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diff --git a/22400-h/22400-h.htm b/22400-h/22400-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2405d4c --- /dev/null +++ b/22400-h/22400-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,27670 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fox's Book Of Martyrs, by Unknown. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fox's Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fox's Book of Martyrs + Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant + Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs + +Author: John Foxe + +Release Date: August 25, 2007 [EBook #22400] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + +<div class='bbox'> +<h1>FOX'S<br />BOOK OF MARTYRS</h1> +</div> +<div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'>OR<br /> + +A HISTORY OF THE<br /> + +LIVES, SUFFERINGS, AND TRIUMPHANT DEATHS<br /> + +OF THE<br /></div> + +<h2>PRIMITIVE PROTESTANT MARTYRS</h2> + +<h3>FROM THE<br /> + +INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY<br /> + +TO THE<br /> + +LATEST PERIODS OF PAGAN, POPISH, AND INFIDEL<br /> +PERSECUTIONS</h3> + +<div class='center'>EMBRACING, TOGETHER WITH THE USUAL SUBJECTS CONTAINED<br /> +IN SIMILAR WORKS<br /> + +The recent persecutions in the cantons of Switzerland; and the<br /> +persecutions of the Methodist and Baptist Missionaries in the<br /> +West India Islands; and the narrative of the conversion,<br /> +capture, long imprisonment, and cruel sufferings<br /> +of Asaad Shidiak, a native of Palestine.</div> + +<h3>LIKEWISE<br /> + +A SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION</h3> + +<div class='center'>AS CONNECTED WITH PERSECUTION<br /> + +COMPILED FROM FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, AND OTHER +AUTHENTIC SOURCES</div></div> +<div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'><big>THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.</big><br /> + +CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA TORONTO</div></div> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>This work is strictly what its title page imports, a <span class="smcap">compilation</span>. +Fox's "Book of Martyrs" has been made the basis of this +volume. Liberty, however, has been taken to abridge wherever +it was thought necessary;—to alter the antiquated form of the +phraseology; to introduce additional information; and to correct +any inaccuracy respecting matters of fact, which had escaped the +author of the original work, or which has been found erroneous +by the investigation of modern research.</p> + +<p>The object of this work, is to give a brief history of persecution +since the first introduction of christianity, till the present +time. In doing this, we have commenced with the martyrdom of +Stephen, and following the course of events, have brought the History +of persecution down to the year 1830. In all ages, we find +that a disposition to persecute for opinion's sake, has been manifested +by wicked men, whatever may have been their opinions +or sentiments on religious subjects. The intolerant jew, and the +bigoted pagan, have exhibited no more of a persecuting spirit, +than the nominal professor of christianity, and the <i>infidel</i> and +the avowed <i>atheist</i>. Indeed, it seems to be an "inherent vice," +in unsanctified nature to endeavour by the pressure of physical +force, to restrain obnoxious sentiments, and to propagate favourite +opinions. It is only when the heart has been renewed and +sanctified by divine grace, that men have rightly understood and +practised the true principles of toleration. We do not say that +none but real christians have adopted correct views respecting +civil and religious liberty;—but we affirm that these views owe +their origin entirely to christianity and its genuine disciples.</p> + +<p>Though nearly all sects have persecuted their opponents, during +a brief season, when men's passions were highly excited, +and true religion had mournfully declined, yet no denomination +except the papal hierarchy, has adopted as an article of religious +belief, and a principle of practical observance, the right +to destroy heretics for opinion's sake. The decrees of councils, +and the bulls of popes, issued in conformity with those decrees, +place this matter beyond a doubt. Persecution, therefore, and +popery, are inseparably connected; because claiming infallibility, +what she has once done is right for her to do again; yea, +must be done under similar circumstances, or the claims of infallibility<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> +given up. There is no escaping this conclusion. It is +right, therefore, to charge upon popery, all the persecutions and +horrid cruelties which have stained the annals of the papal +church during her long and bloody career of darkness and crime. +Every sigh which has been heaved in the dungeons of the Inquisition—every +groan which has been extorted by the racks +and instruments of torture, which the malice of her bigoted votaries, +stimulated by infernal wisdom, ever invented, has witnessed +in the ear of God, against the "Mother of Harlots;" and those +kings of the earth, who giving their power to the "Beast" have +aided her in the cruel work of desolation and death. The <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Vallie's'">valleys</ins> +of Piedmont, the mountains of Switzerland, the vine crowned +hills of Italy and France—and all parts of Germany and the +low countries, have by turns, been lighted by the fires of burning +victims, or crimsoned with the blood of those who have suffered +death at the hands of the cruel emissaries of popery. +England too, has drunken deep of the "wine of the fierceness +of her wrath," as the blood of Cobham, and the ashes of the +Smithfield martyrs can testify. Ireland and Scotland, likewise, +have each been made the theatre of her atrocities. But no +where has the system been exhibited in its native unalleviated deformity, +as in Spain, Portugal and their South American dependencies. +For centuries, such a system of police was established +by the <i>Holy Inquisitors</i>, that these countries resembled a vast +whispering gallery, where the slightest murmur of discontent +could be heard and punished. Such has been the effect of superstition +and the terror of the Holy Office, upon the mind, as +completely to break the pride of the Castillian noble, and make +him the unresisting victim of every mendicant friar and "hemp-sandaled +monk."</p> + +<p>Moreover, the papal system has opposed the march of civilization +and liberty throughout the world, by denouncing the +circulation of the Bible, and the general diffusion of knowledge. +Turn to every land where popery predominates, and you will +find an ignorant and debased peasantry, a profligate nobility, +and a priesthood, licentious, avaricious, domineering and cruel.</p> + +<p>But it may be asked, is popery the same system now as in the +days of Cardinal Bonner and the "Bloody Mary." We answer +yes. It is the boast of all catholics that their church never +varies, either in spirit or in practice. For evidence of this, +look at the demonstrations of her spirit in the persecutions in +the south of France, for several years after the restoration of +the Bourbons, in 1814. All have witnessed with feelings of detestation, +the recent efforts of the apostolicals in Spain and Portugal, +to crush the friends of civil and religious liberty in those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span> +ill-fated countries. The narrative of Asaad Shidiak, clearly indicates +that the spirit of popery, has lost none of its ferocity and +bloodthirstiness since the Piedmontese war, and the Bartholomew +massacre. Where it has power, its victims are still crushed +by the same means which filled the dungeons of the inquisition, +and fed the fires of the <i>auto de fe</i>.</p> + +<p>This is the religion, to diffuse which, strenuous efforts are now +making in this country. Already the papal church numbers +more than half a million of communicants. This number is rapidly +augmenting by emigration from catholic countries, and by +the conversion of protestant children who are placed in their +schools for instruction. The recent events in Europe, will, no +doubt, send to our shores hundreds of jesuit priests, with a portion +of that immense revenue which the papal church has hitherto +enjoyed. Another thing, which will, no doubt, favour their +views, is the disposition manifested among some who style themselves +<i>liberalists</i>, to aid catholics in the erection of mass houses, +colleges, convents and theological seminaries. This has been +done in numerous instances; and when a note of warning is +raised by the true friends of civil and religious liberty, they are +treated as bigots by those very men who are contributing of +their substance to diffuse and foster the most intolerant system +of bigotry, and cruel, unrelenting despotism, the world has ever +seen. Other sects have persecuted during some periods of their +history; but all now deny the right, and reprobate the practice +except catholics. The right to destroy heretics, is a fundamental +article in the creed of the papal church. And wherever +her power is not cramped, she still exercises that power to the +destruction of all who oppose her unrighteous usurpation. All +the blood shed by all other christian sects, is no more in comparison +to that shed by the papacy, than the short lived flow of a +feeble rill, raised by the passing tempest, to the deep overwhelming +tide of a mighty river, which receives as tributaries, the waters +of a thousand streams.</p> + +<p>We trust the present work, therefore, will prove a salutary +check to the progress of that system whose practical effects +have ever been, and ever must be, licentiousness, cruelty, and +blood.</p> + +<p>The narratives of Asaad Shidiak, Mrs. Judson, the persecutions +in the West Indies, and in Switzerland, have never before +been incorporated in any book of Martyrs. They serve to show +the hideous nature of persecution, and the benefit of christian +missions.</p> + +<p>At the close of this volume will be found a sketch of the French +revolution of 1789, as connected with persecution. It has long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> +been the practice of infidels to sneer at christianity, because +some of its nominal followers have exhibited a persecuting spirit. +And although they knew that christianity condemns persecution +in the most pointed manner, yet they have never had the +generosity to discriminate between the system, and the abuse of +the system by wicked men. Infidelity on the other hand, has +nothing to redeem it. It imposes no restraint on the violent and +lifelong passions of men. Coming to men with the Circean +torch of licentiousness in her hand, with fair promises of freedom, +she first <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'stupifies'">stupefies</ins> the conscience, and brutifies the affections; and +then renders her votaries the most abject slaves of guilt and +crime. This was exemplified in the French revolution. For +centuries, the bible had been taken away, and the key of knowledge +wrested from the people. For a little moment, France +broke the chains which superstition had flung around her. Not +content, however, with this, she attempted to break the yoke of +God: she stamped the bible in the dust, and proclaimed the jubilee +of licentiousness, unvisited, either by present or future retribution. +Mark the consequence. Anarchy broke in like a flood, +from whose boiling surge blood spouted up in living streams, and +on whose troubled waves floated the headless bodies of the +learned, the good, the beautiful and the brave. The most merciless +proscription for opinion's sake, followed. A word, a sigh, +or a look supposed inimical to the ruling powers, was followed +with instant death. The calm which succeeded, was only the +less dreaded, because it presented fewer objects of terrific interest, +as the shock of the earthquake creates more instant alarm, +than the midnight pestilence, when it walks unseen, unknown +amidst the habitations of a populous city.</p> + +<p>The infidel persecutions in France and Switzerland, afford a +solemn lesson to the people of this country. We have men +among us now, most of them it is true, vagabond foreigners, +who are attempting to propagate the same sentiments which +produced such terrible consequences in France. Under various +names they are scattering their pestilent doctrines through the +country. As in France, they have commenced their attacks upon +the bible, the Sabbath, marriage, and all the social and domestic +relations of life. With flatteries and lies, they are attempting +to sow the seeds of discontent and future rebellion +among the people. The ferocity of their attacks upon those +who differ from them, even while restrained by public opinion, +shews what they would do, provided they could pull down our +institutions and introduce disorder and wild misrule. We trust, +therefore, that the article on the revolution in France, will be +found highly instructive and useful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><big>CHAPTER I.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS TO THE FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTIONS UNDER NERO.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align='center'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of St. Stephen, James the Great, and Philip</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Matthew, James the Less, Matthias, Andrew, St. Mark and Peter</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Paul, Jude, Bartholomew, Thomas, Luke, Simon, John, and Barnabas</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER II.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>THE TEN PRIMITIVE PERSECUTIONS.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The first persecution under Nero, A. D. 67</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The second persecution under Domitian, A. D. 81</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The third persecution under Trajan, A. D. 108</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The fourth persecution under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A. D. 162</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The fifth persecution commencing with Severus, A. D. 192</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The sixth persecution under Maximinus, A. D. 235</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The seventh persecution under Decius, A. D. 249</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The eighth persecution under Valerian, A. D. 257</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The ninth persecution under Aurelian, A. D. 274</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The tenth persecution under Diocletian, A. D. 303</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER III.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions under the Arian heretics</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution under Julian the Apostate</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of the Christians by the Goths and Vandals</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions from about the middle of the Fifth, to the conclusion of the Seventh century</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions from the early part of the Eighth, to near the conclusion of the Tenth century</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions in the Eleventh century</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER IV.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PAPAL PERSECUTIONS.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of the Waldenses in France</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions of the Albigenses</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Bartholomew massacre at Paris, &c.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>From the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to the French Revolution, in 1789</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of John Calas</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER V.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the cruel handling and burning of Nicholas Burton, an English merchant, in Spain</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Some private enormities of the Inquisition laid open by a very singular occurrence</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The persecution of Dr. Ægidio</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The persecution of Dr. Constantine</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The life of William Gardiner.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the life and sufferings of Mr. Wm. Lithgow, a native of Scotland</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Croly on the Inquisition</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER VI.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN ITALY, UNDER THE PAPACY.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the persecutions of Calabria</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Account of the persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Account of the persecutions in Venice</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of several remarkable individuals who were martyred in different parts of Italy, on account of their religion</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the persecutions in the marquisate of Saluces</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions in Piedmont in the Seventeenth century</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Further persecutions in Piedmont</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Narrative of the Piedmontese War</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of Michael de Molinos, a native of Spain</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER VII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN BOHEMIA UNDER THE PAPACY.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of John Huss</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of Jerom of Prague</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of Zisca</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER VIII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>GENERAL PERSECUTIONS IN GERMANY.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the persecutions in the Netherlands</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER IX.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN LITHUANIA AND POLAND.</small></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER X.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN CHINA AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the persecutions in Japan</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions against the Christians in Abyssinia or Ethiopia</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions against the Christians in Turkey</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions and oppressions in Georgia and Mingrelia</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the persecutions in the States of Barbary</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions in Spanish America</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XI.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND PRIOR TO THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY I.</small></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><small>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN SCOTLAND, DURING THE REIGN OF KING HENRY VIII.</small></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the Life, Suffering and Death of George Wishart, &c.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XIII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PERSECUTIONS IN ENGLAND DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The words and behaviour of Lady Jane upon the scaffold</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>John Rogers, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, &c.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Rev. Mr. Lawrence Saunders</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>History, imprisonment, and examination of John Hooper</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Life and conduct of Dr. Rowland Taylor, of Hadley</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of Tomkins, Pygot, Knight, and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dr. Robert Farrar</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of Rawlins White</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Rev. Mr. George Marsh</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>William Flower</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Rev. John Cardmaker, and John Warne</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of Simpson, Ardeley, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Hawkes'">Haukes</ins>, and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rev. John Bradford, and John Leaf, an apprentice</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of Bland, Middleton, Hall, Carver and many others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>John Denley, Packingham, and Newman</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Coker, Hooper, Lawrence and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Rev. Robert Samuel</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>G. Catmer, R. Streater and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bishops Ridley and Latimer</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mr. John Webb and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of Rev. F. Whittle, B. Green, Anna Wright, and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of Archbishop Cranmer</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martyrdom of Agnes Potten, Joan Trunchfield and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hugh Laverick and John Aprice</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Preservation of George Crow and his Testament</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Executions at Stratford le Bow</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>R. Bernard, A. Foster and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of Rev. Julius Palmer</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecution of Joan Waste</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions in the Diocese of Canterbury</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>T. Loseby, H. Ramsey, T. Thirtell and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Executions in Kent</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Execution of ten martyrs at Lewes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Executions at Colchester</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mrs. Joyce Lewes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Executions at Islington</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mrs. Cicely Ormes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rev. John Rough</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_262">262</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cuthbert Symson</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span>Thomas Hudson, Thomas Carman, William Seamen</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Apprehensions at Islington</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Flagellations by Bonner</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rev. Richard Yeoman</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Thomas Benbridge</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_275">275</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mrs. Prest</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_276">276</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion and Thomas Hale</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>T. Corneford, C. Browne, and others</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>William Fetty scourged to death</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Deliverance of Dr. Sands</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_285">285</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Queen Mary's treatment of her sister, the Princess Elizabeth</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_288">288</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>God's punishments upon some of the persecutors of his people in Mary's reign</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XIV.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>THE SPANISH ARMADA.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The destruction of the Armada</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A conspiracy by the Papists for the destruction of James I, commonly known by the name of the Gunpowder Plot</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_310">310</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XV.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><small>RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE PROTESTANT RELIGION IN IRELAND WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE BARBAROUS MASSACRE OF 1641.</small></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_315">315</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XVI.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>THE RISE, PROGRESS, PERSECUTIONS AND SUFFERINGS OF THE QUAKERS.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An account of the persecutions of Friends in the United States</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Proceedings at a General Court in Boston, 1656</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Proceedings at a General Court in Boston, 1657</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_340">340</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An act made at a General Court at Boston, 1658</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XVII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PERSECUTIONS OF THE FRENCH PROTESTANTS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, DURING THE YEARS 1814 AND 1820.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The arrival of king Louis XVIII at Paris</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_346">346</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The history of the Silver Child</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_346">346</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Napoleon's return from the Isle of Elba</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_347">347</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Catholic arms at Beaucaire</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_348">348</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Massacre and pillage at Nismes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_349">349</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Interference of government against the Protestants</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Letters from Louvois to Marillac</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Royal decree in favour of the persecuted</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Petition of the Protestant refugees</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_354">354</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Monstrous outrage upon females</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_355">355</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Arrival of the Austrians at Nismes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Outrages committed in the Villages, &c.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_357">357</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Further account of the Proceedings of the Catholics at Nismes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_360">360</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Attack upon the Protestant churches</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_361">361</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Murder of General La Garde</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Interference of the British government</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Perjury in the case of General Gilly, &c.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_365">365</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</a></span>Ultimate resolution of the Protestants at Nismes</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_367">367</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XVIII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>ASAAD SHIDIAK.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Narrative of the conversion, imprisonment, and sufferings of Asaad Shidiak, a native of Palestine, who had been confined for several years in the Convent on Mount Lebanon</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_368">368</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Public statement of Asaad Shidiak, in 1826</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Brief history of Asaad Esh Shidiak, from the time of his being betrayed into the hands of the Maronite Patriarch, in the Spring of 1826</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_410">410</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XIX.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PERSECUTIONS OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARIES IN INDIA, DURING THE YEAR 1824.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Removal of the prisoners to Oung-pen-la—Mrs. Judson follows them</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_430">430</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XX.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PERSECUTIONS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES IN THE WEST INDIES.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Case of Rev. John Smith</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_449">449</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions of the Wesleyan Methodists in St. Domingo</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_450">450</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions at Port au Prince</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_450">450</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XXI.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>PERSECUTIONS IN SWITZERLAND FROM 1813 TO 1830.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Persecutions in the Pays de Vaud</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_461">461</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XXII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><small>SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE MOST EMINENT REFORMERS.</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>John Wickliffe</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_464">464</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Martin Luther</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_468">468</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>John Calvin</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_473">473</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Agency of Calvin in the death of Michael Servetus</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Calvin as a friend of Civil Liberty</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_478">478</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The life of the Rev. John Fox</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_482">482</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Errors, rites, ceremonies, and superstitious practices of the Romish church</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_487">487</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><big>CHAPTER XXIII.</big></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><small>SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1789, AS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF PERSECUTIONS.</small></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_489">489</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Massacre of prisoners</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_496">496</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Death of Louis XVI and other members of the Royal Family</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_499">499</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dreadful scenes in La Vendée</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_501">501</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Scenes at Marseilles and Lyons</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_501">501</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The installation of the Goddess of Reason</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_506">506</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fall of Danton, Robespierre, Marat and other Jacobins</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_508">508</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> +<h2>BOOK OF MARTYRS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS TO THE FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION +UNDER NERO.</h3> + + +<p>The history of the church may almost be said to be a history of +the trials and sufferings of its members, as experienced at the hands +of wicked men. At one time, persecution, as waged against the +friends of Christ, was confined to those without; at another, schisms +and divisions have arrayed brethren of the same name against each +other, and scenes of cruelty and woe have been exhibited within the +sanctuary, rivalling in horror the direst cruelties ever inflicted by +pagan or barbarian fanaticism. This, however, instead of implying +any defect in the gospel system, which breathes peace and love; only +pourtrays in darker colours the deep and universal depravity of the +human heart. Pure and unsophisticated morality, especially when +attempted to be inculcated on mankind, as essential to their preserving +an interest with their Creator, have constantly met with +opposition. It was this which produced the premature death of John +the Baptist. It was the cutting charge of adultery and incest, which +excited the resentment of Herodias, who never ceased to persecute +him, until she had accomplished his destruction. The same observation +is equally applicable to the Jewish doctors, in their treatment of +our blessed Lord and Saviour <span class="smcap">Jesus Christ</span>. In the sudden martyrdom +of John the Baptist, and the crucifixion of our Lord, the history +of christian martyrdom must be admitted to commence; and from +these, as a basis for the subsequent occurrences, we may fairly trace +the origin of that hostility, which produced so lavish an effusion of +christian blood, and led to so much slaughter in the progressive state +of christianity.</p> + +<p>As it is not our business to enlarge upon our Saviour's history, +either before or after his crucifixion, we shall only find it necessary to +remind our readers of the discomfiture of the Jews by his subsequent +resurrection. Though one apostle had betrayed him; though another +had denied him, under the solemn sanction of an oath; and though +the rest had forsaken him, unless we may except "the disciple who +was known unto the high-priest;" the history of his resurrection +gave a new direction to all their hearts, and, after the mission of the +Holy Spirit, imparted new confidence to their minds. The powers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +with which they were endued emboldened them to proclaim his name, +to the confusion of the Jewish rulers, and the astonishment of Gentile +proselytes.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>I. St. Stephen</i></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">St. Stephen</span> suffered the next in order. His death was occasioned +by the faithful manner in which he preached the gospel to the betrayers +and murderers of Christ. To such a degree of madness were +they excited, that they cast him out of the city and stoned him to +death. The time when he suffered is generally supposed to have been +at the passover which succeeded to that of our Lord's crucifixion, and +to the æra of his ascension, in the following spring.</p> + +<p>Upon this a great persecution was raised against all who professed +their belief in Christ as the Messiah, or as a prophet. We are immediately +told by St. Luke, that "there was a great persecution against +the church, which was at Jerusalem;" and that "they were all +scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except +the apostles."</p> + +<p>About two thousand christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons, +suffered martyrdom during the "persecution which arose about +Stephen."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>II. James the Great.</i></div> + +<p>The next martyr we meet with, according to St. Luke, in the History +of the Apostles' Acts, was James the son of Zebedee, the elder +brother of John, and a relative of our Lord; for his mother Salome +was cousin-german to the Virgin Mary. It was not until ten years +after the death of Stephen, that the second martyrdom took place; +for no sooner had Herod Agrippa been appointed governor of Judea, +than, with a view to ingratiate himself with them, he raised a sharp +persecution against the christians, and determined to make an effectual +blow, by striking at their leaders. The account given us by an +eminent primitive writer, Clemens Alexandrinus, ought not to be +overlooked; that, as James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser +was brought to repent of his conduct by the apostle's extraordinary +courage and undauntedness, and fell down at his feet to request +his pardon, professing himself a christian, and resolving that +James should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. Hence they +were both beheaded at the same time. Thus did the first apostolic +martyr cheerfully and resolutely receive that cup, which he had told +our Saviour he was ready to drink. Timon and Parmenas suffered +martyrdom about the same time; the one at Phillippi, and the other +in Macedonia. These events took place A. D. 44.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>III. Philip.</i></div> + +<p>Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was the first called by the +name of "Disciple." He laboured diligently in Upper Asia, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, +thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A. D. 54.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>IV. Matthew</i>,</div> + +<p>Whose occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at Nazareth. +He wrote his gospel in Hebrew, which was afterwards translated into +Greek by James the Less. The scene of his labors was Parthia, and +Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain +with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A. D. 60.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>V. James the Less</i>,</div> + +<p>Is supposed by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by a +former wife of Joseph. This is very doubtful, and accords too much +with the catholic superstition, that Mary never had any other children +except our Saviour. He was elected to the oversight of the churches +of Jerusalem; and was the author of the epistle ascribed to James in +the sacred canon. At the age of ninety-four, he was beat and stoned +by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's +club.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>VI. Matthias</i>,</div> + +<p>Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples, was +elected to fill the vacant place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem +and then beheaded.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>VII. Andrew</i>,</div> + +<p>Was the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic +nations; but on his arrival at Edessa, he was taken and crucified on a +cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground. +Hence the derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>VIII. St. Mark</i>,</div> + +<p>Was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He is supposed +to have been converted to christianity by Peter, whom he served as an +amanuensis, and under whose inspection he wrote his gospel in the Greek +language. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria, at +the great solemnity of Serapis their idol, ending his life under their merciless +hands.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>IX. Peter</i>,</div> + +<p>Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee. He was by occupation a fisherman. +Christ gave him a name which in Syriac implies a rock. +Peter is supposed to have suffered martyrdom at Rome, during the +reign of the emperor Nero, being crucified with his head downward, +at his own request.</p> + +<p>[It is, however, very uncertain, whether Peter ever visited Rome at +all. The evidence rather favouring the supposition that he ended his +days in some other country.—<i>Ed.</i>]<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>X. Paul</i>,</div> + +<p>The great apostle of the Gentiles, was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, +a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, and before his conversion was called +Saul. After suffering various persecutions at Jerusalem, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Icumun'">Iconium</ins>, Lystra, +Phillippi and Thessalonica, he was carried prisoner to Rome, where +he continued for two years, and was then released. He afterwards visited +the churches of Greece and Rome, and preached the gospel in Spain +and France, but returning to Rome, he was apprehended by order of +Nero, and beheaded.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XI. Jude</i>,</div> + +<p>The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was +crucified at Edessa, A. D. 72.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XII. Bartholomew</i>,</div> + +<p>Preached in several countries, and having translated the gospel of +Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in that country. +He was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient +idolaters.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XIII. Thomas</i>,</div> + +<p>Called Didymus, preached the gospel in Parthia and India, where +exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by being +thrust through with a spear.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XIV. Luke</i>,</div> + +<p>The evangelist, was the author of the gospel which goes under his +name. He travelled with Paul through various countries, and is +supposed to have been hanged on an olive tree, by the idolatrous +priests of Greece.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XV. Simon</i>,</div> + +<p>Surnamed Zelotes, preached the gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and +even in Britain, which latter country he was crucified, A. D. 74.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XVI. John</i>,</div> + +<p>The "beloved disciple," was brother to James the Great. The +churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and +Thyatira, were founded by him. From Ephesus he was ordered to +be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of +boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards +banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of +Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was +the only apostle who escaped a violent death.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>XVII. Barnabas</i>,</div> + +<p>Was of Cyprus, but of Jewish descent, his death is supposed to +have taken place about A. D. 73.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<h3>THE TEN PRIMITIVE PERSECUTIONS.</h3> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The First Persecution under Nero, A. D. 67.</i></div> + +<p>The first persecution of the church took place in the year 67, under +Nero, the sixth emperor of Rome. This monarch reigned for the +space of five years, with tolerable credit to himself, but then gave way +to the greatest extravagancy of temper, and to the most atrocious barbarities. +Among other diabolical whims, he ordered that the city +of Rome should be set on fire, which order was executed by his officers, +guards, and servants. While the imperial city was in flames, +he went up to the tower of Macænas, played upon his harp, sung the +song of the burning of Troy, and openly declared, "That he wished +the ruin of all things before his death." Besides the noble pile, called +the circus, many other palaces and houses were consumed; several +thousands perished in the flames, were smothered in the smoke, or +buried beneath the ruins.</p> + +<p>This dreadful conflagration continued nine days; when Nero, +finding that his conduct was greatly blamed, and a severe odium cast +upon him, determined to lay the whole upon the christians, at once to +excuse himself, and have an opportunity of glutting his sight with +new cruelties. This was the occasion of the first persecution; and +the barbarities exercised on the christians were such as even excited +the commisseration of the Romans themselves. Nero even refined +upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for the christians +that the most infernal imagination could design. In particular, +he had some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts, and then worried +by dogs till they expired; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with +wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to +illuminate them. This persecution was general throughout the whole +Roman empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of +christianity. In the course of it, St. Paul and St. Peter were martyred.</p> + +<p>To their names may be added, Erastus, chamberlain of Corinth; +Aristarchus, the Macedonian; and Trophimus, an Ephesian, converted +by St. Paul, and fellow-labourer with him; Joseph, commonly +called Barsabas; and Ananias, bishop of Damascus; each of the +seventy.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Second Persecution, under Domitian, A. D. 81.</i></div> + +<p>The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first +slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the +christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, +some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then +commanded all the lineage of David to be put to death.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>Among the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution +was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and St. John, +who was boiled in oil, and afterward banished to Patmos. Flavia, the +daughter of a Roman senator, was likewise banished to Pontus; and +a law was made, "That no christian, once brought before the tribunal, +should be exempted from punishment without renouncing his +religion."</p> + +<p>A variety of fabricated tales were, during this reign, composed in +order to injure the christians. Such was the infatuation of the pagans, +that, if famine, pestilence, or earthquakes afflicted any of the +Roman provinces, it was laid upon the christians. These persecutions +among the christians increased the number of informers +and many, for the sake of gain, swore away the lives of the innocent.</p> + +<p>Another hardship was, that, when any christians were brought before +the magistrates, a test oath was proposed, when, if they refused +to take it, death was pronounced against them; and if they confessed +themselves christians, the sentence was the same.</p> + +<p>The following were the most remarkable among the numerous martyrs +who suffered during this persecution.</p> + +<p>Dionysius, the Areopagite, was an Athenian by birth, and educated +in all the useful and ornamental literature of Greece. He then +travelled to Egypt to study astronomy, and made very particular observations +on the great and supernatural eclipse, which happened +at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion.</p> + +<p>The sanctity of his conversation, and the purity of his manners, +recommended him so strongly to the christians in general, that he +was appointed bishop of Athens.</p> + +<p>Nicodemus, a benevolent christian of some distinction, suffered at +Rome during the rage of Domitian's persecution.</p> + +<p>Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Milan.</p> + +<p>Timothy was the celebrated disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of +Ephesus, where he zealously governed the church till A. D. 97. At +this period, as the pagans were about to celebrate a feast called +Catagogion, Timothy, meeting the procession, severely reproved them +for their ridiculous idolatry, which so exasperated the people, that +they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a manner, +that he expired of the bruises two days after.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Third Persecution, under Trajan, A. D. 108.</i></div> + +<p>Nerva, succeeding Domitian, gave a respite to the sufferings of the +christians; but reigning only thirteen months, his successor Trajan, +in the tenth year of his reign A. D. 108, began the third persecution +against the christians. While the persecution raged, Pliny 2d, +a heathen philosopher wrote to the emperor in favor of the Christians; +to whose epistle Trajan returned this indecisive answer: "The +christians ought not to be sought after, but when brought before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +magistracy, they should be punished." Trajan, however, soon after +wrote to Jerusalem, and gave orders to his officers to exterminate the +stock of David; in consequence of which, all that could be found of +that race were put to death.</p> + +<p>Symphorosa, a widow, and her seven sons, were commanded by the +emperor to sacrifice to the heathen deities. She was carried to the +temple of Hercules, scourged, and hung up, for some time, by the hair +of her head: then being taken down, a large stone was fastened to her +neck, and she was thrown into the river, where she expired. With +respect to the sons, they were fastened to seven posts, and being +drawn up by pullies, their limbs were dislocated: these tortures, not +affecting their resolution, they were martyred by stabbing, except Eugenius, +the youngest, who was sawed asunder.</p> + +<p>Phocas, bishop of Pontus, refusing to sacrifice to Neptune, was, by +the immediate order of Trajan, cast first into a hot lime-kiln, and +then thrown into a scalding bath till he expired.</p> + +<p>Trajan likewise commanded the martyrdom of Ignatius, bishop of +Antioch. This holy man was the person whom, when an infant, +Christ took into his arms, and showed to his disciples, as one that +would be a pattern of humility and innocence. He received the gospel +afterward from St. John the Evangelist, and was exceedingly zealous +in his mission. He boldly vindicated the faith of Christ before the +emperor, for which he was cast into prison, and tormented in a most +cruel manner. After being dreadfully scourged, he was compelled +to hold fire in his hands, and, at the same time, papers clipped in oil +were put to his sides, and set on fire. His flesh was then torn with +red hot pincers, and at last he was despatched by being torn to pieces +by wild beasts.</p> + +<p>Trajan being succeeded by Adrian, the latter continued this third +persecution with as much severity as his predecessor. About this +time Alexander, bishop of Rome, with his two deacons, were martyred; +as were Quirinus and Hernes, with their families; Zenon, a Roman +nobleman, and about ten thousand other christians.</p> + +<p>In Mount Ararat many were crucified, crowned with thorns, and +spears run into their sides, in imitation of Christ's passion. Eustachius, +a brave and successful Roman commander, was by the emperor +ordered to join in an idolatrous sacrifice to celebrate some of his own +victories; but his faith (being a christian in his heart) was so much +greater than his vanity, that he nobly refused it. Enraged at the +denial, the ungrateful emperor forgot the service of this skilful commander, +and ordered him and his whole family to be martyred.</p> + +<p>At the martyrdom of Faustines and Jovita, brothers and citizens +of Brescia, their torments were so many, and their patience so great, +that Calocerius, a pagan, beholding them, was struck with admiration, +and exclaimed in a kind of ecstacy, "Great is the God of the christians!" +for which he was apprehended, and suffered a similar fate.</p> + +<p>Many other similar cruelties and rigours were exercised against the +christians, until Quadratus, bishop of Athens, made a learned apology<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +in their favour before the emperor, who happened to be there +and Aristides, a philosopher of the same city, wrote an elegant epistle, +which caused Adrian to relax in his severities, and relent in their favour.</p> + +<p>Adrian dying A. D. 138, was succeeded by Antoninus Pius, one of +the most amiable monarchs that ever reigned, and who stayed the +persecution against the Christians.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The fourth persecution, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A. D. 162.</i></div> + +<p>This commenced A. D. 162, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus +Philosophus, a strong pagan.</p> + +<p>The cruelties used in this persecution were such, that many of the +spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at +the intrepidity of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to +pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells, +&c. upon their points, others were scourged till their sinews and +veins lay bare, and after suffering the most excruciating tortures that +could be devised, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.</p> + +<p>Germanicus, a young man, but a true christian, being delivered to +the wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved with such astonishing +courage, that several pagans became converts to a faith which inspired +such fortitude.</p> + +<p>Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons +were seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child. After +feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in +prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his +guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him. He +was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in +the market-place. Twelve other christians, who had been intimate +with Polycarp, were soon after martyred.</p> + +<p>The circumstances attending the execution of this venerable old +man, as they were of no common nature, so it would be injurious to +the credit of our professed history of martyrdom to pass them over in +silence. It was observed by the spectators, that, after finishing his +prayer at the stake, to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, +as he assured them he should stand immoveable, the flames, on their +kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without +touching him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce +him with a sword, when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as +extinguished the fire. But his body, at the instigation of the enemies +of the gospel, especially Jews, was ordered to be consumed in the pile, +and the request of his friends, who wished to give it christian burial, +rejected. They nevertheless collected his bones and as much of his +remains as possible, and caused them to be decently interred.</p> + +<p>Metrodorus, a minister, who preached boldly; and Pionius, who +made some excellent apologies for the christian faith; were likewise +burnt. Carpus and Papilus, two worthy christians, and Agathonica, +a pious woman, suffered martyrdom at Pergamopolis, in Asia.</p> + +<p>Felicitatis, an illustrious Roman lady, of a considerable family<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +and the most shining virtues, was a devout christian. She had seven +sons, whom she had educated with the most exemplary piety.</p> + +<p>Januarius, the eldest, was scourged, and pressed to death with +weights; Felix and Philip, the two next had their brains dashed out +with clubs; Silvanus, the fourth, was murdered by being thrown from +a precipice; and the three younger sons, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial, +were beheaded. The mother was beheaded with the same sword +as the three latter.</p> + +<p>Justin, the celebrated philosopher, fell a martyr in this persecution. +He was a native of Neapolis, in Samaria, and was born A. D. 103. +Justin was a great lover of truth, and a universal scholar; he investigated +the Stoic and Peripatetic philosophy, and attempted the Pythagorean; +but the behaviour of one of its professors disgusting him, he +applied himself to the Platonic, in which he took great delight. About +the year 133, when he was thirty years of age, he became a convert +to christianity, and then, for the first time, perceived the real nature of +truth.</p> + +<p>He wrote an elegant epistle to the Gentiles, and employed his talents +in convincing the Jews of the truth of the christian rites; spending a +great deal of time in travelling, till he took up his abode in Rome, and +fixed his habitation upon the Viminal mount.</p> + +<p>He kept a public school, taught many who afterward became great +men, and wrote a treatise to confute heresies of all kinds. As the +pagans began to treat the christians with great severity, Justin wrote +his first apology in their favour. This piece displays great learning +and genius, and occasioned the emperor to publish an edict in favor of +the christians.</p> + +<p>Soon after, he entered into frequent contests with Crescens, a person +of a vicious life and conversation, but a celebrated cynic philosopher; +and his arguments appeared so powerful, yet disgusting to the cynic, +that he resolved on, and in the sequel accomplished, his destruction.</p> + +<p>The second apology of Justin, upon certain severities, gave Crescens +the cynic an opportunity of prejudicing the emperor against the writer +of it; upon which Justin, and six of his companions, were apprehended. +Being commanded to sacrifice to the pagan idols, they refused, +and were condemned to be scourged, and then beheaded; which sentence +was executed with all imaginable severity.</p> + +<p>Several were beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to the image of Jupiter; +in particular Concordus, a deacon of the city of Spolito.</p> + +<p>Some of the restless <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'nothen'">northern</ins> nations having risen in arms against +Rome, the emperor marched to encounter them. He was, however, +drawn into an ambuscade, and dreaded the loss of his whole army. +Enveloped with mountains, surrounded by enemies, and perishing with +thirst, the pagan deities were invoked in vain; when the men belonging +to the militine, or thundering legion, who were all christians, were +commanded to call upon their God for succour. A miraculous deliverance +immediately ensued; a prodigious quantity of rain fell, which, +being caught by the men, and filling their dykes, afforded a sudden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +and astonishing relief. It appears, that the storm which miraculously +flashed in the faces of the enemy, so intimidated them, that part deserted +to the Roman army; the rest were defeated, and the revolted provinces +entirely recovered.</p> + +<p>This affair occasioned the persecution to subside for some time, at +least in those parts immediately under the inspection of the emperor; +but we find that it soon after raged in France, particularly at Lyons, +where the tortures to which many of the christians were put, almost exceed +the powers of description.</p> + +<p>The principal of these martyrs were Vetius Agathus, a young man; +Blandina, a christian lady, of a weak constitution; Sanctus, a deacon +of Vienna; red hot plates of brass were placed upon the tenderest +parts of his body; Biblias, a weak woman, once an apostate. Attalus, +of Pergamus; and Pothinus, the venerable bishop of Lyons, who was +ninety years of age. Blandina, on the day when she and the three +other champions were first brought into the amphitheatre, she was +suspended on a piece of wood fixed in the ground, and exposed as food +for the wild beasts; at which time, by her earnest prayers, she encouraged +others. But none of the wild beasts would touch her, so that she +was remanded to prison. When she was again produced for the third +and last time, she was accompanied by Ponticus, a youth of fifteen +and the constancy of their faith so enraged the multitude, that neither +the sex of the one nor the youth of the other were respected, being +exposed to all manner of punishments and tortures. Being strengthened +by Blandina, he persevered unto death; and she, after enduring +all the torments heretofore mentioned, was at length slain with the +sword.</p> + +<p>When the christians, upon these occasions, received martyrdom, they +were ornamented, and crowned with garlands of flowers; for which +they, in heaven, received eternal crowns of glory.</p> + +<p>The torments were various; and, exclusive of those already mentioned, +the martyrs of Lyons were compelled to sit in red-hot iron +chairs till their flesh broiled. This was inflicted with peculiar severity +on Sanctus, already mentioned, and some others. Some were sewed +up in nets, and thrown on the horns of wild bulls; and the carcases of +those who died in prison, previous to the appointed time of execution, +were thrown to dogs. Indeed, so far did the malice of the pagans proceed +that they set guards over the bodies while the beasts were devouring +them, lest the friends of the deceased should get them away by +stealth; and the offals left by the dogs were ordered to be burnt.</p> + +<p>The martyrs of Lyons, according to the best accounts we could obtain, +who suffered for the gospel, were forty-eight in number, and their +executions happened in the year of Christ 177.</p> + +<p>Epipodius and Alexander were celebrated for their great friendship, +and their christian union with each other. The first was born at +Lyons, the latter at Greece. Epipodius, being compassionated by +the governor of Lyons, and exhorted to join in their festive pagan +worship, replied, "Your pretended tenderness is actually cruelty; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +the agreeable life you describe is replete with everlasting death +Christ suffered for us, that our pleasures should be immortal, and +hath prepared for his followers an eternity of bliss. The frame of +man being composed of two parts, body and soul, the first, as mean +and perishable, should be rendered subservient to the interests of the +last. Your idolatrous feasts may gratify the mortal, but they injure +the immortal part; that cannot therefore be enjoying life which destroys +the most valuable moiety of your frame. Your pleasures lead +to eternal death, and our pains to perpetual happiness." Epipodius +was severely beaten, and then put to the rack, upon which being +stretched, his flesh was torn with iron hooks. Having borne his torments +with incredible patience and unshaken fortitude, he was taken +from the rack and beheaded.</p> + +<p>Valerian and Marcellus, who were nearly related to each other, +were imprisoned at Lyons, in the year 177, for being christians. +The father was fixed up to the waist in the ground; in which position, +after remaining three days, he expired, A. D. 179. Valerian was beheaded.</p> + +<p>Apollonius, a Roman senator, an accomplished gentleman, and a sincere +christian, suffered under Commodus, because he would not worship +him as Hercules.</p> + +<p>Eusebius, Vincentius, Potentianus, Peregrinus, and Julius, a Roman +senator, were martyred on the same account.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Fifth Persecution, commencing with Severus, A. D. 192.</i></div> + +<p>Severus, having been recovered from a severe fit of sickness by a +christian, became a great favourer of the christians in general; but +the prejudice and fury of the ignorant multitude prevailing, obsolete +laws were put in execution against the christians. The progress of +christianity alarmed the pagans, and they revived the stale calumny +of placing accidental misfortunes to the account of its professors, A. +D. 192.</p> + +<p>But, though persecuting malice raged, yet the gospel shone with +resplendent brightness; and, firm as an impregnable rock, withstood the +attacks of its boisterous enemies with success. Turtullian, who lived +in this age, informs us, that if the christians had collectively withdrawn +themselves from the Roman territories, the empire would have been +greatly depopulated.</p> + +<p>Victor, bishop of Rome, suffered martyrdom in the first year of the +third century, A. D. 201. Leonidus, the father of the celebrated Origen, +was beheaded for being a christian. Many of Origen's hearers +likewise suffered martyrdom; particularly two brothers, named +Plutarchus and Serenus; another Serenus, Heron, and Heraclides, +were beheaded. Rhais had boiled pitch poured upon her head, and +was then burnt, as was Marcella her mother. Potamiena, the sister of +Rhais, was executed in the same manner as Rhais had been; but Basilides, +an officer belonging to the army, and ordered to attend her execution, +became her convert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>Basilides being, as an officer, required to take a certain oath, refused, +saying, that he could not swear by the Roman idols, as he was a +christian. Struck with surprise, the people could not, at first, believe +what they heard; but he had no sooner confirmed the same, than he +was dragged before the judge, committed to prison, and speedily afterward +beheaded.</p> + +<p>Irenæus, bishop of Lyons, was born in Greece, and received both a +polite and a christian education. It is generally supposed, that the account +of the persecutions at Lyons was written by himself. He succeeded +the martyr Pothinus as bishop of Lyons, and ruled his diocese +with great propriety; he was a zealous opposer of heresies in general, +and, about A. D. 187, he wrote a celebrated tract against heresy. Victor, +the bishop of Rome, wanting to impose the keeping of Easter there, +in preference to other places, it occasioned some disorders among the +christians. In particular, Irenæus wrote him a synodical epistle, in +the name of the Gallic churches. This zeal, in favour of christianity, +pointed him out as an object of resentment to the emperor; and in A. D. +202, he was beheaded.</p> + +<p>The persecutions now extending to Africa, many were martyred in +that quarter of the globe; the most particular of whom we shall +mention.</p> + +<p>Perpetua, a married lady, of about twenty-two years. Those who +suffered with her were, Felicitas, a married lady, big with child at +the time of her being apprehended; and Revocatus, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'catechhmun'">catechumen</ins> of +Carthage, and a slave. The names of the other prisoners, destined to +suffer upon this occasion, were Saturninus, Secundulus and Satur. +On the day appointed for their execution, they were led to the +amphitheatre. Satur, Saturninus, and Revocatus, were ordered to +run the gauntlet between the hunters, or such as had the care of the +wild beasts. The hunters being drawn up in two ranks, they ran between, +and were severely lashed as they passed. Felicitas and Perpetua +were stripped, in order to be thrown to a mad bull, which made his +first attack upon Perpetua, and stunned her; he then darted at Felicitas, +and gored her dreadfully; but not killing them, the executioner +did that office with a sword. Revocatus and Satur were destroyed +by wild beasts; Saturninus was beheaded; and Secundulus died +in prison. These executions were in the year 205, on the 8th day of +March.</p> + +<p>Speratus, and twelve others, were likewise beheaded; as was Andocles +in France. Asclepiades, bishop of Antioch, suffered many tortures, +but his life was spared.</p> + +<p>Cecilia, a young lady of good family in Rome, was married to a gentleman +named Valerian. She converted her husband and brother, who +were beheaded; and the maximus, or officer, who led them to execution, +becoming their convert, suffered the same fate. The lady was placed +naked in a scalding bath, and having continued there a considerable +time, her head was struck off with a sword, A. D. 222.</p> + +<p>Calistus, bishop of Rome, was martyred, A. D. 224; but the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +manner of his death is not recorded; and Urban, bishop of Rome, met +the same fate A. D. 232.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Sixth Persecution, under Maximinus, A. D. 235.</i></div> + +<p>A. D. 235, was in the time of Maximinus. In Cappadocia, the +president, Seremianus, did all he could to exterminate the christians +from that province.</p> + +<p>The principal persons who perished under this reign were Pontianus, +bishop of Rome; Anteros, a Grecian, his successor, who gave +offence to the government, by collecting the acts of the martyrs, Pammachius +and Quiritus, Roman senators, with all their families, and +many other christians; Simplicius, senator; Calepodius, a christian +minister, thrown into the Tyber; Martina, a noble and beautiful virgin; +and Hippolitus, a christian prelate, tied to a wild horse, and dragged +till he expired.</p> + +<p>During this persecution, raised by Maximinus, numberless christians +were slain without trial, and buried indiscriminately in heaps, +sometimes fifty or sixty being cast into a pit together, without the +least decency.</p> + +<p>The tyrant Maximinus dying, A. D. 238, was succeeded by Gordian, +during whose reign, and that of his successor Philip, the church +was free from persecution for the space of more than ten years; but +A. D. 249, a violent persecution broke out in Alexandria, at the instigation +of a pagan priest, without the knowledge of the emperor.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Seventh Persecution, under Decius A. D. 249.</i></div> + +<p>This was occasioned partly by the hatred he bore to his predecessor +Philip, who was deemed a christian, and partly to his jealousy +concerning the amazing increase of christianity; for the heathen temples +began to be forsaken, and the christian churches thronged.</p> + +<p>These reasons stimulated Decius to attempt the very extirpation of +the name of christian; and it was unfortunate for the gospel, that +many errors had, about this time, crept into the church: the christians +were at variance with each other; self-interest divided those whom +social love ought to have united; and the virulence of pride occasioned +a variety of factions.</p> + +<p>The heathens in general were ambitious to enforce the imperial decrees +upon this occasion, and looked upon the murder of a christian +as a merit to themselves. The martyrs, upon this occasion, were innumerable; +but the principal we shall give some account of.</p> + +<p>Fabian, the bishop of Rome, was the first person of eminence who +felt the severity of this persecution. The deceased emperor, Philip, +had, on account of his integrity, committed his treasure to the care +of this good man. But Decius, not finding as much as his avarice +made him expect, determined to wreak his vengeance on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +good prelate. He was accordingly seized; and on the 20th of January, +A. D. 250, he suffered decapitation.</p> + +<p>Julian, a native of Cilicia, as we are informed by St. Chrysostom, +was seized upon for being a christian. He was put into a leather bag, +together with a number of serpents and scorpions, and in that condition +thrown into the sea.</p> + +<p>Peter, a young man, amiable for the superior qualities of his body +and mind, was beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to Venus. He said, +"I am astonished you should sacrifice to an infamous woman, whose +debaucheries even your own historians record, and whose life consisted +of such actions as your laws would punish.—No, I shall offer the +true God the acceptable sacrifice of praises and prayers." Optimus, +the proconsul of Asia, on hearing this, ordered the prisoner to be +stretched upon a wheel, by which all his bones were broken, and then +he was sent to be beheaded.</p> + +<p>Nichomachus, being brought before the proconsul as a christian, +was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols. Nichomachus replied, "I +cannot pay that respect to devils, which is only due to the Almighty." +This speech so much enraged the proconsul, that Nichomachus was +put to the rack. After enduring the torments for a time, he recanted; +but scarcely had he given this proof of his frailty, than he fell into +the greatest agonies, dropped down on the ground, and expired immediately.</p> + +<p>Denisa, a young woman of only sixteen years of age, who beheld +this terrible judgment, suddenly exclaimed, "O unhappy wretch, why +would you buy a moment's ease at the expense of a miserable eternity!" +Optimus, hearing this, called to her, and Denisa avowing herself +to be a christian, she was beheaded, by his order, soon after.</p> + +<p>Andrew and Paul, two companions of Nichomachus the martyr, +A. D. 251, suffered martyrdom by stoning, and expired, calling on +their blessed Redeemer.</p> + +<p>Alexander and Epimachus, of Alexandria, were apprehended for +being christians: and, confessing the accusation, were beat with staves, +torn with hooks, and at length burnt in the fire; and we are informed, +in a fragment preserved by Eusebius, that four female martyrs suffered +on the same day, and at the same place, but not in the same manner; +for these were beheaded.</p> + +<p>Lucian and Marcian, two wicked pagans, though skilful magicians, +becoming converts to christianity, to make amends for their former +errors, lived the lives of hermits, and subsisted upon bread and water +only. After some time spent in this manner, they became zealous +preachers, and made many converts. The persecution, however, +raging at this time, they were seized upon, and carried before Sabinus, +the governor of Bithynia. On being asked by what authority +they took upon themselves to preach, Lucian answered, "That the +laws of charity and humanity obliged all men to endeavour the conversion +of their neighbours, and to do every thing in their power to +rescue them from the snares of the devil."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lucian having answered in this manner, Marcian said, that "Then +conversion was by the same grace which was given to St. Paul, +who, from a zealous persecutor of the church, became a preacher of +the gospel."</p> + +<p>The proconsul, finding that he could not prevail with them to renounce +their faith, condemned them to be burnt alive, which sentence was +soon after executed.</p> + +<p>Trypho and Respicius, two eminent men, were seized as Christians, +and imprisoned at Nice. Their feet were pierced with nails; +they were dragged through the streets, scourged, torn with iron hooks, +scorched with lighted torches, and at length beheaded, February 1, +A. D. 251.</p> + +<p>Agatha, a Sicilian lady, was not more remarkable for her personal +and acquired endowments, than her piety: her beauty was such, that +Quintian, governor of Sicily, became enamoured of her, and made +many attempts upon her chastity without success.</p> + +<p>In order to gratify his passions with the greater conveniency, he +put the virtuous lady into the hands of Aphrodica, a very infamous +and licentious woman. This wretch tried every artifice to win her to +the desired prostitution; but found all her efforts were vain; for her +chastity was impregnable, and she well knew that virtue alone could +procure true happiness. Aphrodica acquainted Quintian with the inefficacy +of her endeavours, who, enraged to be foiled in his designs, +changed his lust into resentment. On her confessing that she was a +christian, he determined to gratify his revenge, as he could not his +passion. Pursuant to his orders, she was scourged, burnt with red-hot +irons, and torn with sharp hooks. Having borne these torments with +admirable fortitude, she was next laid naked upon live coals, intermingled +with glass, and then being carried back to prison, she there +expired on the 5th of Feb. 251.</p> + +<p>Cyril, bishop of Gortyna, was seized by order of Lucius, the governor +of that place, who, nevertheless, exhorted him to obey the imperial +mandate, perform the sacrifices, and save his venerable person +from destruction; for he was now eighty-four years of age. The +good prelate replied, that as he had long taught others to save their +souls, he should only think now of his own salvation. The worthy +prelate heard his fiery sentence without emotion, walked cheerfully +to the place of execution, and underwent his martyrdom with great +fortitude.</p> + +<p>The persecution raged in no place more than the Island of Crete; +for the governor, being exceedingly active in executing the imperial +decrees, that place streamed with pious blood.</p> + +<p>Babylas, a christian of a liberal education, became bishop of Antioch, +A. D. 237, on the demise of Zebinus. He acted with inimitable +zeal, and governed the church with admirable prudence during the +most tempestuous times.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first misfortune that happened to Antioch during his mission, +was the siege of it by Sapor, king of Persia; who, having overrun all +Syria, took and plundered this city among others, and used the christian +inhabitants with greater severity than the rest, but was soon totally +defeated by Gordian.</p> + +<p>After Gordian's death, in the reign of Decius, that emperor came to +Antioch, where, having a desire to visit an assembly of christians, +Babylas opposed him, and absolutely refused to let him come in. The +emperor dissembled his anger at that time; but soon sending for the +bishop, he sharply reproved him for his insolence, and then ordered him +to sacrifice to the pagan deities as an expiation for his offence. This +being refused, he was committed to prison, loaded with chains, treated +with great severities, and then beheaded, together with three young +men who had been his pupils. A. D. 251.</p> + +<p>Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem, about this time was cast into prison +on account of his religion, where he died through the severity of +his confinement.</p> + +<p>Julianus, an old man, lame with the gout, and Cronion, another +christian, were bound on the backs of camels, severely scourged, and +then thrown into a fire and consumed. Also forty virgins, at Antioch, +after being imprisoned and scourged, were burnt.</p> + +<p>In the year of our Lord 251, the emperor Decius having erected +a pagan temple at Ephesus, he commanded all who were in that city +to sacrifice to the idols. This order was nobly refused by seven of +his own soldiers, viz. Maximianus, Martianus, Joannes, Malchus, +Dionysius, Seraion, and Constantinus. The emperor wishing to win +these soldiers to renounce their faith by his entreaties and lenity, +gave them a considerable respite till he returned from an expedition. +During the emperor's absence, they escaped, and hid themselves in a +cavern; which the emperor being informed of at his return, the +mouth of the cave was closed up, and they all perished with +hunger.</p> + +<p>Theodora, a beautiful young lady of Antioch, on refusing to sacrifice +to the Roman idols, was condemned to the stews, that her virtue +might be sacrificed to the brutality of lust. Didymus, a christian, disguised +himself in the habit of a Roman soldier, went to the house, informed +Theodora who he was, and advised her to make her escape in +his clothes. This being effected, and a man found in the brothel instead +of a beautiful lady, Didymus was taken before the president, to +whom confessing the truth, and owning that he was a christian the +sentence of death was immediately pronounced against him. Theodora, +hearing that her deliverer was likely to suffer, came to the judge, +threw herself at his feet, and begged that the sentence might fall on +her as the guilty person; but, deaf to the cries of the innocent, and +insensible to the calls of justice, the inflexible judge condemned both, +when they were executed accordingly, being first beheaded, and their +bodies afterward burnt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>Secundianus, having been accused as a christian, was conveyed to +prison by some soldiers. On the way, Verianus and Marcellinus said, +"Where are you carrying the innocent?" This interrogatory occasioned +them to be seized, and all three, after having been tortured, were +hanged and decapitated.</p> + +<p>Origen, the celebrated presbyter and catechist of Alexandria, at +the age of sixty-four, was seized, thrown into a loathsome prison, +laden with fetters, his feet placed in the stocks, and his legs extended +to the utmost for several successive days. He was threatened with +fire, and tormented by every lingering means the most infernal imaginations +could suggest. During thus cruel temporizing, the emperor +Decius died, and Gallus, who succeeded him, engaging in a war +with the Goths, the christians met with a respite. In this interim, +Origen obtained his enlargement, and, retiring to Tyre, he there remained +till his death, which happened when he was in the sixty-ninth +year of his age.</p> + +<p>Gallus, the emperor, having concluded his wars, a plague broke +out in the empire: sacrifices to the pagan deities were ordered by +the emperor, and persecutions spread from the interior to the extreme +parts of the empire, and many fell martyrs to the impetuosity of the +rabble, as well as the prejudice of the magistrates. Among these +were Cornelius, the christian bishop of Rome, and Lucius, his successor, +in 253.</p> + +<p>Most of the errors which crept into the church at this time, arose +from placing human reason in competition with revelation; but the +fallacy of such arguments being proved by the most able divines, +the opinions they had created vanished away like the stars before +the sun.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Eighth Persecution, under Valerian, A. D. 257</i>,</div> + +<p>Began under Valerian, in the month of April, 257, and continued +for three years and six months. The martyrs that fell in this persecution +were innumerable, and their tortures and deaths as various and +painful. The most eminent martyrs were the following, though neither +rank, sex, or age were regarded.</p> + +<p>Rufina and Secunda, two beautiful and accomplished ladies, +daughters of Asterius, a gentleman of eminence in Rome. Rufina, +the elder, was designed in marriage for Armentarius, a young nobleman; +Secunda, the younger, for Verinus a person of rank and +opulence. The suitors, at the time of the persecution's commencing, +were both christians; but when danger appeared, to save their fortunes, +they renounced their faith. They took great pains to persuade +the ladies to do the same, but, disappointed in their purpose, +the lovers were base enough to inform against the ladies, who, being +apprehended as christians, were brought before Junius Donatus, governor +of Rome, where, A. D. 257, they sealed their martyrdom with +their blood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>Stephen, bishop of Rome, was beheaded in the same year, and +about that time Saturnius, the pious orthodox bishop of Thoulouse, +refusing to sacrifice to idols, was treated with all the barbarous indignities +imaginable, and fastened by the feet to the tail of a bull. Upon +a signal given, the enraged animal was driven down the steps of the +temple, by which the worthy martyr's brains were dashed out.</p> + +<p>Sextus succeeded Stephen as bishop of Rome. He is supposed to +have been a Greek by birth or by extraction, and had for some time +served in the capacity of a deacon under Stephen. His great fidelity, +singular wisdom, and uncommon courage, distinguished him +upon many occasions; and the happy conclusion of a controversy +with some heretics is generally ascribed to his piety and prudence. +In the year 258, Marcianus, who had the management of the Roman +government, procured an order from the emperor Valerian, to +put to death all the christian clergy in Rome, and hence the bishop +with six of his deacons, suffered martyrdom in 258.</p> + +<p>Laurentius, generally called St. Laurence, the principal of the deacons, +who taught and preached under Sextus, followed him to the place +of execution; when Sextus predicted, that he should, three days after, +meet him in heaven.</p> + +<p>Laurentius, looking upon this as a certain indication of his own approaching +martyrdom, at his return gathered together all the christian +poor, and distributed the treasures of the church, which had been committed +to his care, among them.</p> + +<p>This liberality alarmed the persecutors, who commanded him to give +an immediate account to the emperor of the church treasures. This +he promised to do in three days, during which interval, he collected +together a great number of aged, helpless, and impotent poor; he repaired +to the magistrate, and presenting them to him, said, "These are +the true treasures of the church." Incensed at the disappointment, +and fancying the matter meant in ridicule, the governor ordered him +to be immediately scourged. He was then beaten with iron rods, set +upon a wooden horse, and had his limbs dislocated. These tortures he +endured with fortitude and perseverance; when he was ordered to be +fastened to a large gridiron, with a slow fire under it, that his death +might be the more lingering. His astonishing constancy during these +trials, and serenity of countenance while under such excruciating torments, +gave the spectators so exalted an idea of the dignity and truth +of the christian religion, that many became converts upon the occasion, +of whom was Romanus, a soldier.</p> + +<p>In Africa the persecution raged with peculiar violence; many thousands +received the crown of martyrdom, among whom the following +were the most distinguished characters:</p> + +<p>Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, an eminent prelate, and a pious ornament +of the church. The brightness of his genius was tempered by +the solidity of his judgment; and with all the accomplishments of the +gentleman, he blended the virtues of a christian. His doctrines were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +orthodox and pure; his language easy and elegant; and his manners +graceful and winning: <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'i ine'">in fine</ins>, he was both the pious and polite preacher. +In his youth he was educated in the principles of Gentilism, and +having a considerable fortune, he lived in the very extravagance of +splendour, and all the dignity of pomp.</p> + +<p>About the year 246, Cœcilius, a christian minister of Carthage became +the happy instrument of Cyprian's conversion: on which account, +and for the great love that he always afterward bore for the author +of his conversion, he was termed Cœcilius Cyprian. Previous +to his baptism, he studied the scriptures with care, and being struck +with the beauties of the truths they contained, he determined to practise +the virtues therein recommended. Subsequent to his baptism, he +sold his estate, distributed the money among the poor, dressed himself +in plain attire, and commenced a life of austerity. He was soon after +made a presbyter; and, being greatly admired for his virtues and +works, on the death of Donatus, in A. D. 248, he was almost unanimously +elected bishop of Carthage.</p> + +<p>Cyprian's care not only extended over Carthage, but to Numidia +and Mauritania. In all his transactions he took great care to ask the +advice of his clergy, knowing, that unanimity alone could be of service +to the church, this being one of his maxims, "That the bishop +was in the church, and the church in the bishop; so that unity can +only be preserved by a close connexion between the pastor and his +flock."</p> + +<p>A. D. 250, Cyprian was publicly proscribed by the emperor Decius, +under the appellation of Cœcilius Cyprian, bishop of the christians; +and the universal cry of the pagans was, "Cyprian to the lions, +Cyprian to the beasts." The bishop, however, withdrew from the +rage of the populace, and his effects were immediately confiscated. +During his retirement, he wrote thirty pious and elegant letters to +his flock; but several schisms that then crept into the church, gave +him great uneasiness. The rigour of the persecution abating, he returned +to Carthage, and did every thing in his power to expunge erroneous +opinions. A terrible plague breaking out in Carthage, it was +as usual, laid to the charge of the christians; and the magistrates began +to persecute accordingly, which occasioned an epistle from them +to Cyprian, in answer to which he vindicates the cause of christianity. +A. D. 257, Cyprian was brought before the proconsul Aspasius +Paturnus, who exiled him to a little city on the Lybian sea. On the +death of this proconsul, he returned to Carthage, but was soon after +seized, and carried before the now governor, who condemned him to +be beheaded; which sentence was executed on the 14th of September, +A. D. 258.</p> + +<p>The disciples of Cyprian, martyred in this persecution, were Lucius, +Flavian, Victoricus, Remus, Montanus, Julian, Primelus, and +Donatian.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>At Utica, a most terrible tragedy was exhibited: 300 christians +were, by the orders of the proconsul, placed round a burning limekiln. +A pan of coals and incense being prepared, they were commanded either +to sacrifice to Jupiter, or to be thrown into the kiln. Unanimously +refusing, they bravely jumped into the pit, and were immediately +suffocated.</p> + +<p>Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragon, in Spain, and his two deacons, Augurius +and Eulogius, were burnt for being christians.</p> + +<p>Alexander, Malchus, and Priscus, three christians of Palestine, +with a woman of the same place, voluntarily accused themselves of +being christians; on which account they were sentenced to be devoured +by tigers, which sentence was executed accordingly.</p> + +<p>Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda, three virgins of Tuburga, had +gall and vinegar given them to drink, were then severely scourged, +tormented on a gibbet, rubbed with lime, scorched on a gridiron, worried +by wild beasts, and at length beheaded.</p> + +<p>It is here proper to take notice of the singular but miserable fate of +the emperor Valerian, who had so long and so terribly persecuted +the christians.</p> + +<p>This tyrant, by a stratagem, was taken prisoner by Sapor, emperor +of Persia, who carried him into his own country, and there treated +him with the most unexampled indignity, making him kneel down as +the meanest slave, and treading upon him as a footstool when he +mounted his horse.</p> + +<p>After having kept him for the space of seven years in this abject +state of slavery, he caused his eyes to be put out, though he was then +83 years of age. This not satiating his desire of revenge, he soon after +ordered his body to be flayed alive, and rubbed with salt, under +which torments he expired; and thus fell one of the most tyrannical +emperors of Rome, and one of the greatest persecutors of the christians.</p> + +<p>A. D. 260, Gallienus, the son of Valerian, succeeded him, and during +his reign (a few martyrs excepted) the church enjoyed peace for +some years.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Ninth Persecution under Aurelian, A. D. 274.</i></div> + +<p>The principal sufferers were, Felix, bishop of Rome. This prelate +was advanced to the Roman see in 274. He was the first martyr +to Aurelian's petulancy, being beheaded on the 22d of December, in +the same year.</p> + +<p>Agapetus, a young gentleman, who sold his estate, and gave the +money to the poor, was seized as a christian, tortured, and then beheaded +at Præneste, a city within a day's journey of Rome.</p> + +<p>These are the only martyrs left upon record during this reign, as +it was soon put a stop to by the emperor's being murdered by his own +domestics, at Byzantium.</p> + +<p>Aurelian was succeeded by Tacitus, who was followed by Probus, +as the latter was by Carus: this emperor being killed by a thunder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +storm, his sons, Carnious and Numerian, succeeded him, and during all +these reigns the church had peace.</p> + +<p>Diocletian mounted the imperial throne, A. D. 284; at first he showed +great favour to the christians. In the year 286, he associated Maximian +with him in the empire; and some christians were put to death +before any general persecution broke out. Among these were Felician +and Primus, two brothers.</p> + +<p>Marcus and Marcellianus were twins, natives of Rome, and of +noble descent. Their parents were heathens, but the tutors, to whom +the education of the children was intrusted, brought them up as +christians.</p> + +<p>Their constancy at length subdued those who wished them to become +pagans, and their parents and whole family became converts to +a faith they had before reprobated. They were martyred by being +tied to posts, and having their feet pierced with nails. After remaining +in this situation for a day and a night, their sufferings were put an end +to by thrusting lances through their bodies.</p> + +<p>Zoe, the wife of the jailer, who had the care of the before-mentioned +martyrs, was also converted by them, and hung upon a tree, +with a fire of straw lighted under her. When her body was taken +down, it was thrown into a river, with a large stone tied to it, in order +to sink it.</p> + +<p>In the year of Christ 286, a most remarkable affair occurred; a legion +of soldiers, consisting of 6666 men, contained none but christians. +This legion was called the Theban Legion, because the men had been +raised in Thebias: they were quartered in the east till the emperor +Maximian ordered them to march to Gaul, to assist him against the rebels +of Burgundy. They passed the Alps into Gaul, under the command +of Mauritius, Candidus, and Exupernis, their worthy commanders, and +at length joined the emperor.</p> + +<p>Maximian, about this time, ordered a general sacrifice, at which the +whole army was to assist; and likewise he commanded, that they should +take the oath of allegiance and swear, at the same time, to assist in the +extirpation of christianity in Gaul.</p> + +<p>Alarmed at these orders, each individual of the Theban Legion +absolutely refused either to sacrifice or take the oaths prescribed. +This so greatly enraged Maximian, that he ordered the legion to be +decimated, that is, every tenth man to be selected from the rest, and +put to the sword. This bloody order having been put in execution, +those who remained alive were still inflexible, when a second decimation +took place, and every tenth man of those living were put to +death.</p> + +<p>This second severity made no more impression than the first had +done; the soldiers preserved their fortitude and their principles, but +by the advice of their officers they drew up a loyal remonstrance to +the emperor. This, it might have been presumed, would have softened +the emperor, but it had a contrary effect: for, enraged at their +perseverance and unanimity, he commanded, that the whole legion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +should be put to death, which was accordingly executed by the other +troops, who cut them to pieces with their swords, 22d Sept. 286.</p> + +<p>Alban, from whom St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, received its name, +was the first British martyr. Great Britain had received the gospel +of Christ from Lucius, the first christian king, but did not suffer from +the rage of persecution for many years after. He was originally a +pagan, but converted by a christian ecclesiastic, named Amphibalus, +whom he sheltered on account of his religion. The enemies of Amphibalus, +having intelligence of the place where he was secreted, +came to the house of Alban; in order to facilitate his escape, when +the soldiers came, he offered himself up as the person they were +seeking for. The deceit being detected, the governor ordered him to +be scourged, and then he was sentenced to be beheaded, June 22, +A. D. 287.</p> + +<p>The venerable Bede assures us, that, upon this occasion, the executioner +suddenly became a convert to christianity, and entreated permission +to die for Alban, or with him. Obtaining the latter request, +they were beheaded by a soldier, who voluntarily undertook the task +of executioner. This happened on the 22d of June, A. D. 287, at +Verulam, now St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, where a magnificent +church was erected to his memory about the time of Constantine the +Great. This edifice, being destroyed in the Saxon wars, was rebuilt +by Offa, king of Mercia, and a monastery erected adjoining to it, some +remains of which are still visible, and the church is a noble Gothic +structure.</p> + +<p>Faith, a christian female, of Acquitain, in France, was ordered to be +broiled upon a gridiron, and then beheaded; A. D. 287.</p> + +<p>Quintin was a christian, and a native of Rome, but determined to attempt +the propagation of the gospel in Gaul, with one Lucian, they +preached together in Amiens; after which Lucian went to Beaumaris, +where he was martyred. Quintin remained in Picardy, and was very +zealous in his ministry.</p> + +<p>Being seized upon as a christian, he was stretched with pullies till +his joints were dislocated: his body was then torn with wire scourges, +and boiling oil and pitch poured on his naked flesh; lighted torches +were applied to his sides and armpits; and after he had been thus +tortured, he was remanded back to prison, and died of the barbarities +he had suffered, October 31, A. D. 287. His body was sunk in the +Somme.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Tenth Persecution under Diocletian, A. D. 303</i>,</div> + +<p>Under the Roman Emperors, commonly called the Era of the Martyrs, +was occasioned partly by the increasing numbers and luxury of +the christians, and the hatred of Galerius, the adopted son of Diocletian, +who, being stimulated by his mother, a bigoted pagan, never ceased +persuading the emperor to enter upon the persecution, till he had accomplished +his purpose.</p> + +<p>The fatal day fixed upon to commence the bloody work, was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +23d of February, A. D. 303, that being the day in which the Terminalia +were celebrated, and on which, as the cruel pagans boasted, they +hoped to put a termination to christianity. On the appointed day, +the persecution began in Nicomedia, on the morning of which the +prefect of that city repaired, with a great number of officers and +assistants, to the church of the christians, where, having forced +open the doors, they seized upon all the sacred books, and committed +them to the flames.</p> + +<p>The whole of this transaction was in the presence of Diocletian +and Galerius, who, not contented with burning the books, had the +church levelled with the ground. This was followed by a severe +edict, commanding the destruction of all other christian churches and +books; and an order soon succeeded, to render christians of all denominations +outlaws.</p> + +<p>The publication of this edict occasioned an immediate martyrdom +for a bold christian not only tore it down from the place to which +it was affixed, but execrated the name of the emperor for his injustice.</p> + +<p>A provocation like this was sufficient to call down pagan vengeance +upon his head; he was accordingly seized, severely tortured, and then +burned alive.</p> + +<p>All the christians were apprehended and imprisoned; and Galerius +privately ordered the imperial palace to be set on fire, that the christians +might be charged as the incendiaries, and a plausible pretence +given for carrying on the persecution with the greatest severities. A +general sacrifice was commenced, which occasioned various martyrdoms. +No distinction was made of age or sex; the name of Christian +was so obnoxious to the pagans, that all indiscriminately fell +sacrifices to their opinions. Many houses were set on fire, and +whole christian families perished in the flames; and others had stones +fastened about their necks, and being tied together were driven into +the sea. The persecution became general in all the Roman provinces, +but more particularly in the east; and as it lasted ten years, it is +impossible to ascertain the numbers martyred, or to enumerate the various +modes of martyrdom.</p> + +<p>Racks, scourges, swords, daggers, crosses, poison, and famine, were +made use of in various parts to despatch the christians; and invention +was exhausted to devise tortures against such as had no crime, but +thinking differently from the votaries of superstition.</p> + +<p>A city of Phrygia, consisting entirely of christians, was burnt, and +all the inhabitants perished in the flames.</p> + +<p>Tired with slaughter, at length, several governors of provinces +represented to the imperial court, the impropriety of such conduct. +Hence many were respited from execution, but, though they were not +put to death, as much as possible was done to render their lives miserable, +many of them having their ears cut off, their noses slit, their +right eyes put out, their limbs rendered useless by dreadful dislocations, +and their flesh seared in conspicuous places with red-hot irons.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is necessary now to particularize the most conspicuous persons +who laid down their lives in martyrdom in this bloody persecution.</p> + +<p>Sebastian, a celebrated martyr, was born at Narbonne, in Gaul, instructed +in the principles of christianity at Milan, and afterward became +an officer of the emperor's guard at Rome. He remained a true +christian in the midst of idolatry; unallured by the splendours of a +court, untainted by evil examples, and uncontaminated by the hopes of +preferment. Refusing to be a pagan, the emperor ordered him to be +taken to a field near the city, termed the Campus Martius, and there +to be shot to death with arrows; which sentence was executed accordingly. +Some pious christians coming to the place of execution, in order +to give his body burial, perceived signs of life in him, and immediately +moving him to a place of security, they, in a short time effected +his recovery, and prepared him for a second martyrdom; for, as soon +as he was able to go out, he placed himself intentionally in the emperor's +way as he was going to the temple, and reprehended him for his +various cruelties and unreasonable prejudices against christianity. +As soon as Diocletian had overcome his surprise, he ordered Sebastian +to be seized, and carried to a place near the palace, and beaten to +death; and, that the christians should not either use means again to +recover or bury his body, he ordered that it should be thrown into the +common sewer. Nevertheless, a christian lady, named Lucina, found +means to remove it from the sewer, and bury it in the catacombs, or +repositories of the dead.</p> + +<p>The christians, about this time, upon mature consideration, +thought it unlawful to bear arms under a heathen emperor. Maximilian, +the son of Fabius Victor, was the first beheaded under this +regulation.</p> + +<p>Vitus, a Sicilian of considerable family, was brought up a christian; +when his virtues increased with his years, his constancy supported +him under all afflictions, and his faith was superior to the most +dangerous perils. His father, Hylas, who was a pagan, finding that +he had been instructed in the principles of christianity by the nurse +who brought him up, used all his endeavours to bring him back to +paganism and at length sacrificed his son to the idols, June 14, A. D. +303.</p> + +<p>Victor was a Christian of a good family at Marseilles, in France; +he spent a great part of the night in visiting the afflicted, and confirming +the weak; which pious work he could not, consistently with his +own safety, perform in the daytime; and his fortune he spent in relieving +the distresses of poor christians.</p> + +<p>He was at length, however, seized by the emperor's Maximian's decree, +who ordered him to be bound, and dragged through the streets. +During the execution of this order, he was treated with all manner of +cruelties and indignities by the enraged populace. Remaining still inflexible, +his courage was deemed obstinacy.</p> + +<p>Being by order stretched upon the rack, he turned his eyes towards +heaven, and prayed to God to endue him with patience, after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +which he underwent the tortures with most admirable fortitude. After +the executioners were tired with inflicting torments on him, he was +conveyed to a dungeon. In his confinement, he converted his jailers, +named Alexander, Felician, and Longinus. This affair coming to the +ears of the emperor, he ordered them immediately to be put to death, +and the jailers were accordingly beheaded. Victor was then again +put to the rack, unmercifully beaten with <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'batoons'">batons</ins>, and again sent +to prison.</p> + +<p>Being a third time examined concerning his religion, he persevered +in his principles; a small altar was then brought, and he was commanded +to offer incense upon it immediately. Fired with indignation at the +request, he boldly stepped forward, and with his foot overthrew both +altar and idol. This so enraged the emperor Maximian, who was present, +that he ordered the foot with which he had kicked the altar to be +immediately cut off; and Victor was thrown into a mill, and crushed to +pieces with the stones, A. D. 303.</p> + +<p>Maximus, governor of Cilicia, being at Tarsus, three christians were +brought before him; their names were Tarachus, an aged man; Probus, +and Andronicus. After repeated tortures and exhortations to recant, +they, at length, were ordered for execution.</p> + +<p>Being brought to the amphitheatre, several beasts were let loose +upon them; but none of the animals, though hungry, would touch +them. The keeper then brought out a large bear, that had that very +day destroyed three men; but this voracious creature and a fierce +lioness both refused to touch the prisoners. Finding the design of +destroying them by the means of wild beasts ineffectual, Maximus +ordered them to be slain by the sword, on the 11th of October, A. D. +303.</p> + +<p>Romanus, a native of Palestine, was deacon of the church of Cæsarea, +at the time of the commencement of Diocletian's persecution. +Being condemned for his faith at Antioch, he was scourged, put to +the rack, his body torn with hooks, his flesh cut with knives, his face +scarified, his teeth beaten from their sockets, and his hair plucked up +by the roots. Soon after he was ordered to be strangled, Nov. 17, A. D. +303.</p> + +<p>Susanna, the niece of Caius, bishop of Rome, was pressed by the +emperor Diocletian to marry a noble pagan, who was nearly related to +him. Refusing the honour intended her, she was beheaded by the emperor's +order.</p> + +<p>Dorotheus, the high chamberlain of the household to Diocletian, was +a christian, and took great pains to make converts. In his religious labours, +he was joined by Gorgonius, another christian, and one belonging +to the palace. They were first tortured and then strangled.</p> + +<p>Peter, a eunuch belonging to the emperor, was a christian of singular +modesty and humility. He was laid on a gridiron, and broiled over a +slow fire till he expired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cyprian, known by the title of the magician, to distinguish him from +Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, was a native of Antioch. He received +a liberal education in his youth, and particularly applied himself to astrology; +after which he travelled for improvement through Greece, +Egypt, India, &c. In the course of time he became acquainted with +Justina, a young lady of Antioch, whose birth, beauty, and accomplishments, +rendered her the admiration of all who knew her.</p> + +<p>A pagan gentleman applied to Cyprian, to promote his suit with the +beautiful Justina; this he undertook, but soon himself became converted, +burnt his books of astrology and magic, received baptism, and felt +animated with a powerful spirit of grace. The conversion of Cyprian +had a great effect on the pagan gentleman who paid his addresses to Justina, +and he in a short time embraced christianity. During the persecution +of Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were seized upon as christians, +when the former was torn with pincers, and the later chastised +and, after suffering other torments, were beheaded.</p> + +<p>Eulalia, a Spanish lady of a christian family, was remarkable in her +youth for sweetness of temper, and solidity of understanding seldom +found in the capriciousness of juvenile years. Being apprehended as a +christian, the magistrate attempted by the mildest means, to bring her +over to paganism, but she ridiculed the pagan deities with such asperity, +that the judge, incensed at her behaviour, ordered her to be tortured. +Her sides were accordingly torn by hooks, and her breasts burnt in the +most shocking manner, till she expired by the violence of the flames, +Dec. A. D. 303.</p> + +<p>In the year 304, when the persecution reached Spain, Dacian, the governor +of Terragona ordered Valerius the bishop, and Vincent the deacon, +to be seized, loaded with irons, and imprisoned. The prisoners being +firm in their resolution, Valerius was banished, and Vincent was +racked, and his limbs dislocated, his flesh torn with hooks, and was laid +on a gridiron, which had not only a fire placed under it, but spikes at +the top, which ran into his flesh. These torments neither destroying him, +nor changing his resolutions, he was remanded to prison, and confined +in a small, loathsome, dark dungeon, strewed with sharp flints, and +pieces of broken glass, where he died, Jan. 22, 304.—His body was +thrown into the river.</p> + +<p>The persecution of Diocletian began particularly to rage in A. D. +304, when many christians were put to cruel tortures, and the most +painful and ignominious deaths; the most eminent and particular of +whom we shall enumerate.</p> + +<p>Saturninus, a priest of Albitina, a town of Africa, after being tortured, +was remanded to prison, and there starved to death. His four +children, after being variously tormented, shared the same fate with +their father.</p> + +<p>Dativas, a noble Roman senator; Thelico, a pious Christian, Victoria, +a young lady of considerable family and fortune, with some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +others of less consideration, all auditors of Saturninus, were tortured in +a similar manner, and perished by the same means.</p> + +<p>Agrape, Chioma, and Irene, three sisters, were seized upon at Thessalonica, +when Diocletian's persecution reached Greece. They were +burnt, and received the crown of martyrdom in the flames, March 25, +A. D. 304. The governor, finding that he could make no impression +on Irene, ordered her to be exposed naked in the streets, which shameful +order having been executed, she was burnt, April 1, A. D. 304, +at the same place where her sisters suffered.</p> + +<p>Agatho, a man of a pious turn of mind, with Cassice, Phillippa, and +Eutychia, were martyred about the same time; but the particulars +have not been transmitted to us.</p> + +<p>Marcellinus, bishop of Rome, who succeeded Caius in that see, +having strongly opposed paying divine honours to Diocletian, suffered +martyrdom, by a variety of tortures, in the year 321, comforting his +soul till he expired with the prospect of those glorious rewards it would +receive by the tortures suffered in the body.</p> + +<p>Victorius, Carpophorus, Severus, and Severianus, were brothers, +and all four employed in places of great trust and honour in the city +of Rome. Having exclaimed against the worship of idols, they were +apprehended, and scourged, with the plumbetæ, or scourges, to the +ends of which were fastened leaden balls. This punishment was +exercised with such excess of cruelty, that the pious brothers fell martyrs +to its severity.</p> + +<p>Timothy, a deacon of Mauritania, and Maura his wife, had not been +united together by the bands of wedlock above three weeks, when +they were separated from each other by the persecution.—Timothy, +being apprehended as a christian, was carried before Arrianus, the +governor of Thebais, who, knowing that he had the keeping of the +Holy Scriptures, commanded him to deliver them up to be burnt; to +which he answered, "Had I children, I would sooner deliver them up +to be sacrificed, than part with the word of God." The governor being +much incensed at this reply, ordered his eyes to be put out with +red-hot irons, saying "The books shall at least be useless to you, for +you shall not see to read them." His patience under the operation +was so great, that the governor grew more exasperated; he, therefore, +in order, if possible, to overcome his fortitude, ordered him to be hung +up by the feet, with a weight tied about his neck, and a gag in his +mouth. In this state, Maura, his wife, tenderly urged him for her +sake to recant; but, when the gag was taken out of his mouth, instead +of consenting to his wife's entreaties, he greatly blamed her mistaken +love, and declared his resolution of dying for the faith. The consequence +was, that Maura resolved to imitate his courage and fidelity +and either to accompany or follow him to glory. The governor, after +trying in vain to alter her resolution, ordered her to be tortured +which was executed with great severity. After this, Timothy and +Maura were crucified near each other, A. D. 304.</p> + +<p>Sabinus, bishop of Assisium, refusing to sacrifice to Jupiter, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +pushing the idol from him, had his hand cut off by the order of the +governor of Tuscany. While in prison, he converted the governor +and his family, all of whom suffered martyrdom for the faith. Soon +after their execution, Sabinus himself was scourged to death. Dec.. +A. D. 304.</p> + +<p>Tired with the farce of state and public business, the emperor +Diocletian resigned the imperial diadem, and was succeeded by Constantius +and Galerius; the former a prince of the most mild and humane +disposition and the latter equally remarkable for his cruelty +and tyranny. These divided the empire into two equal governments, +Galerius ruling in the east, and Constantius in the west; and the people +in the two governments felt the effects of the dispositions of the +two emperors; for those in the west were governed in the mildest +manner, but such as resided in the east, felt all then miseries of oppression +and lengthened tortures.</p> + +<p>Among the many martyred by the order of Galerius, we shall enumerate +the most eminent.</p> + +<p>Amphianus was a gentleman of eminence in Lucia, and a scholar +of Eusebius; Julitta, a Lycaonian of royal descent, but more celebrated +for her virtues than noble blood. While on the rack, her +child was killed before her face. Julitta, of Cappadocia, was a lady +of distinguished capacity, great virtue, and uncommon courage.—To +complete the execution, Julitta had boiling pitch poured on her +feet, her sides torn with hooks, and received the conclusion of her +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'martrydom'">martyrdom</ins>, by being beheaded, April 16, A. D. 305.</p> + +<p>Hermolaus, a venerable and pious christian, of a great age, and +an intimate acquaintance of Panteleon's, suffered martyrdom for the +faith on the same day, and in the same manner as Panteleon.</p> + +<p>Eustratius, secretary to the governor of Armina, was thrown into +a fiery furnace, for exhorting some christians who had been apprehended, +to persevere in their faith.</p> + +<p>Nicander and Marcian, two eminent Roman military officers, were +apprehended on account of their faith. As they were both men of +great abilities in their profession, the utmost means were used to induce +them to renounce christianity: but these endeavours being found +ineffectual, they were beheaded.</p> + +<p>In the kingdom of Naples, several martyrdoms took place, in particular, +Januaries, bishop of Beneventum; Sosius, deacon of Misene +Proculus, another deacon; Eutyches and Acutius, two laymen: Festus, +a deacon; and Desiderius, a reader; were all, on account of being +christians, condemned by the governor of Campania, to be devoured +by the wild beasts. The savage animals, however, not touching +them, they were beheaded.</p> + +<p>Quirinus, bishop of Siscia, being carried before Matenius, the governor, +was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan deities, agreeably to the +edicts of various Roman emperors. The governor, perceiving his +constancy, sent him to jail, and ordered him to be heavily ironed; +flattering himself, that the hardships of a jail, some occasional tortures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +and the weight of chains, might overcome his resolution. Being +decided in his principles, he was sent to Amantius, the principal governor +of Pannonia, now Hungary, who loaded him with chains, and +carried him through the principal towns of the Danube, exposing him +to ridicule wherever he went. Arriving at length at Sabaria, and finding +that Quirinus would not renounce his faith, he ordered him to be +cast into a river, with a stone fastened about his neck. This sentence +being put into execution, Quirinus floated about for some time, and, exhorting +the people in the most pious terms, concluded his admonitions +with this prayer: "It is no new thing, O all-powerful Jesus, for thee +to stop the course of rivers, or to cause a man to walk upon the water +as thou didst thy servant Peter; the people have already seen the proof +of thy power in me; grant me now to lay down my life for thy sake, O +my God." On pronouncing the last words he immediately sank, and +died, June 4, A. D. 308; his body was afterwards taken up, and buried +by some pious christians.</p> + +<p>Pamphilus, a native of Phœnicia, of a considerable family, was a +man of such extensive learning, that he was called a second Origen. +He was received into the body of the clergy at Cæsarea, where he established +a public library and spent his time in the practice of every +christian virtue. He copied the greatest part of the works of Origen +with his own hand, and, assisted by Eusebius, gave a correct copy of +the Old Testament, which had suffered greatly by the ignorance or +negligence of firmer transcribers. In the year 307, he was apprehended, +and suffered torture and martyrdom.</p> + +<p>Marcellus, bishop of Rome, being banished on account of his faith, +fell a martyr to the miseries he suffered in exile, 16th Jan. A. D. +310.</p> + +<p>Peter, the sixteenth bishop of Alexandria, was martyred Nov. 25, A. D. +311, by order of Maximus Cæsar, who reigned in the east.</p> + +<p>Agnes, a virgin of only thirteen years of age, was beheaded for being +a christian; as was Serene, the empress of Diocletian. Valentine, +a priest, suffered the same fate at Rome; and Erasmus, a bishop, was +martyred in Campania.</p> + +<p>Soon after this the persecution abated in the middle parts of the empire, +as well as in the west; and Providence at length began to manifest +vengeance on the persecutors. Maximian endeavoured to corrupt +his daughter Fausta to murder Constantine her husband; which she +discovered, and Constantine forced him to choose his own death, when +he preferred the ignominious death of hanging, after being an emperor +near twenty years.</p> + +<p>Galerius was visited by an incurable and intolerable disease, which +began with an ulcer in his secret parts and a fistula in ano, that spread +progressively to his inmost bowels, and baffled all the skill of physicians +and surgeons. Untried medicines of some daring professors drove the +evil through his bones to the very marrow, and worms began to breed +in his entrails; and the stench was so preponderant as to be perceived +in the city; all the passages separating the passages of the urine, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +excrements being corroded and destroyed. The whole mass of his +body was turned unto universal rottenness; and, though living creatures, +and boiled animals, were applied with the design of drawing out +the vermin by the heat, by which a vast hive was opened, a second +imposthume discovered a more prodigious swarm, as if his whole body +was resolved into worms. By a dropsy also his body was grossly +disfigured; for although his upper parts were exhausted, and dried to +a skeleton, covered only with dead skin; the lower parts were swelled +up like bladders, and the shape of his feet could scarcely be perceived. +Torments and pains insupportable, greater than those he had +inflicted upon the christians, accompanied these visitations, and he +bellowed out like a wounded bull, often endeavouring to kill himself +and destroying several physicians for the inefficacy of their medicines. +These torments kept him in a languishing state a full year, and his +conscience was awakened, at length, so that he was compelled to +acknowledge the God of the christians, and to promise, in the intervals +of his paroxysms, that he would rebuild the churches, and repair +the mischief done to them. An edict in his last agonies, was published +in his name, and the joint names of Constantine and Licinius, to +permit the christians to have the free use of religion, and to supplicate +their God for his health and the good of the empire; on which +many prisoners in Nicomedia were liberated, and amongst others +Donatus.</p> + +<p>At length, Constantine the Great, determined to redress the grievances +of the christians, for which purpose he raised an army of +30,000 foot, and 8000 horse, which he marched towards Rome against +Maxentius, the emperor; defeated him, and entered the city of Rome +in triumph. A law was now published in favour of the christians, in +which Licinius was joined by Constantine, and a copy of it was sent +to Maximus in the east. Maximus, who was a bigoted pagan, greatly +disliked the edict, but being afraid of Constantine, did not openly +avow his disapprobation. Maximus at length invaded the territories +of Licinius, but, being defeated, put an end to his life by poison. +Licinius afterwards persecuting the christians, Constantine the Great +marched against him, and defeated him: he was afterwards slain by +his own soldiers.</p> + +<p>We shall conclude our account of the tenth and last general persecution +with the death of St. George, the titular saint and patron of +England. St. George was born in Cappadocia, of christian parents; +and giving proofs of his courage, was promoted in the army of the +emperor Diocletian. During the persecution, St. George threw up his +command, went boldly to the senate house, and avowed his being +a christian, taking occasion at the same time to remonstrate against +paganism, and point out the absurdity of worshipping idols. This +freedom so greatly provoked the senate, that St. George was ordered +to be tortured, and by the emperor's orders was dragged through the +streets, and beheaded the next day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA.</h3> + + +<p>The gospel having spread itself into Persia, the pagan priests, who +worshipped the sun, were greatly alarmed, and dreaded the loss of +that influence they had hitherto maintained over the people's minds +and properties. Hence they thought it expedient to complain to the +emperor, that the christians were enemies to the state, and held a +treasonable correspondence with the Romans, the great enemies of +Persia.</p> + +<p>The emperor Sapores, being naturally averse to christianity, easily +believed what was said against the christians, and gave orders to persecute +them in all parts of his empire. On account of this mandate, +many eminent persons in the church and state fell martyrs to the ignorance +and ferocity of the pagans.</p> + +<p>Constantine the Great being informed of the persecutions in Persia, +wrote a long letter to the Persian monarch, in which he recounts the +vengeance that had fallen on persecutors, and the great success that had +attended those who had refrained from persecuting the christians. The +persecution by this means ended during the life of Sapores; but it was +again renewed under the lives of his successors.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions under the Arian Heretics.</i></div> + +<p>The author of the Arian heresy was Arius, a native of Lybia, and +a priest of Alexandria, who, in A. D. 318, began to publish his errors. +He was condemned by a council of Lybian and Egyptian bishops, and +that sentence was confirmed by the council of Nice, A. D. 325. After +the death of Constantine the Great, the Arians found means to ingratiate +themselves into the favour of the emperor Constantinus, his son and +successor in the east; and hence a persecution was raised against the +orthodox bishops and clergy. The celebrated Athanasius, and other +bishops, were banished, and their sees filled with Arians.</p> + +<p>In Egypt and Lybia, thirty bishops were martyred, and many other +christians cruelly tormented; and, A. D. 386, George, the Arian bishop +of Alexandria, under the authority of the emperor, began a persecution +in that city and its environs, and carried it on with the most infernal +severity. He was assisted in his diabolical malice by Catophonius, +governor of Egypt; Sebastian, general of the Egyptian forces; Faustinus +the treasurer; and Herachus, a Roman officer.</p> + +<p>The persecution now raged in such a manner, that the clergy were +driven from Alexandria, their churches were shut, and the severities +practised by the Arian heretics were as great as those that had been +practised by the pagan idolaters. If a man, accused of being a christian, +made his escape, then his whole family were massacred, and his +effects confiscated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecution under Julian the Apostate.</i></div> + +<p>This emperor was the son of Julius Constantius, and the nephew +of Constantine the Great. He studied the rudiments of grammar +under the inspection of Mardomus, a eunuch, and a heathen of Constantinople. +His father sent him some time after to Nicomedia, to be +instructed in the christian religion, by the bishop of Eusebius, his kinsman, +but his principles were corrupted by the pernicious doctrines of +Ecebolius the rhetorician, and Maximus the magician.</p> + +<p>Constantius dying in the year 361, Julian succeeded him, and had +no sooner attained the imperial dignity, than he renounced Christianity +and embraced paganism, which had for some years fallen into great +disrepute. Though he restored the idolatrous worship, he made no +public edicts against christianity. He recalled all banished pagans, +allowed the free exercise of religion to every sect, but deprived all +christians of offices at court, in the magistracy, or in the army. He +was chaste, temperate, vigilant, laborious, and pious; yet he prohibited +any christian from keeping a school or public seminary of learning, +and deprived all the christian clergy of the privileges granted them by +Constantine the Great.</p> + +<p>Bishop Basil made himself first famous by his opposition to Arianism, +which brought upon him the vengeance of the Arian bishop of +Constantinople; he equally opposed paganism. The emperor's agents +in vain tampered with Basil by means of promises, threats, and racks, +he was firm in the faith, and remained in prison to undergo some +other sufferings, when the emperor came accidentally to Ancyra. +Julian determined to examine Basil himself, when that holy man being +brought before him, the emperor did every thing in his power to dissuade +him from persevering in the faith. Basil not only continued +as firm as ever, but, with a prophetic spirit foretold the death of the +emperor, and that he should be tormented in the other life. Enraged +at what he heard, Julian commanded that the body of Basil should be +torn every day in seven different parts, till his skin and flesh were +entirely mangled. This inhuman sentence was executed with rigour, +and the martyr expired under its severities, on the 28th day of June, +A. D. 362.</p> + +<p>Donatus, bishop of Arezzo, and Hilarinus, a hermit, suffered about +the same time; also Gordian, a Roman magistrate. Artemius, commander +in chief of the Roman forces in Egypt, being a christian, +was deprived of his commission, then of his estate, and lastly of his +head.</p> + +<p>The persecution raged dreadfully about the latter end of the year +363; but, as many of the particulars have not been handed down to +us, it is necessary to remark in general, that in Palestine many were +burnt alive, others were dragged by their feet through the streets +naked till they expired; some were scalded to death, many stoned, +and great numbers had their brains beaten out with clubs. In Alexandria, +innumerable were the martyrs who suffered by the sword, +burning, crucifixion, and being stoned. In Arethusa, several were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +ripped open, and corn being put into their bellies, swine were brought +to feed therein, which, in devouring the grain, likewise devoured the +entrails of the martyrs, and, in Thrace, Emilianus was burnt at a +stake; and Domitius murdered in a cave, whither he had fled for +refuge.</p> + +<p>The emperor, Julian the apostate, died of a wound which he received +in his Persian expedition, A. D. 363, and even while expiring, +uttered the most horrid blasphemies. He was succeeded by Jovian, +who restored peace to the church.</p> + +<p>After the decease of Jovian, Valentinian succeeded to the empire, and +associated to himself Valens, who had the command in the east, and was +an Arian, of an unrelenting and persecuting disposition.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecution of the Christians by the Goths and Vandals.</i></div> + +<p>Many Scythian Goths having embraced Christianity about the time +of Constantine the Great, the light of the gospel spread itself considerably +in Scythia, though the two kings who ruled that country, and the +majority of the people continued pagans. Fritegern, king of the West +Goths, was an ally to the Romans, but Athanarick, king of the East +Goths, was at war with them. The christians, in the dominions of the +former, lived unmolested, but the latter, having been defeated by the Romans, +wreaked his vengeance on his christian subjects, commencing his +pagan injunctions in the year 370.</p> + +<p>Eusebius, bishop of Samosata, makes a most distinguished figure in +the ecclesiastical history, and was one of the most eminent champions +of Christ against the Arian heresy. Eusebius, after being driven from +his church, and wandering about through Syria and Palestine, encouraging +the orthodox, was restored with other orthodox prelates to his see, +which however he did not long enjoy, for an Arian woman threw a tile +at him from the top of a house, which fractured his skull, and terminated +his life in the year 380.