prison at Westminster, for selling new Testaments in English, and there died.

The same yer, a boy of Colchester, or of Norfolk, for delivering a buget of books to Richard Bayfield, was laid in the prison of Master Moore, Chancellor, and there died.

From the yere 1533. during the time of Queen Anne, no great persecution, nor abjuration was in the Church of England: saving that x. Anabaptists were put to death in sundry places of the Realm. And anno 1535. ten other repented, and were saved: whereof two were pardoned after sentence given, which was contrary to the popes law.

After the Clergy had with great cruelty vexed Christ's flock, anno. 1534. a parliament was called by the king, about the 15. day of January, in which the Commons renewed their old griefs, complaining against the Prelates, and Ordinaries, for calling men before them ex officio. Answer to which requests the king at that present did delay.

After the Cardinal had been cast into a premunire, anno 1530, about the year 1532 the king made a restraint, that nothing should be purchased from Rome; and proceeded further against all the Prelates, for supporting the Cardinal: by reason whereof, they also were entangled with premunire. For the releasement whereof, they offered the king