</p> + +<p>The Vandals passing from Spain to Africa in the fifth century, under +their leader Genseric, committed the most unheard-of cruelties. They +persecuted the christians wherever they came, and even laid waste the +country as they passed, that the christians left behind, who had escaped +them, might not be able to subsist. Sometimes they freighted a vessel +with martyrs, let it drift out to sea, or set fire to it, with the sufferers +shackled on the decks.</p> + +<p>Having seized and plundered the city of Carthage, they put the +bishop, and the clergy, into a leaky ship, and committed it to the +mercy of the waves, thinking that they must all perish of course; but +providentially the vessel arrived safe at Naples. Innumerable orthodox +christians were beaten, scourged, and banished to Capsur, where +it pleased God to make them the means of converting many of the +Moors to christianity; but this coming to the ears of Genseric, he +sent orders that they and their new converts should be tied by the +feet to chariots, and dragged about until they were dashed to pieces<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +Pampinian, the bishop of Mansuetes, was tortured to death with plates +of hot iron; the bishop of Urice was burnt, and the bishop of Habensa +was banished, for refusing to deliver up the sacred books which were in +his possession.</p> + +<p>The Vandalian tyrant Genseric, having made an expedition into +Italy, and plundered the city of Rome, returned to Africa, flushed +with the success of his arms. The Arians took this occasion to persuade +him to persecute the orthodox christians, as they assured him that +they were friends to the people of Rome.</p> + +<p>After the decease of Huneric, his successor recalled him, and the rest +of the orthodox clergy; the Arians, taking the alarm, persuaded him to +banish them again, which he complied with, when Eugenius, exiled to +Languedoc in France, died there of the hardships he underwent on the +6th of September, A. D. 305.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions from about the Middle of the Fifth, to the Conclusion +of the Seventh Century.</i></div> + +<p>Proterius was made a priest by Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, who +was well acquainted with his virtues, before he appointed him to +preach. On the death of Cyril, the see of Alexandria was filled by +Discorus, an inveterate enemy to the memory and family of his predecessor. +Being condemned by the council of Chalcedon for having +embraced the errors of Eutyches, he was deposed, and Proterius +chosen to fill the vacant see, who was approved of by the emperor. +This occasioned a dangerous insurrection, for the city of Alexandria +was divided into two factions; the one to espouse the cause of the +old, and the other of the new prelate. In one of the commotions, +the Eutychians determined to wreak their vengeance on Proterius, +who fled to the church for sanctuary: but on Good Friday, A. D. +457, a large body of them rushed into the church, and barbarously +murdered the prelate; after which they dragged the body through +the streets, insulted it, cut it to pieces, burnt it, and scattered the ashes +in the air.</p> + +<p>Hermenigildus, a Gothic prince, was the eldest son of Leovigildus, +a king of the Goths, in Spain. This prince, who was originally an +Arian, became a convert to the orthodox faith, by means of his wife +Ingonda. When the king heard that his son had changed his religious +sentiments, he stripped him of the command at Seville, where +he was governor, and threatened to put him to death unless he renounced +the faith he had newly embraced. The prince, in order to +prevent the execution of his father's menaces, began to put himself +into a posture of defence; and many of the orthodox persuasion in +Spain declared for him. The king, exasperated at this act of rebellion, +began to punish all the orthodox christians who could be seized +by his troops; and thus a very severe persecution commenced: he +likewise marched against his son at the head of a very powerful +army. The prince took refuge in Seville, from which he fled, and +was at length besieged and taken at Asieta. Loaded with chains, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +was sent to Seville, and at the feast of Easter refusing to receive the +Eucharist from an Arian bishop, the enraged king ordered his guards +to cut the prince to pieces, which they punctually performed, April +13, A. D. 586.</p> + +<p>Martin, bishop of Rome, was born at Todi, in Italy. He was naturally +inclined to virtue, and his parents bestowed on him an admirable +education. He opposed the heretics called Monothothelites, who +were patronized by the emperor Heraclius. Martin was condemned +at Constantinople, where he was exposed in the most public places to +the ridicule of the people, divested of all episcopal marks of distinction, +and treated with the greatest scorn and severity. After lying +some months in prison, Martin was sent to an island at some distance, +and there cut to pieces, A. D. 655.</p> + +<p>John, bishop of Bergamo, in Lombardy, was a learned man, and a +good christian. He did his utmost endeavours to clear the church +from the errors of Arianism, and joining in this holy work with John, +bishop of Milan, he was very successful against the heretics, on which +account he was assassinated on July 11, A. D. 683.</p> + +<p>Killien was born in Ireland, and received from his parents a pious +and christian education. He obtained the Roman pontiff's license to +preach to the pagans in Franconia, in Germany. At Wurtzburg he +converted Gozbert, the governor, whose example was followed by the +greater part of the people in two years after. Persuading Gozbert +that his marriage with his brother's widow was sinful, the latter had +him beheaded, A. D. 689.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions from the early part of the Eighth, to near the +Conclusion of the Tenth Century.</i></div> + +<p>Boniface, archbishop of Mentz, and father of the German church, +was an Englishmen, and is, in ecclesiastical history, looked upon as +one of the brightest ornaments of this nation. Originally, his name +was Winfred, or Winfrith, and he was born at Kirton, in Devonshire, +then part of the West-Saxon kingdom. When he was only about six +years of age, he began to discover a propensity to reflection, and +seemed solicitous to gain information on religious subjects. Wolfrad, +the abbot, finding that he possessed a bright genius, as well as a strong +inclination to study, had him removed to Nutscelle, a seminary of +learning in the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'dioceas'">diocese</ins> of Winchester, where he would have a much +greater opportunity of attaining improvement than at Exeter.</p> + +<p>After due study, the abbot seeing him qualified for the priesthood, +obliged him to receive that holy order when he was about thirty years +old. From which time he began to preach and labour for the salvation +of his fellow-creatures; he was released to attend a synod of bishops +in the kingdom of West-Saxons. He afterwards, in 719, went to +Rome, where Gregory II. who then sat in Peter's chair, received him +with great friendship, and finding him full of all the virtues that compose +the character of an apostolic missionary, dismissed him with +commission at large to preach the gospel to the pagans wherever he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +found them. Passing through Lombardy and Bavaria, he came to +Thuringia, which country had before received the light of the gospel, +he next visited Utrecht, and then proceeded to Saxony, where he converted +some thousands to christianity.</p> + +<p>During the ministry of this meek prelate, Pepin was declared king +of France. It was that prince's ambition to be crowned by the most +holy prelate he could find, and Boniface was pitched on to perform +that ceremony, which he did at Soissons, in 752. The next year, his +great age and many infirmities lay so heavy on him, that, with the +consent of the new king, the bishops, &c. of his diocese, he consecrated +Lullus, his countryman, and faithful disciple, and placed him in the +see of Mentz. When he had thus eased himself of his charge, he recommended +the church of Mentz to the care of the new bishop in very +strong terms, desired he would finish the church at Fuld, and see him +buried in it, for his end was near. Having left these orders, he took +boat to the Rhine, and went to Friesland, where he converted and +baptized several thousands of barbarous natives, demolished the temples, +and raised churches on the ruins of those superstitious structures. +A day being appointed for confirming a great number of new +converts, he ordered them to assemble in a new open plain, near the +river Bourde. Thither he repaired the day before; and, pitching a +tent, determined to remain on the spot all night, in order to be ready +early in the morning.</p> + +<p>Some pagans, who were his inveterate enemies, having intelligence +of this, poured down upon him and the companions of his mission in +the night, and killed him and fifty-two of his companions and attendants +on June 5, A. D. 755. Thus fell the great father of the Germanic +church, the honour of England, and the glory of the age in +which he lived.</p> + +<p>Forty-two persons of Armorian in Upper Phrygia, were martyred +in the year 845, by the Saracens, the circumstances of which transaction +are as follows:</p> + +<p>In the reign of Theophilus, the Saracens ravaged many parts of the +eastern empire, gained several considerable advantages over the +christians, took the city of Armorian, and numbers suffered martyrdom.</p> + +<p>Flora and Mary, two ladies of distinction, suffered martyrdom at +the same time.</p> + +<p>Perfectus was born at Corduba, in Spain, and brought up in the +christian faith. Having a quick genius, he made himself master of +all the useful and polite literature of that age; and at the same time +was not more celebrated for his abilities than admired for his piety. +At length he took priest's orders, and performed the duties of his office +with great assiduity and punctuality. Publicly declaring Mahomet +an impostor, he was sentenced to be beheaded, and was accordingly +executed, A. D. 850; after which his body was honourably interred +by the christians.</p> + +<p>Adalbert, bishop of Prague, a Bohemian by birth, after being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +involved in many troubles, began to direct his thoughts to the conversion +of the infidels, to which end he repaired to Dantzic, where he converted +and baptised many, which so enraged the pagan priests, that +they fell upon him, and despatched him with darts, on the 23d of April, +A. D. 997.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions in the Eleventh Century.</i></div> + +<p>Alphage, archbishop of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Canterbery'">Canterbury</ins>, was descended from a considerable +family in Gloucestershire, and received an education suitable to his +illustrious birth. His parents were worthy christians, and Alphage +seemed to inherit their virtues.</p> + +<p>The see of Winchester being vacant by the death of Ethelwold, Dunstan, +archbishop of Canterbury, as primate of all England, consecrated +Alphage to the vacant bishopric, to the general satisfaction of all concerned +in the diocese.</p> + +<p>Dunstan had an extraordinary veneration for Alphage, and, when at +the point of death, made it his ardent request to God, that he might succeed +him in the see of Canterbury; which accordingly happened, +though not till about eighteen years after Dunstan's death in 1006.</p> + +<p>After Alphage had governed the see of Canterbury about four +years, with great reputation to himself, and benefit to his people, the +Danes made an incursion into England, and laid siege to Canterbury. +When the design of attacking this city was known, many of the +principal people made a flight from it, and would have persuaded +Alphage to follow their example. But he, like a good pastor, would +not listen to such a proposal. While he was employed in assisting +and encouraging the people, Canterbury was taken by storm; the +enemy poured into the town, and destroyed all that came in their +way by fire and sword. He had the courage to address the enemy, +and offer himself to their swords, as more worthy of their rage than +the people: he begged they might be saved, and that they would +discharge their whole fury upon him. They accordingly seized him, +tied his hands, insulted and abused him in a rude and barbarous +manner, and obliged him to remain on the spot until his church was +burnt, and the monks massacred. They then decimated all the inhabitants, +both ecclesiastics and laymen, leaving only every tenth +person alive; so that they put 7236 persons to death, and left only +four monks and 800 laymen alive, after which they confined the +archbishop in a dungeon, where they kept him close prisoner for +several months.</p> + +<p>During his confinement they proposed to him to redeem his liberty +with the sum of £3000, and to persuade the king to purchase +their departure out of the kingdom, with a further sum of £10,000. +As Alphage's circumstances would not allow him to satisfy the exorbitant +demand, they bound him, and put him to severe torments, to +oblige him to discover the treasure of the church; upon which they +assured him of his life and liberty, but the prelate piously persisted +in refusing to give the pagans any account of it. They <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'remand'">remanded</ins><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +him to prison again, confined him six days longer, and then, taking +him prisoner with them to Greenwich, brought him to trial there. +He still remained inflexible with respect to the church treasure; but +exhorted them to forsake their idolatry, and embrace christianity. +This so greatly incensed the Danes, that the soldiers dragged him +out of the camp, and beat him unmercifully. One of the soldiers, +who had been converted by him, knowing that his pains would be +lingering, as his death was determined on, actuated by a kind of +barbarous compassion, cut off his head, and thus put the finishing +stroke to his martyrdom, April 19, A. D. 1012. This transaction +happened on the very spot where the church at Greenwich, which is +dedicated to him, now stands. After his death his body was thrown +into the Thames, but being found the next day, it was buried in the +cathedral of St. Paul's by the bishops of London and Lincoln; from +whence it was, in 1023, removed to Canterbury by Ethelmoth, the +archbishop of that province.</p> + +<p>Gerard, a Venitian, devoted himself to the service of God from his +tender years: entered into a religious house for some time, and then +determined to visit the Holy Land. Going into Hungary, he became +acquainted with Stephen, the king of that country, who made him bishop +of Chonad.</p> + +<p>Ouvo and Peter, successors of Stephen, being deposed, Andrew, son +of Ladislaus, cousin-german to Stephen, had then a tender of the crown +made him upon condition that he would employ his authority in extirpating +the christian religion out of Hungary. The ambitious prince +came into the proposal, but Gerard being informed of his impious bargain, +thought it his duty to remonstrate against the enormity of Andrew's +crime, and persuade him to withdraw his promise. In this view +he undertook to go to that prince, attended by three prelates, full of like +zeal for religion. The new king was at Alba Regalis, but, as the four +bishops were going to cross the Danube, they were stopped by a party +of soldiers posted there. They bore an attack of a shower of +stones patiently, when the soldiers beat them unmercifully, and at +length despatched them with lances. Their martyrdoms happened in +the year 1045.</p> + +<p>Stanislaus, bishop of Cracow, was descended from an illustrious Polish +family. The piety of his parents was equal to their opulence, and +the latter they rendered subservient to all the purposes of charity and +benevolence. Stanislaus remained for some time undetermined, whether +he should embrace a monastic life, or engage among the secular clergy. +He was at length persuaded to the latter by Lambert Zula, bishop of +Cracow, who gave him holy orders, and made him a canon of his cathedral. +Lambert died on November 25, 1071, when all concerned in the +choice of a successor declared for Stanislaus, and he succeeded to the +prelacy.</p> + +<p>Bolislaus, the second king of Poland, had, by nature, many good +qualities, but giving away to his passions he ran into many enormities, +and at length had the appellation of Cruel bestowed upon him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +Stanislaus alone had the courage to tell him of his faults, when, taking +a private opportunity, he freely displayed to him the enormities +of his crimes. The king, greatly exasperated at his repeated freedoms, +at length determined, at any rate, to get the better of a prelate +who was so extremely faithful. Hearing one day that the bishop was +by himself, in the chapel of St. Michael, at a small distance from the +town, he despatched some soldiers to murder him. The soldiers readily +undertook the bloody task; but, when they came into the presence +of Stanislaus, the venerable aspect of the prelate struck them with +such awe, that they could not perform what they had promised. On +their return, the king, finding that they had not obeyed his orders, +stormed at them violently, snatched a dagger from one of them, and +ran furiously to the chapel, where, finding Stanislaus at the altar, he +plunged the weapon into his heart. The prelate immediately expired +on the 8th of May, A. D. 1079.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>PAPAL PERSECUTIONS.</h3> + + +<p>Thus far our history of persecution has been confined principally to +the pagan world. We come now to a period, when persecution under +the guise of christianity, committed more enormities than ever disgraced +the annals of paganism. Disregarding the maxims and the +spirit of the gospel, the papal church, arming herself with the power +of the sword, vexed the church of God and wasted it for several centuries, +a period most appropriately termed in history, the "dark ages." +The kings of the earth, gave their power to the "beast," and submitted +to be trodden on by the miserable vermin that often filled the papal +chair, as in the case of Henry, emperor of Germany. The storm +of papal persecution first burst upon the Waldenses in France.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecution of the Waldenses in France.</i></div> + +<p>Popery having brought various innovations into the church, and +overspread the christian world with darkness and superstition, some +few, who plainly perceived the pernicious tendency of such errors, +determined to show the light of the gospel in its real purity, and to disperse +those clouds which artful priests had raised about it, in order to +blind the people, and obscure its real brightness.</p> + +<p>The principal among these was Berengarius, who, about the year +1000, boldly preached gospel truths, according to their primitive purity. +Many, from conviction, assented to his doctrine, and were, on +that account, called Berengarians. To Berengarius succeeded Peter +Bruis, who preached at Thoulouse, under the protection of an earl, +named Hildephonsus; and the whole tenets of the reformers, with the +reasons of their separation from the church of Rome, were published +in a book written by Bruis, under the title of <span class="smcap">Anti-Christ</span>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>By the year of Christ 1140, the number of the reformed was very +great, and the probability of its increasing alarmed the pope, who +wrote to several princes to banish them from their dominions, and employed +many learned men to write against their doctrines.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1147, Henry of Thoulouse, being deemed their most eminent +preacher, they were called Henericians; and as they would not +admit of any proofs relative to religion, but what could be deduced +from the scriptures themselves, the popish party gave them the name +of apostolics. At length, Peter Waldo, or Valdo, a native of Lyons, +eminent for his piety and learning, became a strenuous opposer of popery; +and from him the reformed, at that time, received the appellation +of Waldenses or Waldoys.</p> + +<p>Pope Alexander III being informed by the bishop of Lyons of these +transactions, excommunicated Waldo and his adherents, and commanded +the bishop to exterminate them, if possible, from the face of +the earth; and hence began the papal persecutions against the Waldenses.</p> + +<p>The proceedings of Waldo and the reformed, occasioned the first +rise of the inquisitors; for pope Innocent III. authorized certain monks +as inquisitors, to inquire for, and deliver over, the reformed to the secular +power. The process was short, as an accusation was deemed +adequate to guilt, and a candid trial was never granted to the accused.</p> + +<p>The pope, finding that these cruel means had not the intended effect, +sent several learned monks to preach among the Waldenses, and to +endeavour to argue them out of their opinions. Among these monks +was one Dominic, who appeared extremely zealous in the cause of +popery. This Dominic instituted an order, which, from him, was called +the order of Dominican friars; and the members of this order +have ever since been the principal inquisitors in the various inquisitions +in the world. The power of the inquisitors was unlimited; +they proceeded against whom they pleased, without any consideration +of age, sex, or rank. Let the accusers be ever so infamous, the +accusation was deemed valid; and even anonymous informations, sent +by letter, were thought sufficient evidence. To be rich was a crime +equal to heresy; therefore many who had money were accused of +heresy, or of being favourers of heretics, that they might be obliged +to pay for their opinions. The dearest friends or nearest kindred +could not, without danger, serve any one who was imprisoned on +account of religion. To convey to those who were confined, a little +straw, or give them a cup of water, was called favouring of the +heretics, and they were prosecuted accordingly. No lawyer dared +to plead for his own brother, and their malice even extended beyond +the grave; hence the bones of many were dug up and burnt, as +examples to the living. If a man on his death-bed was accused of +being a follower of Waldo, his estates were confiscated, and the heir +to them defrauded of his inheritance; and some were sent to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +Holy Land, while the Dominicans took possession of their houses and +properties, and, when the owners returned, would often pretend not to +know them. These persecutions were continued for several centuries +under different popes and other great dignitaries of the catholic church.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions of the Albigenses.</i></div> + +<p>The Albigenses were a people of the reformed religion, who inhabited +the country of Albi. They were condemned on the score of +religion, in the council of Lateran, by order of Pope Alexander III. +Nevertheless, they increased so prodigiously, that many cities were +inhabited by persons only of their persuasion, and several eminent noblemen +embraced their doctrines. Among the latter were Raymond +earl of Thoulouse, Raymond earl of Foix, the earl of Beziers, &c.</p> + +<p>A friar, named Peter, having been murdered in the dominions of the +earl of Thoulouse, the pope made the murder a pretence to persecute +that nobleman and his subjects. To effect this, he sent persons +throughout all Europe, in order to raise forces to act coercively against +the Albigenses, and promised paradise to all that would come to this +war, which he termed a Holy War, and bear arms for forty days. +The same indulgences were likewise held out to all who entered +themselves for the purpose as to such as engaged in crusades to the +Holy Land. The brave earl defended Thoulouse and other places +with the most heroic bravery and various success against the pope's +legates and Simon earl of Montfort, a bigoted catholic nobleman. +Unable to subdue the earl of Thoulouse openly, the king of France, +and queen mother, and three archbishops, raised another formidable +army, and had the art to persuade the earl of Thoulouse to come to a +conference, when he was treacherously seized upon, made a prisoner, +forced to appear bare-footed and bare-headed before his enemies, and +compelled to subscribe an abject recantation. This was followed by a +severe persecution against the Albigenses; and express orders that the +laity should not be permitted to read the sacred scriptures. In the year +1620 also the persecution against the Albigenses was very severe. +In 1648 a heavy persecution raged throughout Lithuania and Poland. +The cruelty of the Cossacks was so excessive, that the Tartars themselves +were ashamed of their barbarities. Among others who suffered, +was the Rev. Adrian Chalinski, who was roasted alive by a slow fire, +and whose sufferings and mode of death may depict the horrors which +the professors of christianity have endured from the enemies of the +Redeemer.</p> + +<p>The reformation of papistical error very early was projected in +France; for in the third century a learned man, named Almericus, +and six of his disciples, were ordered to be burnt at Paris, for asserting +that God was no otherwise present in the sacramental bread than in +any other bread; that it was idolatry to build altars or shrines to saints +and that it was ridiculous to offer incense to them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>The martyrdom of Almericus and his pupils did not, however, prevent +many from acknowledging the justness of his notions, and seeing +the purity of the reformed religion, so that the truth of Christ continually +increased, and in time not only spread itself over many parts of +France, but diffused the light of the gospel over various other countries.</p> + +<p>In the year 1524, at a town in France, called Melden, one John +Clark set up a bill on the church door, wherein he called the pope +Anti-christ. For this offence he was repeatedly whipped, and then +branded on the forehead. Going afterward to Mentz, in Lorraine, he +demolished some images, for which he had his right hand and nose +cut off, and his arms and breasts torn with pincers. He sustained +these cruelties with amazing fortitude, and was even sufficiently cool +to sing the 115th psalm, which expressly forbids idolatry; after which +he was thrown into the fire, and burnt to ashes.</p> + +<p>Many persons of the reformed persuasion were, about this time, +beaten, racked, scourged, and burnt to death, in several parts of France +but more particularly at Paris, Malda, and Limosin.</p> + +<p>A native of Malda was burnt by a slow fire, for saying that mass +was a plain denial of the death and passion of Christ. At Limosin, +John de Cadurco, a clergyman of the reformed religion, was apprehended, +degraded, and ordered to be burnt.</p> + +<p>Francis Bribard, secretary to cardinal de Pellay, for speaking in +favour of the reformed, had his tongue cut out, and was then burnt, +A. D. 1545. James Cobard, a schoolmaster in the city of St. Michael, +was burnt, A. D. 1545, for saying "That mass was useless and +absurd;" and about the same time, fourteen men were burnt at Malda, +their wives being compelled to stand by and behold the execution.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1546, Peter Chapot brought a number of bibles in the French +tongue to France, and publicly sold them there; for which he was +brought to trial, sentenced, and executed a few days afterward. Soon +after, a cripple of Meaux, a schoolmaster of Fera, named Stephen Polliot, +and a man named John English, were burnt for the faith.</p> + +<p>Monsieur Blondel, a rich jeweller, was, A. D. 1548, apprehended +at Lyons, and sent to Paris; where he was burnt for the faith, by +order of the court, A. D. 1549. Herbert, a youth of nineteen years of +age, was committed to the flames at Dijon; as was Florent Venote, +in the same year.</p> + +<p>In the year 1554, two men of the reformed religion, with the son +and daughter of one of them, were apprehended and committed to the +castle of Niverne. On examination, they confessed their faith, and +were ordered for execution; being smeared with grease, brimstone, +and gunpowder, they cried, "Salt on, salt on this sinful and rotten +flesh!" Their tongues were then cut out, and they were afterward +committed to the flames, which soon consumed them, by means of the +combustible matter with which they were besmeared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Bartholomew Massacre at Paris, &c.</i></div> + +<p>On the 22d of August, 1572, commenced this diabolical act of +sanguinary brutality. It was intended to destroy at one stroke the +root of the protestant tree, which had only before partially suffered in +its branches. The king of France had artfully proposed a marriage +between his sister and the prince of Navarre, the captain and prince +of the protestants. This imprudent marriage was publicly celebrated +at Paris, August 18, by the cardinal of Bourbon, upon a high stage +erected for the purpose. They dined in great pomp with the bishop, +and supped with the king at Paris. Four days after this, the prince, +as he was coming from the council, was shot in both arms; he then +said to Maure, his deceased mother's minister, "O my brother, I do +now perceive that I am indeed beloved of my God, since for his most +holy sake I am wounded." Although the Vidam advised him to fly, +yet he abode in Paris, and was soon after slain by Bemjus; who afterward +declared he never saw a man meet death more valiantly than +the admiral. The soldiers were appointed at a certain signal to burst +out instantly to the slaughter in all parts of the city. When they +had killed the admiral, they threw him out at a window into the street, +where his head was cut off, and sent to the pope. The savage papists, +still raging against him, cut off his arms and private members, and, +after dragging him three days through the streets, hung him up by the +heels without the city. After him they slew many great and honourable +persons who were protestants; as count Rochfoucault, Telinius, +the admiral's son-in-law, Antonius, Clarimontus, marquis of Ravely, +Lewes Bussius, Bandineus, Pluvialius, Burneius, &c. &c. and falling +upon the common people, they continued the slaughter for many days; +in the three first, they slew of all ranks and conditions to the number +of 10,000. The bodies were thrown into the rivers, and blood ran +through the streets with a strong current, and the river appeared +presently like a stream of blood. So furious was their hellish rage, +that they slew all papists whom they suspected to be not very staunch +to their diabolical religion. From Paris the destruction spread to all +quarters of the realm.</p> + +<p>At Orleans, a thousand were slain of men, women, and children, +and 6000 at Rouen.</p> + +<p>At Meldith, two hundred were put into prison, and brought out by +units, and cruelly murdered.</p> + +<p>At Lyons, eight hundred were massacred. Here children hanging +about their parents, and parents affectionately embracing their +children, were pleasant food for the swords and blood-thirsty minds of +those who call themselves the catholic church. Here 300 were slain +only in the bishop's house; and the impious monks would suffer none +to be buried.</p> + +<p>At Augustobona, on the people hearing of the massacre at Paris, they +shut their gates that no protestants might escape, and searching diligently +for every individual of the reformed church, imprisoned and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +barbarously murdered them. The same cruelty they practised at +Avaricum, at Troys, at Thoulouse, Rouen and many other places, running +from city to city, towns, and villages, through the kingdom.</p> + +<p>As a corroboration of this horrid carnage, the following interesting +narrative, written by a sensible and learned Roman catholic, appears +in this place, with peculiar propriety.</p> + +<p>"The nuptials (says he) of the young king of Navarre with the +French king's sister, was solemnized with pomp; and all the endearments, +all the assurances of friendship, all the oaths sacred among +men, were profusely lavished by Catharine, the queen-mother, and +by the king; during which, the rest of the court thought of nothing +but festivities, plays, and masquerades. At last, at twelve o'clock at +night, on the eve of St. Bartholomew, the signal was given. Immediately +all the houses of the protestants were forced open at once. +Admiral Coligni, alarmed by the uproar jumped out of bed; when a +company of assassins rushed in his chamber. They were headed by +one Besme, who had been bred up as a domestic in the family of the +Guises. This wretch thrust his sword into the admiral's breast, and +also cut him in the face. Besme was a German, and being afterwards +taken by the protestants, the Rochellers would have bought him, in +order to hang and quarter him; but he was killed by one Bretanville. +Henry, the young duke of Guise, who afterwards framed the catholic +league, and was murdered at Blois, standing at the door till the horrid +butchery should be completed, called aloud, 'Besme! is it done?' Immediately +after which, the ruffians threw the body out of the window, +and Coligni expired at Guise's feet.</p> + +<p>"Count de Teligny also fell a sacrifice. He had married, about +ten months before, Coligni's daughter. His countenance was so engaging, +that the ruffians, when they advanced in order to kill him, +were struck with compassion; but others, more barbarous, rushing forward, +murdered him.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, all the friends of Coligni were assassinated +throughout Paris; men, women, and children, were promiscuously +slaughtered; every street was strewed with expiring bodies. Some +priests, holding up a crucifix in one hand, and a dagger in the other, +ran to the chiefs of the murderers, and strongly exhorted them to spare +neither relations nor friends.</p> + +<p>"Tavannes, marshal of France, an ignorant, superstitious soldier, +who joined the fury of religion to the rage of party, rode on horseback +through the streets of Paris, crying to his men, 'Let blood! let blood! +bleeding is as wholesome in August as in May.' In the memoirs of +the life of this enthusiastic, written by his son, we are told, that the +father, being on his death-bed, and making a general confession of his +actions, the priest said to him, with surprise, 'What! no mention of +St. Bartholomew's massacre?' to which Tavannes replied, 'I consider +it as a meritorious action, that will wash away all my sins.' Such +horrid sentiments can a false spirit of religion inspire!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The king's palace was one of the chief scenes of the butchery: the +king of Navarre had his lodgings in the Louvre, and all his domestics +were protestants. Many of these were killed in bed with their +wives; others, running away naked, were pursued by the soldiers +through the several rooms of the palace, even to the king's antichamber. +The young wife of Henry of Navarre, awaked by the +dreadful uproar, being afraid for her consort, and for her own life, +seized with horror, and half dead, flew from her bed, in order to throw +herself at the feet of the king her brother. But scarce had she opened +her chamber-door, when some of her protestant domestics rushed in +for refuge. The soldiers immediately followed, pursued them in sight +of the princess, and killed one who had crept under her bed. Two +others, being wounded with halberds, fell at the queen's feet, so that +she was covered with blood.</p> + +<p>"Count de la Rochefoucault, a young nobleman, greatly in the +king's favour for his comely air, his politeness, and a certain peculiar +happiness in the turn of his conversation, had spent the evening till +eleven o'clock with the monarch, in pleasant familiarity; and had +given a loose, with the utmost mirth, to the sallies of his imagination. +The monarch felt some remorse, and being touched with a kind of +compassion, bid him, two or three times, not to go home, but lie in +the Louvre. The count said, he must go to his wife; upon which the +king pressed him no farther, but said, 'Let him go! I see God has +decreed his death.' And in two hours after he was murdered.</p> + +<p>"Very few of the protestants escaped the fury of their enthusiastic +persecutors. Among these was young La Force (afterwards the famous +Marshal de la Force) a child about ten years of age, whose deliverance +was exceedingly remarkable. His father, his elder brother, +and himself were seized together by the Duke of Anjou's soldiers. +These murderers flew at all three, and struck them at random, when +they all fell, and lay one upon another. The youngest did not +receive a single blow, but appearing as if he was dead, escaped the +next day; and his life, thus wonderfully preserved, lasted four score +and five years.</p> + +<p>"Many of the wretched victims fled to the water-side, and some +swam over the Seine to the suburbs of St. Germaine. The king saw +them from his window, which looked upon the river, and fired upon +them with a carbine that had been loaded for that purpose by one of +his pages; while the queen-mother, undisturbed and serene in the midst +of slaughter, looking down from a balcony, encouraged the murderers +and laughed at the dying groans of the slaughtered. This barbarous +queen was fired with a restless ambition, and she perpetually shifted +her party in order to satiate it.</p> + +<p>"Some days after this horrid transaction, the French court endeavoured +to palliate it by forms of law. They pretended to justify the +massacre by a calumny, and accused the admiral of a conspiracy, +which no one believed. The parliament was commanded to proceed +against the memory of Coligni; and his dead body was hung in chains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +on Montfaucon gallows. The king himself went to view this shocking +spectacle; when one of his courtiers advising him to retire, and complaining +of the stench of the corpse, he replied, 'A dead enemy smells +well.'—The massacres on St. Bartholomew's day are painted in the +royal saloon of the Vatican at Rome, with the following inscription: +<i>Pontifex</i> Coligni <i>necem probat</i>, i. e. 'The pope approves of Coligni's +death.'</p> + +<p>"The young king of Navarre was spared through policy, rather than +from the pity of the queen-mother, she keeping him prisoner till the +king's death, in order that he might be as a security and pledge for +the submission of such protestants as might effect their escape.</p> + +<p>"This horrid butchery was not confined merely to the city of Paris. +The like orders were issued from court to the governors of all the +provinces in France; so that, in a week's time, about one hundred +thousand protestants were cut to pieces in different parts of the kingdom! +Two or three governors only refused to obey the king's orders. +One of these, named Montmorrin, governor of Auvergne, wrote the +king the following letter, which deserves to be transmitted to the latest +posterity.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sire</span>—I have received an order, under your majesty's seal, to put +to death all the protestants in my province. I have too much respect +for your majesty, not to believe the letter a forgery; but if (which God +forbid) the order should be genuine, I have too much respect for your +majesty to obey it."</p> + +<p>At Rome the horrid joy was so great, that they appointed a day of +high festival, and a jubilee, with great indulgence to all who kept it +and showed every expression of gladness they could devise! and the +man who first carried the news received 1000 crowns of the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'cardina'">cardinal</ins> +of Lorrain for his ungodly message. The king also commanded the +day to be kept with every demonstration of joy, concluding now that +the whole race of Huguenots was extinct.</p> + +<p>Many who gave great sums of money for their ransom were immediately +after slain; and several towns, which were under the king's +promise of protection and safety, were cut off as soon as they delivered +themselves up, on those promises, to his generals or captains.</p> + +<p>At Bordeaux, at the instigation of a villanous monk, who used to +urge the papists to slaughter in his sermons, 264 were cruelly +murdered; some of them senators. Another of the same pious fraternity +produced a similar slaughter at Agendicum, in Maine, where the +populace at the holy inquisitors' satanical suggestion, ran upon the +protestants, slew them, plundered their houses, and pulled down their church.</p> + +<p>The duke of Guise, entering into Bloise, suffered his soldiers to fly +upon the spoil, and slay or drown all the protestants they could find. +In this they spared neither age nor sex; defiling the women, and then +murdering them; from whence he went to Mere, and committed the +same outrages for many days together. Here they found a minister +named Cassebonius, and threw him into the river<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>.</p> + +<p>At Anjou, they slew Albiacus, a minister; and many women were +defiled and murdered there; among whom were two sisters, abused before +their father, whom the assassins bound to a wall to see them, and +then slew them and him.</p> + +<p>The president of Turin, after giving a large sum for his life, was cruelly +beaten with clubs, stripped of his clothes, and hung feet upwards, +with his head and breast in the river: before he was dead, they opened +his belly, plucked out his entrails, and threw them into the river; and +then carried his heart about the city upon a spear.</p> + +<p>At Barre great cruelty was used, even to young children, whom they +cut open, pulled out their entrails, which through very rage they knawed +with their teeth. Those who had fled to the castle, when they yielded, +were almost all hanged. Thus they did at the city of Matiscon; +counting it sport to cut off their arms and legs and afterward kill them; +and for the entertainment of their visiters, they often threw the protestants +from a high bridge into the river, saying, "Did you ever see men +leap so well?"</p> + +<p>At Penna, after promising them safety, 300 were inhumanly +butchered; and five and forty at Albin, on the Lord's day. At +Nonne, though it yielded on conditions of safeguard, the most horrid +spectacles were exhibited. Persons of both sexes and conditions +were indiscriminately murdered; the streets ringing with doleful +cries, and flowing with blood; and the houses flaming with fire, which +the abandoned soldiers had thrown in. One woman, being dragged +from her hiding place with her husband, was first abused by the +brutal soldiers, and then with a sword which they commanded her +to draw, they forced it while in her hands into the bowels of her +husband.</p> + +<p>At Samarobridge, they murdered above 100 protestants, after promising +them peace; and at Antisidor, 100 were killed, and cast part +into a jakes, and part into a river. One hundred put into prison at Orleans, +were destroyed by the furious multitude.</p> + +<p>The protestants at Rochelle, who were such as had miraculously +escaped the rage of hell, and fled there, seeing how ill they fared who +submitted to those holy devils, stood for their lives; and some other +cities, encouraged thereby, did the like. Against Rochelle, the king +sent almost the whole power of France, which besieged it seven +months, though, by their assaults, they did very little execution on +the inhabitants, yet, by famine, they destroyed eighteen thousand out +of two and twenty. The dead being too numerous for the living to +bury, became food for vermin and carnivorous birds. Many taking +their coffins into the church yard, laid down in them, and breathed +their last. Their diet had long been what the minds of those in +plenty shudder at; even human flesh entrails, dung, and the most +loathsome things, became at last the only food of those champions for +that truth and liberty, of which the world was not worthy. At every +attack, the besiegers met with such an intrepid reception, that they +left 132 captains, with a proportionate number of men, dead in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +field. The siege at last was broken up at the request of the duke of +Anjou, the king's brother, who was proclaimed king of Poland, and the +king, being wearied out, easily complied, whereupon honourable conditions +were granted them.</p> + +<p>It is a remarkable interference of Providence, that, in all this dreadful +massacre, not more than two ministers of the gospel were involved +in it.</p> + +<p>The tragical sufferings of the protestants are too numerous to detail; +but the treatment of Philip de Deux will give an idea of the +rest. After the miscreants had slain this martyr in his bed, they went +to his wife, who was then attended by the midwife, expecting every moment +to be delivered. The midwife entreated them to stay the murder, +at least till the child, which was the twentieth, should be born. Notwithstanding +this, they thrust a dagger up to the hilt into the poor woman. +Anxious to be delivered, she ran into a corn loft; but hither they +pursued her, stabbed her in the belly, and then threw her into the street. +By the fall, the child came from the dying mother, and being caught +up by one of the catholic ruffians, he stabbed the infant, and then threw +it into the river.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>From the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to the French Revolution +in 1789.</i></div> + +<p>The persecutions occasioned by the revocation of the edict of Nantes, +took place under Louis XIV. This edict was made by Henry the Great +of France in 1598, and secured to the protestants an equal right in +every respect, whether civil or religious, with the other subjects of the +realm. All those privileges Louis the XIII. confirmed to the protestants +by another statute, called the edict of Nismes, and kept them inviolably +to the end of his reign.</p> + +<p>On the accession of Louis XIV. the kingdom was almost ruined by +civil wars. At this critical juncture, the protestants, heedless of our +Lord's admonition, "They that take the sword, shall perish with the +sword," took such an active part in favour of the king, that he was +constrained to acknowledge himself indebted to their arms for his +establishment on the throne. Instead of cherishing and rewarding +that party who had fought for him, he reasoned, that the same power +which had protected could overturn him, and, listening to the popish +machinations, he began to issue out proscriptions and restrictions, indicative +of his final determination. Rochelle was presently fettered +with an incredible number of denunciations. Montaban and Millau +were sacked by soldiers. Popish commissioners were appointed to +preside over the affairs of the protestants, and there was no appeal +from their ordinance, except to the king's council. This struck at +the root of their civil and religious exercises, and prevented them, +being protestants, from suing a catholic in any court of law. This +was followed by another injunction, to make an inquiry in all parishes +into whatever the protestants had said or done for twenty years +past. This filled the prisons with innocent victims, and condemned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +others to the galleys or banishment. Protestants were expelled from +all offices, trades, privileges and employs; thereby depriving them of +the means of getting their bread: and they proceeded to such excess in +their brutality, that they would not suffer even the midwives to officiate, +but compelled their women to submit themselves in that crisis of +nature to their enemies, the brutal catholics. Their children were +taken from them to be educated by the catholics, and at seven years +made to embrace popery. The reformed were prohibited from relieving +their own sick or poor, from all private worship, and divine service +was to be performed in the presence of a popish priest. To prevent +the unfortunate victims from leaving the kingdom, all the passages +on the frontiers were strictly guarded; yet, by the good hand of God, +about 150,000 escaped their vigilance, and emigrated to different countries +to relate the dismal narrative.</p> + +<p>All that has been related hitherto were only infringements on their +established charter, the edict of Nantes. At length the diabolical +revocation of that edict passed on the 18th of October, 1685, and +was registered the 22d in the vacation, contrary to all form of law. +Instantly the dragoons were quartered upon the protestants throughout +the realm, and filled all France with the like news, that the king +would no longer suffer any Huguenots in his kingdom, and therefore +they must resolve to change their religion. Hereupon the intendants +in every parish (which were popish governors and spies set over the +protestants) assembled the reformed inhabitants, and told them, they +must without delay turn catholics, either freely or by force. The +protestants replied, "They were ready to sacrifice their lives and +estates to the king, but their consciences being God's, they could not so +dispose of them."</p> + +<p>Instantly the troops seized the gates and avenues of the cities, +and placing guards in all the passages, entered with sword in hand, +crying, "Die, or be catholics!" In short, they practised every wickedness +and horror they could devise, to force them to change their +religion.</p> + +<p>They hung both men and women by their hair or their feet, and +smoked them with hay till they were nearly dead; and if they still refused +to sign a recantation, they hung them up again and repeated their +barbarities, till, wearied out with torments without death, they forced +many to yield to them.</p> + +<p>Others, they plucked off all the hair of their heads and beards with +pincers. Others they threw on great fires, and pulled them out again, +repeating it till they extorted a promise to recant.</p> + +<p>Some they stripped naked, and after offering them the most infamous +insults, they stuck them with pins from head to foot, and lanced +them with penknives; and sometimes with red-hot pincers they +dragged them by the nose till they promised to turn. Sometimes +they tied fathers and husbands, while they ravished their wives and +daughters before their eyes. Multitudes they imprisoned in the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +noisome dungeons, where they practised all sorts of torments in secret. +Their wives and children they shut up in monasteries.</p> + +<p>Such as endeavoured to escape by flight were pursued in the woods +and hunted in the fields, and shot at like wild beasts; nor did any condition +or quality screen them from the ferocity of these infernal dragoons: +even the members of parliament and military officers, though +on actual service, were ordered to quit their posts, and repair directly +to their houses to suffer the like storm. Such as complained to the +king were sent to the Bastile, where they drank of the same cup. The +bishops and the intendants marched at the head of the dragoons, with a +troop of missionaries, monks, and other ecclesiastics, to animate the +soldiers to an execution so agreeable to their holy church, and so glorious +to their demon god and their tyrant king.</p> + +<p>In forming the edict to repeal the edict of Nantes, the council were +divided; some would have all the ministers detained and forced into popery +as well as the laity: others were for banishing them, because their +presence would strengthen the protestants in perseverance: and if they +were forced to turn, they would ever be secret and powerful enemies +in the bosom of the church, by their great knowledge and experience +in controversial matters. This reason prevailing, they were sentenced +to banishment, and only fifteen days allowed them to depart the +kingdom.</p> + +<p>The same day the edict for revoking the protestant's charter was +published, they demolished their churches, and banished their ministers, +whom they allowed but twenty-four hours to leave Paris. The +papists would not suffer them to dispose of their effects, and threw +every obstacle in their way to delay their escape till the limited time +was expired which subjected them to condemnation for life to the galleys. +The guards were doubled at the seaports, and the prisons were +filled with the victims, who endured torments and wants at which human +nature must shudder.</p> + +<p>The sufferings of the ministers and others, who were sent to the +galleys, seemed to exceed all. Chained to the oar, they were exposed +to the open air night and day, at all seasons, and in all +weathers; and when through weakness of body they fainted under +the oar, instead of a cordial to revive them, or viands to refresh them, +they received only the lashes of a scourge, or the blows of a cane or +rope's end. For the want of sufficient clothing and necessary cleanliness, +they were most grievously tormented with vermin, and cruelly +pinched with the cold, which removed by night the executioners +who beat and tormented them by day. Instead of a bed, they were +allowed, sick or well, only a hard board, eighteen inches broad, to +sleep on, without any covering but their wretched apparel; which +was a shirt of the coarsest canvass, a little jerkin of red serge, slit +up each side up to the arm-holes, with open sleeves that reached <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'no'">not</ins> +to the elbow; and once in three years they had a coarse frock, and a +little cap to cover their heads, which were always kept close shaved +as a mark of their infamy. The allowance of provision was as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +narrow as the sentiments of those who condemned them to such +miseries, and their treatment when sick is too shocking to relate, +doomed to die upon the boards of a dark hold; covered with vermin, +and without the least convenience for the calls of nature. Nor was +it among the least of the horrors they endured, that, as ministers of +Christ, and honest men, they were chained side by side to felons and +the most execrable villains, whose blasphemous tongues were never +idle. If they refused to hear mass, they were sentenced to the bastinado, +of which dreadful punishment the following is a description. +Preparatory to it, the chains are taken off, and the victims delivered +into the hands of the Turks that preside at the oars, who strip them +quite naked, and stretching them upon a great gun, they are held so +that they cannot stir; during which there reigns an awful silence +throughout the galley. The Turk who is appointed the executioner, +and who thinks the sacrifice acceptable to his prophet Mahomet, most +cruelly beats the wretched victim with a rough cudgel, or knotty rope's +end, till the skin is flayed off his bones, and he is near the point of +expiring; then they apply a most tormenting mixture of vinegar and salt, +and consign him to that most intolerable hospital where thousands under +their cruelties have expired.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Martyrdom of John Calas.</i></div> + +<p>We pass over many other individual martyrdoms to insert that of +John Calas, which took place so lately as 1761, and is an indubitable +proof of the bigotry of popery, and shows that neither experience nor +improvement can root out the inveterate prejudices of the Roman +catholics, or render them less cruel or inexorable to protestants.</p> + +<p>John Calas was a merchant of the city of Thoulouse, where he had +been settled, and lived in good repute, and had married an English +woman of French extraction. Calas and his wife were protestants, +and had five sons, whom they educated in the same religion; but +Lewis, one of the sons, became a Roman catholic, having been converted +by a maid-servant, who had lived in the family about thirty years. +The father, however, did not express any resentment or ill-will +upon the occasion, but kept the maid in the family and settled +an annuity upon the son. In October, 1761, the family consisted of +John Calas and his wife, one woman servant, Mark Antony Calas, +the eldest son, and Peter Calas, the second son. Mark Antony was +bred to the law, but could not be admitted to practise, on account of +his being a protestant; hence he grew melancholy, read all the books +he could procure relative to suicide, and seemed determined to destroy +himself. To this may be added, that he led a dissipated life, was greatly +addicted to gaming, and did all which could constitute the character +of a libertine; on which account his father frequently reprehended him +and sometimes in terms of severity, which considerably added to the +doom that seemed to oppress him.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of October, 1761, Mr. Gober la Vaisse, a young gentleman +about 19 years of age, the son of La Vaisse, a celebrated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +advocate of Thoulouse, about five o'clock in the evening, was met +by John Calas, the father, and the eldest son Mark Antony, who was +his friend. Calas, the father, invited him to supper, and the family +and their guest sat down in a room up one pair of stairs; the whole +company, consisting of Calas the father and his wife, Antony and +Peter Calas, the sons, and La Vaisse the guest, no other person being +in the house, except the maid-servant who has been already mentioned.</p> + +<p>It was now about seven o'clock; the super was not long; but +before it was over, Antony left the table, and went into the kitchen, +which was on the same floor, as he was accustomed to do. The maid +asked him if he was cold? He answered, "Quite the contrary, I +burn;" and then left her. In the mean time his friend and family +left the room they had supped in, and went into a bed-chamber; the +father and La Vaisse sat down together on a sofa; the younger son +Peter in an elbow chair; and the mother in another chair; and, without +making any inquiry after Antony, continued in conversation together +till between nine and ten o'clock, when La Vaisse took his leave, and +Peter, who had fallen asleep, was awakened to attend him with a +light.</p> + +<p>On the ground floor of Calas's house was a shop and a ware-house, +the latter of which was divided from the shop by a pair of +folding-doors. When Peter Calas and La Vaisse came down stairs into the +shop, they were extremely shocked to see Antony hanging in his shirt, +from a bar which he had laid across the top of the two folding-doors, +having half opened them for that purpose. On discovery of this horrid +spectacle, they shrieked out, which brought down Calas the father, +the mother being seized with such terror as kept her trembling in the +passage above. When the maid discovered what had happened, she +continued below, either because she feared to carry an account of it to +her mistress, or because she busied herself in doing some good office +to her master, who was embracing the body of his son, and bathing it +in his tears. The mother, therefore, being thus left alone, went down +and mixed in the scene that has been already described, with such +emotions as it must naturally produce. In the mean time Peter had +been sent for La Moire, a surgeon in the neighbourhood. La Moire +was not at home, but his apprentice, Mr. Grosle, came instantly. +Upon examination, he found the body quite dead; and by this time a +papistical crowd of people were gathered about the house, and, having +by some means heard that Antony Calas was suddenly dead, and +that the surgeon who had examined the body, declared that he had been +strangled, they took it into their heads he had been murdered; and as +the family was protestant, they presently supposed that the young +man was about to change his religion, and had been put to death for that +reason.</p> + +<p>The poor father, overwhelmed with grief for the loss of his child, +was advised by his friends to send for the officers of justice to prevent +his being torn to pieces by the catholic multitude, who supposed he +had murdered his son. This was accordingly done, and David, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +chief magistrate, or capitoul, took the father, Peter the son, the mother, +La Vaisse, and the maid, all into custody, and set a guard over them. +He sent for M. de la Tour, a physician, and MM. la Marque and Perronet, +surgeons, who examined the body for marks of violence, but +found none except the mark of the ligature on the neck; they found +also the hair of the deceased done up in the usual manner, perfectly +smooth, and without the least disorder; his clothes were also regularly +folded up, and laid upon the counter, nor was his shirt either torn +or unbuttoned.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding these innocent appearances, the capitoul thought +proper to agree with the opinion of the mob, and took it into his head +that old Calas had sent for La Vaisse, telling him that he had a son +to be hanged; that La Vaisse had come to perform the office of executioner: +and that he had received assistance from the father and +brother.</p> + +<p>As no proof of the supposed fact could be procured, the capitoul had +recourse to a monitory, or general information, in which the crime +was taken for granted, and persons were required to give such testimony +against it as they were able. This recites, that La Vaisse was +commissioned by the protestants to be their executioner in ordinary, +when any of their children were to be hanged for changing their religion; +it recites also, that, when the protestants thus hang their children, +they compel them to kneel, and one of the interrogatories was +whether any person had seen Antony Calas kneel before his father +when he strangled him; it recites likewise, that Antony died a Roman +catholic, and requires evidence of his catholicism.</p> + +<p>But before this monitory was published, the mob had got a notion +that Antony Calas was the next day to have entered into the fraternity +of the White Penitents. The capitoul therefore caused his body to +be buried in the middle of St. Stephen's church. A few days after +the interment of the deceased, the White Penitents performed a solemn +service for him in their chapel; the church was hung with white, and +a tomb was raised in the middle of it, on the top of which was placed +a human skeleton, holding in one hand a paper, on which was written, +"Abjuration of heresy," and in the other a palm, the emblem of +martyrdom. The next day the Franciscans performed a service of the +same kind for him.</p> + +<p>The capitoul continued the persecution with unrelenting severity, +and, without the least proof coming in, thought fit to condemn the +unhappy father, mother, brother, friend, and servant, to the torture, and +put them all into irons on the 18th of November.</p> + +<p>From these dreadful proceedings the sufferers appealed to the +parliament, which immediately took cognizance of the affair, and +annulled the sentence of the capitoul as irregular, but they continued the +prosecution, and, upon the hangman deposing it was impossible Antony +should hang himself as was pretended, the majority of the parliament +were of the opinion, that the prisoners were guilty, and therefore +ordered them to be tried by the criminal court of Thoulouse.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +One voted him innocent, but after long debates the majority was for +the torture and wheel, and probably condemned the father by way of +experiment, whether he was guilty or not, hoping he would, in the +agony, confess the crime, and accuse the other prisoners, whose fate +therefore, they suspended.</p> + +<p>Poor Calas, however, an old man of 68, was condemned to this +dreadful punishment alone. He suffered the torture with great constancy, +and was led to execution in a frame of mind which excited the +admiration of all that saw him, and particularly of the two Dominicans +(father Bourges and father Coldagues) who attended him in his +last moments, and declared that they thought him not only innocent +of the crime laid to his charge, but an exemplary instance of true +christian patience, fortitude, and charity. When he saw the executioner +prepared to give him the last stroke, he made a fresh declaration +to father Bourges, but while the words were still in his mouth, the +capitoul, the author of this catastrophe, and who came upon the scaffold +merely to gratify his desire of being a witness of his punishment +and death, ran up to him, and bawled out, "Wretch, there are the fagots +which are to reduce your body to ashes! speak the truth." M. +Calas made no reply, but turned his head a little aside, and that moment +the executioner did his office.</p> + +<p>The popular outcry against this family was so violent in Languedoc, +that every body expected to see the children of Calas broke upon +the wheel, and the mother burnt alive.</p> + +<p>Young Donat Calas was advised to fly into Switzerland: he went, +and found a gentleman who, at first, could only pity and relieve him, +without daring to judge of the rigour exercised against the father, +mother, and brothers. Soon after, one of the brothers, who was only +banished, likewise threw himself into the arms of the same person, +who, for more than a month, took every possible precaution to be +assured of the innocence of the family. Once convinced, he thought +himself obliged, in conscience, to employ his friends, his purse, his +pen, and his credit, to repair the fatal mistake of the seven judges of +Thoulouse, and to have the proceedings revised by the king's council. +This revision lasted three years, and it is well known what honour +Messrs. de Grosne and Bacquancourt acquired by investigating this +memorable cause. Fifty masters of the Court of Requests unanimously +declared the whole family of Calas innocent, and recommended +them to the benevolent justice of his majesty. The duke de +Choiseul, who never let slip an opportunity of signalizing the greatness +of his character, not only assisted this unfortunate family with +money, but obtained for them a gratuity of 36,000 livres from the king.</p> + +<p>On the ninth of March, 1765, the arret was signed which justified +the family of Calas, and changed their fate. The ninth of March, +1762, was the very day on which the innocent and virtuous father of +that family had been executed. All Paris ran in crowds to see them +come out of prison, and clapped their hands for joy while the tears +streamed from their eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>This dreadful example of bigotry employed the pen of Voltaire in +deprecation of the horrors of superstition; and though an infidel +himself, his essay on toleration does honour to his pen, and has +been a blessed means of abating the rigour of persecution in most +European states. Gospel purity will equally shun superstition and +cruelty, as the mildness of Christ's tenets teaches only to comfort +in this world, and to procure salvation in the next. To persecute for +being of a different opinion, is as absurd as to persecute for having a +different countenance: if we honour God, keep sacred the pure doctrines +of Christ, put a full confidence in the promises contained in the +holy scriptures, and obey the political laws of the state in which we +reside, we have an undoubted right to protection instead of persecution, +and to serve heaven as our consciences, regulated by the gospel +rules, may direct.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION.</h3> + + +<p>When the reformed religion began to diffuse the gospel light throughout +church. He accordingly instituted a number of inquisitors, or +persons who were to make inquiry after, apprehend, and punish, heretics, +as the reformed were called by the papists.</p> + +<p>At the head of these inquisitors was one Dominic, who had been canonized +by the pope, in order to render his authority the more respectable. +Dominic, and the other inquisitors, spread themselves into various +Roman catholic countries, and treated the protestants with the utmost +severity. In process of time, the pope, not finding these roving +inquisitors so useful as he had imagined, resolved upon the establishment +of fixed and regular courts of inquisition. After the order for +these regular courts, the first office of inquisition was established in the +city of Thoulouse, and Dominic became the first regular inquisitor, as +he had before been the first roving inquisitor.</p> + +<p>Courts of inquisition were now erected in several countries; but +the Spanish inquisition became the most powerful, and the most dreaded +of any. Even the kings of Spain themselves, though arbitrary in +all other respects, were taught to dread the power of the lords of the +inquisition; and the horrid cruelties they exercised compelled multitudes, +who differed in opinion from the Roman catholics, carefully to +conceal their sentiments.</p> + +<p>The most zealous of all the popish monks, and those who most implicitly +obeyed the church of Rome, were the Dominicans and Franciscans:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +these, therefore, the pope thought proper to invest with an +exclusive right of presiding over the different court of inquisition, +and gave them the most unlimited powers, as judges delegated by +him, and immediately representing his person: they were permitted +to excommunicate, or sentence to death whom they thought proper, +upon the most slight information of heresy. They were allowed to +publish crusades against all whom they deemed heretics, and enter +into leagues with sovereign princes, to join their crusades with their +forces.</p> + +<p>In 1244, their power was farther increased by the emperor Frederic +the Second, who declared himself the protector and friend of all the +inquisitors, and published the cruel edicts, viz. 1. That all heretics +who continued obstinate, should be burnt. 2. That all heretics who +repented, should be imprisoned for life.</p> + +<p>This zeal in the emperor, for the inquisitors of the Roman catholic +persuasion, arose from a report which had been propagated throughout +Europe, that he intended to renounce christianity, and turn Mahometan; +the emperor therefore, attempted, by the height of bigotry +to contradict the report, and to show his attachment to popery by +cruelty.</p> + +<p>The officers of the inquisition are three inquisitors, or judges, a fiscal +proctor, two secretaries, a magistrate, a messenger, a receiver, a +jailer, an agent of confiscated possessions; several assessors, counsellors, +executioners, physicians, surgeons, door-keepers, familiars, +and visiters, who are sworn to secrecy.</p> + +<p>The principal accusation against those who are subject to this tribunal +is heresy, which comprises all that is spoken, or written, against +any of the articles of the creed, or the traditions of the Roman church. +The inquisition likewise takes cognizance of such as are accused of +being magicians, and of such who read the bible in the common +language, the Talmud of the Jews, or the Alcoran of the Mahometans.</p> + +<p>Upon all occasions the inquisitors carry on their processes with the +utmost severity, and punish those who offend them with the most unparalleled +cruelty. A protestant has seldom any mercy shown him, +and a Jew, who turns christian, is far from being secure.</p> + +<p>A defence in the inquisition is of little use to the prisoner, for a +suspicion only is deemed sufficient cause of condemnation, and the +greater his wealth the greater his danger. The principal part of the +inquisitors' cruelties is owing to their rapacity: they destroy the life to +possess the property; and, under the pretence of zeal, plunder each obnoxious +individual.</p> + +<p>A prisoner in the inquisition is never allowed to see the face of his +accuser, or of the witnesses against him, but every method is taken +by threats and tortures, to oblige him to accuse himself, and by that +means corroborate their evidence. If the jurisdiction of the inquisition +is not fully allowed, vengeance is denounced against such as +call it in question for if any of its officers are opposed, those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +oppose them are almost certain to be sufferers for their temerity; the +maxim of the inquisition being to strike terror, and awe those who are +the objects of its power into obedience. High birth, distinguished rank, +great dignity, or eminent employments, are no protection from its severities; +and the lowest officers of the inquisition can make the highest +characters tremble.</p> + +<p>When the person impeached is condemned, he is either severely whipped, +violently tortured, sent to the galleys, or sentenced to death; and +in either case the effects are confiscated. After judgment, a procession +is performed to the place of execution, which ceremony is called an <span class="smcap">auto +de fe</span>, or act of faith.</p> + +<p>The following is an account of an auto de fe, performed at Madrid +in the year 1682.</p> + +<p>The officers of the inquisition, preceded by trumpets, kettle-drums, +and their banner, marched on the 30th of May, in cavalcade, to the +palace of the great square, where they declared by proclamation, +that, on the 30th of June, the sentence of the prisoners would be put in +execution.</p> + +<p>Of these prisoners, twenty men and women, with one renegade +Mahometan, were ordered to be burned; fifty Jews and Jewesses, +having never before been imprisoned, and repenting of their crimes +were sentenced to a long confinement, and to wear a yellow cap. +The whole court of Spain was present on this occasion. The grand +inquisitor's chair was placed in a sort of tribunal far above that of the +king.</p> + +<p>Among those who were to suffer, was a young Jewess of exquisite +beauty, and but seventeen years of age. Being on the same side of +the scaffold where the queen was seated, she addressed her, in hopes +of obtaining a pardon, in the following pathetic speech: "Great queen, +will not your royal presence be of some service to the in my miserable +condition! Have regard to my youth; and, oh! consider, that I am +about to die for professing a religion imbibed from my earliest infancy!" +Her majesty seemed greatly to pity her distress, but turned away her +eyes, as she did not dare to speak a word in behalf of a person who +had been declared a heretic.</p> + +<p>Now mass began, in the midst of which the priest came from the +altar, placed himself near the scaffold, and seated himself in a chair prepared +for that purpose.</p> + +<p>The chief inquisitor then descended from the amphitheatre, dressed +in his cope, and having a mitre on his head. After having bowed to +the altar, he advanced towards the king's balcony, and went up to it, +attended by some of his officers, carrying a cross and the gospels, with +a book containing the oath by which the kings of Spain oblige themselves +to protect the catholic faith, to extirpate heretics, and to support +with all their power and force the prosecutions and decrees of the inquisition: +a like oath was administered to the counsellors and whole +assembly. The mass was begun about twelve at noon, and did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +end till nine in the evening, being protracted by a proclamation of the +sentences of the several criminals, which were already separately rehearsed +aloud one after the other.</p> + +<p>After this, followed the burning of the twenty-one men and women, +whose intrepidity in suffering that horrid death was truly astonishing. +The king's near situation to the criminals rendered their dying groans +very audible to him; he could not, however, be absent from this dreadful +scene, as it is esteemed a religious one; and his coronation oath +obliges him to give a sanction by his presence to all the acts of the +tribunal.</p> + +<p>What we have already said may be applied to inquisitions in general, +as well as to that of Spain in particular. The inquisition belonging to +Portugal is exactly upon a similar plan to that of Spain, having been +instituted much about the same time, and put under the same regulations. +The inquisitors allow the torture to be used only three times, +but during those times it is so severely inflicted, that the prisoner either +dies under it, or continues always after a cripple, and suffers the severest +pains upon every change of weather. We shall give an ample description +of the severe torments occasioned by the torture, from the account +of one who suffered it the three respective times, but happily survived +the cruelties he underwent.</p> + +<p>At the first time of torturing, six executioners entered, stripped him +naked to his drawers, and laid him upon his back on a kind of stand, +elevated a few feet from the floor. The operation commenced by putting +an iron collar round his neck, and a ring to each foot, which fastened +him to the stand. His limbs being thus stretched out, they wound two +ropes round each thigh; which ropes being passed under the scaffold, +through holes made for that purpose, were all drawn tight at the same +instant of time, by four of the men, on a given signal.</p> + +<p>It is easy to conceive that the pains which immediately succeeded +were intolerable; the ropes, which were of a small size, cut through the +prisoner's flesh to the bone, making the blood to gush out at eight different +places thus bound at a time. As the prisoner persisted in not +making any confession of what the inquisitors required, the ropes were +drawn in this manner four times successively.</p> + +<p>The manner of inflicting the second torture was as follows: they forced +his arms backwards so that the palms of his hands were turned outward +behind him; when, by means of a rope that fastened them together at +the wrists, and which was turned by an engine, they drew them by degrees +nearer each other, in such a manner that the back of each hand +touched, and stood exactly parallel to each other. In consequence of +this violent contortion, both his shoulders became dislocated, and a considerable +quantity of blood issued from his mouth. This torture was +repeated thrice; after which he was again taken to the dungeon, and +the surgeon set the dislocated bones.</p> + +<p>Two months after the second torture, the prisoner being a little +recovered, was again ordered to the torture-room, and there, for the +last time, made to undergo another kind of punishment, which was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'nflicted'">inflicted</ins> twice without any intermission. The executioners fastened +a thick iron chain round his body, which crossing at the breast, terminated +at the wrists. They then placed him with his back against +a thick board, at each extremity whereof was a pulley, through which +there ran a rope that caught the end of the chain at his wrists. The +executioner then, stretching the end of this rope by means of a roller, +placed at a distance behind him, pressed or bruised his stomach in +proportion as the ends of the chains were drawn tighter. They tortured +him in this manner to such a degree, that his wrists, as well as +his shoulders, were quite dislocated. They were, however, soon set +by the surgeons; but the barbarians, not yet satisfied with this species +of cruelty, made him immediately undergo the like torture a second +time, which he sustained (though, if possible, attended with keener +pains,) with equal constancy and resolution. After this, he was again +remanded to his dungeon, attended by the surgeon to dress his bruises +and adjust the part dislocated, and here he continued till their Auto +de Fe, or jail delivery, when he was discharged, crippled and diseased +for life.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the cruel Handling and Burning of Nicholas Burton, +an English Merchant, in Spain.</i></div> + +<p>The fifth day of November, about the year of our Lord 1560, Mr. +Nicholas Burton, citizen sometime of London, and merchant, dwelling +in the parish of Little St. Bartholomew, peaceably and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'quiety'">quietly</ins> following +his traffic in the trade of merchandize, and being in the city of +Cadiz, in the party of Andalusia, in Spain, there came into his lodging +a Judas, or, as they term them, a familiar of the fathers of the +inquisition; who asking for the said Nicholas Burton, feigned that he +had a letter to deliver into his own hands; by which means he spake +with him immediately. And having no letter to deliver to him, then +the said promoter, or familiar, at the motion of the devil his master, +whose messenger he was, invented another lie, and said, that he would +take lading for London in such ships as the said Nicholas Burton had +freighted to lade, if he would let any; which was partly to know +where he loaded his goods, that they might attach them, and chiefly to +protract the time until the sergeant of the inquisition might come and +apprehend the body of the said Nicholas Burton; which they did incontinently.</p> + +<p>He then well perceiving that they were not able to burden or charge +him that he had written, spoke, or done any thing there in that country +against the ecclesiastical or temporal laws of the same realm, boldly +asked them what they had to lay to his charge that they did so arrest +him, and bade them to declare the cause, and he would answer them. +Notwithstanding they answered nothing, but commanded him with +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hreatening'">threatening</ins> words to hold his peace, and not speak one word to them.</p> + +<p>And so they carried him to the filthy common prison of the town of +Cadiz, where he remained in irons fourteen days amongst thieves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>All which time he so instructed the poor prisoners in the word of +God, according to the good talent which God had given him in that +behalf, and also in the Spanish tongue to utter the same, that in that +short space he had well reclaimed several of those superstitious and +ignorant Spaniards to embrace the word of God, and to reject their popish +traditions.</p> + +<p>Which being known unto the officers of the inquisition, they conveyed +him laden with irons from thence to a city called Seville, into +a more cruel and straiter prison called Triana, where the said fathers +of the inquisition proceeded against him secretly according to their +accustomable cruel tyranny, that never after he could be suffered to +write or speak to any of his nation: so that to this day it is unknown who +was his accuser.</p> + +<p>Afterward, the 20th of December, they brought the said Nicholas +Burton, with a great number of other prisoners, for professing the true +Christian religion, into the city of Seville, to a place where the said +inquisitors sat in judgment which they called Auto, with a canvass +coat, whereupon in divers parts was painted the figure of a huge devil, +tormenting a soul in a flame of fire, and on his head a copping tank +of the same work.</p> + +<p>His tongue was forced out of his mouth with a cloven stick fastened +upon it, that he should not utter his conscience and faith to the people, +and so he was set with another Englishman of Southampton, and divers +other condemned men for religion, as well Frenchmen as Spaniards, upon +a scaffold over against the said inquisition, where their sentences +and judgments were read and pronounced against them.</p> + +<p>And immediately after the said sentences given, they were carried +from thence to the place of execution without the city, where they most +cruelly burned them, for whose constant faith, God be praised.</p> + +<p>This Nicholas Burton by the way, and in the flames of fire, had so +cheerful a countenance, embracing death with all patience and gladness, +that the tormentors and enemies which stood by, said, that the devil had +his soul before he came to the fire; and therefore they said his senses +of feeling were past him.</p> + +<p>It happened that after the arrest of Nicholas Burton aforesaid, +immediately all the goods and merchandize which he brought with +him into Spain by the way of traffic, were (according to their common +usage) seized, and taken into the sequester; among which they also +rolled up much that appertained to another English merchant, wherewith +he was credited as factor. Whereof so soon as news was brought +to the merchant as well of the imprisonment of his factor, as of the +arrest made upon his goods, he sent his attorney into Spain, with authority +from him to make claim to his goods, and to demand them; whose +name was John Fronton, citizen of Bristol.</p> + +<p>When his attorney was landed at Seville, and had shown all his +letters and writings to the holy house, requiring them that such goods +might be delivered into his possession, answer was made to him that +he must sue by bill, and retain an advocate (but all was doubtless to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +delay him,) and they forsooth of courtesy assigned him one to frame +his supplication for him, and other such bills of petition, as he had to +exhibit into their holy court, demanding for each bill eight rials, albeit +they stood him in no more stead than if he had put up none at all. +And for the space of three or four months this fellow missed not twice +a day attending every morning and afternoon at the inquisitors' palace, +suing unto them upon his knees for his despatch, but especially +to the bishop of Tarracon, who was at that very time chief in the inquisition +at Seville, that he of his absolute authority would command +restitution to be made thereof; but the booty was so good and great, +that it was very hard to come by it again.</p> + +<p>At length, after he had spent four whole months in suits and requests, +and also to no purpose, he received this answer from them, +That he must show better evidence, and bring more sufficient certificates +out of England for proof of this matter, than those which he had +already presented to the court. Whereupon the party forthwith posted +to London, and with all speed returned to Seville again with more ample +and large letters testimonial, and certificates, according to their requests, +and exhibited them to the court.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the inquisitors still shifted him off, excusing themselves +by lack of leisure, and for that they were occupied in more +weighty affairs, and with such answers put him off, four months after.</p> + +<p>At last, when the party had well nigh spent all his money, and +therefore sued the more earnestly for his despatch, they referred the +matter wholly to the bishop. Of whom, when he repaired unto him, +he made this answer, That for himself, he knew what he had to do, +howbeit he was but one man, and the determination appertained to the +other commissioners as well as unto him; and thus by posting and +passing it from one to another, the party could obtain no end of his +suit. Yet for his importunity's sake, they were resolved to despatch +him: it was on this sort: one of the inquisitors, called Gasco, a man very +well experienced in these practices, willed the party to resort unto +him after dinner.</p> + +<p>The fellow being glad to hear this news, and supposing that his +goods should be restored unto him, and that he was called in for that +purpose to talk with the other that was in prison to confer with him +about their accounts, rather through a little misunderstanding, hearing +the inquisitors cast out a word, that it should be needful for him to +talk with the prisoner, and being thereupon more than half persuaded, +that at length they meant good faith, did so, and repaired thither about +the evening. Immediately upon his coming, the jailer was forthwith +charged with him, to shut him up close in such a prison where they +appointed him.</p> + +<p>The party, hoping at the first that he had been called for about some +other matter, and seeing himself, contrary to his expectation, cast into +a dark dungeon, perceived at length that the world went with him far +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'erwise'">otherwise</ins> than he supposed it would have done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>But within two or three days after, he was brought into the court +where he began to demand his goods: and because it was a device +that well served their turn without any more circumstance, they bid +him say his Ave Maria; "Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum, +benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus. +Amen."</p> + +<p>The same was written word by word as he spake it, and without +any more talk of claiming his goods, because it was needless, they +commanded him to prison again, and entered an action against him as +a heretic, forasmuch as he did not say his Ave Maria after the Romish +fashion, but ended it very suspiciously, for he should have added +moreover; "Sancta Maria mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus:" by +abbreviating whereof, it was evident enough (said they) that he did +not allow the mediation of saints.</p> + +<p>Thus they picked a quarrel to detain him in prison a longer season, +and afterward brought him forth upon their stage disguised after their +manner; where sentence was given, that he should lose all the goods +which he sued for, though they were not his own, and besides this, suffer +a year's imprisonment.</p> + +<p>Mark Brughes, an Englishman, master of an English ship called the +Minion, was burnt in a city in Portugal.</p> + +<p>William Hoker, a young man about the age of sixteen years, being +an Englishman, was stoned to death by certain young men in the city +of Seville, for the same righteous cause.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Some private Enormities of the inquisition laid open, by a very singular +occurrence.</i></div> + +<p>When the crown of Spain was contested for in the beginning of the +present century, by two princes, who equally pretended to the sovereignty, +France espoused the cause of one competitor, and England of +the other.</p> + +<p>The duke of Berwick, a natural son of James II. who abdicated +England, commanded the Spanish and French forces, and defeated the +English at the celebrated battle of Almanza. The army was then divided +into two parts; the one consisting of Spaniards and French, headed +by the duke of Berwick, advanced towards Catalonia; the other +body, consisting of French troops only, commanded by the duke of +Orleans, proceeded to the conquest of Arragon.</p> + +<p>As the troops drew near to the city of Arragon, the magistrates came +to offer the keys to the duke of Orleans; but he told them, haughtily, +they were rebels, and that he would not accept the keys, for he had +orders to enter the city through a breach.</p> + +<p>He accordingly made a breach in the walls with his cannon, and +then entered the city through it, together with his whole army.—When +he had made every necessary regulation here, he departed to +subdue other places, leaving a strong garrison at once to overawe +and defend, under the command of his lieutenant-general M. de +Legal. This gentleman, though brought up a Roman catholic, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +totally free from superstition: he united great talents with great +bravery: and was, at once, the skilful officer, and accomplished gentleman.</p> + +<p>The duke, before his departure, had ordered that heavy contributions +should be levied upon the city to the following manner:</p> + +<p>1. That the magistrates and principal inhabitants should pay a thousand +crowns per month for the duke's table.</p> + +<p>2. That every house should pay one pistole, which would monthly +amount to 18,000 pistoles.</p> + +<p>3. That every convent and monastery should pay a donative, proportionable +to its riches and rents.</p> + +<p>The two last <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'contributious'">contributions</ins> to be appropriated to the maintenance of +the army.</p> + +<p>The money levied upon the magistrates and principal inhabitants, and +upon every house, was paid as soon as demanded; but when the proper +persons applied to the heads of convents and monasteries, they found +that the ecclesiastics were not so willing, as other people, to part with +their cash.</p> + +<p>Of the donatives to be raised by the clergy:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Donations of clergy"> +<tr><td align='left'>The college of Jesuits </td><td align='left'>to pay </td><td align='left'>2000 pistoles</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>Carmelites,</td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>1000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> Augustins,</td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>1000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> Dominicans,</td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>1000</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>M. de Legal sent to the Jesuits a peremptory order to pay the money +immediately. The superior of the Jesuits returned for answer, that for +the clergy to pay money for the army was against all ecclesiastical immunities; +and that he knew of no argument which could authorize such +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original missing this word">a</ins> procedure. M. de Legal then sent four companies of dragoons to +quarter themselves in the college, with this sarcastic message, "To convince +you of the necessity of paying the money, I have sent four substantial +arguments to your college, drawn from the system of military +logic; and, therefore, hope you will not need any further admonition to +direct your conduct."</p> + +<p>These proceedings greatly perplexed the Jesuits, who despatched +an express to court to the king's confessor, who was of their order; +but the dragoons were much more expeditious in plundering and +doing mischief, than the courier in his journey: so that the Jesuits, +seeing every thing going to wreck and ruin, thought proper to adjust +the matter amicably, and paid the money before the return of their +messenger. The Augustins and Carmelites, taking warning by what +had happened to the Jesuits, prudently went and paid the money, and +by that means escaped the study of military arguments, and of being +taught logic by dragoons.</p> + +<p>But the Dominicans, who were all familiars of, or agents dependent +on, the inquisition, imagined, that that very circumstance would +be their protection; but they were mistaken, for M. de Legal neither +feared nor respected the inquisition. The chief of the Dominicans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +sent word to the military commander that his order was poor, and had +not any money whatever to pay the donative; for, says he, the whole +wealth of the Dominicans consists only in the silver images of the apostles +and saints, as large as life, which are placed in our church, and +which it would be sacrilege to remove.</p> + +<p>This insinuation was meant to terrify the French commander, whom +the inquisitors imagined would not dare to be so profane as to wish for +the possession of the precious idols.</p> + +<p>He, however, sent word that the silver images would make admirable +substitutes for money, and would be more in character in his possession, +than in that of the Dominicans themselves, "For, (said he) while +you possess them in the manner you do at present, they stand up in +niches, useless and motionless, without being of the least benefit to +mankind in general, or even to yourselves; but, when they come into +my possession, they shall be useful; I will put them in motion; for I intend +to have them coined, when they may travel like the apostles, be +beneficial in various places, and circulate for the universal service of +mankind."</p> + +<p>The inquisitors were astonished at this treatment, which they +never expected to receive, even from crowned heads; they therefore +determined to deliver their precious images in a solemn procession, +that they might excite the people to an insurrection. The Dominican +friars were accordingly ordered to march to De Legal's house, +with the silver apostles and saints, in a mournful manner, having +lighted tapers with them, and bitterly crying all the way, heresy, +heresy.</p> + +<p>M. de Legal, hearing these proceedings, ordered four companies of +grenadiers to line the street which led to his house; each grenadier was +ordered to have his loaded fuzee in one hand, and a lighted taper in the +other; so that the troops might either repel force with force, or do honour +to the farcical solemnity.</p> + +<p>The friars did all they could to raise the tumult, but the common +people were too much afraid of the troops under arms to obey them, +the silver images were, therefore, of necessity delivered up to M. de +Legal, who sent them to the mint, and ordered them to be coined immediately.</p> + +<p>The project of raising an insurrection having failed, the inquisitors +determined to excommunicate M. de Legal, unless he would release +their precious silver saints from imprisonment in the mint, before they +were melted down, or otherwise mutilated. The French commander +absolutely refused to release the images, but said they should certainly +travel and do good; upon which the inquisitors drew up the form of +excommunication, and ordered their secretary to go and read it to M. +De Legal.</p> + +<p>The secretary punctually performed his commission, and read the +excommunication deliberately and distinctly. The French commander +heard it with great patience, and politely told the secretary he would +answer it the next day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the secretary of the inquisition was gone, M. De Legal ordered +his own secretary to prepare a form of excommunication, exactly +like that sent by the inquisition; but to make this alteration, instead of +his name to put in those of the inquisitors.</p> + +<p>The next morning he ordered four regiments under arms, and commanded +them to accompany his secretary, and act as he directed.</p> + +<p>The secretary went to the inquisition, and insisted upon admittance, +which, after a great deal of altercation, was granted. As soon as he +entered, he read, in an audible voice, the excommunication sent by +M. De Legal against the inquisitors. The inquisitors were all present, +and heard it with astonishment, never having before met with any +individual who dared behave so boldly. They loudly cried out +against De Legal, as a heretic; and said, this was a most daring +insult against the catholic faith. But, to surprise them still more, +the French secretary told them, they must remove from their present +lodgings; for the French commander wanted to quarter the troops in +the inquisition, as it was the most commodious place in the whole +city.</p> + +<p>The inquisitors exclaimed loudly upon this occasion, when the secretary +put them under a strong guard, and sent them to a place appointed +by M. De Legal to receive them. The inquisitors, finding +how things went, begged that they might be permitted to take their +private property, which was granted, and they immediately set out +for Madrid, where they made the most bitter complaints to the king; +but the monarch told them, he could not grant them any redress, as +the injuries they had received were from his grandfather, the king of +France's troops, by whose assistance alone he could be firmly established +in his kingdom. "Had it been my own troops, (said he) I +would have punished them; but as it is, I cannot pretend to exert any +authority."</p> + +<p>In the mean time, M. De Legal's secretary set open all the doors +of the inquisition, and released the prisoners, who amounted in the +whole to 400; and among these were 60 beautiful young women, who +appeared to form a seraglio for the three principal inquisitors.</p> + +<p>This discovery, which laid the enormity of the inquisitors so open, +greatly alarmed the archbishop, who desired M. De Legal to send the +women to his palace, and he would take proper care of them; and at +the same time he published an ecclesiastical censure against all such +as should ridicule, or blame, the holy office of the inquisition.</p> + +<p>The French commander sent word to the archbishop, that the prisoners +had either run away, or were so securely concealed by their +friends, or even by his own officers, that it was impossible for him to +send them back again; and, therefore, the inquisition having committed +such atrocious actions, must now put up with their exposure.</p> + +<p>One of the ladies thus happily delivered from captivity, was afterward +married to the very French officer who opened the door of her +dungeon, and released her from confinement. The lady related the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +following circumstances to her husband, and to M. Gavin, (author of +the Master Key to Popery) from the latter of whom we have selected +the most material particulars.</p> + +<p>"I went one day (says the lady) with my mother, to visit the countess +Attarass, and I met there Don Francisco Tirregon, her confessor +and second inquisitor of the holy office.</p> + +<p>After we had drunk chocolate, he asked me my age, my confessor's +name, and many intricate questions about religion. The severity of +his countenance frightened me, which he perceiving, told the countess +to inform me, that he was not so severe as he looked for. He then +caressed me in a most obliging manner, presented his hand, which I +kissed with great reverence and modesty; and, as he went away, he +made use of this remarkable expression. My dear child, I shall remember +you till the next time. I did not, at the time, mark the sense +of the words; for I was inexperienced in matters of gallantry, being, +at that time but fifteen years old. Indeed, he unfortunately did remember +me, for the very same night, when our whole family were in +bed, we heard a great knocking at the door.</p> + +<p>The maid, who laid in the same room with me, went to the window, +and inquired who was there. The answer was, <span class="smcap">The Holy Inquisition</span>. +On hearing this I screamed out, Father! father! dear father, +I am ruined forever! My father got up, and came to me to know the +occasion of my crying out; I told him the inquisitors were at the +door. On hearing this, instead of protecting me, he hurried down +stairs as fast as possible; and, lest the maid should be too slow, opened +the street door himself; under such abject and slavish fears, are bigoted +minds! as soon as he knew they came for me, he fetched me with great +solemnity, and delivered me to the officers with much submission.</p> + +<p>I was hurried into a coach, with no other clothing than a petticoat +and a mantle, for they would not let me stay to take any thing else. +My fright was so great, I expected to die that very night; but judge +my surprise, when I was ushered into an apartment, decorated with +all the elegance that taste, united with opulence, could bestow.</p> + +<p>Soon after the officers left me, a maid servant appeared with a silver +salver, on which were sweetmeats and cinnamon water. She desired +me to take some refreshment before I went to bed; I told her I could +not, but should be glad if she could inform me whether I was to be put +to death that night or not.</p> + +<p>"To be put to death! (exclaimed she) you do not come here to be +put to death, but to live like a princess, and you shall want for nothing +in the world, but the liberty of going out; so pray don't be afraid, but +go to bed and sleep easy; for to-morrow you shall see wonders within +this house; and as I am chosen to be your waiting-maid, I hope you'll +be very kind to me."</p> + +<p>I was going to ask some questions, but she told me she must not +answer any thing more till the next day, but assured me that nobody +would come to disturb me. I am going, she said, about a little business<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +but I will come back presently, for my bed is in the closet next yours, +so she left me for about a quarter of an hour, and then returned. She +then said, madam, pray let me know when you will be pleased have +your chocolate ready in the morning.</p> + +<p>This greatly surprised me, so that without replying to her question, +I asked her name;—she said, my name is Mary. Mary, then, said I, +for heaven's sake, tell me whether I am brought here to die or not?—I +have told you already, replied she, that you came here to be one of the +happiest ladies in the world.</p> + +<p>We went to bed, but the fear of death prevented me from sleeping +the whole night; Mary waked; she was surprised to find me up, but +she soon rose, and after leaving me for about half an hour, she brought +in two cups of chocolate, and some biscuit on a silver plate.</p> + +<p>I drank one cup of chocolate, and desired her to drink the other, which +she did: when we had done, I said, well, Mary, can you give me any +account of the reasons for my being brought here? To which she answered, +not yet, madam, you must have patience, and immediately +slipped out of the room.</p> + +<p>About half an hour after, she brought a great quantity of elegant +clothes, suitable to a lady of the highest rank, and told me, I must dress +myself. Among several trinkets which accompanied the clothes, I observed, +with surprise, a snuff box, in the lid of which was a picture of +Don Francisco Tirregon. This unravelled to me the mystery of my +confinement, and at the same time roused my imagination to contrive +how to evade receiving the present. If I absolutely refused it, I thought +immediate death must ensue; and to accept it, was giving him too much +encouragement against my honour. At length I hit upon a medium, +and said to Mary, pray present my respects to Don Francisco Tirregon, +and tell him, that, as I could not bring my clothes along with me last +night, modesty permits me to accept of these garments, which are requisite +to keep me decent; but since I do not take snuff, I hope his lordship +will excuse me in not accepting his box.</p> + +<p>Mary went with my answer, and soon returned with Don Francisco's +portrait elegantly set in gold, and richly embellished with diamonds. +This message accompanied it: "That his lordship had made a mistake, +his intent not being to send me a snuffbox, but his portrait." I was at +a great loss what to do; when Mary said, pray, madam, take my poor +advice; accept of the portrait, and every thing else that his lordship +sends you; for if you do not, he can compel you to do what he pleases, +and put you to death when he thinks proper, without any body being able +to defend you. But if you are obliging to him, continued she, he will +be very kind, and you will be as happy as a queen; you will have elegant +apartments to live in, beautiful gardens to range in, and agreeable +ladies to visit you: therefore, I advise you to send a civil answer, or even +not to deny a visit from his lordship, or perhaps you may repent of your +disrespect.</p> + +<p>O, my God! exclaimed I, must I sacrifice my honour to my fears, +and give up my virtue to his despotic power? Alas! what can I do?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +To resist, is vain. If I oppose his desires, force will obtain what chastity +refuses. I now fell into the greatest agonies, and told Mary to return +what answer she thought proper.</p> + +<p>She said she was glad of my humble submission, and ran to acquaint +Don Francisco with it. In a few minutes she returned, with joy in her +countenance, telling me his lordship would honour me with his company +to supper. "And now give me leave, madam, (said she) to call +you mistress, for I am to wait upon you. I have been in a holy office +fourteen years, and know all the customs perfectly well; but as silence +is imposed upon me, under pain of death, I can only answer such questions +as immediately relate to your own person. But I would advise +you never to oppose the holy father's will; or if you see any young ladies +about, never ask them any questions. You may divert yourself +sometimes among them, but must never tell them any thing: three days +hence you will dine with them; and at all times you may have music, +and other recreations. In fine, you will be so happy, that you will not +wish to go abroad; and when your time is expired, the holy fathers +will send you out of this country, and marry you to some nobleman." +After saying these words she left me, overwhelmed with astonishment, +and scarce knowing what to think. As soon as I recovered +myself, I began to look about, and finding a closet, I opened it, and +perceived that it was filled with books: they ware chiefly upon historical +and profane subjects, but not any on religious matter. I chose out +a book of history, and so passed the interval with some degree of satisfaction +till dinner time.</p> + +<p>The dinner was served up with the greatest elegance, and consisted +of all that could gratify the most luxurious appetite. When dinner was +over, Mary left me, and told me, if I wanted any thing I might ring a +bell, which she pointed out to me.</p> + +<p>I read a book to amuse myself during the afternoon, and at seven +in the evening, Don Francisco came to visit me in his night-gown and +cap, not with the gravity of an inquisitor, but with the gayety of a +gallant.</p> + +<p>He saluted me with great respect, and told me, that he came to see +me in order to show the great respect he had for my family, and to inform +me that it was my lovers who had procured my confinement, having +accused me in matters of religion; and that the informations were +taken, and the sentence pronounced against me, to be burnt in a dry pan, +with a gradual fire; but that he, out of pity and love to my family, had +stopped the execution of it.</p> + +<p>These words were like daggers to my heart; I dropped at his feet, +and said, "Ah, my lord! have you stopped the execution for ever?" +He replied, "that belongs to yourself only," and abruptly wished me +good night.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was gone I burst into tears, when Mary came and asked +me what could make me cry so bitterly. To which I answered, oh, +Mary! what is the meaning of the dry pan and gradual fire? for I am +to die by them!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>Madam, said she, never fear, you shall see, ere long, the dry pan +and gradual fire; but they are made for those who oppose the holy father's +will, not for you who are so good as to obey it. But pray, says +she, was Don Francisco very obliging? I don't know, said I, for he +frightened me out of my wits by his discourse; he saluted me with civility, +but left me abruptly.</p> + +<p>Well, said Mary, you do not yet know his temper, he is extremely +obliging to them that are kind to him; but if they are disobedient he is +unmerciful as Nero; so, for your own sake, take care to oblige him in +all respects: and now, dear madam, pray go to supper, and be easy. +I went to supper, indeed, and afterward to bed; but I could neither eat +nor sleep, for the thoughts of the dry pan and gradual fire deprived me +of appetite, and banished drowsiness.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning Mary said, that as nobody was stirring, if +I would promise her secrecy, she would show me the dry pan and +gradual fire; so taking me down stairs, she brought me to a large +room, with a thick iron door, which she opened. Within it was an +oven, with fire in it at the time, and a large brass upon it, with a cover +of the same, and a lock to it. In the next room there was a great +wheel, covered on both sides with thick boards, opening a little window +in the centre, Mary desired me to look in with a candle; there I +saw all the circumference of the wheel set with sharp razors, which +made me shudder.</p> + +<p>She then took me to a pit, which was full of venomous animals. +On my expressing great horror at the sight, she said, "Now my good +mistress, I'll tell you the use of these things. The dry pan is for heretics, +and those who oppose the holy father's will and pleasure; they +are put alive into the pan, being first stripped naked; and the cover +being locked down, the executioner begins to put a small fire into the +oven, and by degrees he augments it, till the body is reduced to ashes. +The wheel is designed for those who speak against the pope, or the +holy fathers of the inquisition; for they are put into the machine +through the little wheel, which is locked after them, and then the wheel +is turned swiftly, till they are cut to pieces. The pit is for those who +contemn the images, and refuse to give proper respect to ecclesiastical +persons; for they are thrown into the pit, and so become the food of +poisonous animals."</p> + +<p>We went back again to my chamber, and Mary said, that another +day she would show me the torments designed for other transgressors, +but I was in such agonies at what I had seen, that I begged to be terrified +with no more such sights. She soon after left me, but not without +enjoining my strict obedience to Don Francisco; for if you do not +comply with his will, said she, the dry pan and gradual fire will be +your fate.</p> + +<p>The horrors which the sight of these things, and Mary's expressions, +impressed on my mind, almost bereaved me of my senses, and +left me in such a state of stupefaction that I seemed to have no manner +of will of my own.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next morning Mary said, now let me dress you as nice as possible, +for you must go and wish Don Francisco good-morrow, and +breakfast with him. When I was dressed, she conveyed me through +a gallery into his apartment, where I found that he was in bed. He +ordered Mary to withdraw, and to serve up breakfast in about two +hours time. When Mary was gone, he commanded me to undress +myself and come to bed to him. The manner in which he spoke, and +the dreadful ideas with which my mind was filled, so terribly frightened +me, that I pulled off my cloths, without knowing what I did, and +stepped into bed, insensible of the indecency I was transacting: so +totally had the care of self preservation absorbed all my other thoughts, +and so entirely were the ideas of delicacy obliterated by the force of +terror!</p> + +<p>Thus, to avoid the dry pan, did I entail upon myself perpetual infamy; +and to escape the so much dreaded gradual fire, give myself up +to the flames of lust. Wretched alternative, where the only choice is +an excruciating death, or everlasting pollution!</p> + +<p>Mary came at the expiration of two hours, and served us with chocolate +in the most submissive manner; for she kneeled down by the bedside +to present it. When I was dressed, Mary took me into a very +delightful apartment, which I had never yet seen. It was furnished +with the most costly elegance; but what gave me the greatest astonishment +was, the prospect from its windows, of a beautiful garden, +and a fine meandering river. Mary told me, that the young ladies +she had mentioned would come to pay their compliments to me before +dinner, and begged me to remember her advice in keeping a prudent +guard over my tongue.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes a great number of very beautiful young ladies, +richly dressed, entered my room, and successively embracing me, +wished me joy. I was so surprised, that I was unable to answer their +compliments: which one of the ladies perceiving, said, "Madam, the +solitude of this place will affect you in the beginning, but whenever +you begin to feel the pleasures and amusements you may enjoy, you +will quit those pensive thoughts. We, at present, beg the honour of +you to dine with us to-day, and henceforward three days in a week." +I returned them suitable thanks in general terms, and so went to dinner, +in which the most exquisite and savoury dishes, of various kinds, +were served up with the most delicate and pleasant fruits and sweetmeats. +The room was long, with two tables on each side, and a third +in the front. I reckoned fifty-two young ladies, the eldest not exceeding +twenty-four years of age. There were five maid-servants besides +Mary, to wait upon us; but Mary confined her attention to me alone. +After dinner we retired to a capacious gallery, where they played on +musical instruments, a few diverted themselves with cards, and the +rest amused themselves with walking about. Mary, at length, entered +the gallery, and said, ladies, this is a day of recreation, and so +you may go into whatever rooms you please till eight o'clock in the +evening.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>They unanimously agreed to adjourn to my apartment. Here we +found a most elegant cold collation, of which all the ladies partook, +and passed the time in innocent conversation and harmless mirth; but +none mentioned a word concerning the inquisition, or the holy fathers, +or gave the least distant hint concerning the cause of their confinement.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock Mary rang a bell, which was a signal for all to +retire to their respective apartments, and I was conducted to the +chamber of Don Francisco, where I slept. The next morning +Mary brought me a richer dress than any I had yet had; and as soon +as I retired to my apartment, all the ladies came to wish me good-morning, +dressed much richer than the preceding day. We passed +the time till eight o'clock in the evening, in much the same manner +as we had done the day before. At that time the bell rang, the separation +took place, and I was conducted to Don Francisco's chamber. +The next morning I had a garment richer than the last, and they +accosted me in apparel still more sumptuous than before. The transactions +of the two former days were repeated on the third, and the evening +concluded in a similar manner.</p> + +<p>On the fourth morning Mary came into Don Francisco's chamber +and told me I must immediately rise, for a lady wanted me in her +own chamber. She spoke with a kind of authority which surprised +me; but as Don Francisco did not speak a syllable, I got up and +obeyed. Mary then conveyed me into a dismal dungeon, not eight +feet in length; and said sternly to me, This is your room, and this +lady your bed-fellow and companion. At which words she bounced +out of the room, and left me in the utmost consternation.</p> + +<p>After remaining a considerable time in the most dreadful agonies +tears came to my relief, and I exclaimed, "What is this place, dear +lady! Is it a scene of enchantment, or is it a hell upon earth! Alas! +I have lost my honour and my soul forever!"</p> + +<p>The lady took me by the hand, and said in a sympathizing tone of +voice, "Dear sister, (for this is the name I shall henceforth give you) +forbear to cry and grieve, for you can do nothing by such an extravagant +behaviour, but draw upon yourself a cruel death. Your misfortunes, +and those of all the ladies you have seen, are exactly of a +piece, you suffer nothing but what we have suffered before you; but +we dare not show our grief, for fear of greater evils. Pray take +courage, and hope in God, for he will surely deliver us from this +hellish place; but be sure you discover no uneasiness before Mary, +who is the only instrument either of our torments or comfort. Have +patience until we go to bed, and then I will venture to tell you more of +the matter."</p> + +<p>My perplexity and vexation were inexpressible: but my new companion, +whose name was Leonora, prevailed on me to disguise my +uneasiness from Mary. I dissembled tolerably well when she came +to bring our dinners, but could not help remarking, in my own mind, +the difference between this repast, and those I had before partook of.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +This consisted only of plain, common food, and of that a scanty allowance, +with one plate, and one knife and fork for us both, which she took +away as soon as we had dined.</p> + +<p>When we were in bed, Leonora was as good as her word; and +upon my solemn promise of secrecy thus began to open her mind +to me.</p> + +<p>"My dear sister, you think your case very hard, but I assure you +all the ladies in the house have gone through the same. In time, you +will know all their stories, as they hope to know yours. I suppose +Mary has been the chief instrument of your fright, as she has been of +ours; and I warrant she has shown you some horrible places, though +not all; and that, at the very thought of them you were so terrified, +that you chose the same way we have done to redeem yourself from +death. By what hath happened to us, we know that Don Francisco +hath been your Nero, your tyrant; for the three colours of our clothes +are the distinguishing tokens of the three holy fathers. The red +silk belongs to Don Francisco, the blue to Don Guerrero, and the +green to Don Aliga; and they always give those colours (after the farce +of changing garments and the short-lived recreations are over) to those +ladies whom they bring here for their respective uses.</p> + +<p>"We are strictly commanded to express all the demonstrations of +joy, and to be very merry for three days, when a young lady first +comes amongst us, as we did with you, and as you must now do with +others. But afterward we live like the most wretched prisoners, +without seeing any body but Mary, and the other maid-servants, +over whom Mary hath a kind of superiority, for she acts as housekeeper. +We all dine in the great hall three days in a week; and when +any one of the inquisitors hath a mind for one of his slaves, Mary comes +about nine o'clock, and leads her to his apartment.</p> + +<p>"Some nights Mary leaves the doors of our chambers open, and +that is a token that one of the inquisitors hath a mind to come that +night; but he comes so silent that we are ignorant whether he is our +patron or not. If one of us happens to be with child, she is removed +into a better chamber till she is delivered; but during the whole of her +pregnancy, she never sees any body but the person appointed to attend +her.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the child is born it is taken away, and carried we know +not whither; for we never hear a syllable mentioned about it afterward. +I have been in this house six years, was not fourteen when +the officers took me from my father's house, and have had one child. +There are, at this present time, fifty-two young ladies in the house; +but we annually lose six or eight, though we know not what becomes +of them, or whither they are sent. This, however, does not diminish +our number, for new ones are always brought in to supply the place of +those who are removed from hence; and I remember, at one time, to +have seen seventy-three ladies here together. Our continual torment +is to reflect that when they are tired of any of the ladies, they certainly +put to death those they pretend to send away; for it is natural<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +to think, that they have too much policy to suffer their atrocious +and infernal villanies to be discovered, by enlarging them. Hence our +situation is miserable indeed, and we have only to pray that the Almighty +will pardon those crimes which we are compelled to commit. +Therefore, my dear sister, arm yourself with patience, for that is the +only palliative to give you comfort, and put a firm confidence in the +providence of Almighty God."</p> + +<p>This discourse of Leonora greatly affected me; but I found everything +to be as she told me, in the course of time, and I took care to +appear as cheerful as possible before Mary. In this manner I continued +eighteen months, during which time eleven ladies were taken +from the house; but in lieu of them we got nineteen new ones, which +made our number just sixty, at the time we were so happily relieved +by the French officers, and providentially restored to the joys +of society, and to the arms of our parents and friends. On that +happy day, the door of my dungeon was opened by the gentleman +who is now my husband, and who with the utmost expedition, sent +both Leonora and me to his father's; and (soon after the campaign +was over) when he returned home, he thought proper to make me his +wife, in which situation I enjoy a recompense for all the miseries I before +suffered.</p> + +<p>From the foregoing narrative it is evident, that the inquisitors are +a set of libidinous villains, lost to every just idea of religion, and +totally destitute of humanity. Those who possess wealth, beauty, +or liberal sentiments, are sure to find enemies in them. Avarice, +lust, and prejudice, are their ruling passions; and they sacrifice +every law, human and divine, to gratify their predominant desire. +Their supposed piety is affectation; their pretended compassion hypocrisy; +their justice depends on their will: and their equitable punishments +are founded on their prejudices. None are secure from them, +all ranks fall equally victims to their pride, their power, their avarice, +or their aversion.</p> + +<p>Some may suggest, that it is strange crowned heads and eminent nobles, +have not attempted to crush the power of the inquisition, and reduce +the authority of those ecclesiastical tyrants, from whose merciless +fangs neither their families nor themselves are secure.</p> + +<p>But astonishing as it is, superstition hath, in this case, always +overcome common sense, and custom operated against reason. One +prince, indeed, intended to abolish the inquisition, but he lost his life +before he became king, and consequently before he had the power +so to do; for the very intimation of his design procured his destruction.</p> + +<p>This was that amiable prince Don Carlos, son of Philip the Second, +king of Spain, and grandson of the celebrated emperor Charles V. +Don Carlos, possessed all the good qualities of his grandfather +without any of the bad ones of his father; and was a prince of great +vivacity, admirable learning, and the most amiable disposition.—He +had sense enough to see into the errors of popery, and abhorred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +the very name of the inquisition. He inveighed publicly against the +institution, ridiculed the affected piety of the inquisitors, did all he +could to expose their atrocious deeds, end even declared, that if he +ever came to the crown, he would abolish the inquisition, and exterminate +its agents.</p> + +<p>These things were sufficient to irritate the inquisitors against the +prince: they, accordingly, bent their minds to vengeance, and determined +on his destruction.</p> + +<p>The inquisitors now employed all their agents and emissaries to +spread abroad the most artful insinuations against the prince; and, +at length, raised such a spirit of discontent among the people, that +the king was under the necessity of removing Don Carlos from court. +Not content with this, they pursued even his friends, and obliged the +king likewise to banish Don John, duke of Austria, his own brother, +and consequently uncle to the prince; together with the prince of +Parma, nephew to the king, and cousin to the prince, because they +well knew that both the duke of Austria, and the prince of Parma, had +a most sincere and inviolable attachment to Don Carlos.</p> + +<p>Some few years after, the prince having shown great lenity and +favour to the protestants in the Netherlands, the inquisition loudly +exclaimed against him, declaring, that as the persons in question +were heretics, the prince himself must necessarily be one, since he +gave them countenance. In short, they gained so great an ascendency +over the mind of the king, who was absolutely a slave to superstition, +that, shocking to relate, he sacrificed the feelings of nature to +the force of bigotry, and, for fear of incurring the anger of the +inquisition, gave up his only son, passing the sentence of death on +him himself.</p> + +<p>The prince, indeed, had what was termed an indulgence; that is, +he was permitted to choose the manner of his death. Roman like, +the unfortunate young hero chose bleeding and the hot bath; when +the veins of his arms and legs being opened, he expired gradually, +falling a martyr to the malice of the inquisitors, and the stupid bigotry +of his father.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Persecution of Dr. Ægidio.</i></div> + +<p>Dr. Ægidio was educated at the university of Alcala, where he +took his several degrees, and particularly applied himself to the study +of the sacred scriptures and school divinity. The professor of theology +dying, he was elected into his place, and acted so much to the satisfaction +of every one, that his reputation for learning and piety was +circulated throughout Europe.</p> + +<p>Ægidio, however, had his enemies, and these laid a complaint +against him to the inquisitors, who sent him a citation, and when he +appeared to it, cast him into a dungeon.</p> + +<p>As the greatest part of those who belonged to the cathedral church +at Seville, and many persons belonging to the bishopric of Dortois<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +highly approved of the doctrines of Ægidio, which they thought perfectly +consonant with true religion, they petitioned the emperor in his behalf. +Though the monarch had been educated a Roman catholic, he +had too much sense to be a bigot, and therefore sent an immediate order +for his enlargement.</p> + +<p>He soon after visited the church of Valladolid, did every thing he +could to promote the cause of religion, and returning home he soon +after fell sick, and died in an extreme old age.</p> + +<p>The inquisitors having been disappointed of gratifying their malice +against him while living, determined (as the emperor's whole thoughts +were engrossed by a military expedition) to wreak their vengeance +on him when dead. Therefore, soon after he was buried, they ordered +his remains to be dug out of the grave; and a legal process being +carried on, they were condemned to be burnt, which was executed +accordingly.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Persecution of Dr. Constantine.</i></div> + +<p>Dr. Constantine, an intimate acquaintance of the already mentioned +Dr. Ægidio, was a man of uncommon natural abilities and profound +learning; exclusive of several modern tongues, he was acquainted with +the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and perfectly well knew not +only the sciences called abstruse, but those arts which come under the +denomination of polite literature.</p> + +<p>His eloquence rendered him pleasing, and the soundness of his +doctrines a profitable preacher; and he was so popular, that he never +preached but to a crowded audience. He had many opportunities of +rising in the church, but never would take advantage of them; for +if a living of greater value than his own was offered him, he would +refuse it, saying, I am content with what I have; and he frequently +preached so forcibly against simony, that many of his superiors, who +were not so delicate upon the subject, took umbrage at his doctrines +upon that head.</p> + +<p>Having been fully confirmed in protestantism by Dr. Ægidio, he +preached boldly such doctrines only as were agreeable to gospel purity, +and uncontaminated by the errors which had at various times crept into +the Romish church. For these reasons he had many enemies among +the Roman catholics, and some of them were fully determined on his +destruction.</p> + +<p>A worthy gentleman named Scobaria, having erected a school for +divinity lectures, appointed Dr. Constantine to be reader therein. He +immediately undertook the task, and read lectures, by portions, on the +Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles; and was beginning to expound +the book of Job, when he was seized by the inquisitors.</p> + +<p>Being brought to examination, he answered with such precaution that +they could not find any explicit charge against him, but remained doubtful +in what manner to proceed, when the following circumstances occurred +to determine them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Constantine had deposited with a woman named Isabella Martin +several books, which to him were very valuable, but which he knew, in +the eyes of the inquisition, were exceptionable.</p> + +<p>This woman having been informed against as a protestant, was apprehended, +and, after a small process, her goods were ordered to be confiscated. +Previous, however, to the officers coming to her house, the +woman's son had removed away several chests full of the most valuable +articles; and among these were Dr. Constantine's books.</p> + +<p>A treacherous servant giving intelligence of this to the inquisitors, +an officer was despatched to the son to demand the chests. The son, +supposing the officer only came for Constantine's books, said, I know +what you come for, and I will fetch them to you immediately. He then +fetched Dr. Constantine's books and papers, when the officer was +greatly surprised to find what he did not look for. He, however, told +the young man, that he was glad these books and papers were produced, +but nevertheless he must fulfil the end of his commission, which +was, to carry him and the goods he had embezzled before the inquisitors, +which he did accordingly; for the young man knew it would +be in vain to expostulate, or resist, and therefore quietly submitted to +his fate.</p> + +<p>The inquisitors being thus possessed of Constantine's books and +writings, now found matter sufficient to form charges against him. +When he was brought to a re-examination, they presented one of his +papers, and asked him if he knew the hand writing! Perceiving it +was his own, he guessed the whole matter, confessed the writing, and +justified the doctrine it contained: saying, "In that, and all my other +writings, I have never departed from the truth of the gospel, but have +always kept in view the pure precepts of Christ, as he delivered them +to mankind."</p> + +<p>After being detained upwards of two years in prison, Dr. Constantine +was seized with a bloody flux, which put an end to his miseries in +this world. The process, however, was carried on against his body, +which, at the ensuing auto de fe, was publicly burnt.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Life of William Gardiner.</i></div> + +<p>William Gardiner was born at Bristol, received a tolerable education, +and was, at a proper age, placed under the care of a merchant, named +Paget.</p> + +<p>At the age of twenty-six years, he was, by his master, sent to +Lisbon, to act as factor. Here he applied himself to the study of the +Portuguese language, executed his business with assiduity and despatch, +and behaved with the most engaging affability to all persons +with whom he had the least concern. He conversed privately with +a few, whom he knew to be zealous protestants; and, at the same time +cautiously avoided giving the least offence to any who were Roman +catholics; he had not, however, hitherto gone into any of the popish +churches.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>A marriage being concluded between the king of Portugal's son, and +the Infanta of Spain, upon the wedding-day the bride-groom, bride, +and the whole court went to the cathedral church, attended by multitudes +of all ranks of people, and among the rest William Gardiner +who stayed during the whole ceremony, and was greatly shocked at +the superstitions he saw.</p> + +<p>The erroneous worship which he had seen ran strongly in his mind, +he was miserable to see a whole country sunk into such idolatry, +when the truth of the gospel might be so easily obtained. He, therefore, +took the inconsiderate, though laudable design, into his head, of +making a reform in Portugal, or perishing in the attempt; and determined +to sacrifice his prudence to his zeal, though he became a martyr +upon the occasion.</p> + +<p>To this end, he settled all his worldly affairs, paid his debts, closed +his books, and consigned over his merchandize. On the ensuing +Sunday he went again to the cathedral church, with a New Testament +in his hand, and placed himself near the altar.</p> + +<p>The king and the court soon appeared, and a cardinal began mass +at that part of the ceremony in which the people adore the wafer, +Gardiner could hold out no longer, but springing towards the cardinal, +he snatched the host from him, and trampled it under his feet.</p> + +<p>This action amazed the whole congregation, and one person drawing +a dagger, wounded Gardiner in the shoulder, and would, by repeating +the blow, have finished him, had not the king called to him +to desist.</p> + +<p>Gardiner, being carried before the king, the monarch asked him +what countryman he was: to which he replied, I am an Englishman +by birth, a protestant by religion, and a merchant by occupation. +What I have done is not out of contempt to your royal person, God +forbid it should, but out of an honest indignation, to see the ridiculous +superstitions and gross idolatries practised here.</p> + +<p>The king, thinking that he had been stimulated by some other +person to act as he had done, demanded who was his abetter, to which +he replied, My own conscience alone. I would not hazard what I +have done for any man living, but I owe that and all other services to +God.</p> + +<p>Gardiner was sent to prison, and a general order issued to apprehend +all Englishmen in Lisbon. This order was in a great measure +put into execution, (some few escaping) and many innocent persons +were tortured to make them confess if they knew any thing of the +matter; in particular, a person who resided in the same house with +Gardiner, was treated with unparallelled barbarity to make him confess +something which might throw a light upon the affair.</p> + +<p>Gardiner himself was then tormented in the most excruciating manner; +but in the midst of all his torments he gloried in the deed. +Being ordered for death, a large fire was kindled near a gibbet, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'iner'">Gardiner</ins> +was drawn up to the gibbet by pulleys, and then let down <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ne'">near</ins> +the fire, but not so close as to touch it; for they burnt or rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +roasted him by slow degrees. Yet he bore his sufferings patiently +and resigned his soul to the Lord cheerfully.</p> + +<p>It is observable that some of the sparks were blown from the fire, +(which consumed Gardiner) towards the haven, burnt one of the king's +ships of war, and did other considerable damage. The Englishmen +who were taken up on this occasion were, soon after Gardiner's death, +all discharged, except the person who resided in the same house with +him, who was detained two years before he could procure his liberty.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the Life and Sufferings of Mr. William Lithgow, a +native of Scotland.</i></div> + +<p>This gentleman was descended from a good family, and having a +natural propensity for travelling, he rambled, when very young, over +the northern and western islands; after which he visited France, +Germany, Switzerland and Spain. He set out on his travels in the +month of March, 1609, and the first place he went to was Paris, +where he stayed for some time. He then prosecuted his travels +through Germany and other parts, and at length arrived at Malaga, +in Spain, the seat of all his misfortunes.</p> + +<p>During his residence here, he contracted with the master of a +French ship for his passage to Alexandria, but was prevented from +going by the following circumstances. In the evening of the 17th +of October, 1620, the English fleet, at that time on a cruise against the +Algerine rovers, came to anchor before Malaga, which threw the +people of the town into the greatest consternation, as they imagined +them to be Turks. The morning, however, discovered the mistake, +and the governor of Malaga, perceiving the cross of England in their +colours, went on board Sir Robert Mansell's ship, who commanded +on that expedition, and after staying some time returned, and silenced +the fears of the people.</p> + +<p>The next day many persons from on board the fleet came ashore. +Among these were several well known by Mr. Lithgow, who, after +reciprocal compliments, spent some days together in festivity and the +amusements of the town. They then invited Mr. Lithgow to go on +board, and pay his respects to the admiral. He accordingly accepted +the invitation, was kindly received by him, and detained till the +next day when the fleet sailed. The admiral would willingly have +taken Mr. Lithgow with him to Algiers; but having contracted for +his passage to Alexandria, and his baggage, &c. being in the town, +he could not accept the offer.</p> + +<p>As soon as Mr. Lithgow got on shore, he proceeded towards his lodgings +by a private way, (being to embark the same night for Alexandria) +when, in passing through a narrow uninhabited street, he found +himself suddenly surrounded by nine sergeants, or officers, who +threw a black cloak over him, and forcibly conducted him to the +governor's house. After some little time the governor appeared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +when Mr. Lithgow earnestly begged he might be informed of the +cause of such violent treatment. The governor only answered by +shaking his head, and gave orders that the prisoner should be strictly +watched till he (the governor) returned from his devotions; directing +at the same time, that the captain of the town, the alcade major, and +town notary, should be summoned to appear at his examination, and +that all this should he done with the greatest secrecy, to prevent the +knowledge thereof reaching the ears of the English merchants then residing +in the town.</p> + +<p>These orders were strictly discharged, and on the governor's return, +he, with the officers, having seated themselves, Mr. Lithgow was +brought before them for examination. The governor began by asking +several questions, namely, of what country he was, whither +bound, and how long he had been in Spain. The prisoner, after +answering these and other questions, was conducted to a closet, +where, in a short space of time, he was visited by the town-captain, +who inquired whether he had ever been at Seville, or was lately +come from thence; and patting his cheeks with an air of friendship +conjured him to tell the truth: "For (said he) your very countenance +shows there is some hidden matter in your mind, which prudence +should direct you to disclose." Finding himself, however, unable +to extort anything from the prisoner, he left him, and reported the +same to the governor and the other officers; on which Mr. Lithgow +was again brought before them, a general accusation was laid against +him, and he was compelled to swear that he would give true answers to +such questions as should be asked him.</p> + +<p>The governor proceeded to inquire the quality of the English commander, +and the prisoner's opinion what were the motives that prevented +his accepting an invitation from him to come on shore. He +demanded, likewise, the names of the English captains in the squadron, +and what knowledge he had of the embarkation, or preparation +for it before his departure from England. The answers given to the +several questions asked were set down in writing by the notary; but +the junto seemed surprised at his denying any knowledge of the +fitting out of the fleet, particularly the governor, who said he lied +that he was a traitor and a spy, and came directly from England to +favour and assist the designs that were projected against Spain, and +that he had been for that purpose nine months in Seville, in order to +procure intelligence of the time the Spanish navy was expected from +the Indies. They exclaimed against his familiarity with the officers +of the fleet, and many other English gentlemen, between whom, they +said, unusual civilities had passed, but all these transactions had been +carefully noticed.</p> + +<p>Besides, to sum up the whole, and put the truth past all doubt, they +said, he came from a council of war, held that morning on board the +admiral's ship, in order to put in execution the orders assigned him. +They upbraided him with being accessary to the burning of the +island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies. "Wherefore, (said they)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +these Lutherans, and sons of the devil, ought to have no credit given to +what they say or swear."</p> + +<p>In vain did Mr. Lithgow, endeavour to obviate every accusation +laid against him, and to obtain belief from his prejudiced judges. +He begged permission to send for his cloak-bag, which contained his +papers, and might serve to show his innocence. This request they +complied with, thinking it would discover some things of which they +were ignorant. The cloak-bag was accordingly brought, and being +opened, among other things, was found a license from king James the +First, under the sign manuel, setting forth the bearer's intention to +travel into Egypt; which was treated by the haughty Spaniards with +great contempt. The other papers consisted of passports, testimonials, +&c. of persons of quality. All these credentials, however, +seemed rather to confirm than abate the suspicions of these prejudiced +judges, who, after seizing all the prisoner's papers, ordered him again +to withdraw.</p> + +<p>In the mean time a consultation was held to fix the place where +the prisoner should be confined. The alcade, or chief judge, was +for putting him into the town prison; but this was objected to, particularly +by the corregidor, who said, in Spanish, "In order to prevent +the knowledge of his confinement from reaching his countrymen, +I will take the matter on myself, and be answerable for the +consequences;" upon which it was agreed, that he should be confined +in the governor's house with the greatest secrecy.</p> + +<p>This matter being determined, one of the sergeants went to Mr. +Lithgow, and begged his money, with liberty to search him. As it +was needless to make any resistance, the prisoner quietly complied, +when the sergeant (after rifling his pockets of eleven ducatoons) +stripped him to his shirt; and searching his breeches he found, enclosed +in the waistband, two canvass bags, containing one hundred and thirty-seven +pieces of gold. The sergeant immediately took the money to the +corregidor, who, after having told it over, ordered him to clothe the prisoner, +and shut him up close till after supper.</p> + +<p>About midnight, the sergeant and two Turkish slaves released Mr. +Lithgow from his then confinement, but it was to introduce him to one +much more horrible. They conducted him through several passages, +to a chamber in a remote part of the palace, towards the garden, +where they loaded him with irons, and extended his legs by means of +an iron bar above a yard long, the weight of which was so great that +he could neither stand nor sit, but was obliged to lie continually on +his back. They left him in this condition for some time, when they +returned with a refreshment of food, consisting of a pound of boiled +mutton and a loaf, together with a small quantity of wine; which +was not only the first, but the best and last of the kind, during his +confinement in this place. After delivering these articles, the sergeant +locked the door, and left Mr. Lithgow to his own private contemplations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next day he received a visit from the governor, who promised +him his liberty, with many other advantages, if he would confess being +a spy; but on his protesting that he was entirely innocent, the governor +left him in a rage, saying, He should see him no more till farther +torments constrained him to confess, commanding the keeper, to +whose care he was committed, that he should permit no person whatever +to have access to, or commune with him; that his sustenance should +not exceed three ounces of musty bread, and a pint of water every second +day; that he shall be allowed neither bed, pillow, nor coverlid. +"Close up (said he) this window in his room with lime and stone, +stop up the holes of the door with double mats: let him have nothing +that bears any likeness to comfort." These, and several other orders +of the like severity, were given to render it impossible for his condition +to be known to those of the English nation.</p> + +<p>In this wretched and melancholy state did poor Lithgow continue +without seeing any person for several days, in which time the governor +received an answer to a letter he had written, relative to the prisoner +from Madrid; and, pursuant to the instructions given him, began to put +in practice the cruelties devised, which they hastened, because Christmas +holy-days approached, it being then the forty-seventh day since +his imprisonment.</p> + +<p>About two o'clock in the morning, he heard the noise of a coach in +the street, and some time after heard the opening of the prison doors, +not having had any sleep for two nights; hunger, pain, and melancholy +reflections having prevented him from taking any repose.</p> + +<p>Soon after the prison doors were opened, the nine sergeants, who had +first seized him, entered the place where he lay, and without uttering a +word, conducted him in his irons through the house into the street, +where a coach waited, and into which they laid him at the bottom on +his back, not being able to sit. Two of the sergeants rode with him, +and the rest walked by the coach side, but all observed the most profound +silence. They drove him to a vinepress house, about a league +from the town, to which place a rack had been privately conveyed before; +and here they shut him up for that night.</p> + +<p>At day-break the next morning, arrived the governor and the alcade, +into whose presence Mr. Lithgow was immediately brought to undergo +another examination. The prisoner desired he might have an +interpreter, which was allowed to strangers by the laws of that country, +but this was refused, nor would they permit him to appeal to +Madrid, the superior court of judicature. After a long examination, +which lasted from morning till night, there appeared in all his answers +so exact a conformity with what he had before said, that they declared +he had learned them by heart, there not being the least prevarication. +They, however, pressed him again to make a full discovery; that is, +to accuse himself of crimes never committed, the governor adding, +"You are still in my power; I can set you free if you comply, if not, +I must deliver you to the alcade." Mr. Lithgow still persisting in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +innocence, the governor ordered the notary to draw up a warrant for +delivering him to the alcade to be tortured.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this he was conducted by the sergeants to the +end of a stone gallery, where the rack was placed. The encarouador +or executioner, immediately struck off his irons, which put him to very +great pains, the bolts being so close riveted, that the sledge hammer +tore away half an inch of his heel, in forcing off the bolt; the anguish +of which, together with his weak condition, (not having the least sustenance +for three days) occasioned him to groan bitterly; upon which +the merciless alcade said, "Villain, traitor, this is but the earnest of +what you shall endure."</p> + +<p>When his irons were off he fell on his knees, uttering a short prayer, +that God would be pleased to enable him to be steadfast, and undergo +courageously the grievous trial he had to encounter. The alcade and +notary having placed themselves in chairs, he was stripped naked, and +fixed upon the rack, the office of these gentlemen being to be witness +of, and set down the confessions and tortures endured by the delinquent.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to describe all the various tortures inflicted upon him. +Suffice it to say, that he lay on the rack for above five hours, during +which time he received above sixty different tortures of the most hellish +nature; and had they continued them a few minutes longer, he +must have inevitably perished.</p> + +<p>These cruel persecutors being satisfied for the present, the prisoner +was taken from the rack, and his irons being again put on, he was conducted +to his former dungeon, having received no other nourishment +than a little warm wine, which was given him rather to prevent his +dying, and reserve him for future punishments, than from any principle +of charity or compassion.</p> + +<p>As a confirmation of this, orders were given for a coach to pass every +morning before day by the prison, that the noise made by it might give +fresh terrors and alarms to the unhappy prisoner, and deprive him of +all possibility of obtaining the least repose.</p> + +<p>He continued in this horrid situation, almost starved for want of the +common necessaries to preserve his wretched existence, till Christmas +day, when he received some relief from Mariane, waiting-woman to +the governor's lady. This woman having obtained leave to visit him, +carried with her some refreshments, consisting of honey, sugar, raisins, +and other articles: and so affected was she at beholding his situation, +that she wept bitterly, and at her departure expressed the greatest concern +at not being able to give him further assistance.</p> + +<p>In this loathsome prison was poor Mr. Lithgow kept till he was +almost devoured by vermin. They crawled about his beard, lips, +eye-brows, &c. so that he could scarce open his eyes; and his mortification +was increased by not having the use of his hands or legs to +defend himself, from his being so miserably maimed by the tortures. +So cruel was the governor, that he even ordered the vermin to be +swept on him twice in every eight days. He, however obtained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +some little mitigation of this part of his punishment, from the humanity +of a Turkish slave that attended him, who, when he could do it +with safety, destroyed the vermin, and contributed every refreshment +to him that laid in his power.</p> + +<p>From this slave Mr. Lithgow at length received information which +gave him little hopes of ever being released, but, on the contrary, that +he should finish his life under new tortures. The substance of this +information was, that an English seminary priest, and a Scotch cooper, +had been for some time employed by the governor to translate from +the English into the Spanish language, all his books and observations; +and that it was commonly said in the governor's house, that he was +an arch heretic.</p> + +<p>This information greatly alarmed him, and he began, not without +reason, to fear that they would soon finish him, more especially as they +could neither by torture or any other means, bring him to vary from +what he had all along said at his different examinations.</p> + +<p>Two days after he had received the above information, the governor, +an inquisitor, and a canonical priest, accompanied by two Jesuits, +entered his dungeon, and being seated, after several idle questions, +the inquisitor asked Mr. Lithgow if he was a Roman catholic, and +acknowledged the pope's supremacy? He answered, that he neither +was the one or did the other; adding, that he was surprised at being +asked such questions, since it was expressly stipulated by the articles +of peace between England and Spain, that none of the English subjects +should be liable to the inquisition, or any way molested by them on +account of diversity in religion, &c. In the bitterness of his soul he +made use of some warm expressions not suited to his circumstances: +"As you have almost murdered me (said he) for pretended treason, +so now you intend to make a martyr of me for my religion." He also +expostulated with the governor on the ill return he made to the king +of England, (whose subject he was) for the princely humanity exercised +towards the Spaniards in 1588, when their armada was shipwrecked +on the Scotch coast, and thousands of the Spaniards found +relief, who must otherwise have miserably perished.</p> + +<p>The governor admitted the truth of what Mr. Lithgow said, but +replied with a haughty air, that the king, who then only ruled Scotland, +was actuated more by fear than love, and therefore did not +deserve any thanks. One of the Jesuits said, there was no faith to +be kept with heretics. The inquisitor then rising, addressed himself +to Mr Lithgow in the following words: "You have been taken up as +a spy, accused of treachery, and tortured, as we acknowledge, innocently: +(which appears by the account lately received from Madrid +of the intentions of the English) yet it was the divine power that +brought those judgments upon you, for presumptuously treating the +blessed miracle of Loretto with ridicule, and expressing yourself in +your writings irreverently of his holiness, the great agent and Christ's +vicar upon earth; therefore you are justly fallen into our hands by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +their special appointment: thy books and papers are miraculously +translated by the assistance of Providence influencing thy own countrymen."</p> + +<p>This trumpery being ended, they gave the prisoner eight days to +consider and resolve whether he would become a convert to their +religion; during which time the inquisitor told him he, with other religious +orders, would attend, to give him such assistance thereto as he +might want. One of the Jesuits said, (first making the sign of the +cross upon his breast) "My son, behold, you deserve to be burnt alive; +but by the grace of our lady of Loretto, whom you have blasphemed, +we will both save your soul and body."</p> + +<p>In the morning, the inquisitor with three other ecclesiastics returned, +when the former asked the prisoner what difficulties he had on his +conscience that retarded his conversion; to which he answered, "he +had not any doubts in his mind, being confident in the promises of +Christ, and assuredly believing his revealed will signified in the gospels, +as professed in the reformed catholic church, being confirmed by +grace, and having infallible assurance thereby of the christian +faith." To these words the inquisitor replied, "Thou art no christian, +but an absurd heretic, and without conversion a member of perdition." +The prisoner then told him, it was not consistent with the +nature and essence of religion and charity to convince by opprobrious +speeches, racks, and torments, but by arguments deduced from the +scriptures; and that all other methods would with him be totally ineffectual.</p> + +<p>The inquisitor was so enraged at the replies made by the prisoner, +that he struck him on the face, used many abusive speeches, and attempted +to stab him, which he had certainly done had he not been +prevented by the Jesuits: and from this time he never again visited +the prisoner.</p> + +<p>The next day the two Jesuits returned, and putting on a very grave +supercilious air, the superior asked him, what resolution he had taken? +To which Mr. Lithgow replied, that he was already resolved, unless +he could show substantial reasons to make him alter his opinion. +The superior, after a pedantic display of their seven sacraments, the +intercession of saints, transubstantiation, &c. boasted greatly of their +church, her antiquity, universality, and uniformity; all which Mr. +Lithgow denied: "For (said he) the profession of the faith I hold hath +been ever since the first days of the apostles, and Christ had ever his +own church (however obscure) in the greatest time of your darkness."</p> + +<p>The Jesuits, finding their arguments had not the desired effect, that +torments could not shake his constancy, nor even the fear of the cruel +sentence he had reason to expect would be pronounced and executed +on him, after severe menaces, left him. On the eighth day after +being the last of their inquisition, when sentence is pronounced, they +returned again, but quite altered both in their words and behaviour +after repeating much of the same kind of arguments as before, they +with seeming tears in their eyes, pretended they were sorry from their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +heart he must be obliged to undergo a terrible death, but above all, +for the loss of his most precious soul; and falling on their knees, cried +out, "Convert, convert, O dear brother, for our blessed lady's sake +convert!" To which he answered, "I fear neither death nor fire, being +prepared for both."</p> + +<p>The first effects Mr. Lithgow felt of the determination of this bloody +tribunal was, a sentence to receive that night eleven different tortures, +and if he did not die in the execution of them, (which might be reasonably +expected from the maimed and disjointed condition he was in) +he was, after Easter holy-days, to be carried to Grenada, and there +burnt to ashes. The first part of this sentence was executed with +great barbarity that night; and it pleased God to give him strength both +of body and mind, to stand fast to the truth, and to survive the horrid +punishments inflicted on him.</p> + +<p>After these barbarians had glutted themselves for the present, with +exercising on the unhappy prisoner the most distinguished cruelties, +they again put irons on, and conveyed him to his former dungeon. +The next morning he received some little comfort from the Turkish +slave before mentioned, who secretly brought him, in his shirt sleeve, +some raisins and figs, which he licked up in the best manner his +strength would permit with his tongue. It was to this slave Mr. Lithgow +attributed his surviving so long in such a wretched situation; for +he found means to convey some of these fruits to him twice every +week. It is very extraordinary, and worthy of note, that this poor +slave, bred up from his infancy, according to the maxims of his prophet +and parents, in the greatest detestation of christians, should be so +affected at the miserable situation of Mr. Lithgow, that he fell ill, +and continued so for upwards of forty days. During this period Mr. +Lithgow was attended by a negro woman, a slave, who found means +to furnish him with refreshments still more amply than the Turk, +being conversant in the house and family. She brought him every day +some victuals, and with it some wine in a bottle.</p> + +<p>The time was now so far elapsed, and the horrid situation so truly +loathsome, that Mr. Lithgow waited with anxious expectation for the +day, which, by putting an end to his life, would also end his torments. +But his melancholy expectations were, by the interposition of Providence, +happily rendered abortive, and his deliverance obtained from +the following circumstances.</p> + +<p>It happened that a Spanish gentleman of quality came from Grenada +to Malaga, who being invited to an entertainment by the governor, +he informed him of what had befallen Mr. Lithgow from the time of +his being apprehended as a spy, and described the various sufferings +he had endured. He likewise told him, that after it was known the +prisoner was innocent, it gave him great concern. That on this +account he would gladly have released him, restored his money and +papers, and made some atonement for the injuries he had received +but that, upon an inspection into his writings, several were found of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +a very blasphemous nature, highly reflecting on their religion. That +on his refusing to abjure these heretical opinions, he was turned over to +the inquisition, by whom he was finally condemned.</p> + +<p>While the governor was relating this tragical tale, a Flemish youth +(servant to the Spanish gentleman) who waited at the table, was +struck with amazement and pity at the sufferings of the stranger +described. On his return to his master's lodgings he began to revolve +in his mind what he had heard, which made such an impression +on him that he could not rest in his bed. In the short slumbers he +had, his imagination painted to him the person described, on the rack, +and burning in the fire. In this anxiety he passed the night; and +when the morning came, without disclosing his intentions to any +person whatever, he went into the town, and enquired for an English +factor. He was directed to the house of a Mr. Wild, to whom he +related the whole of what he had heard pass, the preceding evening, +between his master and the governor; but could not tell Mr. Lithgow's +name. Mr. Wild, however, conjectured it was him, by the servant's +remembering the circumstance of his being a traveller, and his having +had some acquaintance with him.</p> + +<p>On the departure of the Flemish servant, Mr. Wild immediately +sent for the other English factors, to whom he related all the particulars +relative to their unfortunate countryman. After a short consultation +it was agreed, that an information of the whole affair should +be sent, by express, to Sir Walter Aston, the English ambassador to +the king of Spain, then at Madrid. This was accordingly done, and +the ambassador having presented a memorial to the king and council +of Spain, he obtained an order for Mr. Lithgow's enlargement, and +his delivery to the English factory. This order was directed to the +governor of Malaga; and was received with great dislike and surprise +by the whole assembly of the bloody inquisition.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lithgow was released from his confinement on the eve of +Easter Sunday, when he was carried from his dungeon on the back +of the slave who had attended him, to the house of one Mr. Bosbich, +where all proper comforts were given him. It fortunately happened, +that there was at this time a squadron of English ships in the road, +commanded by Sir Richard Hawkins, who being informed of the +past sufferings and present situation of Mr. Lithgow, came the next +day ashore, with a proper guard, and received him from the merchants. +He was instantly carried in blankets on board the Vanguard, +and three days after was removed to another ship, by direction +of the general Sir Robert Mansel, who ordered that he should +have proper care taken of him. The factory presented him with +clothes, and all necessary provisions, besides which they gave him +200 reals in silver; and Sir Richard Hawkins sent him two double +pistoles.</p> + +<p>Before his departure from the Spanish coast, Sir Richard Hawkins +demanded the delivery of his papers, money, books, &c. but could not +obtain any satisfactory answer on that head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>We cannot help making a pause here to reflect, how manifestly +Providence interfered in behalf of this poor man, when he was just +on the brink of destruction; for by his sentence, from which there was +no appeal, he would have been taken, in a few days, to Grenada, and +burnt to ashes: and that a poor ordinary servant, who had not the +least knowledge of him, nor was any ways interested in his preservation, +should risk the displeasure of his master, and hazard his own +life, to disclose a thing of so momentous and perilous a nature, to a +strange gentleman, on whose secrecy depended his own existence. +By such secondary means does Providence frequently interfere in behalf +of the virtuous and oppressed; of which this is a most distinguished +example.</p> + +<p>After lying twelve days in the road, the ship weighed anchor, and +in about two months arrived safe at Deptford. The next morning, +Mr. Lithgow was carried on a feather bed to Theobalds, in Hertfordshire, +where at that time was the king and royal family. His majesty +happened to be that day engaged in hunting, but on his return in the +evening, Mr. Lithgow was presented to him, and related the particulars +of his sufferings, and his happy delivery. The king was so affected +at the narrative, that he expressed the deepest concern, and gave +orders that he should be sent to Bath, and his wants properly supplied +from his royal munificence. By these means, under God, after some +time, Mr. Lithgow was restored, from the most wretched spectacle, +to a great share of health and strength; but he lost the use of his left +arm, and several of the smaller bones were so crushed and broken, as +to be ever after rendered useless.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding every effort was used, Mr. Lithgow could never +obtain any part of his money or effects, though his majesty and the +ministers of state, interested themselves in his behalf. Gondamore, +the Spanish ambassador, indeed, promised that all his effects should +be restored, with the addition of £1000 English money, as some atonement +for the tortures he had undergone, which last was to be paid him +by the governor of Malaga. These engagements, however, were but +mere promises; and though the king was a kind of guarantee for the +well performance of them, the cunning Spaniard found means to elude +the same. He had, indeed, too great a share of influence in the English +council during the time of that pacific reign, when England suffered +herself to be bullied into slavish compliance by most of the +states and kings in Europe.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Croly on the Inquisition.</i></div> + +<p>We shall conclude this chapter with the subjoined extract from the +New Interpretation of the Apocalypse by the Rev. George Croly.</p> + +<p>In our fortunate country, the power of the Romish church has so +long perished, that we find some difficulty in conceiving the nature, +and still more in believing the tyranny of its dominion. The influence +of the monks and the murders of the inquisition have passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +into a nursery tale; and we turn with a generous, yet rash and most +unjustifiable scepticism from the history of Romish authority.</p> + +<p>Through almost the entire of Italy, through the Flemish dominions +of Germany, through a large portion of France, and through the entire +of Spain, a great monastic body was established, which, professing a +secondary and trivial obedience to the sovereign, gave its first and +real obedience to the pope. The name of spiritual homage cloaked +the high treason of an oath of allegiance to a foreign monarch; and +whoever might be king of France, or Spain, the pope was king of the +Dominicans. All the other monastic orders were so many papal outposts. +But the great Dominican order, immensely opulent in its pretended +poverty; formidably powerful in its hypocritical disdain of +earthly influence; and remorselessly ambitious, turbulent, and cruel +in its primitive zeal; was an actual lodgment and province of the +papacy, an inferior Rome, in the chief European kingdoms.</p> + +<p>In the closest imitation of Rome, this spiritual power had fiercely +assumed the temporal sword; the inquisition was army, revenues, and +throne in one. With the racks and fires of a tribunal worthy of the +gulf of darkness and guilt from which it rose, the Dominicans bore +popery in triumph through christendom, crushing every vestige of +religion under the wheels of its colossal idol. The subjugation of the +Albigenses in 1229 had scattered the church; the shock of the great +military masses was past; a subtler and more active force was required +to destroy the wandering people of God; and the inquisition multiplied +itself for the work of death. This terrible tribunal set every principle, +and even every form of justice at defiance. Secrecy, that confounds +innocence with guilt, was the spirit of its whole proceeding. +All its steps were in darkness. The suspected revolter from popery +was seized in secret, tried in secret, never suffered to see the face of +accuser, witness, advocate, or friend, was kept unacquainted with the +charge, was urged to criminate himself; if tardy, was compelled to +this self-murder by the rack; if terrified, was only the more speedily +murdered for the sport of the multitude. From the hour of his seizure +he never saw the face of day, until he was brought out as a public +show, a loyal and festal sacrifice, to do honor to the entrance of some +travelling viceroy, some new married princess, or, on more fortunate +occasions, to the presence of the sovereign. The dungeons were then +drained, the human wreck of the torture and scourge were gathered +out of darkness, groups of misery and exhaustion with wasted forms +and broken limbs, and countenances subdued by pain and famine into +idiotism, and despair, and madness; to feed the fires round which the +Dominicans were chanting the glories of popery, and exulting in the +destruction of the body for the good of the soul!</p> + +<p>In the original establishment of the inquisition in 1198, it had +raged against the Vaudois and their converts. But the victims were +exhausted; or not worth the pursuit of a tribunal which looked to the +wealth as keenly as to the faith of the persecuted. Opulence and +heresy were at length to be found only to Spain, and there the inquisition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +turned with a gigantic step. In the early disturbances of the Peninsula, +the Jews, by those habits of trade, and mutual communion, +which still make them the lords of commerce, had acquired the chief +wealth of the country. The close of the Moorish war in the 15th century +had left the Spanish monarch at leisure for extortion; and he +grasped at the Jewish gains in the spirit of a robber, as he pursued his +plunder with the cruelty of a barbarian. The inquisition was the +great machine, the comprehensive torturer, ready to squeeze out alike +the heart and the gold. In 1481, an edict was issued against the +Jews; before the end of the year, in the single diocess of Cadiz, two +thousand Jews were burnt alive! The fall of the kingdom of Grenada, +in 1492, threw the whole of the Spanish Moors into the hands of +the king. They were cast into the same furnace of plunder and torture. +Desperate rebellions followed; they were defeated and, in +1609, were finally exiled. "In the space of one hundred and twenty +nine years, the inquisition deprived Spain of three millions of inhabitants."</p> + +<p>On the death of Leo X. in 1521, Adrian, the inquisitor general +was elected pope. He had laid the foundation of his papal celebrity +in Spain. "It appears, according to the most moderate calculation, that +during the five years of the ministry of Adrian, 24,025 persons were +condemned by the inquisition, of whom one thousand six hundred and +twenty were burned alive."</p> + +<p>It is the constant sophism of those who would cast christianity +bound hand and foot at the mercy of her enemies, that the pope desires +to exercise no interference in the internal concerns of kingdoms; that, +if he had the desire, he has not the power; and that, if he possessed the +power, he would be resisted by the whole body of the national clergy. +For the exposure of this traitorous delusion, we are to look to the +times, when it was the will of popery to put forth its strength; not to +the present, when it is its will to lull us into a belief of its consistency +with the constitution, in defiance of common sense, common experience, +the spirit of British law, and the loud warnings of insulted and hazarded religion.</p> + +<p>Of the multitudes who perished by the inquisition throughout the +world, no authentic record is now discoverable. But wherever popery +had power, there was the tribunal. It had been planted even in the +east, and the Portuguese inquisition of Goa was, till within these few +years, fed with many an agony. South America was partitioned into +provinces of the inquisition; and with a ghastly mimickry of the +crimes of the mother state, the arrivals of viceroys, and the other +popular celebrations were thought imperfect without an auto de fe. +The Netherlands were one scene of slaughter from the time of the +decree which planted the inquisition among them. In Spain the calculation +is more attainable. Each of the <i>seventeen</i> tribunals during +a long period burned annually on an average ten miserable beings! +We are to recollect that this number was in a country where persecution +had for ages abolished all religious differences, and where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +difficulty was not to find the stake, but the offering. Yet, even in Spain, +thus gleaned of all heresy, the inquisition could still swell its list of +murders to thirty-two thousand! The numbers burned in effigy, or condemned +to penance, punishments generally equivalent to exile, confiscation, +and taint of blood, to all ruin but the mere loss of worthless life +amounted to three hundred and nine thousand. But the crowds who perished +in dungeons, of the torture, of confinement, and of broken hearts, +the millions of dependent lives made utterly helpless, or hurried to the +grave by the death of the victims, are beyond all register; or recorded +only before <span class="smcap">Him</span>, who has sworn that "He who leadeth into captivity, +shall go into captivity: and he that killeth with the sword shall be +killed by the sword."</p> + +<p>Such was the inquisition, declared by the Spirit of God to be at once +the offspring and the <i>image</i> of the popedom. To feel the force of the +parentage, we must look to the time. In the thirteenth century, the +popedom was at the summit of mortal dominion; it was independent +of all kingdoms; it ruled with a rank of influence never before or since +possessed by a human sceptre; it was the acknowledged sovereign of +body and soul; to all earthly intents its power was immeasurable for +good or evil. It might have spread literature, peace, freedom, and christianity +to the ends of Europe, or the world. But its nature was hostile; +its fuller triumph only disclosed its fuller evil; and, to the shame +of human reason, and the terror and suffering of human virtue, Rome, +in the hour of its consummate grandeur, teemed with the monstrous and +horrid birth of the <span class="smcap">INQUISITION</span>!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTION IN ITALY, UNDER THE PAPACY.</h3> + + +<p>We shall now enter on an account of the persecutions in Italy, a +country which has been, and still is,</p> + +<p>1. The centre of popery.</p> + +<p>2. The seat of the pontiff.</p> + +<p>3. The source of the various errors which have spread themselves +over other countries, deluded the minds of thousands, and diffused the +clouds of superstition and bigotry over the human understanding.</p> + +<p>In pursuing our narrative we shall include the most remarkable +persecutions which have happened, and the cruelties which have been +practised,</p> + +<p>1. By the immediate power of the pope.</p> + +<p>2. Through the power of the inquisition.</p> + +<p>3. At the instigation of particular orders of the clergy.</p> + +<p>4. By the bigotry of the Italian princes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the 12th century, the first persecutions under the papacy began +in Italy, at the time that Adrian, an Englishman, was pope, being occasioned +by the following circumstances:</p> + +<p>A learned man, and an excellent orator of Brixia, named Arnold +came to Rome, and boldly preached against the corruptions and innovations +which had crept into the church. His discourses were so +clear, consistent, and breathed forth such a pure spirit of piety, that +the senators, and many of the people, highly approved of, and admired +his doctrines.</p> + +<p>This so greatly enraged Adrian, that he commanded Arnold instantly +to leave the city, as a heretic. Arnold, however, did not comply, +for the senators, and some of the principal people, took his part, and resisted +the authority of the pope.</p> + +<p>Adrian now laid the city of Rome under an interdict, which caused +the whole body of clergy to interpose; and, at length, persuaded the +senators and people to give up the point, and suffer Arnold to be banished. +This being agreed to, he received the sentence of exile, and +retired to Germany, where he continued to preach against the pope, +and to expose the gross errors of the church of Rome.</p> + +<p>Adrian, on this account, thirsted for his blood, and made several attempts +to get him into his hands; but Arnold, for a long time, avoided +every snare laid for him. At length, Frederic Barbarossa arriving at +the imperial dignity, requested that the pope would crown him with +his own hand. This Adrian complied with, and at the same time +asked a favour of the emperor, which was, to put Arnold into his +hands. The emperor very readily delivered up the unfortunate preacher, +who soon fell a martyr to Adrian's vengeance, being hanged, and +his body burnt to ashes, at Apulia. The same fate attended several +of his old friends and companions.</p> + +<p>Encenas, a Spaniard, was sent to Rome, to be brought up in the +Roman catholic faith; but having conversed with some of the reformed, +and read several treatises which they had put into his hands, he became +a protestant. This, at length, being known, one of his own relations +informed against him, when he was burnt by order of the +pope, and a conclave of cardinals. The brother of Encenas had been +taken up much about the same time, for having a New Testament, in +the Spanish language, in his possession; but before the time appointed +for his execution, he found means to escape out of prison, and retired +to Germany.</p> + +<p>Faninus, a learned layman, by reading controversial books, became +of the reformed religion. An information being exhibited against +him to the pope, he was apprehended, and cast into prison. His +wife, children, relations and friends, visited him in his confinement, +and so far wrought upon his mind, that he renounced his faith, and +obtained his release. But he was no sooner free from confinement, +than his mind felt the heaviest of chains; the weight of a guilty conscience. +His horrors were so great, that he found them insupportable, +till he had returned from his apostacy, and declared himself fully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +convinced of the errors of the church of Rome. To make amends +for his falling off, he now openly and strenuously did all he could to +make converts to protestantism, and was pretty successful in his endeavours. +These proceedings occasioned his second imprisonment, +but he had his life offered him if he would recant again. This proposal +he rejected with disdain, saying, that he scorned life upon such +terms. Being asked why he would obstinately persist in his opinions +and leave his wife and children in distress, he replied, I shall not +leave them in distress; I have recommended them to the care of an excellent +trustee. What trustee? said the person who had asked the +question, with some surprise: to which Faninus answered, Jesus +Christ is the trustee I mean, and I think I could not commit them to +the care of a better. On the day of execution he appeared remarkably +cheerful, which one observing, said, it is strange you should appear +so merry upon such an occasion, when Jesus Christ himself, just before +his death, was in such agonies, that he sweated blood and water. +To which Faninus replied; Christ sustained all manner of pangs and +conflicts, with hell and death, on our accounts; and thus, by his sufferings, +freed those who really believe in him from the fear of them. He +was then strangled, and his body being burnt to ashes, they were scattered +about by the wind.</p> + +<p>Dominicus, a learned soldier, having read several controversial writings, +became a zealous protestant, and retiring to Placentia, he +preached the gospel in its utmost purity, to a very considerable congregation. +At the conclusion of his sermon one day, he said, "If the +congregation will attend to-morrow, I will give them a description of +Anti-christ, and paint him out in his proper colours."</p> + +<p>A vast concourse of people attended the next day, but just as Dominicus +was beginning his sermon, a civil magistrate went up to the +pulpit, and took him into custody. He readily submitted; but as he +went along with the magistrate, made use of this expression: I wonder +the devil hath let me alone so long. When he was brought to examination, +this question was put to him: Will you renounce your doctrines? +To which he replied: My doctrines! I maintain no doctrines +of my own; what I preach are the doctrines of Christ, and for those I +will forfeit my blood, and even think myself happy to suffer for the +sake of my Redeemer. Every method was taken to make him recant +from his faith, and embrace the errors of the church of Rome; but +when persuasions and menaces were found ineffectual, he was sentenced +to death, and hanged in the market-place.</p> + +<p>Galeacius, a protestant gentleman, who resided near the castle of +St. Angelo, was apprehended on account of his faith. Great endeavours +being used by his friends he recanted, and subscribed to several +of the superstitious doctrines propagated by the church of Rome. +Becoming, however, sensible of his error, he publicly renounced his +recantation. Being apprehended for this, he was condemned to be +burnt, and agreeable to the order, was chained to a stake, where he +was left several hours before the fire was put to the faggots, in order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +that his wife, relations, and friends, who surrounded him, might induce +him to give up his opinions. Galeacius, however, retained his +constancy of mind, and entreated the executioner to put fire to the +wood that was to burn him. This at length he did, and Galeacius +was soon consumed in the flames, which burnt with amazing rapidity +and deprived him of sensation in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>Soon after this gentleman's death, a great number of protestants +were put to death in various parts of Italy, on account of their faith, +giving a sure proof of their sincerity in their martyrdoms.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the Persecutions of Calabria.</i></div> + +<p>In the 14th century, many of the Waldenses of Pragela and Dauphiny, +emigrated to Calabria, and settling some waste lands, by the +permission of the nobles of that country, they soon, by the most industrious +cultivation, made several wild and barren spots appear with +all the beauties of verdure and fertility.</p> + +<p>The Calabrian lords were highly pleased with their new subjects +and tenants, as they were honest, quiet, and industrious; but the +priests of the country exhibited several negative complaints against +them; for not being able to accuse them of anything bad which they +did do, they founded accusations on what they did not do, and charged +them,</p> + +<p>With not being Roman catholics.</p> + +<p>With not making any of their boys priests.</p> + +<p>With not making any of their girls nuns.</p> + +<p>With not going to mass.</p> + +<p>With not giving wax tapers to their priests as offerings.</p> + +<p>With not going on pilgrimages.</p> + +<p>With not bowing to images.</p> + +<p>The Calabrian lords, however, quieted the priests, by telling them +that these people were extremely harmless; that they gave no offence +to the Roman catholics, and cheerfully paid the tithes to the priests, +whose revenues were considerably increased by their coming into the +country, and who, of consequence, ought to be the last persons to complain +of them.</p> + +<p>Things went on tolerably well after this for a few years, during +which the Waldenses formed themselves into two corporate towns, +annexing several villages to the jurisdiction of them. At length, +they sent to Geneva for two clergymen; one to preach in each town, +as they determined to make a public profession of their faith. Intelligence +of this affair being carried to the pope, Pius the Fourth, he +determined to exterminate them from Calabria.</p> + +<p>To this end he sent cardinal Alexandrino, a man of very violent +temper and a furious bigot, together with two monks, to Calabria, +where they were to act as inquisitors. These authorized persons +came to St. Xist, one of the towns built by the Waldenses, and having +assembled the people told them, that they should receive no injury or +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'l nce'">violence</ins>, if they would accept of preachers appointed by the pope;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +but if they would not, they should be deprived both of their properties +and lives; and that their intentions might be known, mass should be +publicly said that afternoon, at which they were ordered to attend.</p> + +<p>The people of St. Xist, instead of attending mass, fled into the +woods, with their families, and thus disappointed the cardinal and +his coadjutors. The cardinal then proceeded to La Garde, the other +town belonging to the Waldenses, where, not to be served as he had +been at St. Xist, he ordered the gates to be locked, and all avenues +guarded. The same proposals were then made to the inhabitants +of La Garde, as had previously been offered to those of St. Xist, +but with this additional piece of artifice: the cardinal assured them +that the inhabitants of St. Xist had immediately come into his proposals, +and agreed that the pope should appoint them preachers. This +falsehood succeeded; for the people of La Garde, thinking what the +cardinal had told them to be the truth, said they would exactly follow +the example of their brethren at St. Xist.</p> + +<p>The cardinal having gained his point by deluding the people of +one town, sent for troops of soldiers, with a view to murder those +of the other. He, accordingly, despatched the soldiers into the woods, +to hunt down the inhabitants of St. Xist like wild beasts, and gave +them strict orders to spare neither age nor sex, but to kill all they +came near. The troops entered the woods, and many fell a prey to their +ferocity, before the Waldenses were properly apprised of their design. +At length, however, they determined to sell their lives as dear as possible, +when several conflicts happened, in which the half-armed Waldenses +performed prodigies of valour, and many were slain on both +sides. The greatest part of the troops being killed in the different +rencontres, the rest were compelled to retreat, which so enraged the +cardinal, that he wrote to the viceroy of Naples for reinforcements.</p> + +<p>The viceroy immediately ordered a proclamation to be made +throughout all the Neapolitan territories, that all outlaws, deserters, +and other proscribed persons should be surely pardoned for their +respective offences, on condition of making a campaign against the +inhabitants of St. Xist, and continuing under arms till those people +were exterminated.</p> + +<p>Many persons of desperate fortunes, came in upon this proclamation, +and being formed into light companies, were sent to scour the +woods, and put to death all they could meet with of the reformed +religion. The viceroy himself likewise joined the cardinal, at the +head of a body of regular forces; and, in conjunction, they did all +they could to harass the poor people in the woods. Some they caught +and hanged up upon trees, cut down boughs and burnt them, or ripped +them open and left their bodies to be devoured by wild beasts, or +birds of prey. Many they shot at a distance, but the greatest number +they hunted down by way of sport. A few hid themselves in +caves, but famine destroyed them in their retreat; and thus all these +poor people perished, by various means, to glut the bigoted malice of +their merciless persecutors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>The inhabitants of St. Xist were no sooner exterminated, than those +of La Garde engaged the attention of the cardinal and viceroy.</p> + +<p>It was offered, that if they should embrace the Roman catholic +persuasion, themselves and families should not be injured, but their +houses and properties should be restored, and none would be permitted +to molest them; but, on the contrary, if they refused this +mercy, (as it was termed) the utmost extremities would be used, +and the most cruel deaths the certain consequence of their non-compliance.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the promises on one side, and menaces on the other, +these worthy people unanimously refused to renounce their religion, or +embrace the errors of popery. This exasperated the cardinal and viceroy +so much, that 30 of them were ordered to be put immediately to the +rack, as a terror to the rest.</p> + +<p>Those who were put to the rack were treated with such severity, +that several died under the tortures; one Charlin, in particular, was +so cruelly used, that his belly burst, his bowels came out, and he expired +in the greatest agonies. These barbarities, however, did not answer +the purposes for which they were intended; for those who remained +alive after the rack, and those who had not felt the rack, remained +equally constant in their faith, and boldly declared, that no tortures of +body, or terrors of mind, should ever induce them to renounce their +God, or worship images.</p> + +<p>Several were then, by the cardinal's order, stripped stark naked, and +whipped to death with iron rods; and some were hacked to pieces with +large knives; others were thrown down from the top of a large tower, +and many were covered over with pitch, and burnt alive.</p> + +<p>One of the monks who attended the cardinal, being naturally of a +savage and cruel disposition, requested of him that he might shed some +of the blood of these poor people with his own hands; when his request +being granted, the barbarous man took a large sharp knife, and cut the +throats of fourscore men, women, and children, with as little remorse +as a butcher would have killed so many sheep. Every one of these bodies +were then ordered to be quartered, the quarters placed upon stakes, +and then fixed in different parts of the country, within a circuit of +30 miles.</p> + +<p>The four principal men of La Garde were hanged, and the clergyman +was thrown from the top of his church steeple. He was terribly +mangled, but not quite killed by the fall; at which time the viceroy +passing by, said, is the dog yet living? Take him up, and give +him to the hogs, when, brutal as this sentence may appear, it was executed +accordingly.</p> + +<p>Sixty women were racked so violently, that the cords pierced their +arms and legs quite to the bone; when, being remanded to prison, +their wounds mortified, and they died in the most miserable manner. +Many others were put to death by various cruel means; and if any +Roman catholic, more compassionate than the rest, interceded for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +any of the reformed, he was immediately apprehended, and shared the +same fate as a favourer of heretics.</p> + +<p>The viceroy being obliged to march back to Naples, on some affairs +of moment which required his presence, and the cardinal being recalled +to Rome, the marquis of Butane was ordered to put the finishing stroke +to what they had begun; which he at length effected, by acting with +such barbarous rigour, that there was not a single person of the reformed +religion left living in all Calabria.</p> + +<p>Thus were a great number of inoffensive and harmless people deprived +of their possessions, robbed of their property, driven from their +homes, and, at length, murdered by various means, only because they +would not sacrifice their consciences to the superstitions of others, +embrace idolatrous doctrines which they abhorred, and accept of +teachers whom they could not believe. Tyranny is of three kinds, +viz., that which enslaves the person, that which seizes the property, +and that which prescribes and dictates to the mind. The two first +sorts may be termed civil tyranny, and have been practised by arbitrary +sovereigns in all ages, who have delighted in tormenting the +persons, and stealing the properties of their unhappy subjects. But +the third sort, viz. prescribing and dictating to the mind, may be +called ecclesiastical tyranny: and this is the worst kind of tyranny, as +it includes the other two sorts; for the Romish clergy not only do torture +the bodies and seize the effects of those they persecute, but take +the lives, torment the minds, and, if possible, would tyrannize over +the souls of the unhappy victims.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Account of the Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont.</i></div> + +<p>Many of the Waldenses, to avoid the persecutions to which they +were continually subjected in France, went and settled in the valleys +of Piedmont, where they increased exceedingly, and flourished very +much for a considerable time.</p> + +<p>Though they were harmless in their behaviour, inoffensive in their +conversation, and paid tithes to the Roman clergy, yet the latter +could not be contented, but wished to give them some disturbance; +they, accordingly, complained to the archbishop of Turin, that the +Waldenses of the valleys of Piedmont were heretics, for these reasons:</p> + +<p>1. That they did not believe in the doctrines of the church of +Rome.</p> + +<p>2. That they made no offerings or prayers for the dead.</p> + +<p>3. That they did not go to mass.</p> + +<p>4. That they did not confess, and receive absolution.</p> + +<p>5. That they did not believe in purgatory, or pay money to get the +souls of their friends out of it.</p> + +<p>Upon these charges the archbishop ordered a persecution to be +commenced, and many fell martyrs to the superstitious rage of the +priests and monks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>At Turin, one of the reformed had his bowels torn out, and put in a +basin before his face, where they remained in his view till he expired. +At Revel, Catelin Girard being at the stake, desired the executioner to +give him a stone; which he refused, thinking that he meant to throw it +at somebody; but Girard assuring him that he had no such design, the +executioner complied; when Girard, looking earnestly at the stone, +said, When it is in the power of a man to eat and digest this solid stone, +the religion for which I am about to suffer shall have an end, and not +before. He then threw the stone on the ground, and submitted cheerfully +to the flames. A great many more of the reformed were oppressed, +or put to death, by various means, till the patience of the Waldenses +being tired out, they flew to arms in their own defence, and formed +themselves into regular bodies.</p> + +<p>Exasperated at this, the bishop of Turin procured a number of troops +and sent against them; but in most of the skirmishes and engagements +the Waldenses were successful, which partly arose from their being +better acquainted with the passes of the valleys of Piedmont than their +adversaries, and partly from the desperation with which they fought; +for they well knew, if they were taken, they should not be considered +as prisoners of war, but tortured to death as heretics.</p> + +<p>At length, Philip the seventh, duke of Savoy, and supreme lord of +Piedmont, determined to interpose his authority, and stop these bloody +wars, which so greatly disturbed his dominions. He was not willing +to disoblige the pope, or affront the archbishop of Turin; nevertheless, +he sent them both messages, importing, that he could not any longer +tamely see his dominions overrun with troops, who were directed by +priests instead of officers, and commanded by prelates instead of generals; +nor would he suffer his country to be depopulated, while he himself +had not been even consulted upon the occasion.</p> + +<p>The priests, finding the resolution of the duke, did all they could to +prejudice his mind against the Waldenses; but the duke told them, +that though he was unacquainted with the religious tenets of these people, +yet he had always found them quiet, faithful, and obedient, and +therefore he determined they should be no longer persecuted.</p> + +<p>The priests now had recourse to the most palpable and absurd falsehoods: +they assured the duke that he was mistaken in the Waldenses +for they were a wicked set of people, and highly addicted to intemperance, +uncleanness, blasphemy, adultery, incest, and many other abominable +crimes; and that they were even monsters in nature, for their +children were born with black throats, with four rows of teeth, an +bodies all over hairy.</p> + +<p>The duke was not so devoid of common sense as to give credit to +what the priests said, though they affirmed in the most solemn manner +the truth of their assertions. He, however, sent twelve very learned +and sensible gentlemen into the Piedmontese valleys, to examine into +the real characters of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>These gentlemen, after travelling through all their towns and villages, +and conversing with people of every rank among the Waldenses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +returned to the duke, and gave him the most favourable account of +those people; affirming, before the faces of the priests who villified +them, that they were harmless, inoffensive, loyal, friendly, industrious, +and pious: that they abhorred the crimes of which they were accused; +and that, should an individual, through his depravity, fall into any of +those crimes, he would, by their laws, be punished in the most exemplary +manner. With respect to the children, the gentlemen said, the +priests had told the most gross and ridiculous falsities, for they were +neither born with black throats, teeth in their mouths, nor hair on their +bodies, but were as fine children as could be seen. "And to convince +your highness of what we have said, (continued one of the gentlemen), +we have brought twelve of the principal male inhabitants, who are +come to ask pardon in the name of the rest, for having taken up arms +without your leave, though even in their own defence, and to preserve +their lives from their merciless enemies. And we have likewise +brought several women, with children of various ages, that your highness +may have an opportunity of personally examining them as much +as you please."</p> + +<p>The duke, after accepting the apology of the twelve delegates, conversing +with the women, and examining the children, graciously dismissed +them. He then commanded the priests, who had attempted to +mislead him, immediately to leave the court; and gave strict orders, +that the persecution should cease throughout his dominions.</p> + +<p>The Waldenses had enjoyed peace many years, when Philip, the +seventh duke of Savoy, died, and his successor happened to be a very +bigoted papist. About the same time, some of the principal Waldenses +proposed, that their clergy should preach in public, that every one +might know the purity of their doctrines: for hitherto they had preached +only in private, and to such congregations as they well knew to +consist of none but persons of the reformed religion.</p> + +<p>On hearing these proceedings, the new duke was greatly exasperated, +and sent a considerable body of troops into the valleys, swearing +that if the people would not change their religion, he would have them +flayed alive. The commander of the troops soon found the impracticability +of conquering them with the number of men he had with him, +he, therefore, sent word to the duke, that the idea of subjugating the +Waldenses, with so small a force, was ridiculous; that those people +were better acquainted with the country than any that were with him; +that they had secured all the passes, were well armed, and resolutely +determined to defend themselves; and, with respect to flaying them +alive, he said, that every skin belonging to those people would cost +him the lives of a dozen of his subjects.</p> + +<p>Terrified at this information, the duke withdrew the troops, determining +to act not by force, but by stratagem. He, therefore, ordered +rewards for the taking of any of the Waldenses, who might be found +straying from their places of security; and these, when taken, were +either flayed alive, or burnt.</p> + +<p>The Waldenses had hitherto only had the new Testament and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +a few books of the Old, in the Waldensian tongue; but they determined +now to have the sacred writings complete in their own language. +They, therefore, employed a Swiss printer to furnish them with a complete +edition of the Old and New Testaments in the Waldensian tongue, +which he did for the consideration of fifteen hundred crowns of gold, +paid him by those pious people.</p> + +<p>Pope Paul the third, a bigoted papist, ascending the pontifical chair, +immediately solicited the parliament of Turin to persecute the Waldenses, +as the most pernicious of all heretics.</p> + +<p>The parliament readily agreed, when several were suddenly apprehended +and burnt by their order. Among these was Bartholomew +Hector, a bookseller and stationer of Turin, who was brought up a +Roman catholic, but having read some treatises written by the reformed +clergy, he was fully convinced of the errors of the church of Rome; +yet his mind was, for some time, wavering, and he hardly knew what +persuasion <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word omitted in original">to</ins> embrace.</p> + +<p>At length, however, he fully embraced the reformed religion, and +was apprehended, as we have already mentioned, and burnt by order +of the parliament of Turin.</p> + +<p>A consultation was now held by the parliament of Turin, in which +it was agreed to send deputies to the valleys of Piedmont, with the following +propositions:</p> + +<p>1. That if the Waldenses would come to the bosom of the church of +Rome, and embrace the Roman catholic religion, they should enjoy +their houses, properties and lands, and live with their families, without +the least molestation.</p> + +<p>2. That to prove their obedience, they should send twelve of their +principal persons, with all their ministers and schoolmasters, to Turin, +to be dealt with at discretion.</p> + +<p>3. That the pope, the king of France, and the duke of Savoy, approved +of, and authorized the proceedings of the parliament of Turin, +upon this occasion.</p> + +<p>4. That if the Waldenses of the valleys of Piedmont, refused to comply +with these propositions, persecution should ensue, and certain death +be their portion.</p> + +<p>To each of these propositions the Waldenses nobly replied in the +following manner, answering them respectively:</p> + +<p>1. That no considerations whatever should make them renounce +their religion.</p> + +<p>2. That they would never consent to commit their best and most +respectable friends, to the custody and discretion of their worst and most +inveterate enemies.</p> + +<p>3. That they valued the approbation of the King of kings, who +reigns in heaven, more than any temporal authority.</p> + +<p>4. That their souls were more precious than their bodies.</p> + +<p>These pointed and spirited replies greatly exasperated the parliament +of Turin; they continued, with more avidity than ever, to kidnap +such Waldenses as did not act with proper precaution, who were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +sure to suffer the most cruel deaths. Among these, it unfortunately +happened, that they got hold of Jeffery Varnagle, minister of Angrogne, +whom they committed to the flames as a heretic.</p> + +<p>They then solicited a considerable body of troops of the king of +France, in order to exterminate the reformed entirely from the valleys +of Piedmont; but just as the troops were going to march, the protestant +princes of Germany interposed, and threatened to send troops to +assist the Waldenses, if they should be attacked. The king of France, +not caring to enter into a war, remanded the troops, and sent word +to the parliament of Turin, that he could not spare any troops at present +to act in Piedmont. The members of the parliament were greatly +vexed at this disappointment, and the persecution gradually ceased, +for as they could only put to death such of the reformed as they +caught by chance, and as the Waldenses daily grew more cautious, +their cruelty was obliged to subside, for want of objects on whom to +exercise it.</p> + +<p>After the Waldenses had enjoyed a few years tranquility, they were +again disturbed by the following means: the pope's nuncio coming to +Turin to the duke of Savoy upon business, told that prince, he was +astonished he had not yet either rooted out the Waldenses from the +valleys of Piedmont entirely, or compelled them to enter into the bosom +of the church of Rome. That he could not help looking upon +such conduct with a suspicious eye, and that he really thought him +a favourer of those heretics, and should report the affair accordingly +to his holiness the pope.</p> + +<p>Stung by this reflection, and unwilling to be misrepresented to the +pope, the duke determined to act with the greatest severity, in order +to show his zeal, and to make amends for former neglect by future +cruelty. He, accordingly, issued express orders for all the Waldenses +to attend mass regularly on pain of death. This they absolutely +refused to do, on which he entered the Piedmontese valleys, with a +formidable body of troops, and began a most furious persecution, in +which great numbers were hanged, drowned, ripped open, tied to +trees, and pierced with prongs, thrown from precipices, burnt, stabbed, +racked to death, crucified with their heads downwards, worried by +dogs, &c.</p> + +<p>These who fled had their goods plundered, and their houses burnt to +the ground: they were particularly cruel when they caught a minister +or a schoolmaster, whom they put to such exquisite tortures, as are almost +incredible to conceive. If any whom they took seemed wavering +in their faith, they did not put them to death, but sent them to the galleys, +to be made converts by dint of hardships.</p> + +<p>The most cruel persecutors, upon this occasion, that attended the +duke, were three in number, viz. 1. Thomas Incomel, an apostate, +for he was brought up in the reformed religion, but renounced his +faith, embraced the errors of popery, and turned monk. He was a +great libertine, given to unnatural crimes, and sordidly solicitous for +plunder of the Waldenses. 2. Corbis, a man of a very ferocious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +and cruel nature, whose business was to examine the prisoners.—3. +The provost of justice, who was very anxious for the execution of +the Waldenses, as every execution put money in his pocket.</p> + +<p>These three persons were unmerciful to the last degree; and +wherever they came, the blood of the innocent was sure to flow. Exclusive +of the cruelties exercised by the duke, by these three persons, +and the army, in their different marches, many local barbarities were +committed. At Pignerol, a town in the valleys, was a monastery, the +monks of which, finding they might injure the reformed with impunity, +began to plunder the houses and pull down the churches of the Waldenses. +Not meeting with any opposition, they seized upon the persons +of those unhappy people, murdering the men, confining the women, and +putting the children to Roman catholic nurses.</p> + +<p>The Roman catholic inhabitants of the valley in St. Martin, likewise, +did all they could to torment the neighbouring Waldenses: they +destroyed their churches, burnt their houses, seized their properties, +stole their cattle, converted their lands to their own use, committed +their ministers to the flames, and drove the Waldenses to the woods, +where they had nothing to subsist on but wild fruits, roots, the bark of +trees, &c.</p> + +<p>Some Roman catholic ruffians having seized a minister as he was +going to preach, determined to take him to a convenient place, and +burn him. His parishioners having intelligence of this affair, the +men armed themselves, pursued the ruffians, and seemed determined +to rescue their minister; which the ruffians no sooner perceived than +they stabbed the poor gentleman, and leaving him weltering in his +blood, made a precipitate retreat. The astonished parishioners did +all they could to recover him, but in vain; for the weapon had +touched the vital parts, and he expired as they were carrying him +home.</p> + +<p>The monks of Pignerol having a great inclination to get the minister +of a town in the valleys, called St. Germain, into their power, +hired a band of ruffians for the purpose of apprehending him. These +fellows were conducted by a treacherous person, who had formerly +been a servant to the clergyman, and who perfectly well knew a +secret way to the house, by which he could lead them without alarming +the neighbourhood. The guide knocked at the door, and being +asked who was there, answered in his own name. The clergyman, +not expecting any injury from a person on whom he had heaped +favours, immediately opened the door; but perceiving the ruffians, +he started back, and fled to a back door; but they rushed in, followed, +and seized him. Having murdered all his family, they made him +proceed towards Pignerol, goading him all the way with pikes, +lances, swords, &c. He was kept a considerable time in prison, and +then fastened to the stake to be burnt; when two women of the Waldenses, +who had renounced their religion to save their lives, were +ordered to carry fagots to the stake to burn him; and as they laid +them down, to say, Take these, thou wicked heretic, in recompense<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +for the pernicious doctrines thou hast taught us. These words they +both repeated to him to which he calmly replied, I formerly taught +you well, but you have since learned ill. The fire was then put to the +fagots, and he was speedily consumed, calling upon the name of the +Lord as long as his voice permitted.</p> + +<p>As the troops of ruffians, belonging to the monks, did great mischief +about the town of St. Germain, murdering and plundering +many of the inhabitants, the reformed of Lucerne and Angrogne, +sent some bands of armed men to the assistance of their brethren of +St. Germain. These bodies of armed men frequently attacked the +ruffians, and often put them to the rout, which so terrified the monks, +that they left the monastery of Pignerol for some time, till they could +procure a body of regular troops to guard them.</p> + +<p>The duke not thinking himself so successful as he at first imagined +he should be, greatly augmented his forces; ordered the bands of +ruffians, belonging to the monks, should join him; and commanded, +that a general jail-delivery should take place, provided the persons +released would bear arms, and form themselves into light companies, +to assist in the extermination of the Waldenses.</p> + +<p>The Waldenses, being informed of the proceedings, secured as +much of their properties as they could, and quitting the valleys, retired +to the rocks and caves among the Alps; for it is to be understood, that +the valleys of Piedmont are situated at the foot of those prodigious +mountains called the Alps, or the Alpine hills.</p> + +<p>The army now began to plunder and burn the towns and villages +wherever they came; but the troops could not force the passes to the +Alps, which were gallantly defended by the Waldenses, who always +repulsed their enemies: but if any fell into the hands of the troops, +they were sure to be treated with the most barbarous severity.</p> + +<p>A soldier having caught one of the Waldenses, bit his right ear off, +saying, I will carry this member of that wicked heretic with me into +my own country, and preserve it as a rarity. He then stabbed the +man and threw him into a ditch.</p> + +<p>A party of the troops found a venerable man, upwards of a hundred +years of age, together with his grand-daughter, a maiden, of about +eighteen, in a cave. They butchered the poor old man in the most +inhuman manner, and then attempted to ravish the girl, when she started +away and fled from them; but they pursuing her, she threw herself +from a precipice and perished.</p> + +<p>The Waldenses, in order the more effectually to be able to repel +force by force, entered into a league with the protestant powers of +Germany, and with the reformed of Dauphiny and Pragela. These +were respectively to furnish bodies of troops; and the Waldenses determined, +when thus reinforced, to quit the mountains of the Alps, +(where they must soon have perished, as the winter was coming on,) +and to force the duke's army to evacuate their native valleys.</p> + +<p>The duke of Savoy was now tired of the war; it had cost him +great fatigue and anxiety of mind, a vast number of men, and very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +considerable sums of money. It had been much more tedious and +bloody than he expected, as well as more expensive than he could at +first have imagined, for he thought the plunder would have discharged +the expenses of the expedition; but in this he was mistaken, +for the pope's nuncio, the bishops, monks, and other ecclesiastics, +who attended the army and encouraged the war, sunk the greatest +part of the wealth that was taken under various pretences. For +these reasons, and the death of his duchess, of which he had just received +intelligence, and fearing that the Waldenses, by the treaties +they had entered into, would become more powerful than ever, he determined +to return to Turin with his army, and to make peace with the +Waldenses.</p> + +<p>This resolution he executed, though greatly against the will of the +ecclesiastics, who were the chief gainers, and the best pleased with revenge. +Before the articles of peace could be ratified, the duke himself +died, soon after his return to Turin; but on his death-bed he strictly +enjoined his son to perform what he intended, and to be as favourable +as possible to the Waldenses.</p> + +<p>The duke's son, Charles Emmanuel, succeeded to the dominions of +Savoy, and gave a full ratification of peace to the Waldenses, according +to the last injunctions of his father, though the ecclesiastics did all +they could to persuade him to the contrary.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the Persecutions in Venice.</i></div> + +<p>While the state of Venice was free from inquisitors, a great number +of protestants fixed their residence there, and many converts were made +by the purity of the doctrines they professed, and the inoffensiveness +of the conversation they used.</p> + +<p>The pope being informed of the great increase of protestantism, +in the year 1512 sent inquisitors to Venice to make an inquiry into +the matter, and apprehend such as they might deem obnoxious persons. +Hence a severe persecution began, and many worthy persons +were martyred for serving God with purity, and scorning the trappings +of idolatry.</p> + +<p>Various were the modes by which the protestants were deprived +of life; but one particular method, which was first invented upon this +occasion, we shall describe; as soon as sentence was passed, the prisoner +had an iron chain which ran through a great stone fastened to +his body. He was then laid flat upon a plank, with his face upwards, +and rowed between two boats to a certain distance at sea, when the +two boats separated, and he was sunk to the bottom by the weight of +the stone.</p> + +<p>If any denied the jurisdiction of the inquisitors at Venice, they were +sent to Rome, where, being committed purposely to damp prisons, and +never called to a hearing, their flesh mortified, and they died miserably +in jail.</p> + +<p>A citizen of Venice, Anthony Ricetti, being apprehended as a protestant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +was sentenced to be drowned in the manner we have already +described. A few days previous to the time appointed for his execution, +his son went to see him, and begged him to recant, that his wife +might be saved, and himself not left fatherless. To which the +father replied, a good christian is bound to relinquish not only goods +and children, but life itself, for the glory of his Redeemer: therefore +I am resolved to sacrifice every thing in this transitory world, for the +sake of salvation in a world that will last to eternity. The lords of +Venice likewise sent him word, that if he would embrace the Roman +catholic religion, they would not only give him his life, but redeem a +considerable estate which he had mortgaged, and freely present him +with it. This, however, he absolutely refused to comply with, sending +word to the nobles that he valued his soul beyond all other considerations; +and being told that a fellow-prisoner, named Francis Sega, had +recanted, he answered, if he has forsaken God, I pity him; but I shall +continue steadfast in my duty. Finding all endeavours to persuade +him to renounce his faith ineffectual, he was executed according to his +sentence, dying cheerfully, and recommending his soul fervently to +the Almighty.</p> + +<p>What Ricetti had been told concerning the apostacy of Francis Sega, +was absolutely false, for he had never offered to recant, but steadfastly +persisted in his faith, and was executed, a few days after Ricetti, in +the very same manner.</p> + +<p>Francis Spinola, a protestant gentleman of very great learning, being +apprehended by order of the inquisitors, was carried before their +tribunal. A treatise on the Lord's supper was then put into his hands +and he was asked if he knew the author of it. To which he replied, I +confess myself to be the author of it, and at the same time solemnly affirm, +that there is not a line in it but what is authorized by, and consonant +to, the holy scriptures. On this confession he was committed +close prisoner to a dungeon for several days.</p> + +<p>Being brought to a second examination, he charged the pope's +legate, and the inquisitors, with being merciless barbarians, and then +represented the superstitions and idolatries practised by the church of +Rome in so glaring a light, that not being able to refute his arguments, +they sent him back to his dungeon, to make him repent of what he had +said.</p> + +<p>On his third examination, they asked him if he would recant his +errors! To which he answered, that the doctrines he maintained +were not erroneous, being purely the same as those which Christ and +his apostles had taught, and which were handed down to us in the +sacred writings. The inquisitors then sentenced him to be drowned, +which was executed in the manner already described. He went to +meet death with the utmost serenity, seemed to wish for dissolution, +and declaring, that the prolongation of his life did but tend to retard +that real happiness which could only be expected in the world to +come.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of several remarkable individuals, who were martyred in +different parts of Italy, on account of their religion.</i></div> + +<p>John Mollius was born at Rome, of reputable parents. At twelve +years of age they placed him in the monastery of Gray Friars, where +he made such a rapid progress in arts, sciences, and languages, that +at eighteen years of age he was permitted to take priest's orders.</p> + +<p>He was then sent to Ferrara, where, after pursuing his studies six +years longer, he was made theological reader in the university of that +city. He now, unhappily, exerted his great talents to disguise the +gospel truths, and to varnish over the errors of the church of Rome. +After some years residence in Ferrara, he removed to the university +of Bononia, where he became a professor. Having read some treatises +written by ministers of the reformed religion, he grew fully sensible +of the errors of popery, and soon became a zealous protestant in +his heart.</p> + +<p>He now determined to expound, accordingly to the purity of the gospel, +St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, in a regular course of sermons. +The concourse of people that continually attended his preaching was +surprising, but when the priests found the tenor of his doctrines, they +despatched an account of the affair to Rome; when the pope sent a +monk, named Cornelius, to Bononia, to expound the same epistle, according +to the tenets of the church of Rome. The people, however, +found such a disparity between the two preachers, that the audience of +Mollius increased, and Cornelius was forced to preach to empty +benches.</p> + +<p>Cornelius wrote an account of his bad success to the pope, who immediately +sent an order to apprehend Mollius, who was seized upon +accordingly, and kept in close confinement. The bishop of Bononia +sent him word that he must recant, or be burnt; but he appealed to +Rome, and was removed thither.</p> + +<p>At Rome he begged to have a public trial, but that the pope absolutely +denied him, and commanded him to give an account of his opinions +in writing, which he did under the following heads:</p> + +<p>Original sin. Free-will. The infallibility of the church of Rome. +The infallibility of the pope. Justification by faith. Purgatory. +Transubstantiation. Mass. Auricular confession. Prayers for the +dead. The host. Prayers for saints. Going on pilgrimages. Extreme +unction. Performing service in an unknown tongue, &c. &c.</p> + +<p>All these he confirmed from scripture authority. The pope, upon +this occasion, for political reasons, spared him for the present, but +soon after had him apprehended, and put to death; he being first hanged, +and his body burnt to ashes, A. D. 1553.</p> + +<p>The year after, Francis Gamba, a Lombard, of the protestant persuasion, +was apprehended, and condemned to death by the senate of +Milan. At the place of execution, a monk presented a cross to him, +to whom he said, My mind is so full of the real merits and goodness +of Christ, that I want not a piece of senseless stick to put me in mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +of him. For this expression his tongue was bored through, and he +was afterwards burnt.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1555, Algerius, a student in the university of Padua, and a +man of great learning, having embraced the reformed religion, did all +he could to convert others. For these proceedings he was accused of +heresy to the pope, and being apprehended, was committed to the prison +at Venice.</p> + +<p>The pope, being informed of Algerius's great learning, and surprising +natural abilities, thought it would be of infinite service to the +church of Rome, if he could induce him to forsake the protestant +cause. He, therefore, sent for him to Rome, and tried, by the most +profane promises, to win him to his purpose. But finding his endeavours +ineffectual, he ordered him to be burnt, which sentence was executed +accordingly.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1559, John Alloysius, being sent from Geneva to preach in +Calabria, was there apprehended as a protestant, carried to Rome, and +burnt by order of the pope; and James Bovellus, for the same reason, +was burnt at Messina.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1560, pope Pius the Fourth, ordered all the protestants to be +severely persecuted throughout the Italian states, when great numbers +of every age, sex, and condition, suffered martyrdom. Concerning +the cruelties practised upon this occasion, a learned and humane Roman +catholic thus spoke of them, in a letter to a noble lord:</p> + +<p>"I cannot, my lord, forbear disclosing my sentiments, with respect +to the persecution now carrying on: I think it cruel and unnecessary; +I tremble at the manner of putting to death, as it resembles more the +slaughter of calves and sheep, than the execution of human beings. I +will relate to your lordship a dreadful scene, of which I was myself an +eye-witness: seventy protestants were cooped up in one filthy dungeon +together; the executioner went in among them, picked out one from +among the rest, blindfolded him, led him out to an open place before +the prison, and cut his throat with the greatest composure. He then +calmly walked into the prison again, bloody as he was, and with the +knife in his hand selected another, and despatched him in the same +manner; and this, my lord, he repeated till the whole number were +put to death. I leave it to your lordship's feelings to judge of my sensations +upon this occasion; my tears now wash the paper upon which +I give you the recital. Another thing I must mention—the patience +with which they met death: they seemed all resignation and piety, +fervently praying to God, and cheerfully encountering their fate. I +cannot reflect without shuddering, how the executioner held the bloody +knife between his teeth; what a dreadful figure he appeared, all covered +with blood, and with what unconcern he executed his barbarous +office."</p> + +<p>A young Englishman who happened to be at Rome, was one day +passing by a church, when the procession of the host was just coming +out. A bishop carried the host, which the young man perceiving, he +snatched it from him, threw it upon the ground, and trampled it under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +his feet, crying out, Ye wretched idolaters, who neglect the true God, +to adore a morsel of bread. This action so provoked the people, that +they would have torn him to pieces on the spot; but the priests persuaded +them to let him abide by the sentence of the pope.</p> + +<p>When the affair was represented to the pope, he was so greatly exasperated +that he ordered the prisoner to be burnt immediately; but +a cardinal dissuaded him from this hasty sentence, saying, it was better +to punish him by slow degrees, and to torture him, that they might +find out if he had been instigated by any particular person to commit +so atrocious an act.</p> + +<p>This being approved, he was tortured with the most exemplary severity, +notwithstanding which they could only get these words from him, +It was the will of God that I should do as I did.</p> + +<p>The pope then passed this sentence upon him.</p> + +<p>1. That he should be led by the executioner, naked to the middle, +through the streets of Rome.</p> + +<p>2. That he should wear the image of the devil upon his head.</p> + +<p>3. That his breeches should be painted with the representation of +flames.</p> + +<p>4. That he should have his right hand cut off.</p> + +<p>5. That after having been carried about thus in procession, he should +be burnt.</p> + +<p>When he heard this sentence pronounced, he implored God to give +him strength and fortitude to go through it. As he passed through +the streets he was greatly derided by the people, to whom he said some +severe things respecting the Romish superstition. But a cardinal, +who attended the procession, overhearing him, ordered him to be gagged.</p> + +<p>When he came to the church door, where he trampled on the host, +the hangman cut off his right hand, and fixed it on a pole. Then two +tormentors, with flaming torches, scorched and burnt his flesh all the +rest of the way. At the place of execution he kissed the chains that +were to bind him to the stake. A monk presenting the figure of a saint +to him, he struck it aside, and then being chained to the stake, fire was +put to the fagots, and he was soon burnt to ashes.</p> + +<p>A little after the last mentioned execution, a venerable old man, who +had long been a prisoner in the inquisition, was condemned to be burnt, +and brought out for execution. When he was fastened to the stake, a +priest held a crucifix to him, on which he said "If you do not take +that idol from my sight, you will constrain me to spit upon it." The +priest rebuked him for this with great severity; but he bade him remember +the first and second commandments, and refrain from idolatry, +as God himself had commanded. He was then gagged, that he should +not speak any more, and fire being put to the fagots, he suffered martyrdom +in the flames.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Persecutions in the Marquisate of Saluces.</i></div> + +<p>The Marquisate of Saluces, on the south side of the valleys of +Piedmont, was in A. D. 1561, principally inhabited by protestants, +when the marquis, who was proprietor of it, began a persecution +against them at the instigation of the then pope. He began by banishing +the ministers, and if any of them refused to leave their flocks, +they were sure to be imprisoned, and severely tortured; however, he +did not proceed so far as to put any to death.</p> + +<p>Soon after the marquisate fell into the possession of the duke of +Savoy, who sent circular letters to all the towns and villages, that he +expected the people should all conform to go to mass.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of Saluces, upon receiving this letter, returned a general +epistle, in answer.</p> + +<p>The duke, after reading the letter, did not interrupt the protestants +for some time; but, at length, he sent them word, that they must either +conform to the mass, or leave his dominions in fifteen days. The protestants, +upon this unexpected edict, sent a deputy to the duke to obtain +its revocation, or at least to have it moderated. But their remonstrances +were in vain, and they were given to understand that the edict was +absolute.</p> + +<p>Some were weak enough to go to mass, in order to avoid banishment, +and preserve their property; others removed, with all their effects, to +different countries; and many neglected the time so long, that they were +obliged to abandon all they were worth, and leave the marquisate in +haste. Those, who unhappily staid behind, were seized, plundered, +and put to death.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont, in the +Seventeenth Century.</i></div> + +<p>Pope Clement the eighth, sent missionaries into the valleys of Piedmont, +to induce the protestants to renounce their religion; and these +missionaries having erected monasteries in several parts of the valleys, +became exceedingly troublesome to those of the reformed, where the +monasteries appeared, not only as fortresses to curb, but as sanctuaries +for all such to fly to, as had any ways injured them.</p> + +<p>The protestants petitioned the duke of Savoy against these missionaries, +whose insolence and ill-usage were become intolerable; but instead +of getting any redress, the interest of the missionaries so far prevailed, +that the duke published a decree, in which he declared, that one +witness should be sufficient in a court of law against a protestant, and +that any witness, who convicted a protestant of any crime whatever, +should be entitled to one hundred crowns.</p> + +<p>It may be easily imagined, upon the publication of a decree of this +nature, that many protestants fell martyrs to perjury and avarice; for +several villanous papists would swear any thing against the protestants +for the sake of the reward, and then fly to their own priests for +absolution from their false oaths. If any Roman catholic, of more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +conscience than the rest, blamed these fellows for their atrocious crimes, +they themselves were in danger of being informed against and punished +as favourers of heretics.</p> + +<p>The missionaries did all they could to get the books of the protestants +into their hands, in order to burn them; when the protestants +doing their utmost endeavours to conceal their books, the missionaries +wrote to the duke of Savoy, who, for the heinous crime of not surrendering +their bibles, prayer-books, and religious treatises, sent a +number of troops to be quartered on them. These military gentry did +great mischief in the houses of the protestants, and destroyed such +quantities of provisions, that many families were thereby ruined.</p> + +<p>To encourage, as much as possible, the apostacy of the protestants, +the duke of Savoy published a proclamation wherein he said, "To encourage +the heretics to turn catholics, it is our will and pleasure, and +we do hereby expressly command, that all such as shall embrace the +holy Roman catholic faith, shall enjoy an exemption, from all and every +tax for the space of five years, commencing from the day of their conversion." +The duke of Savoy likewise established a court, called the +council for extirpating the heretics. This court was to enter into inquiries +concerning the ancient privileges of the protestant churches, +and the decrees which had been, from time to time, made in favour of +the protestants. But the investigation of these things was carried on +with the most manifest partiality; old charters were wrested to a wrong +sense, and sophistry was used to pervert the meaning of every thing, +which tended to favour the reformed.</p> + +<p>As if these severities were not sufficient, the duke, soon after, published +another edict, in which he strictly commanded, that no protestant +should act as a schoolmaster, or tutor, either in public or private, +or dare to teach any art, science, or language, directly or indirectly, +to persons of any persuasion whatever.</p> + +<p>This edict was immediately followed by another, which decreed, that +no protestant should hold any place of profit, trust, or honour; and to +wind up the whole, the certain token of an approaching persecution +came forth in a final edict, by which it was positively ordered, that all +protestants should diligently attend mass.</p> + +<p>The publication of an edict, containing such an injunction, may be +compared to unfurling the bloody flag; for murder and rapine were +sure to follow. One of the first objects that attracted the notice of the +papists, was Mr. Sebastian Basan, a zealous protestant, who was seized +by the missionaries, confined, tormented for fifteen months, and then +burnt.</p> + +<p>Previous to the persecution, the missionaries employed kidnappers +to steal away the protestants' children, that they might privately be +brought up Roman catholics; but now they took away the children +by open force, and if they met with any resistance, murdered the +parents.</p> + +<p>To give greater vigour to the persecution, the duke of Savoy called +a general assembly of the Roman catholic nobility and gentry when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +a solemn edict was published against the reformed, containing many +heads, and including several reasons for extirpating the protestants +among which were the following:</p> + +<p>1. For the preservation of the papal authority.</p> + +<p>2. That the church livings may be all under one mode of government.</p> + +<p>3. To make a union among all parties.</p> + +<p>4. In honour of all the saints, and of the ceremonies of the church +of Rome.</p> + +<p>This severe edict was followed by a most cruel order, published on +January 25, A. D. 1655, under the duke's sanction, by Andrew Gastaldo, +doctor of civil laws. This order set forth, "That every head +of a family, with the individuals of that family, of the reformed religion, +of what rank, degree, or condition soevor, none excepted +inhabiting and possessing estates in Lucerne, St. Giovanni, Bibiana, +Campiglione, St. Secondo, Lucernetta, La Torre, Fenile, and Bricherassio, +should, within three days after the publication thereof, withdraw +and depart, and be withdrawn out of the said places, and translated +into the places and limits tolerated by his highness during his +pleasure; particularly Bobbio, Angrogna, Villaro<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Vilario'">Villaro</ins>, Rorata, and the +county of Bonetti.</p> + +<p>"And all this to be done on pain of death, and confiscation of +house and goods, unless within the limited time they turned Roman +catholics."</p> + +<p>A flight with such speed, in the midst of winter, may be conceived +as no agreeable task, especially in a country almost surrounded by +mountains. The sudden order affected all, and things, which would +have been scarcely noticed at another time, now appeared in the most +conspicuous light. Women with child, or women just lain-in, were +not objects of pity on this order for sudden removal, for all were included +in the command; and it unfortunately happened, that the winter +was remarkably severe and rigourous.</p> + +<p>The papists, however, drove the people from their habitations at +the time appointed, without even suffering them to have sufficient +clothes to cover them; and many perished in the mountains through +the severity of the weather, or for want of food. Some, however, +who remained behind after the decree was published, met with the +severest treatment, being murdered by the popish inhabitants, or +shot by the troops who were quartered in the valleys. A particular +description of these cruelties is given in a letter, written by a protestant, +who was upon the spot, and who happily escaped the carnage. +"The army (says he) having got footing, became very numerous, by +the addition of a multitude of the neighbouring popish inhabitants, +who finding we were the destined prey of the plunderers, fell upon +us with an impetuous fury. Exclusive of the duke of Savoy's troops, +and the popish inhabitants, there were several regiments of French +auxiliaries, some companies belonging to the Irish brigades, and several +bands formed of outlaws, smugglers, and prisoners, who had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +promised pardon and liberty in this world, and absolution in the next, +for assisting to exterminate the protestants from Piedmont.</p> + +<p>"This armed multitude being encouraged by the Roman catholic +bishops and monks, fell upon the protestants in a most furious manner. +Nothing now was to be seen but the face of horror and despair, +blood stained the floors of the houses, dead bodies bestrewed the +streets, groans and cries were heard from all parts. Some armed +themselves, and skirmished with the troops; and many, with their +families, fled to the mountains. In one village they cruelly tormented +150 women and children after the men were fled, beheading +the women, and dashing out the brains of the children. In the towns +of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Vilaro'">Villaro</ins> and Bobbio, most of those who refused to go to mass, who +were upwards of fifteen years of age, they crucified with their heads +downwards; and the greatest number of those who were under that +age were strangled."</p> + +<p>Sarah Rastignole des Vignes, a woman of 60 years of age, being +seized by some soldiers, they ordered her to say a prayer to some saints, +which she refusing, they thrust a sickle into her belly, ripped her up, +and then cut off her head.</p> + +<p>Martha Constantine, a handsome young woman, was treated with +great indecency and cruelty by several of the troops, who first ravished, +and then killed her, by cutting off her breasts. These they +fried, and set before some of their comrades, who ate them without +knowing what they were. When they had done eating, the others +told them what they had made a meal of, in consequence of which a +quarrel ensued, swords were drawn, and a battle took place. Several +were killed in the fray, the greater part of whom were those concerned +in the horrid massacre of the woman, and who had practised such an +inhuman deception on their companions.</p> + +<p>Some of the soldiers seized a man of Thrassiniere, and ran the +points of their swords through his ears, and through his feet. They +then tore off the nails of his fingers and toes with red-hot pincers, tied +him to the tail of an ass, and dragged him about the streets; and, finally +fastened a cord round his head, which they twisted with a stick in so +violent a manner as to wring it from his body.</p> + +<p>Peter Symonds, a protestant, of about eighty years of age, was tied +neck and heels, and then thrown down a precipice. In the fall the +branch of a tree caught hold of the ropes that fastened him, and suspended +him in the midway, so that he languished for several days, and +at length miserably perished of hunger.</p> + +<p>Esay Garcino, refusing to renounce his religion, was cut into small +pieces; the soldiers, in ridicule, saying, they had minced him. A +woman, named Armand, had every limb separated from each other, +and then the respective parts were hung upon a hedge. Two old women +were ripped open, and then left in the fields upon the snow +where they perished; and a very old woman, who was deformed, had +her nose and hands cut off, and was left, to bleed to death in that +manner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>A great number of men, women, and children, were flung from the +rocks, and dashed to pieces. Magdalen Bertino, a protestant woman +of La Torre, was stripped stark naked, her head tied between her legs, +and thrown down one of the precipices; and Mary Raymondet, of the +same town, had the flesh sliced from her bones till she expired.</p> + +<p>Magdalen Pilot, of Villaro, was cut to pieces in the cave of Castolus; +Ann Charboniere had one end of a stake thrust up her body; and the +other being fixed in the ground, she was left in that manner to perish, +and Jacob Perrin the elder, of the church of Villaro, and David, his +brother, were flayed alive.</p> + +<p>An inhabitant of La Torre, named Giovanni Andrea Michialm, +was <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprehended'">apprended</ins>, with four of his children, three of them were hacked +to pieces before him, the soldiers asking him, at the death of every +child, if he would renounce his religion which he constantly refused. +One of the soldiers then took up the last and youngest by the legs, +and putting the same question to the father he replied as before, when +the inhuman brute dashed out the child's brains. The father, however, +at the same moment started from them, and fled: the soldiers +fired after him, but missed him; and he, by the swiftness of his heels, +escaped, and hid himself in the Alps.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Further Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont, in the seventeenth +Century.</i></div> + +<p>Giovanni Pelanchion, for refusing to turn papist, was tied by one +leg to the tail of a mule, and dragged through the streets of Lucerne, +amidst the acclamations of an inhuman mob, who kept stoning him, +and crying out, He is possessed with the devil, so that, neither stoning, +nor dragging him through the streets, will kill him, for the devil keeps +him alive. They then took him to the river side, chopped off his head, +and left that and his body unburied, upon the bank of the stream.</p> + +<p>Magdalen, the daughter of Peter Fontaine, a beautiful child of ten +years of age, was ravished and murdered by the soldiers. Another +girl of about the same age, they roasted alive at Villa Nova; and a +poor woman, hearing the soldiers were coming toward her house, +snatched up the cradle in which her infant son was asleep, and fled +toward the woods. The soldiers, however, saw and pursued her, +when she lightened herself by putting down the cradle and child, +which the soldiers no sooner came to, than they murdered the infant, +and continuing the pursuit, found the mother in a cave, where they first +ravished, and then cut her to pieces.</p> + +<p>Jacob Michelino, chief elder of the church of Bobbio, and several +other protestants, were hung up by means of hooks fixed in their bellies +and left to expire in the most excruciating tortures.</p> + +<p>Giovanni Rostagnal, a venerable protestant, upwards of fourscore +years of age, had his nose and ears cut off, and slices cut from the +fleshy parts of his body, till he bled to death.</p> + +<p>Seven persons, viz. Daniel Seleagio and his wife, Giovanni Durant, +Lodwich Durant, Bartholomew Durant, Daniel Revel, and Paul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +Reynaud, had their mouths stuffed with gunpowder, which being set +fire to, their heads were blown to pieces.</p> + +<p>Jacob Birone, a schoolmaster of Rorata, for refusing to change his +religion, was stripped quite naked; and after having been very indecently +exposed, had the nails of his toes and fingers torn off with red-hot +pincers, and holes bored through his hands with the point of a +dagger. He then had a cord tied round his middle, and was led +through the streets with a soldier on each side of him. At every turning +the soldier on his right hand side cut a gash in his flesh, and the +soldier on his left hand side struck him with a bludgeon, both saying, +at the same instant, Will you go to mass? will you go to mass? He +still replied in the negative to these interrogatories, and being at length +taken to the bridge, they cut off his head on the balustrades, and threw +both that and his body into the river.</p> + +<p>Paul Garnier, a very pious protestant, had his eyes put out, was +then flayed alive, and being divided into four parts, his quarters were +placed on four of the principal houses of Lucerne. He bore all his +sufferings with the most exemplary patience, praised God as long as +he could speak, and plainly evinced, what confidence and resignation +a good conscience can inspire.</p> + +<p>Daniel Cardon, of Rocappiata, being apprehended by some soldiers, +they cut his head off, and having fried his brains, ate them. Two +poor old blind women, of St. Giovanni, were burnt alive; and a widow +of La Torre, with her daughter, were driven into the river, and there +stoned to death.</p> + +<p>Paul Giles, on attempting to run away from some soldiers, was shot +in the neck: they then slit his nose, sliced his chin, stabbed him, and +gave his carcase to the dogs.</p> + +<p>Some of the Irish troops having taken eleven men of Garcigliana +prisoners, they made a furnace red hot, and forced them to push each +other in till they came to the last man, whom they pushed in themselves.</p> + +<p>Michael Gonet, a man of 90, was burnt to death; Baptista Oudri, +another old man, was stabbed; and Bartholomew Frasche had holes +made in his heels, through which ropes being put, he was dragged by +them to the jail, where his wounds mortified and killed him.</p> + +<p>Magdalene de la Piere being pursued by some of the soldiers, and +taken, was thrown down a precipice, and dashed to pieces. Margaret +Revella, and Mary Pravillerin, two very old women, were burnt alive; +and Michael Bellino, with Ann Bochardno, were beheaded.</p> + +<p>The son and daughter of a counsellor of Giovanni were rolled down +a steep hill together, and suffered to perish in a deep pit at the bottom. +A tradesman's family, viz: himself, his wife, and an infant in her arms, +were cast from a rock, and dashed to pieces; and Joseph Chairet, and +Paul Carniero, were flayed alive.</p> + +<p>Cypriania Bustia, being asked if he would renounce his religion +and turn Roman catholic, replied, I would rather renounce life, or +turn dog; to which a priest answered, For that expression you shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +both renounce life, and be given to the dogs. They, accordingly, +dragged him to prison, where he continued a considerable time without +food, till he was famished; after which they threw his corpse into the +street before the prison, and it was devoured by dogs in the most +shocking manner.</p> + +<p>Margaret Saretta was stoned to death, and then thrown into the +river; Antonio Bartina had his head cleft asunder; and Joseph Pont +was cut through the middle of his body.</p> + +<p>Daniel Maria, and his whole family, being ill of a fever, several +papist ruffians broke into his house, telling him they were practical +physicians, and would give them all present ease, which they did by +knocking the whole family on the head.</p> + +<p>Three infant children of a protestant, named Peter Fine, were covered +with snow, and stifled; an elderly widow, named Judith, was beheaded, +and a beautiful young woman was stripped naked, and had a +stake driven through her body, of which she expired.</p> + +<p>Lucy, the wife of Peter Besson, a woman far gone in her pregnancy, +who lived in one of the villages of the Piedmontese valleys, determined, +if possible, to escape from such dreadful scenes as every where surrounded +her: she, accordingly took two young children, one in each +hand, and set off towards the Alps. But on the third day of the journey +she was taken in labour among the mountains, and delivered of an +infant, who perished through the extreme inclemency of the weather, +as did the two other children; for all three were found dead by her, +and herself just expiring, by the person to whom she related the above +particulars.</p> + +<p>Francis Gros, the son of a clergyman, had his flesh slowly cut from +his body into small pieces, and put into a dish before him; two of his +children were minced before his sight; and his wife was fastened to +a post, that she might behold all these cruelties practised on her husband +and offspring. The tormentors, at length, being tired of exercising +their cruelties, cut off the heads of both husband and wife, and +then gave the flesh of the whole family to the dogs.</p> + +<p>The sieur Thomas Margher fled to a cave, when the soldiers shut up +the mouth, and he perished with famine. Judith Revelin, with seven +children, were barbarously murdered in their beds; and a widow of +near fourscore years of age, was hewn to pieces by soldiers.</p> + +<p>Jacob Roseno was ordered to pray to the saints, which he absolutely +refused to do: some of the soldiers beat him violently with bludgeons +to make him comply, but he still refusing, several of them fired at him +and lodged a great many balls in his body. As he was almost expiring, +they cried to him, Will you call upon the saints? Will you pray +to the saints? To which he answered, No! No! No! when one of +the soldiers, with a broad sword, clove his head asunder, and put an +end to his sufferings in this world; for which undoubtedly, he is gloriously +rewarded in the next.</p> + +<p>A soldier, attempting to ravish a young woman, named Susanna +Gacquin, she made a stout resistance, and in the struggle pushed him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +over a precipice, when he was dashed to pieces by the fall. His comrades, +instead of admiring the virtue of the young woman, and applauding +her for so nobly defending her chastity, fell upon her with +their swords, and cut her to pieces.</p> + +<p>Giovanni Pulhus, a poor peasant of La Torre, being apprehended +as a protestant by the soldiers, was ordered, by the marquis of Pianesta, +to be executed in a place near the convent. When he came to +the gallows, several monks attended, and did all they could to persuade +him to renounce his religion. But he told them he never would +embrace idolatry, and that he was happy at being thought worthy to +suffer for the name of Christ. They then put him in mind of what his +wife and children, who depended upon his labour, would suffer after +his decease; to which he replied, I would have my wife and children, +as well as myself, to consider their souls more than their bodies, and +the next world before this; and with respect to the distress I may +leave them in, God is merciful, and will provide for them while they +are worthy of his protection. Finding the inflexibility of this poor +man, the monks cried,—Turn him off, turn him off, which the executioner +did almost immediately, and the body being afterward cut +down, was flung into the river.</p> + +<p>Paul Clement, an elder of the church of Rossana, being apprehended +by the monks of a neighbouring monastery, was carried to the +market-place of that town, where some protestants having just been +executed by the soldiers, he was shown the dead bodies, in order that +the sight might intimidate him. On beholding the shocking subjects, +he said, calmly, You may kill the body, but you cannot prejudice the +soul of a true believer; but with respect to the dreadful spectacles +which you have here shown me, you may rest assured, that God's +vengeance will overtake the murderers of those poor people, and punish +them for the innocent blood they have spilt. The monks were so +exasperated at this reply, that they ordered him to be hung up directly; +and while he was hanging, the soldiers amused themselves in +standing at a distance, and shooting at the body as at a mark.</p> + +<p>Daniel Rambaut, of Villaro, the father of a numerous family, was +apprehended, and, with several others, committed to prison, in the +jail of Paysana. Here he was visited by several priests, who with +continual importunities did all they could to persuade him to renounce +the protestant religion, and turn papist; but this he peremptorily refused, +and the priests finding his resolution, pretended to pity his +numerous family, and told him that he might yet have his life, if he +would subscribe to the belief of the following articles:</p> + +<p>1. The real presence in the host.</p> + +<p>2. Transubstantiation.</p> + +<p>3. Purgatory.</p> + +<p>4. The pope's infallibility.</p> + +<p>5. That masses said for the dead will release souls from purgatory.</p> + +<p>6. That praying to saints will procure the remission of sins.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>M. Rambaut told the priests, that neither his religion, his understanding, +nor his conscience, would suffer him to subscribe to any of +the articles, for the following reasons:</p> + +<p>1. That to believe the real presence in the host, is a shocking +union of both blasphemy and idolatry.</p> + +<p>2. That to fancy the words of consecration perform what the papists +call transubstantiation, by converting the wafer and wine into the real +and identical body and blood of Christ, which was crucified, and +which afterward ascended into heaven, is too gross an absurdity for +even a child to believe, who was come to the least glimmering of +reason; and that nothing but the most blind superstition could make +the Roman catholics put a confidence in any thing so completely ridiculous.</p> + +<p>3. That the doctrine of purgatory was more inconsistent and absurd +than a fairy tale.</p> + +<p>4. That the pope's being infallible was an impossibility, and the +pope arrogantly laid claim to what could belong to God only, as a +perfect being.</p> + +<p>5. That saying masses for the dead was ridiculous, and only meant +to keep up a belief in the fable of purgatory, as the fate of all is finally +decided, on the departure of the soul from the body.</p> + +<p>6. That praying to saints for the remission of sins, is misplacing +adoration; as the saints themselves have occasion for an intercessor +in Christ. Therefore, as God only can pardon our errors, we ought to +sue to him alone for pardon.</p> + +<p>The priests were so highly offended at M. Rambaut's answers to +the articles to which they would have had him subscribe, that they +determined to shake his resolution by the most cruel method imaginable: +they ordered one joint of his finger to be cut off every day, till +all his fingers were gone; they then proceeded in the same manner +with his toes; afterward they alternately cut off, daily, a hand and a +foot; but finding that he bore his sufferings with the most admirable +patience, increased both in fortitude and resignation, and maintained +his faith with steadfast resolution, and unshaken constancy, they stabbed +him to the heart, and then gave his body to be devoured by the +dogs.</p> + +<p>Peter Gabriola, a protestant gentleman of considerable eminence, +being seized by a troop of soldiers, and refusing to renounce his religion, +they hung a great number of little bags of gunpowder about +his body, and then setting fire to them, blew him up.</p> + +<p>Anthony, the son of Samuel Catieris, a poor dumb lad who was extremely +inoffensive, was cut to pieces by a party of the troops; and +soon after the same ruffians entered the house of Peter Moniriat, and +cut off the legs of the whole family, leaving them to bleed to death, +as they were unable to assist themselves, or to help each other.</p> + +<p>Daniel Benech being apprehended, had his nose slit, his ears cut off, +and was then divided into quarters, each quarter being hung upon a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +tree, and Mary Monino, had her jaw bones broke and was then left to +languish till she was famished.</p> + +<p>Mary Pelanchion, a handsome widow, belonging to the town of Villaro, +was seized by a party of the Irish brigades, who having beat her +cruelly, and ravished her, dragged her to a high bridge which crossed +the river, and stripped her naked in a most indecent manner, hung her +by the legs to the bridge, with her head downwards towards the water, +and then going into boats, they fired at her till she expired.</p> + +<p>Mary Nigrino, and her daughter who was an idiot, were cut to +pieces in the woods, and their bodies left to be devoured by wild beasts: +Susanna Bales, a widow of Villaro, was immured till she perished +through hunger; and Susanna Calvio running away from some soldiers +and hiding herself in a barn, they set fire to the straw and burnt +her.</p> + +<p>Paul Armand was hacked to pieces; a child named Daniel Bertino +was burnt; Daniel Michialino had his tongue plucked out, and was +left to perish in that condition; and Andreo Bertino, a very old man, +who was lame, was mangled in a most shocking manner, and at length +had his belly ripped open, and his bowels carried about on the point of +a halbert.</p> + +<p>Constantia Bellione, a protestant lady, being apprehended on account +of her faith, was asked by a priest if she would renounce the +devil and go to mass; to which she replied, "I was brought up in a +religion, by which I was always taught to renounce the devil; but +should I comply with your desire, and go to mass, I should be sure to +meet him there in a variety of shapes." The priest was highly incensed +at what she said, and told her to recant, or she should suffer +cruelly. The lady, however, boldly answered, that she valued not any +sufferings he could inflict, and in spite of all the torments he could +invent, she would keep her conscience pure and her faith inviolate. +The priest then ordered slices of her flesh to be cut off from several +parts of her body, which cruelty she bore with the most singular patience, +only saying to the priest, what horrid and lasting torments +will you suffer in hell, for the trifling and temporary pains which I +now endure. Exasperated at this expression, and willing to stop her +tongue, the priest ordered a file of musqueteers to draw up and fire +upon her, by which she was soon despatched, and sealed her martyrdom +with her blood.</p> + +<p>A young woman named Judith Mandon, for refusing to change her +religion, and embrace popery, was fastened to a stake, and sticks thrown +at her from a distance, in the very same manner as that barbarous custom +which was formerly practised on Shrove-Tuesday, of shying at +rocks, as it was termed. By this inhuman proceeding, the poor creature's +limbs were beat and mangled in a terrible manner, and her brains +were at last dashed out by one of the bludgeons.</p> + +<p>David Paglia and Paul Genre, attempting to escape to the Alps, +with each his son, were pursued and overtaken by the soldiers in a +large plain. Here they hunted them for their diversion, goading them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +with their swords, and making them run about till they <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'dorpped'">dropped</ins> down +with fatigue. When they found that their spirits were quite exhausted, +and that they could not afford them any more barbarous sport by +running, the soldiers hacked them to pieces, and left their mangled bodies +on the spot.</p> + +<p>A young man of Bobbio, named Michael Greve, was apprehended +to the town of La Torre, and being led to the bridge, was thrown over +into the river. As he could swim very well, he swam down the +stream, thinking to escape, but the soldiers and mob followed on both +sides the river, and kept stoning him, till receiving a blow on one of +his temples, he was stunned, and consequently sunk and was +drowned.</p> + +<p>David Armand was ordered to lay his head down on a block, when +a soldier, with a large hammer, beat out his brains. David Baridona +being apprehended at Villaro, was carried to La Torre, where, +refusing to renounce his religion, he was tormented by means of +brimstone matches being tied between his fingers and toes, and set +fire to; and afterward, by having his flesh plucked off with red-hot +pincers, till he expired; and Giovanni Barolina, with his wife, were +thrown into a pool of stagnant water, and compelled, by means of +pitchforks and stones, to duck down their heads till they were suffocated.</p> + +<p>A number of soldiers went to the house of Joseph Garniero, and before +they entered, fired in at the window, to give notice of their approach. +A musket ball entered one of Mrs. Garniero's breasts, as she +was suckling an infant with the other. On finding their intentions, she +begged hard that they would spare the life of the infant, which they +promised to do, and sent it immediately to a Roman catholic nurse. +They then took the husband and hanged him at his own door, and having +shot the wife through the head, they left her body weltering in its +blood, and her husband hanging on the gallows.</p> + +<p>Isaiah Mondon, an elderly man, and a pious protestant, fled from +the merciless persecutors to a cleft in a rock, where he suffered the +most dreadful hardships; for, in the midst of the winter he was +forced to lay on the bare stone, without any covering; his food was +the roots he could scratch up near his miserable habitation; and the +only way by which he could procure drink, was to put snow in his +mouth till it melted. Here, however, some of the inhuman soldiers +found him, and after having beaten him unmercifully, they drove him +towards Lucerne, goading him with the points of their swords.—Being +exceedingly weakened by his manner of living, and his spirits +exhausted by the blows he had received, he fell down in the road. +They again beat him to make him proceed: when on his knees, he +implored them to put him out of his misery, by despatching him. +This they at last agreed to do; and one of them stepping up to him +shot him through the head with a pistol, saying, there, heretic, take +thy request.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mary Revol, a worthy protestant, received a shot in her back, as +she was walking along the street. She dropped down with the wound, +but recovering sufficient strength, she raised herself upon her knees, +and lifting her hands towards heaven, prayed in a most fervent manner +to the Almighty, when a number of soldiers, who were near at +hand, fired a whole volley of shot at her, many of which took effect, +and put an end to her miseries in an instant.</p> + +<p>Several men, women, and children secreted themselves in a large +cave, where they continued for some weeks in safety. It was the custom +for two of the men to go when it was necessary, and by stealth +procure provisions. These were, however, one day watched, by which +the cave was discovered, and soon after, a troop of Roman catholics +appeared before it. The papists that assembled upon this occasion +were neighbours and intimate acquaintances of the protestants in +the cave; and some of them were even related to each other. The +protestants, therefore, came out, and implored them, by the ties of +hospitality, by the ties of blood, and as old acquaintances and neighbours, +not to murder them. But superstition overcomes every sensation +of nature and humanity; so that the papists, blinded by bigotry, +told them they could not show any mercy to heretics, and, therefore, +bade them prepare to die. Hearing this, and knowing the fatal obstinacy +of the Roman catholics, the protestants all fell prostrate, lifted +their hands and hearts to heaven, prayed with great sincerity and +fervency, and then bowing down, put their faces close to the ground, +and patiently waited their fate, which was soon decided, for the papists +fell upon them with unremitting fury, and having cut them to +pieces, left the mangled bodies and limbs in the cave.</p> + +<p>Giovanni Salvagiot, passing by a Roman catholic church, and not +taking off his hat, was followed by some of the congregation, who fell +upon and murdered him; and Jacob Barrel and his wife, having been +taken prisoners by the earl of St. Secondo, one of the duke of Savoy's +officers, he delivered them up to the soldiery, who cut off the woman's +breasts, and the man's nose, and then shot them both through the +head.</p> + +<p>Anthony Guigo, a protestant, of a wavering disposition, went to +Periero, with an intent to renounce his religion and embrace popery. +This design he communicated to some priests, who highly commended +it, and a day was fixed upon for his public recantation. In the mean +time, Anthony grew fully sensible of his perfidy, and his conscience +tormented him so much night and day, that he determined not to +recant, but to make his escape. This he effected, but being soon +missed and pursued, he was taken. The troops on the way did all +they could to bring him back to his design of recantation; but finding +their endeavours ineffectual, they beat him violently on the road, +when coming near a precipice, he took an opportunity of leaping +down it, and was dashed to pieces.</p> + +<p>A protestant gentleman, of considerable fortune, at Bobbio, being +nightly provoked by the insolence of a priest, retorted with great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +severity; and among other things, said, that the pope was Antichrist, +mass idolatry, purgatory a farce, and absolution a cheat. To be revenged, +the priest hired five desperate ruffians, who, the same evening, +broke into the gentleman's house, and seized upon him in a violent +manner. The gentleman was terribly frightened, fell on his +knees, and implored mercy; but the desperate ruffians despatched +him without the least hesitation.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>A Narrative of the Piedmontese War.</i></div> + +<p>The massacres and murders already mentioned to have been committed +in the valleys of Piedmont, nearly depopulated most of the +towns and villages. One place only had not been assaulted, and that +was owing to the difficulty of approaching it; this was the little commonalty +of Roras, which was situated upon a rock.</p> + +<p>As the work of blood grew slack in other places, the earl of Christople, +one of the duke of Savoy's officers, determined, if possible, to +make himself master of it; and, with that view, detached three hundred +men to surprise it secretly.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of Roras, however, had intelligence of the approach +of these troops, when captain Joshua Gianavel, a brave protestant officer, +put himself at the head of a small body of the citizens, and waited +in ambush to attack the enemy in a small defile.</p> + +<p>When the troops appeared, and had entered the defile, which was +the only place by which the town could be approached, the protestants +kept up a smart and well-directed fire against them, and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'stil kep'">still kept</ins> +themselves concealed behind bushes from the sight of the enemy. A +great number of the soldiers were killed, and the remainder receiving +a continued fire, and not seeing any to whom they might return it, +thought proper to retreat.</p> + +<p>The members of this little community then sent a memorial to the +marquis of Pianessa, one of the duke's general officers, setting forth, +"That they were sorry, upon any occasion, to be under the necessity +of taking up arms; but that the secret approach of a body of troops, +without any reason assigned, or any previous notice sent of the purpose +of their coming, had greatly alarmed them; that as it was their +custom never to suffer any of the military to enter their little community, +they had repelled force by force, and should do so again; but +in all other respects, they professed themselves dutiful, obedient, and +loyal subjects to their sovereign, the duke of Savoy."</p> + +<p>The marquis of Pianessa, that he might have the better opportunity +of deluding and surprising the protestants of Roras, sent them +word in answer, "That he was perfectly satisfied with their behaviour, +for they had done right, and even rendered a service to their +country, as the men who had attempted to pass the defile were not his +troops, or sent by him, but a band of desperate robbers, who had, for +some time, infested those parts, and been a terror to the neighbouring +country." To give a greater colour to his treachery, he then published<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +an ambiguous proclamation seemingly favourable to the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Yet, the very day after this plausible proclamation, and specious +conduct, the marquis sent 500 men to possess themselves of Roras, +while the people, as he thought, were lulled into perfect security by +his specious behaviour.</p> + +<p>Captain Gianavel, however, was not to be deceived so easily: he, +therefore, laid an ambuscade for this body of troops, as he had for the +former, and compelled him to retire with very considerable loss.</p> + +<p>Though foiled in these, two attempts, the marquis Pianessa determined +on a third, which should be still more formidable; but first he +imprudently published another proclamation, disowning any knowledge +of the second attempt.</p> + +<p>Soon after, 700 chosen men were sent upon the expedition, who, +in spite of the fire from the protestants, forced the defile, entered +Roras, and began to murder every person they met with, without distinction +of age or sex. The protestant captain Gianavel, at the head +of a small body, though he had lost the defile, determined to dispute +their passage through a fortified pass that led to the richest and best +part of the town. Here he was successful, by keeping up a continual +fire, and by means of his men being all complete marksmen. The +Roman catholic commander was greatly staggered at this opposition, +as he imagined that he had surmounted all difficulties. He, however, +did his endeavours to force the pass, but being able to bring up only +twelve men in front at a time, and the protestants being secured by a +breastwork, he found he should be baffled by the handful of men who +opposed him.</p> + +<p>Enraged at the loss of so many of his troops, and fearful of disgrace +if he persisted in attempting what appeared so impracticable, he +thought it the wisest thing to retreat. Unwilling, however, to withdraw +his men by the defile at which he had entered, on account of +the difficulty and danger of the enterprise, he determined to retreat +towards Villaro, by another pass called Piampra, which, though hard +of access, was easy of descent. But in this he met with a disappointment, +for captain Gianavel having posted his little band here, greatly +annoyed the troops as they passed, and even pursued their rear till +they entered the open country.</p> + +<p>The marquis of Pianessa, finding that all his attempts were frustrated, +and that every artifice he used was only an alarm-signal to the +inhabitants of Roras, determined to act openly, and therefore proclaimed, +that ample rewards should be given to any one who would +bear arms against the obstinate heretics of Roras, as he called them; +and that any officer who would exterminate them should be rewarded +in a princely manner.</p> + +<p>This engaged captain Mario, a bigoted Roman catholic, and a desperate +ruffian, to undertake the enterprise. He, therefore, obtained +leave to raise a regiment in the following six towns: Lucerne, Borges, +Famolas, Bobbio, Begnal, and Cavos.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having completed <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 's'">his</ins> regiment, which consisted of 1000 men, he laid +his plan not to go by the defiles or the passes, but to attempt gaining +the summit of a rock, from whence he imagined he could pour his +troops into the town without much difficulty or opposition.</p> + +<p>The protestants suffered the Roman catholic troops to gain almost +the summit of the rock, without giving them any opposition, or ever +appearing in their sight: but when they had almost reached the top +they made a most furious attack upon them; one party keeping up +a well-directed and constant fire, and another party rolling down huge +stones.</p> + +<p>This stopped the career of the papist troops: many were killed by +the musketry, and more by the stones, which beat them down the precipices. +Several fell sacrifices to their hurry, for by attempting a precipitate +retreat, they fell down, and were dashed to pieces; and captain +Mario himself narrowly escaped with his life, for he fell from a craggy +place into a river which washed the foot of the rock. He was taken +up senseless, but afterwards recovered, though he was ill of the bruises +for a long time; and, at length, he fell into a decline at Lucerne, +where he died.</p> + +<p>Another body of troops was ordered from the camp at Villaro, to +make an attempt upon Roras; but these were likewise defeated, by +means of the protestants' ambush-fighting, and compelled to retreat +again to the camp at Villaro.</p> + +<p>After each of these signal victories, captain Gianavel made a suitable +discourse to his men, causing them to kneel down, and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'retron'">return</ins> +thanks to the Almighty for his providential protection; and usually concluded +with the eleventh psalm, where the subject is placing confidence +in God.</p> + +<p>The marquis of Pianessa was greatly enraged at being so much +baffled by the few inhabitants of Roras: he, therefore, determined +to attempt their expulsion in such a manner as could hardly fail of +success.</p> + +<p>With this view he ordered all the Roman catholic militia of Piedmont +to be raised and disciplined. When these orders were completed, he +joined to the militia eight thousand regular troops, and dividing the +whole into three distinct bodies, he designed that three formidable attacks +should be made at the same time, unless the people of Roras, to +whom he sent an account of his great preparations, would comply with +the following conditions:</p> + +<p>1. To ask pardon for taking up arms. 2. To pay the expenses of +all the expeditions sent against them. 3. To acknowledge the infallibility +of the pope. 4. To go to mass. 5. To pray to the saints. 6. To +wear beards. 7. To deliver up their ministers. 8. To deliver up their +schoolmasters. 9. To go to confession. 10. To pay loans for the delivery +of souls from purgatory. 11. To give up captain Gianavel +at discretion. 12. To give up the elders of their church at discretion.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of Roras, on being acquainted with these conditions,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +were filled with an honest indignation, and, in answer, sent +word to the marquis, that sooner than comply with them they would +suffer three things, which, of all others, were the most obnoxious to +mankind, viz.</p> + +<p>1. Their estates to be seized. 2. Their houses to be burnt. +3. Themselves to be murdered.</p> + +<p>Exasperated at this message, the marquis sent them this laconic +epistle.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class='center'> +<i>To the obstinate Heretics inhabiting Roras.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p>You shall have your request, for the troops sent against you have +strict injunctions to plunder, burn, and kill.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Pianessa.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The three armies were then put in motion, and the attacks ordered +to be made thus: the first by the rocks of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Vilaro'">Villaro</ins>; the second by the +pass of Bagnol; and the third by the defile of Lucerne.</p> + +<p>The troops forced their way by the superiority of numbers, and +having gained the rocks, pass, and defile, began to make the most +horrid depredations, and exercise the greatest cruelties. Men they +hanged, burnt, racked to death, or cut to pieces; women they ripped +open, crucified, drowned, or threw from the precipices; and children +they tossed upon spears, minced, cut their throats, or dashed out their +brains. One hundred and twenty-six suffered in this manner, on the +first day of their gaining the town.</p> + +<p>Agreeable to the marquis of Pianessa's orders, they likewise plundered +the estates, and burnt the houses of the people. Several protestants, +however, made their escape, under the conduct of Captain +Gianavel, whose wife and children were unfortunately made prisoners, +and sent under a strong guard to Turin.</p> + +<p>The marquis of Pianessa wrote a letter to captain Gianavel, and +released a protestant prisoner that he might carry it him. The contents +were, that if the captain would embrace the Roman catholic +religion, he should be indemnified for all his losses since the commencement +of the war; his wife and children should be immediately +released, and himself honourably promoted in the duke of Savoy's +army; but if he refused to accede to the proposals made him, his +wife and children should be to put <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">to</ins> death; and so large a reward +should be given to take him, dead or alive, that even some of his own +confidential friends should be tempted to betray him, from the greatness +of the sum.</p> + +<p>To this epistle, the brave Gianavel sent the following answer.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +My Lord Marquis,<br /> +</p> + +<p>There is no torment so great or death so cruel, but what I would prefer +to the abjuration of my religion: so that promises lose their effects, +and menaces only strengthen me in my faith.</p> + +<p>With respect to my wife and children, my lord, nothing can be more +afflicting to me than the thoughts of their confinement, or more dreadful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +to my imagination, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'that'">than</ins> their suffering a violent and cruel death. I +keenly feel all the tender sensations of husband and parent; my heart +is replete with every sentiment of humanity; I would suffer any torment +to rescue them from danger; I would die to preserve them.</p> + +<p>But having said thus much, my lord, I assure you that the purchase +of their lives must not be the price of my salvation. You have them +in your power it is true; but my consolation is, that your power is +only a temporary authority over their bodies: you may destroy the +mortal part, but their immortal souls are out of your reach, and will +live hereafter to bear testimony against you for your cruelties. I +therefore recommend them and myself to God, and pray for a reformation +in your heart.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Joshua Gianavel.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p>This brave protestant officer, after writing the above letter, retired +to the Alps, with his followers; and being joined by a great number +of other fugitive protestants, he harassed the enemy by continual +skirmishes.</p> + +<p>Meeting one day with a body of papist troops near Bibiana, he, +though inferior in numbers, attacked them with great fury, and put +them to the rout without the loss of a man, though himself was shot +through the leg in the engagement, by a soldier who had hid himself +behind a tree; but Gianavel perceiving from whence the shot came, +pointed his gun to the place, and despatched the person who had wounded +him.</p> + +<p>Captain Gianavel hearing that a captain Jahier had collected together +a considerable body of protestants, wrote him a letter, proposing +a junction of their forces. Captain Jahier immediately agreed to the +proposal, and marched directly to meet Gianavel.</p> + +<p>The junction being formed, it was proposed to attack a town, (inhabited +by Roman catholics) called Garcigliana. The assault was +given with great spirit, but a reinforcement of horse and foot having +lately entered the town, which the protestants knew nothing of, they +were repulsed; yet made a masterly retreat, and only lost one man in +the action.</p> + +<p>The next attempt of the protestant forces was upon St. Secondo, +which they attacked with great vigour, but met with a strong resistance +from the Roman catholic troops, who had fortified the streets, +and planted themselves in the houses, from whence they poured musket +balls in prodigious numbers. The protestants, however, advanced, +under cover of a great number of planks, which some held over +their heads, to secure them from the shots of the enemy from the +houses, while others kept up a well directed fire; so that the houses +and entrenchments were soon forced, and the town taken.</p> + +<p>In the town they found a prodigious quantity of plunder, which had +been taken from protestants at various times, and different places, and +which were stored up in the warehouses, churches, dwelling houses, &c. +This they removed to a place of safety, to be distributed, with as much +justice as possible, among the sufferers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>This successful attack was made with such skill and spirit, that it +cost very little to the conquering party, the protestants having only +17 killed, and 26 wounded; while the papists suffered a loss of no less +than 450 killed and 511 wounded.</p> + +<p>Five protestant officers, viz. Gianavel, Jahier, Laurentio, Genolet, +and Benet, laid a plan to surprise Biqueras. To this end they marched +in five respective bodies, and by agreement were to make the +attack at the same time. The captains Jahier and Laurentio passed +through two defiles in the woods, and came to the place in safety, +under covert; but the other three bodies made their approaches +through an open country, and, consequently, were more exposed to +an attack.</p> + +<p>The Roman catholics taking the alarm, a great number of troops +were sent to relieve Biqueras from Cavors, Bibiana, Fenile, Campiglione, +and some other neighbouring places. When these were united, +they determined to attack the three protestant parties, that were marching +through the open country.</p> + +<p>The protestant officers perceiving the intent of the enemy, and not +being at a great distance from each other, joined their forces with the +utmost expedition, and formed themselves in order of battle.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, the captains Jahier and Laurentio had assaulted +the town of Biqueras, and burnt all the out houses, to make their approaches +with the greater ease; but not being supported as they expected +by the other three protestant captains, they sent a messenger, +on a swift horse, towards the open country, to inquire the +reason.</p> + +<p>The messenger soon returned and informed them that it was not in +the power of the three protestant captains to support their proceedings, +as they were themselves attacked by a very superior force in the plain, +and could scarce sustain the unequal conflict.</p> + +<p>The captains Jahier and Laurentio, on receiving this intelligence, +determined to discontinue the assault on Biqueras, and to proceed, +with all possible expedition, to the relief of their friends on the plain. +This design proved to be of the most essential service, for just as they +arrived at the spot where the two armies were engaged, the papist +troops began to prevail, and were on the point of flanking the left wing, +commanded by captain Gianavel. The arrival of these troops turned +the scale in favour of the protestants; and the papist forces, though +they fought with the most obstinate intrepidity, were totally defeated. +A great number were killed and wounded on both sides, and +the baggage, military stores, &c. taken by the protestants were very +considerable.</p> + +<p>Captain Gianavel, having information that three hundred of the +enemy were to convoy a great quantity of stores, provisions, &c. from +La Torre to the castle of Mirabac, determined to attack them on the +way. He, accordingly, began the assault at Malbec, though with a +very inadequate force. The contest was long and bloody, but the +protestants, at length, were obliged to yield to the superiority of numbers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +and compelled to make a retreat, which they did with great regularity, +and but little loss.</p> + +<p>Captain Gianavel advanced to an advantageous post, situated near +the town of Villaro, and then sent the following information and commands +to the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>1. That he should attack the town in twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>2. That with respect to the Roman catholics who had borne arms, +whether they belonged to the army or not, he should act by the law +of retaliation, and put them to death, for the numerous depredations, +and many cruel murders, they had committed.</p> + +<p>3. That all women and children, whatever their religion might be, +should be safe.</p> + +<p>4. That he commanded all male protestants to leave the town and +join him.</p> + +<p>5. That all apostates, who had, through weakness, abjured their +religion, should be deemed enemies, unless they renounced their abjuration.</p> + +<p>6. That all who returned to their duty to God, and themselves, +should be received as friends.</p> + +<p>The protestants, in general, immediately left the town, and joined +captain Gianavel with great satisfaction, and the few, who through +weakness or fear, had abjured their faith, recanted their abjuration, +and were received into the bosom of the church. As the marquis of +Pianessa had removed the army, and encamped in quite a different +part of the country, the Roman catholics of Villaro thought it would +be folly to attempt to defend the place with the small force they had. +They, therefore, fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving the town +and most of their property, to the discretion of the protestants.</p> + +<p>The protestant commanders having called a council of war, resolved +to make an attempt upon the town of La Torre.</p> + +<p>The papists being apprized of the design, detached some troops to +defend a defile, through which the protestants must make their approach; +but these were defeated, compelled to abandon the pass, and +forced to retreat to La Torre.</p> + +<p>The protestants proceeded on their march, and the troops of La +Torre, on their approach, made a furious sally, were repulsed with +great loss, and compelled to seek shelter in the town. The governor +now only thought of defending the place, which the protestants began +to attack in form; but after many brave attempts, and furious assaults, +the commanders determined to abandon the enterprise for several reasons, +particularly, because they found the place itself too strong, their +own number too weak, and their cannon not adequate to the task of +battering down the walls.</p> + +<p>This resolution taken, the protestant commanders began a masterly +retreat, and conducted it with such regularity, that the enemy did +not choose to pursue them, or molest their rear, which they might have +done, as they passed the defiles.</p> + +<p>The next day they mustered, reviewed the army, and found the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +whole to amount to four hundred and ninety-five men. They then +held a council of war, and planned an easier enterprise: this was to +make an attack on the commonalty of Crusol, a place, inhabited by +a number of the most bigoted Roman catholics, and who had exercised, +during the persecutions, the most unheard-of cruelties on the protestants.</p> + +<p>The people of Crusol, hearing of the design against them, fled to a +neighbouring fortress, situated on a rock, where the protestants could +not come to them, for a very few men could render it inaccessible to +a numerous army. Thus they secured their persons, but were in too +much hurry to secure their property, the principal part of which, +indeed, had been plundered from the protestants, and now luckily +fell again to the possession of the right owners. It consisted of many +rich and valuable articles, and what, at that time, was of much more +consequence, viz. a great quantity of military stores.</p> + +<p>The day after the protestants were gone with their booty, eight +hundred troops arrived to the assistance of the people of Crusol, having +been despatched from Lucerne, Biqueras, Cavors, &c. But finding +themselves too late, and that pursuit would be vain, not to return empty +handed, they began to plunder the neighbouring villages, though +what they took was from their friends. After collecting a tolerable +booty, they began to divide it, but disagreeing about the different +shares, they fell from words to blows, did a great deal of mischief, and +then plundered each other.</p> + +<p>On the very same day in which the protestants were so successful +at Crusol, some papists marched with a design to plunder and burn +the little protestant village of Rocappiatta, but by the way they met +with the protestant forces belonging to the captains Jahier and Laurentio, +who were posted on the hill of Angrognia. A trivial engagement +ensued, for the Roman catholics, on the very first attack, retreated +in great confusion, and were pursued with much slaughter. After +the pursuit was over, some straggling papist troops meeting with a poor +peasant, who was a protestant, tied a cord round his head, and strained +it till his skull was quite crushed.</p> + +<p>Captain Gianavel and captain Jahier concerted a design together +to make an attack upon Lucerne; but captain Jahier not bringing up +his forces at the time appointed, captain Gianavel determined to attempt +the enterprise himself.</p> + +<p>He, therefore, by a forced march, proceeded towards that place +during the whole night, and was close to it by break of day. His first +care was to cut the pipes that conveyed water into the town, and then +to break down the bridge, by which alone provisions from the country +could enter.</p> + +<p>He then assaulted the places and speedily possessed himself of two +of the out posts; but finding he could not make himself master of the +place, he prudently retreated with very little loss, blaming, however +captain Jahier, for the failure of the enterprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The papists being informed that captain Gianavel was at Angrognia +with only his own company, determined if possible to surprise him. +With this view, a great number of troops were detached from La +Torre and other places: one party of these got on top of a mountain, +beneath which he was posted; and the other party intended to possess +themselves of the gate of St. Bartholomew.</p> + +<p>The papists thought themselves sure of taking captain Gianavel +and every one of his men, as they consisted but of three hundred, and +their own force was two thousand five hundred. Their design, however, +was providentially frustrated, for one of the popish soldiers imprudently +blowing a trumpet before the signal for attack was given, +captain Gianavel took the alarm, and posted his little company so +advantageously at the gate of St. Bartholomew, and at the defile by +which the enemy must descend from the mountains, that the Roman +catholic troops failed in both attacks, and were repulsed with very +considerable loss.</p> + +<p>Soon after, captain Jahier came to Angrognia, and joined his forces +to those of captain Gianavel, giving sufficient reasons to excuse his +before-mentioned failure. Captain Jahier now made several secret +excursions with great success, always selecting the most active troops, +belonging both to Gianavel and himself. One day he had put himself +at the head of forty-four men, to proceed upon an expedition, +when entering a plain near Ossac, he was suddenly surrounded by a +large body of horse. Captain Jahier and his men fought desperately, +though oppressed by odds, and killed the commander-in-chief, three +captains, and fifty-seven private men, of the enemy. But captain +Jahier himself being killed, with thirty-five of his men, the rest surrendered. +One of the soldiers cut off captain Jahier's head, and +carrying it to Turin, presented it to the duke of Savoy, who rewarded +him with six hundred ducatoons.</p> + +<p>The death of this gentleman was a signal loss to the protestants, as +he was a real friend to, and companion of, the reformed church. He +possessed a most undaunted spirit, so that no difficulties could deter +him from undertaking an enterprise, or dangers terrify him in its execution. +He was pious without affectation, and humane without weakness; +bold in a field, meek in a domestic life, of a penetrating genius, +active in spirit, and resolute in all his undertakings.</p> + +<p>To add to the affliction of the protestants, captain Gianavel was, soon +after, wounded in such a manner that he was obliged to keep his bed. +They, however, took new courage from misfortunes, and determining +not to let their spirits droop, attacked a body of popish troops with great +intrepidity; the protestants were much inferior in numbers, but fought +with more resolution than the papists, and at length routed them with +considerable slaughter. During the action, a sergeant named Michael +Bertino was killed; when his son, who was close behind him, leaped +into his place, and said, I have lost my father; but courage, fellow +soldiers, God is a father to us all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>Several skirmishes likewise happened between the troops of La Torre +and Tagliaretto, and the protestant forces, which in general terminated +in favour of the latter.</p> + +<p>A Protestant gentleman, named Andrion, raised a regiment of horse, +and took the command of it himself. The sieur John Leger persuaded +a great number of protestants to form themselves into volunteer companies; +and an excellent officer, named Michelin, instituted several bands +of light troops. These being all joined to the remains of the veteran +protestant troops, (for great numbers had been lost in the various battles, +skirmishes, sieges, &c.) composed a respectable army, which the +officers thought proper to encamp near St. Giovanni.</p> + +<p>The Roman catholic commanders, alarmed at the formidable appearance, +and increased strength of the protestant forces, determined, if possible, +to dislodge them from their encampment. With this view, they +collected together a large force, consisting of the principal part of the +garrisons of the Roman catholic towns, the draft from the Irish brigades, +a great number of regulars sent by the marquis of Pianessa, the auxiliary +troops, and the independent companies.</p> + +<p>These, having formed a junction, encamped near the protestants, and +spent several days in calling councils of war, and disputing on the most +proper mode of proceeding. Some were for plundering the country, in +order to draw the protestants from their camp; others were for patiently +waiting till they were attacked; and a third party were for assaulting +the protestant camp, and trying to make themselves masters of every +thing in it.</p> + +<p>The last of them prevailed, and the morning after the resolution had +been taken was appointed to put it into execution. The Roman catholic +troops were accordingly separated into four divisions, three of which +were to make an attack in different places; and the fourth to remain as +a body of reserve to act as occasion might require.</p> + +<p>One of the Roman catholic officers, previous to the attack, thus harangued +his men:</p> + +<p>"Fellow-soldiers, you are now going to enter upon a great action, +which will bring you fame and riches. The motives of your acting +with spirit are likewise of the most important nature; namely, the honour +of showing your loyalty to your sovereign, the pleasure of spilling +heretic blood, and the prospect of plundering the protestant camp. So, +my brave fellows, fall on, give no quarter, kill all you meet, and take +all you come near."</p> + +<p>After this inhuman speech the engagement began, and the protestant +camp was attacked in three places with inconceivable fury. +The fight was maintained with great obstinacy and perseverance on +both sides, continuing without intermission for the space of four +hours; for the several companies on both sides relieved each other alternately, +and by that means kept up a continual fire during the whole +action.</p> + +<p>During the engagement of the main armies, a detachment was sent +from the body of reserve to attack the post of Castelas, which, if the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +papists had carried, it would have given them the command of the +valleys of Perosa, St. Martino, and Lucerne; but they were repulsed +with great loss, and compelled to return to the body of reserve, from +whence they had been detached.</p> + +<p>Soon after the return of this detachment, the Roman catholic troops, +being hard pressed in the main battle, sent for the body of reserve to +come to their support. These immediately marched to their assistance, +and for some time longer held the event doubtful, but at length the valour +of the protestants prevailed, and the papists were totally defeated, +with the loss of upwards of three hundred men killed, and many more +wounded.</p> + +<p>When the cyndic of Lucerne, who was indeed a papist, but not a +bigoted one, saw the great number of wounded men brought into that +city, he exclaimed, ah! I thought the wolves used to devour the heretics, +but now I see the heretics eat the wolves. This expression being +reported to M. Marolles, the Roman catholic commander in chief at +Lucerne, he sent a very severe and threatening letter to the cyndic, who +was so terrified, that the fright threw him into a fever, and he died in a +few days.</p> + +<p>This great battle was fought just before the harvest was got in, +when the papists, exasperated at their disgrace, and resolved on any +kind of revenge, spread themselves by night in detached parties over +the finest corn-fields of the protestants, and set them on fire in sundry +places. Some of these straggling parties, however, suffered for their +conduct; for the protestants, being alarmed in the night by the blazing +of the fire among the corn, pursued the fugitives early in the morning, +and overtaking many, put them to death. The protestant captain Bellin, +likewise, by way of retaliation, went with a body of light troops, +and burnt the suburbs of La Torre, making his retreat afterward with +very little loss.</p> + +<p>A few days after, captain Bellin, with a much stronger body of +troops, attacked the town of La Torre itself, and making a breach in +the wall of the convent, his men entered, driving the garrison into the +citadel, and burning both town and convent. After having effected +this, they made a regular retreat, as they could not reduce the citadel +for want of cannon.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Persecutions of Michael de Molinos, a Native of +Spain.</i></div> + +<p>Michael de Molinos, a Spaniard of a rich and honourable family, entered, +when young, into priest's orders, but would not accept of any preferment +in the church. He possessed great natural abilities, which he +dedicated to the service of his fellow-creatures, without any view of +emolument to himself. His course of life was pious and uniform; nor +did he exercise those austerities which are common among the religious +orders of the church of Rome.</p> + +<p>Being of a contemplative turn of mind, he pursued the track of the +mystical divines, and having acquired great reputation in Spain, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +being desirous of propagating his sublime mode of devotion, he left his +own country, and settled at Rome. Here he soon connected himself +with some of the most distinguished among the literati, who so approved +of his religious maxims, that they concurred in assisting him to propagate +them; and, in a short time, he obtained a great number of followers, +who, from the sublime mode of their religion, were distinguished +by the name of Quietists.</p> + +<p>In 1675, Molinos published a book entitled "Il Guida Spirituale," +to which were subjoined recommendatory letters from several great +personages. One of these was by the archbishop of Reggio; a second +by the general of the Franciscans; and a third by father Martin de +Esparsa, a Jesuit, who had been divinity-professor both at Salamanca +and Rome.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the book published, than it was greatly read, and +highly esteemed, both in Italy and Spain; and this so raised the reputation +of the author, that his acquaintance was coveted by the most +respectable characters. Letters were written to him from numbers of +people, so that a correspondence was settled between him, and those +who approved of his method, in different parts of Europe. Some secular +priests, both at Rome and Naples, declared themselves openly for +it, and consulted him, as a sort of oracle, on many occasions. But +those who attached themselves to him with the greatest sincerity, +were some of the fathers of the Oratory; in particular three of the +most eminent, namely, Caloredi, Ciceri, and Petrucci. Many of the +cardinals also courted his acquaintance, and thought themselves happy +in being reckoned among the number of his friends. The most distinguished +of them was the cardinal d'Estrees, a man of very great learning, +who so highly approved of Molinos' maxims, that he entered into +a close connexion with him. They conversed together daily, and notwithstanding +the distrust a Spaniard has naturally of a Frenchman, yet +Molinos, who was sincere in his principles, opened his mind without +reserve to the cardinal; and by this means a correspondence was settled +between Molinos and some distinguished characters in France.</p> + +<p>Whilst Molinos was thus labouring to propagate his religious mode, +father Petrucci wrote several treatises relative to a contemplative life; +but he mixed in them so many rules for the devotions of the Romish +church, as mitigated that censure he might have otherwise incurred. +They were written chiefly for the use of the nuns, and therefore the +sense was expressed in the most easy and familiar style.</p> + +<p>Molinos had now acquired such reputation, that the Jesuits and +Dominicans began to be greatly alarmed, and determined to put a stop +to the progress of this method. To do this, it was necessary to decry +the author of it; and as heresy is an imputation that makes the strongest +impression at Rome, Molinos and his followers were given out to +be heretics. Books were also written by some of the Jesuits against +Molinos and his method; but they were all answered with spirit by +Molinos.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>These disputes occasioned such disturbance in Rome, that the whole +affair was taken notice of by the inquisition. Molinos and his book, +and father Petrucci, with his treatises and letters, were brought under +a severe examination; and the Jesuits were considered as the accusers. +One of the society had, indeed, approved of Molinos' book +but the rest took care he should not be again seen at Rome. In the +course of the examination both Molinos and Petrucci acquitted themselves +so well, that their books were again approved, and the answers +which the Jesuits had written were censured as scandalous.</p> + +<p>Petrucci's conduct on this occasion was so highly approved, that it +not only raised the credit of the cause, but his own emolument; for he +was soon after made bishop of Jesis, which was a new declaration +made by the pope in their favour. Their books were now esteemed +more than ever, their method was more followed, and the novelty of +it, with the new approbation given after so vigorous an accusation by +the Jesuits, all contributed to raise the credit, and increase the number +of the party.</p> + +<p>The behaviour of father Petrucci in his new dignity greatly contributed +to increase his reputation, so that his enemies were unwilling to +give him any further disturbance; and, indeed, there was less occasion +given for censure by his writings than those of Molinos. Some passages +in the latter were not so cautiously expressed, but there was room +to make exceptions to them; while, on the other hand, Petrucci so fully +explained himself, as easily to remove the objections made to some +parts of his letter.</p> + +<p>The great reputation acquired by Molinos and Petrucci, occasioned +a daily increase of the Quietists. All who were thought sincerely devout, +or at least affected the reputation of it, were reckoned among the +number. If these persons were observed to become more strict in +their lives and mental devotions, yet there appeared less zeal in their +whole deportment as to the exterior parts of the church ceremonies. +They were not so assiduous at mass, nor so earnest to procure masses +to be said for their friends; nor were they so frequently either at confession, +or in processions.</p> + +<p>Though the new approbation given to Molinos' book by the inquisition +had checked the proceedings of his enemies; yet they were still +inveterate against him in their hearts, and determined if possible to +ruin him. They insinuated that he had ill designs, and was, in his +heart, an enemy to the Christian religion: that under pretence of raising +men to a sublime strain of devotion, he intended to erase from their +minds a sense of the mysteries of christianity. And because he was a +Spaniard, they gave out that he was descended from a Jewish or Mahometan +race, and that he might carry in his blood, or in his first education, +some seeds of those religions which he had since cultivated +with no less art than zeal. This last calumny gained but little credit +at Rome, though it was said an order was sent to examine the registers +of the place where Molinos was baptised.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>Molinos finding himself attacked with great vigour, and the most +unrelenting malice, took every necessary precaution to prevent these +imputations being credited. He wrote a treatise, entitled Frequent +and Daily Communion, which was likewise approved by some of the +most learned of the Romish clergy. This was printed with his Spiritual +Guide, in the year 1675; and in the preface to it he declared, +that he had not written it with any design to engage himself in matters +of controversy, but that it was drawn from him by the earnest solicitations +of many pious people.</p> + +<p>The Jesuits, failing, in their attempts of crushing Molinos' power +in Rome, applied to the court of France, when, in a short time, they +so far succeeded, that an order was sent to cardinal d'Estrees, commanding +him to prosecute Molinos with all possible rigour. The cardinal, +though so strongly attached to Molinos, resolved to sacrifice all +that is sacred in friendship to the will of his master. Finding, however, +there was not sufficient matter for an accusation against him, he +determined to supply that defect himself. He, therefore, went to the +inquisitors, and informed them of several particulars, not only relative +to Molinos, but also Petrucci, both of whom, together with several of +their friends, were put into the inquisition.</p> + +<p>When they were brought before the inquisitors, (which was the beginning +of the year 1684) Petrucci answered the respective questions +put to him with so much judgment and temper, that he was soon dismissed; +and though Molinos' examination was much longer, it was +generally expected he would have been likewise discharged: but this +was not the case. Though the inquisitors had not any just accusation +against him, yet they strained every nerve to find him guilty of +heresy. They first objected to his holding a correspondence in different +parts of Europe; but of this he was acquitted, as the matter of +that correspondence could not be made criminal. They then directed +their attention to some suspicious papers found in his chamber; but +Molinos so clearly explained their meaning, that nothing could be +made of them to his prejudice. At length, cardinal d'Estrees, after +producing the order sent him by the king of France for prosecuting +Molinos, said, he could prove against him more than was necessary to +convince them he was guilty of heresy. To do this he perverted the +meaning of some passages in Molinos' books and papers, and related +many false and aggravating circumstances relative to the prisoner. +He acknowledged he had lived with him under the appearance of +friendship, but that it was only to discover his principles and intentions: +that he had found them to be of a bad nature, and that dangerous +consequences were likely to ensue; but in order to make a full discovery, +he had assented to several things, which, in his heart, he detested; +and that, by these means, he saw into the secrets of Molinos, +but determined not to take any notice, till a proper opportunity should +offer of crushing him and his followers.</p> + +<p>In consequence of d'Estrees' evidence, Molinos was closely confined +by the inquisition, where he continued for some time, during which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +period all was quiet, and his followers prosecuted their mode without +interruption. But on a sudden the Jesuits determined to extirpate them, +and the storm broke out with the most inveterate vehemence.</p> + +<p>The count Vespiniani and his lady, Don Paulo Rocchi, confessor +to the prince Borghese, and some of his family, with several others, +(in all seventy persons) were put into the inquisition, among whom +many were highly esteemed both for their learning and piety. The +accusation laid against the clergy was, their neglecting to say the +breviary; and the rest were accused of going to the communion without +first attending confession. In a word, it was said, they neglected +all the exterior parts of religion, and gave themselves up wholly to solitude +and inward prayer.</p> + +<p>The countess Vespiniani exerted herself in a very particular manner +on her examination before the inquisitors. She said, she had +never revealed her method of devotion to any mortal but her confessor, +and that it was impossible they should know it without his discovering +the secret; that, therefore it was time to give over going to +confession, if priests made this use of it, to discover the most secret +thoughts intrusted to them; and that, for the future, she would only +make her confession to God.</p> + +<p>From this spirited speech, and the great noise made in consequence +of the countess's situation, the inquisitors thought it most prudent to +dismiss both her and her husband, lest the people might be incensed, +and what she said might lessen the credit of confession. They were, +therefore, both discharged, but bound to appear whenever they should +be called upon.</p> + +<p>Besides those already mentioned, such was the inveteracy of the +Jesuits against the Quietists, that within the space of a month upwards +of two hundred persons were put into the inquisition; and that method of +devotion which had passed in Italy as the most elevated to which mortals +could aspire, was deemed heretical, and the chief promoters of it +confined in a wretched dungeon.</p> + +<p>In order, if possible, to extirpate Quietism, the inquisitors sent a +circular letter to cardinal Cibo, as the chief minister, to disperse it +through Italy. It was addressed to all prelates, informing them, that +whereas many schools and fraternities were established in several +parts of Italy, in which some persons, under a pretence of leading +people into the ways of the Spirit, and to the prayer of quietness, +instilled into them many abominable heresies, therefore a strict charge +was given to dissolve all those societies, and to oblige the spiritual +guide to tread in the known paths; and, in particular, to take care +none of that sort should be suffered to have the direction of the nunneries. +Orders were likewise given to proceed, in the way of justice, +against those who should be found guilty of these abominable errors.</p> + +<p>After this a strict inquiry was made into all the nunneries in Rome; +when most of their directors and confessors were discovered to be +engaged in this new method. It was found that the Carmelites, the +nuns of the Conception, and those of several other convents, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +wholly given up to prayer and contemplation, and that, instead of their +beads, and the other devotions to saints, or images, they were much +alone, and often in the exercise of mental prayer; that when they +were asked why they had laid aside the use of their beads, and their +ancient forms, their answer was, their directors had advised them so to +do. Information of this being given to the inquisition, they sent orders +that all books written in the same strain with those of Molinos and Petrucci, +should be taken from them, and that they should be compelled to +return to their original form of devotion.</p> + +<p>The circular letter sent to cardinal Cibo, produced but little effect, +for most of the Italian bishops were inclined to Molinos' method. +It was intended that this, as well as all other orders from the inquisitors, +should be kept secret; but notwithstanding all their care, copies +of it were printed, and dispersed in most of the principal towns in +Italy. This gave great uneasiness to the inquisitors, who use every +method they can to conceal their proceedings from the knowledge of the +world. They blamed the cardinal, and accused him of being the cause +of it; but he retorted on them, and his secretary laid the fault on both.</p> + +<p>During these transactions, Molinos suffered great indignities from +the officers of the inquisition; and the only comfort he received was, +from being sometimes visited by father Petrucci.</p> + +<p>Though he had lived in the highest reputation in Rome for some +years, he was now as much despised, as he had been admired, being +generally considered as one of the worst of heretics.</p> + +<p>The greater part of Molinos' followers, who had been placed in the +inquisition, having abjured his mode, were dismissed; but a harder fate +awaited Molinos, their leader.</p> + +<p>After lying a considerable time in prison, he was at length brought +again before the inquisitors to answer to a number of articles exhibited +against him from his writings. As soon as he appeared in court, a +chain was put round his body, and a wax-light in his hand, when two +friars read aloud the articles of accusation. Molinos answered each +with great steadiness and resolution; and notwithstanding his arguments +totally defeated the force of all, yet he was found guilty of heresy, and +condemned to imprisonment for life.</p> + +<p>When he left the court he was attended by a priest, who had borne +him the greatest respect. On his arrival at the prison he entered the +cell allotted for his confinement with great tranquility; and on taking +leave of the priest, thus addressed him: Adieu, father, we shall meet +again at the day of judgment, and then it will appear on which side +the truth is, whether on my side, or on yours.</p> + +<p>During his confinement, he was several times tortured in the most +cruel manner, till, at length, the severity of the punishments overpowered +his strength, and finished his existence.</p> + +<p>The death of Molinos struck such an impression on his followers, +that the greater part of them soon abjured his mode; and by the +assiduity of the Jesuits, Quietism was totally extirpated throughout +the country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<h3><i>An Account of the Persecutions in Bohemia under the Papacy.</i></h3> + +<p>The Roman pontiffs having usurped a power over several churches +were particularly severe on the Bohemians, which occasioned them +to send two ministers and four lay-brothers to Rome, in the year 977, +to obtain redress of the pope. After some delay, their request was +granted, and their grievances redressed. Two things in particular +they were permitted to do, viz. to have divine service performed in +their own language, and to give the cup to the laity in the sacrament.</p> + +<p>The disputes, however, soon broke out again, the succeeding popes +exerting their whole power to impose on the minds of the Bohemians; +and the latter, with great spirit, aiming to preserve their religious +liberties.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1375, some zealous friends of the gospel applied to Charles, +king of Bohemia, to call an economical council, for an inquiry into +the abuses that had crept into the church, and to make a full and +thorough reformation. The king, not knowing how to proceed, sent +to the pope for directions how to act; but the pontiff was so incensed +at this affair, that his only reply was, severely punish those rash and +profane heretics. The monarch, accordingly banished every one who +had been concerned in the application, and, to oblige the pope, laid a +great number of additional restraints upon the religious liberties of +the people.</p> + +<p>The victims of persecution, however, were not so numerous in Bohemia, +until after the burning of John Huss and Jerom of Prague. +These two eminent reformers were condemned and executed at the +instigation of the pope and his emissaries, as the reader will perceive +by the following short sketch of their lives.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Huss.</i></div> + +<p>John Huss was born at Hussenitz, a village in Bohemia, about the +year 1380. His parents gave him the best education their circumstances +would admit; and having acquired a tolerable knowledge of +the classics at a private school, he was removed to the university of +Prague, where he soon gave strong proofs of his mental powers, and +was remarkable for his diligence and application to study.</p> + +<p>In 1398, Huss commenced bachelor of divinity, and was after successively +chosen pastor of the church of Bethlehem, in Prague, and +dean and rector of the university. In these stations he discharged +his duties with great fidelity; and became, at length, so conspicuous for +his preaching, which was in conformity with the doctrines of Wickliffe, +that it was not likely he could long escape the notice of the +pope and his adherents, against whom he inveighed with no small +degree of asperity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>The English reformist Wickliffe, had so kindled the light of reformation, +that it began to illumine the darkest corners of popery and ignorance. +His doctrines spread into Bohemia, and were well received by +great numbers of people, but by none so particularly as John Huss, +and his zealous friend and fellow-martyr, Jerom of Prague.</p> + +<p>The archbishop of Prague, finding the reformists daily increasing, +issued a decree to suppress the farther spreading of Wickliffe's writings: +but this had an effect quite different to what he expected, for it stimulated +the friends of those doctrines to greater zeal, and almost the whole university +united to propagate them.</p> + +<p>Being strongly attached to the doctrines of Wickliffe, Huss opposed +the decree of the archbishop, who, however, at length, obtained a bull +from the pope, giving him commission to prevent the publishing of Wickliffe's +doctrines in his province. By virtue of this bull, the archbishop +condemned the writings of Wickliffe: he also proceeded against four +doctors, who had not delivered up the copies of that divine, and prohibited +them, notwithstanding their privileges, to preach to any congregation. +Dr. Huss, with some other members of the university, protested +against these proceedings, and entered an appeal from the sentence +of the archbishop.</p> + +<p>The affair being made known to the pope, he granted a commission +to cardinal Colonna, to cite John Huss to appear personally at the +court of Rome, to answer the accusations laid against him, of preaching +both errors and heresies. Dr. Huss desired to be excused from a +personal appearance, and was so greatly favoured in Bohemia, that +king Winceslaus, the queen, the nobility, and the university, desired +the pope to dispense with such an appearance; as also that he would +not suffer the kingdom of Bohemia to lie under the accusation of +heresy, but permit them to preach the gospel with freedom in their +places of worship.</p> + +<p>Three proctors appeared for Dr. Huss before cardinal Colonna. +They endeavoured to excuse his absence, and said, they were ready to +answer in his behalf. But, the cardinal declared Huss contumacious, +and excommunicated him accordingly. The proctors appealed to the +pope, and appointed four cardinals to examine the process: these commissioners +confirmed the former sentence, and extended the excommunication +not only to Huss but to all his friends and followers.</p> + +<p>From this unjust sentence Huss appealed to a future council, but without +success; and, notwithstanding so severe a decree, and an expulsion +in consequence from his church in Prague, he retired to Hussenitz, his +native place, where he continued to promulgate his new doctrine, both +from the pulpit and with the pen.</p> + +<p>The letters which he wrote at this time were very numerous; and +he compiled a treatise in which he maintained, that reading the +book of protestants could not be absolutely forbidden. He wrote in +defence of Wickliffe's book on the Trinity; and boldly declared +against the vices of the pope, the cardinals, and clergy, of those corrupt +times. He wrote also many other books, all of which were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +penned with a strength of argument that greatly facilitated the +spreading of his doctrines.</p> + +<p>In the month of November, 1414, a general council was assembled at +Constance, in Germany, in order, as was pretended, for the sole purpose +of determining a dispute then pending between three persons who contended +for the papacy; but the real motive was, to crush the progress +of the reformation.</p> + +<p>John Huss was summoned to appear at this council; and, to encourage +him, the emperor sent him a safe-conduct: the civilities, and even +reverence, which Huss met with on his journey, were beyond imagination. +The streets, and, sometimes the very roads, were lined with people, +whom respect, rather than curiosity, had brought together.</p> + +<p>He was ushered into the town with great acclamations and it may +be said, that he passed through Germany in a kind of triumph. He +could not help expressing his surprise at the treatment he received: +"I thought (said he) I had been an outcast. I now see my worst friends +are in Bohemia."</p> + +<p>As soon as Huss arrived at Constance, he immediately took lodgings +in a remote part of the city. A short time after his arrival, +came one Stephen Paletz, who was employed by the clergy at Prague +to manage the intended prosecution against him. Paletz was afterward +joined by Michael de Cassis, on the part of the court of Rome. +These two declared themselves his accusers, and drew up a set of articles +against him, which they presented to the pope and the prelates of +the council.</p> + +<p>When it was known that he was in the city, he was immediately arrested, +and committed prisoner to a chamber in the palace. This violation +of common law and justice, was particularly noticed by one of +Huss' friends, who urged the imperial safe-conduct; but the pope replied, +he never granted any safe-conduct, nor was he bound by that of +the emperor.</p> + +<p>While Huss was in confinement, the council acted the part of inquisitors. +They condemned the doctrines of Wickliffe, and even ordered +his remains to be dug up and burnt to ashes; which orders were strictly +complied with. In the mean time, the nobility of Bohemia and Poland +strongly interceded for Huss; and so far prevailed as to prevent his being +condemned unheard, which had been resolved on by the commissioners +appointed to try him.</p> + +<p>When he was brought before the council, the articles exhibited against +him were read: they were upwards of forty in number, and chiefly +extracted from his writings.</p> + +<p>After his examination, he was taken from the court, and a resolution +was formed by the council to burn him as a heretic if he would not retract. +He was then committed to a filthy prison, where, in the daytime, +he was so laden with fetters on his legs, that he could hardly move, +and every night he was fastened by his hand to a ring against the +walls of the prison.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>After continuing some days in this situation, many noblemen of +Bohemia interceded in his behalf. They drew up a petition for his +release, which was presented to the council by several of the most +distinguished nobles of Bohemia; a few days after the petition was +presented, four bishops and two lords were sent by the emperor to the +prison, in order to prevail on Huss to make a recantation. But he +called God to witness, with tears in his eyes, that he was not conscious +of having preached or written, against the truth of God, or the +faith of his orthodox church.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of July, Dr. Huss was brought for the last time before +the council. After a long examination he was desired to abjure, +which he refused without the least hesitation. The bishop of Lodi +then preached a sanguinary sermon, concerning the destruction of +heretics, the prologue to his intended punishment. After the close of +the sermon, his fate was determined, his vindication was disregarded, +and judgment pronounced. Huss heard this sentence without the +least emotion. At the close of it he knelt down, with his eyes lifted +towards heaven, and with all the magnanimity of a primitive martyr, +thus exclaimed: "May thy infinite mercy, O my God! pardon this +injustice of mine enemies. Thou knowest the injustice of my accusations; +how deformed with crimes I have been represented; how I +have been oppressed with worthless witnesses, and a false condemnation; +yet, O my God! let that mercy of thine, which no tongue can +express, prevail with thee not to avenge my wrongs."</p> + +<p>These excellent sentences were esteemed as so many expressions +of treason, and tended to inflame his adversaries. Accordingly, the +bishops appointed by the council stripped him of his priestly garments, +degraded him, put a paper mitre on his head, on which was +painted devils, with this inscription, "A ringleader of heretics." +Our heroic martyr received this mock mitre with an air of unconcern, +which seemed to give him dignity rather than disgrace. A +serenity, nay, even a joy appeared in his looks, which indicated that +his soul had cut off many stages of a tedious journey in her way to +the realms of everlasting peace.</p> + +<p>After the ceremony of degradation was over, the bishops delivered +Dr. Huss to the emperor, who put him into the hands of the duke of +Bavaria. His books were burnt at the gates of the church; and on +the 6th of July, he was led to the suburbs of Constance, to be burnt +alive. On his arrival at the place of execution, he fell on his knees, +sung several portions of the Psalms, looked steadfastly towards +heaven, and repeated these words: "Into thy hands, O Lord! do I +commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O most good and merciful +God!"</p> + +<p>When the chain was put about him at the stake, he said, with a +smiling countenance, "My Lord Jesus Christ was bound with a +harder chain than this for my sake, and why then should I be ashamed +of this rusty one?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the fagots were piled up to his very neck, the duke of Bavaria +was so officious as to desire him to abjure. "No, (said Huss;) I +never preached any doctrine of an evil tendency; and what I taught +with my lips I now seal with my blood." He then said to the executioner, +"You are now going to burn a goose, (Huss signifying goose +in the Bohemian language;) but in a century you will have a swan +whom you can neither roast nor boil." If he were prophetic, he must +have meant Martin Luther, who shone about a hundred years after, +and who had a swan for his arms.</p> + +<p>The flames were now applied to the fagots, when our martyr sung +a hymn with so loud and cheerful a voice, that he was heard through +all the cracklings of the combustibles, and the noise of the multitude. +At length his voice was interrupted by the severity of the flames, which +soon closed his existence.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Jerom of Prague.</i></div> + +<p>This reformer, who was the companion of Dr. Huss, and may be +said to be a co-martyr with him, was born at Prague, and educated in +that university, where he particularly distinguished himself for his +great abilities and learning. He likewise visited several other learned +seminaries in Europe, particularly the universities of Paris, Heidelburg, +Cologn, and Oxford. At the latter place he became acquainted +with the works of Wickliffe, and being a person of uncommon application, +he translated many of them into his native language, having +with great pains, made himself master of the English tongue.</p> + +<p>On his return to Prague, he professed himself an open favourer of +Wickliffe, and finding that his doctrines had made considerable progress +in Bohemia, and that Huss was the principal promoter of them, +he became an assistant to him in the great work of reformation.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of April, 1415, Jerom arrived at Constance, about three +months before the death of Huss. He entered the town privately, +and consulting with some of the leaders of his party, whom he found +there, was easily convinced he could not be of any service to his +friends.</p> + +<p>Finding that his arrival in Constance was publicly known, and that +the council intended to seize him, he thought it most prudent to retire. +Accordingly, the next day he went to Iberling, an imperial town, about +a mile from Constance. From this place he wrote to the emperor, +and proposed his readiness to appear before the council, if he would +give him a safe-conduct; but this was refused. He then applied to the +council, but met with an answer no less unfavourable than that from +the emperor.</p> + +<p>After this, he set out on his return to Bohemia. He had the precaution +to take with him a certificate, signed by several of the Bohemian +nobility, then at Constance, testifying that he had used all prudent +means in his power to procure a hearing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jerom, however, did not thus escape. He was seized at Hirsaw, by +an officer belonging to the duke of Sultsbach, who, though unauthorized +so to act, made little doubt of obtaining thanks from the council +for so acceptable a service.</p> + +<p>The duke of Sultsbach, having Jerom now in his power, wrote to +the council for directions how to proceed. The council, after expressing +their obligations to the duke, desired him to send the prisoner immediately +to Constance. The elector palatine met him on the way, +and conducted him into the city, himself riding on horseback, with a +numerous retinue, who led Jerom in fetters by a long chain; and immediately +on his arrival he was committed to a loathsome dungeon.</p> + +<p>Jerom was treated nearly in the same manner as Huss had been, +only that he was much longer confined, and shifted from one prison +to another. At length, being brought before the council, he desired +that he might plead his own cause, and exculpate himself: which being +refused him, he broke out into the following elegant exclamation:</p> + +<p>"What barbarity is this! For three hundred and forty days have +I been confined in a variety of prisons. There is not a misery, there +is not a want, that I have not experienced. To my enemies you have +allowed the fullest scope of accusation: to me, you deny, the least +opportunity of defence. Not an hour will you now indulge me in preparing +for my trial. You have swallowed the blackest calumnies +against me. You have represented me as a heretic, without knowing +my doctrine; as an enemy to the faith, before you knew what faith I +professed; as a persecutor of priests before you could have an +opportunity of understanding my sentiments on that head. You are a general +council: in you centre all this world can communicate of gravity, +wisdom, and sanctity: but still you are men, and men are seducible +by appearances. The higher your character is for wisdom, the greater +ought your care to be not to deviate into folly. The cause I now +plead is not my own cause: it is the cause of men, it is the cause of +christians; it is a cause which is to affect the rights of posterity, however +the experiment is to be made in my person."</p> + +<p>This speech had not the least effect; Jerom was obliged to hear the +charge read, which was reduced under the following heads:—1. That +he was a derider of the papal dignity;—2. An opposer of the pope;—3. An +enemy to the cardinals;—4. A persecutor of the prelates;—and +5. A hater of the christian religion.</p> + +<p>The trial of Jerom was brought on the third day after his accusation +and witnesses were examined in support of the charge. The prisoner +was prepared for his defence, which appears almost incredible, when +we consider he had been three hundred and forty days shut up in loathsome +prisons, deprived of daylight, and almost starved for want of +common necessaries. But his spirit soared above these disadvantages, +under which a man less animated would have sunk; nor was he more +at a loss for quotations from the fathers and ancient authors than if he +had been furnished with the finest library.</p> + +<p>The most bigoted of the assembly were unwilling he should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +heard, knowing what effect eloquence is apt to have on the minds of +the most prejudiced. At length, however, it was carried by the majority, +that he should have liberty to proceed in his defence, which he +began to such an exalted strain of moving elocution, that the heart of +obdurate zeal was seen to melt, and the mind of superstition seemed +to admit a ray of conviction. He made an admirable distinction between +evidence as resting upon facts, and as supported by malice and +calumny. He laid before the assembly the whole tenor of his life and +conduct. He observed that the greatest and most holy men had been +known to differ in points of speculation, with a view to distinguish +truth, not to keep it concealed. He expressed a noble contempt of all +his enemies, who would have induced him to retract the cause of virtue +and truth. He entered upon a high encomium of Huss; and declared +he was ready to follow him in the glorious track of martyrdom. +He then touched upon the most defensible doctrines of Wickliffe; and +concluded with observing that it was far from his intention to advance +any thing against the state of the church of God; that it was only against +the abuse of the clergy he complained; and that he could not +help saying, it was certainly impious that the patrimony of the church, +which was originally intended for the purpose of charity and universal +benevolence, should be prostituted to the pride of the eye, in feasts, +foppish vestments, and other reproaches to the name and profession of +christianity.</p> + +<p>The trial being over, Jerom received the same sentence that had +been passed upon his martyred countryman. In consequence of this +he was, in the usual style of popish affectation, delivered over to the +civil power: but as he was a layman, he had not to undergo the ceremony +of degradation. They had prepared a cap of paper painted +with red devils, which being put upon his head, he said, "Our Lord +Jesus Christ, when he suffered death for me a most miserable sinner, +did wear a crown of thorns upon his head, and for His sake will I +wear this cap."</p> + +<p>Two days were allowed him in hopes that he would recant; in +which time the cardinal of Florence used his utmost endeavours to +bring him over. But they all proved ineffectual. Jerom was resolved +to seal the doctrine with his blood; and he suffered death with the +most distinguished magnanimity.</p> + +<p>In going to the place of execution he sung several hymns, and when +he came to the spot, which was the same where Huss had been burnt, +he knelt down, and prayed fervently. He embraced the stake with +great cheerfulness, and when they went behind him to set fire to the +fagots, he said, "Come here, and kindle it before my eyes; for if I had +been afraid of it, I had not come to this place." The fire being kindled, +he sung a hymn, but was soon interrupted by the flames; and the last +words he was heard to say these:—"This soul in flames I offer."</p> + +<p>The elegant Pogge, a learned gentleman of Florence, secretary to +two popes, and a zealous but liberal catholic, in a letter to Leonard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +Arotin, bore ample testimony of the extraordinary powers and virtues +of Jerom whom he emphatically styles, A prodigious man!</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Zisca.</i></div> + +<p>The real name of this zealous servant of Christ was John de +Trocznow, that of Zisca is a Bohemian word, signifying one-eyed, +as he had lost an eye. He was a native of Bohemia, of a good family +and left the court of Winceslaus, to enter into the service of the king +of Poland against the Teutonic knights. Having obtained a badge of +honour and a purse of ducats for his gallantry, at the close of the war +he returned to the court of Winceslaus, to whom he boldly avowed +the deep interest he took in the bloody affront offered to his majesty's +subjects at Constance in the affair of Huss. Winceslaus lamented +it was not in his power to revenge it; and from this moment Zisca is +said to have formed the idea of asserting the religious liberties of his +country. In the year 1418, the council was dissolved, having done +more mischief than good, and in the summer of that year a general +meeting was held of the friends of religious reformation, at the castle +of Wilgrade, who, conducted by Zisca, repaired to the emperor with +arms in their hands, and offered to defend him against his enemies. +The king bid them use their arms properly, and this stroke of policy +first insured to Zisca the confidence of his party.</p> + +<p>Winceslaus was succeeded by Sigismond, his brother, who rendered +himself odious to the Reformers; and removed all such as +were obnoxious to his government. Zisca and his friends, upon this, +immediately flew to arms, declared war against the emperor and the +pope, and laid siege to Pilsen with 40,000 men. They soon became +masters of the fortress, and in a short time all the south-west part of +Bohemia submitted, which greatly increased the army of the reformers. +The latter having taken the pass of Muldaw, after a severe +conflict of five days and nights, the emperor became alarmed, and +withdrew his troops from the confines of Turkey, to march them into +Bohemia. At Berne in Moravia, he halted, and sent despatches to +treat of peace, as a preliminary to which, Zisca gave up Pilsen and +all the fortresses he had taken. Sigismond proceeding in a manner +that clearly manifested he acted on the Roman doctrine, that no +faith was to be kept with heretics, and treating some of the authors +of the late disturbances with severity, the alarm-bell of revolt was +sounded from one end of Bohemia to the other. Zisca took the +castle of Prague by the power of money, and on the 19th of August, +1420, defeated the small army the emperor had hastily got together +to oppose him. He next took Ausea by assault, and destroyed +the town with a barbarity that disgraced the cause in which he +fought.</p> + +<p>Winter approaching, Zisca fortified his camp on a strong hill about +forty miles from Prague, which he called Mount Tabor, from whence +he surprised a body of horse at midnight, and made a thousand men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +prisoners. Shortly after, the emperor obtained possession of the +strong fortress of Prague, by the same means that Zisca had before +done: it was soon blockaded by the latter, and want began to threaten +the emperor, who saw the necessity of a retreat.</p> + +<p>Determined to make a desperate effort, Sigismond attacked the fortified +camp of Zisca on Mount Tabor, and carried it with great +slaughter. Many other fortresses also fell, and Zisca withdrew to a +craggy hill, which he strongly fortified, and whence he so annoyed the +emperor in his approaches against the town of Prague, that he found +he must either abandon the siege or defeat his enemy. The marquis +of Misnia was deputed to effect this with a large body of troops, but +the event was fatal to the imperialists; they were defeated, and the emperor +having lost nearly one third of his army, retreated from the +siege of Prague, harassed in his rear by the enemy.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1421, Zisca commenced the campaign, as before, +by destroying all the monasteries in his way. He laid siege to the +castle of Wisgrade, and the emperor coming to relieve it, fell into a +snare, was defeated with dreadful slaughter, and this important fortress +was taken. Our general had now leisure to attend to the work +of reformation, but he was much disgusted with the gross ignorance +and superstition of the Bohemian clergy, who rendered themselves +contemptible in the eyes of the whole army. When he saw any +symptoms of uneasiness in his camp, he would spread alarm in order +to divert them, and draw his men into action. In one of these expeditions, +he encamped before the town of Rubi, and while pointing out +the place for an assault, an arrow shot from the wall struck him in +the eye. At Prague it was extracted, but, being barbed, it tore the +eye out with it. A fever succeeded, and his life was with difficulty +preserved. He was now totally blind, but still desirous of attending +the army. The emperor having summoned the states of the empire to +assist him, it was resolved, with their assistance, to attack Zisca in +the winter, when many of his <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tr s'">troops</ins> departed till the return of spring.</p> + +<p>The confederate princes <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'un ook'">undertook</ins> the siege of Soisin, but at the +approach merely of the Bohemian general, they retreated. Sigismond +nevertheless advanced with his formidable army, consisting of +15,000 Hungarian horse and 25,000 infantry, well equipped for a +winter campaign. This army spread terror through all the east of +Bohemia. Wherever Sigismond marched, the magistrates laid their +keys at his feet, and were treated with severity or favour, according +to their merits in his cause. Zisca, however, with speedy marches, +approached, and the emperor resolved to try his fortune once more +with that invincible chief. On the 13th of January, 1422, the two +armies met on a spacious plain near Kamnitz. Zisca appeared in the +centre of his front line, guarded, or rather conducted, by a horseman +on each side, armed with a pole-axe. His troops having sung a hymn +with a determined coolness drew their swords, and waited for a signal. +When his officers had informed him that the ranks were all <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wel'">well</ins><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +closed, he waved his sabre round his head, which was the sign of +battle.</p> + +<p>This battle is described as a most awful sight. The extent of the +plain was one continued scene of disorder. The imperial army fled +towards the confines of Moravia, the Taborites, without intermission, +galling their rear. The river Igla, then frozen, opposed their flight. +The enemy pressing furiously, many of the infantry, and in a manner +the whole body of the cavalry attempted the river. The ice gave way +and not fewer than 2000 were swalled up in the water. Zisca now returned +to Tabor, laden with all the spoils and trophies which the most +complete victory could give.</p> + +<p>Zisca now began again to pay attention to the reformation; he forbid +all the prayers for the dead, images, sacerdotal vestments, fasts, and festivals. +Priests were to be preferred according to their merits, and no +one to be persecuted for religious opinions. In every thing Zisca consulted +the liberal minded, and did nothing without general concurrence. +An alarming disagreement now arose at Prague between the magistrates +who were Calixtans, or receivers of the sacraments in both kinds, +and the Taborites, nine of the chiefs of whom were privately arraigned, +and put to death. The populace, enraged, sacrificed the magistrates, +and the affair terminated without any particular consequence. The Calixtans +having sunk into contempt, Zisca <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'w s'">was</ins> solicited to assume the +crown of Bohemia; but this he nobly refused, and prepared for the +next campaign, in which Sigismond resolved to make his last effort. +While the marquis of Misnia penetrated into Upper Saxony, the emperor +proposed to enter Moravia, on the side of Hungary. Before the +marquis had taken the field, Zisca sat down before the strong town of +Ausig, situate on the Elbe. The marquis flew to its relief with a superior +army, and, after an obstinate engagement, was totally defeated +and Ausig capitulated. Zisca then went to the assistance of Procop, a +young general whom he had appointed to keep Sigismond in check, and +whom he compelled to abandon the siege of Pernitz, after laying eight +weeks before it.</p> + +<p>Zisca, willing to give his troops some respite from fatigue, now entered +Prague, hoping his presence would quell any uneasiness that +might remain after the late disturbance: but he was suddenly attacked +by the people; and he and his troop having beaten off the citizens +effected a retreat to his army, whom he acquainted with the treacherous +conduct of the Calixtans. Every effort of address was necessary +to appease their vengeful animosity, and at night, in a private interview +between Roquesan, an ecclesiastic of great eminence in Prague, +and Zisca, the latter became reconciled, and the intended hostilities +were done away.</p> + +<p>Mutually tired of the war, Sigismond sent to Zisca, requesting +him to sheath his sword, and name his conditions. A place of +congress being appointed, Zisca, with his chief officers, set out to +meet the emperor. Compelled to pass through a part of the country +where the plague raged, he was seized with it at the castle of Briscaw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +and departed this life, October 6, 1424. Like Moses, he died in +view of the completion of his labours, and was buried in the great +church of Czaslow, in Bohemia, where a monument is erected to his +memory, with this inscription on it—"Here lies John Zisca, who, having +defended his country against the encroachments of papal tyranny, +rests in this hallowed place in despite of the pope."</p> + +<p>After the death of Zisca, Procop was defeated, and fell with the liberties +of his country.</p> + +<p>After the death of Huss and Jerom, the pope, in conjunction with +the council of Constance, ordered the Roman clergy every where, to +excommunicate such as adopted their opinions, or commisserated their +fate.</p> + +<p>These orders occasioned great contentions between the papists and +reformed Bohemians, which was the cause of a violent persecution +against the latter. At Prague, the persecution was extremely severe, +till, at length, the reformed being driven to desperation, armed themselves, +attacked the senate-house, and threw twelve senators, with +the speaker, out of the senate-house windows, whose bodies fell upon +spears, which were held up by others of the reformed in the street, to +receive them.</p> + +<p>Being informed of these proceedings, the pope came to Florence, and +publicly excommunicated the reformed Bohemians, exciting the emperor +of Germany, and all kings, princes, dukes, &c. to take up arms, in +order to extirpate the whole race; and promising, by way of encouragement, +full remission of all sins whatever, to the most wicked person, +if he did but kill one Bohemian protestant.</p> + +<p>This occasioned a bloody war; for several popish princes undertook +the extirpation, or at least expulsion, of the proscribed people; and +the Bohemians, arming themselves, prepared to repel force by force, in +the most vigorous and effectual manner. The popish army prevailing +against the protestant forces at the battle of Cuttenburgh, the prisoners +of the reformed were taken to three deep mines near that town +and several hundreds were cruelly thrown into each, where they miserably +perished.</p> + +<p>A merchant of Prague, going to Breslaw, in Silesia, happened to +lodge in the same inn with several priests. Entering into conversation +upon the subject of religious controversy, he passed many encomiums +upon the martyred John Huss, and his doctrines. The priests +taking umbrage at this, laid an information against him the next +morning, and he was committed to prison as a heretic. Many endeavours +were used to persuade him to embrace the Roman catholic +faith, but he remained steadfast to the pure doctrines of the reformed +church. Soon after his imprisonment, a student of the university +was committed to the same jail; when, being permitted to converse +with the merchant, they mutually comforted each other. On the day +appointed for execution, when the jailer began to fasten ropes to their +feet, by which they were to be dragged through the streets, the +student appeared quite terrified, and offered to abjure his faith, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +turn Roman catholic if he might be saved. The offer was accepted, +his abjuration was taken by a priest, and he was set at liberty. A +priest applying to the merchant to follow the example of the student, +he nobly said, "Lose no time in hopes of my recantation, your expectations +will be vain; I sincerely pity that poor wretch, who has +miserably sacrificed his soul for a few more uncertain years of a +troublesome life; and, so far from having the least idea of following +his example, I glory in the very thoughts of dying for the sake of +Christ." On hearing these words, the priest ordered the executioner +to proceed, and the merchant being drawn through the city was +brought to the place of execution, and there burnt.</p> + +<p>Pichel, a bigoted popish magistrate, apprehended 24 protestants, +among whom was his daughter's husband. As they all owned they +were of the reformed religion, he indiscriminately condemned them to +be drowned in the river Abbis. On the day appointed for the execution, +a great concourse of people attended, among whom was Pichel's +daughter. This worthy wife threw herself at her father's feet, +bedewed them with tears, and in the most pathetic manner, implored +him to commisserate her sorrow, and pardon her husband. The obdurate +magistrate sternly replied, "Intercede not for him, child, he is a +heretic, a vile heretic." To which she nobly answered, "Whatever +his faults may be, or however his opinions may differ from yours, he +is still my husband, a name which, at a time like this, should alone +employ my whole consideration." Pichel flew into a violent passion +and said, "You are mad! cannot you, after the death of this, have a +much worthier husband?" "No, sir, (replied she) my affections are +fixed upon this, and death itself shall not dissolve my marriage vow." +Pichel, however, continued inflexible, and ordered the prisoners to +be tied with their hands and feet behind them, and in that manner +be thrown into the river. As soon as this was put into execution, +the young lady watched her opportunity, leaped into the waves, and +embracing the body of her husband, both sunk together into one +watery grave. An uncommon instance of conjugal love in a wife, +and of an inviolable attachment to, and personal affection for, her +husband.</p> + +<p>The emperor Ferdinand, whose hatred to the Bohemian protestants +was without bounds, not thinking he had sufficiently oppressed them, +instituted a high court of reformers, upon the plan of the inquisition, +with this difference, that the reformers were to remove from place to +place, and always to be attended by a body of troops.</p> + +<p>These reformers consisted chiefly of Jesuits, and from their decision, +there was no appeal, by which it may be easily conjectured, that it +was a dreadful tribunal indeed.</p> + +<p>This bloody court, attended by a body of troops, made the tour of +Bohemia, to which they seldom examined or saw a prisoner, suffering +the soldiers to murder the protestants as they pleased, and then to +make a report of the matter to them afterward.</p> + +<p>The first victim of their cruelty was an aged minister whom they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +killed as he lay sick in his bed, the next day they robbed, and murdered +another, and soon after shot a third, as he was preaching in his pulpit.</p> + +<p>A nobleman and clergyman, who resided in a protestant village, +hearing of the approach of the high court of reformers and the troops, +fled from the place, and secreted themselves. The soldiers, however, +on their arrival, seized upon a schoolmaster, asked him where the lord +of that place and the minister were concealed, and where they had +hid their treasures. The schoolmaster replied, he could not answer +either of the questions. They then stripped him naked, bound him +with cords, and beat him most unmercifully with cudgels. This cruelty +not extorting any confession from him, they scorched him in various +parts of his body; when, to gain a respite from his torments, he +promised to show them where the treasures were hid. The soldiers +gave ear to this with pleasure, and the schoolmaster led them to a +ditch full of stones, saying, Beneath these stones are the treasures ye +seek for. Eager after money, they went to work, and soon removed +those stones, but not finding what they sought after, beat the schoolmaster +to death, buried him in the ditch, and covered him with the very +stones he had made them remove.</p> + +<p>Some of the soldiers ravished the daughters of a worthy protestant before +his face, and then tortured him to death. A minister and his wife +they tied back to back and burnt. Another minister they hung upon +a cross beam, and making a fire under him, broiled him to death. A +gentleman they hacked into small pieces, and they filled a young +man's mouth with gunpowder, and setting fire to it, blew his head to +pieces.</p> + +<p>As their principal rage was directed against the clergy, they took +a pious protestant minister, and tormented him daily for a month together, +in the following manner, making their cruelty regular, systematic, +and progressive.</p> + +<p>They placed him amidst them, and made him the subject of their +derision and mockery, during a whole day's entertainment, trying to +exhaust his patience, but in vain, for he bore the whole with true +christian fortitude. They spit in his face, pulled his nose, and +pinched him in most parts of his body. He was hunted like a wild +beast, till ready to expire with fatigue. They made him run the +gauntlet between two ranks of them, each striking him with a twig. +He was beat with their fists. He was beat with ropes. They +scourged him with wires. He was beat with cudgels. They tied +him up by the heels with his head downwards, till the blood started +out of his nose, mouth, &c. They hung him by the right arm till it +was dislocated, and then had it set again. The same was repeated +with his left arm. Burning papers dipped in oil, were placed between +his fingers and toes. His flesh was torn with red-hot pincers. He +was put to the rack. They pulled off the nails of his right hand. +The same repeated with his left hand. He was bastinadoed on his +feet. A slit was made in his right ear. The same repeated on his +left ear. His nose was slit. They whipped him through the town<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +upon an ass. They made several incisions in his flesh. They +pulled off the toe nails of his right foot. The same repeated with his +left foot. He was tied up by the loins, and suspended for a considerable +time. The teeth of his upper jaw were pulled out. The +same was repeated with his lower jaw. Boiling lead was poured +upon his fingers. The same repeated with his toes. A knotted cord +was twisted about his forehead in such a manner as to force out his +eyes.</p> + +<p>During the whole of these horrid cruelties, particular care was +taken that his wounds should not mortify, and not to injure him mortally +till the last day, when the forcing out of his eyes proved his +death.</p> + +<p>Innumerable were the other murders and depredations committed +by those unfeeling brutes, and shocking to humanity were the cruelties +which they inflicted on the poor Bohemian protestants. The +winter being far advanced, however, the high court of reformers, +with their infernal band of military ruffians, thought proper to return +to Prague; but on their way, meeting with a protestant pastor, they +could not resist the temptation of feasting their barbarous eyes with a +new kind of cruelty, which had just suggested itself to the diabolical +imagination of one of the soldiers. This was to strip the minister +naked, and alternately to cover him with ice and burning coals. This +novel mode of tormenting a fellow-creature was immediately put into +practice, and the unhappy victim expired beneath the torments, which +seemed to delight his inhuman persecutors.</p> + +<p>A secret order was soon after issued by the emperor, for apprehending +all noblemen and gentlemen, who had been principally concerned +in supporting the protestant cause, and in nominating Frederic +elector Palatine of the Rhine, to be king of Bohemia. These, to the +number of fifty, were apprehended in one night, and at one hour, and +brought from the places where they were taken, to the castle of +Prague, and the estates of those who were absent from the kingdom +were confiscated, themselves were made outlaws, and their names fixed +upon a gallows, as marks of public ignominy.</p> + +<p>The high court of reformers then proceeded to try the fifty, who +had been apprehended, and two apostate protestants were appointed to +examine them. These examinants asked a great number of unnecessary +and impertinent questions, which so exasperated one of the +noblemen, who was naturally of a warm temper, that he exclaimed +opening his breast at the same time, "Cut here, search my heart, you +shall find nothing but the love of religion and liberty; those were the +motives for which I drew my sword, and for those I am willing to suffer +death."</p> + +<p>As none of the prisoners would change their religion, or acknowledge +they had been in error, they were all pronounced guilty; but +the sentence was referred to the emperor. When that monarch had +read their names, and an account of the respective accusations +against them, he passed judgment on all, but in a different manner, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +his sentences were of four kinds, viz. death, banishment, imprisonment +for life, and imprisonment during pleasure.</p> + +<p>Twenty being ordered for execution, were informed they might send +for Jesuits, monks, or friars, to prepare for the awful change they were +to undergo; but that no protestants should be permitted to come near +them. This proposal they rejected, and strove all they could to comfort +and cheer each other upon the solemn occasion.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the day appointed for the execution, a cannon was +fired as a signal to bring the prisoners from the castle to the principal +market-place, in which scaffolds were erected, and a body of troops +were drawn up to attend the tragic scene.</p> + +<p>The prisoners left the castle with as much cheerfulness as if they +had been going to an agreeable entertainment, instead of a violent +death.</p> + +<p>Exclusive of soldiers, Jesuits, priests, executioners, attendants, &c. a +prodigious concourse of people attended, to see the exit of these devoted +martyrs, who were executed in the following order.</p> + +<p>Lord Schilik was about fifty years of age, and was possessed of +great natural and acquired abilities. When he was told he was to +be quartered, and his parts scattered in different places, he smiled +with great serenity, saying, The loss of a sepulchre is but a trifling +consideration. A gentleman who stood by, crying, courage, my +lord; he replied, I have God's favour, which is sufficient to inspire +any one with courage: the fear of death does not trouble me; formerly +I have faced him in fields of battle to oppose Antichrist; and +now dare face him on a scaffold, for the sake of Christ. Having said +a short prayer, he told the executioner he was ready, who cut off his +right hand and his head, and then quartered him. His hand and head +were placed upon the high tower of Prague, and his quarters distributed +in different parts of the city.</p> + +<p>Lord Viscount Winceslaus, who had attained the age of seventy +years, was equally respectable for learning, piety, and hospitality. +His temper was so remarkably patient, that when his house was +broke open, his property seized, and his estates confiscated, he only +said, with great composure, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath +taken away. Being asked why he could engage in so dangerous a +cause as that of attempting to support the elector Palatine Frederic +against the power of the emperor, he replied, I acted strictly according +to the dictates of my conscience, and, to this day, deem him my +king. I am now full of years, and wish to lay down life, that I may +not be a witness of the farther evils which are to attend my country. +You have long thirsted for my blood, take it, for God will be my avenger. +Then approaching the block, he stroked his long grey beard, and +said, Venerable hairs, the greater honour now attends ye, a crown of +martyrdom is your portion. Then laying down his head, it was severed +from his body at one stroke, and placed upon a pole in a conspicuous +part of the city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lord Harant was a man of good sense, great piety, and much experience +gained by travel, as he had visited the principal places in Europe, +Asia, and Africa. Hence he was free from national prejudices +and had collected much knowledge.</p> + +<p>The accusations against this nobleman, were, his being a protestant +and having taken an oath of allegiance to Frederic, elector Palatine +of the Rhine, as king of Bohemia. When he came upon the scaffold +he said, "I have travelled through many countries, and traversed various +barbarous nations, yet never found so much cruelty as at home. +I have escaped innumerable perils both by sea and land, and surmounted +inconceivable difficulties, to suffer innocently in my native place. +My blood is likewise sought by those for whom I, and my forefathers, +have hazarded our estates; but, Almighty God! forgive them, for they +know not what they do." He then went to the block, kneeled down, +and exclaimed with great energy, into thy hands, O Lord! I commend +my spirit; in thee have I always trusted; receive me, therefore, my +blessed Redeemer. The fatal stroke was then given, and a period put +to the temporary pains of this life.</p> + +<p>Lord Frederic de Bile suffered as a protestant, and a promoter of the +late war; he met his fate with serenity, and only said, he wished well +to the friends whom he left behind, forgave the enemies who caused his +death, denied the authority of the emperor in that country, acknowledged +Frederic to be the only true king of Bohemia, and hoped for salvation +in the merits of his blessed Redeemer.</p> + +<p>Lord Henry Otto, when he first came upon the scaffold, seemed greatly +confounded, and said, with some asperity, as if addressing himself to +the emperor, "Thou tyrant Ferdinand, your throne is established in +blood; but if you kill my body, and disperse my members, they shall +still rise up in judgment against you." He then was silent, and having +walked about for some time, seemed to recover his fortitude, and growing +calm, said to a gentleman who stood near, I was, a few minutes +since, greatly discomposed, but now I feel my spirits revive; God be +praised for affording me such comfort; death no longer appears as the +king of terrors, but seems to invite me to participate of some unknown +joys. Kneeling before the block, he said, Almighty God! to thee I commend +my soul, receive it for the sake of Christ, and admit it to the glory +of thy presence. The executioner put this nobleman to considerable +pain, by making several strokes before he severed the head from the +body.</p> + +<p>The earl of Rugenia was distinguished for his superior abilities, and +unaffected piety. On the scaffold he said, "We who drew our swords, +fought only to preserve the liberties of the people, and to keep our consciences +sacred: as we were overcome, I am better pleased at the sentence +of death, than if the emperor had given me life; for I find that it +pleases God to have his truth defended, not by our swords, but by our +blood." He then went boldly to the block, saying, I shall now be speedily +with Christ, and received the crown of martyrdom with great +courage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sir Gaspar Kaplitz was 86 years of age. When he came to the +place of execution, he addressed the principal officer thus: "Behold +a miserable ancient man, who hath often entreated God to take him +out of this wicked world, but could not until now obtain his desire, +for God reserved me till these years to be a spectacle to the world +and a sacrifice to himself; therefore God's will be done." One of the +officers told him, in consideration of his great age, that if he would +only ask pardon, he would immediately receive it. "Ask pardon, +(exclaimed he) I will ask pardon of God, whom I have frequently +offended; but not of the emperor, to whom I never gave any offence +should I sue for pardon, it might be justly suspected I had committed +some crime for which I deserved this condemnation. No, no, as I die +innocent, and with a clear conscience, I would not be separated from +this noble company of martyrs:" so saying, he cheerfully resigned his +neck to the block.</p> + +<p>Procopius Dorzecki on the scaffold said, "We are now under the emperor's +judgment; but in time he shall be judged, and we shall appear +as witnesses against him." Then taking a gold medal from his neck, +which was struck when the elector Frederic was crowned king of Bohemia, +he presented it to one of the officers, at the same time uttering +these words, "As a dying man, I request, if ever king Frederic is restored +to the throne of Bohemia, that you will give him this medal. Tell +him, for his sake, I wore it till death, and that now I willingly lay down +my life for God and my king." He then cheerfully laid down his head +and submitted to the fatal blow.</p> + +<p>Dionysius Servius was brought up a Roman catholic, but had embraced +the reformed religion for some years. When upon the scaffold +the Jesuits used their utmost endeavours to make him recant, and +return to his former faith, but he paid not the least attention to their +exhortations. Kneeling down he said, they may destroy my body, +but cannot injure my soul, that I commend to my Redeemer; and +then patiently submitted to martyrdom, being at that time fifty-six +years of age.</p> + +<p>Valentine Cockan, was a person of considerable fortune and eminence, +perfectly pious and honest, but of trifling abilities; yet his +imagination seemed to grow bright, and his faculties to improve on +death's approach, as if the impending danger refined the understanding. +Just before he was beheaded, he expressed himself with such eloquence, +energy, and precision, as greatly amazed those who knew his +former deficiency in point of capacity.</p> + +<p>Tobias Steffick was remarkable for his affability and serenity of temper. +He was perfectly resigned to his fate, and a few minutes before +his death spoke in this singular manner, "I have received, during the +whole course of my life, many favours from God; ought I not therefore +cheerfully to take one bitter cup, when he thinks proper to present +it? Or rather, ought I not to rejoice, that it is his will I should give up +a corrupted life for that of immortality!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Jessenius, an able student of physic, was accused of having spoken +disrespectful words of the emperor, of treason in swearing allegiance +to the elector Frederic, and of heresy in being a protestant: for +the first accusation he had his tongue cut out; for the second he was +beheaded; and for the third, and last, he was quartered, and the respective +parts exposed on poles.</p> + +<p>Christopher Chober, as soon as he stepped upon the scaffold said, +'I come in the name of God, to die for his glory; I have fought the +good fight, and finished my course; so, executioner, do your office.' +The executioner obeyed, and he instantly received the crown of martyrdom.</p> + +<p>No person ever lived more respected, or died more lamented, than +John Shultis. The only words he spoke, before receiving the fatal +stroke, were, "The righteous seem to die in the eyes of fools, but they +only go to rest. Lord Jesus! thou hast promised that those who come +to thee shall not be cast off. Behold, I am come; look on me, pity me, +pardon my sins, and receive my soul."</p> + +<p>Maximilian Hostialick was famed for his learning, piety, and humanity. +When he first came on the scaffold, he seemed exceedingly +terrified at the approach of death. The officer taking notice of his +agitation, he said, "Ah! sir, now the sins of my youth crowd upon my +mind; but I hope God will enlighten me, lest I sleep the sleep of death, +and lest mine enemies say, we have prevailed." Soon after he said, +"I hope my repentance is sincere, and will be accepted, in which case +the blood of Christ will wash me from my crimes." He then told the +officer he should repeat the song of Simeon; at the conclusion of which +the executioner might do his duty. He, accordingly, said, Lord! now +lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for +mine eyes have seen thy salvation; at which words his head was +struck off at one blow.</p> + +<p>When John Kutnaur came to the place of execution, a Jesuit said +to him, "Embrace the Roman catholic faith, which alone can save +and arm you against the terrors of death." To which he replied, +"Your superstitious faith I abhor, it leads to perdition, and I wish for +no other arms against the terrors of death, than a good conscience." +The Jesuit turned away, saying, sarcastically, The protestants are +impenetrable rocks. You are mistaken, said Kutnaur, it is Christ +that is the rock, and we are firmly fixed upon him.</p> + +<p>This person not being born independent, but having acquired a fortune +by a mechanical employment, was ordered to be hanged.—Just +before he was turned off, he said, "I die, not for having committed any +crime, but for following the dictates of my own conscience, and defending +my country and religion."</p> + +<p>Simeon Sussickey was father-in-law to Kutnaur, and like him, was +ordered to be executed on a gallows. He went cheerfully to death +and appeared impatient to be executed, saying, "Every moment delays +me from entering into the kingdom of Christ."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nathaniel Wodnianskey was hanged for having supported the protestant +cause, and the election of Frederic to the crown of Bohemia. +At the gallows, the Jesuits did all in their power to induce him to renounce +his faith. Finding their endeavours ineffectual, one of them +said, If you will not abjure your heresy, at least repent of your rebellion! +To which Wodnianskey replied, "You take away our lives under +a pretended charge of rebellion; and, not content with that, seek +to destroy our souls; glut yourselves with blood, and be satisfied; but +tamper not with our consciences."</p> + +<p>Wodnianskey's own son then approached the gallows, and said to +his father, "Sir, if life should be offered to you on condition of apostacy, +I entreat you to remember Christ, and reject such pernicious overtures." +To this the father replied, "It is very acceptable, my son, to +be exhorted to constancy by you; but suspect me not; rather endeavour +to confirm in their faith your brothers, sisters, and children, and +teach them to imitate that constancy of which I shall leave them +an example." He had no sooner concluded these words than +he was turned off, receiving the crown of martyrdom with great fortitude.</p> + +<p>Winceslaus Gisbitzkey, during his whole confinement, had great +hopes of life given him, which made his friends fear for the safety of +his soul. He, however, continued steadfast in his faith, prayed fervently +at the gallows, and met his fate with singular resignation.</p> + +<p>Martin Foster was an ancient cripple; the accusations against whom +were, being charitable to heretics, and lending money to the elector +Frederic. His great wealth, however, seems to have been his principal +crime; and that he might be plundered of his treasures, was the +occasion of his being ranked in this illustrious list of martyrs.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>GENERAL PERSECUTIONS IN GERMANY.</h3> + +<p>The general persecutions in Germany were principally occasioned +by the doctrines and ministry of Martin Luther. Indeed, the pope was +so terrified at the success of that courageous reformer, that he determined +to engage the emperor, Charles the Fifth, at any rate, in the +scheme to attempt their extirpation.</p> + +<p>To this end;</p> + +<p>1. He gave the emperor two hundred thousand crowns in ready +money.</p> + +<p>2. He promised to maintain twelve thousand foot, and five thousand +horse, for the space of six months, or during a campaign.</p> + +<p>3. He allowed the emperor to receive one-half the revenues of the +clergy of the empire during the war.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>4. He permitted the emperor to pledge the abbey lands for five hundred +thousand crowns, to assist in carrying on hostilities against the +protestants.</p> + +<p>Thus prompted and supported, the emperor undertook the extirpation +of the protestants, against whom, indeed, he was particularly enraged +himself; and, for this purpose, a formidable army was raised in +Germany, Spain and Italy.</p> + +<p>The protestant princes, in the mean time, formed a powerful confederacy, +in order to repel the impending blow. A great army was raised, +and the command given to the elector of Saxony, and the landgrave of +Hesse. The imperial forces were commanded by the emperor of Germany +in person, and the eyes of all Europe were turned on the event of +the war.</p> + +<p>At length the armies met, and a desperate engagement ensued, in +which the protestants were defeated, and the elector of Saxony, and +landgrave of Hesse, both taken prisoners. This fatal blow was succeeded +by a horrid persecution, the severities of which were such, that +exile might be deemed a mild fate, and concealment in a dismal wood +pass for happiness. In such times a cave is a palace, a rock a bed of +down, and wild roots delicacies.</p> + +<p>Those who were taken experienced the most cruel tortures the infernal +imaginations could invent; and, by their constancy evinced that a +real christian can surmount every difficulty, and despise ever danger +to acquire a crown of martyrdom.</p> + +<p>Henry Voes and John Esch, being apprehended as protestants, were +brought to examination; when Voes, answering for himself and the other, +gave the following answers to some questions asked by a priest, who +examined them by order of the magistracy.</p> + +<p><i>Priest.</i> Were you not both, some years ago, Augustine friars?</p> + +<p><i>Voes.</i> Yes.</p> + +<p><i>Priest.</i> How came you to quit the bosom of the church of Rome?</p> + +<p><i>Voes.</i> On account of her abominations.</p> + +<p><i>Priest.</i> In what do you believe?</p> + +<p><i>Voes.</i> In the Old and New Testaments.</p> + +<p><i>Priest.</i> Do you believe in the writings of the fathers, and the decrees +of the councils?</p> + +<p><i>Voes.</i> Yes, if they agree with Scripture.</p> + +<p><i>Priest.</i> Did not Martin Luther seduce you both?</p> + +<p><i>Voes.</i> He seduced us even in the very same manner as Christ seduced +the apostles; that is, he made us sensible of the frailty of our +bodies, and the value of our souls.</p> + +<p>This examination was sufficient; they were both condemned to the +flames, and soon after, suffered with that manly fortitude which becomes +christians, when they receive a crown of martyrdom.</p> + +<p>Henry Sutphen, an eloquent and pious preacher, was taken out of +his bed in the middle of the night, and compelled to walk barefoot a +considerable way, so that his feet were terribly cut. He desired a +horse, but his conductors said, in derision, A horse for a heretic! no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +no, heretics may go barefoot. When he arrived at the place of his +destination, he was condemned to be burnt; but, during the execution, +many indignities were offered him, as those who attended not content +with what he suffered in the flames, cut and slashed him in a most terrible +manner.</p> + +<p>Many were murdered at Halle; Middleburg being taken by storm +all the protestants were put to the sword, and great numbers were +burned at Vienna.</p> + +<p>An officer being sent to put a minister to death, pretended, when +he came to the clergyman's house, that his intentions were only to +pay him a visit. The minister, not suspecting the intended cruelty, +entertained his supposed guest in a very cordial manner. As soon as +dinner was over, the officer said to some of his attendants, "Take +this clergyman, and hang him." The attendants themselves were so +shocked, after the civility they had seen, that they hesitated to perform +the commands of their master; and the minister said, "Think +what a sting will remain on your conscience, for thus violating the +laws of hospitality." The officer, however, insisted upon being obeyed, +and the attendants, with reluctance, performed the execrable office of +executioners.</p> + +<p>Peter Spengler, a pious divine, of the town of Schalet, was thrown +into the river, and drowned. Before he was taken to the banks of the +stream which was to become his grave, they led him to the market-place, +that his crimes might be proclaimed; which were, not going to +mass, not making confession, and not believing in transubstantiation. +After this ceremony was over, he made a most excellent discourse to +the people, and concluded with a kind of hymn, of a very edifying +nature.</p> + +<p>A protestant gentleman being ordered to lose his head for not renouncing +his religion, went cheerfully to the place of execution. A +friar came to him, and said these words in a low tone of voice, "As +you have a great reluctance publicly to abjure your faith, whisper +your confession in my ear, and I will absolve your sins." To this +the gentleman loudly replied, "Trouble me not, friar, I have confessed +my sins to God, and obtained absolution through the merits of Jesus +Christ." Then turning to the executioner, he said, "Let me not be +pestered with these men, but perform your duty." On which his head +was struck off at a single blow.</p> + +<p>Wolfgang Scuch, and John Huglin, two worthy ministers, were +burned, as was Leonard Keyser, a student of the university of Wertembergh; +and George Carpenter, a Bavarian, was hanged for refusing +to recant protestantism.</p> + +<p>The persecutions in Germany having subsided many years, again +broke out in 1630, on account of the war between the emperor and the +king of Sweden, for the latter was a protestant prince, and consequently +the protestants of Germany espoused his cause, which greatly exasperated +the emperor against them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>The imperialists having laid siege to the town of Passewalk, (which +was defended by the Swedes) took it by storm, and committed the +most horrid cruelties on the occasion. They pulled down the churches, +burnt the houses, pillaged the properties, massacred the ministers, +put the garrison to the sword, hanged the townsmen, ravished the women, +smothered the children, &c. &c.</p> + +<p>A most bloody tragedy was transacted at Magdeburg, in the year +1631. The generals Tilly and Pappenheim, having taken that protestant +city by storm, upwards of 20,000 persons, without distinction +of rank, sex, or age, were slain during the carnage, and 6,000 were +drowned in attempting to escape over the river Elbe. After this fury +had subsided, the remaining inhabitants were stripped naked, severely +scourged, had their ears cropped, and being yoked together like oxen +were turned adrift.</p> + +<p>The town of Hoxter was taken by the popish army, and all the inhabitants +as well as the garrison, were put to the sword; when the +houses being set on fire, the bodies were consumed in the flames.</p> + +<p>At Griphenburg, when the imperial forces prevailed, they shut up +the senators in the senate-chamber, and surrounding it by lighted straw +suffocated them.</p> + +<p>Franhendal surrendered upon articles of capitulation, yet the inhabitants +were as cruelly used as at other places, and at Heidelburg, many +were shut up in prison and starved.</p> + +<p>The cruelties used by the imperial troops, under count Tilly in Saxony, +are thus enumerated.</p> + +<p>Half strangling, and recovering the persons again repeatedly. Rolling +sharp wheels over the fingers and toes. Pinching the thumbs in a +vice. Forcing the most filthy things down the throat, by which many +were choked. Tying cords round the head so tight that the blood +gushed out of the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. Fastening burning +matches to the fingers, toes, ears, arms, legs, and even tongue. Putting +powder in the mouth and setting fire to it, by which the head was +shattered to pieces. Tying bags of powder to all parts of the body, +by which the person was blown up. Drawing cords backwards and +forwards through the fleshy parts. Making incisions with bodkins +and knives in the skin. Running wires through the nose, ears, lips, +&c. Hanging protestants up by the legs, with their heads over a fire, +by which they were smoked dried. Hanging up by one arm till it was +dislocated. Hanging upon hooks by the ribs. Forcing people to drink +till they burst. Baking many in hot ovens. Fixing weights to the +feet, and drawing up several with pulleys. Hanging, stifling, roasting, +stabbing, frying, racking, ravishing, ripping open, breaking the +bones, rasping off the flesh, tearing with wild horses, drowning, strangling, +burning, broiling, crucifying, immuring, poisoning, cutting off +tongues, nose, ears, &c. sawing off the limbs, hacking to pieces, and +drawing by the heels through the streets.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>The enormous cruelties will be a perpetual stain on the memory of +count Tilly, who not only permitted, but even commanded the troops +to put them in practice. Wherever he came, the most horrid barbarities, +and cruel depredations ensued: famine and conflagration marked +his progress: for he destroyed all the provisions he could not take with +him, and burnt all the towns before he left them; so that the full result +of his conquests were murder, poverty, and desolation.</p> + +<p>An aged and pious divine they stripped naked, tied him on his back +upon a table, and fastened a large fierce cat upon his belly. They +then pricked and tormented the cat in such a manner, that the creature +with rage tore his belly open, and knawed his bowels.</p> + +<p>Another minister, and his family, were seized by these inhuman +monsters; when they ravished his wife and daughter before his face; +stuck his infant son upon the point of a lance, and then surrounding +him with his whole library of books, they set fire to them, and he was +consumed in the midst of the flames.</p> + +<p>In Hesse-Cassel some of the troops entered an hospital, in which +were principally mad women, when stripping all the poor wretches +naked, they made them run about the streets for their diversion, and +then put them all to death.</p> + +<p>In Pomerania, some of the imperial troops entering a small town, +seized upon all the young women, and girls of upwards of ten years, +and then placing their parents in a circle, they ordered them to sing +psalms, while they ravished their children, or else they swore they +would cut them to pieces afterward. They then took all the married +women who had young children, and threatened, if they did not consent +to the gratification of their lusts, to burn their children before +their faces in a large fire, which they had kindled for that purpose.</p> + +<p>A band of count Tilly's soldiers meeting a company of merchants +belonging to Basil, who were returning from the great market of Strasburg, +they attempted to surround them: all escaped, however, but ten, +leaving their properties behind. The ten who were taken begged +hard for their lives; but the soldiers murdered them saying, You must +die because you are heretics, and have got no money.</p> + +<p>The same soldiers met with two countesses, who, together with some +young ladies, the daughters of one of them, were taking an airing in a +landau. The soldiers spared their lives, but treated them with the +greatest indecency, and having stripped them all stark naked, bade +the coachman drive on.</p> + +<p>By means and mediation of Great Britain, peace was at length restored +to Germany, and the protestants remained unmolested for several +years, till some new disturbances broke out in the Palatinate +which were thus occasioned.</p> + +<p>The great church of the Holy Ghost, at Heidelburg, had, for many +years, been shared equally by the protestants and Roman catholics +in this manner: the protestants performed divine service in the nave +or body of the church; and the Roman catholics celebrated mass in +the choir. Though this had been the custom time immemorial, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +elector Palatinate, at length, took it into his head not to suffer it any +longer, declaring, that as Heidelburg was the place of his residence, +and the church of the Holy Ghost the cathedral of his principal city, +divine service ought to be performed only according to the rites of the +church of which he was a member. He then forbade the protestants +to enter the church, and put the papists in possession of the whole.</p> + +<p>The aggrieved people applied to the protestant powers for redress, +which so much exasperated the elector, that he suppressed the Heidelburg +catechism. The protestant powers, however, unanimously +agreed to demand satisfaction, as the elector, by this conduct, had +broke an article of the treaty of Westphalia; and the courts of Great +Britain, Prussia, Holland, &c., sent deputies to the elector, to represent +the injustice of his proceedings, and to threaten, unless he changed +his behaviour to the protestants in the Palatinate, that they would +treat their Roman catholic subjects with the greatest severity. Many +violent disputes took place between the Protestant powers and those +of the elector, and these were greatly augmented by the following incident; +the coach of the Dutch minister standing before the door of +the resident sent by the prince of Hesse, the host was by chance carrying +to a sick person; the coachman took not the least notice, which +those who attended the host observing, pulled him from his box, and +compelled him to kneel: this violence to the domestic of a public minister, +was highly resented by all the protestant deputies; and still +more to heighten these differences, the protestants presented to the deputies +three additional articles of complaint.</p> + +<p>1. That military executions were ordered against all protestant +shoemakers who should refuse to contribute to the masses of St. +Crispin.</p> + +<p>2. That the protestants were forbid to work on popish holydays +even in harvest time, under very heavy penalties, which occasioned +great inconveniences, and considerably prejudiced public business.</p> + +<p>3. That several protestant ministers had been dispossessed of their +churches, under pretence of their having been originally founded and +built by Roman Catholics.</p> + +<p>The protestant deputies, at length became so serious, as to intimate +to the elector, that force of arms should compel him to do the justice +he denied to their representations. This menace brought him to +reason, as he well knew the impossibility of carrying on a war against +the powerful states who threatened him. He, therefore, agreed, that +the body of the church of the Holy Ghost should be restored to the protestants. +He restored the Heidelburg catechism, put the protestant +ministers again in possession of the churches of which they had +been dispossessed, allowed the protestants to work on popish holydays, +and, ordered, that no person should be molested for not kneeling when +the host passed by.</p> + +<p>These things he did through fear; but to show his resentment to +his protestant subjects, in other circumstances where protestant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +states had no right to interfere, he totally abandoned Heidelburg, removing +all the courts of justice to Manheim, which was entirely inhabited +by Roman catholics. He likewise built a new palace there, making +it his place of residence; and, being followed by the Roman catholics +of Heidelburg, Manheim became a flourishing place.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the protestants of Heidelburg sunk into poverty +and many of them became so distressed, as to quit their native country, +and seek an asylum in protestant states. A great number of +these coming into England, in the time of queen Anne, were cordially +received there, and met with a most humane assistance, both by public +and private donations.</p> + +<p>In 1732, above 30,000 protestants were, contrary to the treaty of +Westphalia, driven from the archbishopric of Saltzburg. They went +away to the depth of winter, with scarce clothes to cover them, and +without provisions, not having permission to take any thing with them. +The cause of these poor people not being publicly espoused by such +states as could obtain them redress, they emigrated to various protestant +countries, and settled in places where they could enjoy the free +exercise of their religion, without hurting their consciences, and live +free from the trammels of popish superstition, and the chains of papal +tyranny.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Persecutions in the Netherlands.</i></div> + +<p>The light of the gospel having successfully spread over the Netherlands, +the pope instigated the emperor to commence a persecution +against the protestants; when many thousand fell martyrs to superstitious +malice and barbarous bigotry, among whom the most remarkable +were the following:</p> + +<p>Wendelinuta, a pious protestant widow, was apprehended on account +of her religion, when several monks, unsuccessfully, endeavoured +to persuade her to recant. As they could not prevail, a Roman +catholic lady of her acquaintance desired to be admitted to the dungeon +in which she was confined, and promised to exert herself strenuously +towards inducing the prisoner to abjure the reformed religion. +When she was admitted to the dungeon, she did her utmost to perform +the task she had undertaken; but finding her endeavours ineffectual, +she said, Dear Wendelinuta, if you will not embrace our faith, at least +keep the things which you profess secret within your own bosom, and +strive to prolong your life. To which the widow replied, Madam +you know not what you say; for with the heart we believe to righteousness, +but with the tongue confession is made unto salvation. As +she positively refused to recant, her goods were confiscated, and she +was condemned to be burnt. At the place of execution a monk held +a cross to her, and bade her kiss and worship God. To which she +answered, "I worship no wooden god, but the eternal God who is in +heaven." She was then executed, but through the before-mentioned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +Roman catholic lady, the favour was granted, that she should be strangled +before fire was put to the fagots.</p> + +<p>Two protestant clergymen were burnt at Colen; a tradesman of +Antwerp, named Nicholas, was tied up in a sack, thrown into the river, +and drowned; and Pistorius, a learned student, was carried to the +market of a Dutch village in a fool's coat, and committed to the flames.</p> + +<p>Sixteen protestants having received sentence to be beheaded, a protestant +minister was ordered to attend the execution. This gentleman +performed the function of his office with great propriety, exhorted +them to repentance, and gave them comfort in the mercies of their +Redeemer. As soon as the sixteen were beheaded, the magistrate +cried out to the executioner, "There is another stroke remaining yet; +you must behead the minister; he can never die at a better time than +with such excellent precepts in his mouth, and such laudable examples +before him." He was accordingly beheaded, though even many +of the Roman catholics themselves reprobated this piece of treacherous +and unnecessary cruelty.</p> + +<p>George Scherter, a minister of Saltzburg, was apprehended and +committed to prison for instructing his flock in the knowledge of the +gospel. While he was in confinement he wrote a confession of his +faith; soon after which he was condemned, first to be beheaded, and afterward +to be burnt to ashes. In his way to the place of execution he +said to the spectators, "That you may know I die a true christian, I +will give you a sign." This was indeed verified in a most singular +manner; for after his head was cut off, the body lying a short space of +time with the belly to the ground, it suddenly turned upon the back, +when the right foot crossed over the left, as did also the right arm over +the left: and in this manner it remained till it was committed to the +flames.</p> + +<p>In Louviana, a learned man, named Percinal, was murdered in prison; +and Justus Insparg was beheaded, for having Luther's sermons in +his <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'possesion'">possession</ins>.</p> + +<p>Giles Tilleman, a cutler of Brussels, was a man of great humanity +and piety. Among others he was apprehended as a protestant, and +many endeavours were made by the monks to persuade him to recant. +He had once, by accident, a fair opportunity of escaping from prison +and being asked why he did not avail himself of it, he replied, "I +would not do the keepers so much injury, as they must have answered +for my absence, had I gone away." When he was sentenced to be +burnt, he fervently thanked God for granting him an opportunity, by +martyrdom, to glorify his name. Perceiving, at the place of execution, +a great quantity of fagots, he desired the principal part of them might +be given to the poor, saying, a small quantity will suffice to consume +me. The executioner offered to strangle him before the fire was lighted, +but he would not consent, telling him that he defied the flames +and, indeed, he gave up the ghost with such composure amidst them +that he hardly seemed sensible of their effects.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the year 1543 and 1544, the persecution was carried on throughout +all Flanders, in a most violent and cruel manner. Some were +condemned to perpetual imprisonment, others to perpetual banishment +but most were put to death either by hanging, drowning, immuring, +burning, the rack, or burying alive.</p> + +<p>John de Boscane, a zealous protestant, was apprehended on account +of his faith, in the city of Antwerp. On his trial, he steadfastly +professed himself to be of the reformed religion, which occasioned +his immediate condemnation. The magistrate, however, was afraid +to put him to death publicly, as he was popular through his great generosity, +and almost universally beloved for his inoffensive life, and exemplary +piety. A private execution being determined on, an order +was given to drown him in prison. The executioner, accordingly, put +him in a large tub; but Boscane struggling, and getting his head above +the water, the executioner stabbed him with a dagger in several +places, till he expired.</p> + +<p>John de Buisons, another protestant, was, about the same time, secretly +apprehended, and privately executed at Antwerp. The number +of protestants being great in that city, and the prisoner much respected, +the magistrates feared an insurrection, and for that reason ordered +him to be beheaded in prison.</p> + +<p>A. D. 1568, three persons were apprehended in Antwerp, named +Scoblant, Hues, and Coomans. During their confinement they behaved +with great fortitude and cheerfulness, confessing that the hand +of God appeared in what had befallen them, and bowing down before +the throne of his providence. In an epistle to some worthy protestants, +they express themselves in the following words; Since it is the will of +the Almighty that we should suffer for his name, and be persecuted for +the sake of his gospel, we patiently submit, and are joyful upon the +occasion; though the flesh may rebel against the spirit, and hearken +to the council of the old serpent, yet the truths of the gospel shall prevent +such advice from being taken, and Christ shall bruise the serpent's +head. We are not comfortless to confinement, for we have +faith; we fear not affliction, for we have hope; and we forgive our enemies, +for we have charity. Be not under apprehensions for us, we +are happy in confinement through the promises of God, glory in our +bonds, and exult in being thought worthy to suffer for the sake of +Christ. We desire not to be released, but to be blessed with fortitude, +we ask not liberty, but the power of perseverance; and wish for no +change in our condition, but that which places a crown of martyrdom +upon our heads.</p> + +<p>Scoblant was first brought to his trial; when, persisting in the +profession of his faith, he received sentence of death. On his return +to prison, he earnestly requested the jailer not to permit any friar to +come near him; saying, "They can do me no good, but may greatly +disturb me. I hope my salvation is already sealed in heaven, and +that the blood of Christ, in which I firmly put my trust, hath washed +me from my iniquities. I am now going to throw off this mantle of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +clay, to be clad in robes of eternal glory, by whose celestial brightness +I shall be freed from all errors. I hope I may be the last martyr +to papal tyranny, and the blood already spilt found sufficient to +quench the thirst of popish cruelty; that the church of Christ may +have rest here, as his servants will hereafter." On the day of execution, +he took a pathetic leave of his fellow-prisoners. At the stake +he fervently said the Lord's Prayer, and sung the fortieth psalm; then +commending his soul to God, he was burnt alive.</p> + +<p>Hues, soon after, died in prison; upon which occasion Coomans +wrote thus to his friends, "I am now deprived of my friends and +companions; Scoblant is martyred, and Hues dead, by the visitation +of the Lord; yet I am not alone, I have with me the God of Abraham, +of Isaac, and of Jacob; he is my comfort, and shall be my reward. +Pray unto God to strengthen me to the end, as I expect every +hour to be freed from this tenement of clay."</p> + +<p>On his trial he freely confessed himself of the reformed religion, +answered with a manly fortitude to every charge against him, and +proved the scriptural part of his answers from the gospel. The judge +told him the only alternatives were, recantation or death; and concluded +by saying, "Will you die for the faith you profess?" To +which Coomans replied, "I am not only willing to die, but to suffer +the most excruciating torments for it; after which my soul shall receive +its confirmation from God himself, in the midst of eternal +glory." Being condemned, he went cheerfully to the place of execution, +and died with the most manly fortitude, and christian resignation.</p> + +<p>William Nassau fell a sacrifice to treachery, being assassinated in +the fifty-first year of his age, by Beltazar Gerard, a native of Franche +Compte, in the province of Burgundy. This murderer, in hopes of a +reward here and hereafter, for killing an enemy to the king of Spain +and an enemy to the catholic religion, undertook to destroy the prince +of Orange. Having procured fire arms, he watched him as he passed +through the great hall of his palace to dinner, and demanded a passport. +The princess of Orange, observing that the assassin spoke with +a hollow and confused voice, asked who he was? saying, she did not +like his countenance. The prince answered, it was one that demanded +a passport, which he should presently have.</p> + +<p>Nothing farther passed before dinner, but on the return of the +prince and princess through the same hall, after dinner was over, the +assassin, standing concealed as much as possible by one of the pillars, +fired at the prince, the balls entering at the left side, and passing +through the right, wounding in their passage the stomach and vital +parts. On receiving the wounds, the prince only said, Lord, have +mercy upon my soul, and upon these poor people, and then expired immediately.</p> + +<p>The lamentations throughout the United Provinces were general, +on account of the death of the prince of Orange; and the assassin +who was immediately taken, received sentence to be put to death in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +the most exemplary manner, yet such was his enthusiasm, or folly +that when his flesh was torn by red-hot pincers, he coolly said, If I +was at liberty, I would commit such an action over again.</p> + +<p>The prince of Orange's funeral was the grandest ever seen in the +Low Countries, and perhaps the sorrow for his death the most sincere, +as he left behind him the character he honestly deserved, viz. that of +Father of his people.</p> + +<p>To conclude, multitudes were murdered in different parts of Flanders; +in the city of Valence, in particular, fifty-seven of the principal +inhabitants were butchered in one day, for refusing to embrace +the Romish superstition; and great numbers were suffered to languish +in confinement, till they perished through the inclemency of their dungeons.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN LITHUANIA AND POLAND.</h3> + + +<p>The persecutions in Lithuania began in 1648, and were carried on +with great severity by the Cossacks and Tartars. The cruelty of +the Cossacks was much, that even the Tartars, at last, grew ashamed +of it, and rescued some of the intended victims from their hands.</p> + +<p>The barbarities exercised were these: skinning alive, cutting off +hands, taking out the bowels, cutting the flesh open, putting out the +eyes, beheading, scalping, cutting off feet, boring the shin bones, pouring +melted lead into the flesh, hanging, stabbing, and sending to perpetual +banishment.</p> + +<p>The Russians, taking advantage of the devastations which had +been made in the country, and of its incapability of defence, entered +it with a considerable army, and, like a flood, bore down all before +them. Every thing they met with was an object of destruction; they +razed cities, demolished castles, ruined fortresses, sacked towns, +burnt villages, and murdered people. The ministers of the gospel +were peculiarly marked out as the objects of their displeasure, +though every worthy christian was liable to the effects of their +cruelty.</p> + +<p>As Lithuania recovered itself after one persecution, succeeding +enemies again destroyed it. The Swedes, the Prussians, and the +Courlanders, carried fire and sword through it, and continual calamities, +for some years, attended that unhappy district. It was then attacked +by the prince of Transylvania, who had in his army, exclusive +of his own Transylvanians, Hungarians, Moldavians, Servians, Walachians, +&c. These, as far as they penetrated, wasted the country, +destroyed the churches, rifled the nobility, burnt the houses, enslaved +the healthy, and murdered the sick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>A clergyman, who wrote an account of the misfortunes of Lithuania, +in the seventeenth century, says, "In consideration of these extremities, +we cannot but adore the judgment of God poured upon us +for our sins, and deplore our sad condition. Let us hope for a deliverance +from his mercy, and wish for restitution in his benevolence. +Though we are brought low, though we are wasted, troubled, and terrified, +yet his compassion is greater than our calamities, and his goodness +superior to our afflictions. Our neighbours hate us at present, as +much as our more distant enemies did before; they persecute the remnant +of us still remaining, deprive us of our few churches left, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ban- s hour'">banish our</ins> +preachers, abuse our schoolmasters, treat us with contempt, +and oppress us in the most opprobrious manner. In all our afflictions +the truth of the gospel shone among us, and gave us comfort; and we +only wished for the grace of Jesus Christ, (not only to ourselves, but +to soften the hearts of our enemies) and the sympathy of our fellow +christians."</p> + +<p>The protestants of Poland were persecuted in a dreadful manner. +The ministers in particular were treated with the most unexampled +barbarity; some having their tongues cut out, because they had preached +the gospel truths; others being deprived of their sight on account of +their having read the bible; and great numbers were cut to pieces for +not recanting.</p> + +<p>Private persons were put to death by various methods; the most cruel +being usually preferred. Women were murdered without the least regard +to their sex; and the persecutors even went so far as to cut off +the heads of sucking babes, and fasten them to the breasts of the +mothers.</p> + +<p>Even the solemnity of the grave did not exempt the bodies of protestants +from the malice of persecutors; for they sacrilegiously dug up the +bodies of many eminent persons, and either cut them to pieces, and +exposed them to be devoured by birds and beasts, or hung them up in +conspicuous or public places.</p> + +<p>The city of Lesna particularly suffered in this persecution; for being +besieged and taken, the inhabitants were all put to the sword.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN CHINA AND SEVERAL +OTHER COUNTRIES.</h3> + + +<p>Christianity was first established in China by three Italian missionaries, +called Roger the Neapolitan, Pasis of Bologne, and Matthew +Ricci of Mazerata, in the marquisate of Ancona. These entered China +about the beginning of the sixteenth century, being well circumstanced +to perform their important commission with success, as they had previously +studied the Chinese language.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>These three missionaries were very assiduous to the discharge of +their duty; but Roger and Pasis returning to Europe in a few years, +the whole labour fell upon Ricci, who aimed to establish christianity +with a degree of zeal that was indefatigable.</p> + +<p>Ricci, though much disposed to indulge his converts as far as possible, +made great hesitation at their ceremonies, which seemed to amount +to idolatry. At length, after eighteen years consideration, he began +to soften his opinion, and tolerated all the parts of those customs which +were ordered by the laws of the empire, but strictly <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'enj ned'">enjoined</ins> his +Chinese christians to omit the rest.</p> + +<p>This was the condition of christianity in China, when the christian +church established there was governed only by Ricci, who, by his moderation, +made innumerable converts. In 1630, however, his tranquility +was disturbed by the arrival of some new missionaries, these +being unacquainted with the Chinese customs, manners, and language, +and with the arguments on which Ricci's toleration was founded, were +astonished when they saw christian converts prostrate before Confucius +and the tables of their ancestors, and condemned the custom +accordingly.</p> + +<p>A warm controversy now ensued between Ricci, seconded by his +converts, and the new missionaries; and the latter wrote an account of +the whole affair to the pope, and the society for the propagation of the +christian faith. The society soon pronounced, that the ceremonies +were idolatrous and intolerable, and the pope confirmed the sentence. +In this both the society and the pope were excusable, as the matter +had been misrepresented to them; for the enemies of Ricci had affirmed +the halls, in which the ceremonies were performed, to be temples, and +the ceremonies themselves idolatrous sacrifices.</p> + +<p>The sentence above mentioned was sent over to China, but treated +with contempt, and matters remained as they were for some time. At +length, a true representation of the matter was sent over, setting forth, +that the Chinese customs and ceremonies alluded to were entirely free +from idolatry, being merely political, and tending only to the peace +and welfare of the empire. The pope, finding that he had made himself +ridiculous, by confirming an absurd sentence upon a false report, +wanted to get rid of the affair, and therefore referred the representation +to the inquisition, which reversed the sentence immediately, +at the private desire of the pope, as may be naturally supposed.</p> + +<p>The christian church, for all these divisions, flourished in China till +the death of the first Tartar emperor, whose successor was a minor. +During this minority of the young emperor Cang-hi, the regents and +nobles conspired to extirpate the christian religion. The execution of +this design was begun with expedition, and carried on with severity, so +that every christian teacher in China, as well as those who professed +the faith, were struck with amazement. John Adam Schall, a German +ecclesiastic, and one of the principals of the mission, was thrown +into a dungeon in the year 1664, being then in the seventy-fourth year +of his age, and narrowly escaped with his life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>The ensuing year, viz. 1665, the ministers of state publicly and +unanimously resolved, and made a decree specifying, viz.</p> + +<p>1. That the christian doctrines were false.</p> + +<p>2. That they were dangerous to the interest of the empire.</p> + +<p>3. That they should not be practised under pain of death.</p> + +<p>The publication of this decree occasioned a furious general persecution, +in which some were put to death, many were ruined, and all +were, in some manner, oppressed. This decree was general, and the +persecution universal accordingly throughout the empire; for, previous +to this, the christians had been partially persecuted at different times, +and in different provinces.</p> + +<p>Four years after, viz. 1669, the young emperor was declared of age, +and took the reins of government upon himself, when the persecution +immediately ceased by his order.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the Persecutions in Japan.</i></div> + +<p>Christianity was first introduced into the idolatrous empire of Japan +by some Portuguese missionaries in the year of our Lord 1552, and +their endeavours in making converts to the light of the gospel met with +a degree of success equal to their most sanguine wishes.</p> + +<p>This continued till the year 1616, when the missionaries being accused +of having concerned themselves in politics, and formed a plan +to subvert the government, and dethrone the emperor, great jealousies +subsisted till 1622, when the court ordered a dreadful persecution to +commence against both foreign and native christians. Such was the +rage of this persecution, that, during the first four years, no less than +20,570 christians were massacred. The public profession of christianity +was prohibited under pain of death, and the churches were shut +up by an express edict.</p> + +<p>Many who were informed against, as privately professing christianity, +suffered martyrdom with great heroism. The persecution continued +many years, when the remnant of the innumerable christians, with +which Japan abounded, to the number of 37,000 souls, retired to the +town and castle of Siniabara, in the island of Xinio, where they determined +to make a stand, to continue in their faith, and to defend +themselves to the very last extremity.</p> + +<p>The Japanese army pursued the christians, and laid siege to the +place. The christians defended themselves with great bravery, and +held out against the besiegers for the space of three months, but were +at length compelled to surrender, when men, women and children, were +indiscriminately murdered; and christianity, in their martyrdoms, entirely +extirpated from Japan.</p> + +<p>This event took place on the 12th of April, 1638, since which +period no christians but the Dutch are allowed to land in the empire, +and even they are obliged to conduct themselves with the greatest +precaution, and to carry on their commerce with the utmost circumspection.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the Persecutions against the Christians in Abyssinia, +or Ethiopia.</i></div> + +<p>Towards the conclusion of the fifteenth century, and soon after the +discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, some Portuguese missionaries +made a voyage to Abyssinia, and were indefatigable in propagating +the Roman catholic doctrine among the Abyssinians, who professed +christianity before the arrival of the missionaries.</p> + +<p>The priests, employed in this mission, gained such an influence at +court, that the emperor consented to abolish the established rites of +the Ethiopian church, and to admit those of Rome. He soon after +consented to receive a patriarch from Rome, and to acknowledge the +pope's supremacy.</p> + +<p>Many of the most powerful lords, and a majority of the people who +professed the primitive christianity, as first established in Abyssinia, +opposed these innovations, and took up arms against the emperor.—Thus, +by the artifices of the court of Rome, and its emissaries, a +most furious civil war was begun, and the whole empire thrown into +commotion. This war was carried on through several reigns, its +continuance being above 100 years, and the court constantly siding +with the Roman catholics, the primitive christians of Abyssinia were +severely persecuted, and multitudes perished by the most inhuman +means.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the Persecutions against the Christians in Turkey.</i></div> + +<p>Mahomet, (the impostor) in the infancy of his new religion, tolerated +christianity through a political motive, as he was sensible, that even +in those early times it had several powerful espousers among the +princes, who were his cotemporaries. As a proof that this was his +sole view, as soon as he found his doctrine was established on a more +permanent situation, he altered his forbearance to a system of the +most rigid and barbarous persecution; which diabolical plan he has +particularly recommended to his misguided followers, in that part of +his Alcoran, entitled The Chapter of the Sword; and as proofs of the +blind zeal his followers have adopted from his infernal tenets, the many +bloody battles of the Turks with the whole of the professors of Christ's +gospel, and their cruel massacres of them at various periods, sufficiently +evince.</p> + +<p>Constantine was, in the year 1453, besieged in Constantinople, by +Mahomet the Second, with an army of 300,000 men, when, after a +bloody siege of about six week, on the 29th of May, 1453, it fell into +the hands of the infidels, after being an imperial christian city for some +centuries; and the Turks have, to this day, retained possession of it, +as well as of the adjoining suburb of Pera.</p> + +<p>On entering Constantinople, the Turks exercised on the wretched +christians the most unremitting barbarity, destroying them by +every method the most hellish cruelty could invent, or the most unfeeling +heart could practise: some they roasted alive on spits, others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +they flayed alive, and in that horrid manner left to expire with hunger; +many were sawed asunder, and others torn to pieces by horses.—For +full three days and nights the Turks were striving to exceed +each other in the exercise of their shocking carnage, and savage barbarity; +murdering, without distinction of age or sex, all they met, and +brutishly violating the chastity of women, of every distinction +and age.</p> + +<p>During the year 1529, Solyman the First retook Buda from the +christians, and showed the most horrible persecution of the inhabitants; +some had their eyes torn out, others their hands, ears, and noses +cut off, and the children their privities, the virgins were deflowered, +the matrons had their breasts cut off, and such as were pregnant had +their wombs ripped open, and their unborn babes thrown into the +flames. Not content with this, he repeated these horrid examples all +the way on his march to Vienna, which he ineffectually besieged, +during which, this diabolical barbarian, having made a body of +christians prisoners, he sent three of them into the city to relate the +great strength of his army, and the rest he ordered to be torn limb +from limb by wild horses in sight of their christian brethren, who +could only lament by their cries and tears their dreadful fate.</p> + +<p>In many places the tender children were in sight of their wretched +parents torn to pieces by beasts, others dragged at horses' heels, some +famished with hunger, and others buried up to their necks in earth, +and in that manner left to perish. In short, were we to relate the +innumerable massacres and deplorable tragedies acted by the infidels, +the particulars would at least make a volume of themselves, and from +their horrid similarity be not only shocking, but disgusting to the +reader.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions and Oppressions in Georgia and Mingrelia.</i></div> + +<p>The Georgians, are christians, and being very handsome people, +the Turks and Persians persecute them by the most cruel mode of +taxation ever invented, namely, in lieu of money, they compel them +to deliver up their children for the following purposes.</p> + +<p>The females to increase the number of concubines in their seraglios, +to serve as maids of honour to sultanas, the ladies of bashaws, &c., +and to be sold to merchants of different nations, by whom the price is +proportioned to the beauty of the purchased fair one.</p> + +<p>The males are used as mutes and eunuchs in the seraglio, as clerks +in the offices of state, and as soldiers in the army.</p> + +<p>To the west of Georgia is Mingrelia, a country likewise inhabited +by christians, who are persecuted and oppressed in the same manner +as the Georgians by the Turks and Persians, their children being extorted +from them, or they murdered for refusing to consent to the sale<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Persecutions in the States of Barbary.</i></div> + +<p>In Algiers the christians are treated with particular severity; as +the Algerines are some of the most perfidious, as well as the most +cruel of all the inhabitants of Barbary. By paying a most exorbitant +fine, some christians are allowed the title of Free christians, +and these are permitted to dress in the fashion of their respective countries, +but the christian slaves are obliged to wear a coarse gray suit +and a seaman's cap.</p> + +<p>The punishments among the Algerines are various, viz.</p> + +<p>1. If they join any of the natives in open rebellion, they are strangled +with a bowstring, or hanged on an iron hook.</p> + +<p>2. If they speak against Mahomet, they must either turn Mahometan, +or be impaled alive.</p> + +<p>3. If they turn christians again, after having changed to the Mahometan +persuasion, they are roasted alive, or thrown from the city +walls, and caught upon large sharp hooks, where they hang in a miserable +manner several days, and expire in the most exquisite tortures.</p> + +<p>4. If they kill a Turk, they are burnt.</p> + +<p>5. Those christians who attempt to escape from slavery, and are +retaken, suffer death in the following manner, which is equally singular +and brutal: the criminal is hung naked on a high gallows, by two +hooks, the one fastened quite through the palm of one hand, and the +other through the sole of the opposite foot, where he is left till death +relieves him from his cruel sufferings.</p> + +<p>Other punishments, for trifling crimes committed by the christians, +are left to the discretion of the respective judges, who being usually of +malicious and vindictive dispositions, decree them in the most inhuman +manner.</p> + +<p>In Tunis, if a christian slave is caught in attempting to escape, his +limbs are all broken, and if he murders his master, he is fastened to the +tail of a horse, and dragged about the streets till he expires.</p> + +<p>Morocco and Fez conjointly form an empire, and are together the +most considerable of the Barbary states. In this empire christian +slaves are treated with the greatest cruelty: the rich have exorbitant +ransoms fixed upon them; the poor are hard worked, and half starved +sometimes murdered by the emperor, or their masters, for mere amusement.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Persecutions in Spanish America.</i></div> + +<p>The bloody tenets of the Roman catholic persuasion, and the cruel +disposition of the votaries of that church, cannot be more amply displayed +or truly depicted, than by giving an authentic and simple narrative +of the horrid barbarities exercised by the Spaniards on the innocent +and unoffending natives of America. Indeed, the barbarities +were such, that they would scarce seen credible from their enormity, +and the victims so many, that they would startle belief by their numbers, +if the facts were not indisputably ascertained, and the circumstances +admitted by their own writers, some of whom have even gloried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +in their inhumanity, and, as Roman catholics, deemed these atrocious +actions meritorious, which would make a protestant shudder to relate.</p> + +<p>The West Indies, and the vast continent of America, were discovered +by that celebrated navigator, Christopher Columbus, in 1492. +This distinguished commander landed first in the large island of St. +Domingo, or Hispaniola, which was at that time exceedingly populous, +but this population was of very little consequence, the inoffensive +inhabitants being murdered by multitudes, as soon as the Spaniards +gained a permanent footing on the island. Blind superstition, bloody +bigotry, and craving avarice, rendered that, in the course of years, a +dismal desert, which, at the arrival of the Spaniards, seemed to appear +as an earthly paradise; so that at present there is scarce a remnant of +the ancient natives remaining.</p> + +<p>The natives of Guatemala, a country of America, were used with +great barbarity. They were formerly active and valiant, but from ill +usage and oppression, grew slothful, and so dispirited, that they not +only trembled at the sight of fire-arms, but even at the very looks of +a Spaniard. Some were so plunged into despair, that after returning +home from labouring hard for their cruel taskmasters, and receiving +only contemptuous language and stripes for their pains, they have sunk +down in their cabins, with a full resolution to prefer death to such slavery; +and, in the bitterness of their anguish, have refused all sustenance +till they perished.</p> + +<p>By repeated barbarities, and the most execrable cruelties, the vindictive +and merciless Spaniards not only depopulated Hispaniola, +Porto-Rico, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahama islands, but destroyed above +12,000,000 of souls upon the continent of America, in the space of +forty years.</p> + +<p>The cruel methods by which they massacred and butchered the poor +natives, were innumerable, and of the most diabolical nature.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards stripped a large and very populous town of all its +inhabitants, whom they drove to the mines, leaving all the children +behind them, without the least idea of providing for their subsistence, +by which inhuman proceeding six thousand helpless infants perished.</p> + +<p>Whenever the people of any town had the reputation of being rich, +an order was immediately sent that every person in it should turn +Roman catholics: if this was not directly complied with, the town +was instantly plundered, and the inhabitants murdered; and if it was +complied with, a pretence was soon after made to strip the inhabitants +of their wealth.</p> + +<p>One of the Spanish governors seized upon a very worthy and amiable +Indian prince, and in order to extort from him where his treasures +were concealed, caused his feet to be burnt till the marrow dropped +from his bones, and he expired through the extremity of the torments +he underwent.</p> + +<p>In the interval, between the years 1514 and 1522, the governor of +Terra Firma put to death, and destroyed, 800,000 of the inhabitants of +that country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>Between the years 1523 and 1533, five hundred thousand natives of +Nicaragua were transported to Peru, where they all perished by incessant +labour in the mines.</p> + +<p>In the space of twelve years, from the first landing of Cortez on the +continent of America, to the entire reduction of the populous empire +of Mexico, the amazing number of 4,000,000 of Mexicans perished, +through the unparalleled barbarity of the Spaniards. To come to +particulars, the city of Cholula, consisted of 30,000 houses, by which +its great population may be imagined. The Spaniards seized on all the +inhabitants, who refusing to turn Roman catholics, as they did not know +the meaning of the religion they were ordered to embrace, the Spaniards +put them all to death, cutting to pieces the lower sort of people, and +burning those of distinction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND +PRIOR TO THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY I.</h3> + + +<p>Gildas, the most ancient British writer extant, who lived about the +time that the Saxons left the island of Great Britain, has drawn a most +shocking instance of the barbarity of those people.</p> + +<p>The Saxons, on their arrival, being heathens like the Scots and +Picts, destroyed the churches and murdered the clergy wherever they +came: but they could not destroy christianity, for those who would not +submit to the Saxon yoke, went and resided beyond the Severn. Neither +have we the names of those christian sufferers transmitted to us, +especially those of the clergy.</p> + +<p>The most dreadful instance of barbarity under the Saxon government, +was the massacre of the monks of Bangor, A. D. 586. These +monks were in all respects different from those men who bear the same +name at present.</p> + +<p>In the eighth century, the Danes, a roving crew of barbarians, landed +in different parts of Britain, both in England and Scotland.</p> + +<p>At first they were repulsed, but in A. D. 857, a party of them landed +somewhere near Southampton, and not only robbed the people, but +burnt down the churches, and murdered the clergy.</p> + +<p>In A. D. 868, these barbarians penetrated into the centre of England, +and took up their quarters at Nottingham; but the English, under +their king Ethelfrid, drove them from their posts, and obliged them +to retire to Northumberland.</p> + +<p>In 870, another body of these barbarians landed at Norfolk, and engaged +in battle with the English at Hertford. Victory declared in favour +of the pagans, who took Edmund, king of the East Angles, prisoner, +and after treating him with a thousand indignities, transfixed his +body with arrows, and then beheaded him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>In Fifeshire, in Scotland, they burnt many of the churches, and +among the rest that belonging to the Culdees, at St. Andrews. The +piety of these men made them objects of abhorrence to the Danes, who, +wherever they went singled out the christian priests for destruction, +of whom no less than 200 were massacred in Scotland.</p> + +<p>It was much the same in that part of Ireland now called Leinster, +there the Danes murdered and burnt the priests alive in their own +churches; they carried destruction along with them wherever they +went, sparing neither age nor sex, but the clergy were the most obnoxious +to them, because they ridiculed their idolatry, and persuaded +their people to have nothing to do with them.</p> + +<p>In the reign of Edward III. the church of England was extremely +corrupted with errors and superstition; and the light of the gospel of +Christ was greatly eclipsed and darkened with human inventions, +burthensome ceremonies, and gross idolatry.</p> + +<p>The followers of Wickliffe, then called Lollards, were become extremely +numerous, and the clergy were so vexed to see them increase +whatever power or influence they might have to molest them in an +underhand manner, they had no authority by law to put them to death. +However, the clergy embraced the favourable opportunity, and prevailed +upon the king to suffer a bill to be brought into parliament, by +which all Lollards who remained obstinate, should be delivered over +to the secular power, and burnt as heretics. This act was the first in +Britain for the burning of people for their religious sentiments; it +passed in the year 1401, and was soon after put into execution.</p> + +<p>The first person who suffered in consequence of this cruel act was +William Santree, or Sawtree, a priest, who was burnt to death in +Smithfield.</p> + +<p>Soon after this, lord Cobham, in consequence of his attachment to +the doctrines of Wickliffe, was accused of heresy, and being condemned +to be hanged and burnt, was accordingly executed in Loncoln's-Inn +Fields, A. D. 1419.</p> + +<p>The next man who suffered under this bloody statute was Thomas +Bradley, a tailor, and a layman; and a letter having been tendered +him, which he refused, he was declared an obstinate heretic, and tied +to the stake in Smithfield; where he was burnt alive, rejoicing in the +Lord his God.</p> + +<p>The next person we read of who was tried upon this abominable +statute, was William Thorpe, a man of some knowledge, who adhered +to all the doctrines taught by Wickliffe. He was brought many times +before archbishop Arundel, and at last committed a close prisoner, +where he died, but in what manner cannot now be ascertained.</p> + +<p>About this time 36 persons, denominated Lollards, suffered death in +St. Giles', for no other reason than professing their attachment to the +doctrines of Wickliffe. They were hung on gibbets, and fagots being +placed under them, as soon as they were suspended, fire was set to +them, so that they were burnt while hanging. Only one of their +names has been transmitted to us, which is that of Sir Roger Archer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +whom they distinguished from the rest by stripping him stark naked, +and executing him in that indecent manner.</p> + +<p>Much about the same time one Richard Turning was burnt alive +in Smithfield, and suffered with all that constancy, fortitude, and resignation, +which have so much distinguished the primitive christians.</p> + +<p>In 1428, Abraham, a monk of Colchester, Milburn White, a priest +and John Wade, a priest, were all three apprehended on a charge of +heresy.</p> + +<p>Soon after, father Abraham suffered at Colchester, and with him +John Whaddon; both of whom died in a constant adherence to the +truth of the gospel. Milburn White and John Wade suffered also +about the same time in London.</p> + +<p>In the year 1431, Richard Ilvedon, a wool-comber, and a citizen of +London, was brought before the archbishop, and being declared an +obstinate heretic, was burnt alive on Tower-hill, for no other reason +than that he embraced and professed the doctrines of Wickliffe.</p> + +<p>In the year 1431, Thomas Bagley, a priest, who had a living near +Malden, in Essex, was brought before the bishop of London, and being +declared an obstinate heretic, was condemned and burnt alive in +Smithfield.</p> + +<p>In the year 1430, Richard Wick, a priest, was burnt alive on Tower-hill, +for preaching the doctrines of Wickliffe.</p> + +<p>In 1440, some of the greatest persons in the kingdom were condemned +to perpetual imprisonment for heresy, as being Lollards;—among +whom was the dutchess of Gloucester, who had long been a follower +of Wickliffe. It was otherwise, however, with Roger Only, a +priest, who being condemned as an obstinate heretic, was burnt alive +in Smithfield.</p> + +<p>In August, 1473, one Thomas Granter was apprehended to London; +he was accused of professing the doctrines of Wickliffe, for +which he was condemned as an obstinate heretic. This pious man +being brought to the sheriff's house, on the morning of the day appointed +for his execution, desired a little refreshment, and having ate +some, he said to the people present, "I eat now a very good meal, for +I have a strange conflict to engage with before I go to supper;" and +having eaten, he returned thanks to God for the bounties of his all-gracious +providence, requesting that he might be instantly led to the +place of execution, to bear testimony to the truth of those principles +which he had professed. Accordingly he was chained to a stake on +Tower-hill, where he was burnt alive, professing the truth with his +last breath.</p> + +<p>April 28th, 1494, Joan Boughton, a lady of considerable rank, was +burnt in Smithfield for professing the doctrines of Wickliffe. This +lady was a widow, and no less than 80 years of age.</p> + +<p>In 1498, the king being then at Canterbury, a priest was brought +before him, accused of heresy, who was immediately ordered to be +burnt alive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the year 1499, one Badram, a pious man, was brought before the +bishop of Norwich, having been accused by some of the priests, with +holding the doctrines of Wickliffe. He confessed he did believe every +thing that was objected against him. For this, he was condemned as +an obstinate heretic, and a warrant was granted for his execution; accordingly +he was brought to the stake at Norwich, where he suffered +with great constancy.</p> + +<p>In 1506, one William Tilfrey, a pious man, was burnt alive at +Amersham, in a close called Stoneyprat, and at the same time, his +daughter, Joan Clarke, a married woman, was obliged to light the fagots +that were to burn her father.</p> + +<p>This year also one father Roberts, a priest, was convicted of being +a Lollard before the bishop of Lincoln, and burnt alive at Buckingham.</p> + +<p>In 1507, one Thomas Norris was burnt alive for the testimony of +the truth of the gospel, at Norwich. This man was a poor, inoffensive, +harmless person, but his parish priest conversing with him one day +conjectured he was a Lollard. In consequence of this supposition he +gave information to the bishop, and Norris was apprehended.</p> + +<p>In 1508, one Lawrence Guale, who had been kept in prison two +years, was burnt alive at Salisbury, for denying the real presence in +the sacrament. It appeared, that this man kept a shop in Salisbury +and entertained some Lollards in his house; for which he was informed +against to the bishop; but he abode by his first testimony, and was +condemned to suffer as a heretic.</p> + +<p>A pious woman was burnt at Chippen Sudburne, by order of the +chancellor, Dr. Whittenham. After she had been consumed in the +flames, and the people were returning home, a bull broke loose from a +butcher and singling out the chancellor from all the rest of the company, +he gored him through the body, and on his horns carried his entrails. +This was seen by all the people, and it is remarkable, that the +animal did not meddle with any other person whatever.</p> + +<p>October 18, 1511, William Succling and John Bannister, who had +formerly recanted, returned again to the profession of the faith, and +were burnt alive in Smithfield.</p> + +<p>In the year 1517, one John Brown, (who had recanted before in the +reign of Henry VII. and borne a fagot round St. Paul's,) was condemned +by Dr. Wonhaman, archbishop of Canterbury, and burnt alive +at Ashford. Before he was chained to the stake, the archbishop +Wonhaman, and Yester, bishop of Rochester, caused his feet to be +burnt in a fire till all the flesh came off, even to the bones. This was +done in order to make him again recant, but he persisted in his attachment +to the truth to the last.</p> + +<p>Much about this time one Richard Hunn, a merchant tailor of the +city of London, was apprehended, having refused to pay the priest his +fees for the funeral of a child; and being conveyed to the Lollards' +Tower, in the palace of Lambeth, was there privately murdered by +some of the servants of the archbishop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>September 24, 1518, John Stilincen, who had before recanted, was +apprehended, brought before Richard Fitz-James, bishop of London, +and on the 25th of October was condemned as a heretic. He was +chained to the stake in Smithfield amidst a vast crowd of spectators, +and sealed his testimony to the truth with his blood. He declared that +he was a Lollard, and that he had always believed the opinions of +Wickliffe; and although he had been weak enough to recant his opinions, +yet he was now willing to convince the world that he was ready +to die for the truth.</p> + +<p>In the year 1519, Thomas Mann was burnt in London, as was one +Robert Celin, a plain honest man for speaking against image worship +and pilgrimages.</p> + +<p>Much about this time, was executed in Smithfield, in London, James +Brewster, a native of Colchester. His sentiments were the same as +the rest of the Lollards, or those who followed the doctrines of Wickliffe; +but notwithstanding the innocence of his life, and the regularity +of his manners, he was obliged to submit to papal revenge.</p> + +<p>During this year, one Christopher, a shoemaker, was burnt alive at +Newbury, in Berkshire, for denying those popish articles which we +have already mentioned. This man had got some books in English, +which were sufficient to render him obnoxious to the Romish clergy.</p> + +<p>In 1521, Thomas Bernard was burnt alive at Norwich, for denying +the real presence.</p> + +<p>About the beginning of the year 1522, Mr. Wrigsham, a glover; Mr +Langdale, a hosier; Thomas Bond, Robert Harchets, and William Archer, +shoemaker, with Mrs. Smith, a widow, were apprehended on Ash +Wednesday and committed to prison. After examination, the bishop +of Litchfield declared them to be heretics, and they were all condemned +and burnt alive at Coventry.</p> + +<p>Robert Silks, who had been condemned in the bishop's court as a +heretic, made his escape out of prison, but was taken two years afterward, +and brought back to Coventry, where he was burnt alive.—The +sheriffs always seized the goods of the martyrs for their own use, so +that their wives and children were left to starve.</p> + +<p>In 1532, Thomas Harding, who with his wife, had been accused of +heresy, was brought before the bishop of Lincoln, and condemned for +denying the real presence in the sacrament. He was then chained to +a stake, erected for the purpose, at Chesham in the Pell, near Botely; +and when they had set fire to the fagots, one of the spectators dashed +out his brains with a billet. The priests told the people, that whoever +brought fagots to burn heretics would have an indulgence to commit +sins for forty days.</p> + +<p>During the latter end of this year, Worham, archbishop of Canterbury, +apprehended one Hitten, a priest at Maidstone; and after he had +been long tortured in prison, and several times examined by the archbishop, +and Fisher, bishop of Rochester, he was condemned as a heretic, +and burnt alive before the door of his own parish church.</p> + +<p>Thomas Bilney, professor of civil law at Cambridge, was brought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +before the bishop of London, and several other bishops, in the Chapter +house, Westminster, and being several times threatened with the +stake and flames, he was weak enough to recant; but he repented severely +afterward.</p> + +<p>For this he was brought before the bishop a second time, and condemned +to death. Before he went to the stake he confessed his adherence +to those opinions which Luther held; and, when at it, he smiled, +and said, "I have had many storms in this world, but now my vessel +will soon be on shore in heaven." He stood unmoved in the flames, +crying out, "Jesus, I believe;" and these were the last words he was +heard to utter.</p> + +<p>A few weeks after Bilney had suffered, Richard Byfield was cast +into prison, and endured some whipping, for his adherence to the +doctrines of Luther: this Mr. Byfield had been some time a monk, at +Barnes, in Surry, but was converted by reading Tindal's version of +the New Testament. The sufferings this man underwent for the +truth were so great, that it would require a volume to contain them. +Sometimes he was shut up in a dungeon, where he was almost suffocated, +by the offensive and horrid smell of filth and stagnated water. +At other times he was tied up by the arms, till almost all his joints +were dislocated. He was whipped at the post several times, till +scarce any flesh was left on his back; and all this was done to make +him recant. He was then taken to the Lollard's Tower in Lambeth +palace, where he was chained by the neck to the wall, and once every +day beaten in the most cruel manner by the archbishop's servants. +At last he was condemned, degraded, and burnt in Smithfield.</p> + +<p>The next person that suffered was John Tewkesbury. This was a +plain simple man, who had been guilty of no other offence against +what was called the holy mother church, than that of reading Tindal's +translation of the New Testament. At first he was weak enough to +abjure, but afterwards repented, and acknowledged the truth. For +this he was brought before the bishop of London, who condemned +him as an obstinate heretic. He suffered greatly during the time of +his imprisonment, so that when they brought him out to execution +he was almost dead. He was conducted to the stake in Smithfield, +where he was burned, declaring his utter abhorrence of popery, and +professing a firm belief that his cause was just in the sight of God.</p> + +<p>Much about this time Valentine Treest, and his wife, were apprehended +in Yorkshire, and having been examined by the archbishop, +were deemed as obstinate heretics, and burnt.</p> + +<p>The next person that suffered in this reign, was James Baynham, a +reputable citizen in London, who had married the widow of a gentleman +in the Temple. When chained to the stake he embraced the +fagots, and said "Oh, ye papists, behold! ye look for miracles; here +now may you see a miracle; for in this fire I feel no more pain than if +I were in bed; for it is as sweet to me as a bed of roses." Thus he +resigned his soul into the hands of his Redeemer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon after the death of this martyr, one Traxnal, an inoffensive +countryman, was burned alive at Bradford in Wiltshire, because he +would not acknowledge the real presence in the sacrament, nor own +the papal supremacy over the consciences of men.</p> + +<p>In the year 1533, John Frith, a noted martyr, died for the truth. +When brought to the stake in Smithfield, he embraced the fagots, and +exhorted a young man named Andrew Hewit, who suffered with him, +to trust his soul to that God who had redeemed it. Both these sufferers +endured much torment, for the wind blew the flames away from them, +so that they were above two hours in agony before they expired.</p> + +<p>At the latter end of this year, Mr. Thomas Bennet, a school-master, +was apprehended at Exeter, and being brought before the bishop, refused +to recant his opinions, for which he was delivered over to the +secular power, and burned alive near that city.</p> + +<p>In the year 1538, one Collins, a madman, suffered death with his +dog in Smithfield. The circumstances were as follow: Collins happened +to be in church when the priest elevated the host; and Collins, +in derision of the sacrifice of the Mass, lifted up his dog above his +head. For this crime Collins, who ought to have been sent to a madhouse, +or whipped at the cart's tail, was brought before the bishop of +London; and although he was really mad, yet such was the force of +popish power, such the corruption in church and state, that the poor +madman, and his dog, were both carried to the stake in Smithfield, +where they were burned to ashes, amidst a vast crowd of spectators.</p> + +<p>There were some other persons who suffered the same year, of +whom we shall take notice in the order they lie before us.</p> + +<p>One Cowbridge suffered at Oxford; and although he was reputed to +be a madman, yet he showed great signs of piety when he was fastened +to the stake, and after the flames were kindled around him.</p> + +<p>About the same time one Purderve was put to death, for saying +privately to a priest, after he had drunk the wine, "He blessed the hungry +people with the empty chalice."</p> + +<p>At the same time was condemned William Letton, a monk of great +age, in the county of Suffolk, who was burned at Norwich for speaking +against an idol that was carried in procession; and for asserting, that the +sacrament should be administered in both kinds.</p> + +<p>Some time before the burning of these men, Nicholas Peke was +executed at Norwich; and when the fire was lighted, he was so +scorched that he was as black as pitch. Dr. Reading standing before +him, with Dr. Hearne and Dr. Spragwell, having a long white wand +in his hand, struck him upon the right shoulder, and said, "Peke, recant, +and believe in the Sacrament." To this he answered, "I despise +thee and it also;" and with great violence he spit blood, occasioned +by the anguish of his sufferings. Dr. Reading granted forty days +indulgence for the sufferer, in order that he might recant his opinions. +But he persisted in his adherence to the truth, without paying any +regard to the malice of his enemies; and he was burned alive, rejoicing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +that Christ had counted him worthy to suffer for his name's +sake.</p> + +<p>On July 28, 1540, or 1541, (for the chronology differs) Thomas +Cromwell, earl of Essex, was brought to a scaffold on Tower-hill, +where he was executed with some striking instances of cruelty. He +made a short speech to the people, and then meekly resigned himself to +the axe.</p> + +<p>It is, we think, with great propriety, that this nobleman is ranked +among the martyrs; for although the accusations preferred against him +did not relate to any thing in religion, yet had it not been for his zeal +to demolish popery, he might have to the last retained the king's favour. +To this may be added, that the papists plotted his destruction, +for he did more towards promoting the reformation, than any man in +that age, except the good Dr. Cranmer.</p> + +<p>Soon after the execution of Cromwell, Dr. Cuthbert Barnes, Thomas +Garnet, and William Jerome, were brought before the ecclesiastical +court of the bishop of London, and accused of heresy.</p> + +<p>Being before the bishop of London, Dr. Barnes was asked whether +the saints prayed for us? To this he answered, that he would leave +that to God; but (said he) I will pray for you.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of July, 1541, these men were brought from the Tower +to Smithfield, where they were all chained to one stake; and there +suffered death with a constancy that nothing less than a firm faith in +Jesus Christ could inspire.</p> + +<p>One Thomas Sommers, an honest merchant, with three others, was +thrown into prison, for reading some of Luther's books; and they were +condemned to carry those books to a fire in Cheapside; there they +were to throw them in the flames; but Sommers threw his over, +for which he was sent back to the Tower, where he was stoned to +death.</p> + +<p>Dreadful persecutions were at this time carried on at Lincoln, under +Dr. Longland, the bishop of that diocess. At Buckingham, Thomas +Bainard, and James Moreton, the one for reading the Lord's prayer +in English, and the other for reading St. James' epistles in English, +were both condemned and burnt alive.</p> + +<p>Anthony Parsons, a priest, together with two others, were sent to +Windsor, to be examined concerning heresy; and several articles +were tendered to them to subscribe, which they refused. This was +carried on by the bishop of Salisbury, who was the most violent persecutor +of any in that age, except Bonner. When they were brought +to the stake, Parsons asked for some drink, which being brought him, +he drank to his fellow-sufferers, saying, "Be merry, my brethren, and +lift up your hearts to God; for after this sharp breakfast I trust we shall +have a good dinner in the kingdom of Christ, our Lord and Redeemer." +At these words Eastwood, one of the sufferers, lifted up his eyes +and hands to heaven, desiring the Lord above to receive his spirit. +Parsons pulled the straw near to him, and then said to the spectators,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +This is God's armour, and now I am a christian soldier prepared for +battle: I look for no mercy but through the merits of Christ; he is my +only Saviour, in him do I trust for salvation; and soon after the fires +were lighted, which burned their bodies, but could not hurt their precious +and immortal souls. Their constancy triumphed over cruelty, +and their sufferings will be held in everlasting remembrance.</p> + +<p>In 1546, one Saitees, a priest, was, by order of bishop Gardiner, +hanged in Southwark, without a council process; and all that was alleged +against him was, that of reading Tindal's New Testament.</p> + +<p>This year one Kirby was burned in Ipswich, for the testimony of +the truth, for denying the real presence in the sacrament. When this +martyr was brought to the stake, he said to one Mr. Wingfield, who +attended him, "Ah! Mr. Wingfield, be at my death, and you shall +say, there standeth a christian sufferer in the fire."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTION IN SCOTLAND DURING THE REIGN +OF KING HENRY VIII.</h3> + + +<p>The first person we meet with who suffered in Scotland on the score +of religion, was one Patrick Hamilton, a gentleman of an independent +fortune, and descended from a very ancient and honourable +family.</p> + +<p>Having acquired a liberal education, and being desirous of farther +improving himself in useful knowledge, he left Scotland, and went to +the university of Wirtemberg, in Germany, in order to finish his +studies.</p> + +<p>During his residence here, he became intimately acquainted with +those eminent lights of the gospel, Martin Luther and Philip Melancthon; +from whose writings and doctrines he strongly attached himself +to the protestant religion.</p> + +<p>The archbishop of St. Andrews (who was a rigid papist) hearing +of Mr. Hamilton's proceedings, caused him to be seized, and being +brought before him, after a short examination relative to his religious +principles, he committed him a prisoner to the castle, at the same +time ordering him to be confined in the most loathsome part of the +prison.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Hamilton was brought before the bishop, and +several others, for examination, when the principal articles exhibited +against him were, his publicly disapproving of pilgrimages, purgatory, +prayers to saints, for the dead, &c.</p> + +<p>These articles Mr. Hamilton acknowledged to be true, in consequence +of which he was immediately condemned to be burnt; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +that his condemnation might have the greater authority, they caused +it to be subscribed by all those of any note who were present, and to +make the number as considerable as possible, even admitted the subscription +of boys who were sons of the nobility.</p> + +<p>So anxious was this bigoted and persecuting prelate for the destruction +of Mr. Hamilton, that he ordered his sentence to be put in +execution on the afternoon of the very day it was pronounced. He +was accordingly led to the place appointed for the horrid tragedy, and +was attended by a prodigious number of spectators. The greatest +part of the multitude would not believe it was intended he should be +put to death, but that it was only done to frighten him, and thereby +bring him over to embrace the principles of the Romish religion. +But they soon found themselves mistaken.</p> + +<p>When he arrived at the stake, he kneeled down, and, for some +time, prayed with great fervency. After this he was fastened to the +stake, and the fagots placed round him. A quantity of gunpowder +having been placed under his arms was first set on fire which +scorched his left hand and one side of his face, but did no material +injury, neither did it communicate with the fagots. In consequence +of this, more powder and combustible matter were brought, which +being set on fire took effect, and the fagots being kindled, he called +out, with an audible voice, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! How long +shall darkness overwhelm this realm? And how long wilt thou suffer +the tyranny of these men?"</p> + +<p>The fire burning slow put him to great torment; but he bore it with +christian magnanimity. What gave him the greatest pain was, the +clamour of some wicked men set on by the friars, who frequently +cried, "Turn, thou heretic; call upon our lady; say, Salve Regina, +&c." To whom he replied, "Depart from me, and trouble me not, +ye messengers of Satan." One Campbell, a friar, who was the ringleader, +still continuing to interrupt him by opprobrious language; he +said to him, "Wicked man, God forgive thee." After which, being +prevented from farther speech by the violence of the smoke, and the +rapidity of the flames, he resigned up his soul into the hands of Him +who gave it.</p> + +<p>This steadfast believer in Christ suffered martyrdom in the year +1527.</p> + +<p>One Henry Forest, a young inoffensive Benedictine, being charged +with speaking respectfully of the above Patrick Hamilton, was +thrown into prison; and, in confessing himself to a friar, owned that +he thought Hamilton a good man; and that the articles for which he +was sentenced to die, might be defended. This being revealed by the +friar, it was received as evidence; and the poor Benedictine was sentenced +to be burnt.</p> + +<p>Whilst consultation was held, with regard to the manner of his execution, +John Lindsay, one of the archbishop's gentlemen, offered his +advice, to burn friar Forest in some cellar; for, said be, the smoke of +Patrick Hamilton hath infected all those on whom it blew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>This advice was taken, and the poor victim was rather suffocated +than burnt.</p> + +<p>The next who fell victims for professing the truth of the gospel, were +David Stratton and Norman Gourlay.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the fatal spot, they both kneeled down, and +prayed for some time with great fervency. They then arose, when +Stratton, addressing himself to the spectators, exhorted them to lay +aside their superstitious and idolatrous notions, and employ their time +in seeking the true light of the gospel. He would have said more, but +was prevented by the officers who attended.</p> + +<p>Their sentence was then put into execution, and they cheerfully resigned +up their souls to that God who gave them, hoping, through the +merits of the great Redeemer, for a glorious resurrection to life immortal. +They suffered in the year 1534.</p> + +<p>The martyrdoms of the two before-mentioned persons, were soon followed +by that of Mr. Thomas Forret, who, for a considerable time, had +been dean of the Romish church; Killor and Beverage, two blacksmiths; +Duncan Simson, a priest; and Robert Forrester, a gentleman. +They were all burnt together, on the Castle-hill at Edinburgh, the last +day of February, 1538.</p> + +<p>The year following the martyrdoms of the before-mentioned persons, +viz. 1539, two others were apprehended on a suspicion of heresy; +namely, Jerom Russel, and Alexander Kennedy, a youth about eighteen +years of age.</p> + +<p>These two persons, after being some time confined in prison, were +brought before the archbishop for examination. In the course of +which, Russel, being a very sensible man, reasoned learnedly against +his accusers; while they in return made use of very opprobrious language.</p> + +<p>The examination being over, and both of them deemed heretics, +the archbishop pronounced the dreadful sentence of death, and they +were immediately delivered over to the secular power in order for execution.</p> + +<p>The next day they were led to the place appointed for them to +suffer; in their way to which, Russel, seeing his fellow-sufferer have +the appearance of timidity in his countenance, thus addressed him: +"Brother, fear not; greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the +world. The pain that we are to suffer is short, and shall be light; +but our joy and consolation shall never have an end. Let us, therefore, +strive to enter into our Master and Saviour's joy, by the same +straight way which he hath taken before us. Death cannot hurt us, +for it is already destroyed by Him, for whose sake we are now going +to suffer."</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the fatal spot, they both kneeled down and +prayed for some time; after which being fastened to the stake, and the +fagots lighted, they cheerfully resigned their souls into the hands of +Him who gave them, in full hopes of an everlasting reward in the +heavenly mansions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1543, the archbishop of St. Andrews made a visitation into various +parts of his diocese, where several persons were informed against +at Perth for heresy. Among these the following were condemned to +die, viz. William Anderson, Robert Lamb, James Finlayson, James +Hunter, James Raveleson, and Helen Stark.</p> + +<p>The accusations laid against these respective persons were as +follow:</p> + +<p>The four first were accused of having hung up the image of St. +Francis, nailing ram's horns on his head, and fastening a cow's tail to +his rump; but the principal matter on which they were condemned +was, having regaled themselves with a goose on fast day.</p> + +<p>James Raveleson was accused of having ornamented his house with +the three crowned diadem of Peter, carved in wood, which the archbishop +conceived to be done in mockery to his cardinal's cap.</p> + +<p>Helen Stark was accused of not having accustomed herself to pray +to the Virgin Mary, more especially during the time she was in child +bed.</p> + +<p>On these respective accusations they were all found guilty, and immediately +received sentence of death; the four men for eating the goose +to be hanged; James Raveleson to be burnt; and the woman, with her +sucking infant, to be put into a sack and drowned.</p> + +<p>The four men, with the woman and child, suffered at the same time, +but James Raveleson was not executed till some days after.</p> + +<p>Besides the above-mentioned persons, many others were cruelly +persecuted, some being banished, and others confined in loathsome +dungeons. Among whom were Mr. John Knox, the celebrated Scottish +reformist; and John Rogers, a pious and learned man, who was +murdered in prison, and his body thrown over the walls into the street; +after which a report was spread, that he had met with his death in attempting +to make his escape.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An Account of the Life, Sufferings, and death of Mr. George +Wishart, who was strangled and afterward burned, in Scotland, for +professing the Truth of the Gospel.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. George Wishart was born in Scotland, and after receiving a +grammatical education at a private school, he left that place, and finished +his studies at the university of Cambridge.</p> + +<p>In order to improve himself as much as possible in the knowledge +of literature, he travelled into various parts abroad, where he distinguished +himself for his great learning and abilities, both in philosophy +and divinity.</p> + +<p>After being some time abroad he returned to England, and took up +his residence at Cambridge, where he was admitted a member of Bennet +college. Having taken up his degrees, he entered into holy orders, +and expounded the gospel in so clear and intelligible a manner, as +highly to delight his numerous auditors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>Being desirous of propagating the true gospel in his own country +he left Cambridge in 1544, and on his arrival in Scotland he first +preached at Montrose, and afterwards at Dundee. In this last place +he made a public exposition of the epistle to the Romans, which he +went through with such grace and freedom, as greatly alarmed the +papists.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this, (at the instigation of cardinal Beaton, the +archbishop of St. Andrews) one Robert Miln, a principal man at +Dundee, went to the church where Wishart preached, and in the middle +of his discourse publicly told him not to trouble the town any more, for +he was determined not to suffer it.</p> + +<p>This sudden rebuff greatly surprised Wishart, who, after a short +pause, looking sorrowfully on the speaker and the audience, said, +"God is my witness, that I never minded your trouble but your +comfort; yea, your trouble is more grievous to me than it is to yourselves: +but I am assured, to refuse God's word, and to chase from +you his messenger, shall not preserve you from trouble, but shall +bring you into it: for God shall send you ministers that shall fear +neither burning nor banishment. I have offered you the word of +salvation. With the hazard of my life, I have remained among you; +now you yourselves refuse me; and I must leave my innocence to be +declared by my God. If it be long prosperous with you, I am not +led by the spirit of truth: but if unlooked-for trouble come upon you, +acknowledge the cause and turn to God, who is gracious and merciful. +But if you turn not at the first warning, he will visit you with +fire and sword." At the close of this speech he left the pulpit, and +retired.</p> + +<p>After this he went into the west of Scotland, where he preached God's +word, which was gladly received by many.</p> + +<p>A short time after this, Mr. Wishart received intelligence, that the +plague was broke out in Dundee. It began four days after he was +prohibited from preaching there, and raged so extremely, that it was +almost beyond credit how many died in the space of twenty-four hours. +This being related to him, he, notwithstanding the importunity of his +friends to detain him, determined to go there, saying, "They are now +in troubles, and need comfort. Perhaps this hand of God will make +them now to magnify and reverence the word of God, which before +they lightly esteemed."</p> + +<p>Here he was with joy received by the godly. He chose the eastgate +for the place of his preaching; so that the healthy were within, +and the sick without the gate. He took his text from these words, +He sent his word and healed them, &c. In this sermon he chiefly +dwelt upon the advantage and comfort of God's word, the judgments +that ensue upon the contempt or rejection of it, the freedom of God's +grace to all his people, and the happiness of those of his elect, whom +he takes to himself out of this miserable world. The hearts of his +hearers were so raised by the divine force of this discourse, as not to +regard death, but to judge them the more happy who should then be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +called, not knowing whether he should have such comfort again with +them.</p> + +<p>After this the plague abated; though, in the midst of it, Wishart +constantly visited those that lay in the greatest extremity, and comforted +them by his exhortations.</p> + +<p>When he took his leave of the people of Dundee, he said, "That +God had almost put an end to that plague, and that he was now called +to another place."</p> + +<p>He went from thence to Montrose; where he sometimes preached, +but spent most of his time in private meditation and prayer.</p> + +<p>It is said, that before he left Dundee, and while he was engaged in +the labours of love to the bodies, as well as to the souls, of those poor +afflicted people, cardinal Beaton engaged a desperate popish priest, +called John Weighton, to kill him; the attempt to execute which was +as follows: one day, after Wishart had finished his sermon, and the +people departed, a priest stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs, +with a naked dagger in his hand under his gown.—But Mr. Wishart +having a sharp, piercing eye, and seeing the priest as he came from +the pulpit, said to him, "My friend, what would you have?" and immediately +clapping his hand upon the dagger, took it from him. The +priest being terrified, fell on his knees, confessed his intention, and +craved pardon. A noise being hereupon raised, and it coming to the +ears of those who were sick, they cried, "Deliver the traitor to us, we +will take him by force;" and they burst in at the gate. But Wishart, +taking the priest in his arms, said, "Whatsoever hurts him shall hurt +me; for he hath done me no mischief, but much good, by teaching +more heedfulness for the time to come." By this conduct he appeased +the people and saved the life of the wicked priest.</p> + +<p>Soon after his return to Montrose, the cardinal again conspired his +death, causing a letter to be sent to him as if it had been from his familiar +friend, the Laird of Kennier, in which he was desired with all +possible speed to come to him, as he was taken with a sudden sickness. +In the mean time the cardinal had provided sixty men armed to lie in +wait within a mile and a half of Montrose, in order to murder him as he +passed that way.</p> + +<p>The letter coming to Wishart's hand by a boy, who also brought him +a horse for the journey. Wishart, accompanied by some honest men, +his friends, set forward; but something particular striking his mind by +the way, he returned back, which they wondering at, asked him the +cause; to whom he said, "I will not go; I am forbidden of God; I am +assured there is treason. Let some of you go to yonder place, and tell +me what you find." Which doing, they made the discovery; and hastily +returning, they told Mr. Wishart; whereupon he said, "I know I +shall end my life by that blood-thirsty man's hands, but it will not be +in this manner."</p> + +<p>A short time after this he left Montrose, and proceeded to Edinburgh +in order to propagate the gospel in that city. By the way he lodged +with a faithful brother, called James Watson of Inner-Goury. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +middle of the night he got up, and went into the yard, which two men +hearing they privately followed him.</p> + +<p>While in the yard, he fell on his knees, and prayed for some time +with the greatest fervency, after which he arose, and returned to his bed. +Those who attended him, appearing as though they were ignorant of all, +came and asked him where he had been? But he would not answer +them. The next day they importuned him to tell them, saying, +"Be plain with us, for we heard your mourning, and saw your gestures."</p> + +<p>On this he, with a dejected countenance, said, "I had rather you +had been in your beds." But they still pressing upon him to know +something, he said, "I will tell you; I am assured that my warfare is +near at an end, and therefore pray to God with me, that I shrink not +when the battle waxeth most hot."</p> + +<p>Soon after, cardinal Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrews, being informed +that Mr. Wishart was at the house of Mr. Cockburn, of Ormiston, +in East Lothian, he applied to the regent to cause him to be apprehended; +with which, after great persuasion, and much against his will, +he complied.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this the cardinal immediately proceeded to the +trial of Wishart, against whom no less than eighteen articles were exhibited. +Mr. Wishart answered the respective articles with great composure +of mind, and in so learned and clear a manner, as greatly surprised +most of those who were present.</p> + +<p>After the examination was finished, the archbishop endeavoured to +prevail on Mr. Wishart to recant; but he was too firmly fixed in his religious +principles, and too much enlightened with the truth of the gospel, +to be in the least moved.</p> + +<p>On the morning of his execution there came to him two friars from +the cardinal; one of whom put on him a black linen coat, and the +other brought several bags of gunpowder, which they tied about different +parts of his body.</p> + +<p>As soon as he arrived at the stake, the executioner put a rope round +his neck, and a chain about his middle; upon which he fell on his knees +and thus exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"O thou Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me! Father of heaven, +I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands."</p> + +<p>After this he prayed for his accusers, saying, "I beseech thee, Father +of heaven, forgive them that have, from ignorance or an evil mind, +forged lies of me: I forgive them with all my heart. I beseech Christ +to forgive them, that have ignorantly condemned me."</p> + +<p>He was then fastened to the stake, and the fagots being lighted, immediately +set fire to the powder that was tied about him, and which +blew into a flame and smoke.</p> + +<p>The governor of the castle, who stood so near that he was singed +with the flame, exhorted our martyr, in a few words, to be of good +cheer, and to ask the pardon of God for his offences. To which he replied, +"This flame occasions trouble to my body, indeed, but it hath in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +nowise broken my spirit. But he who now so proudly looks down +upon me from yonder lofty place (pointing to the cardinal) shall, ere +long, be as ignominiously thrown down, as now he proudly lolls at +his ease." Which prediction was soon after fulfilled. The executioner +then pulled the rope which was tied about his neck with great +violence, so that he was soon strangled; and the fire getting strength, +burnt with such rapidity that in less than an hour his body was totally +consumed.</p> + +<p>The next person who fell a martyr to popish bigotry, was one Adam +Wallace, of Winton, in East-Lothian, who having obtained a true knowledge +of the gospel of Christ, spent the greater part of his time in endeavouring +to propagate it among his fellow-creatures.</p> + +<p>His conduct being noticed by some bigoted papists, an information +was laid against him for heresy, on which he was apprehended, and +committed to prison.</p> + +<p>After examination, sentence of death was passed upon him as heretic; +and he was immediately delivered over to the secular power, in +order for execution.</p> + +<p>In the evening of the same day, Wallace was visited by several +Romish priests, who endeavoured to prevail on him to recant; but he +stood so steadfast in the faith he professed, and used such forcible +arguments in vindication of the gospel, that they left him with +some wrath, saying, "He was too abandoned to receive any impression."</p> + +<p>The next morning he was conducted to the Castle-hill at Edinburgh, +when, being chained to the stake, and the fagots lighted, he cheerfully +resigned up his soul into the hands of him who gave it, in full assurance +of receiving a crown of glory in the heavenly mansions.</p> + +<p>The last who suffered martyrdom in Scotland, for the cause of +Christ, was one Walter Mill, who was burnt at Edinburgh in the year +1558.</p> + +<p>This person, in his younger years, had travelled into Germany, and +on his return was installed a priest of the church of Lunan in Angus, +but, on an information of heresy, in the time of cardinal Beaton, he +was forced to abandon his charge and abscond. But he was soon +apprehended, and committed to prison.</p> + +<p>Being interrogated by Sir Andrew Oliphant, whether he would recant +his opinions, he answered in the negative, saying, He would +sooner forfeit ten thousand lives, than relinquish a particle of those +heavenly principles he had received from the suffrages of his blessed +Redeemer.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this, sentence of condemnation was immediately +passed on him, and he was conducted to prison in order for execution +the following day.</p> + +<p>This steadfast believer in Christ was eighty-two years of age, and +exceedingly infirm; from whence it was supposed, that he could +scarcely be heard. However, when he was taken to the place of execution, +he expressed his religious sentiments with such courage, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +at the same time composure of mind, as astonished even his enemies. +As soon as he was fastened to the stake, and the fagots lighted, he addressed +the spectators as follows:</p> + +<p>The cause why I suffer this day is not for any crime, (though I +acknowledge myself a miserable sinner) but only for the defence of the +truth as it is in Jesus Christ; and I praise God who hath called me, +by his mercy, to seal the truth with my life; which, as I received it +from him, so I willingly and joyfully offer it up to his glory. Therefore, +as you would escape eternal death, be no longer seduced by the +lies of the seat of Antichrist: but depend solely on Jesus Christ, and +his mercy, that you may be delivered from condemnation. And then +added, "That he trusted he should be the last who would suffer death +in Scotland upon a religious account."</p> + +<p>Thus did this pious christian cheerfully give up his life, in defence of +the truth of Christ's gospel, not doubting but he should be made a partaker +of his heavenly kingdom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>PERSECUTIONS IN ENGLAND DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY.</h3> + + +<p>The premature death of that celebrated young monarch, Edward +the Sixth, occasioned the most extraordinary and wonderful occurrences, +which had ever existed from the times of our blessed Lord +and Saviour's incarnation in human shape. This melancholy event +became speedily a subject of general regret. The succession to the +British throne was soon made a matter of contention; and the scenes +which ensued were a demonstration of the serious affliction which +the kingdom was involved in. As his loss to the nation was more +and more unfolded, the remembrance of his government was more +and more the basis of grateful recollection. The very awful prospect, +which was soon presented to the friends of Edward's administration, +under the direction of his counsellors and servants, was a +contemplation which the reflecting mind was compelled to regard +with most alarming apprehensions. The rapid approaches which +were made towards a total reversion of the proceedings of the young +king's reign, denoted the advances which were thereby represented to +an entire revolution in the management of public affairs both in church +and state.</p> + +<p>Alarmed for the condition in which the kingdom was likely to be +involved by the king's death, an endeavour to prevent the consequences, +which were but too plainly foreseen, was productive of the +most serious and fatal effects. The king, in his long and lingering +affliction, was induced to make a will, by which he bequeathed the +English crown to lady Jane, the daughter of the duke of Suffolk,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +who had been married to the lord Guilford, the son of the duke of +Northumberland, and was the grand-daughter of the second sister of +king Henry, by Charles, duke of Suffolk. By this will, the succession +of Mary and Elizabeth, his two sisters, was entirely superseded, +from an apprehension of the returning system of popery; and the king's +council, with the chief of the nobility, the lord-mayor of the city +of London, and almost all the judges and the principal lawyers of the +realm, subscribed their names to this regulation, as a sanction to the +measure. Lord chief justice Hale, though a true protestant and an +upright judge, alone declined to unite his name in favour of the lady +Jane, because he had already signified his opinion, that Mary was entitled +to assume the reins of government. Others objected to Mary's +being placed on the throne, on account of their fears that she might +marry a foreigner, and thereby bring the crown into considerable danger. +Her partiality to popery also left little doubt on the minds of +any, that she would be induced to revive the dormant interests of the +pope, and change the religion which had been used both in the days +of her father, king Henry, and in those of her brother Edward: for in +all his time she had manifested the greatest stubbornness and inflexibility +of temper, as must be obvious from her letter to the lords of the +council, whereby she put in her claim to the crown, on her brother's +decease.</p> + +<p>When this happened, the nobles, who had associated to prevent Mary's +succession, and had been instrumental in promoting, and, perhaps, +advising the measures of Edward, speedily proceeded to proclaim +lady Jane Gray, to be queen of England, in the city of London +and various other populous cities of the realm. Though young, +she possessed talents of a very superior nature, and her improvements +under a most excellent tutor had given her many very great advantages.</p> + +<p>Her reign was of only five days continuance, for Mary, having +succeeded by false promises in obtaining the crown, speedily commenced +the execution of her avowed intention of extirpating and burning +every protestant. She was crowned at Westminister in the usual +form, and her elevation was the signal for the commencement of the +bloody persecution which followed.</p> + +<p>Having obtained the sword of authority, she was not sparing in its +exercise. The supporters of Lady Jane Gray were destined to feel +its force. The duke of Northumberland was the first who experienced +her savage resentment. Within a month after his confinement in +the Tower, he was condemned, and brought to the scaffold, to suffer +as a traitor. From his various crimes, resulting out of a sordid and +inordinate ambition, he died unpitied and unlamented.</p> + +<p>The changes, which followed with rapidity, unequivocally declared, +that the queen was disaffected to the present state of religion.—Dr. +Poynet was displaced to make room for Gardiner to be bishop of +Winchester, to whom she also gave the important office of lord-chancellor. +Dr. Ridley was dismissed from the see of London, and Bonne<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +introduced. J. Story was put out of the bishopric of Chichester, to +admit Dr. Day. J. Hooper was sent prisoner to the Fleet, and Dr. +Heath put into the see of Worcester. Miles Coverdale was also excluded +from Exeter, and Dr. Vesie placed in that diocess. Dr. Tonstall +was also promoted to the see of Durham. "These things being +marked and perceived, great heaviness and discomfort grew more and +more to all good men's hearts; but to the wicked great rejoicing. They +that could dissemble took no great care how the matter went; but such, +whose consciences were joined with the truth, perceived already coals +to be kindled, which after should be the destruction of many a true +christian."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The words and behaviour of the lady Jane upon the Scaffold.</i></div> + +<p>The next victim was the amiable lady Jane Gray, who, by her +acceptance of the crown at the earnest solicitations of her friends, +incurred the implacable resentment of the bloody Mary. When she +first mounted the scaffold, she spake to the spectators in this manner: +Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned +to the same. The fact against the queen's highness was unlawful, +and the consenting thereunto by me: but, touching the procurement +and desire thereof by me, or on my behalf, I do wash my hands +thereof in innocency before God, and the face of you, good christian +people, this day: and therewith she wrung her hands, wherein she +had her book. Then said she, I pray you all, good christian people, +to bear me witness, that I die a good christian woman, and that I do +look to be saved by no other mean, but only by the mercy of God in +the blood of his only Son Jesus Christ: and I confess, that when I did +know the word of God, I neglected the same, loved myself and the +world, and therefore this plague and punishment is happily and worthily +happened unto me for my sins; and yet I thank God, that of his +goodness he hath thus given me a time and a respite to repent and +now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with your +prayers. And then, kneeling down, she turned to Feckenham, saying, +Shall I say this psalm? and he said, Yea. Then she said the psalm +of Miserere mei Deus, in English, in a most devout manner throughout +to the end; and then she stood up, and gave her maid, Mrs. Ellen, her +gloves and handkerchief, and her book to Mr. Bruges; and then she +untied her gown, and the executioner pressed upon her to help her off +with it: but she, desiring him to let her alone, turned towards her two +gentlewomen, who helped her off therewith, and also with her frowes, +paaft, and neckerchief, giving to her a fair handkerchief to put about +her eyes.</p> + +<p>Then the executioner kneeled down, and asked her forgiveness +whom <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'see'">she</ins> forgave most willingly. Then he desired her to stand upon +the straw, which doing, she saw the block. Then she said, I pray +you despatch me quickly. Then she kneeled down, saying, Will you +take it off before I lay me down? And the executioner said, No +madam. Then she tied a handkerchief about her eyes, and feeling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +for the block, she said, What shall I do? Where is it? Where is it? +One of the standers-by guiding her thereunto, she laid her head +upon the block, and then stretched forth her body, and said, Lord, +into thy hands I commend my spirit; and so finished her life, in the +year of our Lord 1554, the 12th day of February, about the 17th +year of her age.</p> + +<p>Thus died the Lady Jane; and on the same day the lord Guilford, +her husband, one of the duke of Northumberland's sons, was likewise +beheaded, two innocents in comparison of them that sat upon them. +For they were both very young, and ignorantly accepted that which +others had contrived, and by open proclamation consented to take from +others, and give to them.</p> + +<p>Touching the condemnation of this pious lady, it is to be noted, that +Judge Morgan, who gave sentence against her, soon after he had condemned +her, fell mad, and in his raving cried out continually, to have +the lady Jane taken away from him, and so he ended his life.</p> + +<p>On the 21st day of the same month, Henry, duke of Suffolk, was +beheaded on Tower-hill, the fourth day after his condemnation: about +which time many gentlemen and yeomen were condemned, whereof +some were executed at London, and some in the country. In the number +of whom was the lord Thomas Gray, brother to the said duke, being +apprehended not long after in North-Wales, and executed for the +same. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, also, very narrowly escaped.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Rogers, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, and Reader of St. Paul's, +London.</i></div> + +<p>John Rogers was educated at Cambridge, and was afterward +many years chaplain to the merchants adventurers at Antwerp in +Brabant. Here he met with the celebrated martyr William Tindal, +and Miles Coverdale, both voluntary exiles from their country for +their aversion to popish superstition and idolatry. They were the +instruments of his conversion; and he united with them in that translation +of the Bible into English, entitled "The Translation of Thomas +Matthew." From the scriptures he knew that unlawful vows may +be lawfully broken; hence he married, and removed to Wittenberg +in Saxony, for the improvement of learning; and he there learned +the Dutch language, and received the charge of a congregation, +which he faithfully executed for many years. On king Edward's +accession, he left Saxony, to promote the work of reformation in +England; and, after some time, Nicholas Ridley, then bishop of London, +gave him a prebend in St. Paul's Cathedral, and the dean and +chapter appointed him reader of the divinity lesson there. Here he +continued until queen Mary's succession to the throne, when the gospel +and true religion were banished, and the Antichrist of Rome, with +his superstition and idolatry, introduced.</p> + +<p>The circumstance of Mr. Rogers having preached at Paul's cross, +after queen Mary arrived at the Tower, has been already stated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +He confirmed in his sermon the true doctrine taught in King Edward's +time, and exhorted the people to beware of the pestilence of popery, +idolatry, and superstition. For this he was called to account, but so +ably defended himself, that, for that time, he was dismissed. The +proclamation of the queen, however, to prohibit true preaching, gave +his enemies a new handle against him. Hence he was again summoned +before the council, and commanded to keep his house. He did +so, though he might have escaped; and though he perceived the state +of the true religion to be desperate. "He knew he could not want a +living in Germany; and he could not forget a wife and ten children, +and to seek means to succour them." But all these things were insufficient +to induce him to depart and, when once called to answer in +Christ's cause, he stoutly defended it, and hazarded his life for that +purpose.</p> + +<p>After long imprisonment in his own house, the restless Bonner, +bishop of London, caused him to be committed to Newgate, there to +be lodged among thieves and murderers.</p> + +<p>After Mr. Rogers had been long and straitly imprisoned, and lodged +in Newgate among thieves, often examined, and very uncharitably +entreated, and at length unjustly and most cruelly condemned by +Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester: the 4th of February, in +the year of our Lord 1555, being Monday in the morning, he was suddenly +warned by the keeper of Newgates's wife, to prepare himself +for the fire; who, being then sound asleep, could scarce be awaked. +At length being raised and awaked, and bid to make haste, Then +said he, if it be so, I need not tie my points. And so was had down, +first to bishop Bonner to be degraded: which being done, he craved +of Bonner but one petition; and Bonner asking what that should be? +Mr. Rogers replied, that he might speak a few words with his wife before +his burning. But that could not be obtained of him.</p> + +<p>When the time came, that he should be brought out of Newgate to +Smithfield, the place of his execution, Mr. Woodroofe, one of the +sheriffs, first came to Mr. Rogers, and asked him, if he would revoke +his abominable doctrine, and the evil opinion of the sacrament of the +altar. Mr. Rogers answered that which I have preached I will +seal with my blood. Then Mr. Woodroofe said, Thou art an heretic. +That shall be known, quoth Mr. Rogers, at the day of judgment.—"Well, +said Mr. Woodroofe, I will never pray for thee. But I will pray +for you, said Mr. Rogers; and so was brought the same day, the 4th +of February, by the sheriffs, towards Smithfield, saying the psalm +Miserere by the way, all the people wonderfully rejoicing at his constancy +with great praises and thanks to God for the same. And +here, in the presence of Mr. Rochester, comptroller of the queen's +household, sir Richard Southwell, both the sheriffs, and a great number +of people he was burnt to ashes, washing his hands in the flame as +he was burning. A little before his burning, his pardon was brought +if he would have recanted; but he utterly refused it. He was the first +martyr of all the blessed company that suffered in <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'queen'">Queen</ins> Mary's time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +that gave the first adventure upon the fire. His wife and children, being +eleven in number, ten able to go, and one sucking at her breast, +met him by the way, as he went towards Smithfield: this sorrowful +sight of his own flesh and blood could nothing move him but that he +constantly and cheerfully took his death with wonderful patience, in the +defence and quarrel of the gospel of Christ."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Rev. Mr. Lawrence Saunders.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. Saunders after passing some time in the school of Eaton, was +chosen to go to King's college in Cambridge, where he continued three +years, and profited in knowledge and learning very much for that time +shortly after he quitted the university, and went to his parents, but +soon returned to Cambridge again to his study, where he began to add +to the knowledge of the Latin, the study of the Greek and Hebrew +tongues, and gave himself up to the study of the holy scriptures, the +better to qualify himself for the office of preacher.</p> + +<p>In the beginning of king Edward's reign, when God's true religion +was introduced, after license obtained, he began to preach, and was so +well liked of them who then had authority, that they appointed him to +read a divinity lecture in the college of Fothringham. The college of +Fothringham being dissolved, he was placed to be a reader in the minster +at Litchfield. After a certain space, he departed from Litchfield +to a benefice in Leicestershire, called Church-langton, where he held a +residence, taught diligently, and kept a liberal house. Thence he +was orderly called to take a benefice in the city of London, namely, +All-hallows in Bread-street.—After this he preached at <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Northhampton'">Northampton</ins>, +nothing meddling with the state, but boldly uttering his conscience +against the popish doctrines which were likely to spring up again in +England, as a just plague for the little love which the English nation +then bore to the blessed word of God, which had been so plentifully +offered unto them.</p> + +<p>The queen's party, who were there, and heard him, were highly +displeased with him for his sermon, and for it kept him among them as +a prisoner. But partly for love of his brethren and friends, who were +chief actors for the queen among them, partly because there was no +law broken by his preaching, they dismissed him.</p> + +<p>Some of his friends, perceiving such fearful menacing, counselled him +to fly out of the realm, which he refused to do. But seeing he was with +violence kept from doing good in that place, he returned towards London, +to visit his flock.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 15, 1554, as he was reading in his +church to exhort his people, the bishop of London interrupted him, by +sending an officer for him.</p> + +<p>His treason and sedition the bishop's charity was content to let +slip until another time, but a heretic he meant to prove him, and all +those, he said, who taught and believed that the administration of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +sacraments, and all orders of the church, are the most pure, which +come the nearest to the order of the primitive church.</p> + +<p>After much talk concerning this matter, the bishop desired him to +write what he believed of transubstantiation. Laurence Saunders did +so, saying, "My Lord, you seek my blood, and you shall have it: I +pray God that you may be so baptised in it that you may ever after +loathe blood-sucking, and become a better man." Upon being closely +charged with contumacy, the severe replies of Mr. Saunders to the +bishop, (who had before, to get the favour of Henry VIII. written and +set forth in print, a book of true obedience, wherein he had openly +declared queen Mary to be a bastard) so irritated him, that he exclaimed, +Carry away this frenzied fool to prison.</p> + +<p>After this good and faithful martyr had been kept in prison one +year and a quarter, the bishops at length called him, as they did his +fellow-prisoners, openly to be examined before the queen's council.</p> + +<p>His examination being ended, the officers led him out of the place, +and staid until the rest of his fellow-prisoners were likewise examined, +that they might lead them all together to prison.</p> + +<p>After his excommunication and delivery over to the secular power, +he was brought by the sheriff of London to the Compter, a prison in +his own parish of Bread-street, at which he rejoiced greatly, both because +he found there a fellow-prisoner, Mr. Cardmaker, with whom +he had much christian and comfortable discourse; and because out of +prison, as before in his pulpit, he might have an opportunity of preaching +to his parishioners. The 4th of February, Bonner, bishop of London, +came to the prison to degrade him; the day following, in the morning +the sheriff of London delivered him to certain of the queen's guard, who +were appointed to carry him to the city of Coventry, there to be burnt.</p> + +<p>When they had arrived at Coventry, a poor shoemaker, who used +to serve him with shoes, came to him, and said, O my good master, +God strengthen and comfort you. Good shoemaker, Mr. Saunders +replied, I desire thee to pray for me, for I am the most unfit man for +this high office, that ever was appointed to it; but my gracious God +and dear Father is able to make me strong enough. The next day, +being the 8th of February, 1555, he was led to the place of execution, +in the park, without the city; he went in an old gown and a shirt, +bare-footed, and oftentimes fell flat on the ground, and prayed. When +he was come nigh to the place, the officer, appointed to see the execution +done, said to Mr. Saunders, that he was one of them who married +the queen's realm, but if he would recant, there was pardon for him. +"Not I," replied the holy martyr, "but such as you have injured the +realm. The blessed gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, +that have I taught, and that will I never revoke!" Mr. Saunders then +slowly moved towards the fire, sank to the earth and prayed; he then +rose up, embraced the stake, and frequently said, "Welcome, thou cross +of Christ! welcome everlasting life!" Fire was then put to the fagots, +and, he was overwhelmed by the dreadful flames, and sweetly slept in +the Lord Jesus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The history, imprisonment, and examinations, of Mr. John Hooper, +Bishop of Worcester and Gloucester.</i></div> + +<p>John Hooper, student and graduate in the university of Oxford, +was stirred with such fervent desire to the love and knowledge of +the scriptures, that he was compelled to remove from thence, and +was retained in the house of Sir Thomas Arundel, as his steward, +till Sir Thomas had intelligence of his opinions and religion, which +he in no case did favour, though he exceedingly favoured his person +and condition, and wished to be his friend. Mr. Hooper now prudently +left Sir Thomas' house and arrived at Paris, but in a short +time returned into England, and was retained by Mr. Sentlow, till the +time that he was again molested and sought for, when he passed +through France to the higher parts of Germany; where, commencing +acquaintance with learned men, he was by them free and lovingly +entertained, both at Basil, and especially at Zurich, by Mr. +Bullinger, who was his singular friend; here also he married his wife, +who was a Burgonian, and applied very studiously to the Hebrew +tongue.</p> + +<p>At length, when God saw it good to stay the bloody time of the +six articles, and to give us king Edward to reign over this realm, with +some peace and rest unto the church, amongst many other English +exiles, who then repaired homeward, Mr. Hooper also, moved in conscience, +thought not to absent himself, but seeing such a time and +occasion, offered to help forward the Lord's work, to the uttermost of +his ability.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Hooper had taken his farewell of Mr. Bullinger, and his +friends in Zurich, he repaired again into England in the reign of king +Edward the Sixth, and coming to London, used continually to preach, +most times twice, or at least once a day.</p> + +<p>In his sermons, according to his accustomed manner, he corrected +sin, and sharply inveighed against the iniquity of the world and the +corrupt abuses of the church. The people in great flocks and companies +daily came to hear his voice, as the most melodious sound and +tune of Orpheus' harp, insomuch, that oftentimes when he was +preaching, the church would be so full, that none could enter further +than the doors thereof. In his doctrine, he was earnest, in tongue eloquent, +in the scriptures, perfect, in pains indefatigable, in his life exemplary.</p> + +<p>Having preached before the king's majesty, he was soon after made +bishop of Gloucester. In that office he continued two years, and behaved +himself so well, that his very enemies could find no fault with +him, and after that he was made bishop of Worcester.</p> + +<p>Dr. Hooper executed the office of a most careful and vigilant pastor +for the space of two years and more, so long as the state of religion in +king Edward's time was sound and flourishing.</p> + +<p>After he had been cited to appear before Bonner and Dr. Heath, he +was led to the Council, accused falsely of owing the queen money, +and in the next year, 1554, he wrote an account of his severe treatment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +during near eighteen months' confinement to the Fleet, and after +his third examination, January 28, 1555, at St. Mary Overy's, he, with +the Rev. Mr. Rogers, was conducted to the Compter in Southwark, +there to remain till the next day at nine o'clock, to see whether they +would recant. Come, brother Rogers, said Dr. Hooper, must we two +take this matter first in hand, and begin to fry in these fagots? Yes, +Doctor, said Mr. Rogers, by God's grace. Doubt not, said Dr. Hooper, +but God will give us strength; and the people so applauded their constancy, +that they had much ado to pass.</p> + +<p>January 29, bishop Hooper was degraded and condemned, and the +Rev. Mr. Rogers was treated in like manner. At dark, Dr. Hooper +was led through the city to Newgate; notwithstanding this secrecy, many +people came forth to their doors with lights, and saluted him, praising +God for his constancy.</p> + +<p>During the few days he was in Newgate, he was frequently visited +by Bonner and others, but without avail. As Christ was tempted, so +they tempted him, and then maliciously reported that he had recanted. +The place of his martyrdom being fixed at Gloucester, he rejoiced very +much, lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven, and praising God that +he saw it good to send him among the people over whom he was pastor, +there to confirm with his death the truth which he had before taught +them.</p> + +<p>On Feb. 7th, he came to Gloucester, about five o'clock, and lodged +at one Ingram's house. After his first sleep, he continued in prayer +until morning; and all the day, except a little time at his meals, and +when conversing with such as the guard kindly permitted to speak to +him, he spent in prayer.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony Kingston, at one time Doctor Hooper's good friend, was +appointed by the queen's letters to attend at his execution. As soon +as he saw the bishop he burst into tears. With tender entreaties he +exhorted him to live. "True it is," said the bishop, "that death is bitter, +and life is sweet: but alas! consider that the death to come is more +bitter, and the life to come is more sweet."</p> + +<p>The same day a blind boy obtained leave to be brought into Dr. +Hooper's presence. The same boy, not long before, had suffered imprisonment +at Gloucester for confessing the truth. "Ah! poor boy," +said the bishop, "though God hath taken from thee thy outward sight, +for what reason he best knoweth, yet he hath endued thy soul with the +eye of knowledge and of faith. God give thee grace continually to +pray unto him, that thou lose not that sight, for then wouldst thou indeed +be blind both in body and soul."</p> + +<p>When the mayor waited upon him preparatory to his execution, he +expressed his perfect obedience, and only requested that a quick fire +might terminate his torments. After he had got up in the morning, he +desired that no man should be suffered to come into the chamber, that +he might be solitary till the hour of execution.</p> + +<p>About eight o'clock, on February 9, 1555, he was led forth, and +many thousand persons were collected, as it was market-day. All<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +the way, being straitly charged not to speak, and beholding the people +who mourned bitterly for him, he would sometimes lift up his eyes +towards heaven, and look very cheerfully upon such as he knew: and +he was never known, during the time of his being among them, to +look with so cheerful and ruddy a countenance as he did at that time. +When he came to the place appointed where he should die, he smilingly +beheld the stake and preparation made for him, which was near +unto the great elm-tree over against the college of priests, where he +used to preach.</p> + +<p>Now, after he had entered into prayer, a box was brought and laid +before him upon a stool, with his pardon from the queen, if he would +turn. At the sight whereof he cried, If you love my soul away with +it. The box being taken away, lord Chandois said, Seeing there is no +remedy, despatch him quickly.</p> + +<p>Command was now given that the fire should be kindled. But because +there were not more green fagots than two horses could carry, +it kindled not speedily, and was a pretty while also before it took the +reeds upon the fagots. At length it burned about him, but the wind +having full strength at that place, and being a lowering cold morning, +it blew the flame from him, so that he was in a manner little more than +touched by the fire.</p> + +<p>Within a space after, a few dry fagots were brought, and a new fire +kindled with fagots, (for there were no more reeds) and those burned +at the nether parts, but had small power above, because of the wind, +saving that it burnt his hair, and scorched his skin a little. In the +time of which fire, even as at the first flame, he prayed, saying +mildly, and not very loud, but as one without pain, O Jesus, Son of +David, have mercy upon me, and receive my soul! After the second +fire was spent, he wiped both his eyes with his hands, and beholding +the people, he said with an indifferent loud voice, For God's love, +good people, let me have more fire! and all this while his nether parts +did burn; but the fagots were so few, that the flame only singed his +upper parts.</p> + +<p>The third fire was kindled within a while after, which was more +extreme than the other two. In this fire he prayed with a loud voice, +Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me! Lord Jesus receive my spirit! +And these were the last words he was heard to utter. But when he +was black in the mouth, and his tongue so swollen that he could not +speak, yet his lips went till they were shrunk to the gums: and he +knocked his breast with his hands until one of his arms fell off, and +then knocked still with the other, while the fat, water, and blood +dropped out at his fingers' ends, until by renewing the fire, his +strength was gone, and his hand clave fast in knocking to the iron +upon his breast. Then immediately bowing forwards, he yielded up +his spirit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The life and conduct of Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadley.</i></div> + +<p>Dr. Rowland Taylor, vicar of Hadley, in Suffolk, was a man of +eminent learning, and had been admitted to the degree of doctor of the +civil and canon law.</p> + +<p>His attachment to the pure and uncorrupted principles of christianity +recommended him to the favour and friendship of Dr. Cranmer, archbishop +of Canterbury, with whom he lived a considerable time, till +through his interest he obtained the living of Hadley.</p> + +<p>Dr. Taylor promoted the interest of the great Redeemer, and the +souls of mankind, both by his preaching and example, during the time +of king Edward VI. but on his demise, and the succession of queen +Mary to the throne, he escaped not the cloud that burst on so many +beside; for two of his parishioners, Foster, an attorney, and Clark, +a tradesman, out of blind zeal, resolved that mass should be celebrated, +in all its superstitious forms, in the parish church of Hadley, on +Monday before Easter; this Dr. Taylor, entering the church, strictly +forbade; but Clark forced the Doctor out of the church, celebrated +mass, and immediately informed the lord-chancellor, bishop of Winchester +of his behaviour, who summoned him to appear, and answer +the complaints that were alleged against him.</p> + +<p>The doctor upon the receipt of the summons, cheerfully prepared +to obey the same; and rejected the advice of his friends to fly beyond +sea. When Gardiner saw Dr. Taylor, he, according to his common +custom, reviled him. Dr. Taylor heard his abuse patiently, and +when the bishop said, How darest thou look me in the face! knowest +thou not who I am? Dr. Taylor replied, You are Dr. Stephen Gardiner, +bishop of Winchester, and lord-chancellor, and yet but a mortal +man. But if I should be afraid of your lordly looks, why fear +ye not God, the Lord of us all? With what countenance will you +appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, and answer to your oath +made first unto king Henry the Eighth, and afterward unto king Edward +the Sixth, his son?</p> + +<p>A long conversation ensued, in which Dr. Taylor was so piously +collected and severe upon his antagonist, that he exclaimed, Thou art +a blasphemous heretic! Thou indeed blasphemist the blessed sacrament, +(here he put off his cap) and speakest against the holy mass, +which is made a sacrifice for the quick and the dead. The bishop +afterward committed him into the king's bench.</p> + +<p>When Dr. Taylor came there, he found the virtuous and vigilant +preacher of God's word, Mr. Bradford; who equally thanked God that +he had provided him with such a comfortable fellow-prisoner; and +they both together praised God, and continued in prayer, reading and +exhorting one another.</p> + +<p>After that Dr. Taylor had lain some time in prison, he was cited to +appear in the arches of Bow-church.</p> + +<p>Dr. Taylor being condemned, was committed to the Clink, and the +keepers were charged to treat him roughly; at night he was removed +to the Poultry Compter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Dr. Taylor had lain in the Compter about a week, on the 4th +of February, Bonner came to degrade him, bringing with him such ornaments +as appertained to the massing mummery; but the Doctor refused +these trappings till they were forced upon him.</p> + +<p>The night after he was degraded, his wife came with John Hull, his +servant, and his son Thomas, and were by the gentleness of the keepers +permitted to sup with him.</p> + +<p>After supper, walking up and down, he gave God thanks for his +grace, that had so called him and given him strength to abide by his +holy word and turning to his son Thomas, he exhorted him to piety +and filial obedience in the most earnest manner.</p> + +<p>Dr. Taylor, about two o'clock in the morning, was conveyed to the +Woolpack, Aldgate, and had an affecting interview with his wife and +daughter, and a female orphan he had brought up who had waited all +night in St. Botolph's porch, to see him pass, before being delivered to +the sheriff of Essex. On coming out of the gates, John Hull, his good +servant, stood at the rails with Thomas, (Dr. Taylor's son.) This, +said he, is my own son. Then he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and +prayed for his son and blessed him.</p> + +<p>At Chelmsford the sheriff of Suffolk met them, there to receive him, +and to carry him into Suffolk. Being at supper, the sheriff of Essex +very earnestly besought him to return to the popish religion, +thinking with fair words to persuade him. When they had all drunk +to him, and the cup was come to him, he said, Mr. Sheriff, and my +masters all, I heartily thank you for your good will. I have hearkened +to your words, and marked well your counsels. And to be +plain with you, I perceive that I have been deceived myself, and am +like to deceive a great many in Hadley of their expectations. At +these words they all rejoiced, but the Doctor had a meaning very remote +from theirs. He alluded to the disappointment that the worms +would have in not being able to feast upon his portly and goodly body, +which they would have done if, instead of being burnt, he had been +buried.</p> + +<p>When the sheriff and his company heard him speak thus, they were +amazed, marvelling at the constant mind that could thus without fear +make a jest of the cruel torments and death now at hand, prepared for +him. At Chelmsford he was delivered to the sheriff of Suffolk, and by +him conducted to Hadley.</p> + +<p>When Dr. Taylor had arrived at Aldham-Common, the place where +he should suffer, seeing a great multitude of people, he asked, What +place is this, and what meaneth it that so much people are gathered +hither? It was answered, It is Aldham-Common, the place where you +must suffer; and the people are come to look upon you. Then he said, +Thanked be God, I am even at home; and he alighted from his horse +and with both hands rent the hood from his head.</p> + +<p>His head had been notched and clipped like as a man would clip a +fool's; which cost the good bishop Bonner had bestowed upon him. +But when the people saw his reverend and ancient face, with a long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +white beard, they burst out with weeping tears, and cried, saying, +God save thee, good Dr. Taylor! Jesus Christ strengthen thee, and +help thee! the Holy Ghost comfort thee! with such other like good +wishes.</p> + +<p>When he had prayed, he went to the stake and kissed it, and set +himself into a pitch barrel, which they had put for him to stand in, and +stood with his back upright against the stake, with his hands folded +together, and his eyes towards heaven, and continually prayed.</p> + +<p>They then bound him with the chains, and having set up the fagots, +one Warwick cruelly cast a fagot at him which struck him on his +head, and cut his face, so that the blood ran down. Then said Dr. +Taylor, O friend, I have harm enough, what needed that?</p> + +<p>Sir John Shelton standing by, as Dr. Taylor was speaking, and +saying the psalm Miserere in English, struck him on the lips: You +knave, said he, speak Latin: I will make thee. At last they kindled +the fire; and Dr. Taylor holding up both his hands, calling upon God, +and said, Merciful Father of heaven! for Jesus Christ, my Saviour's +sake, receive my soul into thy hands! So he stood still without either +crying or moving, with his hands folded together, till Soyce, with a +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'halbered'">halberd</ins> struck him on the head till his brains fell out, and the corpse +fell down into the fire.</p> + +<p>Thus rendered up this man of God his blessed soul into the hands +of his merciful Father, and to his most dear Saviour Jesus Christ, +whom he most entirely loved, faithfully and earnestly preached, obediently +followed in living, and constantly glorified in death.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Martyrdom of Tomkins, Pygot, Knight, Lawrence, Hunter, +and Higbed.</i></div> + +<p>Thomas Tomkins was by trade a weaver in Shoreditch, till he was +summoned before the inhuman Bonner, and confined with many others, +who renounced the errors of popery, in a prison in that tyrant's house +at Fulham.</p> + +<p>Under his confinement, he was treated by the bishop not only unbecoming +a prelate, but even a man; for the savage, because Tomkins +would not assent to the doctrine of transubstantiation, bruised him in +the face, and plucked off the greatest part of the hair of his beard.</p> + +<p>On another occasion, this scandal to humanity, in the presence of +many who came to visit at Fulham, took this poor honest man by the +fingers, and held his hand directly over the flame of a wax candle +having three or four wicks, supposing that, being terrified by the smart +and pain of the fire, he would leave off the defence of the doctrine +which he had received.</p> + +<p>Tomkins thinking no otherwise, but there presently to die, began +to commend himself unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, into thy hands I +commend my spirit, &c. All the time that his hand was burning +the same Tomkins afterward reported to one James Hinse, that his +spirit was so rapt, that he felt no pain. In which burning he never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +shrank till the veins shrank, and the sinews burst and the water spurted +into Mr. Harpsfield's face: insomuch that Mr. Harpsfield, moved +with pity, desired the bishop to stay, saying, that he had tried him +enough.</p> + +<p>After undergoing two examinations, and refusing to swerve from his +duty and belief, he was commanded to appear before the bishop.</p> + +<p>Agreeably to this mandate, being brought before the bloody tribunal +of bishops, and pressed to recant his errors and return to the mother +church, he maintained his fidelity, nor would swerve in the least +from the articles he had signed with his own hand. Having +therefore declared him an obstinate heretic, they delivered him up to +the secular power, and he was burned in Smithfield, March 16th, 1555, +triumphant in the midst of the flames, and adding to the noble company +of martyrs, who had preceded him through the path of the fiery +trial to the realms of immortal glory.</p> + +<p>William Hunter had been trained to the doctrines of the reformation +from his earliest youth, being descended from religious parents, +who carefully instructed him in the principles of the true religion.</p> + +<p>Hunter, then nineteen years of age, refusing to receive the communion +at mass, was threatened to be brought before the bishop; to whom +this valiant young martyr was conducted by a constable.</p> + +<p>Bonner caused William to be brought into a chamber, where he began +to reason with him, promising him security and pardon if he +would recant. Nay, he would have been content if he would have +gone only to receive and to confession, but William would not do so +for all the world.</p> + +<p>Upon this the bishop commanded his men to put William in the +stocks in his gate-house, where he sat two days and nights, with a +crust of brown bread and a cup of water only, which he did not touch.</p> + +<p>At the two days' end, the bishop came to him, and finding him +steadfast in the faith, sent him to the convict prison, and commanded +the keeper to lay irons upon him as many as he could bear. He continued +in prison three quarters of a year, during which time he had +been before the bishop five times, besides the time when he was condemned +in the consistory in St. Paul's, February 9th, at which time +his brother, Robert Hunter, was present.</p> + +<p>Then the bishop, calling William, asked him if he would recant, +and finding he was unchangeable, he pronounced sentence upon him, +that he should go from that place to Newgate for a time, and thence to +Brentwood, there to be burned.</p> + +<p>About a month afterward, William was sent down to Brentwood, +where he was to be executed. On coming to the stake, he knelt down +and read the 51st psalm, till he came to these words, "The sacrifice +of God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou +wilt not despise." Steadfast in refusing the queen's pardon, if he +would become an apostate, at length one Richard Ponde, a bailiff, came, +and made the chain fast about him.</p> + +<p>William now cast his psalter into his brother's hand, who said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +William, think on the holy passion of Christ, and be not afraid of +death. Behold, answered William, I am not afraid. Then he lifted +up his hands to heaven, and said, Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my spirit +and casting down his head again into the smothering smoke, he +yielded up his life for the truth, sealing it with his blood to the +praise of God.</p> + +<p>About the same time William Pygot, Stephen Knight, and Rev. +John Lawrence, were burnt as heretics, by order of the infamous Bonner. +Thomas Higbed and Thomas Causton shared the same fate.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Dr. Robert Farrar.</i></div> + +<p>This worthy and learned prelate, the bishop of St. David's in +Wales, having in the former reign, as well as since the accession of +Mary, been remarkably zealous to promoting the reformed doctrines, +and exploding the errors of popish idolatry, was summoned, +among others, before the persecuting bishop of Winchester, and other +commissioners set apart for the abominable work of devastation and +massacre.</p> + +<p>His principal accusers and persecutors, on a charge of præmunire +in the reign of Edward VI. were George Constantine Walter, his +servant; Thomas Young, chanter of the cathedral, afterward bishop +of Bangor, &c. Dr. Farrar ably replied to the copies of information +laid against him, consisting of fifty-six articles. The whole process +of this trial was long and tedious. Delay succeeded delay, and after +that Dr. Farrar had been long unjustly detained in custody under +sureties, in the reign of king Edward, because he had been promoted +by the duke of Somerset, whence after his fall he found fewer friends +to support him against such as wanted his bishopric by the coming in +of queen Mary, he was accused and examined not for any matter of +præmunire, but for his faith and doctrine; for which he was called +before the Bishop of Winchester with bishop Hooper, Mr. Rogers, +Mr. Bradford, Mr. Saunders and others, Feb. 4, 1555; on which day +he would also with them have been condemned, but his condemnation +was deferred, and he sent to prison again, where he continued till +Feb. 14, and then was sent into Wales to receive sentence. He was +six times brought up before Henry Morgan, bishop of St. David's, who +demanded if he would abjure; from which he zealously dissented, and +appealed to cardinal Pole; notwithstanding which, the bishop, proceeding +in his rage, pronounced him a heretic excommunicate, and surrendered +him to the secular power.</p> + +<p>Dr. Farrar, being condemned and degraded, was not long after +brought to the place of execution in the town of Carmathen, in the +market-place of which, on the south side of the market-cross, March +30, 1555, being Saturday next before Passion-Sunday, he most constantly +sustained the torments of the fire.</p> + +<p>Concerning his constancy, it is said that one Richard Jones, a +knight's son, coming to Dr. Farrar a little before his death, seemed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +lament the painfulness of the death he had to suffer; to whom the +bishop answered, That if he saw him once stir in the pains of his +burning, he ought then give no credit to his doctrine; and as he said, +so did he maintain his promise, patiently standing without emotion, till +one Richard Gravell with a staff struck him down.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rawlins White.</i></div> + +<p>Rawlins White was by his calling and occupation a fisherman, living +and continuing in the said trade for the space of twenty years at +least, in the town of Cardiff, where he bore a very good name amongst +his neighbours.</p> + +<p>Though the good man was altogether unlearned, and withal very +simple, yet it pleased God to remove him from error and idolatry to a +knowledge of the truth, through the blessed reformation in Edward's +reign. He had his son taught to read English, and after the little boy +could read pretty well, his father every night after supper, summer +and winter, made the boy read a portion of the holy scriptures, and +now and then a part of some other good book.</p> + +<p>When he had continued in his profession the space of five years, +king Edward died, upon whose decease queen Mary succeeded and +with her all kind of superstition crept in. White was taken by the +officers of the town, as a man suspected of heresy, brought before the +bishop Llandaff, and committed to prison in Chepstow, and at last removed +to the castle of Cardiff, where he continued for the space of one +whole year. Being brought before the bishop in his chapel, he counselled +him by threats and promises. But as Rawlins would in nowise +recant his opinions, the bishop told him plainly, that he must proceed +against him by law, and condemn him as a heretic.</p> + +<p>Before they proceeded to this extremity, the bishop proposed that +prayer should be said for his conversion. "This," said White, "is +like a godly bishop, and if your request be godly and right, and you +pray as you ought, no doubt God will hear you; pray you, therefore, +to your God, and I will pray to my God." After the bishop and his +party had done praying, he asked Rawlins if he would now revoke. +"You find," said the latter, "your prayer is not granted, for I remain +the same; and God will strengthen me in support of this truth." After +this, the bishop tried what saying mass would do; but Rawlins called +all the people to witness that he did not bow down to the host. Mass +being ended Rawlins was called for again; to whom the bishop used +many persuasions; but the blessed man continued so steadfast to his +former profession, that the bishop's discourse was to no purpose.—The +bishop now caused the definitive sentence to be read, which being +ended, Rawlins was carried again to Cardiff, to a loathsome prison +in the town, called Cockmarel, where he passed his time in prayer, +and in singing of psalms. In about three weeks, the order came from +town for his execution.</p> + +<p>When he came to the place, where his poor wife and children stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +weeping, the sudden sight of them so pierced his heart, that the tears +trickled down his face. Being come to the altar of his sacrifice, in +going towards the stake, he fell down upon his knees, and kissed the +ground; and in rising again, a little earth sticking on his face, he said +these words, Earth unto earth, and dust unto dust; thou art my mother, +and unto thee I shall return.</p> + +<p>When all things were ready, directly over against the stake, in the +face of Rawlins White, there was a standing erected, whereon stept up +a priest, addressing himself to the people, but, as he spoke of the Romish +doctrines of the sacraments, Rawlins cried out, Ah, thou wicked +hypocrite, dost thou presume to prove thy false doctrine by scripture? +Look in the text that followeth; did not Christ say, "Do this in remembrance +of me?"</p> + +<p>Then some that stood by cried out, put fire! set on fire! which being +done, the straw and reeds cast up a great and sudden flame. In which +flame this good man bathed his hands so long, until such time as the +sinews shrank, and the fat dropped away, saving that once he did, as it +were, wipe his face with one of them. All this while, which was somewhat +long, he cried with a loud voice, O Lord, receive my spirit! until +he could not open his mouth. At last the extremity of the fire was so +vehement against his legs, that they were consumed almost before the +rest of his body was hurt, which made the whole body fall over the +chain into the fire sooner than it would have done. Thus died this +good old man for his testimony of God's truth, and is now rewarded, no +doubt, with the crown of eternal life.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Rev. Mr. George Marsh.</i></div> + +<p>George Marsh, born in the parish of Deane, in the county of Lancaster, +received a good education and trade from his parents; about his +25th year he married, and lived, blessed with several children, on his +farm till his wife died. He then went to study at Cambridge, and became +the curate of the Rev. Mr. Lawrence Saunders, in which duty he +constantly and zealously set forth the truth of God's word, and the false +doctrines of the modern Antichrist.</p> + +<p>Being confined by Dr. Coles, the bishop of Chester, within the precincts +of his own house, he was kept from any intercourse with his +friends during four months: his friends and mother, earnestly wished +him to have flown from "the wrath to come;" but Mr. Marsh thought +that such a step would ill agree with that profession he had during +nine years openly made. He, however, secreted himself, but he had +much struggling, and in secret prayer begged that God would direct +him, through the advice of his best friends, for his own glory and to +what was best. At length, determined, by a letter he received, boldly +to confess the faith of Christ, he took leave of his mother-in-law and +other friends, recommending his children to their care and departed +for Smethehills, whence he was, with others, conducted to Lathum, +to undergo examination before the Earl of Derby, Sir William Nores<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +Mr. Sherburn, the parson of Grapnal, and others. The various questions +put to him he answered with a good conscience, but when Mr. +Sherburn interrogated him upon his belief of the sacrament of the altar, +Mr. Marsh answered like a true Protestant, that the essence of the +bread and wine was not at all changed, hence, after receiving dreadful +threats from some, and fair words from others, for his opinions, he +was remanded to ward, where he lay two nights without any bed.—On +Palm Sunday he underwent a second examination, and Mr. Marsh +much lamented that his fear should at all have induced him to prevaricate, +and to seek his safety, so long as he did not openly deny +Christ; and he again cried more earnestly to God for strength that +he might not be overcome by the subtleties of those who strove to +overrule the purity of his faith. He underwent three examinations +before Dr. Coles, who, finding him steadfast in the Protestant faith, +began to read his sentence; but he was interrupted by the Chancellor, +who prayed the bishop to stay before it was too late. The priest +then prayed for Mr. Marsh, but the latter, upon being again solicited +to recant, said he durst not deny his Saviour Christ, lest he lose his +everlasting mercy, and so obtain eternal death. The bishop then +proceeded in the sentence. He was committed to a dark dungeon, +and lay deprived of the consolation of any one, (for all were afraid to +relieve or communicate with him) till the day appointed came that +he should suffer. The sheriffs of the city, Amry and Couper, with +their officers, went to the north gate, and took out Mr. George Marsh, +who walked all the way with the book in his hand, looking upon the +same, whence the people said, This man does not go to his death as a +thief, nor as one that deserveth to die.</p> + +<p>When he came to the place of execution without the city, near +Spittal-Boughton, Mr. Cawdry, deputy Chamberlain of Chester, +showed Mr. Marsh a writing under a great seal, saying, that it was a +pardon for him if he would recant. He answered, That he would +gladly accept the same did it not tend to pluck him from God.</p> + +<p>After that, he began to speak to the people, showing the cause of +his death, and would have exhorted them to stick unto Christ, but +one of the sheriffs prevented him. Kneeling down, he then said his +prayers, put off his clothes unto his shirt, and was chained to the +post, having a number of fagots under him, and a thing made like a +firkin, with pitch and tar in it, over his head. The fire being unskilfully +made, and the wind driving it in eddies, he suffered great extremity, +which notwithstanding he bore with Christian fortitude.</p> + +<p>When he had been a long time tormented in the fire without moving, +having his flesh so broiled and puffed up, that they who stood before +him could not see the chain wherewith he was fastened, and therefore +supposed that he had been dead, suddenly he spread abroad his arms, +saying. Father of heaven have mercy upon me! and so yielded his +spirit into the hands of the Lord. Upon this, many of the people said +he was a martyr and died gloriously patient. This caused the bishop +shortly after to make a sermon in the cathedral church, and therein he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +affirmed, that the said Marsh was a heretic, burnt as such, and was a +firebrand in hell.—Mr. Marsh suffered April 24, 1555.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Mr. William Flower.</i></div> + +<p>William Flower, otherwise Branch, was born at Snow-hill, in the +county of Cambridge, where he went to school some years, and then +came to the abbey of Ely. After he had remained a while he became +a professed monk, was made a priest in the same house, and there +celebrated and sang mass. After that, by reason of a visitation, and +certain injunctions by the authority of Henry VIII he took upon him +the habit of a secular priest, and returned to Snow-hill, where he was +born, and taught children about half a year.</p> + +<p>He then went to Ludgate, in Suffolk, and served as a secular priest +about a quarter of a year; from thence to Stoniland; at length to +Tewksbury, where he married a wife, with whom he ever after faithfully +and honestly continued: after marriage he resided at Tewksbury +about two years, and from thence went to Brosley, where he +practised physic and surgery; but departing from those parts, he came +to London, and finally settled at Lambeth, where he and his wife +dwelt together: however, he was generally abroad, excepting once or +twice in a month, to visit and see his wife. Being at home upon +Easter Sunday morning, he came over the water from Lambeth into +St. Margaret's church at Westminster; when seeing a priest, named +John Celtham, administering and giving the sacrament of the altar to +the people, and being greatly offended in his conscience with the +priest for the same, he struck and wounded him upon the head, and +also upon the arm and hand, with his wood knife, the priest having at +the same time in his hand a chalice with the consecrated host therein, +which became sprinkled with blood.</p> + +<p>Mr. Flower, for this injudicious zeal, was heavily ironed, and put +into the gatehouse at Westminster; and afterward summoned before +bishop Bonner and his ordinary, where the bishop, after he had sworn +him upon a book, ministered articles and interrogations to him.</p> + +<p>After examination, the bishop began to exhort him again to return +to the unity of his mother the catholic church, with many fair promises. +These Mr. Flower steadfastly rejecting, the bishop ordered him +to appear in the same place in the afternoon, and in the mean time to +consider well his former answer; but he, neither apologizing for having +struck the priest, nor swerving from his faith, the bishop assigned +him the next day, April 20th, to receive sentence, if he would not +recant. The next morning, the bishop accordingly proceeded to the +sentence, condemning and excommunicating him for a heretic, and +after pronouncing him to be degraded, committed him to the secular +power.</p> + +<p>April 24, St. Mark's eve, he was brought to the place of martyrdom, +in St. Margaret's churchyard, Westminster, where the fact was committed: +and there coming to the stake, he prayed to Almighty God, +made a confession of his faith, and forgave all the world.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>This done, his hand was held up against the stake, and struck off, +his left hand being fastened behind him. Fire was then set to him +and he burning therein, cried with it loud voice, O thou Son of God, +have mercy upon me! O thou Son of God, receive my soul! three +times; his speech being now taken from him, he spoke no more, but +notwithstanding he lifted up the stump with his other arm as long as +he could.</p> + +<p>Thus he endured the extremity of the fire, and was cruelly tortured +for the few fagots that were brought being insufficient to burn him, +they were compelled to strike him down into the fire, where lying +along upon the ground, his lower part was consumed in the fire, whilst +his upper part was little injured, his tongue moving in his mouth for +a considerable time.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Rev. John Cardmaker and John Warne.</i></div> + +<p>May 30, 1555, the Rev. John Cardmaker, otherwise called Taylor, +prebendary of the church of Wells, and John Warne, upholsterer, of +St. John's, Walbrook, suffered together in Smithfield. Mr. Cardmaker, +who first was an observant friar before the dissolution of the +abbeys, afterward was a married minister, and in King Edward's +time appointed to be reader in St. Paul's; being apprehended in the +beginning of Queen Mary's reign, with Dr. Barlow, bishop of Bath, +he was brought to London, and put in the Fleet prison, King Edward's +laws being yet in force. In Mary's reign, when brought before the +bishop of Winchester, the latter offered them the queen's mercy, if +they would recant.</p> + +<p>Articles having been preferred against Mr. John Warne, he was +examined upon them by Bonner, who earnestly exhorted him to recant +his opinions. To whom he answered, I am persuaded that I am in the +right opinion, and I see no cause to recant; for all the filthiness and +idolatry lies in the church of Rome.</p> + +<p>The bishop then, seeing that all his fair promises and terrible +threatenings could not prevail, pronounced the definitive sentence of +condemnation, and ordered the 30th of May, 1555, for the execution +of John Cardmaker and John Warne, who were brought by the sheriffs +to Smithfield. Being come to the stake, the sheriffs called Mr. Cardmaker +aside, and talked with him secretly, during which Mr. Warne +prayed, was chained to the stake, and had wood and reeds set +about him.</p> + +<p>The people were greatly afflicted, thinking that Mr. Cardmaker +would recant at the burning of Mr. Warne. At length Mr. Cardmaker +departed from the sheriffs, and came towards the stake, knelt +down, and made a long prayer in silence to himself. He then arose +up, put off his clothes to his shirt, and went with a bold courage unto +the stake and kissed it; and taking Mr. Warne by the hand, he +heartily comforted him, and was bound to the stake, rejoicing. The +people seeing this so suddenly done, contrary to their previous expectation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +cried out, God be praised! the Lord strengthen thee, Cardmaker! +the Lord Jesus receive thy spirit! And this continued while +the executioner put fire to them, and both had passed through the fire +to the blessed rest and peace among God's holy saints and martyrs, +to enjoy the crown of triumph and victory prepared for the elect soldiers +and warriors of Christ Jesus in his blessed kingdom, to whom +be glory and majesty for ever. Amen.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Simpson and John Ardeley.</i></div> + +<p>John Simpson and John Ardeley were condemned on the same day +with Mr. Cardmaker and John Warne, which was the 25th of May. +They were shortly after sent down from London to Essex, where they +were burnt in one day, John Simpson at Rochford, and John Ardeley +at Railey, glorifying God in his beloved Son, and rejoicing that they +were accounted worthy to suffer.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Thomas Haukes, Thomas Watts, Thomas <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Osmand'">Osmond</ins>, William Bamford, +and Nicholas Chamberlain.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. Thomas Haukes, with six others, were condemned on the 9th +of February, 1555. In education he was erudite; in person, comely +and of good stature; in manners, a gentleman, and a sincere Christian. +A little before death, several of Mr. H's. friends, terrified by +the sharpness of the punishment he was going to suffer, privately +desired that in the midst of the flames he would show them some +token, whether the pains of burning were so great that a man might +not collectedly endure it. This he promised to do; and it was agreed, +that if the rage of the pain might he suffered, then he should lift up +his hands above his head towards heaven, before he gave up the ghost.</p> + +<p>Not long after, Mr. Haukes was led away to the place appointed +for slaughter, by lord Rich, and being come to the stake, mildly and +patiently prepared himself for the fire, having a strong chain cast +about his middle, with a multitude of people on every side compassing +him about. Unto whom after he had spoken many things, and poured +out his soul unto God, the fire was kindled.</p> + +<p>When he had continued long in it, and his speech was taken away +by violence of the flame, his skin drawn together, and his fingers consumed +with the fire, so that it was thought that he was gone, suddenly +and contrary to all expectation, this good man being mindful of his +promise, reached up his hands burning in flames over his head to the +living God, and with great rejoicings as it seemed, struck or clapped +them three times together. A great shout followed this wonderful +circumstance, and then this blessed martyr of Christ, sinking down in +the fire, gave up his spirit, June 10, 1555.</p> + +<p>Thomas Watts, of Billericay, in Essex, of the diocess of London, +was a linen draper. He had daily expected to be taken by God's +adversaries, and this came to pass on the 5th of April, 1555, when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Was'">was</ins> brought before lord Rich, and other commissioners at Chelmsford, +and accused for not coming to the church.</p> + +<p>Being consigned over to the bloody bishop, who gave him several +hearings, and, as usual, many arguments, with much entreaty, that +he would be a disciple of antichrist, but his preaching availed not, +and he resorted to his last revenge—that of condemnation.</p> + +<p>At the stake, after he had kissed it, he spake to lord Rich, charging +him to repent, for the Lord would revenge his death. Thus did this +good martyr offer his body to the fire, in defence of the true gospel of +the Saviour.</p> + +<p>Thomas Osmond, William Bamford, and Nicholas Chamberlain, all +of the town of Coxhall, being sent up to be examined, Bonner, after +several hearings, pronounced them obstinate heretics, and delivered +them to the sheriffs, in whose custody they remained till they were +delivered to the sheriff of Essex county, and by him were executed. +Chamberlain at Colchester, the 14th of June; Thomas Osmond at +Maningtree, and William Bamford, alias Butler, at Harwich, the 15th +of June, 1555; all dying full of the glorious hope of immortality.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. John Bradford, and John Leaf an apprentice.</i></div> + +<p>Rev. John Bradford was born at Manchester, in Lancashire; he +was a good Latin scholar, and afterward became a servant of Sir John +Harrington, knight.</p> + +<p>He continued several years in an honest and thriving way; but the +Lord had elected him to a better function. Hence he departed from +his master, quitting the Temple, at London, for the university of +Cambridge, to learn, by God's law, how to further the building of the +Lord's temple. In a few years after, the university gave him the +degree of master of arts, and he became a fellow of Pembroke Hall.</p> + +<p>Martin Bucer first urged him to preach, and when he modestly +doubted his ability, Bucer was wont to reply, If thou hast not fine +wheat bread, yet give the poor people barley bread, or whatsoever +else the Lord hath committed unto thee. Dr. Ridley, that worthy +bishop of London, and glorious martyr of Christ, first called him to +take the degree of a deacon and gave him a prebend in his cathedral +church of St. Paul.</p> + +<p>In this preaching office Mr. Bradford diligently laboured for the +space of three years. Sharply he reproved sin, sweetly he preached +Christ crucified, ably he disproved heresies and errors, earnestly he +persuaded to godly life. After the death of blessed king Edward VI. +Mr. Bradford still continued diligent in preaching, till he was suppressed +by queen Mary. An act now followed of the blackest +ingratitude, and at which a Pagan would blush. It has been recited, +that a tumult was occasioned by Mr. Bourne's (then bishop of Bath) +preaching at St. Paul's Cross; the indignation of the people placed +his life in imminent danger; indeed a dagger was thrown at him. In +this situation he entreated Mr. Bradford, who stood behind him, to +speak in his place, and assuage the tumult. The people welcomed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +Mr. Bradford, and the latter afterward kept close to him, that his +presence might prevent the populace from renewing their assaults.</p> + +<p>The same Sunday in the afternoon, Mr. Bradford preached at Bow +church in Cheapside, and reproved the people sharply for their seditious +misdemeanor. Notwithstanding this conduct, within three days +after, he was sent for to the tower of London, where the queen then +was, to appear before the council. There he was charged with this +act of saving Mr. Bourne, which was called seditious, and they also +objected against him for preaching. Thus he was committed, first to +the Tower, then to other prisons, and, after his condemnation, to the +Poultry Compter, where he preached twice a day continually, unless +sickness hindered him. Such was his credit with the keeper of the +king's Bench, that he permitted him in an evening to visit a poor, sick +person near the Steel-yard, upon his promise to return in time, and in +this he never failed.</p> + +<p>The night before he was sent to Newgate, he was troubled in his +sleep by foreboding dreams, that on Monday after he should be burned +in Smithfield. In the afternoon the keeper's wife came up and announced +this dreadful news to him, but in him it excited only thankfulness +to God. At night, half a dozen friends came, with whom he +spent all the evening in prayer and godly exercises.</p> + +<p>When he was removed to Newgate, a weeping crowd accompanied +him, and a rumor having been spread that he was to suffer at four +the next morning, an immense multitude attended. At nine o'clock +Mr. Bradford was brought into Smithfield. The cruelty of the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'sherif'">sheriff</ins> +deserves notice; for his brother-in-law, Roger Beswick, having taken +him by the hand as he passed, Mr. Woodroffe, with his staff, cut his +head open.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford, being come to the place, fell flat on the ground, +secretly making his prayers to Almighty God. Then, rising again, +and putting off his clothes unto the shirt, he went to the stake, and +there suffered with a young man of twenty years of age, whose name +was John Leaf, an apprentice to Mr. Humphry Gaudy, tallow-chandler, +of Christ-church, London. Upon Friday before Palm Sunday, +he was committed to the Compter in Bread-street, and afterward examined +and condemned by the bloody bishop.</p> + +<p>It is reported of him, that, when the bill of his confession was read +unto him, instead of pen, he took a pin, and pricking his hand, +sprinkled the blood upon the said bill, desiring the reader thereof to +show the bishop that he had sealed the same bill with his blood +already.</p> + +<p>They both ended this mortal life, July 12th, 1555, like two lambs, +without any alteration of their countenances, hoping to obtain that +prize they had long run for; to which may Almighty God conduct us +all, through the merits of Christ our Saviour! We shall conclude +this article with mentioning, that Mr. Sheriff Woodroffe, it is said, +within half a year after, was struck on the right side with a palsy +and for the space of eight years after, (till his dying day) he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +unable to turn himself in his bed; thus he became at last a fearful +object to behold.</p> + +<p>The day after Mr. Bradford and John Leaf suffered in Smithfield, +William Minge, priest, died in prison at Maidstone. With as great +constancy and boldness he yielded up his life in prison, as if it had +pleased God to have called him to suffer by fire, as other godly men +had done before at the stake, and as he himself was ready to do, had it +pleased God to have called him to this trial.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. John Bland, Rev. John Frankesh, Nicholas Shetterden, and +Humphrey Middleton.</i></div> + +<p>These Christian persons were all burnt at Canterbury for the same +cause. Frankesh and Bland were ministers and preachers of the +word of God, the one being parson of Adesham, and the other vicar +of Rolvindon. Mr. Bland was cited to answer for his opposition to +antichristianism, and underwent several examinations before Dr. +Harpsfield, archdeacon of Canterbury, and finally on the 25th of June, +1555, again withstanding the power of the pope, he was condemned, +and delivered to the secular arm. On the same day were condemned, +John Frankesh, Nicholas Shetterden, Humphrey Middleton, Thacker, +and Cocker, of whom Thacker only recanted.</p> + +<p>Being delivered to the secular power, Mr. Bland, with the three former, +were all burnt together at Canterbury, July 12, 1555, at two several +stakes, but in one fire, when they, in the sight of God and his angels, +and before men, like true soldiers of Jesus Christ, gave a constant +testimony to the truth of his holy gospel.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Nicholas Hall and Christopher Waid.</i></div> + +<p>The same month of July, Nicholas Hall, bricklayer, and Christopher +Waid, linendraper, of Dartford, suffered death, condemned by Maurice, +bishop of Rochester, about the last day of June, 1555. At the same +time three others were condemned, whose names were Joan Beach, +widow, John Harpol, of Rochester, and Margery Polley.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Dirick Carver and John Launder.</i></div> + +<p>The 22d of July, 1555, Dirick Carver, brewer, of Brighthelmstone, +aged forty, was burnt at Lewes. And the day following John Launder, +husbandman, aged twenty-five, of Godstone, Surry, was burnt at +Stening.</p> + +<p>Dirick Carver was a man whom the Lord had blessed as well with +temporal riches as with his spiritual treasures. At his coming into +the town of Lewes to be burnt, the people called to him, beseeching +God to strengthen him in the faith of Jesus Christ; and, as he came +to the stake, he knelt down, and prayed earnestly. Then his book +was thrown into the barrel, and when he had stripped himself, he +went into it. As soon as he was in, he took the book, and threw it +among the people, upon which the sheriff commanded, in the name of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +the king and queen, on pain of death, to throw in the book again.—And +immediately the holy martyr began to address the people. After +he had prayed awhile, he said, "O Lord my God, thou hast written, +he that will not forsake wife, children, house, and every thing that he +hath, and take up thy cross and follow thee, is not worthy of thee!—but +thou, Lord, knowest that I have forsaken all to come unto thee +Lord have mercy upon me, for unto thee I commend my spirit! and +my soul doth rejoice in thee!" These were the last words of this +faithful servant of Christ before enduring the fire. And when the +fire came to him, he cried, "O Lord have mercy upon me!" and +sprang up in the fire, calling upon the name of Jesus, till he gave up +the ghost.</p> + +<p>Thomas Iveson, of Godstone, in the county of Surry, carpenter, was +burnt about the same month at Chichester.</p> + +<p>John Aleworth, who died in prison at Reading, July, 1555, had been +imprisoned for the sake of the truth of the gospel.</p> + +<p>James Abbes. This young man wandered about to escape apprehension, +but was at last informed against, and brought before the +bishop of Norwich, who influenced him to recant; to secure him +further in apostasy, the bishop afterward gave him a piece of money; +but the interference of Providence is here remarkable. This bribe +lay so heavily upon his conscience, that he returned, threw back the +money, and repented of his conduct. Like Peter, he was contrite, +steadfast in the faith, and sealed it with his blood at Bury, August 2, +1555, praising and glorifying God.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Denley, Gent., John Newman, and Patrick Packingham.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. Denley and Newman were returning one day to Maidstone, +the place of their abode, when they were met by E. Tyrrel, Esq. a +bigoted justice of the peace in Essex, and a cruel persecutor of the +protestants. He apprehended them merely on suspicion. On the +5th of July, 1555, they were condemned, and consigned to the sheriffs, +who sent Mr. Denley to Uxbridge, where he perished, August the +8th, 1555. While suffering in agony, and singing a psalm, Dr. Story +inhumanly ordered one of the tormentors to throw a fagot at him, +which cut his face severely, caused him to cease singing, and to raise +his hands to his face. Just as Dr. Story was remarking in jest that +he had spoiled a good song, the pious martyr again chanted, spread +his hands abroad in the flames, and through Christ Jesus resigned his +soul into the hands of his Maker.</p> + +<p>Mr. Packingham suffered at the same town on the 28th of the same +month.</p> + +<p>Mr. Newman, pewterer, was burnt at Saffron Waldon, in Essex, +Aug. 31, for the same cause, and Richard Hook about the same time +perished at Chichester.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>W. Coker, W. Hooper, H. Laurence, R. Colliar, R. Wright +and W. Stere.</i></div> + +<p>These persons all of Kent, were examined at the same time with +Mr. Bland and Shetterden, by Thornton, bishop of Dover, Dr. Harpsfield, +and others. These six martyrs and witnesses of the truth were +consigned to the flames in Canterbury, at the end of August, 1555.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Warne, widow of John Warne, upholsterer, martyr, was +burnt at Stratford-le-bow, near London, at the end of August, 1555.</p> + +<p>George Tankerfield, of London, cook, born at York, aged 27, in the +reign of Edward VI. had been a papist; but the cruelty of bloody +Mary made him suspect the truth of those doctrines which were enforced +by fire and torture. Tankerfield was imprisoned in Newgate +about the end of February, 1555, and on Aug. 26, at St. Alban's, he +braved the excruciating fire, and joyfully died for the glory of his +Redeemer.</p> + +<p>Rev. Robert Smith was first in the service of Sir T. Smith, provost +of Eton; and was afterward removed to Windsor, where he had a +clerkship of ten pounds a year.</p> + +<p>He was condemned, July 12, 1555, and suffered Aug. 8, at Uxbridge. +He doubted not but that God would give the spectators some +token in support of his own cause; this actually happened; for, when +he was nearly half burnt, and supposed to be dead, he suddenly rose +up, moved the remaining parts of his arms and praised God; then, +hanging over the fire, he sweetly slept in the Lord Jesus.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephen Harwood and Mr. Thomas Fust suffered about the +same time with Smith and Tankerfield, with whom they were condemned. +Mr. William Hale, also, of Thorp, in Essex, was sent to +Barnet, where about the same time he joined the ever-blessed company +of Martyrs.</p> + +<p>George King, Thomas Leyes, and John Wade, falling sick in Lollard's +Tower, were removed to different houses, and died. Their +bodies were thrown out in the common fields as unworthy of burial, +and lay till the faithful conveyed them away by night.</p> + +<p>Joan Lashford, daughter-in-law of John and Elizabeth Warne, +martyr, was the last of the ten condemned before alluded to; her +martyrdom took place in 1556, of which we shall speak in its date.</p> + +<p>Mr. William Andrew of Horseley, Essex, was imprisoned in Newgate +for heresy; but God chose to call him to himself by the severe +treatment he endured in Newgate, and thus to mock the sanguinary +expectations of his Catholic persecutors. His body was thrown into +the open air, but his soul was received into the everlasting mansions +of his heavenly Creator.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Rev. Robert Samuel.</i></div> + +<p>This gentleman was minister of Bradford, Suffolk, where he industriously +taught the flock committed to his charge, while he was openly +permitted to discharge his duty. He was first persecuted by Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +Foster, of Copdock, near Ipswich, a severe and bigoted persecutor +of the followers of Christ, according to the truth in the Gospel. Notwithstanding +Mr. Samuel was ejected from his living, he continued +to exhort and instruct privately; nor would he obey the order for putting +away his wife, whom he had married in king Edward's reign; +but kept her at Ipswich, where Foster, by warrant, surprised him by +night with her. After being imprisoned in Ipswich jail, he was taken +before Dr. Hopton, bishop of Norwich, and Dr. Dunnings, his chancellor, +two of the most sanguinary among the bigots of those days. +To intimidate the worthy pastor, he was in prison chained to a post +in such a manner that the weight of his body was supported by the +points of his toes: added to this his allowance of provision was reduced +to a quantity so insufficient to sustain nature, that he was +almost ready to devour his own flesh. From this dreadful extremity +there was even a degree of mercy in ordering him to the fire. Mr. +Samuel suffered August 31, 1555.</p> + +<p>William Allen, a labouring servant to Mr. Houghton of Somerton +suffered not long after Mr. Samuel, at Walsingham.</p> + +<p>Roger Coo, was an aged man, and brought before the bishop of +Norwich for contumacy, by whom he was condemned Aug. 12, 1555, +and suffered in the following month at Yoxford, in Suffolk.</p> + +<p>Thomas Cobb, was a butcher at Haverhill, and condemned by Dunnings, +the furious chancellor of Norwich. Mr. Cobb suffered at +Thetford, Sept. 1555.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>G. Catmer, R. Streater, A. Burward, G. Brodbridge, and J. Tutty.</i></div> + +<p>These five worthies, denying the real presence in the eucharist, +were brought before Dr. Thornton, bishop of Dover, and condemned +as heretics. They suffered in one fire, Sept. 6, 1555, at Canterbury, +enduring all things for their faith in Christ Jesus.</p> + +<p>About the same time William Glowd, Cornelius Bungey, William +Wolsey, and Robert Pygot, suffered martyrdom.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer.</i></div> + +<p>These reverend prelates suffered October 17, 1555, at Oxford, on +the same day Wolsey and Pygot perished at Ely. Pillars of the +church and accomplished ornaments of human nature, they were the +admiration of the realm, amiably conspicuous in their lives, and glorious +in their deaths.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ridley was born in Northumberland, was first taught grammar +at Newcastle, and afterward removed to Cambridge, where his aptitude +in education raised him gradually till he came to be the head of +Pembroke college, where he received the title of Doctor of Divinity. +Having returned from a trip to Paris, he was appointed Chaplain to +Henry VIII. and Bishop of Rochester, and was afterwards translated +to the see of London in the time of Edward VI.</p> + +<p>His tenacious memory, extensive erudition, impressive oratory, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +indefatigable zeal in preaching, drew after him not only his own +flock, but persons from all quarters, desirous of godly exhortation or +reproof. His tender treatment of Dr. Heath, who was a prisoner with +him during one year, in Edward's reign, evidently proves that he had +no Catholic cruelty in his disposition. In person he was erect and +well proportioned; in temper forgiving; in self-mortification severe. +His first duty in the morning was private prayer: he remained in his +study till 10 o'clock, and then attended the daily prayer used in his +house. Dinner being done, he sat about an hour, conversing pleasantly, +or playing at chess. His study next engaged his attention, +unless business or visits occurred; about five o'clock prayers followed; +and after he would recreate himself at chess for about an hour, then +retire to his study till eleven o'clock, and pray on his knees as in the +morning. In brief, he was a pattern of godliness and virtue, and such +he endeavored to make men wherever he came.</p> + +<p>His attentive kindness was displayed particularly to old Mrs. Bonner, +mother of Dr. Bonner, the cruel bishop of London. Dr. Ridley, +when at his manor at Fulham, always invited her to his house, +placed her at the head of his table, and treated her like his own +mother; he did the same by Bonner's sister and other relatives; but +when Dr. Ridley was under persecution, Bonner pursued a conduct +diametrically opposite, and would have sacrificed Dr. Ridley's sister +and her husband, Mr. George Shipside, had not Providence delivered +him by the means of Dr. Heath, bishop of Worcester. Dr. Ridley +was first in part converted by reading Bertram's book on the sacrament, +and by his conferences with archbishop Cranmer and Peter +Martyr. When Edward VI. was removed from the throne, and the +bloody Mary succeeded, bishop Ridley was immediately marked as +an object of slaughter. He was first sent to the Tower, and afterward, +at Oxford, was consigned to the common prison of Bocardo, +with archbishop Cranmer and Mr. Latimer. Being separated from +them, he was placed in the house of one Irish, where he remained +till the day of his martyrdom, from 1554, till October 16, 1555. It +will easily be supposed that the conversations of these chiefs of the +martyrs were elaborate, learned, and instructive. Such indeed they +were, and equally beneficial to all their spiritual comforts. Bishop +Ridley's letters to various Christian brethren in bonds in all parts, +and his disputations with the mitred enemies of Christ, alike prove +the clearness of his head and the integrity of his heart. In a letter +to Mr. Grindal, (afterward archbishop of Canterbury,) he mentions +with affection those who had preceded him in dying for the faith, and +those who were expected to suffer; he regrets that popery is re-established +in its full abomination, which he attributes to the wrath of God, +made manifest in return for the lukewarmness of the clergy and the +people in justly appreciating the blessed light of the reformation.</p> + +<p>Bishop Latimer was the son of Hugh Latimer, of Turkelson, in +Leicestershire, a husbandman of repute, with whom he remained till +he was four years old. His parents, finding him of acute parts, gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +him a good education, and then sent him at fourteen to the university +of Cambridge, where he entered into the study of the school divinity +of that day, and was from principle a zealous observer of the Romish +superstitions of the time. In his oration when he commenced +bachelor of divinity, he inveighed against the reformer Melancthon, +and openly declaimed against good Mr. Stafford, divinity lecturer in +Cambridge.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thomas Bilney, moved by a brotherly pity towards Mr. Latimer, +begged to wait upon him in his study, and to explain to him the +groundwork of his (Mr. Bilney's) faith. This blessed interview effected +his conversion: the persecutor of Christ became his zealous advocate, +and before Dr. Stafford died he became reconciled to him.</p> + +<p>Once converted, he became eager for the conversion of others, and +commenced public preacher, and private instructer in the university. +His sermons were so pointed against the absurdity of praying in the +Latin tongue, and withholding the oracles of salvation from the people +who were to be saved by belief in them, that he drew upon himself +the pulpit animadversions of several of the resident friars and heads +of houses, whom he subsequently silenced by his severe criticisms +and eloquent arguments. This was at Christmas, 1529. At length +Dr. West preached against Mr. Latimer at Barwell Abbey, and prohibited +him from preaching again in the churches of the university, +notwithstanding which, he continued during three years to advocate +openly the cause of Christ, and even his enemies confessed the power +of those talents he possessed. Mr. Bilney remained here some time +with Mr. Latimer, and thus the place where they frequently walked +together obtained the name of Heretics' Hill.</p> + +<p>Mr. Latimer at this time traced out the innocence of a poor woman, +accused by her husband of the murder of her child. Having +preached before king Henry VIII. at Windsor, he obtained the unfortunate +mother's pardon. This, with many other benevolent acts, +served only to excite the spleen of his adversaries. He was summoned +before Cardinal Wolsey for heresy, but being a strenuous +supporter of the king's supremacy, in opposition to the pope's, by +favour of lord Cromwell and Dr. Buts, (the king's physician,) he +obtained the living of West Kingston, in Wiltshire. For his sermons +here against purgatory, the immaculacy of the Virgin, and the worship +of images, he was cited to appear before Warham, archbishop +of Canterbury, and John, bishop of London. He was required to +subscribe certain articles, expressive of his conformity to the accustomed +usages; and there is reason to think, after repeated weekly +examinations, that he did subscribe, as they did not seem to involve +any important article of belief. Guided by Providence, he escaped +the subtle nets of his persecutors, and at length, through the powerful +friends before mentioned, became bishop of Worcester, in which +function he qualified or explained away most of the papal ceremonies +he was for form's sake under the necessity of complying with. He +continued in this active and dignified employment some years, till the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +coming in of the Six Articles, when, to preserve an unsullied conscience, +he, as well as Dr. Shaxton, bishop of Salisbury, resigned. +He remained a prisoner in the Tower till the coronation of Edward +VI. when he was again called to the Lord's harvest in Stamford, and +many other places: he also preached at London in the convocation +house, and before the young king; indeed he lectured twice every +Sunday, regardless of his great age (then above sixty-seven years,) +and his weakness through a bruise received from the fall of a tree. +Indefatigable in his private studies, he rose to them in winter and in +summer at two o'clock in the morning. By the strength of his own +mind, or of some inward light from above, he had a prophetic view +of what was to happen to the church in Mary's reign, asserting that he +was doomed to suffer for the truth, and that Winchester, then in the +Tower, was preserved for that purpose. Soon after queen Mary was +proclaimed, a messenger was sent to summon Mr. Latimer to town, +and there is reason to believe it was wished that he should make his +escape. On entering Smithfield, he jocosely said, that the place had +long groaned for him. After being examined by the council, he was +committed to the Tower, where his cheerfulness is displayed in the +following anecdote. Being kept without fire in severe frosty weather, +his aged frame suffered so much, that he told the lieutenant's man, +that if he did not look better after him he should deceive his master. +The lieutenant, thinking he meant to effect his escape, came to him, +to know what he meant by this speech; which Mr. Latimer replied to, +by saying, "You, Mr. Lieutenant, doubtless suppose I shall <i>burn;</i> but, +except you let me have some fire, I shall deceive your expectation, for +here it is likely I shall be <i>starved with cold</i>."</p> + +<p>Mr. Latimer, after remaining a long time in the Tower, was transported +to Oxford, with Cranmer and Ridley, the disputations at which +place have been already mentioned in a former part of this work. +He remained imprisoned till October, and the principal objects of all +his prayers were three—that he might stand faithful to the doctrine +he had professed, that God would restore his gospel to England once +again, and preserve the Lady Elizabeth to be queen; all which happened. +When he stood at the stake without the Bocardo-gate, Oxford, +with Dr. Ridley, and fire was putting to the pile of fagots, he raised +his eyes benignantly towards heaven, and said, "God is faithful, who +doth not suffer us to be tempted above our strength." His body was +forcibly penetrated by the fire, and the blood flowed abundantly from +the heart; as if to verify his constant desire that his heart's blood +might be shed in defence of the gospel. His polemical and friendly +letters are lasting monuments of his integrity and talents. It has +been before said, that public disputation took place in April, 1554, +new examinations took place in Oct. 1555, previous to the degradation +and condemnation of Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer. We now +draw to the conclusion of the lives of the two last.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ridley, the night before execution, was very facetious, had +himself shaved, and called his supper a marriage feast; he remarked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +upon seeing Mrs. Irish (the keeper's wife) weep, "though my breakfast +will be somewhat sharp, my supper will be more pleasant and +sweet." The place of death was on the north side of the town +opposite Baliol College:—Dr. Ridley was dressed in a black gown +furred, and Mr. Latimer had a long shroud on, hanging down to his +feet. Dr. Ridley, as he <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'passsed'">passed</ins> Bocardo, looked up to see Dr. Cranmer, +but the latter was then engaged in disputation with a friar.—When +they came to the stake, Dr. Ridley embraced Latimer fervently, +and bid him be of good heart. He then knelt by the stake, and after +earnestly praying together, they had a short private conversation. +Dr. Smith then preached a short sermon against the martyrs, who +would have answered him, but were prevented by Dr. Marshal, the +vice-chancellor. Dr. Ridley then took off his gown and tippet, and +gave them to his brother-in-law, Mr. Shipside. He gave away also +many trifles to his weeping friends, and the populace were anxious +to get even a fragment of his garments. Mr. Latimer gave nothing, +and from the poverty of his garb, was soon stripped to his shroud, +and stood venerable and erect, fearless of death. Dr. Ridley being +unclothed to his shirt, the smith placed an iron chain about their +waists, and Dr. Ridley bid him fasten it securely; his brother having +tied a bag of gunpowder about his neck, gave some also to Mr. Latimer. +Dr. Ridley then requested of Lord Williams, of Fame, to advocate +with the queen the cause of some poor men to whom he had, +when bishop, granted leases, but which the present bishop refused to +confirm. A lighted fagot was now laid at Dr. Ridley's feet, which +caused Mr. Latimer to say, "Be of good cheer, Ridley; and play the +man. We shall this day, by God's grace, light up such a candle in +England, as, I trust, will never be put out." When Dr. Ridley saw +the flame approaching him, he exclaimed, "Into thy hands, O Lord, +I commend my spirit!" and repeated often, "Lord receive my spirit!" +Mr. Latimer, too, ceased not to say, "O Father of heaven receive +my soul!" Embracing the flame, he bathed his hands in it, and soon +died, apparently with little pain; but Dr. Ridley, by the ill-adjustment +of the fagots, which were green, and placed too high above the furze +was burnt much downwards. At this time, piteously entreating for +more fire to come to him, his brother-in-law imprudently heaped the +fagots up over him, which caused the fire more fiercely to burn his +limbs, whence he literally leaped up and down under the fagots, exclaiming +that he could not burn; indeed, his dreadful extremity was +but too plain, for after his legs were quite consumed, he showed his +body and shirt unsinged by the flame. Crying upon God for mercy, +a man with a bill pulled the fagots down, and when the flames arose, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'he be bent'">he bent</ins> +himself towards that side; at length the gunpowder was ignited, +and then he ceased to move, burning on the other side, and falling down +at Mr. Latimer's feet over the chain that had hitherto supported him.</p> + +<p>Every eye shed tears at the afflicting sight of these sufferers, who +were among the most distinguished persons of their time in dignity, +piety, and public estimation. They suffered October 16, 1555.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the following month died Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester +and Lord Chancellor of England. This papistical monster was +born at Bury, in Suffolk, and partly educated at Cambridge. Ambitious, +cruel, and bigoted, he served any cause; be first espoused the +king's part in the affair of Anne Boleyn: upon the establishment of +the Reformation, he declared the supremacy of the Pope an execrable +tenet, and when queen Mary came to the crown, he entered into +all her papistical bigoted views, and became a second time bishop +of Winchester. It is conjectured it was his intention to have moved +the sacrifice of Lady Elizabeth, but when he arrived at this point, it +pleased God to remove him.</p> + +<p>It was on the afternoon of the day when those faithful soldiers of +Christ, Ridley and Latimer, perished, that Gardiner sat down with a +joyful heart to dinner. Scarcely had he taken a few mouthfuls, when +he was seized with illness, and carried to his bed, where he lingered +fifteen days in great torment, unable in any wise to evacuate, and +burnt with a devouring fever, that terminated in death. Execrated by +all good Christians, we pray the Father of Mercies, that he may receive +that mercy above he never imparted below.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Mr. John Webb, George Roper, and Gregory Parker.</i></div> + +<p>These martyrs, after being brought before the bishop of Dover and +Dr. Harpsfield, were finally examined, October 3, 1555, adjudged to +be heretics, and at Canterbury, terminated their existence.</p> + +<p>Wm. Wiseman, clothworker of London, died in Lollard's Tower, +Dec. 13, 1555, not without suspicion of being made way with, for his +love of the gospel. In December, died James Gore, at Colchester, +imprisoned for the same cause.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Mr. John Philpot.</i></div> + +<p>This martyr was the son of a knight, born in Hampshire, and +brought up at New College, Oxford, where he several years studied +the civil law, and became eminent in the Hebrew tongue. He was a +scholar and a gentleman, zealous in religion, fearless in disposition, +and a detester of flattery. After visiting Italy, he returned to England, +affairs in King Edward's days wearing a more promising +aspect. During this reign he continued to be archdeacon of Winchester +under Dr. Poinet, who succeeded Gardiner. Upon the accession +of Mary, a convocation was summoned, in which Mr. Philpot +defended the Reformation against his ordinary, Gardiner, (again +made bishop of Winchester,) and soon was conducted to Bonner and +other commissioners for examination, Oct. 2, 1555, after being eighteen +months imprisoned. Upon his demanding to see the commission, +Dr. Story cruelly observed, "I will spend both my gown and my +coat, but I will burn thee! Let him be in Lollard's tower, (a wretched +prison,) for I will sweep the King's Bench and all other prisons of +these heretics!" Upon Mr. Philpot's second examination, it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +intimated to him, that Dr. Story had said that the Lord Chancellor +had commanded that he should be made way with. It is easy to +foretell the result of this inquiry; he was committed to Bonner's +coal-house, where he joined company with a zealous minister of +Essex, who had been induced to sign a bill of recantation; but afterward, +stung by his conscience, he asked the bishop to let him see the +instrument again, when he tore it to pieces; which induced Bonner in a +fury to strike him repeatedly, and tear away part of his beard. Mr. +Philpot had a private interview with Bonner the same night, and was +then remanded to his bed of straw like other prisoners, in the +coal-house. After seven examinations, Bonner ordered him to be set +in the stocks, and on the following Sunday separated him from his +fellow-prisoners as a sower of heresy, and ordered him up to a room +near the battlements of St. Paul's, eight feet by thirteen, on the other +side of Lollard's tower, and which could be overlooked by any one in +the bishop's outer gallery. Here Mr. Philpot was searched, but happily +he was successful in secreting some letters containing his examinations. +In the eleventh investigation before various bishops, and +Mr. Morgan, of Oxford, the latter was so driven into a corner by the +close pressure of Mr. Philpot's arguments, that he said to him, "Instead +of the spirit of the gospel which you boast to possess, I think +it is the spirit of the buttery, which your fellows have had, who were +drunk before their death, and went I believe drunken to it." To this +unfounded and brutish remark, Mr. Philpot indignantly replied, "It +appeareth by your communication, that you are better acquainted +with that spirit than the spirit of God; wherefore I tell thee, thou +painted wall and hypocrite, in the name of the living God, whose +truth I have told thee, that God shall rain fire and brimstone upon +such blasphemers as thou art!" He was then remanded by Bonner, +with an order not to allow him his Bible nor candlelight. December +4th, Mr. Philpot had his next hearing, and this was followed by two +more, making in all, fourteen conferences, previous to the final examination +in which he was condemned; such were the perseverance +and anxiety of the Catholics, aided by the argumentative abilities of +the most distinguished of the papal bishops, to bring him into the +pale of their church. Those examinations, which were very long +and learned, were all written down by Mr. Philpot, and a stronger +proof of the imbecility of the Catholic doctors, cannot, to an unbiassed +mind, be exhibited. December 16th, in the consistory of St. +Paul's bishop Bonner, after laying some trifling accusations to his +charge such as secreting powder to make ink, writing some private +letters, &c. proceeded to pass the awful sentence upon him, after he +and the other bishops had urged him by every inducement to recant. +He was afterward conducted to Newgate, where the avaricious Catholic +keeper loaded him with heavy irons, which by the humanity of +Mr. Macham were ordered to be taken off. December 17th, Mr. +Philpot received intimation that he was to die next day, and the next +morning about eight o'clock, he joyfully met the sheriffs, who were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +to attend him to the place of execution. Upon entering Smithfield +the ground was so muddy, that two officers offered to carry him to the +stake, but he replied, "Would you make me a pope? I am content to +finish my journey on foot." Arrived at the stake, he said, "Shall I +disdain to suffer at the stake, when my Redeemer did not refuse to suffer +the most vile death upon the Cross for me?" He then meekly recited +the cvii. and cviii. Psalms, and when he had finished his prayers, +was bound to the post, and fire applied to the pile. On December 18th, +1555, perished this illustrious martyr, reverenced by man, and glorified +in heaven! His letters arising out of the cause for which he suffered, +are elegant, numerous, and elaborate.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. T. Whittle, B. Green, T. Brown, J. Tudson, J. Ent, Isabel +Tooster, and Joan Lashford.</i></div> + +<p>These seven persons were summoned before Bonner's consistory, +and the articles of the Romish church tendered for their approbation. +Their refusal subjected them to the sentence of condemnation, and +on January 27, 1556, they underwent the dreadful sentence of blood +in Smithfield.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bartlet Green was condemned the next day.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thomas Brown, born at Histon, Ely, but afterward of St. +Bride's, London, was presented by the parish constable to Bonner, for +absenting himself from church. This faithful soldier of Christ suffered +on the same day with the preceding.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Tudson, of Ipswich by birth, was apprenticed in London +to a Mr. Goodyear, of St. Mary Botolph. He was condemned January +15, 1556, and consigned to the secular power, which completed the +fiery tyranny of the law, January 27, to the glory of God, and the immortal +salvation of the meek sufferer.</p> + +<p>Subsequently, John Hunt, Isabella Forster, and Joan Warne, were +condemned and executed.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Lomas, Agnes Snoth, Anne Wright, Joan Sole, and Joan +Catmer.</i></div> + +<p>These five martyrs suffered together, January 31, 1556. John Lomas +was a young man of Tenterden. He was cited to appear at Canterbury, +and was examined January 17. His answers being adverse +to the idolatrous doctrine of the papacy, he was condemned on the following +day, and suffered January 31.</p> + +<p>Agnes Snoth, widow, of Smarden Parish, was several times summoned +before the Catholic Pharisees, and rejecting absolution, indulgences, +transubstantiation, and auricular confession, she was adjudged +worthy to suffer death, and endured martyrdom, January 31, with Anne +Wright and Joan Sole, who were placed in similar circumstances, and +perished at the same time, with equal resignation. Joan Catmer, the +last of this heavenly company, of the parish Hithe, was the wife of the +martyr George Catmer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>Seldom in any country, for political controversy, have four women +been led to execution, whose lives were irreproachable, and whom +the pity of savages would have spared. We cannot but remark here +that, when the Protestant power first gained the ascendency over the +Catholic superstition, and some degree of force in the laws was necessary +to enforce uniformity, whence some bigoted people suffered privation +in their person or goods, we read of few burnings, savage cruelties, +or poor women brought to the stake, but it is the nature of error +to resort to force instead of argument, and to silence truth by taking +away existence, of which the Redeemer himself is an instance. The +above five persons were burnt at two stakes in one fire, singing +hosannahs to the glorified Saviour, till the breath of life was extinct. +Sir John Norton, who was present, wept bitterly at their unmerited +sufferings.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Archbishop Cranmer.</i></div> + +<p>Dr. Thomas Cranmer was descended from an ancient family, and +was born at the village of Arselacton, in the county of Northampton. +After the usual school education he was sent to Cambridge, and was +chosen fellow of Jesus College. Here he married a gentleman's +daughter, by which he forfeited his fellowship, and became a reader +in Buckingham college, placing his wife at the Dolphin inn, the landlady +of which was a relation of hers, whence arose the idle report that he +was an ostler. His lady shortly after dying in childbed, to his credit +he was re-chosen a fellow of the college before mentioned. In a few +years after, he was promoted to be Divinity Lecturer, and appointed +one of the examiners over those who were ripe to become Bachelors +or Doctors in Divinity. It was his principle to judge of their qualifications +by the knowledge they possessed of the Scriptures, rather than +of the ancient fathers, and hence many popish priests were rejected, +and others rendered much improved.</p> + +<p>He was strongly solicited by Dr. Capon to be one of the fellows on +the foundation of Cardinal Wolsey's college, Oxford, of which he +hazarded the refusal. While he continued in Cambridge, the question +of Henry VIII.'s divorce with Catharine was agitated. At that +time, on account of the plague, Dr. Cranmer removed to the house of +a Mr. Cressy, at Waltham Abbey, whose two sons were then educating +under him. The affair of divorce, contrary to the king's approbation, +had remained undecided above two or three years, from +the intrigues of the canonists and civilians, and though the cardinals +Campeius and Wolsey were commissioned from Rome to decide the +question, they purposely protracted the sentence. It happened that +Dr. Gardiner (secretary) and Dr. Fox, defenders of the king in the +above suit, came to the house of Mr. Cressy to lodge, while the king +removed to Greenwich. At supper, a conversation ensued with Dr. +Cranmer, who suggested that the question, whether a man may marry +his brother's wife or not, could be easily and speedily decided by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +word of God, and this as well in the English courts as in those of any +foreign nation. The king, uneasy at the delay, sent for Dr. Gardiner +and Dr. Foxe, to consult them, regretting that a new commission must +be sent to Rome, and the suit be endlessly protracted. Upon relating +to the king the conversation which had passed on the previous evening +with Dr. Cranmer, his majesty sent for him, and opened the tenderness +of conscience upon the near affinity of the queen. Dr. Cranmer +advised that the matter should be referred to the most learned divines +of Cambridge and Oxford, as he was unwilling to meddle in an affair +of such weight; but the king enjoined him to deliver his sentiments +in writing, and to repair for that purpose to the Earl of Wiltshire's, +who would accommodate him with books, and every thing requisite +for the occasion. This Dr. Cranmer immediately did, and in his +declaration, not only quoted the authority of the Scriptures, of general +councils and the ancient writers, but maintained that the bishop +of Rome had no authority whatever to dispense with the word of +God. The king asked him if he would stand by this bold declaration; +to which replying in the affirmative, he was deputed ambassador +to Rome, in conjunction with the Earl of Wiltshire, Dr. Stokesley, +Dr. Carne, Dr. Bennet, and others, previous to which, the marriage +was discussed in most of the universities of Christendom and at +Rome; when the pope presented his toe to be kissed, as customary, +the Earl of Wiltshire and his party refused. Indeed, it is affirmed, +that a spaniel of the Earl's, attracted by the glitter of the pope's toe, +made a snap at it, whence his holiness drew in his sacred foot, and +kicked at the offender with the other. Upon the pope demanding the +cause of their embassy, the Earl presented Dr. Cranmer's book, +declaring that his learned friends had come to defend it. The pope +treated the embassy honourably, and appointed a day for the discussion, +which he delayed, as if afraid of the issue of the investigation. +The Earl returned, and Dr. Cranmer, by the king's desire, visited the +emperor, and was successful in bringing him over to his opinion. +Upon the Doctor's return to England, Dr. Warham, archbishop of +Canterbury, having quitted this transitory life, Dr. Cranmer was +deservedly, and by Dr. Warham's desire, elevated to that eminent +station.</p> + +<p>In this function, it may be said that he followed closely the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'charg'">charge</ins> +of St. Paul. Diligent in duty, he rose at five in the morning, and +continued in study and prayer till nine: between then and dinner, he +devoted to temporal affairs. After dinner, if any suitors wanted +hearing, he would determine their business with such an affability, +that even the defaulters were scarcely displeased. Then he would +play at chess for an hour, or see others play, and at five o'clock he +heard the Common Prayer read, and from this till supper he took the +recreation of walking. At supper his conversation was lively and +entertaining; again he walked or amused himself till nine o'clock, and +then entered his study.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>He ranked high in favour with king Henry and ever had the purity +and the interest of the English church deeply at heart. His mild and +forgiving disposition is recorded in the following instance—An ignorant +priest, in the country, had called Cranmer an ostler, and spoken +very derogatory of his learning. Lord Cromwell receiving information +of it, the man was sent to the fleet, and his case was told to the +archbishop by a Mr. Chertsey, a grocer, and a relation of the priest's. +His grace, having sent for the offender, reasoned with him, and solicited +the priest to question him on any learned subject. This the +man, overcome by the bishop's good nature, and knowing his own +glaring incapacity, declined, and entreated his forgiveness, which +was immediately granted, with a charge to employ his time better +when he returned to his parish. Cromwell was much vexed at the +lenity displayed, but the bishop was ever more ready to receive injury +than to retaliate in any other manner than by good advice and good +offices.</p> + +<p>At the time that Cranmer was raised to be archbishop, he was +king's chaplain, and archdeacon of Taunton; he was also constituted +by the pope, penitentiary general of England. It was considered by +the king that Cranmer would be obsequious; hence the latter married +the king to Anne Boleyn, performed her coronation, stood godfather +to Elizabeth, the first child, and divorced the king from Catharine. +Though Cranmer received a confirmation of his dignity from the +pope, he always protested against acknowledging any other authority +than the king's, and he persisted in the same independent sentiments +when before Mary's commissioners in 1555. One of the first steps +after the divorce was to prevent preaching throughout his diocess, but +this narrow measure had rather a political view than a religious one, +as there were many who inveighed against the king's conduct. In his +new dignity Cranmer agitated the question of supremacy, and by his +powerful and just arguments induced the parliament to "render to +Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's." During Cranmer's residence +in Germany, 1531, he became acquainted with Ossiander, at Nurenburgh, +and married his niece, but left her with him while on his return +to England; after a season he sent for her privately, and she remained +with him till the year 1539, when the Six Articles compelled +him to return her to her friends for a time.</p> + +<p>It should be remembered that Ossiander, having obtained the approbation +of his friend Cranmer, published the laborious work of the +Harmony of the Gospels in 1537. In 1534 the archbishop completed +the dearest wish of his heart, the removal of every obstacle +to the perfection of the Reformation, by the subscription of the nobles +and bishops to the king's sole supremacy. Only bishop Fisher and +Sir Thomas More made objection; and their agreement not to oppose +the succession, Cranmer was willing to consider as sufficient, but the +monarch would have no other than an entire concession. Not long +after, Gardiner, in a private interview with the king, spoke inimically +of Cranmer, (whom he maliciously hated) for assuming the title of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +Primate of all England, as derogatory to the supremacy of the king, +this created much jealousy against Cranmer, and his translation of +the Bible was strongly opposed by Stokesley, bishop of London. It +is said, upon the demise of queen Catharine, that her successor Anne +Boleyn rejoiced—a lesson this to show how shallow is the human +judgment! since her own execution took place in the spring of the +following year, and the king, on the day following the beheading of +this sacrificed lady, married the beautiful Jane Seymour, a maid of +honour to the late queen. Cranmer was ever the friend of Anne +Boleyn, but it was dangerous to oppose the will of the carnal tyrannical +monarch.</p> + +<p>In 1538, the holy Scriptures were openly exposed to sale; and the +places of worship overflowed every where to hear its holy doctrines +expounded. Upon the king's passing into a law the famous Six +Articles, which went nearly again to establish the essential tenets of +the Romish creed, Cranmer shone forth with all the lustre of a Christian +patriot, in resisting the doctrines they contained, and in which he +was supported by the bishops of Sarum, Worcester, Ely, and Rochester, +the two former of whom resigned their bishoprics. The king, +though now in opposition to Cranmer, still revered the sincerity that +marked his conduct. The death of Lord Cromwell in the Tower, in +1540, the good friend of Cranmer, was a severe blow to the wavering +protestant cause, but even now Cranmer, when he saw the tide directly +adverse to the truth, boldly waited on the king in person, and by his +manly and heartfelt pleading, caused the book of Articles to be passed +on his side, to the great confusion of his enemies, who had contemplated +his fall as inevitable.</p> + +<p>Cranmer now lived in as secluded a manner as possible, till the +rancour of Winchester preferred some articles against him, relative +to the dangerous opinion he taught in his family, joined to other +treasonable charges. These the king delivered himself to Cranmer, +and believing firmly the fidelity and assertions of innocence of the +accused prelate, he caused the matter to be deeply investigated, and +Winchester and Dr. Lenden, with Thornton and Barber, of the +bishop's household, were found by the papers to be the real conspirators. +The mild forgiving Cranmer would have interceded for all +remission of punishment, had not Henry, pleased with the subsidy +voted by parliament, let them be discharged; these nefarious men, +however, again renewing their plots against Cranmer, fell victims to +Henry's resentment, and Gardiner forever <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'lest'">lost</ins> his confidence. Sir +G. Gostwick soon after laid charges against the archbishop, which +Henry quashed, and the primate was willing to forgive.</p> + +<p>In 1544, the archbishop's palace at Canterbury was burnt, and his +brother-in-law with others perished in it. These various afflictions +may serve to reconcile us to an humble state; for of what happiness +could this great and good man boast? since his life was constantly +harassed either by political, religious, or natural crosses. Again the +inveterate Gardiner laid high charges against the meek archbishop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +and would have sent him to the tower; but the king was his friend, +gave him his signet that he would defend him, and in the council not +only declared the bishop one of the best affected men in his realm, but +sharply rebuked his accusers for their calumny.</p> + +<p>A peace having been made, Henry, and the French king Henry the +Great, were unanimous to have the mass abolished in their kingdom, +and Cranmer set about this great work; but the death of the English +monarch, in 1546, suspended the procedure, and king Edward his successor +continued Cranmer in the same functions, upon whose coronation +he delivered a charge that will ever honour his memory, for its +purity, freedom, and truth. During this reign he prosecuted the glorious +reformation with unabated zeal, even in the year 1552, when he +was seized with a severe ague, from which it pleased God to restore +him that he might testify by his death the truth of that seed he had +diligently sown.</p> + +<p>The death of Edward, in 1553, exposed Cranmer to all the rage of +his enemies. Though the archbishop was among those who supported +Mary's accession, he was attainted at the meeting of parliament, and +in November adjudged guilty of high treason at Guildhall, and degraded +from his dignities. He sent an humble letter to Mary, explaining +the cause of his signing the will in favor of Edward, and in 1554 he +wrote to the council, whom he pressed to obtain a pardon from the +queen, by a letter delivered to Dr. Weston, but which the latter +opened, and on seeing its contents, basely returned. Treason was a +charge quite inapplicable to Cranmer, who supported the queen's +right; while others, who had favoured Lady Jane, upon paying +a small fine were dismissed. A calumny was now spread against +Cranmer, that he complied with some of the popish ceremonies to ingratiate +himself with the queen, which he dared publicly to disavow, and +justified his articles of faith. The active part which the prelate had +taken in the divorce of Mary's mother had ever rankled deeply in the +heart of the queen, and revenge formed a prominent feature in the +death of Cranmer. We have in this work, noticed the public disputations +at Oxford, in which the talents of Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, +shone so conspicuously, and tended to their condemnation.—The +first sentence was illegal, inasmuch as the usurped power of the +pope had not yet been re-established by law. Being kept in prison till +this was effected, a commission was despatched from Rome, appointing +Dr. Brooks to sit as the representative of his Holiness, and Drs. Story +and Martin as those of the queen. Cranmer was willing to bow to +the authority of Drs. Story and Martin, but against that of Dr. +Brooks he protested. Such were the remarks and replies of Cranmer, +after a long examination, that Dr. Brooks observed, "We come +to examine you, and methinks you examine us." Being sent back to +confinement, he received a citation to appear at Rome within eighteen +days, but this was impracticable, as he was imprisoned in England; +and as he stated, even had he been at liberty, he was too poor to employ +an advocate. Absurd as it must appear, Cranmer was condemned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +at Rome, and February 14, 1556, a new commission was appointed +by which, Thirdly, bishop of Ely, and Bonner, of London, were deputed +to sit in judgment at Christ-church, Oxford. By virtue of this +instrument, Cranmer was gradually degraded, by putting mere rags on +him to represent the dress of an archbishop; then stripping him of his +attire, they took off his own gown, and put an old worn one upon him +instead. This he bore unmoved, and his enemies, finding that severity +only rendered him more determined, tried the opposite course, and +placed him in the house of the dean of Christ-church, where he was +treated with every indulgence. This presented such a contrast to the +three years hard imprisonment he had received, that it threw him off +his guard. His open, generous nature was more easily to be seduced +by a liberal conduct than by threats and fetters. When satan finds +the christian proof against one mode of attack, he tries another; and +what form is so seductive as smiles, rewards, and power, after a long, +painful imprisonment? Thus it was with Cranmer: his enemies promised +him his former greatness if he would but recant, as well as the +queen's favour, and this at the very time they knew that his death was +determined in council. To soften the path to apostacy, the first paper +brought for his signature was conceived in general terms; this one +signed, five others were obtained as explanatory of the first, till finally +he put his hand to the following detestable instrument:—</p> + +<p>"I, Thomas Cranmer, late archbishop of Canterbury, do renounce, +abhor, and detest all manner of heresies and errors of Luther and +Zuinglius, and all other teachings which are contrary to sound and +true doctrine. And I believe most constantly in my heart, and with +my mouth I confess one holy and catholic church visible, without +which there is no salvation; and therefore I acknowledge the bishop +of Rome to be supreme head on earth, whom I acknowledge to be the +highest bishop and pope, and Christ's vicar, unto whom all christian +people ought to be subject.</p> + +<p>"And as concerning the sacraments, I believe and worship in the +sacrament of the altar the body and blood of Christ, being contained +most truly under the forms of bread and wine; the bread, through the +mighty power of God being turned into the body of our Saviour Jesus +Christ, and the wine into his blood.</p> + +<p>"And in the other six sacraments, also, (alike as in this) I believe +and hold as the universal church holdeth, and the church of Rome +judgeth and determineth.</p> + +<p>"Furthermore, I believe that there is a place of purgatory, where +souls departed be punished for a time, for whom the church doth godlily +and wholesomely pray, like as it doth honour saints and make +prayers to them.</p> + +<p>"Finally, in all things I profess, that I do not otherwise believe than +the catholic church and the church of Rome holdeth and teacheth.—I +am sorry that I ever held or thought otherwise. And I beseech +Almighty God, that of his mercy he will vouchsafe to forgive me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +whatsoever I have offended against God or his church, and also I desire +and beseech all christian people to pray for me.</p> + +<p>"And all such as have been deceived either by mine example of +doctrine, I require them by the blood of Jesus Christ that they will +return to the unity of the church, that we may be all of one mind, +without schism or division.</p> + +<p>"And to conclude, as I submit myself to the catholic church of +Christ, and to the supreme head thereof, so I submit myself unto the +most excellent majesties of Philip and Mary, king and queen of this +realm of England, &c. and to all other their laws and ordinances, +being ready always as a faithful subject ever to obey them. And God +is my witness, that I have not done this for favour or fear of any person, +but willingly and of mine own conscience, as to the instruction of +others."</p> + +<p>"Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall!" said the apostle, +and here was a falling off indeed! The papists now triumphed in +their turn: they had acquired all they wanted short of his life. His +recantation was immediately printed and dispersed, that it might +have its due effect upon the astonished protestants; but God counter-worked +all the designs of the catholics by the extent to which they +carried the implacable persecution of their prey. Doubtless, the love +of life induced Cranmer to sign the above declaration; yet death +may be said to have been preferable to life to him who lay under the +stings of a goaded conscience and the contempt of every gospel christian; +this principle he strongly felt in all its force and anguish.</p> + +<p>The queen's revenge was only to be satiated in Cranmer's blood, +and therefore she wrote an order to Dr. Cole, to prepare a sermon to +be preached March 21, directly before his martyrdom, at St. Mary's, +Oxford; Dr. Cole visited him the day previous, and was induced to +believe that he would publicly deliver his sentiments in confirmation +of the articles to which he had subscribed. About nine in the morning +of the day of sacrifice, the queen's commissioners, attended by +the magistrates, conducted the amiable unfortunate to St. Mary's +church. His torn, dirty garb, the same in which they habited him +upon his degradation, excited the commisseration of the people. In +the church he found a low, mean stage, erected opposite to the pulpit, +on which being placed, he turned his face, and fervently prayed to +God. The church was crowded with persons of both persuasions, +expecting to hear the justification of the late apostacy: the catholics +rejoicing, and the protestants deeply wounded in spirit at the deceit of +the human heart. Dr. Cole, in his sermon, represented Cranmer as +having been guilty of the most atrocious crimes; encouraged the deluded +sufferer not to fear death, not to doubt the support of God in his +torments, nor that masses would be said in all the churches of Oxford +for the repose of his soul. The Doctor then noticed his conversion, +and which he ascribed to the evident working of Almighty Power, +and in order that the people might be convinced of its reality, asked +the prisoner to give them a sign. This Cranmer did, and begged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +the congregation to pray for him, for he had committed many and +grievous sins; but, of all, there was one which awfully lay upon his +mind, of which he would speak shortly.</p> + +<p>During the sermon Cranmer wept bitter tears: lifting up his hands +and eyes to heaven, and letting them fall, as if unworthy to live: his +grief now found vent in words: before his confession he fell upon his +knees, and, in the following words unveiled the deep contrition and +agitation which harrowed up his soul.</p> + +<p>"O Father of heaven! O Son of God, Redeemer of the world! +O Holy Ghost, three persons and one God! have mercy on me, most +wretched caitiff and miserable sinner. I have offended both against +heaven and earth, more than my tongue can express. Whither then +may I go, or whither may I flee? To heaven I may be ashamed to +lift up mine eyes, and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour. +To thee, therefore, O Lord, do I run; to thee do I humble myself, +saying, O Lord, my God, my sins be great, but yet have mercy upon +me for thy great mercy. The great mystery that God became man, +was not wrought for little or few offences. Thou didst not give thy +Son, O Heavenly Father, unto death for small sins only, but for all +the greatest sins of the world, so that the sinner return to thee with +his whole heart, as I do at present. Wherefore, have mercy on me, O +God, whose property is always to have mercy, have mercy upon me, +O Lord, for thy great mercy. I crave nothing for my own merits, but +for thy name's sake, that it may be hallowed thereby, and for thy dear +Son Jesus Christ's sake. And now therefore, O Father of Heaven, +hallowed be thy name," &c.</p> + +<p>Then rising, he said he was desirous before his death to give them +some pious exhortations by which God might be glorified and themselves +edified. He then descanted upon the danger of a love for the +world, the duty of obedience to their majesties of love to one another +and the necessity of the rich administering to the wants of the poor. +He quoted the three verses of the fifth chapter of James, and then +proceeded, "Let them that be rich ponder well these three sentences: +for if they ever had occasion to show their charity, they have it now +at this present, the poor people being so many, and victual so dear.</p> + +<p>"And now forasmuch as I am come to the last end of my life, +whereupon hangeth all my life past, and all my life to come, either +to live with my master Christ for ever in joy, or else to be in pain for +ever with the wicked in hell, and I see before mine eyes presently, +either heaven ready to receive me, or else hell ready to swallow me +up; I shall therefore declare unto you my very faith how I believe, +without any colour of dissimulation: for now is no time to dissemble, +whatsoever I have said or written in times past.</p> + +<p>"First, I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven +and earth, &c. And I believe every article of the Catholic faith, +every word and sentence taught by our Saviour Jesus Christ, his +apostles and prophets, in the New and Old Testament.</p> + +<p>"And now I come to the great thing which so much troubleth my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +conscience, more than any thing that ever I did or said in my whole +life, and that is the setting abroad of a writing contrary to the truth, +which now here I renounce and refuse, as things written with my +hand contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart, and written +for fear of death, and to save my life, if it might be; and that is, all +such bills or papers which I have written or signed with my hand +since my degradation, wherein I have written many things untrue. +And forasmuch as my hand hath offended, writing contrary to my +heart, therefore my hand shall first be punished; for when I come to +the fire, it shall first be burned.</p> + +<p>"And as for the Pope, I refuse him as Christ's enemy, and antichrist, +with all his false doctrine.</p> + +<p>"And as for the sacrament, I believe as I have taught in my book +against the bishop of Winchester, which my book teacheth so true a +doctrine of the sacrament, that it shall stand in the last day before the +judgment of God, where the papistical doctrines contrary thereto shall +be ashamed to show their face."</p> + +<p>Upon the conclusion of this unexpected declaration, amazement +and indignation were conspicuous in every part of the church. The +catholics were completely foiled, their object being frustrated; Cranmer, +like Sampson, having completed a greater ruin upon his enemies +in the hour of death, than he did in his life.</p> + +<p>Cranmer would have proceeded in the exposure of the popish doctrines, +but the murmurs of the idolaters drowned his voice, and the +preacher gave an order to lead the heretic away! The savage command +was directly obeyed, and the lamb about to suffer was torn from +his stand to the place of slaughter, insulted all the way by the revilings +and taunts of the pestilent monks and friars. With thoughts +intent upon a far higher object than the empty threats of man, he +reached the spot dyed with the blood of Ridley and Latimer. There +he knelt for a short time in earnest devotion, and then arose, that he +might undress and prepare for the fire. Two friars who had been +parties in prevailing upon him to abjure, now endeavoured to draw +him off again from the truth, but he was steadfast and immoveable +in what he had just professed, and before publicly taught. A chain +was provided to bind him to the stake, and after it had tightly encircled +him, fire was put to the fuel, and the flames began soon to +ascend. Then were the glorious sentiments of the martyr made +manifest;—then it was, that stretching out his right hand, he held it +unshrinkingly in the fire till it was burnt to a cinder, even before his +body was injured, frequently exclaiming, "This unworthy right +hand!" Apparently insensible of pain, with a countenance of venerable +resignation, and eyes directed to Him for whose cause he suffered, +he continued, like St. Stephen, to say, "Lord Jesus receive my +spirit!" till the fury of the flames terminated his powers of utterance +and existence. He closed a life of high sublunary elevation, +of constant uneasiness, and of glorious martyrdom, on March 21, +1556.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus perished the illustrious Cranmer, the man whom king +Henry's capricious soul esteemed for his virtues above all other men. +Cranmer's example is an endless testimony that fraud and cruelty +are the leading characteristics of the catholic hierarchy. They first +seduced him to live by recantation, and then doomed him to perish, +using perhaps the sophistical arguments, that, being brought again +within the catholic pale, he was then most fit to die. His gradual +change from darkness to the light of the truth, proved that he had a +mind open to conviction. Though mild and forgiving in temper, he +was severe in church discipline, and it is only on this ground that +one act of cruelty of his can in any way be excused. A poor woman +was in Edward's reign condemned to be burnt for her religious opinions; +the pious young monarch reasoned with the archbishop upon +the impropriety of protestants resorting to the same cruel means they +censured in papists, adding humanely, "What! would you have me +send her quick to the devil in her error?" The prelate however was +not to be softened, and the king signed the death warrant with eyes +steeped in tears. There is however a shade in the greatest characters, +and few characters, whether political or religious, were greater +than Cranmer's.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Agnes Potten and Joan Trunchfield.</i></div> + +<p>These godly women (before mentioned) were both of Ipswich, +and suffered about the same time with Cranmer. When in prison +together, Mrs. Trunchfield was less ardent and zealous than Mrs. +Potten; but when at the stake, her hope in glory was brighter even +than that of her fellow-sufferer.</p> + +<p>John Maundrel, William Coberly, and John Spicer were burnt +between Salisbury and Wilton, March 24, 1556. Two died without +any particular retardation, but Coberly, from the current of wind as +he stood, was a long time in perishing. His left arm was visible to +the bone, while the right, but little injured, beat upon his breast softly, +and the discharge from his mouth was considerable. Rising suddenly +erect from hanging over the chain, as if dead, he gave up his mortal +abode for one made without hands, eternal in the heavens!</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. Robert Drakes, Rev. William Tyms, Richard Spurge, Sheerman +T. Spurge, Fuller; J. Cavel, Weaver; and G. Ambrose, Fuller.</i></div> + +<p>These worthies were of Essex, and in the diocese of London.—They +were all sent up to Gardiner, the chancellor, March 25, 1555; who +imprisoned them some in the king's bench, and others in the Marshalsea.</p> + +<p>March 28, the six were brought up for condemnation in the consistory +of St. Paul's; after which sentence, they were delivered to the +sheriff, to be sent to Newgate, where they remained, patiently waiting +the Lord's time for deliverance, which took place about the 23d of +April, 1556, in Smithfield.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the same month, perished John Harpole, of Rochester, and Joan +Beach, widow, (before mentioned) with Mr. N. Hall. They suffered +under Maurice, bishop of Rochester, in whose diocess they lived.</p> + +<p>Rev. John Hullier. This gentleman went from Eton school to king's +college, Cambridge, and suffered under Dr. Thirlby, bishop of Ely. +He died the 2d of April, 1556.</p> + +<p>From Kent we now turn to Colchester in Essex, where six constant +professors of the gospel were selected to witness the truth by the sacrifice +of their lives. These were, C. Luyster, of Dagenham, husbandman; +John Mace, apothecary; John Spencer, weaver; Simon Joyne, +lawyer; Richard Nichols, weaver, and John Hammond, tanner; five of +Colchester.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Hugh Laverick and John Aprice.</i></div> + +<p>Here we perceive that neither the impotence of age nor the affliction +of blindness, could turn aside the murdering fangs of these +Babylonish monsters. The first of these unfortunates was of the +parish of Barking, aged sixty-eight, a painter and a cripple. The +other was blind,—dark indeed in his visual faculties, but intellectually +illuminated with the radiance of the everlasting gospel of truth. +Inoffensive objects like these were informed against by some of the +sons of bigotry, and dragged before the prelatical shark of London, +where they underwent examination, and replied to the articles propounded +to them, as other christian martyrs had done before. On the +9th of May, in the consistory of St. Paul's, they were entreated to +recant, and upon refusal, were sent to Fulham, where Bonner, by +way of a dessert after dinner, condemned them to the agonies of the +fire. Being consigned to the secular officers, May 15, 1556, they +were taken in a cart from Newgate to Stratford-le-Bow, where they +were fastened to the stake. When Hugh Laverick was secured by +the chain, having no farther occasion for his crutch, he threw it away +saying to his fellow-martyr, while consoling him, "Be of good cheer +my brother; for my lord of London is our good physician; he will heal +us both shortly—thee of thy blindness, and me of my lameness." They +sank down in the fire, to rise to immortality!</p> + +<p>The day after the above martyrdoms, Catharine Hut, of Bocking, +widow; Joan Horns, spinster, of Billericay; Elizabeth Thackwel, spinster, +of Great Burstead; suffered death in Smithfield.</p> + +<p>Thomas Dowry. We have again to record an act of unpitying cruelty, +exercised on this lad, whom bishop Hooper, had confirmed in the +Lord and the knowledge of his word.</p> + +<p>How long this poor sufferer remained in prison is uncertain. By +the testimony of one John Paylor, register of Gloucester, we learn, +that when Dowry was brought before Dr. Williams, then chancellor +of Gloucester, the usual articles were presented him for subscription. +From these he dissented; and, upon the doctor's demanding of whom +and where he had learned his heresies, the youth replied, "Indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +Mr. Chancellor, I learned from you in that very pulpit. On such +a day (naming the day) you said, in preaching upon the sacrament, +that it was to be exercised spiritually by faith, and not carnally and +really, as taught by the papists." Dr. Williams then bid him recant, +as he had done; but Dowry had not so learned his duty. "Though +you," said he, "can so easily mock God, the world, and your own +conscience, yet will I not do so."</p> + +<p>After the death of the above, the following three persons suffered at +Beccles, in Suffolk, May 21, 1556. Thomas Spicer, of Winston, +labourer; John Denny, and Edmund Poole.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Preservation of George Crow and his Testament.</i></div> + +<p>This poor man, of Malden, May 26, 1556, put to sea, to lade in +Lent with Fuller's earth, but the boat, being driven on land, filled with +water, and every thing was washed out of her; Crow, however, saved +his Testament, and coveted nothing else. With Crow was a man +and a boy, whose awful situation became every minute more alarming, +as the boat was useless, and they were ten miles from land, expecting +the tide should in a few hours set in upon them. After prayer to God, +they got upon the mast, and hung there for the space of ten hours, +when the poor boy, overcome by cold and exhaustion, fell off, and was +drowned. The tide having abated, Crow proposed to take down the +masts, and float upon them, which they did; and at ten o'clock at +night they were borne away at the mercy of the waves. On Wednesday, +in the night, Crow's companion died through fatigue and hunger, +and he was left alone, calling upon God for succour. At length +he was picked up by a Captain Morse, bound to Antwerp, who had +nearly steered away, taking him for some fisherman's buoy floating in +the sea. As soon as Crow was got on board, he put his hand in his +bosom, and drew out his Testament, which indeed was wet, but no +otherwise injured. At Antwerp he was well received, and the money +he had lost was more than made good to him.</p> + +<p>June 6, 1556, the following four martyrs suffered at Lewes, in +Sussex: J. Harland, of Woodmancote, carpenter; John Oswald, of +the same place, husbandmen; Thomas Avington, of Ardingly, turner; +and Thomas Read.</p> + +<p>June 20, at the same place, were burnt the Rev. Thomas Whood, +and Thomas Mills. June 24, the Rev. Wm. Alderhall; and June 28, +John Clement, wheelright, died in the King's Bench prison, and were +buried on the dunghill in the backyard. June 21, a young man, the +servant of a merchant, was burnt at Leicester.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Executions at Stratford-le-Bow.</i></div> + +<p>At this sacrifice, which we are about to detail, no less than thirteen +were doomed to the fire.</p> + +<p>Each one refusing to subscribe contrary to conscience, they were +condemned, and the 27th of June, 1556, was appointed for their execution<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +at Stratford-le-Bow. Their constancy and faith glorified their +Redeemer, equally in life and in death.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>R. Bernard, A. Foster, and R. Lawson.</i></div> + +<p>The first was a labourer, and a single man, of Framsden, Suffolk. +He was a shrewd, undaunted professor, and fearlessly replied to the +bishop's questions. Adam Foster was a husbandman, married, aged +26, of Mendlesham, Suffolk. Refusing to go to church, he was sent +by Sir J. Tyrrel to Eye-Dungeon, and thence to bishop Hopton, who +condemned him.</p> + +<p>R. Lawson, of Bury, linen-weaver, a single man, aged 30, was sent +to Eye-Dungeon, and after that to Bury, where they suffered in the +same fire, praising God, and encouraging others to martyrdom.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. Julius Palmer.</i></div> + +<p>This gentleman's life presents a singular instance of error and conversion. +In the time of Edward, he was a rigid and obstinate papist, +so adverse to godly and sincere preaching, that he was even despised +by his own party; that this frame of mind should be changed, and he +suffer persecution and death in queen Mary's reign, are among those +events of omnipotence at which we wonder and admire.</p> + +<p>Mr. Palmer was born at Coventry, where his father had been +mayor. Being afterward removed to Oxford, he became, under Mr. +Harley, of Magdalen college, an elegant Latin and Greek scholar. +He was fond of useful disputation, possessed of a lively wit, and a +strong memory. Indefatigable in private study, he rose at four in the +morning, and by this practice qualified himself to become reader in +logic in Magdalen college. The times of Edward, however, favouring +the reformation, Mr. Palmer became frequently punished for his +contempt of prayer and orderly behaviour, and was at length expelled +the house.</p> + +<p>He afterwards embraced the doctrines of the reformation, which +occasioned his arrest and final condemnation. He was tried on the +15th of July, 1556, together with one Thomas Askin, a fellow-prisoner. +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Asking'">Askin</ins> and one John Guin had been sentenced the day before, +and Mr. Palmer, on the 15th, was brought up for final judgment.—Execution +was ordered to follow the sentence, and at five o'clock in the +same afternoon, at a place called the Sand-pits, these three martyrs +were fastened to a stake. After devoutly praying together, they sung +the 31st psalm. When the fire was kindled, and it had seized their +bodies, without an appearance of enduring pain, they continued to cry, +Lord Jesus, strengthen us! Lord Jesus receive our souls! till animation +was suspended and human suffering was past. It is remarkable, +that, when their heads had fallen together in a mass as it were by the +force of the flames, and the spectators thought Palmer was lifeless, his +tongue and lips again moved, and were heard to pronounce the name of +Jesus, to whom be glory and honour forever!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>About this time, three women were burnt in the island of Guernsey, +under circumstances of aggravated cruelty, whose names were, Catherine +Cauches, and her two daughters, Mrs. Perotine Massey, and +Guillemine Gilbert.</p> + +<p>The day of execution having arrived, three stakes were erected: +the middle post was assigned to the mother, the eldest daughter on +her right hand, and the younger on the left. They were strangled +previous to burning, but the rope breaking before they were dead, the +poor women fell into the fire. Perotine, at the time of her inhuman +sentence, was largely pregnant, and now, falling on her side upon +the flaming fagots, presented a singular spectacle of horror!—Torn +open by the tremendous pangs she endured, she was delivered of a +fine male child, who was rescued from its burning bed by the humanity +of one W. House, who tenderly laid it on the grass. The infant was +taken to the provost, and by him presented to the bailiff, when the inhuman +monster decreed it to be re-cast into the fire, that it might perish +with its heretical mother! Thus was this innocent baptised in its own +blood, to make up the very climax of Romish barbarity; being born +and dying at the same time a martyr; and realizing again the days of +Herodian cruelty, with circumstances of bigoted malice unknown even +to that execrable murderer.</p> + +<p>Their execution took place, July 18, 1556. On the same day, were +burnt at Grinstead, in Sussex, Thomas Dungate, John Foreman, and +Mother Tree.</p> + +<p>June 26, 1556, at Leicester, was executed Thomas Moor, a servant, +aged 24 years, who was taken up for saying that his Saviour was in +Paradise, and not in the popish paste or wafer.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Joan Waste.</i></div> + +<p>This poor honest woman, blind from her birth, and unmarried, aged +22, was of the parish of Allhallows, Derby. Her father was a barber, +and also made ropes for a living: in which she assisted him, and also +learned to knit several articles of apparel. Refusing to communicate +with those who maintained doctrines contrary to those she had learned +in the days of the pious Edward, she was called before Dr. Draicot, +the chancellor of bishop Blaine, and Peter Finch, official of Derby.</p> + +<p>With sophistical arguments and threats they endeavoured to confound +the poor girl; but she proffered to yield to the bishop's doctrine, +if he would answer for her at the day of judgment, (as pious Dr. +Taylor had done in his sermons) that his belief of the real presence +of the sacrament was true. The bishop at first answered that he +would; but Dr. Draicot reminding him that he might not in any +way answer for a heretic, he withdrew his confirmation of his own +tenets; and she replied, that if their consciences would not permit +them to answer at God's bar for that truth they wished her to subscribe +to, she would answer no more questions. Sentence was then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +adjudged, and Dr. Draicot appointed to preach her condemned sermon, +which took place August 1, 1556, the day of her martyrdom. His fulminating +discourse being finished, the poor sightless object was taken to +a place called Windmill Pit, near the town, where she for a time held +her brother by the hand, and then prepared herself for the fire, calling +upon the pitying multitude to pray with her, and upon Christ to have +mercy upon her, till the glorious light of the everlasting sun of righteousness +beamed upon her departed spirit.</p> + +<p>September 8, 1556, Edward Sharp, aged 40, was condemned at Bristol. +September 24, Thomas Ravendale, a currier, and John Hart, suffered +at Mayfield, in Essex; and on the day following, a young man, a +carpenter, died at Bristol with joyous constancy. September 27, John +Horn, and a female martyr suffered at Wooten-under-edge, Gloucestershire, +professing abjurgation of popery.</p> + +<p>In November, fifteen martyrs were imprisoned in Canterbury castle, +of whom all were either burnt or famished. Among the latter were +J. Clark, D. Chittenden, W. Foster of Stone, Alice Potkins, and J. +Archer, of Cranbrooke, weaver. The two first of these had not received +condemnation, but the others were sentenced to the fire. Foster, +at his examination, observed upon the utility of carrying lighted +candles about on Candlemas-day, that he might as well carry a pitch +fork; and that a gibbet would have as good an effect as the cross.</p> + +<p>We have now brought to a close the sanguinary proscriptions of the +merciless Mary, in the year 1556, the number of which amounted to +above <span class="smcap">eighty-four</span>!</p> + +<p>The beginning of the year 1557, was remarkable for the visit of +Cardinal Pole to the University of Cambridge, which seemed to stand +in need of much cleansing from heretical preachers and reformed +doctrines. One object was also to play the popish farce of trying +Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius, who had been buried about three +or four years; for which purpose the churches of St. Mary and St. +Michael, where they lay, were interdicted as vile and unholy places, +unfit to worship God in, until they were perfumed and washed with +the Pope's holy water, &c. &c. The trumpery act of citing these +dead reformers to appear, not having had the least effect upon them, +on January 26, sentence of condemnation was passed, part of which +ran in this manner, and may serve as a specimen of proceedings of this +nature:—"We therefore pronounce the said Martin Bucer and Paulus +Phagius excommunicated and anathematized, as well by the common +law, as by letters of process; and that their memory be condemned, +we also condemn their bodies and bones (which in that wicked time +of schism, and other heresies flourishing in this kingdom, were +rashly buried in holy ground) to be dug up, and cast far from the +bodies and bones of the faithful, according to the holy canons; and +we command that they and their writings, if any be there found, be +publicly burnt; and we interdict all persons whatsoever of this university, +town, or places adjacent, who shall read or conceal their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +heretical book, as well by the common law, as by our letters of +process!"</p> + +<p>After the sentence thus read, the bishop commanded their bodies to +be dug out of their graves, and being degraded from holy orders, +delivered them into the hands of the secular power; for it was not +lawful for such innocent persons as they were, abhorring all bloodshed, +and detesting all desire of murder, to put any man to death.</p> + +<p>February 6, the bodies, enclosed as they were in chests, were carried +into the midst of the market place at Cambridge, accompanied by +a vast concourse of people. A great post was set fast in the ground, to +which the chests were affixed with a large iron chain, and bound +round their centres, in the same manner as if the dead bodies had +been alive. When the fire began to ascend, and caught the coffins, a +number of condemned books were also launched into the flames, and +burnt. Justice, however, was done to the memories of these pious +and learned men in queen Elizabeth's reign, when Mr. Ackworth, +orator of the university, and Mr. J. Pilkington, pronounced orations +in honour of their memory, and in reprobation of their catholic persecutors.</p> + +<p>Cardinal Cole also inflicted his harmless rage upon the dead body +of Peter Martyr's wife, who, by his command, was dug out of her +grave, and buried on a distant dunghill, partly because her bones lay +near St. Fridewide's relics, held once in great esteem in that college, +and partly because he wished to purify Oxford of heretical remains +as well as Cambridge. In the succeeding reign, however, her remains +were restored to their former <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'cemetry'">cemetary</ins>, and even intermingled +with those of the catholic saint, to the utter astonishment and mortification +of the disciples of his holiness the pope.</p> + +<p>Cardinal Cole published a list of fifty-four Articles, containing instructions +to the clergy of his diocess of Canterbury, some of which +are too ludicrous and puerile to excite any other sentiment than laughter +in these days.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions in the Diocess of Canterbury.</i></div> + +<p>In the year 1557, fifteen were imprisoned in the castle of Canterbury, +five of whom perished of hunger. We now proceed to the account +of the other ten; whose names were—J. Philpot, M. Bradbridge, +N. Final, all of Tenterden; W. Waterer and T. Stephens, of Beddington; +J. Kempe, of Norgate; W. Hay, of Hithe; T. Hudson, of Salenge; +W. Lowick, of Cranbrooke; and W. Prowting, of Thornham. Of +these Kempe, Waterer, Prowting, Lowick, Hudson, and Hay, were +burnt at Canterbury, January 15, 1557: Stephens and Philpot at Wye, +about the same time; and Final and Bradbridge at Ashford, on the +16th. They were steadfast and immoveable in the faith.</p> + +<p>In the month of February, the following persons were committed to +prison:—R. Coleman, of Waldon, labourer; Joan Winseley, of Horsley<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +Magna, spinster; S. Glover of Rayley; R. Clerk, of Much Holland, +mariner; W. Munt, of Much Bentley, sawyer; Marg. Field, of Ramsey, +spinster; R. Bongeor, currier; R. Jolley, mariner; Allen Simpson; +Helen Ewing; C. Pepper, widow; Alice Walley, (who recanted;) W. +Bongeor, glazier; all of Colchester; R. Atkin, of Halstead, weaver; +R. Barcock, of Wilton, carpenter; R. George, of Westbarhoalt, labourer; +R. Debnam, of Debenham, weaver; C. Warren, of Cocksall, +spinster; Agnes Whitlock, of Dover-court, spinster; Rose Allen, spinster; +and T. Feresannes, minor; both of Colchester.</p> + +<p>These persons were brought before Bonner, who would have immediately +sent them to execution, but Cardinal Pole was for more +merciful measures, and Bonner, in a letter of his to the cardinal, +seems to be sensible that he had displeased him, for he has this expression,—"I +thought to have them all hither to Fulham, and to have +given sentence against them; nevertheless, perceiving by my last +doing that your grace was offended, I thought it my duty, before I +proceeded farther, to inform your grace." This circumstance verifies +the account that the cardinal was a humane man; and though a zealous +catholic, we, as protestants, are willing to render him that +honour which his merciful character deserves. Some of the bitter +persecutors denounced him to the pope as a favourer of heretics, and +he was summoned to Rome, but queen Mary, by particular entreaty, +procured his stay. However, before his latter end, and a little before +his last journey from Rome to England, he was strongly suspected of +favouring the doctrine of Luther.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>T. Loseby, H. Ramsey, T. Thirtell, Margaret Hide, and Agnes +Stanley.</i></div> + +<p>These persons were successively called up, condemned, delivered +over to the sheriffs of London, in April 15, 1557, were conducted to +Smithfield, there to exchange a temporal life for a life eternal with +him for whose sake and truth they perished.</p> + +<p>In May following, W. Morant, S. Gratwick, and —— King, suffered +in St. George's Field, Southwark.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Executions in Kent.</i></div> + +<p>The following seven were arraigned for heresy: Joan Bainbridge, +of Staplehurst; W. Appleby, Petronella his wife, and the wife of John +Manning, of Maidstone; B. Allin, and his wife Catherine, of Freytenden; +and Elizabeth ——, a blind maiden. Allin was put in the +stocks at night, and some advised him to compromise a little, and go +for the form's sake to mass, which he did next day, but, just before +the sacring, as it is termed, he went into the churchyard, and so +reasoned with himself upon the absurdity of transubstantiation, that +he staid away, and was soon after brought back again before Sir John +Baker, and condemned for heresy. He was burnt with the six before +mentioned at Maidstone, the 18th of June, 1557.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + +<p>As in the last sacrifice four women did honour to the truth, so in +the following auto-de-fe we have the like number of females and males, +who suffered June 30, 1557, at Canterbury, and were J. Fishcock, F. +White, N. Pardue, Barbary Final, widow; Bradbridge's widow; Wilson's +wife; and Benden's wife.</p> + +<p>Of this group we shall more particularly notice Alice Benden, wife +of Edward Benden, of Staplehurst, Kent. She had been taken up +in Oct. 1556, for non-attendance, and released upon a strong injunction +to mind her conduct. Her husband was a bigoted catholic, and +publicly speaking of his wife's contumacy, she was conveyed to +Canterbury castle, where knowing, when she should be removed to the +bishop's prison, she should be almost starved upon three farthings a +day, she endeavoured to prepare herself for this suffering by living +upon two-pence halfpenny per day. Jan. 22, 1557, her husband +wrote to the bishop, that if his wife's brother, Roger Hall, were to be +kept from consoling and relieving her, she might turn; on this account, +she was moved to a prison called Monday's hole; her brother sought +diligently for her, and at the end of five weeks providentially heard +her voice in the dungeon, but could no otherwise relieve her, than by +putting some money in a loaf, and sticking it on a long pole. Dreadful +must have been the situation of this poor victim, lying on straw, +between stone walls, without a change of apparel, or the meanest +requisites of cleanliness, during a period of nine weeks!</p> + +<p>March 25, she was summoned before the bishop, who, with rewards, +offered her liberty if she would go home and be comfortable; but +Mrs. Benden had been inured to suffering, and, showing him her +contracted limbs and emaciated appearance, refused to swerve from +the truth. She was however removed from this Black Hole to the +West gate, whence, about the end of April, she was taken out to be +condemned, and then committed to the castle prison till the 19th of +June, the day of her burning. At the stake, she gave her handkerchief +to one John Banks, as a memorial; and from her waist she drew +a white lace, desiring him to give it her brother, and tell him, it was +the last band that had bound her, except the chain; and to her father +she returned a shilling he had sent her.</p> + +<p>The whole of these seven martyrs undressed themselves with +alacrity, and, being prepared, knelt down, and prayed with an earnestness +and Christian spirit that even the enemies of the Cross were +affected. After invocation made together, they were secured to the +stake, and, being encompassed with the unsparing flames, they yielded +their souls into the hands of the living Lord.</p> + +<p>Matthew Plaise, weaver, a sincere and shrewd Christian, of Stone, +Kent, was brought before Thomas, bishop of Dover, and other inquisitors, +whom he ingeniously teazed by his indirect answers, of which +the following is a specimen.</p> + +<p><i>Dr. Harpsfield.</i> Christ called the bread his body; what dost thou +say it is?</p> + +<p><i>Plaise.</i> I do believe it was that which he gave them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Dr. H.</i> What was that?</p> + +<p><i>P.</i> That which he brake.</p> + +<p><i>Dr. H.</i> What did he break?</p> + +<p><i>P.</i> That which he took.</p> + +<p><i>Dr. H.</i> What did he take?</p> + +<p><i>P.</i> The text saith, "He took bread."</p> + +<p><i>Dr. H.</i> Well, then, thou sayest it was but bread which the disciples +did eat.</p> + +<p><i>P.</i> I say, what he gave them, that did they eat indeed.</p> + +<p>A very long disputation followed, in which Plaise was desired to +humble himself to the bishop; but this he refused. Whether this +zealous person died in prison, was executed, or delivered, history does +not mention.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Execution of ten martyrs at Lewes.</i></div> + +<p>Again we have to record the wholesale sacrifice of Christ's little +flock, of whom five were women. On the 22d of June, 1557, the +town of Lewes beheld ten persons doomed to perish by fire and persecution. +The names of these worthies were, Richard Woodman; G. +Stephens, W. Mainard, Alex. Hosman, and Thomasin Wood, servants; +Margery Morris, and James Morris, her son; Dennis Burges, Ashdon's +wife, and Grove's wife.</p> + +<p>These nine persons were taken a few days only before their judgment, +and suffered at Lewes, in Sussex, June 22, 1557. Of these, +eight were prematurely executed, inasmuch as the writ from London +could not have arrived for their burning. A person named Ambrose +died in Maidstone prison about this time.</p> + +<p>Rev. Mr. John Hullier was brought up at Eton college, and in process +of time became curate of Babram, three miles from Cambridge +and went afterward to Lynn; where, opposing the superstition of the +papists, he was carried before Dr. Thirlby, bishop of Ely, and sent to +Cambridge castle: here he lay for a time, and was then sent to the +Tolbooth prison, where, after three months, he was brought to St. +Mary's church, and condemned by Dr. Fuller. On Maunday Thursday, +he was brought to the stake: while undressing, he told the people +to bear witness that he was about to suffer in a just cause, and exhorted +them to believe, that there was no other rock than Jesus Christ +to build upon. A priest, named Boyes, then desired the mayor to +silence him. After praying, he went meekly to the stake, and +being bound with a chain, and placed in a pitch barrel, fire was applied +to the reeds and wood; but the wind drove the fire directly to his +back, which caused him under the severe agony to pray the more +fervently. His friends directed the executioner to fire the pile to +windward of his face, which was immediately done.</p> + +<p>A quantity of books were now thrown into the fire, one of which +(the Communion Service) he caught, opened it, and joyfully continued +to read it, until the fire and smoke deprived him of sight; then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +even, in earnest prayer, he pressed the book to his heart, thanking +God for bestowing on him in his last moments this precious gift.—The +day being hot, the fire burnt fiercely; and at a time when the +spectators supposed he was no more, he suddenly exclaimed, Lord +Jesus, receive my spirit! And meekly resigned his life. He was +burnt on Jesus Green, not far from Jesus College. He had gunpowder +given him, but he was dead before it became ignited. This pious +sufferer afforded a singular spectacle; for his flesh was so burnt from +the bones, which continued erect, that he presented the idea of a +skeleton figure chained to the stake. His remains were eagerly +seized by the multitude, and venerated by all who admired his piety +or detested inhuman bigotry.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper,</i></div> + +<p>In the following month of July, received the crown of martyrdom. +Miller dwelt at Lynn, and came to Norwich, where, planting himself +at the door of one of the churches, as the people came out, he +requested to know of them where he could go to receive the communion. +For this a priest brought him before Dr. Dunning, who committed him +to ward; but he was suffered to go home, and arrange +his affairs; after which he returned to the bishop's house, and to his +prison, where he remained till the 13th of July, the day of his +burning.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Cooper, wife of a pewterer, of St. Andrews, Norwich, +had recanted; but, tortured for what she had done by the worm +which dieth not, she shortly after voluntarily entered her parish church +during the time of the popish service, and standing up, audibly +proclaimed that she revoked her former recantation, and cautioned the +people to avoid her unworthy example. She was taken from her +own house by Mr. Sutton the sheriff, who very reluctantly complied +with the letter of the law, as they had been servants and in friendship +together. At the stake, the poor sufferer, feeling the fire, uttered the +cry of Oh! upon which Mr. Miller, putting his hand behind him towards +her, desired her to be of good courage, "for (said he) good sister, +we shall have a joyful and a sweet supper." Encouraged by this +example and exhortation, she stood the fiery ordeal without flinching, +and, with him, proved the power of faith over the flesh.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Executions at Colchester.</i></div> + +<p>It was before mentioned that twenty-two persons had been sent up +from Cholchester, who upon a slight submission, were afterward released. +Of these, Wm. Munt, of Much-Bentley, husbandman, with +Alice, his wife, and Rose Allin, her daughter, upon their return home, +abstained from church, which induced the bigoted priest secretly to +write to Bonner. For a short time they absconded, but returning +again, March 7th, one Mr. Edmund Tyrrel, (a relation of the Tyrrel +who murdered king Edward V. and his brother) with the officers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +entered the house while Munt and his wife were in bed, and informed +them that they must go to Colchester Castle. Mrs. Munt at that time +very ill, requested her daughter to get her some drink; leave being +permitted, Rose took a candle and a mug; and in returning through +the house was met by Tyrrel, who cautioned her to advise her parents +to become good catholics. Rose briefly informed him that they had +the Holy Ghost for their adviser; and that she was ready to lay down +her own life for the same cause. Turning to his company, he remarked +that she was willing to burn; and one of them told him to +prove her, and see what she would do by and by. The unfeeling +wretch immediately executed this project; and, seizing the young +woman by the wrist, he held the lighted candle under her hand, burning +it crosswise on the back, till the tendons divided from the flesh, +during which he loaded her with many opprobious epithets. She +endured his rage unmoved, and then, when he had ceased the torture, +she asked him to begin at her feet or head, for he need not fear that +his employer would one day repay him. After this she took the drink +to her mother.</p> + +<p>This cruel act of torture does not stand alone on record. Bonner +had served a poor blind harper in nearly the same manner, who had +steadily maintained a hope that if every joint of him were to be burnt, +he should not fly from the faith. Bonner, upon this, privately made +a signal to his men, to bring a burning coal, which they placed in the +poor man's hand, and then by force held it closed, till it burnt into +the flesh deeply. But to return.—</p> + +<p>In searching Munt's house, John Thurston and Margaret his wife +were found, and conveyed to Colchester Castle; where lay J. Johnson, +of Thorp, Essex, aged 34, widower, with his three young children, +all indicted for heresy.</p> + +<p>The following lay in Mote-hall, or town prison: Wm. Bongeor, of +St. Nicholas, in Colchester; Thomas Penold, Colchester, tallow chandler; +W. Pucras, of Bocking, Essex, fuller, 20; Agnes Silversides, +Colchester, widow, 70; Helen Ewring, wife of John Ewring, miller, +of Colchester, 45; and Eliz. Folks, a servant, Colchester.</p> + +<p>Shortly after their condemnation, Bonner's writ arrived for their +execution, which was fixed for the 2d of August, 1557. About seven +o'clock in the morning, the town prisoners in the Mote-hall were +brought to a plot of ground on the outside of the town wall, where the +stake was erected, surrounded by fagots and fuel. Having prayed, +and prepared themselves for the fiery torment, Elizabeth Folks, as +she was standing at the stake, received a dreadful blow on the shoulder +from the stroke of a hammer, which was aimed at the staple that +secured the chain. This, however, in no wise discomposed her, but +turning her head round, she continued to pray and exhort the people. +Fire being put to the pile, these martyrs died amidst the prayers and +commisseration of thousands who came to be witnesses of their fortitude +and their faith.</p> + +<p>In the same manner, in the afternoon, the county prisoners from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +Colchester castle were brought out, and executed, at different stakes, +on the same spot; praising God, and exhorting the people to avoid +idolatry and the church of Rome.</p> + +<p>John Thurston, of whom mention was made before, died in May, in +Colchester castle.</p> + +<p>George Eagles, tailor, was indicted for having prayed that "God +would turn queen Mary's heart, or take her away;" the ostensible +cause of his death was his religion, for treason could hardly be imagined +in praying for the reformation of such an execrable soul as that of +Mary. Being condemned for this crime, he was drawn to the place +of execution upon a sledge, with two robbers, who were executed with +him. After Eagles had mounted the ladder, and been turned off a short +time, he was cut down, before he was at all insensible; a bailiff, named +Wm. Swallow, then dragged him to the sledge, and with a common +blunt cleaver, hacked off the head: in a manner equally clumsy and +cruel, he opened his body and tore out the heart.</p> + +<p>In all this suffering the poor martyr repined not, but to the last called +upon his Saviour. The fury of these bigots did not end here; the +intestines were burnt, and the body was quartered, the four parts being +sent to Colchester, Harwich, Chelmsford, and St. Rouse's.—Chelmsford +had the honor of retaining his head, which was affixed to a long +pole in the market-place. In time it was blown down, and lay several +days in the streets, till it was buried at night in the church-yard. +God's judgment not long after fell upon Swallow, who in his old age +became a beggar, and affected with a leprosy that made him obnoxious +even to the animal creation; nor did Richard Potts, who troubled Eagles +in his dying moments, escape the visiting hand of God.</p> + +<p>About this time, Richard Crashfield, of Wymundham, suffered at +Norwich.</p> + +<p>Nearly about this time a person named Fryer, and the sister of +George Eagles, suffered martyrdom.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Mrs. Joyce Lewes.</i></div> + +<p>This lady was the wife of Mr. T. Lewes, of Manchester. She had +received the Romish religion as true, till the burning of that pious +martyr, the Rev. Mr. Saunders, at Coventry. Understanding that his +death arose from a refusal to receive the mass, she began to inquire +into the ground of his refusal, and her conscience, as it began to be +enlightened, became restless and alarmed. In this inquietude, she +resorted to Mr. John Glover, who lived near, and requested that he +would unfold those rich sources of gospel knowledge he possessed, +particularly upon the subject of transubstantiation. He easily succeeded +in convincing her that the mummery of popery and the mass +were at variance with God's most holy word, and honestly reproved +her for following too much the vanities of a wicked world. It was to +her indeed a word in season, for she soon become weary of her former +sinful life, and resolved to abandon the mass and idolatrous worship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +Though compelled by her husband's violence to go to church, her +contempt of the holy water and other ceremonies were so manifest, +that she was accused before the bishop for despising the sacramentals.</p> + +<p>A citation, addressed to her, immediately followed, which was +given to Mr. Lewes, who, in a fit of passion, held a dagger to the +throat of the officer, and made him eat it, after which he caused him +to drink it down, and then sent him away. But for this the bishop +summoned Mr. Lewes before him as well as his wife; the former +readily submitted, but the latter resolutely affirmed, that, in refusing +holy water, she neither offended God, nor any part of his laws. She +was sent home for a month, her husband being bound for her appearance, +during which time Mr. Glover impressed upon her the necessity +of doing what she did, not from self-vanity, but for the honour and +glory of God.</p> + +<p>Mr. Glover and others earnestly exhorted Lewes to forfeit the +money he was bound in, rather than subject his wife to certain death; +but he was deaf to the voice of humanity, and delivered her over to +the bishop, who soon found a sufficient cause to consign her to a loathsome +prison, whence she was several times brought for examination. +At the last time the bishop reasoned with her upon the fitness of her +coming to mass, and receiving as sacred the sacrament and sacramentals +of the Holy Ghost. "If these things were in the word of God," +said Mrs. Lewes, "I would with all my heart receive, believe, and +esteem them." The bishop, with the most ignorant and impious effrontery, +replied, "If thou wilt believe no more than what is warranted +by scripture, thou art in a state of damnation!" Astonished at +such a declaration, this worthy sufferer ably rejoined, "that his words +were as impure, as they were profane."</p> + +<p>After condemnation, she lay a twelvemonth in prison, the sheriff +not being willing to put her to death in his time, though he had been +but just chosen. When her death warrant came from London, she +sent for some friends, whom she consulted in what manner her death +might be more glorious to the name of God, and injurious to the cause +of God's enemies. Smilingly, she said, "As for death, I think but +lightly of. When I know that I shall behold the amiable countenance +of Christ my dear Saviour, the ugly face of death does not much +trouble me." The evening before she suffered, two priests were anxious +to visit her, but she refused both their confession and absolution, +when she could hold a better communication with the High Priest of +souls. About three o'clock in the morning, Satan began to shoot his +fiery darts, by putting into her mind to doubt whether she was chosen +to eternal life, and Christ died for her. Her friends readily pointed +out to her those consolatory passages of Scripture which comfort the +fainting heart, and treat of the Redeemer who taketh away the sins of +the world.</p> + +<p>About eight o'clock the sheriff announced to her that she had but +an hour to live; she was at first cast down, but this soon passed away, +and she thanked God that her life was about to be devoted to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +service. The sheriff granted permission for two friends to accompany +her to the stake—an indulgence for which he was afterward severely +handled. Mr. Reniger and Mr. Bernher led her to the place of +execution; in going to which, from its distance, her great weakness, +and the press of the people, she had nearly fainted. Three times she +prayed fervently that God would deliver the land from popery and the +idolatrous mass; and the people for the most part, as well as the sheriff, +said Amen.</p> + +<p>When she had prayed, she took the cup, (which had been filled with +water to refresh her,) and said, I drink to all them that unfeignedly +love the gospel of Christ, and wish for the abolition of popery. Her +friends, and a great many women of the place, drank with her, for +which most of them afterward were enjoined penance.</p> + +<p>When chained to the stake, her countenance was cheerful, and the +roses of her cheeks were not abated. Her hands were extended towards +heaven till the fire rendered them powerless, when her soul was received +into the arms of the Creator. The duration of her agony was +but short, as the under-sheriff, at the request of her friends, had prepared +such excellent fuel that she was in a few minutes overwhelmed +with smoke and flame. The case of this lady drew a tear of pity +from every one who had a heart not callous to humanity.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Executions at Islington.</i></div> + +<p>About the 17th of Sept. suffered at Islington the following four professors +of Christ: Ralph Allerton, James Austoo, Margery Austoo, and +Richard Roth.</p> + +<p>James Austoo and his wife, of St. Allhallows, Barking, London, +were sentenced for not believing in the presence. Richard Roth rejected +the seven sacraments, and was accused of comforting the heretics +by the following letter written in his own blood, and intended to +have been sent to his friends at Colchester:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +"O dear Brethren and Sisters,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"How much reason have you to rejoice in God, that he hath given +you such faith to overcome this blood-thirsty tyrant thus far! And +no doubt he that hath begun that good work in you, will fulfil it unto +the end. O dear hearts in Christ, what a crown of glory shall ye +receive with Christ in the kingdom of God! O that it had been the +good will of God that I had been ready to have gone with you; for I +lie in my lord's Little-ease by day, and in the night I lie in the Coal-house, +apart from Ralph Allerton, or any other; and we look every +day when we shall be condemned; for he said that I should be burned +within ten days before Easter; but I lie still at the pool's brink, and +every man goeth in before me; but we abide patiently the Lord's leisure, +with many bonds, in fetters and stocks, by which we have received +great joy of God. And now fare you well, dear brethren and +sisters, in this world, but I trust to see you in the heavens face to +face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O brother Munt, with your wife and my sister Rose, how blessed +are you in the Lord, that God hath found you worthy to suffer for his +sake! with all the rest of my dear brethren and sisters known and +unknown. O be joyful even unto death. Fear it not, saith Christ, for +I have overcome death. O dear hearts, seeing that Jesus Christ will +be our help, O tarry you the Lord's leisure. Be strong, let your hearts +be of good comfort, and wait you still for the Lord. He is at hand. +Yea, the angel of the Lord pitcheth his tent round about them that +fear him, and delivereth them which way he seeth best. For our lives +are in the Lord's hands; and they can do nothing unto us before God +suffer them. Therefore give all thanks to God.</p> + +<p>"O dear hearts, you shall be clothed in long white garments upon +the mount of Sion, with the multitude of saints, and with Jesus Christ +our Saviour, who will never forsake us. O blessed virgins, ye have +played the wise virgins' part, in that ye have taken oil in your lamps +that ye may go in with the bridegroom, when he cometh, into the +everlasting joy with him. But as for the foolish, they shall be shut +out, because they made not themselves ready to suffer with Christ, +neither go about to take up his cross. O dear hearts, how precious +shall your death be in the sight of the Lord! for dear is the death of +his saints. O fare you well, and pray. The grace of our Lord Jesus +Christ be with you all. Amen, Amen. Pray, pray, pray!</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 6em;">"Written by me, with my own blood,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">Richard Roth</span>."<br /> +</div></div> + +<p>This letter, so justly denominating Bonner the "blood-thirsty tyrant," +was not likely to excite his compassion. Roth accused him of bringing +them to secret examination by night, because he was afraid of the +people by day. Resisting every temptation to recant, he was condemned, +and, Sept. 17, 1557, these four martyrs perished at Islington, +for the testimony of the Lamb, who was slain that they might be of +the redeemed of God.</p> + +<p>Agnes Bengeor and Margaret Thurston were doomed to the fire at +Colchester, Sept. 17, 1557. Humbly they knelt to pray, and joyfully +they arose to be chained to the stake, uttering invocations and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hallejahs'">hallelujahs</ins>, +till the surrounding flames mounted to the seat of life, and their +spirits ascended to the Almighty Saviour of all who truly believe!</p> + +<p>About this time suffered, at Northampton, John Kurde, shoemaker +of Syrsam, Northamptonshire.</p> + +<p>John Noyes, a shoemaker, of Laxfield, Suffolk, was taken to Eye +and at midnight, Sept. 21, 1557, he was brought from Eye to Laxfield +to be burned. On the following morning he was led to the stake, +prepared for the horrid sacrifice. Mr. Noyes, on coming to the fatal +spot, knelt down, prayed, and rehearsed the 50th psalm. When the +chain enveloped him, he said, "Fear not them that kill the body, but +fear him that can kill both body and soul, and cast it into everlasting +fire!" As one Cadman placed a fagot against him, he blessed the +hour in which he was born to die for the truth: and while trusting +only upon the all-sufficient merits of the Redeemer, fire was set to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +pile, and the blazing fagots in a short time stifled his last words, Lord, +have mercy on me!—Christ, have Mercy upon me!—The ashes of the +body were buried in a pit, and with them one of his feet, whole to the +ankle, with the stocking on.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Mrs. Cicely Ormes.</i></div> + +<p>This young martyr, aged twenty-two, was the wife of Mr. Edmund +Ormes, worsted weaver of St. Lawrence, Norwich. At the death of +Miller and Elizabeth Cooper, before mentioned, she had said that she +would pledge them of the same cup they drank of. For these words +she was brought to the chancellor, who would have discharged her +upon promising to go to church, and to keep her belief to herself. As +she would not consent to this, the chancellor urged that he had shown +more lenity to her than any other person, and was unwilling to condemn +her, because she was an ignorant foolish woman; to this she +replied, (perhaps with more shrewdness than he expected,) that, however +great his desire might be to spare her sinful flesh, it could not +equal her inclination to surrender it up in so great a quarrel. The +chancellor then pronounced the fiery sentence, and, September 23, +1557, she was brought to the stake, at eight o'clock in the morning. +After declaring her faith to the people, she laid her hand on the stake, +and said, "Welcome thou cross of Christ." Her hand was sooted in +doing this, (for it was the same stake at which Miller and Cooper were +burnt,) and she at first wiped it; but directly after again welcomed +and embraced it as the "sweet cross of Christ." After the tormentors +had kindled the fire, she said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and +my spirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour." Then crossing her hands +upon her breast, and looking upwards with the utmost serenity, she +stood the fiery furnace. Her hands continued gradually to rise till the +sinews were dried, and then they fell. She uttered no sigh of pain, but +yielded her life, an emblem of that celestial paradise in which is the +presence of God, blessed for ever.</p> + +<p>It might be contended that this martyr voluntarily sought her own +death, as the chancellor scarcely exacted any other penance of her than +to keep her belief to herself; yet it should seem in this instance as if +God had chosen her to be a shining light, for a twelve-month before +she was taken, she had recanted; but she was wretched till the chancellor +was informed, by letter, that she repented of her recantation +from the bottom of her heart. As if to compensate for her former +apostacy, and to convince the catholics that she meant no more to +compromise for her personal security, she boldly refused his friendly +offer of permitting her to temporize. Her courage in such a cause +deserves commendation—the cause of Him who has said, Whoever is +ashamed of me on earth, of such will I be ashamed in heaven.</p> + +<p>In November, Thomas Spurdance, one of queen Mary's servants, +was brought before the chancellor of Norwich, who, among his interrogations, +was severely recriminated upon by the prisoner. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +good man was taken by two of his fellow-servants, dwelling at Codman, +in Suffolk. He was sent to Bury where he remained some time +in prison, and in November, 1557, braved the fiery indignation of the +enemies of Christ with Christian fortitude and resignation.</p> + +<p>J. Hallingdale, W. Sparrow, and R Gibson, suffered in Smithfield +November 18th, 1557.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. John Rough.</i></div> + +<p>This pious martyr was a Scotchman: at the age of 17, he entered +himself as one of the order of Black Friars, at Stirling, in Scotland. +He had been kept out of an inheritance by his friends, and he took this +step in revenge for their conduct to him. After being there sixteen +years, Lord Hamilton, Earl of Arran, taking a liking to him, the archbishop +of St. Andrew's induced the provincial of the house to dispense +with his habit and order; and he thus became the Earl's chaplain. +He remained in this spiritual employment a year, and in that time +God wrought in him a saving knowledge of the truth; for which reason +the Earl sent him to preach in the freedom of Ayr, where he remained +four years; but finding danger there from the religious complexion +of the times, and learning that there was much gospel freedom +in England, he travelled up to the duke of Somerset, then Lord Protector +of England, who gave him a yearly salary of twenty pounds, +and authorized him, to preach at Carlisle, Berwick, and Newcastle, +where he married. He was afterward removed to a benefice at Hull, +in which he remained till the death of Edward VI.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the tide of persecution then setting in, he fled +with his wife to Friesland, and at Nordon they followed the occupation +of knitting hose, caps, &c. for subsistence. Impeded in his business +by the want of yarn, he came over to England to procure a quantity, +and on Nov. 10th, arrived in London, where he soon heard of a secret +society of the faithful, to whom he joined himself, and was in a short +time elected their minister, in which occupation he strengthened them +in every good resolution. Dec. 12th, through the information of one +Taylor, a member of the society, Mr. Rough, with Cuthbert Symson +and others, was taken up in the Saracen's Head, Islington, where, +under the pretext of coming to see a play, their religious exercises +were holden. The queen's vice-chamberlain conducted Rough and +Symson before the council, in whose presence they were charged with +meeting to celebrate the communion. The council wrote to Bonner +and he lost no time in this affair of blood. In three days he had him up, +and on the next (the 20th) resolved to condemn him. The charges +laid against him were, that he, being a priest, was married, and that +he had rejected the service in the Latin tongue. Rough wanted not +arguments to reply to these flimsy tenets. In short, he was degraded +and condemned.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rough, it should be noticed, when in the north, in Edward the +VIth's reign, had saved Dr. Watson's life, who afterward sat with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +bishop Bonner on the bench. This ungrateful prelate, in return for +the kind act he had received, boldly accused Mr. Rough of being the +most pernicious heretic in the country. The godly minister reproved +him for his malicious spirit; he affirmed that, during the thirty years +he had lived, he had never bowed the knee to Baal; and that twice +at Rome he had seen the pope borne about on men's shoulders with +the false-named sacrament carried before him, presenting a true picture +of the very antichrist; yet was more reverence shown to him than +to the wafer, which they accounted to be their God. "Ah?" said Bonner, +rising up, and making towards him, as if he would have torn his +garment, "hast thou been at Rome, and seen our holy father the +pope, and dost thou blaspheme him after this sort?" This said, he +fell upon him, tore off a piece of his beard, and, that the day might +begin to his own satisfaction, he ordered the object of his rage to be +burnt by half past five the following morning.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Cuthbert Symson.</i></div> + +<p>Few professors of Christ possessed more activity and zeal than this +excellent person. He not only labored to preserve his friends from +the contagion of popery, but to guard them against the terrors of persecution. +He was deacon of the little congregation over which Mr. +Rough presided as minister.</p> + +<p>Mr. Symson has written an account of his own sufferings, which we +cannot detail better than in his own words:</p> + +<p>"On the 13th of December, 1557, I was committed by the council +to the tower of London. On the following Thursday, I was called +into the ware-room, before the constable of the tower, and the recorder +of London, Mr. Cholmly, who commanded me to inform them of the +names of those who came to the English service. I answered, that I +would declare nothing; in consequence of my refusal, I was set upon +a rack of iron, as I judge for the space of three hours!</p> + +<p>"They then asked me if I would confess: I answered as before. +After being unbound, I was carried back to my lodging. The Sunday +after I was brought to the same place again, before the lieutenant and +recorder of London, and they examined me. As I had answered before, +so I answered now. Then the lieutenant swore by God I should +tell; after which my two fore-fingers were bound together, and a small +arrow placed between them, they drew it through so fast that the blood +followed, and the arrow brake.</p> + +<p>"After enduring the rack twice again, I was retaken to my lodging, +and ten days after the lieutenant asked me if I would not now confess +that which they had before asked of me. I answered, that I had already +said as much as I would. Three weeks after I was sent to the priest, +where I was greatly assaulted, and at whose hand I received the +pope's curse, for bearing witness of the resurrection of Christ. And +thus I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, with all +those who unfeignedly call upon the name of Jesus; desiring God<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +of his endless mercy, through the merits of his dear Son Jesus Christ, +to bring us all to his everlasting kingdom, Amen. I praise God for his +great mercy shown upon us. Sing Hosanna to the Highest with me, +Cuthbert Symson. God forgive my sins! I ask forgiveness of all +the world, and I forgive all the world, and thus I leave the world, in +the hope of a joyful resurrection!"</p> + +<p>If this account be duly considered, what a picture of repeated tortures +does it present! But, even the cruelty of the narration is exceeded +by the patient meekness with which it was endured. Here are no +expressions of malice, no invocations even of God's retributive justice, +not a complaint of suffering wrongfully! On the contrary, praise to +God, forgiveness of sin, and a forgiving all the world, concludes this +unaffected interesting narrative.</p> + +<p>Bonner's admiration was excited by the steadfast coolness of this +martyr. Speaking of Mr. Symson in the consistory, he said, "You +see what a personable man he is, and then of his patience, I affirm, +that, if he were not a heretic, he is a man of the greatest patience +that ever came before me. Thrice in one day has he been racked in +the tower: in my house also he has felt sorrow, and yet never have +I seen his patience broken."</p> + +<p>The day before this pious deacon was to be condemned, while in the +stocks in the bishop's coal-house, he had the vision of a glorified form, +which much encouraged him. This he certainly attested to his wife, +Mr. Austen, and others, before his death; but Mr. Fox, in reciting this +article, leaves it to the reader's judgment, to consider it either as a natural +or supernatural circumstance.</p> + +<p>With this ornament of the Christian reformation were apprehended +Mr. Hugh Foxe and John Devinish; the three were brought before +Bonner, March 19, 1558, and the papistical articles tendered. They +rejected them, and were all condemned. As they worshipped together +in the same society, at Islington, so they suffered together in Smithfield, +March 28; in whose death the God of Grace was glorified, and true +believers confirmed!</p> + +<p>Wm. Nichol, of Haverfordwest, Wales, was taken up for reprobating +the practice of the worshippers of antichrist, and April 9, 1558, +bore testimony to the truth at Haverfordwest, in Wales, by enduring +the fire.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Thomas Hudson, Thomas Carman, and William Seamen,</i></div> + +<p>Were condemned by a bigoted vicar of Aylesbury, named Berry. +The spot of execution was called Lollard's pit, without Bishopsgate, +at Norwich. After joining together in humble petition to the throne +of grace, they rose, went to the stake, and were encircled with their +chains. To the great surprise of the spectators, Hudson slipped +from under his chain, and came forward. A great opinion prevailed +that he was about to recant; others thought that he wanted further +time. In the mean time, his companions at <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'he'">the</ins> stake urged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +every promise and exhortation to support him. The hopes of the +enemies of the cross, however, were disappointed: the good man, far +from fearing the smallest personal terror at the approaching pangs of +death, was only alarmed that his Saviour's face seemed to be hidden +from him. Falling upon his knees, his spirit wrestled with God and +God verified the words of his Son, "Ask, and it shall be given." The +martyr rose in an ecstacy of joy, and exclaimed, "Now, I thank God, +I am strong! and care not what man can do to me!" With an unruffled +countenance he replaced himself under the chain, joined his fellow-sufferers, +and with them suffered death, to the comfort of the godly, +and the confusion of antichrist.</p> + +<p>Berry, unsatiated with this demoniacal act, summoned up two hundred +persons in the town of Aylesham, whom he compelled to kneel to +the cross at Pentecost, and inflicted other punishments. He struck a +poor man for a trifling word, with a flail, which proved fatal to the +unoffending object. He also gave a woman named Alice Oxes, so heavy +a blow with his fist, as she met him entering the hall when he was in +an ill-humour, that she died with the violence. This priest was rich, +and possessed great authority; he was a reprobate, and, like the priesthood, +he abstained from marriage, to enjoy the more a debauched and +licentious life. The Sunday after the death of queen Mary, he was +revelling with one of his concubines, before vespers; he then went to +church, administered baptism, and in his return to his lascivious pastime, +he was smitten by the hand of God. Without a moment given +for repentance, he fell to the ground, and a groan was the only articulation +permitted him. In him we may behold the difference between the +end of a martyr and a persecutor.</p> + +<p>In the month of May, William Harris, Richard Day, and Christiana +George, suffered at Colchester, and there humbly made an offering of +themselves to God.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Apprehensions at Islington.</i></div> + +<p>In a retired close, near a field, in Islington, a company of decent +persons had assembled, to the number of forty. While they were +religiously engaged in praying and expounding the scripture, twenty-seven +of them were carried before Sir Roger Cholmly. Some of the +women made their escape, twenty-two were committed to Newgate, +who continued in prison seven weeks. Previous to their examination, +they were informed by the keeper, (Alexander,) that nothing more +was requisite to procure their discharge, than to hear mass. Easy as +this condition may seem, these martyrs valued their purity of conscience +more than loss of life or property; hence, thirteen were burnt, +seven in Smithfield, and six at Brentford; two died in prison, and the +other seven were providentially preserved. The names of the seven +who suffered were, H. Pond, R. Estland, R. Southain, M. Ricarby, +J. Floyd, J. Holiday, and R. Holland. They were sent to Newgate +June 16, 1558, and executed on the 27th.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>The story of Roger Holland is the only one of these martyrs which +has been handed down to us. He was first an apprentice to one Mr. +Kempton, at the Black-Boy, Watling-street. He was, in every sense +of the word, licentious, a lover of bad company, and, more than all, a +stubborn determined papist—one of whom it might be said, that a +miracle only could effect his conversion. Dissipated as he was, his +master had the imprudent confidence to trust him with money; and, +having received thirty pounds on his master's account, he lost it at the +gaming table. Knowing it was impossible to regain his character, he +determined to withdraw to France or Flanders.—With this resolution, +he called early in the morning on a discreet servant in the house, +named Elizabeth, who professed the gospel, and lived a life that did +honour to her profession. To her he revealed the loss his folly had occasioned, +regretted that he had not followed her advice, and begged her +to give his master a note of hand from him acknowledging the debt, +which he would repay if ever it were in his power; he also entreated +his disgraceful conduct might be kept secret, lest it would bring the grey +hairs of his father with sorrow to a premature grave.</p> + +<p>The maid, with a generosity and Christian principle rarely surpassed, +conscious that his imprudence might be his ruin, brought him +the thirty pounds, which was part of a sum of money recently left +her by legacy. "Here," said she, "is the sum requisite: you shall +take the money, and I will keep the note; but expressly on this condition, +that you abandon all lewd and vicious company; that you +neither swear nor talk immodestly, and game no more; for, should I +learn that you do, I will immediately show this note to your master. +I also require, that you shall promise me to attend the daily lecture at +Allhallows, and the sermon at St. Paul's every Sunday; that you cast +away all your books of popery, and in their place substitute the Testament +and the Book of Service, and that you read the Scriptures +with reverence and fear, calling upon God for his grace to direct you +in his truth. Pray also fervently to God, to pardon your former offences, +and not to remember the sins of your youth, and would you obtain +his favour, ever dread to break his laws or offend his majesty. +So shall God have you in his keeping, and grant you your heart's +desire." We must honour the memory of this excellent domestic, +whose pious endeavours were equally directed to benefit the thoughtless +youth in this life and that which is to come. May her example +be followed by the present generation of servants, who seek rather +to seduce by vain dress and loose manners the youth who are associated +in servitude with them! God did not suffer the wish of this +excellent domestic to be thrown upon a barren soil; within half a +year after the licentious Holland became a zealous professor of the +gospel, and was an instrument of conversion to his father and others +whom he visited in Lancashire, to their spiritual comfort and reformation +from popery.</p> + +<p>His father, pleased with his change of conduct, gave him forty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +pounds to commence business with in London. Upon his return, like +an honest man, he paid the debt of gratitude, and, rightly judging +that she who had proved so excellent a friend and counsellor, would +be no less amiable as a wife, he tendered her his hand. They were +married in the first year of Mary, and a child was the fruit of their +union, which Mr. Holland caused to be baptised by Mr. Ross in his +own house. For this offence he was obliged to fly, and Bonner, with +his accustomed implacability, seized his goods, and ill-treated his wife. +After this, he remained secretly among the congregations of the faithful, +till the last year of queen Mary, when he, with six others was +taken not far from St. John's Wood, and brought to Newgate upon +May-day, 1558.</p> + +<p>He was called before the bishop, Dr. Chedsey, the Harpsfields, &c. +Dr. Chedsey expressed much affection for him, and promised he should +not want any favour that he or his friends could procure, if he would +not follow his conceit. This was seconded by squire Eaglestone, a +gentleman of Lancashire, and a near kinsman of Holland's, who said, +"I am sure your honour means good to my cousin. I beseech God he +may have the grace to follow your counsel." Holland directly replied, +"Sir, you crave of God you know not what. I beseech of God to open +your eyes to see the light of his blessed word." After some private +communication among the commissioners, Bonner said, "I perceive, +Roger, you will not be ruled by any counsel that I or my +friends can give."</p> + +<p>The following speech of Mr. Holland we are induced to give unabridged, +as it contains a pointed charge, founded on the sins resulting +from false doctrines; and, besides, is in itself a well-digested and just +attack upon the tenets of popery.</p> + +<p>"I may say to you, my lord, as Paul said to Felix and to the Jews, +in the 22d of the Acts, and in the 15th of the first epistle to the +Corinthians. It is not unknown to my master, to whom I was apprenticed, +that I was of your blind religion—that which now is taught, and +that I obstinately and wilfully remained in it, till the latter end of king +Edward. Having liberty under your auricular confession, I made no +conscience of sin, but trusted in the priests' absolution, who for money +did also some penance for me; which after I had given, I cared no +farther what offences I did, no more than he did after he had my +money, whether he tasted bread and water for me, or not: so that +lechery, swearing, and all other vices, I accounted no offence of +danger, so long as I could for money have them absolved. So straitly +did I observe your rules of religion, that I would have ashes upon Ash +Wednesday, though I had used ever so much wickedness at night. +Though I could not in conscience eat flesh upon the Friday, yet I +made no conscience at all of swearing, drinking, or gaming all night +long: thus I was brought up, and herein I have continued till now of +late, when God hath opened the light of his word, and called me by +his grace to repent of my former idolatry and wicked life; for in +Lancashire their blindness and whoredom is much more, than may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +with chaste ears be heard. Yet these my friends, who are not clear +in these notable crimes, think the priest with his mass can save them, +though they blaspheme God, and keep concubines besides their wives, +as long as they live. Yea, I know some priests, very devout, my +lord, yet such have six or seven children by four or five sundry +women.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Doctor, as to your antiquity, unity, and universality, (<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'fo'">for</ins> +these Dr. Chedsey alleged as notes and tokens of their religion,) <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">I</ins> +am unlearned. I have no sophistry to shift my reasons with; but +the truth I trust I have, which needs no painted colours to set her +forth. The antiquity of our church is not from pope Nicholas, nor +pope Joan, but our church is from the beginning, even from the time +that God said unto Adam, that the seed of the woman should break +the serpent's head; and so to faithful Noah; to Abraham, Isaac, and +Jacob, to whom it was promised, that their seed should multiply as +the stars in the sky; and so to Moses, David, and all the holy fathers +that were from the beginning unto the birth of our Saviour Christ. +All who believed these promises were of the church, though the number +was oftentimes but few and small, as in Elias' days, who thought +he was the only one that had not bowed the knee to Baal, when God +had reserved seven thousand that never had bowed their knees to that +idol: as I trust there be seven hundred thousand more than I know +of, that have not bowed their knee to that idol your mass, and your +God Maozim; in the upholding of which is your bloody cruelty +while you daily persecute Elias and the servants of God, forcing +them (as Daniel was in his chamber) closely to serve the Lord their +God; and even as we by this your cruelty are forced in the fields to +pray unto God, that his holy word may be once again truly preached +amongst us, and that he would mitigate and shorten these idolatrous +and bloody days wherein all cruelty reigns. Moreover, of our church +have been the apostles and evangelists, the martyrs and confessors +of Christ, who have at all times and in all ages been persecuted for +the testimony of the word of God. But for the upholding of your +church and religion, what antiquity can you show? The mass indeed, +that idol and chief pillar of your religion, is not yet four hundred +years old, and some of your masses are younger, as that of St. +Thomas a Becket, the traitor, wherein you pray, That you may be +saved by the blood of St. Thomas. And as for your Latin service, +what are we of the laity the better for it? I think if any one were +to hear your priests mumble up their service, although he well understood +Latin, yet he would understand very few words of it, the +priests so champ them and chew them, and post so fast, that they +neither understand what they say, nor they that hear them; and in +the mean time the people, when they should pray with the priest, are +set to their beads to pray our Lady's Psalter. So crafty is Satan to +devise these his dreams, (which you defend with fagot and fire,) to +quench the light of the word of God; which, as David saith, should +be a lantern to our feet. And again, Wherein shall a young man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +direct his way, but by the word of God? and yet you will hide it +from us in a tongue unknown. St. Paul had rather have five words +spoken with understanding, than ten thousand in an unknown tongue, +and yet will you have your Latin service and praying in a strange +tongue, whereof the people are utterly ignorant, to be of such antiquity.</p> + +<p>"The Greek church, and a good part of Christendom besides, +never received your service in an unknown tongue, but in their own +natural language, which all the people understand; neither your +transubstantiation, your receiving in one kind, your purgatory, your +images, &c.</p> + +<p>"As for the unity which is in your church, what is it but treason, +murder, poisoning one another, idolatry, superstition, and wickedness? +What unity was in your church, when there were three popes at once? +Where was your head of unity when you had a woman pope?" Here +he was interrupted, and was not suffered to proceed. The bishop said +his words were blasphemous, and ordered the keeper to take him away. +Bonner observing, on his second examination, that Holland said, he +was willing to be instructed by the church, (meaning the true church,) +he ordered the keeper to let him want for nothing, not even for money, +by which conduct he hoped to inveigle him from the truth. This, +however, upon his last examination did not produce the intended effect. +Bonner spoke very handsomely to him, and assured him his former +hasty answers should not operate against him, as he himself (the +bishop) was sometimes too hasty, but it was soon over; he further +said, that he should have consigned him to his own ordinary for examination, +but for the particular interest he took in his welfare, for his +and his friends' sake. From this exordium he proceeded to the touchstone +question of the real presence in the mass.</p> + +<p>"Do you not believe, that, after the priest hath spoken the words +of consecration, there remains the body of Christ, really and corporeally +under the forms of bread and wine? I mean the self-same +body as was born of the Virgin Mary, that was crucified upon the +cross, that rose again the third day." Holland replied, "Your lordship +saith, the same body which was born of the Virgin Mary, which +was crucified upon the cross, which rose again the third day: but you +leave out 'which ascended into heaven;' and the Scripture saith, +He shall remain until he come to judge the quick and the dead. +Then he is not contained under the forms of bread and wine, by Hoc +est corpus meum, &c."</p> + +<p>Bonner, finding no impression could be made upon his firmness, +and that he himself could not endure to hear the mass, transubstantiation, +and the worshipping the sacrament, denominated impious and +horrid idolatry, pronounced the condemnatory sentence, adjudging him +to be burnt.</p> + +<p>During this fulmination, Holland stood very quiet, and when he was +about to depart, he begged permission to speak a few words. The +bishop would not hear him, but, at the intercession of a friend, he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +permitted. In the following speech, there is a spirit of prophecy +which entitles it to particular attention; they were not the words of +a random enthusiast, but of one to whom God seems to have given an +assurance, that the present abject state of his faithful people should +shortly be altered.</p> + +<p><i>Holland.</i> "Even now I told you that your authority was from +God, and by his sufferance: and now I tell you God hath heard the +voice of his servants, which hath been poured forth with tears for his +afflicted saints, whom you daily persecute, as now you do us. But +this I dare be bold in God to say, (by whose Spirit I am moved,) that +God will shorten your hand of cruelty, that for a time you shall not +molest his church. And this you shall in a short time well perceive, +my dear brethren, to be most true. For <i>after this day, in this place</i>, +there shall not be any by him put to the trial of fire and fagot;" and +after that day there were none that suffered in Smithfield for the truth +of the gospel.</p> + +<p>In reply, Bonner said, "Roger, thou art, I perceive, as mad in these +thy heresies as ever was Joan Butcher. In anger and fume thou +would become a railing prophet. Though thou and all the rest of +you would see me hanged, yet I <i>shall</i> live to burn, yea, and I <i>will</i> burn +all the sort of you that come into my hands, that will not worship the +blessed sacrament of the altar, for all thy prattling;" and so he went +his way.</p> + +<p>Then Holland began to exhort his friends to repentance, and to +think well of them that suffered for the testimony of the gospel, upon +which the bishop came back, charging the keeper that no man should +speak to them without his license; if they did, they should be committed +to prison. In the mean time, Henry Pond and Holland spake +to the people, exhorting them to stand firm in the truth; adding, that +God would shorten these cruel and evil days for his elect's sake.</p> + +<p>The day they suffered, a proclamation was made, prohibiting every +one from speaking or talking to, or receiving any thing from them, or +touching them, upon pain of imprisonment without either bail or +mainprize. Notwithstanding, the people cried out, "God strengthen +them!" They also prayed for the people, and the restoration of his +word. Embracing the stake and the reeds, Holland said these words:</p> + +<p>"Lord, I most humbly thank thy Majesty, that thou hast called me +from the state of death unto the light of thy heavenly word, and now +unto the fellowship of thy saints, that I may sing and say, Holy, holy, +holy, Lord God of Hosts! And, Lord, into thy hands I commit my +spirit! Lord, bless these, thy people, and save them from idolatry." +Thus he ended his life, looking towards heaven, praying to, and praising +God, with the rest of his fellow saints. These seven martyrs were +consumed, June 27, 1558.</p> + +<p>The names of the six martyrs taken in company with those who +were apprehended in the close, near Islington, were R. Mills, S. Cotton, +R. Dynes, S. Wright, J. Slade, and W. Pikes, tanner. They were +condemned by Bonner's chancellor in one day, and the next day a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +writ was sent to Brentford for their execution, which took place, July +14, 1558.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Flagellations by Bonner.</i></div> + +<p>When this catholic hyena found that neither persuasions, threats, +nor imprisonment, could produce any alteration in the mind of a youth +named Thomas Hinshaw, he sent him to Fulham, and during the first +night set him in the stocks, with no other allowance than bread and +water. The following morning he came to see if this punishment had +worked any change in his mind, and finding none, he sent Dr. Harpsfield, +his archdeacon, to converse with him. The Doctor was soon out +of humour at his replies, called him peevish boy, and asked him if he +thought he went about to damn his soul? "I am persuaded," said +Thomas, "that you labour to promote the dark kingdom of the devil, +not for the love of the truth." These words the doctor conveyed to the +bishop, who, in a passion that almost prevented articulation, came to +Thomas, and said, "Dost thou answer my archdeacon thus, thou +naughty boy? But I'll soon handle thee well enough for it, be assured!" +Two willow twigs were then brought him, and causing the unresisting +youth to kneel against a long bench, in an arbour in his garden, +he scourged him till he was compelled to cease for want of breath +and fatigue, being of a punchy and full-bellied make. One of the rods +was worn quite away.</p> + +<p>Many other conflicts did Hinshaw undergo from the bishop; who, +at length, to remove him effectually, procured false witnesses to lay +articles against him, all of which the young man denied, and, in short, +refused to answer to any interrogatories administered to him. A fortnight +after this, the young man was attacked by a burning ague, and at +the request of his master, Mr. Pugson, of St. Paul's church-yard, he +was removed, the bishop not doubting that he had given him his death +in the natural way; he however remained ill above a year, and in the +mean time queen Mary died, by which act of providence he escaped +Bonner's rage.</p> + +<p>John Willes was another faithful person, on whom the scourging +hand of Bonner fell. He was the brother of Richard Willes, before +mentioned, burnt at Brentford. Hinshaw and Willes were confined +in Bonner's coal house together, and afterward removed to Fulham, +where he and Hinshaw remained during eight or ten days, in the +stocks. Bonner's persecuting spirit betrayed itself in his treatment +of Willes during his examinations, often striking him on the head +with a stick, seizing him by the ears, and filipping him under the chin, +saying he held down his head like a thief. This producing no signs +of recantation, he took him into his orchard, and in a small arbour +there he flogged him first with a willow rod, and then with birch, till +he was exhausted. This cruel ferocity arose from the answer of the +poor sufferer, who, upon being asked how long it was since he had +crept to the cross, replied, "Not since he had come to years of discretion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +nor would he, though he should be torn to pieces by wild horses." +Bonner then bade him make the sign of the cross on his forehead, +which he refused to do, and thus was led to the orchard.</p> + +<p>The communications that took place between Bonner and Willes are +too tedious to give in detail. The reader would smile to read the infatuated +simple reasons with which the bishop endeavoured to delude the +ignorant. He strongly urged the impropriety of his meddling with +matters of scripture; adding, "If thou wilt believe Luther, Zuinglius, +and other protestant authors, thou canst not go right; but in believing +me, there can be no error!—and, if there be, thy blood will be required +at our hands. In following Luther, and the heretics of latter days, +now wilt thou come to the place thou askest for?—They will lead thee +to destruction, and burn thy body and soul in hell, like all those who +have been burnt in Smithfield."</p> + +<p>The bishop continued to afflict him in his examinations, in which, +among other things, he said, "They call me bloody Bonner!—A vengeance +on you all! I would fain be rid of you, but you have a delight +in burning. Could I have my will, I would sew up your mouths, put +you in sacks, and drown you!"</p> + +<p>What a sanguinary speech was this, to proceed from the mouth of +one who professed to be a minister of the gospel of peace, and a servant +of the Lamb of God!—Can we have an assurance that the same spirit +does not reign now, which reigned in this mitred catholic?</p> + +<p>One day, when in the stocks, Bonner asked him how he liked his +lodging and fare. "Well enough," said Willes, "might I have a little +straw to sit or lie upon." Just at this time came in Willes' wife, then +largely pregnant, and entreated the bishop for her husband, boldly declaring +that she would be delivered in the house, if he were not suffered +to go with her. To get rid of the good wife's importunity, and the +trouble of a lying-in woman in his palace, he bade Willes make the +sign of the cross, and say, In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, +Amen. Willes omitted the sign, and repeated the words, "in the name +of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen." Bonner +would have the words repeated in Latin, to which Willes made no objection, +knowing the meaning of the words. He was then permitted to +go home with his wife, his kinsman Robert Rouze being charged to +bring him to St. Paul's the next day, whither he himself went, and, +subscribing to a Latin instrument of little importance, was liberated. +This is the last of the twenty-two taken at Islington.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Rev. Richard Yeoman.</i></div> + +<p>This devout aged person was curate to Dr. Taylor, at Hadley, and +eminently qualified for his sacred function. Dr. Taylor left him the +curacy at his departure, but no sooner had Mr. Newall gotten the +benefice, than he removed Mr. Yeoman, and substituted a Romish +priest. After this he wandered from place to place, exhorting all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +men to stand faithfully to God's word, earnestly to give themselves +unto prayer, with patience to bear the cross now laid upon them for +their trial, with boldness to confess the truth before their adversaries, +and with an undoubted hope to wait for the crown and reward of eternal +felicity. But when he perceived his adversaries lay wait for him, +he went into Kent, and with a little packet of laces, pins, points, &c. +he travelled from village to village, selling such things, and in this +manner subsisted himself, his wife, and children.</p> + +<p>At last Justice Moile, of Kent, took Mr. Yeoman, and set him in +the stocks a day and a night; but, having no evident matter to charge +him with, he let him go again. Coming secretly again to Hadley, he +tarried with his poor wife, who kept him privately, in a chamber of +the town-house, commonly called the Guildhall, more than a year. +During this time the good old father abode in a chamber locked up all +the day, spending his time in devout prayer, in reading the Scriptures, +and in carding the wool which his wife spun. His wife also begged +bread for herself and her children, by which precarious means they +supported themselves. Thus the saints of God sustained hunger and +misery, while the prophets of Baal lived in festivity, and were costily +pampered at Jezebel's table.</p> + +<p>Information being at length given to Newall, that Yeoman was +secreted by his wife, he came, attended by the constables, and broke +into the room where the object of his search lay in bed with his wife. +He reproached the poor woman with being a whore, and would have +indecently pulled the clothes off, but Yeoman resisted both this act of +violence and the attack upon his wife's character, adding that he defied +the pope and popery. He was then taken out, and set in the stocks +till day.</p> + +<p>In the cage also with him was an old man, named John Dale, who +had sat there three or four days, for exhorting the people during the +time service was performing by Newall and his curate. His words +were, "O miserable and blind guides, will ye ever be blind leaders of +the blind? will ye never amend? will ye never see the truth of God's +word? will neither God's threats nor promises enter into your hearts? +will the blood of the martyrs nothing mollify your stony stomachs? +O obdurate, hard-hearted, perverse, and crooked generation! to whom +nothing can do good."</p> + +<p>These words he spake in fervency of spirit against the superstitious +religion of Rome; wherefore parson Newall caused him forthwith to +be attached, and set in the stocks in a cage, where he was kept till Sir +Henry Doile, a justice, came to Hadley.</p> + +<p>When Yeoman was taken, the parson called earnestly upon Sir +Henry Doile to send them both to prison. Sir Henry Doile as earnestly +entreated the parson to consider the age of the men, and their +mean condition; they were neither persons of note nor preachers; +wherefore he proposed to let them be punished a day or two and to +dismiss them, at least John Dale, who was no priest, and therefore, +as he had so long sat in the cage, he thought it punishment enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +for this time. When the parson heard this, he was exceedingly mad, +and in a great rage called them pestilent heretics, unfit to live in the +commonwealth of Christians. Sir Henry, fearing to appear too merciful, +Yeoman and Dale were pinioned, bound like thieves with their +legs under the horses' bellies, and carried to Bury jail, where they +were laid in irons; and because they continually rebuked popery, they +were carried into the lowest dungeon, where John Dale, through the +jail-sickness and evil-keeping, died soon after: his body was thrown +out, and buried in the fields. He was a man of sixty-six years of age, +a weaver by occupation, well learned in the holy Scriptures, steadfast +in his confession of the true doctrines of Christ as set forth in king +Edward's time; for which he joyfully suffered prison and chains, and +from this worldly dungeon he departed in Christ to eternal glory, and +the blessed paradise of everlasting felicity.</p> + +<p>After Dale's death, Yeoman was removed to Norwich prison, +where, after strait and evil keeping, he was examined upon his faith +and religion, and required to submit himself to his holy father the +pope. "I defy him, (quoth he,) and all his detestable abomination: I +will in no wise have to do with him." The chief articles objected to +him, were his marriage and the mass sacrifice. Finding he continued +steadfast in the truth, he was condemned, degraded, and not only +burnt, but most cruelly tormented in the fire. Thus he ended this +poor and miserable life, and entered into that blessed bosom of Abraham, +enjoying with Lazarus that rest which God has prepared for his +elect.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Thomas Benbridge.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. Benbridge was a single gentleman, in the diocese of Winchester. +He might have lived a gentleman's life, in the wealthy possessions +of this world; but he chose rather to enter through the strait gate of +persecution to the heavenly possession of life in the Lord's kingdom, +than to enjoy present pleasure with disquietude of conscience. Manfully +standing against the papists for the defence of the sincere doctrine +of Christ's gospel, he was apprehended as an adversary to the +Romish religion, and led for examination before the bishop of Winchester, +where he underwent several conflicts for the truth against +the bishop and his colleague; for which he was condemned, and some +time after brought to the place of martyrdom by Sir Richard Pecksal, +sheriff.</p> + +<p>When standing at the stake he began to untie his points, and to prepare +himself; then he gave his gown to the keeper, by way of fee. +His jerkin was trimmed with gold lace, which he gave to Sir Richard +Pecksal, the high sheriff. His cap of velvet he took from his head, +and threw away. Then, lifting his mind to the Lord, he engaged in +prayer.</p> + +<p>When fastened to the stake, Dr. Seaton begged him to recant, and +he should have his pardon; but when he saw that nothing availed, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +told the people not to pray for him unless he would recant, no more than +they would pray for a dog.</p> + +<p>Mr. Benbridge, standing at the stake with his hands together in +such a manner as the priest holds his hands in his Memento, Dr. Seaton +came to him again, and exhorted him to recant, to whom he said, +"Away, Babylon, away!" One that stood by said, Sir, cut his tongue +out; another, a temporal man, railed at him worse than Dr. Seaton +had done.</p> + +<p>When they saw he would not yield, they bade the tormentors to +light the pile, before he was in any way covered with fagots. The +fire first took away a piece of his beard, at which he did not shrink. +Then it came on the other side and took his legs, and the nether stockings +of his hose being leather, they made the fire pierce the sharper, +so that the intolerable heat made him exclaim, "I recant!" and suddenly +he thrust the fire from him. Two or three of his friends being +by, wished to save him; they stepped to the fire to help remove it, for +which kindness they were sent to jail. The sheriff also of his own +authority took him from the stake, and remitted him to prison, for +which he was sent to the fleet, and lay there sometime. Before, +however, he was taken from the stake, Dr. Seaton wrote articles for +him to subscribe to. To these Mr. Benbridge made so many objections, +that Dr. Seaton ordered them to set fire again to the pile. Then +with much pain and grief of heart he subscribed to them upon a man's +back.</p> + +<p>This done, his gown was given him again, and he was led to prison. +While there, he wrote a letter to Dr. Seaton, recanting those words he +spake at the stake, and the articles which he had subscribed; for he was +grieved that he had ever signed them. The same day se'night he was +again brought to the stake, where the vile tormentors rather broiled than +burnt him. The Lord give his enemies repentance!</p> + +<p>Not long before the sickness of queen Mary, in the beginning of +August, 1558, four inoffensive humble martyrs were burnt at St. Edmundsbury +with very little examination. Neglect in attending the popish +service at mass, which in vain they pleaded as a matter of conscience, +was the cause of their untimely sufferings and deaths. Their heroic +names were J. Crooke, sawyer; R. Miles, alias Plummer, sheerman; +A. Lane, wheelright; and J. Ashley, a bachelor.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver.</i></div> + +<p>These godly persons were apprehended by Mr. Noone, a justice in +Suffolk.</p> + +<p>They were brought to the stake at seven o'clock in the morning, notwithstanding +they had come from Melton jail, six miles off. The sheriff, +Sir Henry Dowell, was much dissatisfied with the time they took in +prayer, and sent one of his men to bid them make an end. Gouch earnestly +entreated for a little time, urging that they had but a little +while to live: but the sheriff would grant no indulgence, and ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +the numerous friends who came to take the last farewell of them as +they stood chained to the stake, to be forcibly torn away, and threatened +them with arrest; but the indignation of the spectators made him +revoke this order. They endured the terrific conflagration, and honoured +God equally in their lives and deaths.</p> + +<p>In the same month were executed at Bury, P. Humphrey, and J. and +H. David, brothers. Sir Clement Higham, about a fortnight before the +queen's death, issued out a warrant for their sacrifice, notwithstanding +the queen's illness at that time rendered her incapable of signing the +order for their execution.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Mrs. Prest.</i></div> + +<p>From the number condemned in this fanatical reign, it is almost +impossible to obtain the name of every martyr, or to embellish the +history of all with anecdotes and exemplifications of Christian conduct. +Thanks be to Providence, our cruel task begins to draw towards a +conclusion, with the end of the reign of Papal terror and bloodshed. +Monarchs, sit upon thrones possessed by hereditary right, should, of all +others, consider that the laws of nature are the laws of God, and hence +that the first law of nature is the preservation of their subjects. +Maxims of persecutions, of torture, and of death, they should leave to +those who have effected sovereignty by fraud or the sword; but where, +except among a few miscreant emperors of Rome, and the Roman +pontiffs, shall we find one whose memory is so "damned to everlasting +fame" as that of queen Mary? Nations bewail the hour which separates +them forever from a beloved governor, but, with respect to that +of Mary, it was the most blessed time of her whole reign. Heaven +has ordained three great scourges for national sins—plague, pestilence, +and famine. It was the will of God in Mary's reign to bring a fourth +upon this kingdom, under the form of Papistical Persecution. It was +sharp, but glorious; the fire which consumed the martyrs has undermined +the Popedom; and the Catholic states, at present the most bigoted +and unenlightened, are those which are sunk lowest in the scale of +moral dignity and political consequence. May they remain so, till +the pure light of the gospel shall dissipate the darkness of fanaticism +and superstition! But to return.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Preston'">Prest</ins> for some time lived about Cornwall, where she had a +husband and children, whose bigotry compelled her to frequent the +abominations of the church of Rome. Resolving to act as her conscience +dictated, she quitted them, and made a living by spinning. After some +time, returning home, she was accused by her neighbours, and brought +to Exeter, to be examined before Dr. Troubleville, and his chancellor +Blackston. As this martyr was accounted of inferior intellects, we shall +put her in competition with the bishop, and let the reader judge which +had the most of that knowledge conducive to everlasting life. The +bishop bringing the question to issue, respecting the bread and wine +being flesh and blood, Mrs. Prest said, "I will demand of you whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +you can deny your creed, which says, that Christ doth perpetually sit +at the right hand of his Father, both body and soul, until he come +again; or whether he be there in heaven our Advocate, and to make +prayer for us unto God his Father? If he be so, he is not here on +earth in a piece of bread. If he be not here, and if he do not dwell +in temples made with hands, but in heaven, what! shall we seek him +here? If he did not offer his body once for all, why make you a new +offering? If with one offering he made all perfect, why do you with +a false offering make all imperfect? If he be to be worshipped in spirit +and in truth, why do you worship a piece of bread? If he be eaten +and drunken in faith and truth, if his flesh be not profitable to be +among us, why do you say you make his flesh and blood, and say it +is profitable for body and soul? Alas! I am a poor woman, but rather +than do as you do, I would live no longer. I have said, Sir."</p> + +<p><i>Bishop.</i> I promise you, you are a jolly protestant. I pray you in +what school have you been brought up?</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Prest.</i> I have upon the Sundays visited the sermons, and +there have I learned such things as are so fixed in my breast, that +death shall not separate them.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> O foolish woman, who will waste his breath upon thee, or such +as thou art? But how chanceth it that thou wentest away from thy +husband? If thou wert an honest woman, thou wouldst not have left +thy husband and children, and run about the country like a fugitive.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. P.</i> Sir, I laboured for my living; and as my master Christ +counselleth me, when I was persecuted in one city, I fled into another.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> Who persecuted thee?</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. P.</i> My husband and my children. For when I would have +them to leave idolatry, and to worship God in heaven, he would not +hear me, but he with his children rebuked me, and troubled me. I +fled not for whoredom, nor for theft, but because I would be no partaker +with him and his of that foul idol the mass; and wheresoever I +was, as oft as I could, upon Sundays and holydays, I made excuses +not to go to the popish church.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> Belike then you are a good housewife, to fly from your husband +and the church.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. P.</i> My housewifery is but small; but God gave me grace to +go to the true church.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> The true church, what dost thou mean?</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. P.</i> Not your popish church, full of idols and abominations, +but where two or three are gathered together in the name of God, to +that church will I go as long as I live.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> Belike then you have a church of your own. Well, let this mad +woman be put down to prison till we send for her husband.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. P.</i> No, I have but one husband, who is here already in this +city, and in prison with me, from whom I will never depart.</p> + +<p>Some persons present endeavouring to convince the bishop she was +not in her right senses, she was permitted to depart. The keeper of +the bishop's prisons took her into his house, where she either spun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +worked as a servant, or walked about the city, discoursing upon the +sacrament of the altar. Her husband was sent for to take her home, +but this she refused while the cause of religion could be served. She +was too active to be idle, and her conversation, simple as they affected +to think her, excited the attention of several catholic priests and friars. +They teazed her with questions, till she answered them angrily, and +this excited a laugh at her warmth.</p> + +<p>Nay, said she, you have more need to weep than to laugh, and to be +sorry that ever you were born, to be the chaplains of that whore of +Babylon. I defy him and all his falsehood; and get you away from +me, you do but trouble my conscience. You would have me follow +your doings; I will first lose my life. I pray you depart.</p> + +<p>Why, thou foolish woman, said they, we come to thee for thy profit +and soul's health. To which she replied, What profit ariseth by you, +that teach nothing but lies for truth? how save you souls, when you +preach nothing but lies, and destroy souls?</p> + +<p>How provest thou that? said they.</p> + +<p>Do you not destroy your souls, when you teach the people to worship +idols, stocks and stones, the works of men's hands? and to worship +a false God of your own making of a piece of bread, and teach that +the pope is God's vicar, and hath power to forgive sins? and that there +is a purgatory, when God's Son hath by his passion purged all? and +say you make God, and sacrifice him, when Christ's body was a sacrifice +once for all? Do you not teach the people to number their sins in +your ears, and say they will be damned if they confess not all; when +God's word saith, Who can number his sins? Do you not promise +them trentals and dirges, and masses for souls, and sell your prayers +for money, and make them buy pardons, and trust to such foolish inventions +of your imaginations? Do you not altogether act against God? +Do you not teach us to pray upon beads, and to pray unto saints, and +say they can pray for us? Do you not make holy water and holy bread +to fray devils? Do you not do a thousand more abominations? And +yet you say, you come for my profit, and to save my soul. No, no, +one hath saved me. Farewell, you with your salvation.</p> + +<p>During the liberty granted her by the bishop, before-mentioned, +she went into St. Peter's church, and there found a skilful Dutchman, +who was affixing new noses to certain fine images which had been disfigured +in king Edward's time; to whom she said, What a madman +art thou, to make them new noses, which within a few days shall all +lose their heads? The <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Duchman'">Dutchman</ins> accused her and laid it hard to her +change. And she said unto him, Thou are accursed, and so are thy +images. He called her a whore. Nay, said she, thy images are +whores, and thou art a whore-hunter; for doth not God say, You go a +whoring after strange gods, figures of your own making? and thou art +one of them. After this she was ordered to be confined, and had no +more liberty.</p> + +<p>During the time of her imprisonment, many visited her, some sent +by the bishop, and some of their own will; among these was one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +Daniel, a great preacher of the gospel, in the days of king Edward, +about Cornwall and Devonshire, but who, through the grievous persecution +he had sustained, had fallen off. Earnestly did she exhort +him to repent with Peter, and to be more constant in his profession.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walter Rauley and Mr. Wm. and John Kede, persons of great +respectability, bore ample testimony of her godly conversation, declaring, +that unless God were with her, it were impossible she could +have so ably defended the cause of Christ. Indeed, to sum up the +character of this poor woman, she united the serpent and the dove, +abounding in the highest wisdom joined to the greatest simplicity. She +endured imprisonment, threatenings, taunts, and the vilest epithets, +but nothing could induce her to swerve; her heart was fixed; she had +cast anchor; nor could all the wounds of persecution remove her from +the rock on which her hopes of felicity were built.</p> + +<p>Such was her memory, that, without learning, she could tell in +what chapter any text of scripture was contained: on account of this +singular property, one Gregory Basset, a rank papist, said she was +deranged, and talked as a parrot, wild without meaning. At length, +having tried every manner without effect to make her nominally a +catholic, they condemned her. After this, one exhorted her to leave +her opinions, and go home to her family, as she was poor and illiterate. +"True, (said she) though I am not learned, I am content to +be a witness of Christ's death, and I pray you make no longer delay +with me; for my heart is fixed, and I will never say otherwise, nor +turn to your superstitious doing."</p> + +<p>To the disgrace of Mr. Blackston, treasurer of the church, he +would often send for this poor martyr from prison, to make sport for +him and a woman whom he kept; putting religious questions to her, +and turning her answers into ridicule. This done, he sent her back +to her wretched dungeon, while he battened upon the good things of +this world.</p> + +<p>There was perhaps something simply ludicrous in the form of Mrs. +Prest, as she was of a very short stature, thick set, and about fifty-four +years of age; but her countenance was cheerful and lively, as if +prepared for the day of her marriage with the Lamb. To mock at +her form was an indirect accusation of her Creator, who framed her +after the fashion he liked best, and gave her a mind that far excelled +the transient endowments of perishable flesh. When she was offered +money, she rejected it, "because (said she) I am going to a city where +money bears no mastery, and while I am here God has promised to +feed me."</p> + +<p>When sentence was read, condemning her to the flames, she lifted +up her voice and praised God, adding, "This day have I found that +which I have long sought." When they tempted her to recant,—"That +will I not, (said she) God forbid that I should lose the life +eternal, for this carnal and short life. I will never turn from my +heavenly husband to my earthly husband; from the fellowship of +angels to mortal children; and if my husband and children be faithful,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +then am I theirs. God is my father, God is my mother, God is my +sister, my brother, my kinsman; God is my friend, most faithful."</p> + +<p>Being delivered to the sheriff, she was led by the officer to the +place of execution, without the walls of Exeter, called Sothenhey, +where again the superstitious priests assaulted her. While they +were tying her to the stake, she continued earnestly to exclaim "God +be merciful to me, a sinner!" Patiently enduring the devouring conflagration, +she was consumed to ashes, and thus ended a life which +in unshaken fidelity to the cause of Christ, was not surpassed by that +of any preceding martyr.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion, and Thomas Hale.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. Sharpe, weaver, of Bristol, was brought the 9th day of March, +1556, before Mr. Dalby, chancellor of the city of Bristol, and after +examination concerning the sacrament of the altar, was persuaded to +recant; and on the 29th, he was enjoined to make his recantation in +the parish church. But, scarcely had he publicly avowed his backsliding, +before he felt in his conscience such a tormenting fiend, that +he was unable to work at his occupation; hence, shortly after, one +Sunday, he came into the parish church, called Temple, and after +high mass, stood up in the choir door, and said with a loud voice, +"Neighbours, bear me record that yonder idol (pointing to the altar) +is the greatest and most abominable that ever was; and I am sorry +that ever I denied my Lord God!" Notwithstanding the constables +were ordered to apprehend him, he was suffered to go out of the +church; but at night he was apprehended and carried to Newgate. +Shortly after, before the chancellor, denying the sacrament of the +altar to be the body and blood of Christ, he was condemned to be +burned by Mr. Dalby. He was burnt the 7th of May, 1558, and +died godly, patiently, and constantly, confessing the protestant articles +of faith.</p> + +<p>With him suffered Thomas Hale, shoemaker, of Bristol, who was +condemned by chancellor Dalby. These martyrs were bound back to +back.</p> + +<p>Thomas Banion, a weaver, was burnt on August 27th, of the same +year, and died for the sake of the evangelical cause of his Saviour.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>J. Corneford, of Wortham; C. Browne, of Maidstone; J. Herst, of +Ashford; Alice Snoth, and Catharine Knight, an aged woman.</i></div> + +<p>With pleasure we have to record that these five martyrs were the +last who suffered in the reign of Mary for the sake of the protestant +cause; but the malice of the papists was conspicuous in hastening +their martyrdom, which might have been delayed till the event of the +queen's illness was decided. It is reported that the archdeacon of +Canterbury, judging that the sudden death of the queen would suspend +the execution, travelled post from London, to have the satisfaction +of adding another page to the black list of papistical sacrifices.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> + +<p>The articles against them were, as usual, the sacramental elements +and the idolatry of bending to images. They quoted St. John's +words, "Beware of images!" and respecting the real presence, they +urged according to St. Paul, "the things that be seen are temporal." +When sentence was about to be read against them, and excommunication +take place in the regular form, John Corneford, illuminated by +the Holy Spirit, awfully turned the latter proceeding against themselves, +and in a solemn impressive manner, recriminated their excommunication +in the following words: "In the name of our Lord Jesus +Christ, the Son of the most mighty God, and by the power of his +holy Spirit, and the authority of his holy catholic and apostolic +church, we do here give into the hands of Satan to be destroyed, the +bodies of all those blasphemers and heretics that maintain any error +against his most holy word, or do condemn his most holy truth for +heresy, to the maintenance of any false church or foreign religion, so +that by this thy just judgment, O most mighty God, against thy adversaries, +thy true religion may be known to thy great glory and our +comfort and to the edifying of all our nation. Good Lord, so be it. +Amen."</p> + +<p>This sentence was openly pronounced and registered, and, as if +Providence had awarded that it should not be delivered in vain, +within six days after, queen Mary died, detested by all good men and +accursed of God! Though acquainted with these circumstances, the +archdeacon's implacability exceeded that of his great exemplary, +Bonner, who, though he had several persons at that time under his +fiery grasp, did not urge their deaths hastily, by which delay he certainly +afforded them an opportunity of escape. Father Lining and +his wife, with several others, thus saved their lives, who, had they +been under the barbarous archdeacon, must inevitably have perished. +At the queen's decease, many were in bonds: some just taken, some +examined, and others condemned. The writs indeed were issued for +several burnings, but by the death of the three instigators of protestant +murder,—the chancellor, the bishop, and the queen, who fell +nearly together, the condemned sheep were liberated, and lived many +years to praise God for their happy deliverance.</p> + +<p>These five martyrs, when at the stake, earnestly prayed that their +blood might be the last shed, nor did they pray in vain. They died +gloriously, and perfected the number God had selected to hear witness +of the truth in this dreadful reign, whose names are recorded in the +Book of Life;—though last, not least among the saints made meet for +immortality through the redeeming blood of the Lamb!</p> + +<p>Catharine Finlay, alias Knight, was first converted by her son's +expounding the Scriptures to her, which wrought in her a perfect +work that terminated in martyrdom. Alice Snoth at the stake sent +for her grandmother and godfather, and rehearsed to them the articles +of her faith, and the commandments of God, thereby convincing the +world that she knew her duty. She died calling upon the spectators<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +to bear witness that she was a Christian woman, and suffered joyfully +for the testimony of Christ's gospel.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>William Fetty scourged to death.</i></div> + +<p>Among the numberless enormities committed by the merciless and +unfeeling Bonner, the murder of this innocent and unoffending child +may be ranked as the most horrid. His father, John Fetty, of the +parish of Clerkenwell, by trade a tailor, and only twenty-four years +of age, had made a blessed election; he was fixed secure in eternal +hope, and depended on Him who so builds his church that the gates of +hell shall not prevail against it. But alas! the very wife of his +bosom, whose heart was hardened against the truth, and whose mind +was influenced by the teachers of false doctrine, became his accuser. +Brokenbery, a creature of the pope, and parson of the parish, received +the information of this wedded Delilah, in consequence of +which the poor man was apprehended. But here the awful judgment +of an ever-righteous God, "who is of purer eyes than to behold +iniquity," fell upon this stone-hearted and perfidious woman; for no +sooner was the injured husband captured by her wicked contriving, +than she also was suddenly seized with madness, and exhibited an +awful and awakening instance of God's power to punish the evil +doer. This dreadful circumstance had some effect upon the hearts +of the ungodly hunters who had eagerly grasped their prey; but, +in a relenting moment, they suffered him to remain with his unworthy +wife, to return her good for evil, and to comfort two children, +who, on his being sent to prison, would have been left without a protector, +or have become a burden to the parish. As bad men act from +little motives, we may place the indulgence shown him to the latter +account.</p> + +<p>We have noticed in the former part of our narratives of the martyrs, +some whose affection would have led them even to sacrifice their +own lives, to preserve their husbands; but here, agreeable to Scripture +language, a mother proves, indeed, a monster in nature! Neither +conjugal nor maternal affection could impress the heart of this disgraceful +woman.</p> + +<p>Although our afflicted Christian had experienced so much cruelty +and falsehood from the woman who was bound to him by every tie, +both human and divine, yet, with a mild and forbearing spirit, he +overlooked her misdeeds, during her calamity endeavouring all he +could to procure relief for her malady, and soothing her by every possible +expression of tenderness: thus she became in a few weeks nearly +restored to her senses. But, alas! she returned again to her sin, "as +the dog returneth to his vomit." Malice against the saints of the +Most High was seated in her heart too firmly to be removed; and as +her strength returned, her inclination to work wickedness returned +with it. Her heart was hardened by the prince of darkness; and to +her may be applied these afflicting and soul-harrowing words, "can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then will +they do good who are accustomed to do evil." Weighing this text +duly with another, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy," +how shall we presume to refine away the sovereignty of God, by arraigning +Jehovah at the bar of human reason, which, in religious +matters, is too often opposed by infinite wisdom? "Broad is the +way which leadeth to death, and many walk therein. Narrow is +the way which leadeth to life, and few there be who find it." The +ways of heaven are indeed inscrutable, and it is our bounden duty to +walk ever dependent on God, looking up to him with humble confidence, +and hope in his goodness, and ever confess his justice; and +where we "cannot unravel, there learn to trust." This wretched +woman, pursuing the horrid dictates of a heart hardened and depraved, +was scarcely confirmed in her recovery, when, stifling the +dictates of honour, gratitude, and every natural affection, she again +accused her husband, who was once more apprehended, and taken +before Sir John Mordant, Knight, and one of queen Mary's commissioners.</p> + +<p>Upon examination, his judge finding him fixed to opinions which militated +against those nursed by superstition and maintained by cruelty +he was sentenced to confinement and torture in Lollard's Tower. +"Here (says honest Fox) he was put into the painful stocks, and had +a dish of water set by him, with a stone put into it, to what purpose +God knoweth, except it were to show that he should look for little +other subsistence: which is credible enough, if we consider their +like practices upon divers before mentioned in this history; as, among +others, upon Richard Smith, who died through their cruel imprisonment; +touching whom, when a godly woman came to Dr. Story to have +leave that she might bury him, he asked her if he had any straw or +blood in his mouth; but what he means thereby, I leave to the judgment +of the wise."</p> + +<p>On the first day of the third week of our martyr's sufferings, an +object presented itself to his view, which made him indeed feel his +tortures with all their force, and to execrate, with bitterness only short +of cursing, the author of his misery. To mark and punish the proceedings +of his tormentors, remained with the Most High, who noteth +even the fall of a sparrow, and in whose sacred word it is written, +"Vengeance is mine, and I will repay." This object was his own +son, a child of the tender age of eight years. For fifteen days, had +its hapless father been suspended by his tormentor by the right arm +and left leg, and sometimes by both, shifting his positions for the purpose +of giving him strength to bear and to lengthen the date of his +sufferings. When the unoffending innocent, desirous of seeing and +speaking to its parent, applied to Bonner for permission so to do, +the poor child being asked by the bishop's chaplain the purport of his +errand, he replied, he wished to see his father. "Who is thy father?" +said the chaplain. "John Fetty," returned the boy, at the same time +pointing to the place where he was confined. The interrogating miscreant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +on this said, "Why, thy father is a heretic!" The little champion +again rejoined, with energy sufficient to raise admiration in any +breast, except that of this unprincipled and unfeeling wretch—this miscreant, +eager to execute the behests of a remorseless queen—"My father +is no heretic: for you have Balaam's mark."</p> + +<p>Irritated by reproach so aptly applied, the indignant and mortified +priest concealed his resentment for a moment, and took the undaunted +boy into the house, where, having him secure, he presented him to +others, whose baseness and cruelty being equal to his own, they +stripped him to the skin, and applied their scourges to so violent a +degree, that, fainting beneath the stripes inflicted on his tender frame, +and covered with the blood that flowed from them, the victim of their +ungodly wrath was ready to expire under his heavy and unmerited punishment.</p> + +<p>In this bleeding and helpless state was the suffering infant, covered +only with his shirt, taken to his father by one of the actors in the +horrid tragedy, who, while he exhibited the heart-rending spectacle, +made use of the vilest taunts, and exulted in what he had done. +The dutiful child, as if recovering strength at the sight of his father, +on his knees implored his blessing. "Alas! Will," said the afflicted +parent, in trembling amazement, "who hath done this to thee!" The +artless innocent related the circumstances that led to the merciless +correction which had been so basely inflicted on him; but when he +repeated the reproof bestowed on the chaplain, and which was +prompted by an undaunted spirit, he was torn from his weeping +parent, and conveyed again to the house, where he remained a close +prisoner.</p> + +<p>Bonner, somewhat fearful that what had been done could not be +justified even among the bloodhounds of his own voracious pack, +concluded in his dark and wicked mind, to release John Fetty, for a +time at least, from the severities he was enduring in the glorious +cause of everlasting truth! whose bright rewards are fixed beyond +the boundaries of time, within the confines of eternity; where the +arrow of the wicked cannot wound, even "where there shall be no +more sorrowing for the blessed, who, in the mansion of eternal bliss +shall glorify the Lamb forever and ever." He was accordingly by +order of Bonner, (how disgraceful to all dignity, to say bishop!) liberated +from the painful bonds, and led from Lollard's Tower, to the +chamber of that ungodly and infamous butcher, where, says Fox, he +found the bishop bathing himself before a great fire; and at his first +entering the chamber, Fetty said, "God be here and peace!" "God be +here and peace, (said Bonner,) that is neither God speed nor good morrow!" +"If ye kick against this peace, (said Fetty,) then this is not the +place that I seek for."</p> + +<p>A chaplain of the bishop, standing by, turned the poor man about +and thinking to abash him, said, in mocking wise, "What have we +here—a player!" While Fetty was thus standing in the bishop's +chamber, he espied, hanging about the bishop's bed, a pair of great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +black beads, whereupon he said, "My Lord, I think the hangman is +not far off; for the halter (pointing to the beads) is here already!" +At which words the bishop was in a marvellous rage. Then he immediately +after espied also, standing in the bishop's chamber, in the +window, a little crucifix. Then he asked the bishop what it was, +and he answered, that it was Christ. "Was he handled as cruelly as +he is here pictured?" said Fetty. "Yea, that he was," said the +bishop. "And even so cruelly will you handle such as come before +you; for you are unto God's people as Caiaphas was unto Christ!" +The bishop, being in a great fury, said, "Thou art a vile heretic, and +I will burn thee, or else I will spend all I have, unto my gown." +"Nay, my Lord, (said Fetty) you were better to give it to some poor +body, that he may pray for you." Bonner, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'nowithstanding'">notwithstanding</ins> his passion, +which was raised to the utmost by the calm and pointed remarks of +this observing Christian, thought it most prudent to dismiss the father, +on account of the nearly murdered child. His coward soul trembled +for the consequences which might ensue; fear is inseparable from little +minds; and this dastardly pampered priest experienced its effects +so far as to induce him to assume the appearance of that he was an +utter stranger to, namely, <span class="smcap">MERCY</span>.</p> + +<p>The father, on being dismissed, by the tyrant Bonner, went home +with a heavy heart, with his dying child, who did not survive many +days the cruelties which had been inflicted on him. How contrary to +the will of our great King and Prophet, who mildly taught his followers, +was the conduct of this sanguinary and false teacher, this vile +apostate from his God to Satan! But the arch-fiend had taken entire +possession of his heart, and guided every action of the sinner he had +hardened: who, given up to terrible destruction, was running the race +of the wicked, marking his footsteps with the blood of the saints, as if +eager to arrive at the goal of eternal death.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Deliverance of Dr. Sands.</i></div> + +<p>This eminent prelate, vice-chancellor of Cambridge, at the request +of the duke of Northumberland, when he came down to Cambridge +in support of Lady Jane Grey's claim to the throne, undertook at a +few hours notice, to preach before the duke and the university. The +text he took was such as presented itself in opening the Bible, and a +more appropriate one he could not have chosen, namely, the three +last verses of Joshua. As God gave him the text, so he gave him +also such order and utterance, that it excited the most lively emotions +in his numerous auditors. The sermon was about to be sent to London +to be printed, when news arrived that the duke had returned and queen +Mary was proclaimed.</p> + +<p>The duke was immediately arrested, and Dr. Sands was compelled +by the university to give up his office. He was arrested by the +queen's order, and when Mr. Mildmay wondered that so learned a +man could wilfully incur danger, and speak against so good a princess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +as Mary, the doctor replied, "If I would do as Mr. Mildmay has +done, I need not fear bonds. He came down armed against queen +Mary; before a traitor—now a great friend. I cannot with one +mouth blow hot and cold in this manner." A general plunder of Dr. +Sands' property ensued, and he was brought to London upon a wretched +horse. Various insults he met on the way from the bigoted catholics, +and as he passed through Bishopsgate-street, a stone struck him +to the ground. He was the first prisoner that entered the tower, in +that day, on a religious account; his man was admitted with his Bible, +but his shirts and other articles were taken from him.</p> + +<p>On Mary's coronation-day, the doors of the dungeon were so +laxly guarded, that it was easy to escape. A Mr. Mitchell, like a +true friend, came to him, afforded him his own clothes as a disguise, +and was willing to abide the consequence of being found in his place. +This was a rare friendship: but he refused the offer; saying, "I +know no cause why I should be in prison. To do thus, were to make +myself guilty. I will expect God's good will, yet do I think myself +much obliged to you:" and so Mr. Mitchell departed.</p> + +<p>With doctor Sands was imprisoned Mr. Bradford; they were kept +close in prison twenty-nine weeks. John Fowler, their keeper, was +a perverse papist, yet, by often persuading him, at length he began to +favour the gospel, and was so persuaded in the true religion, that on +a Sunday, when they had mass in the chapel, Dr. Sands administered +the communion to Bradford and to Fowler. Thus Fowler was +their son begotten in bonds. To make room for Wyat and his accomplices, +Dr. Sands and nine other preachers were sent to the Marshalsea.</p> + +<p>The keeper of the Marshalsea appointed to every preacher a man +to lead him in the street; he caused them to go on before, and he and +Dr. Sands followed conversing together. By this time popery began +to be unsavoury. After they had passed the bridge, the keeper said +to Dr. Sands, "I perceive the vain people would set you forward to +the fire. You are as vain as they, if you, being a young man, will +stand in your own conceit, and prefer your own judgment before +that of so many worthy prelates, ancient, learned, and grave men as +be in this realm. If you do so, you shall find me a severe keeper, +and one that utterly dislikes your religion." Dr. Sands answered, "I +know my years to be young, and my learning but small; it is enough +to know Christ crucified, and he hath learned nothing who seeth not +the great blasphemy that is in popery. I will yield unto God, and not +unto man; I have read in the Scriptures of many godly and courteous +keepers: may God make you one! if not, I trust he will give me +strength and patience to bear your hard usage." Then said the +keeper, "Are you resolved to stand to your religion?" "Yes," quoth +the doctor, "by God's grace!" "Truly," said the keeper, "I love +you the better for it; I did but tempt you: what favour I can show +you, you shall be assured of; and I shall think myself happy if I might +die at the stake with you." He was as good as his word, for he trusted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +the doctor to walk in the fields alone, where he met with Mr. Bradford, +who was also a prisoner in the King's Bench, and had found the same +favour from his keeper. At his request, he put Mr. Saunders in along +with him, to be his bed-fellow, and the communion was administered +to a great number of communicants.</p> + +<p>When Wyat with his army came to Southwark, he offered to liberate +all the imprisoned protestants, but Dr. Sands and the rest of the +preachers refused to accept freedom on such terms.</p> + +<p>After Dr. Sands had been nine weeks prisoner in the Marshalsea, by +the mediation of Sir Thomas Holcroft, knight marshal, he was set at +liberty. Though Mr. Holcroft had the queen's warrant, the bishop +commanded him not to set Dr. Sands at liberty, until he had taken +sureties of two gentlemen with him, each one bound in £500, that Dr. +Sands should not depart out of the realm without license. Mr. Holcroft +immediately after met with two gentlemen of the north, friends +and cousins to Dr. Sands, who offered to be bound for him.</p> + +<p>After dinner, the same day, Sir Thomas Holcroft sent for Dr. Sands +to his lodging at Westminster, to communicate to him all he had done. +Dr. Sands answered, "I give God thanks, who hath moved your heart +to mind me so well, that I think myself most bound unto you. God +shall requite you, nor shall I ever be found unthankful. But as you +have dealt friendly with me, I will also deal plainly with you. I +came a freeman into prison; I will not go forth a bondman. As I cannot +benefit my friends, so will I not hurt them. And if I be set at +liberty, I will not tarry six days in this realm, if I may get out. If +therefore I may not get free forth, send me to the Marshalsea again, and +there you shall be sure of me."</p> + +<p>This answer Mr. Holcroft much disapproved of; but like a true +friend he replied, "Seeing you cannot be altered, I will change my +purpose, and yield unto you. Come of it what will, I will set you at +liberty; and seeing you have a mind to go over sea, get you gone as +quick as you can. One thing I require of you, that, while you are +there, you write nothing to me hither, for this may undo me."</p> + +<p>Dr. Sands having taken an affectionate farewell of him, and his +other friends in bonds, departed. He went by Winchester house, and +there took boat, and came to a friend's house in London, called William +Banks, and tarried there one night. The next night he went to +another friend's house, and there he heard that strict search was making +for him, by Gardiner's express order.</p> + +<p>Dr. Sands now conveyed himself by night to one Mr. Berty's house, +a stranger who was in the Marshalsea prison with him a while; he +was a good protestant and dwelt in Mark-lake. There he was six +days, and then removed to one of his acquaintances in Cornhill; he +caused his man Quinton to provide two geldings for him, resolved on +the morrow to ride into Essex, to Mr. Sands, his father-in-law, where +his wife was, which after a narrow escape, he effected. He had not +been there two hours, before Mr. Sands was told that two of the guards +would that night apprehend Dr. Sands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> + +<p>That night Dr. Sands was guided to an honest farmer's near the +sea, where he tarried two days and two nights in a chamber without +company. After that he removed to one James Mower's, a ship-master, +who dwelt at Milton-Shore, where he waited for a wind to Flanders. +While he was there, James Mower brought to him forty or fifty mariners, +to whom he gave an exhortation; they liked him so well, that +they promised to die rather than he should be apprehended.</p> + +<p>The sixth of May, Sunday, the wind served. In taking leave of +his hostess, who had been married eight years without having a child, +he gave her a fine handkerchief and an old royal of gold, and said, +"Be of good comfort; before that one whole year be past, God shall +give you a child, a boy." This came to pass, for, that day twelvemonth, +wanting one day, God gave her a son.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he arrived at Antwerp, when he learned that king +Philip had sent to apprehend him. He next flew to Augsburgh, in +Cleveland, where Dr. Sands tarried fourteen days, and then travelled +towards Strasburgh, where, after he had lived one year, his wife came +to him. He was sick of a flux nine months, and had a child which +died of the plague. His amiable wife at length fell into a consumption, +and died in his arms. When his wife was dead, he went to +Zurich, and there was in Peter Martyr's house for the space of five +weeks. As they sat at dinner one day, word was suddenly brought +that queen Mary was dead, and Dr. Sands was sent for by his friends +at Strasburgh, where he preached. Mr. Grindall and he came over to +England, and arrived in London the same day that queen Elizabeth +was crowned. This faithful servant of Christ, under queen Elizabeth, +rose to the highest distinctions in the church, being successively +bishop of Worcester, bishop of London, and archbishop of York.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Queen Mary's treatment of her sister the Princess Elizabeth.</i></div> + +<p>The preservation of the princess Elizabeth may be reckoned a +remarkable instance of the watchful eye which Christ had over his +church. The bigotry of Mary regarded not the ties of consanguinity, +of natural affection, of national succession. Her mind, physically +morose was under the dominion of men who possessed not the milk of +human kindness, and whose principles were sanctioned and enjoined +by the idolatrous tenets of the Romish pontiff. Could they have +foreseen the short date of Mary's reign, they would have imbrued +their hands in the protestant blood of Elizabeth, and, as a <i>sine qua +non</i> of the queen's salvation, have compelled her to bequeath the +kingdom to some catholic prince. The contest might have been +attended with the horrors incidental to a religious civil war, and +calamities might have been felt in England similar to those under +Henry the Great in France, whom queen Elizabeth assisted in opposing +his priest-ridden catholic subjects. As if Providence had the +perpetual establishment of the protestant faith in view, the difference +of the durations of the two reigns is worthy of notice. Mary might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +have reigned many years in the course of nature, but the course of +grace willed it otherwise. Five years and four months was the time +of persecution alloted to this weak, disgraceful reign, while that of Elizabeth +reckoned a number of years among the highest of those who +have sat on the English throne, almost nine times that of her merciless +sister!</p> + +<p>Before Mary attained the crown, she treated her with a sisterly +kindness, but from that period her conduct was altered, and the most +imperious distance substituted. Though Elizabeth had no concern in +the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyat, yet she was apprehended, and +treated as a culprit in that commotion. The manner too of her arrest +was similar to the mind that dictated it: the three cabinet members, +whom she deputed to see the arrest executed, rudely entered the +chamber at ten o'clock at night, and, though she was extremely ill, +they could scarcely be induced to let her remain till the following +morning. Her enfeebled state permitted her to be moved only by short +stages in a journey of such length to London; but the princess, though +afflicted in person, had a consolation in mind which her sister never +could purchase: the people, through whom she passed on her way, pitied +her, and put up their prayers for her preservation. Arrived at +court, she was made a close prisoner for a fortnight, without knowing +who was her accuser, or seeing any one who could console or advise +her. The charge however was at length unmasked by Gardiner, who, +with nineteen of the council, accused her of abetting Wyat's conspiracy, +which she religiously affirmed to be false. Failing in this, they +placed against her the transactions of Sir Peter Carew in the west +in which they were as unsuccessful as in the former. The queen now +signified, it was her pleasure she should be committed to the Tower, +a step which overwhelmed the princess with the greatest alarm and uneasiness. +In vain she hoped the queen's majesty would not commit +her to such a place; but there was no lenity to be expected; her attendants +were limited, and a hundred northern soldiers appointed to +guard her day and night.</p> + +<p>On Palm-Sunday she was conducted to the Tower. When she came +to the palace garden, she cast her eyes towards the windows, eagerly +anxious to meet those of the queen, but she was disappointed. A strict +order was given in London, that every one should go to church, and +carry palms, that she might be conveyed without clamour or commiseration +to her prison.</p> + +<p>At the time of passing under London-bridge the fall of the tide made +it very dangerous, and the barge some time stuck fast against the starlings. +To mortify her the more, she was landed at Traitors' Stairs. As +it rained fast, and she was obliged to step in the water to land, she hesitated; +but this excited no complaisance in the lord in waiting. When +she set her foot on the steps, she exclaimed, "Here lands as true a subject, +being prisoner, as ever landed at these stairs; and before thee, O +God, I speak it, having no friend but thee alone!"</p> + +<p>A large number of the wardens and servants of the Tower were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +arranged in order, between whom the princess had to pass. Upon inquiring +the use of this parade, she was informed it was customary to +do so. "If," said she, "it is on account of me, I beseech you that they +may be dismissed." On this the poor men knelt down, and prayed that +God would preserve her grace, for which they were the next day turned +out of their employments. The tragic scene must have been deeply interesting, +to see an amiable and irreproachable princess sent like a +lamb to languish in expectation of cruelty and death; against whom +there was no other charge than her superiority in Christian virtues +and acquired endowments. Her attendants openly wept as she proceeded +with a dignified step to the frowning battlements of her destination. +"Alas!" said Elizabeth, "what do you mean? I took you to +comfort, not to dismay me; for my truth is such, that no one shall have +cause to weep for me."</p> + +<p>The next step of her enemies was to procure evidence by means +which, in the present day, are accounted detestable. Many poor +prisoners were racked, to extract, if possible, any matters of accusation +which might affect her life, and thereby gratify Gardiner's sanguinary +disposition. He himself came to examine her, respecting +her removal from her house at Ashbridge to Dunnington castle a long +while before. The princess had quite forgotten this trivial circumstance, +and lord Arundel, after the investigation, kneeling down, +apologized for having troubled her in such a frivolous matter. "You +sift me narrowly," replied the princess, "but of this I am assured, +that God has appointed a limit to your proceedings; and so God forgive +you all."</p> + +<p>Her own gentlemen, who ought to have been her purveyors, and +served her provision, were compelled to give place to the common soldiers, +at the command of the constable of the Tower, who was in every +respect a servile tool of Gardiner,—her grace's friends, however, procured +an order of council which regulated this petty tyranny more to +her satisfaction.</p> + +<p>After having been a whole month in close confinement, she sent for +the lord Chamberlain and lord Chandois, to whom she represented the +ill state of her health from a want of proper air and exercise. Application +being made to the council, Elizabeth was with some difficulty admitted +to walk in the queen's lodgings, and afterwards in the garden, +at which time the prisoners on that side were attended by their keepers, +and not suffered to look down upon her. Their jealousy was excited +by a child of four years old, who daily brought flowers to the princess. +The child was threatened with a whipping, and the father ordered to +keep him from the princess' chambers.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of May the constable was discharged from his office, +and Sir Henry Benifield appointed in his room, accompanied by a +hundred ruffian-looking soldiers in blue. This measure created considerable +alarm in the mind of the princess, who imagined it was +preparatory to her undergoing the same fate as lady Jane Gray, upon +the same block. Assured that this project was not in agitation, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +entertained an idea that the new keeper of the Tower was commissioned +to make away with her privately, as his equivocal character +was in conformity with the ferocious inclination of those by whom +he was appointed.</p> + +<p>A report now obtained that her grace was to be taken away by the +new constable and his soldiers, which in the sequel proved to be true. +An order of council was made for her removal to the manor of Woodstock, +which took place on Trinity Sunday, May 13, under the +authority of Sir Henry Benifield and Lord Tame. The ostensible +cause of her removal was to make room for other prisoners. Richmond +was the first place they stopped at, and here the princess slept, +not however without much alarm at first, as her own servants were +superseded by the soldiers, who were placed as guards at her chamber +door. Upon representation, Lord Tame overruled this indecent +stretch of power, and granted her perfect safety while under his +custody.</p> + +<p>In passing through Windsor, she saw several of her poor dejected +servants waiting to see her. "Go to them," said she, to one of her attendants, +"and say these words from me, tanquim ovis, that is, like a +sheep to the slaughter."</p> + +<p>The next night her grace lodged at the house of a Mr. Dormer, in +her way to which the people manifested such tokens of loyal affection, +that Sir Henry was indignant, and bestowed on them very liberally +the names of rebels and traitors. In some villages they rang the bells +for joy, imagining the princess's arrival among them was from a very +different cause; but this harmless demonstration of gladness was sufficient +with the persecuting Benefield to order his soldiers to seize and +set these humble persons in the stocks.</p> + +<p>The day following, her grace arrived at Lord Tame's house, where +she staid all night, and was most nobly entertained. This excited Sir +Henry's indignation, and made him caution Lord Tame to look well +to his proceedings; but the humanity of Lord Tame was not to be +frightened, and he returned a suitable reply. At another time, this +official prodigal, to show his consequence and disregard of good manners, +went up into a chamber, where was appointed for her grace a +chair, two cushions, and a foot carpet, wherein he presumptuously +sat and called his man to pull off his boots. As soon as it was known +to the ladies and gentlemen, they laughed him to scorn. When supper +was done, he called to his lordship, and directed that all gentlemen +and ladies should withdraw home, marvelling much that he +would permit such a large company, considering the great charge he +had committed to him. "Sir Henry," said his lordship, "content +yourself; all shall be avoided, your men and all." "Nay, but my +soldiers," replied Sir Henry, "shall watch all night." Lord Tame +answered, "There is no need." "Well," said he, "need or need not, +they shall so do."</p> + +<p>The next day her grace took her journey from thence to Woodstock, +where she was enclosed, as before in the Tower of London, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +soldiers keeping guard within and without the walls, every day, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 't'">to</ins> +the number of sixty; and in the night, without the walls were forty +during all the time of her imprisonment.</p> + +<p>At length she was permitted to walk in the gardens, but under the +most severe restrictions, Sir Henry keeping the keys himself, and +placing her always under many bolts and locks, whence she was induced +to call him her jailer, at which he felt offended, and begged her +to substitute the word officer. After much earnest entreaty to the +council, she obtained permission to write to the queen; but the jailer, +who brought her pen, ink, and paper stood by her while she wrote, +and, when she left off, he carried the things away till they were wanted +again. He also insisted upon carrying it himself to the queen, but +Elizabeth would not suffer him to be the bearer, and it was presented +by one of her gentlemen.</p> + +<p>After the letter, doctors Owen and Wendy went to the princess, as +the state of her health rendered medical assistance necessary. They +staid with her five or six days, in which time she grew much better; +they then returned to the queen, and spoke flatteringly of the princess' +submission and humility, at which the queen seemed moved; but the +bishops wanted a concession that she had offended her majesty. Elizabeth +spurned this indirect mode of acknowledging herself guilty. +"If I have offended," said she, "and am guilty, I crave no mercy but +the law, which I am certain I should have had ere this, if any thing +could have been proved against me. I wish I were as clear from the +peril of my enemies; then should I not be thus bolted and locked up +within walls and doors."</p> + +<p>Much question arose at this time respecting the propriety of uniting +the princess to some foreigner, that she might quit the realm with +a suitable portion. One of the council had the brutality to urge the +necessity of beheading her, if the king (Philip) meant to keep the +realm in peace; but the Spaniards, detesting such a base thought, +replied, "God forbid that our king and master should consent to such +an infamous proceeding!" Stimulated by a noble principle, the Spaniards +from this time repeatedly urged to the king that it would do him +the highest honour to liberate the lady Elizabeth, nor was the king +impervious to their solicitation. He took her out of prison, and shortly +after she was sent for to Hampton court. It may be remarked in this +place, that the fallacy of human reasoning is shown in every moment. +The barbarian who suggested the policy of beheading Elizabeth little +contemplated the change of condition which his speech would bring +about. In her journey from Woodstock, Benefield treated her with +the same severity as before; removing her on a stormy day, and not +suffering her old servant, who had come to Colnbrook, where she +slept, to speak to her.</p> + +<p>She remained a fortnight strictly guarded and watched, before any +one dared to speak with her; at length the vile Gardiner with three +more of the council, came with great submission. Elizabeth saluted +them, remarked that she had been for a long time kept in solitary confinement,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +and begged they would intercede with the king and queen +to deliver her from prison. Gardiner's visit was to draw from the +princess a confession of her guilt; but she was guarded against his +subtlety, adding, that, rather than admit she had done wrong, she +would lie in prison all the rest of her life. The next day Gardiner +came again, and kneeling down, declared that the queen was astonished +she should persist in affirming that she was blameless—whence it +would be inferred that the queen had unjustly imprisoned her grace. +Gardiner farther informed her that the queen had declared that she +must tell another tale, before she could be set at liberty. "Then," +replied the high-minded Elizabeth, "I had rather be in prison with +honesty and truth, than have my liberty, and be suspected by her +majesty. What I have said, I will stand to; nor will I ever speak +falsehood!" The bishop and his friends then departed, leaving her +locked up as before.</p> + +<p>Seven days after the queen sent for Elizabeth at ten o'clock at night, +two years had elapsed since they had seen each other. It created terror +in the mind of the princess, who, at setting out, desired her gentlemen +and ladies to pray for her, as her return to them again was uncertain.</p> + +<p>Being conducted to the queen's bedchamber, upon entering it the +princess knelt down, and having begged of God to preserve her majesty, +she humbly assured her that her majesty had not a more loyal +subject in the realm, whatever reports might be circulated to the contrary. +With a haughty ungraciousness, the imperious queen replied, +"You will not confess your offence, but stand stoutly to your truth. I +pray God it may so fall out."</p> + +<p>"If it do not," said Elizabeth, "I request neither favour nor pardon +at your majesty's hands." "Well," said the queen, "you stiffly +still persevere in your truth. Besides, you will not confess that you +have not been wrongfully punished."</p> + +<p>"I must not say so, if it please your majesty, to you."</p> + +<p>"Why, then," said the queen, "belike you will to others."</p> + +<p>"No, if it please your majesty: I have borne the burden, and must +bear it. I humbly <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'beesech'">beseech</ins> your majesty to have a good opinion of me +and to think me to be your subject, not only from the beginning hitherto, +but for ever, as long as life lasteth." They departed without any +heart-felt satisfaction on either side; nor can we think the conduct of +Elizabeth displayed that independence and fortitude which accompanies +perfect innocence. Elizabeth's admitting that she would not say +neither to the queen nor to others, that she had been unjustly punished, +was in direct contradiction to what she had told Gardiner, and must +have arisen from some motive at this time inexplicable.—King Philip +is supposed to have been secretly concealed during the interview, and +to have been friendly to the princess.</p> + +<p>In seven days from the time of her return to imprisonment, her severe +jailer, and his men were discharged, and she was set at liberty, +under the constraint of being always attended and watched by some +of the queen's council. Four of her gentlemen were sent to the Tower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +without any other charge against them than being zealous servants of +their mistress. This event was soon after followed by the happy news +of Gardiner's death, for which all good and merciful men glorified +God, inasmuch as it had taken the chief tiger from the den, and rendered +the life of the protestant successor of Mary more secure.</p> + +<p>This miscreant, while the princess was in the Tower, sent a secret +writ, signed by a few of the council, for her private execution, and, +had Mr. Bridges, lieutenant of the Tower, been as little scrupulous +of dark assassination as this pious prelate was, she must have perished. +The warrant not having the queen's signature, Mr. Bridges hastened +to her majesty, to give her information of it, and to know her +mind. This was a plot of Winchester's, who, to convict her of treasonable +practices, caused several prisoners to be racked; particularly +Mr. Edmund Tremaine and Smithwicke were offered considerable +bribes to accuse the guiltless princess.</p> + +<p>Her life was several times in danger. While at Woodstock, fire +was apparently put between the boards and ceiling under which she +lay. It was also reported strongly, that one Paul Penny, the keeper +of Woodstock, a notorious ruffian was appointed to assassinate her, +but, however this might be, God counteracted in this point the nefarious +designs of the enemies of the reformation. James Basset was +another appointed to perform the same deed: he was a peculiar favourite +of Gardiner, and had come within a mile of Woodstock, intending +to speak with Benefield on the subject. The goodness of God however +so ordered it, that while Basset was travelling to Woodstock, Benefield, +by an order of council, was going to London; in consequence of +which, he left a positive order with his brother, that no man should be +admitted to the princess during his absence, not even with a note from +the queen; his brother met the murderer, but the latter's intention was +frustrated, as no admission could be obtained.</p> + +<p>When Elizabeth quitted Woodstock, she left the following lines +written with her diamond on the window:—</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Poem on window"> +<tr><td align='left'>Much suspected by me,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nothing proved can be. Quoth Elizabeth, prisoner.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>With the life of Winchester ceased the extreme danger of the princess, +as many of her other secret enemies soon after followed him, +and, last of all, her cruel sister, who outlived Gardiner but three years. +The death of Mary was ascribed to several causes. The council +endeavoured to console her in her last moments, imagining it was the +absence of her husband that lay heavy at her heart, but though his +treatment had some weight, the loss of Calais, the last fortress possessed +by the English in France, was the true source of her sorrow. +"Open my heart," said Mary, "when I am dead, and you shall find +Calais written there." Religion caused her no alarm; the priests had +lulled to rest every misgiving of conscience, which might have obtruded, +on account of the accusing spirits of the murdered martyrs. Not +the blood she had spilled, but the loss of a town, excited her emotions +in dying, and this last stroke seemed to be awarded, that her fanatical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +persecution might be paralleled by her political imbecility. We +earnestly pray that the annals of no country, catholic or pagan, may +ever be stained with such a repetition of human sacrifices to papal +power, and that the detestation in which the character of Mary is +holden, may be a beacon to succeeding monarchs to avoid the rocks of +fanaticism!</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>God's Punishments upon some of the Persecutors of his People in +Mary's Reign.</i></div> + +<p>After that arch-persecutor, Gardiner, was dead, others followed, of +whom Dr. Morgan, bishop of St. David's, who succeeded bishop Farrar, +is to be noticed. Not long after he was installed in his bishopric, he +was stricken by the visitation of God; his food passed through the +throat, but rose again with great violence. In this manner, almost +literally starved to death, he terminated his existence.</p> + +<p>Bishop Thornton, suffragan of Dover, was an indefatigable persecutor +of the true church. One day after he had exercised his cruel +tyranny upon a number of pious persons at Canterbury, he came from +the chapter-house to Borne, where as he stood on a Sunday looking +at his men playing at bowls, he fell down in a fit of the palsy, and did +not long survive.</p> + +<p>After the latter succeeded another bishop or suffragan, ordained by +Gardiner, who not long after he had been raised to the see of Dover, +fell down a pair of stairs in the cardinal's chamber at Greenwich, and +broke his neck. He had just received the cardinal's blessing—he +could receive nothing worse.</p> + +<p>John Cooper, of Watsam, Suffolk, suffered by perjury; he was from +private pique persecuted by one Fenning, who suborned two others to +swear that they heard Cooper say, "If God did not take away queen +Mary, the devil would." Cooper denied all such words, but Cooper +was a protestant and a heretic, and therefore he was hung, drawn +and quartered, his property confiscated, and his wife and nine children +reduced to beggary. The following harvest, however, Grimwood +of Hitcham, one of the witnesses before mentioned, was visited +for his villany: while at work, stacking up corn, his bowels suddenly +burst out, and before relief could be obtained he died. Thus was deliberate +perjury rewarded by sudden death!</p> + +<p>In the case of the martyr Mr. Bradford, the severity of Mr. Sheriff +Woodroffe has been noticed—he rejoiced at the death of the saints, +and at Mr. Rogers' execution, he broke the carman's head, because +he stopped the cart to let the martyr's children take a last farewell of +him. Scarcely had Mr. Woodroffe's sheriffalty expired a week, when +he was struck with a paralytic affection, and languished a few days in +the most pitiable and helpless condition, presenting a striking contrast +to his former activity in the cause of blood.</p> + +<p>Ralph Lardyn, who betrayed the martyr George Eagles, is believed +to have been afterward arraigned and hanged in consequence of accusing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +himself. At the bar, he denounced himself in these words, +"This has most justly fallen upon me, for betraying the innocent blood +of that just and good man George Eagles, who was here condemned in +the time of Queen Mary by my procurement, when I sold his blood for +a little money."</p> + +<p>As James Abbes was going to execution, and exhorting the pitying +bystanders to adhere steadfastly to the truth, and like him to seal the +cause of Christ with their blood, a servant of the sheriff's interrupted +him, and blasphemously called his religion heresy, and the good man +a lunatic. Scarcely however had the flames reached the martyr, before +the fearful stroke of God fell upon this hardened wretch, in the +presence of him he had so cruelly ridiculed. The man was suddenly +seized with lunacy, cast off his clothes and shoes before the people, (as +Abbes had done just before, to distribute among some poor persons,) +at the same time exclaiming, "Thus did James Abbes, the true servant +of God, who is saved but I am damned." Repeating this often, the +sheriff had him secured, and made him put his clothes on, but no +sooner was he alone, than he tore them off, and exclaimed as before. +Being tied in a cart, he was conveyed to his master's house, and in +about half a year he died; just before which a priest came to attend +him, with the crucifix, &c. but the wretched man bade him take away +such trumpery, and said that he and other priests had been the cause +of his damnation, but that Abbes was saved.</p> + +<p>One Clark, an avowed enemy of the protestants in king Edward's +reign, hung himself in the Tower of London.</p> + +<p>Froling, a priest of much celebrity, fell down in the street and died +on the spot.</p> + +<p>Dale, an indefatigable informer, was consumed by vermin, and died +a miserable spectacle.</p> + +<p>Alexander, the severe keeper of Newgate, died miserably, swelling +to a prodigious size, and became so inwardly putrid, that none could +come near him. This cruel minister of the law would go to Bonner, +Story, and others, requesting them to rid his prison, he was so much +pestered with heretics! The son of this keeper, in three years after +his father's death, dissipated his great property, and died suddenly in +Newgate market. "The sins of the father," says the decalogue, "shall +be visited on the children." John Peter, son-in-law of Alexander, a +horrid blasphemer and persecutor, died wretchedly. When he affirmed +any thing, he would say, "If it be not true, I pray I may rot ere I die." +This awful state visited him in all its loathsomeness.</p> + +<p>Sir Ralph Ellerker was eagerly desirous to see the heart taken out +of Adam Damlip, who was wrongfully put to death. Shortly after Sir +Ralph was slain by the French, who mangled him dreadfully, cut off +his limbs, and tore his heart out.</p> + +<p>When Gardiner heard of the miserable end of Judge Hales, he +called the profession of the gospel a doctrine of desperation; but he +forgot that the judge's despondency arose after he had consented to +the papistry. But with more reason may this be said of the catholic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +tenets, if we consider the miserable end of Dr. Pendleton, Gardiner, and +most of the leading persecutors. Gardiner, upon his death bed, was reminded +by a bishop of Peter denying his master. "Ah," said Gardiner, +"I have denied with Peter, but never repented with Peter."</p> + +<p>After the accession of Elizabeth, most of the Catholic prelates were +imprisoned in the Tower or the fleet; Bonner was put into the Marshalsea.</p> + +<p>Of the revilers of God's word, we detail, among many others, the +following occurrence. One William Maldon, living at Greenwich in +servitude, was instructing himself profitably in reading an English +primer one winter's evening. A serving man, named John Powell, +sat by, and ridiculed all that Maldon said, who cautioned him not to +make a jest of the word of God. Powell nevertheless continued, till +Maldon came to certain English Prayers, and read aloud, Lord, have +mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, &c. Suddenly the reviler +started, and exclaimed, Lord, have mercy upon us! He was struck +with the utmost terror of mind, said the evil spirit could not abide +that Christ should have any mercy upon him, and sunk into madness. +He was remitted to Bedlam, and became an awful warning that God +will not always be insulted with impunity.</p> + +<p>Henry Smith, a student in the law, had a pious protestant father, of +Camden, in Gloucestershire, by whom he was virtuously educated. +While studying law in the middle temple, he was induced to profess +catholicism, and, going to Louvain, in France, he returned with pardons, +crucifixes, and a great freight of popish toys. Not content with +these things, he openly reviled the gospel religion he had been brought +up in; but conscience one night reproached him so dreadfully, that in a +fit of despair he hung himself in his garters. He was buried in a lane, +without the Christian service being read over him.</p> + +<p>Dr. Story, whose name has been so often mentioned in the preceding +pages, was reserved to be cut off by public execution, a practice in +which he had taken great delight when in power. He is supposed to +have had a hand in most of the conflagrations in Mary's time, and was +even ingenious in his invention of new modes of inflicting torture. When +Elizabeth came to the throne, he was committed to prison, but unaccountably +effected his escape to the continent, to carry fire and sword +there among the protestant brethren. From the duke of Alva, at Antwerp, +he received a special commission to search all ships for contraband +goods, and particularly for English heretical books.</p> + +<p>Dr. Story gloried in a commission that was ordered by Providence +to be his ruin, and to preserve the faithful from his sanguinary cruelty. +It was contrived that one Parker, a merchant, should sail to Antwerp +and information should be given to Dr. Story that he had a quantity +of heretical books on board. The latter no sooner heard this, than +he hastened to the vessel, sought every where above, and then went +under the hatches, which were fastened down upon him. A prosperous +gale brought the ship to England, and this traitorous, persecuting +rebel was committed to prison, where he remained a considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +time, obstinately objecting to recant his anti-christian spirit, or admit +of queen Elizabeth's supremacy. He alleged, though by birth and +education an Englishman, that he was a sworn subject of the king of +Spain, in whose service the famous duke of Alva was. The doctor +being condemned, was laid upon a hurdle, and drawn from the Tower +to Tyburn, where after being suspended about half an hour, he was cut +down, stripped, and the executioner displayed the heart of a traitor. +Thus ended the existence of this Nimrod of England.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE SPANISH ARMADA.</h3> + + +<p>Philip, king of Spain, husband to the deceased queen Mary of England, +was no less an enemy than that princess to the protestants. He had +always disliked the English, and after her death, determined, if possible, +to crown that infamous cruelty which had disgraced the whole progress +of her reign, by making a conquest of the island, and putting every +protestant to death.</p> + +<p>The great warlike preparations made by this monarch, though the +purpose was unknown, gave a universal alarm to the English nation; +as, though he had not declared that intention, yet it appeared evident +that he was taking measures to seize the crown of England. Pope Sixtus +V. not less ambitious than himself, and equally desirous of persecuting +the protestants, urged him to the enterprise. He excommunicated the +queen, and published a crusade against her, with the usual indulgences. +All the ports of Spain resounded with preparations for this alarming expedition; +and the Spaniards seemed to threaten the English with a total +annihilation.</p> + +<p>Three whole years had been spent by Philip in making the necessary +preparations for this mighty undertaking; and his fleet, which on account +of its prodigious strength, was called the "Invincible Armada," +was now completed. A consecrated banner was procured from the +pope, and the gold of Peru was lavished on the occasion.</p> + +<p>The duke of Parma, by command of the Spaniards, built ships in +Flanders, and a great company of small broad vessels, each one able +to transport thirty horses, with bridges fitted for them severally; and +hired mariners from the east part of Germany, and provided long +pieces of wood sharpened at the end, and covered with iron, with hooks +on one side; and 20,000 vessels, with a huge number of fagots; and +placed an army ready in Flanders, of 103 companies of foot and 4000 +horsemen. Among these 700 English vagabonds, who were held of +all others in most contempt. Neither was Stanley respected or obeyed +who was set over the English; nor Westmoreland, nor any other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +who offered their help, but for their unfaithfulness to their own country +were shut out from all consultations, and as men unanimously rejected +with detestation. And because Pope Sixtus the Fifth in such a +case would not be wanting, he sent Cardinal Allen into Flanders, and +renewed the bulls declaratory of Pope Pius the Fifth, and Gregory the +Thirteenth.</p> + +<p>He excommunicated and deposed queen Elizabeth, absolved her +subjects from all allegiance, and, as if it had been against the Turks +or infidels, he set forth in print a conceit, wherein he bestowed plenary +indulgences, out of the treasure of the church, besides a million of +gold, or ten hundred thousand ducats, to be distributed (the one half +in hand, the rest when either England, or some famous haven therein, +should be won) upon all them that would join their help against +England. By which means the Marquis of Bergau, of the house of +Austria, the duke of Pastrana, Amadis, duke of Savoy, Vespasian, +Gonzaga, John Medicis, and divers other noblemen, were drawn into +these wars.</p> + +<p>Queen Elizabeth, that she might not be surprised unawares, prepared +as great a navy as she could, and with singular care and providence, +made all things ready necessary for war. And she herself, +who was ever most judicious in discerning of men's wits and aptness, +and most happy in making choice, when she made it out of her own +judgment, and not at the discretion of others, designed the best and +most serviceable to each several employment. Over the whole navy +she appointed the Lord Admiral Charles Howard, in whom she reposed +much trust; and sent him to the west part of England, where +Captain Drake, whom she made vice-admiral, joined with him. She +commanded Henry Seimor, the second son to the duke of Somerset, to +watch upon the Belgic shore, with forty English and Dutch ships, that +the duke of Parma might not come out with his forces; although some +were of opinion, that the enemy was to be expected and set upon by +land forces, accordingly as it was upon deliberation resolved, in the +time of Henry the Eighth, when the French brought a great navy on +the English shore.</p> + +<p>For the land fight, there were placed on the south shore twenty +thousand; and two armies beside were mustered of the choicest men +for war. The one of these, which consisted of 1000 horse and twenty +two thousand foot was commanded by the earl of Leicester, and encamped +at Tilbury, on the side of the Thames. For the enemy was +resolved first to set upon London. The other army was commanded +by the Lord Hunsdon, consisting of thirty-four thousand foot, and two +thousand horse, to guard the queen.</p> + +<p>The Lord Gray, Sir Francis Knowles, Sir John Norris, Sir Richard +Bingham, Sir Roger Williams, men famously known for military experience, +were chosen to confer of the land-fight. These commanders +thought fit that all those places should be fortified, with men and ammunition, +which were commodious to land in, either out of Spain or +out of Flanders, as Milford-Haven, Falmouth, Plymouth, Portland,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, the open side of Kent, called the +Downs, the Thames' mouth, Harwich, Yarmouth, Hull, &c. That +trained soldiers through all the maratime provinces should meet upon +warning given, to defend the places; that they should by their best +means, hinder the enemy from landing; and if they did happen to +land, then they were to destroy the fruits of the country all about, +and spoil every thing that might be of any use to the enemy, that so +they might find no more victuals than what they brought with them. +And that, by continued alarms, the enemy should find no rest day or +night. But they should not try any battle until divers captains were +met together with their companies. That one captain might be named +in every shire which might command.</p> + +<p>Two years before, the duke of Parma, considering how hard a +matter it was to end the Belgic war, so long as it was continually +nourished and supported with aid from the queen, he moved for a +treaty of peace, by the means of Sir James Croft, one of the privy +council, a man desirous of peace, and Andrew Loe, a Dutchman, and +professed that the Spaniard had delegated authority to him for this +purpose. But the queen fearing that the friendship between her and +the confederate princes might be dissolved, and that so they might +secretly be drawn to the Spaniard, she deferred that treaty for some +time. But now, that the wars on both sides prepared might be turned +away, she was content to treat for peace; but so as still holding the +weapons in her hand.</p> + +<p>For this purpose, in February, delegates were sent into Flanders, +the earl of Derby, the lord Cobham, Sir James Croft, Dr. Dale, and +Dr. Rogers. These were received with all humanity on the duke's +behalf, and a place appointed for their treating, that they might see +the authority delegated to him by the Spanish king. He appointed +the place near to Ostend, not in Ostend, which at that time was held +by the English against the Spanish king. His authority delegated, +he promised them to show, when they were once met together. He +wished them to make good speed in the business, lest somewhat might +fall out in the mean time, which might trouble the motions of peace. +Richardotus, spoke somewhat more plainly, That he knew not what +in this interim should be done against England.</p> + +<p>Not long after, Dr. Rogers was sent to the prince, by an express +commandment from the queen, to know the truth, whether the Spaniards +had resolved to invade England, which he and Richardotus +seemed to signify. He affirmed, that he did not so much as think of the +invasion of England, when he wished that the business might proceed +with speed; and was in a manner offended with Richardotus, who +denied that such <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'words words'">words</ins> fell from him.</p> + +<p>The 12th of April, the count Aremberg, Champigny, Richardotus, +Doctor Maesius, and Garnier, delegated from the prince of Parma, met +with the English, and yielded to them the honour both in walking and +sitting.</p> + +<p>This conference, however, came to nothing; undertaken by, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +queen, as the wiser then thought, to avert the Spanish fleet; continued +by the Spaniard that he might oppress the queen, being as he supposed +unprovided, and not expecting the danger. So both of them +tried to use time to their best advantages.</p> + +<p>At length the Spanish fleet, well furnished with men, ammunition, +engines, and all warlike preparations, the best, indeed, that ever was +seen upon the ocean, called by the arrogant title, The Invincible Armada, +consisted of 130 ships, wherein there were in all, 19,290. +Mariners, 8,350. Chained rowers, 11,080. Great ordnance, 11,630. +The chief commander was Perezius Guzmannus, duke of Medina Sidonia; +and under him Joannes Martinus Ricaldus, a man of great +experience in sea affairs.</p> + +<p>The 30th of May they loosed out of the river Tagus, and bending +their course to the Groin, in Gallicia, they were beaten and scattered +by a tempest, three galleys, by the help of David Gwin, an English +servant, and by the perfidiousness of the Turks which rowed, were +carried away into France. The fleet, with much ado, after some days +came to the Groin, and other harbours near adjoining. The report +was, that the fleet was so shaken by this tempest, that the queen was +persuaded, that she was not to expect that fleet this year. And Sir +Francis Walsingham, sec'y, wrote to the lord admiral, that he might +send back four of the greatest ships, as if the war had been ended. +But the lord admiral did not easily give credit to that report; yet with +a gentle answer entreated him to believe nothing hastily in so important +a matter: as also that he might be permitted to keep those ships +with him which he had, though it were upon his own charges. And +getting a favourable wind, made sail towards Spain, to surprise the +enemy's damaged ships in their harbours. When he was close in +with the coast of Spain, the wind shifting, and he being charged to +defend the English shore, fearing that the enemy might unseen, by +the same wind, sail for England, he returned unto Plymouth.</p> + +<p>Now with the same wind, the 12th of July, the duke of Medina +with his fleet departed from the Groin. And after a few days he sent +Rodericus Telius into Flanders, to advertise the duke of Parma, +giving him warning that the fleet was approaching, and therefore he +was to make himself ready. For Medina's commission was to join +himself with the ships and soldiers of Parma; and under the protection +of his fleet to bring them into England, and to land his forces +upon the Thames side.</p> + +<p>The sixteenth, day, (saith the relator,) there was a great calm, and +a thick cloud was upon the sea till noon; then the north wind blowing +roughly; and again the west wind till midnight, and after that +the east; the Spanish navy was scattered, and hardly gathered together +until they came within sight of England the nineteenth day of July. +Upon which day, the lord admiral was certified by Fleming, (who +had been a pirate) that the Spanish fleet was entered into the English +sea, which the mariners call the Channel, and was descried near to +the Lizard. The lord admiral brought forth the English fleet into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +the sea, but not without great difficulty, by the skill, labour, and alacrity +of the soldiers and mariners, every one labouring; yea, the lord +admiral himself putting his hand to this work.</p> + +<p>The next day the English fleet viewed the Spanish fleet coming +along like the towering castles in height, her front crooked like the +fashion of the moon, the wings of the fleet were extended one from +the other about seven miles, or as some say eight miles asunder, sailing +with the labour of the winds, the ocean as it were groaning under +it, their sail was but slow, and yet at full sail before the wind. The +English were willing to let them hold on their course, and when they +were passed by, got behind them, and so got to windward of them.</p> + +<p>Upon the 21st of July, the lord admiral of England sent a cutter +before, called the Defiance, to denounce the battle by firing off pieces. +And being himself in the Royal-Arch, (the English admiral ship) he +began the engagement with a ship which he took to be the Spanish +admiral, but which was the ship of Alfonsus Leva. Upon that he expended +much shot. Presently Drake, Hawkins, and Forbisher, came +in upon the rear of the Spaniards which Ricaldus commanded.—Upon +these they thundered. Ricaldus endeavoured, as much as in +him lay, to keep his men to their quarters, but all in vain, until his +ship, much beaten and battered with many shot, hardly recovered the +fleet. Then the duke of Medina gathered together his scattered fleet, +and setting more sail, held on his course. Indeed they could do no +other, for the English had gotten the advantage of the wind, and their +ships being much easier managed, and ready with incredible celerity +to come upon the enemy with a full course, and then to tack and retack +and be on every side at their pleasure. After a long fight, and +each of them had taken a trial of their courage, the lord admiral +thought proper to continue the fight no longer, because there were forty +ships more, which were then absent, and at that very time were coming +out of Plymouth Sound.</p> + +<p>The night following, the St. Catharine, a Spanish ship, being sadly +torn in the battle, was taken into the midst of the fleet to be repaired. +Here a great Cantabrian ship, of Oquenda, wherein was the treasurer +of the camp, by force of gunpowder took fire, yet it was quenched +in time by the ships that came to help her. Of those which came to +assist the fired ship, one was a galleon, commanded by one Petrus +Waldez; the fore-yard of the galleon was caught in the rigging of +another ship, and carried away. This was taken by Drake, who +sent Waldez to Dartmouth, and a great sum of money, viz. 55,000 +ducats, which he distributed among the soldiers. This Waldez coming +into Drake's presence, kissed his hand, and told him they had all +resolved to die, if they had not been so happy as to fall into his hands +whom they knew to be noble. That night he was appointed to set +forth a light, but neglected it; and some German merchant ships coming +by that night, he, thinking them to be enemies, followed them so +far, that the English fleet lay to all night, because they could see no +light set forth. Neither did he nor the rest of the fleet find the admiral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +until the next evening. The admiral all the night proceeding +with the Bear and the Mary Rose, carefully followed the Spaniards +with watchfulness. The duke was busied in ordering his squadron. +Alfonsus Leva was commanded to join the first and last divisions. +Every ship had its proper station assigned, according to that prescribed +form which was appointed in Spain; it was present death to any +one who forsook his station. This done, he sent Gliclius and Anceani +to Parma, which might declare to them in what situation they were, +and left that Cantabrian ship, of Oquenda, to the wind and sea, having +taken out the money and mariners, and put them on board of +other ships. Yet it seemed that he had not care for all; for that ship +the same day, with fifty mariners and soldiers wounded and half-burned, +fell into the hands of the English, and was carried to Weymouth.</p> + +<p>The 23d of the same month, the Spaniards having a favourable +north wind, tacked towards the English; but they being more expert +in the management of their ships, tacked likewise, and kept the advantage +they had gained, keeping the Spaniards to leeward, till at last +the fight became general on both sides. They fought awhile confusedly +with variable success: whilst on the one side the English with +great courage delivered the London ships which were enclosed about +by the Spaniards; and on the other side, the Spaniards by valour +freed Ricaldus from the extreme danger he was in; great and many +were the explosions, which, by the continued firing of great guns, +were heard this day. But the loss (by the good providence of God,) +fell upon the Spaniards, their ships being so high, that the shot went +over our English ships, and the English, having such a fair mark +at their large ships, never shot in vain. During this engagement, +Cock, an Englishman, being surrounded by the Spanish ships, could +not be recovered, but perished; however, with great honour he revenged +himself. Thus a long time the English ships with great +agility were sometimes upon the Spaniards, giving them the fire of +one side, and then of the other, and presently were off again, and still +kept the sea, to make themselves ready to come in again. Whereas +the Spanish ships, being of great burden, were troubled and hindered, +and stood to be the marks for the English shot. For all that the +English admiral would not permit his people to board their ships, +because they had such a number of soldiers on board, which he had +not; their ships were many in number, and greater, and higher, that +if they had come to grapple, as many would have had it, the English +being much lower than the Spanish ships, must needs have had the +worst of them that fought from the higher ships. And if the English +had been overcome, the loss would have been greater than the victory +could have been; for our being overcome would have put the kingdom +in hazard.</p> + +<p>The 24th day of July they gave over fighting on both sides. The +admiral sent some small barks to the English shore for a supply of +provisions, and divided his whole fleet into four squadrons; the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +whereof he took under his own command, the next was commanded by +Drake, the third by Hawkins, and the last by Forbisher. And he appointed +out of every squadron certain little ships, which, on divers sides +might set upon the Spaniards in the night, but a sudden calm took them +so that expedition was without effect.</p> + +<p>The 25th, the St. Anne, a galleon of Portugal, not being able to +keep up with the rest, was attacked by some small English ships. +To whose aid came in Leva, and Didacus Telles Enriques, with three +galeasses; which the admiral, and the Lord Thomas Howard, espying, +made all the sail they could against the galeasses, but the calm +continuing, they were obliged to be towed along with their boats; as +soon as they reached the galeasses, they began to play away so fiercely +with their great guns, that with much danger, and great loss, they +hardly recovered their galleon. The Spaniards reported that the +Spanish admiral was that day in the rear of their fleet, which, being +come nearer to the English ships than before, got terribly shattered +with their great guns, many men were killed aboard, and her masts +laid over the side. The Spanish admiral, after this, in company with +Ricaldus, and others, attacked the English admiral, who, having the +advantage of the wind, suddenly tacked and escaped. The Spaniards +holding on their course again, sent to the duke of Parma, that with +all possible speed he should join his ships with the king's fleet. +These things the English knew not, who write that they had carried +away the lantern from one of the Spanish ships, the stern from +another, and sore mauled the third very much disabling her. The +Non-Parigly, and the Mary Rose, fought awhile with the Spaniards, +and the Triumph being in danger, other ships came in good time to +help her.</p> + +<p>The next day the lord admiral knighted the Lord Thomas Howard, +the Lord Sheffield, Roger Townsend, John Hawkins, and Martin +Forbisher, for their valour in the last engagement. After this, they +agreed not to attack the enemy until they came into the straits of +Calais, where Henry Seimor, and William Winter, waited for their +coming. Thus with a fair gale the Spanish fleet went forward, and +the English followed. This great Spanish Armada was so far from +being esteemed invincible in the opinion of the English, that many +young men and gentlemen, in hope to be partakers of a famous victory +against the Spaniards, provided ships at their own expense, and +joined themselves to the English fleet; among whom were the earls +of Essex, Northumberland, and Cumberland, Thomas and Robert +Cecil, Henry Brooks, William Hatton, Robert Cary, Ambrose Willoughby, +Thomas Gerard, Arthur George, and other gentlemen of +good note and quality.</p> + +<p>The 27th day, at even, the Spaniards cast anchor near to Calais, +being admonished by their skilful seamen, that if they went any +further they might be in danger, through the force of the tide, to be +driven into the North Ocean. Near to them lay the English admiral +with his fleet, within a great gun's shot. The admiral, Seimor and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +Winter, now join their ships; so that now there were a hundred and +forty ships in the English fleet, able, and well furnished for fighting, +for sailing, and every thing else which was requisite; and yet there +were but fifteen of these which bore the heat of the battle, and repulsed +the enemy. The Spaniard, as often as he had done before, so +now with great earnestness sent to the duke of Parma, to send forty +fly-boats, without which they could not fight with the English, because +of the greatness and slowness of their ships, and the agility of +the English, entreating him by all means now to come to sea with his +army, which army was now to be protected as it were, under the wings +of the Spanish Armada, until they should land in England.</p> + +<p>But the duke was unprovided, and could not come out in an instant. +The broad ships with flat bottoms being then full of chinks must be +mended. Victuals wanted, and must be provided. The mariners +being long kept against their wills, began to shrink away. The ports +of Dunkirk and Newport, by which he must bring his army to the +sea, were now so beset with the strong ships of Holland and Zealand, +which were furnished with great and small munition, that he was not +able to come to sea, unless he would come upon his own apparent +destruction, and cast himself and his men wilfully into a headlong +danger. Yet he omitted nothing that might be done, being a man +eager and industrious, and inflamed with a desire of overcoming +England.</p> + +<p>But queen Elizabeth's providence and care prevented both the +diligence of this man, and the credulous hope of the Spaniard; for +by her command the next day the admiral took eight of their worst +ships, charging the ordnance therein up to the mouth with small shot, +nails, and stones, and dressed them with wild fire, pitch, and rosin, +and filling them full of brimstone, and some other matter fit for fire, +and these being set on fire by the management of Young and Prowse, +were secretly in the night, by the help of the wind, set full upon the +Spanish fleet, which, on Sunday, the seventh of August, they sent in +among them as they lay at anchor.</p> + +<p>When the Spanish saw them come near, the flames giving light +all over the sea, they supposing those ships, besides the danger of +fire, to have been also furnished with deadly engines, to make horrible +destruction among them; lifting up a most hideous cry, some +pull up anchors, some for haste cut their cables, they set up their +sails, they apply their oars, and stricken with extreme terror, in +great haste they fled most confusedly. Among them the Pretorian +Galleass floating upon the seas, her rudder being broken, in great +danger and fear drew towards Calais, and striking in the sand, was +taken by Amias Preston, Thomas Gerard, and Harvey; Hugh Moncada +the governor was slain, the soldiers and mariners were either +killed or drowned; in her there was found great store of gold, which +fell to be the prey of the English. The ship and ordnance went to the +governor of Calais.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards report, that the duke, when he saw the fire ships<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +coming, commanded all the fleet to heave up their anchors, but so as +the danger being past, every ship might return again to his own station; +and he himself returned, giving a sign to the rest by shooting +off a gun; which was heard but by a few, for they were far off scattered +some into the open ocean, some through fear were driven upon +the shallows of the coast of Flanders.</p> + +<p>Over against Gravelling the Spanish fleet began to gather themselves +together. But upon them came Drake and Fenner, and battered them +with great ordnance: to these Fenton, Southwel, Beeston, Cross, Riman, +and presently after the lord admiral, and Sheffield, came in. The Duke +Medina, Leva, Oquenda, Ricaldus, and others, with much ado in getting +themselves out of the shallows, sustained the English ships as well as +they might, until most of their ships were pierced and torn; the galleon +St. Matthew, governed by Diego Pimentellas, coming to aid Francis +Toleton, being in the St. Philip, was pierced and shaken with the +reiterated shots of Seimor and Winter, and driven to Ostend, and was +at last taken by the Flushingers. The St. Philip came to the like end; +so did the galleon of Biscay, and divers others.</p> + +<p>The last day of this month, the Spanish fleet striving to recover the +straits again, were driven towards Zealand. The English left off pursuing +them, as the Spaniards thought, because they saw them in a +manner cast away; for they could not avoid the shallows of Zealand. +But the wind turning, they got them out of the shallows, and then began +to consult what were best for them to do. By common consent they +resolved to return into Spain by the Northern Seas, for they wanted +many necessaries, especially shot; their ships were torn, and they +had no hope that the duke of Parma could bring forth his forces. And +so they took the sea, and followed the course toward the north. The +English navy followed, and sometimes the Spanish turned upon the +English, insomuch that it was thought by many that they would turn +back again.</p> + +<p>Queen Elizabeth caused an army to encamp at Tilbury. After the +army had come thither, her majesty went in person to visit the camp, +which then lay between the city of London and the sea, under the +charge of the earl of Leicester, where placing herself between the +enemy and her city, she viewed her army, passing through it divers +times, and lodging in the borders of it, returned again and dined in the +army. Afterwards when they were all reduced into battle, prepared +as it were for fight, she rode round about with a leader's staff in her +hand, only accompanied with the general, and three or four others attending +upon her.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> + +<p>I could enlarge the description hereof with many more particulars +of mine own observation, (says the author,) for I wandered, as many +others did, from place to place, all the day, and never heard a word +spoke of her, but in praising her for her stately person and princely +behaviour, in praying for her long life, and earnestly desiring to venture +their lives for her safety. In her presence they sung psalms of +praise to Almighty God, for which she greatly commended them, and +devoutly praised God with them. This that I write, you may be sure +I do not with any comfort, but to give you these manifest arguments +that neither this queen did discontent her people, nor her people show +any discontent in any thing they were commanded to do for her service, +as heretofore hath been imagined.</p> + +<p>This account was related by a popish spy, in a letter written here in +England to Mendea. The copy of which letter was found upon Richard +Leigh, a seminary priest in French and English: which priest was +executed for high treason while the Spanish Armada was at sea.</p> + +<p>The same day whereon the last fight was, the duke of Parma, +after his vows offered to the lady of Halla, came somewhat late to +Dunkirk, and was received with very opprobrious language by the +Spaniards, as if in favour of queen Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest +opportunity that could be to do the service. He, to make some +satisfaction, punished the purveyors that had not made provision of +beer, bread, &c. which was not yet ready nor embarked, secretly smiling +at the insolence of the Spaniards, when he heard them bragging +that what way soever they came upon England, they would have an +undoubted victory; that the English were not able to endure the sight +of them. The English admiral appointed Seimor and the Hollanders +to watch upon the coast of Flanders that the duke of Parma should not +come out; whilst he himself close followed the Spaniards until they +were past Edinburgh Frith.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards, seeing all hopes fail, fled amain; and so this great +navy, being three years preparing with great expense, was within +one month overthrown, and, after many were killed, being chased +again, was driven about all England, by Scotland, the Oreades, and +Ireland, tossed and damaged with tempests, much diminished, and +went home without glory. There were not a hundred men of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +English lost, and but one ship. Whereupon money was coined with a +navy fleeing away in full sail, with this inscription, <i>Venit, Vidit, +Fugit</i>. Others were coined with the ships on fire, the navy confounded, +inscribed, in honour of the queen, <i>Dux Fæmina Facti</i>. As +they fled, it is certain that many of their ships were cast away upon +the shores of Scotland and Ireland. About seven hundred soldiers +and mariners were cast away upon the Scottish shore, who, at the +duke of Parma's intercession with the Scotch king, the queen of +England consenting, were after a year sent into Flanders. But they +that were cast upon the Irish shore came to more miserable fortunes, +for some were killed by the wild Irish, and others were destroyed for +fear they should join themselves with the wild Irish, (which cruelty +queen Elizabeth much condemned,) and the rest being afraid, sick +and hungry, with their disabled ships, committed themselves to the +sea, and many were drowned.</p> + +<p>The queen went to public thanksgiving in St. Paul's church, accompanied +by a glorious train of nobility, through the streets of London, +which were hung with blue cloth, the companies standing on +both sides in their liveries; the banners that were taken from the +enemies were spread; she heard the sermon, and public thanks were +rendered unto God with great joy. This public joy was augmented +when Sir Robert Sidney returned from Scotland, and brought from +the king assurances of his noble mind and affection to the queen, and +to religion; which as in sincerity he had established, so he purposed +to maintain with all his power. Sir Robert Sidney was sent to him +when the Spanish fleet was coming, to congratulate and return thanks +for his great affection towards the maintenance of the common cause, +and to declare how ready she would be to help him if the Spaniards +should land in Scotland; and that he might recal to memory with what +strange ambition the Spaniards had gaped for all Britain, urging the +pope to excommunicate him, to the end that he might be thrust from +the kingdom of Scotland, and from the succession in England: and to +give him notice of the threatening of Mendoza, and the pope's nuncio, +who threatened his ruin if they could effect it: and therefore warned +him to take special heed to the Scottish papists.</p> + +<p>The king pleasantly answered that he looked for no other benefit +from the Spaniards, than that which Polyphemus promised to Ulysses, +to devour him last after his fellows were devoured.</p> + +<p>It may not be improper here to subjoin a list of the different articles +taken on board the Spanish ships, designed for the tormenting of the +protestants, had their scheme taken effect.</p> + +<p>1. The common soldiers' pikes, eighteen feet long, pointed with long +sharp spikes, and shod with iron, which were designed to keep off the +horse, to facilitate the landing of the infantry.</p> + +<p>2. A great number of lances used by the Spanish officers. These +were formerly gilt, but the gold is almost worn off by cleaning.</p> + +<p>3. The Spanish ranceurs, made in different forms, which were intended +either to kill the men on horseback, or pull them off their horses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> + +<p>4. A very singular piece of arms, being a pistol in a shield, so +contrived as to fire the pistol, and cover the body at the same time, +with the shield. It is to be fired by a match-lock, and the sight of the +enemy is to be taken through a little grate in the shield, which is pistol +proof.</p> + +<p>5. The banner, with a crucifix upon it, which was to have been +carried before the Spanish general. On it is engraved the pope's +benediction before the Spanish fleet sailed: for the pope came to the +water side, and, on seeing the fleet, blessed it, and styled it <i>invincible</i>.</p> + +<p>6. The Spanish cravats, as they are called. These are engines of +torture, made of iron, and put on board to lock together the feet, arms +and heads of Englishmen.</p> + +<p>7. Spanish bilboes, made of iron likewise, to yoke the English +prisoners two and two.</p> + +<p>8. Spanish shot, which are of four sorts: pike-shot, star-shot, +chain-shot, and link-shot, all admirably contrived, as well for the +destruction of the masts and rigging of ships, as for sweeping the decks +of their men.</p> + +<p>9. Spanish spadas poisoned at the points, so that if a man received +the slightest wound with one of them, certain death was the consequence.</p> + +<p>10. A Spanish poll-axe, used in boarding of ships.</p> + +<p>11. Thumb-screws, of which there were several chests full on +board the Spanish fleet. The use they were intended for is said to +have been to extort confession from the English where their money +was hid.</p> + +<p>12. The Spanish morning star; a destructive engine resembling +the figure of a star, of which there were many thousands on board, and +all of them with poisoned points; and were designed to strike at the enemy +as they came on board, in case of a close attack.</p> + +<p>13. The Spanish general's halberd, covered with velvet. All the +nails of this weapon are double gilt with gold; and on its top is the +pope's head, curiously engraved.</p> + +<p>14. A Spanish battle-axe, so contrived, as to strike four holes in a +man's head at once; and has besides a pistol in its handle, with a +match-lock.</p> + +<p>15. The Spanish general's shield, carried before him as an ensign +of honour. On it are depicted, in most curious workmanship, the labours +of Hercules, and other expressive allegories.</p> + +<p>When the Spanish prisoners were asked by some of the English +what their intentions were, had their expedition succeeded, they replied, +"To extirpate the whole from the island, at least all heretics +(as they called the protestants,) and to send their souls to hell." +Strange infatuation! Ridiculous bigotry! How prejudiced must the +minds of those men be, who would wish to destroy their fellow-creatures, +not only in this world, but, if it were possible, in that which is to +come, merely because they refused to believe on certain subjects as the +Spaniards themselves did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>A conspiracy by the Papists for the destruction of James I., the royal +family, and both houses of Parliament; commonly known by the +name of the Gunpowder Plot.</i></div> + +<p>The papists (of which there were great numbers in England at the +time of the intended Spanish invasion) were so irritated at the failure +of that expedition, that they were determined, if possible, to project a +scheme at home, that might answer the purposes, to some degree, of +their blood-thirsty competitors. The vigorous administration of Elizabeth, +however, prevented their carrying any of their iniquitous designs into execution, +although they made many attempts with that view. +The commencement of the reign of her successor was destined to be +the era of a plot, the barbarity of which transcends every thing related +in ancient or modern history.</p> + +<p>In order to crush popery in the most effectual manner in this kingdom, +James soon after his succession, took proper measures for +eclipsing the power of the Roman Catholics, by enforcing those laws +which had been made against them by his predecessors. This enraged +the papists to such a degree, that a conspiracy was formed, by +some of the principal leaders, of the most daring and impious nature; +namely, to blow up the king, royal family, and both houses of parliament, +while in full session, and thus to involve the nation in utter and +inevitable ruin.</p> + +<p>The cabal who formed the resolution of putting in practice this +horrid scheme, consisted of the following persons:—Henry Garnet, +an <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Englisman'">Englishman</ins>, who, about the year 1586, had been sent to England +as superior of the English Jesuits; Catesby, an English gentleman; +Tesmond, a Jesuit; Thomas Wright; two gentlemen of the name of +Winter; Thomas Percy, a near relation of the earl of Northumberland; +Guido Fawkes, a bold and enterprising soldier of fortune; Sir +Edward Digby; John Grant, Esq.; Francis Tresham, Esq.; Robert +Keyes and Thomas Bates, gentlemen.</p> + +<p>Most of these were men both of birth and fortune; and Catesby, +who had a large estate, had already expended two thousand pounds +in several voyages to the court of Spain, in order to introduce an army +of Spaniards into England, for overturning the protestant government, +and restoring the Roman Catholic religion; but, being disappointed in +this project of an invasion, he took an opportunity of disclosing to +Percy (who was his intimate friend, and who, in a sudden fit of passion, +had hinted a design of assassinating the king) a nobler and more +extensive plan of treason, such as would include a sure execution of +vengeance, and, at one blow, consign over to destruction all their +enemies.</p> + +<p>Percy assented to the project proposed by Catesby, and they resolved +to impart the matter to a few more, and, by degrees, to all the rest of +their cabal, every man being bound by an oath, and taking the sacrament +(the most sacred rite of their religion), not to disclose the least +syllable of the matter, or to withdraw from the association, without the +consent of all persons concerned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span></p> + +<p>These consultations were held in the spring and summer of the year +1604, and it was towards the close of that year that they began their +operations; the manner of which, and the discovery, we shall relate +with as much brevity as is consistent with perspicuity.</p> + +<p>It had been agreed that a few of the conspirators should run a mine +below the hall in which the parliament was to assemble, and that they +should choose the very moment when the king should deliver his +speech to both houses, for springing the mine, and thus, by one blow +cut off the king, the royal family, lords, commons, and all the other +enemies of the catholic religion in that very spot where that religion +has been most oppressed. For this purpose, Percy, who was at that +time a gentleman-pensioner undertook to hire a house adjoining to the +upper house of parliament with all diligence. This was accordingly +done, and the conspirators expecting the parliament would meet on +the 17th of February following, began, on the 11th of December, to +dig in the cellar, through the wall of partition, which was three yards +thick. There was seven in number joined in this labour: they went +in by night, and never after appeared in sight, for, having supplied +themselves with all necessary provisions, they had no occasion to go +out. In case of discovery, they had provided themselves with powder, +shot, and fire arms, and formed a resolution rather to die than be +taken.</p> + +<p>On Candlemas-day, 1605, they had dug so far through the wall as +to be able to hear a noise on the other side: upon which unexpected +event, fearing a discovery, Guido Fawkes, (who personated Percy's +footman,) was despatched to know the occasion, and returned with the +favourable report, that the place from whence the noise came was a +large cellar under the upper house of parliament, full of sea-coal which +was then on sale, and the cellar offered to be let.</p> + +<p>On this information, Percy immediately hired the cellar, and bought +the remainder of the coals: he then sent for thirty barrels of gunpowder +from Holland, and landing them at Lambeth, conveyed them +gradually by night to this cellar, where they were covered with stones, +iron bars, a thousand billets, and five hundred fagots; all which they +did at their leisure, the parliament being prorogued to the 5th of November.</p> + +<p>This being done, the conspirators next consulted how they should +secure the duke of York,<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> who was too young to be expected at the +parliament house, and his sister, the Princess Elizabeth, educated at +Lord Harrington's, in Warwickshire. It was resolved, that Percy and +another should enter into the duke's chamber, and a dozen more, properly +disposed at several doors, with two or three on horseback at the +court-gate to receive him, should carry him safe away as soon as the +parliament-house was blown up; or, if that could not be effected, that +they should kill him, and declare the princess Elizabeth queen, having +secured her, under pretence of a hunting-match, that day.</p> + +<p>Several of the conspirators proposed obtaining foreign aid previous +to the execution of their design; but this was over-ruled, and it was +agreed only to apply to France, Spain, and other powers for assistance +after the plot had taken effect; they also resolved to proclaim +the princess Elizabeth queen, and to spread a report, after the blow +was given, that the puritans were the perpetrators of so inhuman an +action.</p> + +<p>All matters being now prepared by the conspirators, they, without +the least remorse of conscience, and with the utmost impatience, expected +the 5th of November. But all their counsels were blasted by +a happy and providential circumstance. One of the conspirators, +having a desire to save William Parker, Lord Monteagle, sent him +the following letter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +"My Lord,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"Out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care for +your preservation; therefore I advise you, as you tender your life, +to devise you some excuse to shift off your attendance at this parliament; +for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of +this time: and think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself +into the country, where you may expect the event with safety, +for though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall +receive a terrible blow, this parliament, and yet they shall not see +who hurts them. This counsel is not to be contemned, because it may +do you good, and can do you no harm; for the danger is past so soon +(or as quickly) as you burn this letter; and I hope God will give you +the grace to make good use of it, to whose holy protection I commend +you."</p></div> + +<p>The Lord Monteagle was, for some time, at a loss what judgment to +form of this letter, and unresolved whether he should slight the advertisement +or not; and fancying it a trick of his enemies to frighten him +into an absence from parliament, would have determined on the former, +had his own safety been only in question: but apprehending the +king's life might be in danger, he took the letter at midnight to the +earl of Salisbury, who was equally puzzled about the meaning of it; +and though he was inclined to think it merely a wild and waggish contrivance +to alarm Monteagle, yet he thought proper to consult about +it with the earl of Suffolk, lord chamberlain. The expression, "that +the blow should come, without knowing who hurt them," made them +imagine that it would not be more proper than the time of parliament, +nor by any other way likely to be attempted than by gunpowder, while +the king was sitting to that assembly: the lord chamberlain thought +this the more probable, because there was a great cellar under the parliament-chamber, +(as already mentioned,) never used for any thing but +wood or coal, belonging to Wineyard, the keeper of the palace; and +having communicated the letter to the earls of Nottingham, Worcester, +and Northampton, they proceeded no farther till the king came +from Royston, on the 1st of November.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p> + +<p>His majesty being shown the letter by the earls, who, at the same +time acquainted him with their suspicions, was of opinion that either +nothing should be done, or else enough to prevent the danger: and that +a search should be made on the day preceding that designed for this execution +of the diabolical enterprise.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, on Monday, the 4th of November, in the afternoon, the +lord chamberlain, whose office it was to see all things put in readiness +for the king's coming, accompanied by Monteagle, went to visit all +places about the parliament-house, and taking a slight occasion to see +the cellar, observed only piles of billets and fagots, but in greater number +than he thought Wineyard could want for his own use. On his asking +who owned the wood, and being told it belonged to one Mr. Percy, +he began to have some suspicions, knowing him to be a rigid papist, +and so seldom there, that he had no occasion for such a quantity of fuel; +and Monteagle confirmed him therein, by observing that Percy had +made him great professions of friendship.</p> + +<p>Though there was no other materials visible, yet Suffolk thought it +was necessary to make a further search; and, upon his return to the +king, a resolution was taken that it should be made in such a manner +as should be effectual, without scandalizing any body, or giving any +alarm.</p> + +<p>Sir Thomas Knevet, steward of Westminster, was accordingly ordered, +under the pretext of searching for stolen tapestry hangings in that +place, and other houses thereabouts, to remove the wood, and see if anything +was concealed underneath. This gentleman going at midnight, +with several attendants, to the cellar, met Fawkes, just coming out of it, +booted and spurred, with a tinder-box and three matches in his pockets, +and seizing him without any ceremony, or asking him any questions, as +soon as the removal of the wood discovered the barrels of gunpowder, +he caused him to be bound, and properly secured.</p> + +<p>Fawkes, who was a hardened and intrepid villain, made no hesitation +of avowing the design, and that it was to have been executed on the +morrow. He made the same acknowledgment at his examination before +a committee of the council; and though he did not deny having some +associates in this conspiracy, yet no threats of torture could make him +discover any of them, he declaring that "he was ready to die, and had +rather suffer ten thousand deaths, than willingly accuse his master, or +any other."</p> + +<p>By repeated examinations, however, and assurances of his master's +being apprehended, he at length acknowledged, "that whilst he was +abroad, Percy had kept the keys of the cellar, had been in it since the +powder had been laid there, and, in effect, that he was one of the principal +actors in the intended tragedy."</p> + +<p>In the mean time it was found out, that Percy had come post out +of the north on Saturday night, the 2d of November, and had dined +on Monday at Sion-house, with the earl of Northumberland; that +Fawkes had met him on the road, and that, after the lord chamberlain +had been that evening in the cellar, he went, about six o'clock,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">to</ins> his master, who had fled immediately, apprehending the plot was detected.</p> + +<p>The news of the discovery immediately spreading, the conspirators +fled different ways, but chiefly into Warwickshire, where Sir Everard +Digby had appointed a hunting-match, near Dunchurch, to get a number +of recusants together, sufficient to seize the princess Elizabeth; but +this design was prevented by her taking refuge in Coventry; and their +whole party, making about one hundred, retired to Holbeach, the seat +of Sir Stephen Littleton, on the borders of Staffordshire, having broken +open stables, and taken horses from different people in the adjoining +counties.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard Walsh, high sheriff of Worcestershire, pursued them to +Holbeach, where he invested them, and summoned them to surrender. +In preparing for their defence, they put some moist powder before +a fire to dry, and a spark from the coals setting it on fire, some +of the conspirators were so burned in their faces, thighs, and arms, +that they were scarcely able to handle their weapons. Their case +was desperate, and no means of escape appearing, unless by forcing +their way through the assailants, they made a furious sally for that +purpose. Catesby (who first proposed the manner of the plot) and +Percy were both killed. Thomas Winter, Grant, Digby, Rockwood, +and Bates, were taken and carried to London, were the first made a full +discovery of the conspiracy. Tresham, lurking about the city, and +frequently shifting his quarters, was apprehended soon after, and +having confessed the whole matter, died of the strangury, in the Tower. +The earl of Northumberland, suspected on account of his being related +to Thomas Percy, was, by way of precaution, committed to the custody +of the archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth; and was afterwards fined +thirty thousand pounds, and sent to the Tower, for admitting Percy into +the band of gentlemen pensioners, without tending him the oath of +supremacy.</p> + +<p>Some escaped to Calais, and arriving there with others, who fled to +avoid a persecution which they apprehended on this occasion, were +kindly received by the governor; but one of them declaring before him, +that he was not so much concerned at his exile, as that the powder plot +did not take effect, the governor was so much incensed at his glorying in +such an execrable piece of iniquity, that, in a sudden impulse of indignation, +he endeavoured to throw him into the sea.</p> + +<p>On the 27th of January, 1606, eight of the conspirators were tried +and convicted, among whom was Sir Everard Digby, the only one that +pleaded guilty to the indictment, though all the rest had confessed their +guilt before. Digby was executed on the 30th of the same month, with +Robert Winter, Grant, and Bates, at the west end of St. Paul's churchyard; +Thomas Winter, Keyes, Rockwood, and Fawkes, were executed +the following day in Old Palace yard.</p> + +<p>Garnet was tried on the 28th of March, "for his knowledge and +concealment of the conspiracy; for administering an oath of secrecy +to the conspirators, for persuading them of the lawfulness of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +treason, and for praying for the success of the great action in hand at +the beginning of the parliament." Being found guilty,<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> he received +sentence of death, but was not executed till the 3d of May, when, confessing +his own guilt, and the iniquity of the enterprise, he exhorted +all Roman Catholics to abstain from the like treasonable practices in +future. Gerard and Hall, two Jesuits, got abroad; and Littleton, with +several others, were executed in the country.</p> + +<p>The Lord Monteagle had a grant of two hundred pounds a year in +land, and a pension of five hundred pounds for life, as a reward for +discovering the letter which gave the first hint of the conspiracy; and +the anniversary of this providential deliverance was ordered to be for +ever commemorated by prayer and thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>Thus was this diabolical scheme happily rendered abortive, and the +authors of it brought to that condign punishment which their wickedness +merited. In this affair Providence manifestly interposed in behalf +of the protestants, and saved them from that destruction which must +have taken place had the scheme succeeded according to the wishes of +a bigoted, superstitious, and blood-thirsty faction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE PROTESTANT RELIGION IN IRELAND; WITH +AN ACCOUNT OF THE BARBAROUS MASSACRE OF 1641.</h3> + + +<p>The gloom of popery had overshadowed Ireland from its first establishment +there till the reign of Henry VIII. when the rays of the gospel +began to dispel the darkness, and afford that light which till then +had been unknown in that island. The abject ignorance in which the +people were held, with the absurd and superstitious notions they entertained, +were sufficiently evident to many; and the artifices of their +priests were so conspicuous, that several persons of distinction, who +had hitherto been strenuous papists, would willingly have endeavoured +to shake off the yoke, and embrace the protestant religion; but the natural +ferocity of the people, and their strong attachment to the ridiculous +doctrines which they had been taught, made the attempt dangerous. +It was, however, at length undertaken, though attended with the most +horrid and disastrous consequences.</p> + +<p>The introduction of the protestant religion into Ireland may be +principally attributed to George Browne, an Englishman, who was +consecrated archbishop of Dublin on the 19th of March, 1535. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +had formerly been an Augustine friar, and was promoted to the mitre +on account of his merit.</p> + +<p>After having enjoyed his dignity about five years, he, at the time +that Henry VIII. was suppressing the religious houses in England, +caused all the relics and images to be removed out of the two cathedrals +in Dublin, and the other churches in his diocese; in the place of which +he caused to be put up the Lord's prayer, the creed, and the ten commandments.</p> + +<p>A short time after this he received a letter from Thomas Cromwell, +lord-privy seal, informing him that Henry VIII. having thrown off the +papal supremacy in England, was determined to do the like in Ireland; +and that he thereupon had appointed him (archbishop Browne) +one of the commissioners for seeing this order put in execution. The +archbishop answered, that he had employed his utmost endeavours +at the hazard of his life, to cause the Irish nobility and gentry to acknowledge +Henry as their supreme head, in matters both spiritual +and temporal; but had met with a most violent opposition, especially +from George, archbishop of Armagh; that this prelate had, in a speech +to his clergy, laid a curse on all those who should own his highness'<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a> +supremacy: adding, that their isle, called in the Chronicles <i>Insula +Sacra</i>, or the Holy Island, belonged to none but the bishop of Rome, +and that the king's progenitors had received it from the pope. He +observed likewise, that the archbishop and clergy of Armagh, had +each despatched a courier to Rome; and that it would be necessary +for a parliament to be called in Ireland, to pass an act of supremacy, +the people not regarding the king's commission without the sanction +of the legislative assembly. He concluded with observing, that the +popes had kept the people in the most profound ignorance; that the +clergy were exceedingly illiterate; that the common people were +more zealous, in their blindness, than the saints and martyrs had been +in the defence of truth at the beginning of the gospel; and that it +was to be feared Shan O'Neal, a chieftain of great power in the +northern part of the island, was decidedly opposed to the king's commission.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of this advice, the following year a parliament was +summoned to meet at Dublin, by order of Leonard Grey, at that time +lord-lieutenant. At this assembly archbishop Browne made a speech +in which he set forth, that the bishops of Rome used, anciently, to +acknowledge emperors, kings, and princes, to be supreme in their own +dominions, and, therefore, that he himself would vote king Henry VIII. +as supreme in all matters, both ecclesiastical and temporal. He concluded +with saying, that whosoever should refuse to vote for this act, +was not a true subject of the king. This speech greatly startled the +other bishops and lords; but at length, after violent debates, the king's +supremacy was allowed.</p> + +<p>Two years after this, the archbishop wrote a second letter to lord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +Cromwell, complaining of the clergy, and hinting at the machinations +which the pope was then carrying on against the advocates of +the gospel. This letter is dated from Dublin, in April, 1538; and +among other matters, the archbishop says, "A bird may be taught +to speak with as much sense as many of the clergy do in this country. +These, though not scholars, yet are crafty to cozen the poor common +people and to dissuade them from following his highness' orders. The +country folk here much hate your lordship, and despitefully call you, +in their Irish tongue, the Blacksmith's Son. As a friend, I desire +your lordship to look well to your noble person. Rome hath a great +kindness for the duke of Norfolk, and great favors for this nation, +purposely to oppose his highness."</p> + +<p>A short time after this, the pope sent over to Ireland (directed to +the Archbishop of Armagh and his clergy) a bull of excommunication +against all who had, or should own the king's supremacy within +the Irish nation; denouncing a curse on all of them, and theirs, who +should not, within forty days, acknowledge to their confessors, that they +had done amiss in so doing.</p> + +<p>Archbishop Browne gave notice of this in a letter, dated, Dublin, +May, 1538. Part of the form of confession, or vow, sent over to these +Irish papists, ran as follows; "I do farther declare him or her, father +or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter, husband or wife, uncle +or aunt, nephew or niece, kinsman or kinswoman, master or mistress, +and all others, nearest or dearest relations, friend or acquaintance +whatsoever, accursed, that either do or shall hold, for the time to +come, any ecclesiastical or civil power above the authority of the +mother church; or that do or shall obey, for the time to come, any of +her the mother of churches' opposers or enemies, or contrary to the +same, of which I have here sworn unto: so God, the Blessed Virgin, +St. Peter, St. Paul, and the Holy Evangelists, help me, &c." This is +an exact agreement with the doctrines promulgated by the councils of +Lateran and Constance, which expressly declare, that no favour +should be shown to heretics, nor faith kept with them; that they ought +to be excommunicated and condemned, and their estates confiscated; +and that princes are obliged, by a solemn oath, to root them out of their +respective dominions.</p> + +<p>How abominable a church must that be, which thus dares to trample +upon all authority! how besotted the people who regard the injunctions +of such a church!</p> + +<p>In the archbishop's last-mentioned letter, dated May, 1538, he says, +"His highness' viceroy of this nation is of little or no power with the +old natives. Now both English and Irish begin to oppose your lordship's +orders, and to lay aside their national quarrels, which I fear will +(if any thing will) cause a foreigner to invade this nation."</p> + +<p>Not long after this, Archbishop Browne seized one Thady O'Brian, +a Franciscan friar, who had in his possession a paper sent from Rome +dated May, 1538, and directed to O'Neal. In this letter were the +following words: "His holiness, Paul, now pope, and the council of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +the fathers, have lately found, in Rome, a prophecy of one St. Lacerianus, +an Irish bishop of Cashel, in which he saith, that the mother +church of Rome falleth, when, in Ireland, the catholic faith is +overcome. Therefore, for the glory of the mother church, the honour +of St. Peter, and your own secureness, suppress heresy, and his holiness' +enemies."</p> + +<p>This Thady O'Brian, after farther examination and search made, +was pilloried, and kept close prisoner, till the king's orders arrived +in what manner he should be farther disposed of. But order coming +over from England that he was to be hanged, he laid violent hands on +himself in the castle of Dublin. His body was afterwards carried +to Gallows-green, where, after being hanged up for some time, it was +interred.</p> + +<p>After the accession of Edward VI. to the throne of England, an +order was directed to Sir Anthony Leger, the lord-deputy of Ireland, +commanding that the liturgy in English be forthwith set up in Ireland, +there to be observed within the several bishoprics, cathedrals, and +parish churches; and it was first read in Christ-church, Dublin, on +Easter day, 1551, before the said Sir Anthony, Archbishop Browne, +and others. Part of the royal order for this purpose was as follows: +"Whereas, our gracious father, King Henry VIII. taking into consideration +the bondage and heavy yoke that his true and faithful subjects +sustained, under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome; how several +fabulous stories and lying wonders misled our subjects; dispensing +with the sins of our nations, by their indulgences and pardons, for +gain; purposely to cherish all evil vices, as robberies, rebellions, +theft, whoredoms, blasphemy, idolatry, &c. our gracious father hereupon +dissolved all priories, monasteries, abbeys, and other pretended +religious houses; as being but nurseries for vice or luxury, more than +for sacred learning," &c.</p> + +<p>On the day after the common-prayer was first used in Christ-church, +Dublin, the following wicked scheme was projected by the papists:</p> + +<p>In the church was left a marble image of Christ, holding a reed in +his hand, with a crown of thorns on his head. Whilst the English service +(the Common Prayer) was being read before the lord-lieutenant, +the archbishop of Dublin, the privy-council, the lord-mayor, and a +great congregation, blood was seen to run through the crevices of the +crown of thorns, and to trickle down the face of the image. On this, +some of the contrivers of the imposture cried aloud: "See how our +Saviour's image sweats blood! But it must necessarily do this, since +heresy is come into the church." Immediately many of the lower +order of people, indeed the <i>vulgar of all ranks</i>, were terrified at the +sight of so <i>miraculous</i> and <i>undeniable</i> an evidence of the divine displeasure; +they hastened from the church, convinced that the doctrines +of protestantism emanated from an infernal source, and that +salvation was only to be found in the bosom of their own <i>infallible</i> +church.</p> + +<p>This incident, however ludicrous it may appear to the enlightened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +reader, had great influence over the minds of the ignorant Irish, and +answered the ends of the impudent imposters who contrived it, so far +as to check the progress of the reformed religion in Ireland very materially; +many persons could not resist the conviction that there were +many errors and corruptions in the Romish church, but they were +awed into silence by this pretended manifestation of Divine wrath, +which was magnified beyond measure by the bigoted and interested +priesthood.</p> + +<p>We have very few particulars as to the state of religion in Ireland +during the remaining portion of the reign of Edward VI. and the greater +part of that of Mary. Towards the conclusion of the barbarous +sway of that relentless bigot, she attempted to extend her inhuman persecutions +to this island; but her diabolical intentions were happily +frustrated in the following providential manner, the particulars of +which are related by historians of good authority.</p> + +<p>Mary had appointed Dr. Cole (an agent of the blood-thirsty Bonner) +one of the commissioners for carrying her barbarous intentions into +effect. He having arrived at Chester with his commission, the mayor +of that city, being a papist, waited upon him; when the doctor taking +out of his cloak-bag a leathern case, said to him, "Here is a commission +that shall lash the heretics of Ireland." The good woman of the +house being a protestant, and having a brother in Dublin, named John +Edmunds, was greatly troubled at what she heard. But watching her +opportunity, whilst the mayor was taking his leave, and the doctor politely +accompanying him down stairs, she opened the box, took out the +commission, and in its stead laid a sheet of paper, with a pack of cards, +and the <i>knave of clubs</i> at top. The doctor, not suspecting the trick +that had been played him, put up the box, and arrived with it in Dublin, +in September, 1558.</p> + +<p>Anxious to accomplish the intentions of his "<i>pious</i>" mistress, he +immediately waited upon Lord Fitz-Walter, at that time viceroy, and +presented the box to him; which being opened, nothing was found in +it but a pack of cards. This startling all the persons present, his +lordship said, "We must procure another commission; and in the mean +time let us shuffle the cards!"</p> + +<p>Dr. Cole, however, would have directly returned to England to get +another commission; but waiting for a favourable wind, news arrived +that queen Mary was dead, and by this means the protestants escaped +a most cruel persecution. The above relation as we before observed, +is confirmed by historians of the greatest credit, who add, that queen +Elizabeth settled a pension of forty pounds per annum upon the above +mentioned Elizabeth Edmunds, for having thus saved the lives of her +protestant subjects.</p> + +<p>During the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. Ireland was almost +constantly agitated by rebellions and insurrections, which, although +not always taking their rise from the difference of religious opinions +between the English and Irish, were aggravated and rendered more +bitter and irreconcilable from that cause. The popish priests artfully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +exaggerated the faults of the English government, and continually +urged to their ignorant and prejudiced hearers the lawfulness of +killing the protestants, assuring them that all catholics who were +slain in the prosecution of so <i>pious</i> an enterprise, would be immediately +received into everlasting felicity. The naturally ungovernable +dispositions of the Irish, acted upon by these designing men, +drove them into continual acts of barbarous and unjustifiable violence; +and it must be confessed that the unsettled and arbitrary +nature of the authority exercised by the English governors, was but +little calculated to gain their affections. The Spaniards, too, by +landing forces in the south, and giving every encouragement to the +discontented natives to join their standard, kept the island in a continual +state of turbulence and warfare. In 1601, they disembarked a +body of 4000 men at Kinsale, and commenced what they called "<i>the +holy war for the preservation of the faith in Ireland;</i>" they were assisted +by great numbers of the Irish, but were at length totally defeated +by the deputy, lord Mountjoy, and his officers.</p> + +<p>This closed the transactions of Elizabeth's reign with respect to +Ireland; an interval of apparent tranquility followed, but the popish +priesthood, ever restless and designing, sought to undermine by secret +machinations, that government and that faith which they durst no +longer openly attack. The pacific reign of James afforded them the +opportunity of increasing their strength and maturing their schemes, +and under his successor, Charles I. their numbers were greatly increased +by titular Romish archbishops, bishops, deans, vicars-general, +abbots, priests, and friars; for which reason, in 1629, the public exercise +of the popish rites and ceremonies was forbidden.</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding this, soon afterwards, the Romish clergy +erected a new popish university in the city of Dublin. They also +proceeded to build monasteries and nunneries in various parts of the +kingdom; in which places these very Romish clergy, and the chiefs +of the Irish, held frequent meetings; and from thence, used to pass to +and fro, to France, Spain, Flanders, Lorrain, and Rome; where the +detestable plot of 1641 was hatching by the family of the O'Neals and +their followers.</p> + +<p>A short time before the horrid conspiracy broke out, which we are +now going to relate, the papists in Ireland had presented a remonstrance +to the lords-justices of that kingdom, demanding the free +exercise of their religion, and a repeal of all laws to the contrary, +to which both houses of parliament in England, solemnly answered, +that they would never grant any toleration to the popish religion in +that kingdom.</p> + +<p>This farther irritated the papists to put in execution the diabolical +plot concerted for the destruction of the protestants; and it failed not of +the success wished for by its malicious and rancorous projectors.</p> + +<p>The design of this horrid conspiracy was, that a general insurrection +should take place at the same time throughout the kingdom, and +that all the protestants, without exception, should be murdered. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +day fixed for this horrid massacre, was the 23d of October, 1641, the +feast of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits; and the chief conspirators, +in the principal parts of the kingdom, made the necessary preparations +for the intended conflict.</p> + +<p>In order that this detested scheme might the more infallibly succeed, +the most distinguished artifices were practised by the papists; and their +behaviour in their visits to the protestants, at this time, was with more +seeming kindness than they had hitherto shown, which was done the +more completely to effect the inhuman and treacherous designs then meditating +against them.</p> + +<p>The execution of this savage conspiracy was delayed till the approach +of winter, that sending troops from England might be attended +with greater difficulty. Cardinal <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Richlieu'">Richelieu</ins>, the French minister, had +promised the conspirators a considerable supply of men and money; +and many Irish officers had given the strongest assurances that they +would heartily concur with their catholic brethren, as soon as the insurrection +took place.</p> + +<p>The day preceding that appointed for carrying this horrid design into +execution, was now arrived, when, happily for the metropolis of the +kingdom, the conspiracy was discovered by one Owen O'Connelly, an +Irishman, for which most signal service the English parliament voted +him 500<i>l.</i> and a pension of 200<i>l.</i> during his life.</p> + +<p>So very seasonably was this plot discovered, even but a few hours +before the city and castle of Dublin were to have been surprised, that +the lords-justices had but just time to put themselves, and the city, in +a proper posture of defence. The lord M'Guire, who was the principal +leader here, with his accomplices, were seized the same evening <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'in in'">in</ins> +the city; and in their lodgings were found swords, hatchets, pole-axes, +hammers, and such other instruments of death as had been prepared +for the destruction and extirpation of the protestants in that part of +the kingdom.</p> + +<p>Thus was the metropolis happily preserved; but the bloody part +of the intended tragedy was past prevention. The conspirators were in +arms all over the kingdom early in the morning of the day appointed, +and every protestant who fell in their way was immediately murdered. +No age, no sex, no condition, was spared. The wife weeping for her +butchered husband, and embracing her helpless children, was pierced +with them, and perished by the same stroke. The old, the young, +the vigorous, and the infirm, underwent the same fate, and were blended +in one common ruin. In vain did flight save from the first assault, +destruction was every where let loose, and met the hunted victims at +every turn. In vain was recourse had to relations, to companions, to +friends; all connexions were dissolved; and death was dealt by that +hand from which protection was implored and expected. Without +provocation, without opposition, the astonished English, living in profound +peace, and, as they thought, full security, were massacred by +their nearest neighbours, with whom they had long maintained a continued +intercourse of kindness and good offices. Nay, even death<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +was the slightest punishment inflicted by these monsters in human +form; all the tortures which wanton cruelty could invent, all the lingering +pains of body, the anguish of mind, the agonies of despair, +could not satiate revenge excited without injury, and cruelly derived +from no just cause whatever. Depraved nature, even perverted religion, +though encouraged by the utmost license, cannot reach to a +greater pitch of ferocity than appeared in these merciless barbarians. +Even the weaker sex themselves, naturally tender to their own sufferings, +and compassionate to those of others, have emulated their robust +companions in the practice of every cruelty. The very children, +taught by example, and encouraged by the exhortation of their parents, +dealt their feeble blows on the dead carcasses of the defenceless children +of the English.</p> + +<p>Nor was the avarice of the Irish sufficient to produce the least restraint +on their cruelty. Such was their frenzy, that the cattle they +had seized, and by rapine had made their own, were, because they +bore the name of English, wantonly slaughtered, or, when covered +with wounds, turned loose into the woods, there to perish by slow and +lingering torments.</p> + +<p>The commodious habitations of the planters were laid in ashes, or +levelled with the ground. And where the wretched owners had shut +themselves up in the houses, and were preparing for defence, they +perished in the flames together with their wives and children.</p> + +<p>Such is the general description of this unparalleled massacre; but +it now remains, from the nature of our work, that we proceed to particulars.</p> + +<p>The bigoted and merciless papists had no sooner begun to imbrue their +hands in blood, than they repeated the horrid tragedy day after day, and +the protestants in all parts of the kingdom fell victims to their fury by +deaths of the most unheard of cruelty.</p> + +<p>The ignorant Irish were more strongly instigated to execute the infernal +business by the jesuits, priests, and friars, who, when the day +for the execution of the plot was agreed on, recommended in their prayers, +diligence in the great design, which they said would greatly tend +to the prosperity of the kingdom, and to the advancement of the Catholic +cause. They every where declared to the common people, that the +protestants were heretics, and ought not to be suffered to live any longer +among them; adding, that it was no more sin to kill an Englishman +than to kill a dog; and that the relieving or protecting them was a +crime of the most unpardonable nature.</p> + +<p>The papists having besieged the town and castle of Longford, and +the inhabitants of the latter, who were protestants, surrendering on +condition of being allowed quarter, the besiegers, the instant the +towns-people appeared, attacked them in a most unmerciful manner, +their priest, as a signal for the rest to fall on, first ripping open the +belly of the English protestant minister; after which his followers +murdered all the rest, some of whom they hung, others were stabbed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +or shot and great numbers knocked on the head with axes provided +for the purpose.</p> + +<p>The garrison at Sligo was treated in like manner by O'Connor +Slygah; who, upon the protestants quitting their holds, promised +them quarter, and to convey them safe over the Curlew mountains, +to Roscommon. But he first imprisoned them in a most loathsome +jail, allowing them only grains for their food. Afterward, when +some papists were merry over their cups, who were come to congratulate +their wicked brethren for their victory over these unhappy +creatures, those protestants who survived were brought forth by the +White-friars, and were either killed, or precipitated over the bridge +into a swift river, where they were soon destroyed. It is added, that +this wicked company of White-friars went, some time after, in +solemn procession, with holy water in their hands, to sprinkle the +river; on pretence of cleansing and purifying it from the stains and +pollution of the blood and dead bodies of the heretics, as they called +the unfortunate protestants who were inhumanly slaughtered at this +very time.</p> + +<p>At Kilmore, Dr. Bedell, bishop of that see, had charitably settled +and supported a great number of distressed protestants, who had fled +from their habitations to escape the diabolical cruelties committed by +the papists. But they did not long enjoy the consolation of living +together; the good prelate was forcibly dragged from his episcopal +residence, which was immediately occupied by Dr. Swiney, the popish +titular bishop of Kilmore, who said mass in the church the Sunday +following, and then seized on all the goods and effects belonging to +the persecuted bishop.</p> + +<p>Soon after this, the papists forced Dr. Bedell, his two sons, and the +rest of his family, with some of the chief of the protestants whom he +had protected, into a ruinous castle, called Lochwater, situated in a +lake near the sea. Here he remained with his companions some +weeks, all of them daily expecting to be put to death. The greatest +part of them were stripped naked, by which means, as the season +was cold, (it being in the month of December) and the building in +which they were confined open at the top, they suffered the most +severe hardships. They continued in this situation till the 7th of +January, when they were all released. The bishop was courteously +received into the house of Dennis O'Sheridan, one of his clergy, +whom he had made a convert to the church of England; but he did +not long survive this kindness. During his residence here, he spent +the whole of his time in religious exercises, the better to fit and prepare +himself and his sorrowful companions, for their great change +as not but certain death was perpetually before their eyes. He +was at this time in the 71st year of his age, and being afflicted with a +violent ague caught in his late cold and desolate habitation on the +lake, it soon threw him into a fever of the most dangerous nature. +Finding his dissolution at hand, he received it with joy, like one of +the primitive martyrs just hastening to his crown of glory. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +having addressed his little flock, and exhorted them to patience, in the +most pathetic manner, as they saw their own last day approaching, +after having solemnly blessed his people, his family, and his children, +he finished the course of his ministry and life together, on the 7th +day of February, 1642. His friends and relations applied to the +intruding bishop for leave to bury him, which was with difficulty +obtained; he, at first telling them that the churchyard was holy +ground, and should be no longer defiled with heretics: however, leave +was at last granted, and though the church funeral service was not +used at the solemnity, (for fear of the Irish papists) yet some of the +better sort, who had the highest veneration for him while living, attended +his remains to the grave. At his interment, they discharged +a volley of shot, crying out, "Requiescat in pace ultimas Anglorum;" +that is, May the last of the English rest in peace. Adding, that as +he was one of the best so he should be the last English bishop found +among them. His learning was very extensive; and he would have +given the world a greater proof of it, had he printed all he wrote. +Scarce any of his writings were saved; the papists having destroyed +most of his papers and his library. He had gathered a vast heap of +critical expositions of scripture, all which with a great trunk full of +his manuscripts, fell into the hands of the Irish. Happily his great +Hebrew MS. was preserved, and is now in the library of Emanuel +college, Oxford.</p> + +<p>In the barony of Terawley, the papists, at the instigation of the +friars, compelled above forty English protestants, some of whom +were women and children, to the hard fate either of falling by the +sword, or of drowning in the sea. These choosing the latter, were +accordingly forced, by the naked weapons of their inexorable persecutors, +into the deep, where, with their children in their arms, they +first waded up to their chins, and afterwards sunk down and perished +together.</p> + +<p>In the castle of Lisgool upwards of one hundred and fifty men, +women, and children, were all burnt together; and at the castle of +Moneah not less than one hundred were all put to the sword.—Great +numbers were also murdered at the castle of Tullah, which +was delivered up to M'Guire on condition of having fair quarter; but +no sooner had that base villain got possession of the place, than he +ordered his followers to murder the people, which was immediately +done with the greatest cruelty.</p> + +<p>Many others were put to deaths of the most horrid nature, and such +as could have been invented only by demons instead of men. Some +of them were laid with the centre of their backs on the axle-tree of a +carriage, with their legs resting on the ground on one side, and then +arms and head on the other. In this position one of the savages +scourged the wretched object on the thighs, legs, &c. while another +set on furious dogs, who tore to pieces the arms and upper parts of the +body; and in this dreadful manner were they deprived of their existence. +Great numbers were fastened to horses' tails, and the beasts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +being set on full gallop by their riders, the wretched victims were +dragged along till they expired. Others were hung on lofty gibbets, +and a fire being kindled under them, they finished their lives, partly +by hanging, and partly by suffocation.</p> + +<p>Nor did the more tender sex escape the least particle of cruelty +that could be projected by their merciless and furious persecutors. +Many women, of all ages, were put to deaths of the most cruel nature. +Some, in particular, were fastened with their backs to strong +posts, and being stripped to their waists, the inhuman monsters cut off +their right breasts with shears, which, of course, put them to the most +excruciating torments; and in this position they were left, till, from the +loss of blood, they expired.</p> + +<p>Such was the savage ferocity of these barbarians, that even unborn +infants were dragged from the womb to become victims to their rage. +Many unhappy mothers were hung naked on the branches of trees, and +their bodies being cut open, the innocent offsprings were taken from +them, and thrown to dogs and swine. And to increase the horrid scene, +they would oblige the husband to be a spectator before suffered himself.</p> + +<p>At the town of Issenskeath they hanged above a hundred Scottish +protestants, showing them no more mercy than they did to the English. +M'Guire, going to the castle of that town, desired to speak with the +governor, when being admitted, he immediately burnt the records of +the county, which were kept there. He then demanded £1000 of the +governor, which having received, he immediately compelled him to +hear mass, and to swear that he would continue so to do. And to +complete his horrid barbarities, he ordered the wife and children of +the governor to be hung before his face; besides <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'massacreing'">massacring</ins> at least +one hundred of the inhabitants. Upwards of one thousand men, women +and children, were driven, in different companies, to Porterdown +bridge, which was broken in the middle, and there compelled to throw +themselves into the water, and such as attempted to reach the shore +were knocked on the head.</p> + +<p>In the same part of the country, at least four thousand persons were +drowned in different places. The inhuman papists, after first stripping +them, drove them like beasts to the spot fixed on for their destruction; +and if any, through fatigue, or natural infirmities, were slack in +their pace, they pricked them with their swords and pikes; and to +strike terror on the multitude, they murdered some by the way.—Many +of these poor wretches, when thrown into the water, endeavoured +to save themselves by swimming to the shore; but their merciless +persecutors prevented their endeavors taking effect by shooting +them in the water.</p> + +<p>In one place one hundred and forty English, after being driven for +many miles stark naked, and in the most severe weather, were all murdered +on the same spot, some being hanged, others burnt, some shot, +and many of them buried alive; and so cruel were their tormentors, +that they would not suffer them to pray before they robbed them of their +miserable existence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span></p> + +<p>Other companies they took under pretence of safe conduct, who, from +that consideration, proceeded cheerfully on their journey; but when the +treacherous papists had got them to a convenient spot, they butchered +them all in the most cruel manner.</p> + +<p>One hundred and fifteen men, women, and children, were conducted, +by order of Sir Phelim O'Neal, to Porterdown bridge, where they +were all forced into the river, and drowned. One woman, named +Campbell, finding no probability of escaping, suddenly clasped one of +the chief of the papists in her arms, and held him so fast, that they +were both drowned together.</p> + +<p>In Killoman they massacred forty-eight families, among whom twenty-two +were burnt together in one house. The rest were either hanged, +shot, or drowned.</p> + +<p>In Kilmore the inhabitants, which consisted of about two hundred +families, all fell victims to their rage. Some of them sat in the stocks +till they confessed where their money was; after which they put them +to death. The whole county was one common scene of butchery, +and many thousands perished, in a short time, by sword, famine, fire, +water, and other the most cruel deaths, that rage and malice could +invent.</p> + +<p>These bloody villains showed so much favour to some as to despatch +them immediately; but they would by no means suffer them to pray. +Others they imprisoned in filthy dungeons, putting heavy bolts on their +legs, and keeping them there till they were starved to death.</p> + +<p>At Casel they put all the protestants into a loathsome dungeon, +where they kept them together, for several weeks, in the greatest +misery. At length they were released, when some of them were barbarously +mangled, and left on the highways to perish at leisure; others +were hanged, and some were buried in the ground upright, with their +heads above the earth, and the papists, to increase their misery, treating +them with derision during their sufferings. In the county of Antrim +they murdered nine hundred and fifty-four protestants in one morning; +and afterward about twelve hundred more in that county.</p> + +<p>At a town called Lisnegary, they forced twenty-four protestants into +a house, and then setting fire to it, burned them together, counterfeiting +their outcries in derision to the others.</p> + +<p>Among other acts of cruelty they took two children belonging to an +English woman, and dashed out their brains before her face; after +which they threw the mother into a river, and she was drowned. +They served many other children in the like manner, to the great affliction +of their parents, and the disgrace of human nature.</p> + +<p>In Kilkenny all the protestants, without exception, were put to +death; and some of them in so cruel a manner, as, perhaps, was never +before thought of.</p> + +<p>They beat an English woman with such savage barbarity, that she +had scarce a whole bone left; after which they threw her into +a ditch; but not satisfied with this, they took her child, a girl about +six years of age and after ripping up its <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'belley'">belly</ins>, threw it to its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +mother, there to languish till it perished. They forced one man to go +to mass, after which they ripped open his body, and in that manner left +him. They sawed another asunder, cut the throat of his wife, and after +having dashed out the brains of their child, an infant, threw it to +the swine, who greedily devoured it.</p> + +<p>After committing these, and several other horrid cruelties, they took +the heads of seven protestants, and among them that of a pious minister, +all which they fixed up at the market cross. They put a gag into +the minister's mouth, then slit his cheeks to his ears, and laying a leaf +of a Bible before it, bid him preach, for his mouth was wide enough. +They did several other things by way of derision, and expressed the +greatest satisfaction at having thus murdered and exposed the unhappy +protestants.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to conceive the pleasure these monsters took in +exercising their cruelty, and to increase the misery of those who fell +into their hands, when they butchered them they would say, "Your +soul to the devil." One of these miscreants would come into a house +with his hands imbued in blood, and boast that it was English blood, +and that his sword had pricked the white skins of the protestants, +even to the hilt. When any one of them had killed a protestant, +others would come and receive a gratification in cutting and mangling +the body; after which they left it exposed to be devoured by +dogs; and when they had slain a number of them they would boast, +that the devil was beholden to them for sending so many souls to hell. +But it is no wonder they should thus treat the innocent christians, +when they hesitated not to commit blasphemy against God and his most +holy word.</p> + +<p>In one place they burnt two protestant Bibles, and then said they +had burnt hell-fire. In the church at Powerscourt they burnt the +pulpit, pews, chests, and Bibles belonging to it. They took other Bibles, +and after wetting them with dirty water, dashed them in the faces +of the protestants, saying, "We know you love a good lesson; here is +an excellent one for you; come to-morrow, and you shall have as good +a sermon as this."</p> + +<p>Some of the protestants they dragged by the hair of their heads into +the church, where they stripped and whipped them in the most cruel +manner, telling them, at the same time, "That if they came to-morrow, +they should hear the like sermon."</p> + +<p>In Munster they put to death several ministers in the most shocking +manner. One, in particular, they stripped stark naked, and driving +him before them, pricked him with swords and darts till he fell down, +and expired.</p> + +<p>In some places they plucked out the eyes, and cut off the hands of +the protestants, and in that manner turned them into the fields, there to +wander out their miserable existence. They obliged many young +men to force their aged parents to a river, where they were drowned; +wives to assist in hanging their husbands; and mothers to cut the +throats of their children.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span></p> + +<p>In one place they compelled a young man to kill his father, and then +immediately hanged him. In another they forced a woman to kill her +husband, then obliged the son to kill her, and afterward shot him +through the head.</p> + +<p>At a place called Glaslow, a popish priest, with some others, prevailed +on forty protestants to be reconciled to the church of Rome. +They had no sooner done this, than they told them they were in good +faith, and that they would prevent their falling from it, and turning +heretics, by sending them out of the world, which they did by immediately +cutting their throats.</p> + +<p>In the county of Tipperary upwards of thirty protestants, men, women, +and children, fell into the hands of the papists, who, after stripping +them naked, murdered them with stones, pole-axes, swords, and +other weapons.</p> + +<p>In the county of Mayo about sixty protestants, fifteen of whom were +ministers, were, upon covenant, to be safely conducted to Galway, by +one Edmund Burke and his soldiers; but that inhuman monster by the +way drew his sword, as an intimation of his design to the rest, who +immediately followed his example, and murdered the whole, some of +whom they stabbed, others were run through the body with pikes, and +several were drowned.</p> + +<p>In Queen's county great numbers of protestants were put to the +most shocking deaths. Fifty or sixty were placed together in one +house, which being set on fire, they all perished in the flames. Many +were stripped naked, and being fastened to horses by ropes placed +round their middles, were dragged through bogs till they expired. +Some were hung by the feet to tenter-hooks driven into poles; and in +that wretched posture left till they perished. Others were fastened +to the trunk of a tree, with a branch at top. Over this branch hung +one arm, which principally supported the weight of the body; and +one of the legs was turned up, and fastened to the trunk, while the +other hung straight. In this dreadful and uneasy posture did they remain, +as long as life would permit, pleasing spectacles to their blood-thirsty +persecutors.</p> + +<p>At Clownes seventeen men were buried alive; and an Englishman, +his wife, five children, and a servant maid, were all hung together +and afterward thrown into a ditch. They hung many by the arms to +branches of trees, with a weight to their feet; and others by the middle, +in which postures they left them till they expired. Several were +hung on windmills, and before they were half dead, the barbarians +cut them in pieces with their swords. Others, both men, women, and +children, they cut and hacked in various parts of their bodies, and left +them wallowing in their blood to perish where they fell. One poor woman +they hung on a gibbet, with her child, an infant about a twelve-month +old, the latter of whom was hung by the neck with the hair of +its mother's head, and in that manner finished its short but miserable +existence.</p> + +<p>In the county of Tyrone no less than three hundred protestants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +were drowned in one day; and many others were hanged, burned, and +otherwise put to death. Dr. Maxwell, rector of Tyrone, lived at this +time near Armagh, and suffered greatly from these merciless savages. +This person, in his examination, taken upon oath before the king's +commissioners, declared, that the Irish papists owned to him, that +they, at several times, had destroyed, in one place, 12,000 protestants, +whom they inhumanly slaughtered at Glynwood, in their flight from +the county of Armagh.</p> + +<p>As the river Bann was not fordable, and the bridge broken down, +the Irish forced thither at different times, a great number of unarmed, +defenceless protestants, and with pikes and swords violently thrust above +one thousand into the river, where they miserably perished.</p> + +<p>Nor did the cathedral of Armagh escape the fury of these barbarians, +it being maliciously set on fire by their leaders, and burnt to the +ground. And to extirpate, if possible, the very race of those unhappy +protestants, who lived in or near Armagh, the Irish first burnt all their +houses, and then gathered together many hundreds of those innocent +people, young and old, on pretence of allowing them a guard and safe +conduct to Colerain; when they treacherously fell on them by the way, +and inhumanly murdered them.</p> + +<p>The like horrid barbarities with those we have particularized, were +practised on the wretched protestants in almost all parts of the kingdom; +and, when an estimate was afterward made of the number who +were sacrificed to gratify the diabolical souls of the papists, it amounted +to one hundred and fifty thousand. But it now remains that we proceed +to the particulars that followed.</p> + +<p>These desperate wretches, flushed and grown insolent with success, +(though by methods attended with such excessive barbarities as perhaps +not to be equalled) soon got possession of the castle of Newry, where +the king's stores and ammunition were lodged; and, with as little difficulty, +made themselves masters of Dundalk. They afterward took +the town of Ardee, where they murdered all the protestants, and then +proceeded to Drogheda. The garrison of Drogheda was in no condition +to sustain a siege, notwithstanding which, as often as the Irish +renewed their attacks they were vigorously repulsed by a very unequal +number of the king's forces, and a few faithful protestant citizens under +sir Henry Tichborne, the governor, assisted by the lord viscount +Moore. The siege of Drogheda began on the 30th of November, 1641, +and held till the 4th of March, 1642, when sir Phelim O'Neal, and the +Irish miscreants under him were forced to retire.</p> + +<p>In the mean time ten thousand troops were sent from Scotland to +the remaining protestants in Ireland, which being properly divided in +the most capital parts of the kingdom, happily eclipsed the power of +the Irish savages; and the protestants for a time lived in tranquility.</p> + +<p>In the reign of king James II. they were again interrupted, for in +a parliament held at Dublin in the year 1689, great numbers of the +protestant nobility, clergy, and gentry of Ireland, were attainted of +high treason. The government of the kingdom was, at that time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +invested in the earl of Tyrconnel, a bigoted papist, and an inveterate +enemy to the protestants. By his orders they were again persecuted +in various parts of the kingdom. The revenues of the city of Dublin +were seized, and most of the churches converted into prisons. And +had it not been for the resolution and uncommon bravery of the garrisons +in the city of Londonderry, and the town of Inniskillin, there had +not one place remained for refuge to the distressed protestants in the +whole kingdom; but all must have been given up to king James, and +to the furious popish party that governed him.</p> + +<p>The remarkable siege of Londonderry was opened on the 18th of +April, 1689, by twenty thousand papists, the flower of the Irish army. +The city was not properly circumstanced to sustain a siege, the defenders +consisting of a body of raw undisciplined protestants, who had +fled thither for shelter, and half a regiment of lord Mountjoy's disciplined +soldiers, with the principal part of the inhabitants, making in +all only seven thousand three hundred and sixty-one fighting men.</p> + +<p>The besieged hoped, at first, that their stores of corn, and other necessaries, +would be sufficient; but by the continuance of the siege +their wants increased; and these became at last so heavy, that for a +considerable time before the siege was raised, a pint of coarse barley, +a small quantity of greens, a few spoonfuls of starch, with a very moderate +proportion of horse flesh, were reckoned a week's provision for +a soldier. And they were, at length, reduced to such extremities, that +they ate dogs, cats, and mice.</p> + +<p>Their miseries increasing with the siege, many, through mere +hunger and want, pined and languished away, or fell dead in the +streets. And it is remarkable, that when their long expected succours +arrived from England, they were upon the point of being reduced to +this alternative, either to preserve their existence by eating each other, +or attempting to fight their way through the Irish, which must have +infallibly produced their destruction.</p> + +<p>These succours were most happily brought by the ship Mountjoy +of Derry, and the Phœnix of Colerain, at which time they had only +nine lean horses left with a pint of meal to each man. By hunger, and +the fatigues of war, their seven thousand three hundred and sixty-one +fighting men, were reduced to four thousand three hundred, one-fourth +part of whom were rendered unserviceable.</p> + +<p>As the calamities of the besieged were great, so likewise were the +terrors and sufferings of their protestant friends and relations; all of +whom (even women and children) were forcibly driven from the +country thirty miles round, and inhumanly reduced to the sad necessity +of continuing some days and nights without food or covering, +before the walls of the town; and were thus exposed to the continual +fire both of the Irish army from without, and the shot of their friends +from within.</p> + +<p>But the succours from England happily arriving put an end to their +affliction; and the siege was raised on the 31st of July, having been +continued upwards of three months.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span></p> + +<p>The day before the siege of Londonderry was raised, the Inniskillers +engaged a body of six thousand Irish Roman catholics, at Newton, +Butler, or Crown-Castle, of whom near five thousand were slain. +This, with the defeat at Londonderry, dispirited the papists, and they +gave up all farther attempts to persecute the protestants.</p> + +<p>The year following, viz. 1690; the Irish took up arms in favour of +the abdicated prince, king James II. but they were totally defeated by +his successor king William the Third. That monarch, before he left +the country, reduced them to a state of subjection, in which they have +ever since continued; and it is to be hoped will so remain as long as +time shall be.</p> + +<p>By a report made in Ireland, in the year 1731, it appeared that a +great number of ecclesiastics had, in defiance of the laws, flocked into +that kingdom: that several convents had been opened by jesuits, monks, +and friars; that many new and pompous mass-houses had been erected +in some of the most conspicuous parts of their great cities, where +there had not been any before; and that such swarms of vagrant, immoral +Romish priests had appeared, that the very papists themselves +considered them as a burthen.</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding all this, the protestant interest at present stands +upon a much stronger basis than it did a century ago. The Irish, +who formerly led an unsettled and roving life, in the woods, bogs, and +mountains, and lived on the depredation of their neighbours, they who, +in the morning seized the prey, and at night divided the spoil, have, +for many years past, become quiet and civilized. They taste the +sweets of English society, and the advantages of civil government. +They trade in our cities, and are employed in our manufactories. +They are received also into English families; and treated with great +humanity by the protestants.</p> + +<p>The heads of their clans, and the chiefs of the great Irish families, +who cruelly oppressed and tyrannized over their vassals, are now +dwindled in a great measure to nothing; and most of the ancient +popish nobility and gentry of Ireland have renounced the Romish religion.</p> + +<p>It is also to be hoped, that inestimable benefits will arise from the +establishment of protestant schools in various parts of the kingdom, +in which the children of the Roman catholics are instructed in religion +and reading, whereby the mist of ignorance is dispelled from their +eyes, which was the great source of the cruel transactions that have +taken place, at different periods, in that kingdom.</p> + +<p>In order to preserve the protestant interest in Ireland upon a solid +basis, it behooves all in whom that power is invested, to discharge it +with the strictest assiduity and attention; for should it once again lose +ground, there is no doubt but the papists would take those advantages +they have hitherto done, and thousands might yet fall victims to their +malicious bigotry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE RISE, PROGRESS, PERSECUTIONS, AND SUFFERINGS OF THE +QUAKERS.</h3> + + +<p>In treating of these people in a historical manner, we are obliged to +have recourse to much tenderness. That they differ from the generality +of protestants in some of the capital points of religion cannot +be denied, and yet, as protestant dissenters, they are included under +the description of the toleration act. It is not our business to inquire +whether people of similar sentiments had any existence in the primitive +ages of Christianity: perhaps, in some respects, they had not, +but we are to write of them not as what they were, but what they +now are. That they have been treated by several writers in a very +contemptuous manner, is certain; that they did not deserve such treatment, +is equally certain.</p> + +<p>The appellation <i>Quakers</i>, was bestowed upon them as a term of reproach, +in consequence of their apparent convulsions which they +laboured under when they delivered their discourses, because they +imagined they were the effect of divine inspiration.</p> + +<p>It is not our business, at present, to inquire whether the sentiments +of these people are agreeable to the gospel, but this much is certain, +that the first leader of them, as a separate body, was a man of obscure +birth, who had his first existence in Leicestershire, about the +year 1624. In speaking of this man we shall deliver our own sentiments +in a historical manner, and joining these to what have been said +by the Friends themselves, we shall endeavour to furnish out a complete +narrative.</p> + +<p>He was descended of honest and respected parents, who brought +him up in the national religion: but from a child he appeared religious, +still, solid, and observing, beyond his years, and uncommonly +knowing in divine things. He was brought up to husbandry, and +other country business, and was particularly inclined to the solitary +occupation of a shepherd; "an employment," says our author, "that +very well suited his mind in several respects, both for its innocency +and solitude; and was a just emblem of his after ministry and service." +In the year 1646, he entirely forsook the national church, in +whose tenets he had been brought up, as before observed; and in +1647, he travelled into Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, without any +set purpose of visiting particular places, but in a solitary manner he +walked through several towns and villages, which way soever his +mind turned. "He fasted much," said Sewell, "and walked often +in retired places, with no other companion than his Bible." "He +visited the most retired and religious people in those parts," says +Penn, "and some there were, short of few, if any, in this nation, +who waited for the consolation of Israel night and day; as Zacharias,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +Anna, and Simeon, did of old time." To these he was sent, and these +he sought out in the neighbouring counties, and among them he +sojourned till his more ample ministry came upon him. At this time +he taught, and was an example of silence, endeavouring to bring +them from self-performances; testifying of, and turning them to the +light of Christ within them, and encouraging them to wait in patience, +and to feel the power of it to stir in their hearts, that their knowledge +and worship of God might stand in the power of an endless life +which was to be found in the light, as it was obeyed in the manifestation +of it in man: for in the word was life, and that life is the light +of men. Life in the word, light in men; and life in men too, as the +light is obeyed; the children of the light living by the life of the +word, by which the word begets them again to God, which is the +generation and new birth, without which there is no coming into the +kingdom of God, and to which whoever comes is greater than John: +that is, than John's dispensation, which was not that of the kingdom, +but the consummation of the legal, and forerunning of the gospel +times, the time of the kingdom. Accordingly several meetings were +gathering in those parts; and thus his time was employed for some +years.</p> + +<p>In the year 1652, "he had a visitation of the great work of God in +the earth, and of the way that he was to go forth, in a public ministry, +to begin it." He directed his course northward, "and in every place +where he came, if not before he came to it, he had his particular +exercise and service shown to him, so that the Lord was his leader +indeed." He made great numbers of converts to his opinions, and +many pious and good men joined him in his ministry. These were +drawn forth especially to visit the public assemblies to reprove, reform, +and exhort them; sometimes in markets, fairs, streets, and by +the highway-side, "calling people to repentance, and to return to the +Lord, with their hearts as well as their mouths; directing them to the +light of Christ within them, to see, examine, and to consider their +ways by, and to eschew the evil, and to do the good and acceptable +will of God."</p> + +<p>They were not without opposition in the work they imagined themselves +called to, being often set in the stocks, stoned, beaten, whipped +and imprisoned, though, as our author observes, honest men of good +report, that had left wives, children, houses, and lands, to visit them +with a living call to repentance. But these coercive methods rather +forwarded than abated their zeal, and in those parts they brought +over many proselytes, and amongst them several magistrates, and +others of the better sort. They apprehended the Lord had forbidden +them to pull off their hats to any one, high or low, and required them +to speak to the people, without distinction, in the language of thou +and thee. They scrupled bidding people good-morrow, or good-night, +nor might they bend the knee to any one, even in supreme authority. +Both men and woman went in a plain and simple dress, different +from the fashion of the times. They neither gave nor accepted any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +titles of respect or honour, nor would they call any man master on +earth. Several texts of scripture they quoted in defence of these singularities; +such as, Swear not at all. How can ye believe who receive +honour one of another, and seek not the honour which comes from God +only? &c. &c. They placed the basis of religion in an inward light, +and an extraordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit.</p> + +<p>In 1654, their first separate meeting in London was held in the house +of Robert Dring, in Watling-street, for by that time they spread themselves +into all parts of the kingdom, and had in many places set up +meetings or assemblies, particularly in Lancashire, and the adjacent +parts, but they were still exposed to great persecutions and trials of +every kind. One of them in a letter to the protector, Oliver Cromwell, +represents, though there are no penal laws in force obliging men +to comply with the established religion, yet the Quakers are exposed +upon other accounts; they are fined and imprisoned for refusing to take +an oath; for not paying their tithes; for disturbing the public assemblies, +and meeting in the streets, and places of public resort; some of +them have been whipped for vagabonds, and for their plain speeches to +the magistrate.</p> + +<p>Under favour of the then toleration, they opened their meetings at the +Bull and Mouth, in Aldersgate-street, where women, as well as men, +were moved to speak. Their zeal transported them to some extravagancies, +which laid them still more open to the lash of their enemies, +who exercised various severities upon them throughout the next reign. +Upon the suppression of Venner's mad insurrection, the government, +having published a proclamation, forbidding the Anabaptists, Quakers, +and Fifth Monarchy Men, to assemble or meet together under pretence +of worshipping God, except it be in some parochial church, chapel, or +in private houses, by consent of the persons there inhabiting, all meetings +in other places being declared to be unlawful and riotous, &c. &c. +the Quakers thought it expedient to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'addess'">address</ins> the king thereon, which +they did in the following words:</p> + +<div class='blockquot'><p> +"<i>O king Charles!</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Our desire is, that thou mayest live for ever in the fear of God, and +thy council. We beseech thee and thy council, to read these following +lines in tender bowels, and compassion for our souls, and for your +good.</p> + +<p>"And this consider, we are about four hundred imprisoned, in and +about this city, of men and women from their families, besides, in the +county jails, about ten hundred; we desire that our meetings may not +be broken up, but that all may come to a fair trial, that our innocency +may be cleared up.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"London, 16th day, eleventh month, 1660."<br /> +</div></div> + +<p>On the 28th of the same month, they published the declaration referred +to in their address, entitled, "A declaration from the harmless +and innocent people of God, called Quakers, against all sedition, plotters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +and fighters in the world, for removing the ground of jealousy +and suspicion, from both magistrates and people in the kingdom, concerning +wars and fightings." It was presented to the king the 21st +day of the eleventh month, 1660, and he promised them upon his +royal word, that they should not suffer for their opinions, as long as +they lived peaceably; but his promises were very little regarded +afterward.</p> + +<p>In 1661, they assumed courage to petition the house of Lords for a +toleration of their religion, and for a dispensation from taking the +oaths, which they held unlawful, not from any disaffection to the +government, or a belief that they were less obliged by an affirmation, +but from a persuasion that all oaths were unlawful; and that swearing +upon the most solemn occasions was forbidden in the New Testament. +Their petition was rejected, and instead of granting them +relief, an act was passed against them, the preamble to which set +forth, "That whereas several persons have taken up an opinion that +an oath, even before a magistrate, is unlawful, and contrary to the +word of God: and whereas, under pretence of religious worship, the +said persons do assemble in great numbers in several parts of the +kingdom, separating themselves from the rest of his majesty's subjects, +and the public congregations and usual places of divine worship; +be it therefore enacted, that if any such persons, after the 24th of +March, 1661-2, shall refuse to take an oath when lawfully tendered, +or persuade others to do it, or maintain in writing or otherwise, the +unlawfulness of taking an oath; or if they shall assemble for religious +worship, to the number of five or more, of the age of fifteen, +they shall for the first offence forfeit five pounds; for the second, ten +pounds; and for the third shall abjure the realm, or be transported to +the plantations: and the justices of peace at their open sessions may +hear and finally determine in the affair."</p> + +<p>This act had a most dreadful effect upon the Quakers, though it +was well known and notorious that these conscientious persons were +far from sedition or disaffection to the government. George Fox, in +his address to the king, acquaints him, that three thousand and sixty-eight +of their friends had been imprisoned since his majesty's restoration; +that their meetings were daily broken up by men with clubs +and arms, and their friends thrown into the water, and trampled +under foot till the blood gushed out, which gave rise to their meeting +in the open streets. A relation was printed, signed by twelve witnesses, +which says, that more than four thousand two hundred Quakers +were imprisoned; and of them five hundred were in and about +London, and the suburbs; several of whom were dead in the jails.</p> + +<p>However, they even gloried in their sufferings, which increased +every day; so that in 1665, and the intermediate years, they were +harassed without example. As they persisted resolutely to assemble, +openly, at the Bull and Mouth, before mentioned, the soldiers, and +other officers, dragged them from thence to prison, till Newgate was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +filled with them, and multitudes died of close confinement, in that and +other jails.</p> + +<p>Six hundred of them, says an account published at this time, were +in prison, merely for religion's sake, of whom several were banished +to the plantations. In short, says Mr. Neale, the Quakers gave such +full employment to the informers, that they had less leisure to attend +the meetings of other dissenters.</p> + +<p>Yet, under all these calamities, they behaved with patience and +modesty towards the government, and upon occasion of the Rye-house +plot in 1682, thought proper to declare their innocence of that sham +plot, in an address to the king, wherein, appealing to the Searcher of +all hearts, they say, their principles do not allow them to take up +defensive arms, much less to avenge themselves for the injuries they +received from others: that they continually pray for the king's safety +and preservation; and therefore take this occasion humbly to beseech +his majesty to compassionate their suffering friends, with whom the +jails are so filled, that they want air, to the apparent hazard of their +lives, and to the endangering an infection in divers places. Besides, +many houses, shops, barns, and fields are ransacked, and the goods, +corn, and cattle swept away, to the discouraging trade and husbandry, +and impoverishing great numbers of quiet and industrious +people; and this, for no other cause, but for the exercise of a tender +conscience in the worship of Almighty God, who is sovereign Lord +and King of men's consciences.</p> + +<p>On the accession of James II. they addressed that monarch honestly +and plainly, telling him, "We are come to testify our sorrow for the +death of our good friend Charles, and our joy for thy being made our +governor. We are told thou art not of the persuasion of the church +of England, no more than we; therefore we hope thou wilt grant us +the same liberty which thou allowest thyself, which doing, we wish +thee all manner of happiness."</p> + +<p>When James, by his dispensing power, granted liberty to the dissenters, +they began to enjoy some rest from their troubles; and indeed +it was high time, for they were swelled to an enormous amount. +They, the year before this, to them one of glad release, in a petition +to James for a cessation of their sufferings, set forth, "that of late +above one thousand five hundred of their friends, both men and +women, and that now there remain one thousand three hundred and +eighty-three; of which two hundred are women, many under sentence +of præmunire; and more than three hundred near it, for refusing +the oath of allegiance, because they could not swear. Three +hundred and fifty have died in prison since the year 1680; in London, +the jail of Newgate has been crowded, within these two years sometimes +with near 20 in a room, whereby several have been suffocated, +and others, who have been taken out sick, have died of malignant +fevers within a few days. Great violences, outrageous distresses, +and woful havock and spoil, have been made upon people's goods +and estates, by a company of idle, extravagant, and merciless informers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +by persecutions on the conventicle-act, and others, also on +<i>qui tam</i> writs, and on other processes, for twenty pounds a month, and +two-thirds of their estates seized for the king. Some had not a bed +to rest on, others had no cattle to till the ground, nor corn for feed +or bread, nor tools to work with, the said informers and bailiffs in +some places breaking into houses, and making great waste and spoil, +under pretence of serving the king and the church. Our religious +assemblies have been charged at common law with being rioters +and disturbers of the public peace, whereby great numbers have +been confined in prison without regard to age, and many confined in +holes and dungeons. The seizing for £20 a month has amounted to +many thousands, and several who have employed some hundreds of +poor people in manufactures, are disabled to do so any more, by +reason of long imprisonment. They spare neither widow nor fatherless, +nor have they so much as a bed to lie on. The informers are +both witnesses and prosecutors, to the ruin of great numbers of sober +families; and justices of the peace have been threatened with the +forfeiture of one hundred pounds, if they do not issue out warrants +upon their informations." With this petition they presented a list of +their friends in prison, in the several counties, amounting to four hundred +and sixty.</p> + +<p>During the reign of king James II. these people were, through the +intercession of their friend Mr. Penn, treated with greater indulgence +than ever they had been before. They were now become extremely +numerous in many parts of the country, and the settlement of Pennsylvania +taking place soon after, many of them went over to America. +There they enjoyed the blessings of a peaceful government, and cultivated +the arts of honest industry.</p> + +<p>As the whole colony was the property of Mr. Penn, so he invited +people of all denominations to come and settle with him. A universal +liberty of conscience took place; and in this new colony the natural +rights of mankind were, for the first time, established.</p> + +<p>These Friends are, in the present age, a very harmless, inoffensive +body of people; but of that we shall take more notice hereafter. By +their wise regulations, they not only do honour to themselves, but they +are of vast service to the community.</p> + +<p>It may be necessary here to observe, that as the Friends, commonly +called Quakers, will not take an oath in a court of justice, so +their affirmation is permitted in all civil affairs; but they cannot prosecute +a criminal, because, in the English courts of justice, all evidence +must be upon oath.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>An account of the persecution of Friends, commonly called Quakers +in the United States.</i></div> + +<p>About the middle of the seventeenth century, much persecution and +suffering were inflicted on a sect of protestant dissenters, commonly +called Quakers: a people which arose at that time in England some of +whom sealed their testimony with their blood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span></p> + +<p>For an account of the above people, see Sewell's, or Gough's history +of them.</p> + +<p>The principal points upon which their conscientious nonconformity +rendered them obnoxious to the penalties of the law, were,</p> + +<p>1. The Christian resolution of assembling publicly for the worship +of God, in a manner most agreeable to their consciences.</p> + +<p>2. Their refusal to pay tithes, which they esteemed a Jewish ceremony, +abrogated by the coming of Christ.</p> + +<p>3. Their testimony against wars and fighting, the practice of which +they judged inconsistent with the command of Christ: "Love your +enemies," &c. Matt. v. 44.</p> + +<p>4. Their constant obedience to the command of Christ: "Swear not +at all," &c. Matt. v. 34.</p> + +<p>5. Their refusal to pay rates or assessments for building and repairing +houses for a worship which they did not approve.</p> + +<p>6. Their use of the proper and Scriptural language, "thou," and +"thee," to a single person: and their disuse of the custom of uncovering +their heads, or pulling off their hats, by way of homage to +man.</p> + +<p>7. The necessity many found themselves under, of publishing what +they believed to be the doctrine of truth; and sometimes even in the +places appointed for the public national worship.</p> + +<p>Their conscientious noncompliance in the preceding particulars, +exposed them to much persecution and suffering, which consisted in +prosecutions, fines, cruel beatings, whippings, and other corporeal punishments; +imprisonment, banishment, and even death.</p> + +<p>To relate a particular account of their persecutions and sufferings, +would extend beyond the limits of this work: we shall therefore +refer, for that information, to the histories already mentioned, and +more particularly to Besse's Collection of their sufferings; and shall +confine our account here, mostly to those who sacrificed their lives, +and evinced, by their disposition of mind, constancy, patience, and +faithful perseverance, that they were influenced by a sense of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'religous'">religious</ins> +duty.</p> + +<p>Numerous and repeated were the persecutions against them; and +sometimes for transgressions or offences which the law did not contemplate +or embrace.</p> + +<p>Many of the fines and penalties exacted of them, were not only +unreasonable and exorbitant, but as they could not consistently pay +them, were sometimes distrained to several times the value of the demand; +whereby many poor families were greatly distressed, and +obliged to depend on the assistance of their friends.</p> + +<p>Numbers were not only cruelly beaten and whipped in a public manner, +like criminals, but some were branded and others had their ears +cut off.</p> + +<p>Great numbers were long confined in loathsome prisons; in which +some ended their days in consequence thereof.</p> + +<p>Many were sentenced to banishment; and a considerable number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +were transported. Some were banished on pain of death; and four +were actually executed by the hands of the hangman, as we shall here +relate, after inserting copies of some of the laws of the country where +they suffered.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>"At a General Court held at Boston, the 14th of October, 1656.</i></div> + +<p>"Whereas, there is a cursed sect of heretics, lately risen up in the +world, which are commonly called Quakers, who take upon them to +be immediately sent from God, and infallibly assisted by the Spirit, +to speak and write blasphemous opinions, despising government, and +the order of God, in the church and commonwealth, speaking evil of +dignities, reproaching and reviling magistrates and ministers, seeking +to turn the people from the faith, and gain proselytes to their pernicious +ways: this court taking into consideration the premises, and to +prevent the like mischief, as by their means is wrought in our land, +doth hereby order, and by authority of this court, be it ordered and +enacted, that what master or commander of any ship, bark, pink, or +ketch, shall henceforth bring into any harbour, creek, or cove, within +this jurisdiction, any Quaker or Quakers, or other blasphemous heretics, +shall pay, or cause to be paid, the fine of one hundred pounds to +the treasurer of the country, except it appear he want true knowledge +or information of their being such; and, in that case, he hath liberty +to clear himself by his oath, when sufficient proof to the contrary is +wanting: and, for default of good payment, or good security for it, +shall be cast into prison, and there to continue till the said sum be +satisfied to the treasurer as aforesaid. And the commander of any +ketch, ship, or vessel, being legally convicted, shall give in sufficient +security to the governor, or any one or more of the magistrates, who +have power to determine the same, to carry them back to the place +whence he brought them; and, on his refusal so to do, the governor +or one or more of the magistrates, are hereby empowered to issue out +his or their warrants to commit such master or commander to prison, +there to continue, till he give in sufficient security to the content of +the governor, or any of the magistrates, as aforesaid. And it is hereby +further ordered and enacted, that what Quaker soever shall arrive in +this country from foreign parts, or shall come into this jurisdiction +from any parts adjacent, shall be forthwith committed to the house of +correction; and, at their entrance, to be severely whipped, and by the +master thereof be kept constantly to work, and none suffered to converse +or speak with them, during the time of their imprisonment, +which shall be no longer than necessity requires. And it is ordered, +if any person shall knowingly import into any harbour of this jurisdiction, +any Quakers' books or writings, concerning their devilish +opinions, shall pay for such book or writing, being legally proved +against him or them the sum of five pounds; and whosoever shall +disperse or conceal any such book or writing, and it be found with +him or her, or in his or her house and shall not immediately deliver<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +the same to the next magistrate; shall forfeit or pay five pounds, for the +dispersing or concealing of any such book or writing. And it is hereby +further enacted, that if any person within this colony, shall take +upon them to defend the heretical opinions of the Quakers, or any of +their books or papers, shall be fined for the first time forty shillings; if +they shall persist in the same, and shall again defend it the second +time, four pounds; if notwithstanding they again defend and maintain +the said Quakers' heretical opinions, they shall be committed to the +house of correction till there be convenient passage to send them out +of the land, being sentenced by the court of Assistants to banishment. +Lastly, it is hereby ordered, that what person or persons soever, shall +revile the persons of the magistrates or ministers, as is usual with the +Quakers, such person or persons shall be severely whipped or pay the +sum of five pounds.</p> + +<p>"This is a true copy of the court's order, as attests</p> + +<div class='right'>"<span class="smcap">Edward Rawson</span>, Sec."</div> + + +<div class='center'><br />"<i>At a General Court held at Boston, the 14th of October, 1657.</i></div> + +<p>"As an addition to the late order, in reference to the coming or +bringing of any of the cursed sect of the Quakers into this jurisdiction, +it is ordered, that whosoever shall from henceforth bring, or cause +to be brought, directly or indirectly, any known Quaker or Quakers, +or other blasphemous heretics, into this jurisdiction, every such person +shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds to the country, and +shall by warrant from any magistrate be committed to prison, there to +remain till the penalty be satisfied and paid; and if any person or persons +within this jurisdiction, shall henceforth entertain and conceal +any such Quaker or Quakers, or other blasphemous heretics, knowing +them so to be, every such person shall forfeit to the country forty shillings +for every hours' entertainment and concealment of any Quaker +or Quakers, &c. as aforesaid, and shall be committed to prison as +aforesaid, till the forfeiture be fully satisfied and paid. And it is further +ordered, that if any Quaker or Quakers shall presume, after they +have once suffered what the law requires, to come into this jurisdiction, +every such male Quaker shall, for the first offence, have one of +his ears cut off, and be kept at work in the house of correction, till he +can be sent away at his own charge; and for the second offence, shall +have his other ear cut off; and every woman Quaker, that has suffered +the law here, that shall presume to come into this jurisdiction, shall +be severely whipped, and kept at the house of correction at work, till +she be sent away at her own charge, and so also for her coming again, +she shall be alike used as aforesaid. And for every Quaker, he or she, +that shall a third time herein again offend, they shall have their +tongues bored through with a hot iron, and be kept at the house of +correction close to work, till they be sent away at their own charge. +And it is further ordered, that all and every Quaker arising from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> +among ourselves, shall be dealt with, and suffer the like punishment as +the law provides against foreign Quakers.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Edward Rawson</span>, Sec."<br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>"An Act made at a General Court, held at Boston, the 20th of +October, 1658.</i></div> + +<p>"Whereas, there is a pernicious sect, commonly called Quakers, +lately risen, who by word and writing have published and maintained +many dangerous and horrid tenets, and do take upon them to change +and alter the received laudable customs of our nation, in giving civil +respect to equals, or reverence to superiors; whose actions tend to +undermine the civil government, and also to destroy the order of the +churches, by denying all established forms of worship, and by withdrawing +from orderly church fellowship, allowed and approved by all +orthodox professors of truth, and instead thereof, and in opposition +thereunto, frequently meeting by themselves, insinuating themselves +into the minds of the simple, or such as are at least affected to the order +and government of church and commonwealth, whereby divers of +our inhabitants have been infected, notwithstanding all former laws, +made upon the experience of their arrogant and bold obtrusions, to +disseminate their principles amongst us, prohibiting their coming into +this jurisdiction, they have not been deterred from their impious attempts +to undermine our peace, and hazard our ruin.</p> + +<p>"For prevention thereof, this court doth order and enact, that <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">any</ins> +person or persons, of the cursed sect of the Quakers, who is not an inhabitant +of, but is found within this jurisdiction, shall be apprehended +without warrant, where no magistrate is hand, by any constable +commissioner, or select-man, and conveyed from constable to constable, +to the next magistrate, who shall commit the said person to close prison, +there to remain (without bail) until the next court of Assistants, where +they shall have legal trial. And being convicted to be of the sect of +the Quakers, shall be sentenced to banishment, on pain of death. And +that every inhabitant of this jurisdiction, being convicted to be +of the aforesaid sect, either by taking up, publishing, or defending +the horrid opinions of the Quakers, or the stirring up mutiny, sedition, +or rebellion against the government, or by taking up their abusive +and destructive practices, viz. denying civil respect to equals and +superiors, and withdrawing from the church assemblies; and instead +thereof, frequenting meetings of their own, in opposition to our church +order; adhering to, or approving of any known Quaker, and the tenets +and practices of Quakers, that are opposite to the orthodox received +opinions of the godly; and endeaving to disaffect others to civil +government and church order, or condemning the practice and proceedings +of this court against the Quakers, manifesting thereby their +complying with those, whose design is to overthrow the order established +in church and state: every such person, upon conviction before +the said court of Assistants, in manner aforesaid, shall be committed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> +to close prison for one month, and then, unless they choose voluntarily +to depart this jurisdiction, shall give bond for their good behaviour +and appear at the next court, where, continuing obstinate, and refusing +to retract and reform the aforesaid opinions, they shall be sentenced +to banishment, upon pain of death. And any one magistrate, +upon information given him of any such person, shall cause him to be +apprehended, and shall commit any such person to prison, according to +his discretion, until he come to trial as aforesaid."</p> + +<p>It appears there were also laws passed in both of the then colonies +of New-Plymouth and New-Haven, and in the Dutch settlement at +New-Amsterdam, now New-York, prohibiting the people called Quakers, +from coming into those places, under severe penalties; in consequence +of which, some underwent considerable suffering.</p> + +<p>The two first who were executed were William Robinson, merchant, +of London, and Marmaduke Stevenson, a countryman, of Yorkshire. +These coming to Boston, in the beginning of September, were sent for +by the court of Assistants, and there sentenced to banishment, on pain +of death. This sentence was passed also on Mary Dyar, mentioned +hereafter, and Nicholas Davis, who were both at Boston. But William +Robinson, being looked upon as a teacher, was also condemned +to be whipped severely; and the constable was commanded to get an +able man to do it. Then Robinson was brought into the street, and +there stripped; and having his hands put through the holes of the +carriage of a great gun, where the jailer held him, the executioner gave +him twenty stripes, with a three-fold cord-whip. Then he and the +other prisoners were shortly after released, and banished, as appears +from the following warrant:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You are required by these, presently to set at liberty William Robinson, +Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyar, and Nicholas Davis, who, +by an order of the court and council, had been imprisoned, because it +appeared by their own confession, words, and actions, that they are +Quakers: wherefore, a sentence was pronounced against them, to depart +this jurisdiction, on pain of death; and that they must answer it +at their peril, if they, or any of them, after the 14th of this present +month, September, are found within this jurisdiction, or any part +thereof.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Edward Rawson</span>"<br /> +</div> + +<p>"Boston, September 12, 1659."</p></div> + +<p>Though Mary Dyar and Nicholas Davis left that jurisdiction for +that time, yet Robinson and Stevenson, though they departed the +town of Boston, could not yet resolve (not being free in mind) to depart +that jurisdiction, though their lives were at stake. And so they +went to Salem, and some places thereabout, to visit and build up +their friends in the faith. But it was not long before they were taken, +and put again into prison at Boston, and chains locked to their legs. +In the next month, Mary Dyar returned also. And as she stood before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +the prison, speaking with one Christopher Holden, who was come +thither to inquire for a ship bound for England, whither he intended +to go, she was also taken into custody. Thus, they had now three persons, +who, according to their law, had forfeited their lives. And, on +the 20th of October, these three were brought into court, where John +Endicot and others were assembled. And being called to the bar, Endicot +commanded the keeper to pull off their hats; and then said, that +they had made several laws to keep the Quakers from amongst them, +and neither whipping, nor imprisoning, nor cutting off ears, nor banishing +upon pain of death, would keep them from amongst them. And +further, he said, that he or they desired not the death of any of them. +Yet, notwithstanding, his following words, without more ado, were, +"Give ear, and hearken to your sentence of death." Sentence of death +was also passed upon Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyar, and William +Edrid. Several others were imprisoned, whipped, and fined. We +have no disposition to justify the Pilgrims for these proceedings, but +we think, considering the circumstances of the age in which they lived, +their conduct admits of much palliation. The following remarks of +Mr. Hawes, in his tribute to the memory of the Pilgrims, are worthy +of serious consideration.</p> + +<p>"It is alleged that they enacted laws which were oppressive to +other denominations, and, moreover, that they were actually guilty +of persecution. This, indeed, is a serious charge, and to some extent +must be admitted to be true. And yet whoever candidly examines +the facts in the case, will find abundant evidence that our fathers, in +this respect, were far from being sinners above all who have dwelt on +the earth. Many of the laws that are complained of were enacted +when there were few or none of any other denomination in the land. +They were designed to protect and support their own ecclesiastical +and civil order; and not to operate at all as persecuting or oppressive +enactments against christians belonging to other sects. It is also true +that most of those persons who are said to have been persecuted and +oppressed, suffered not so much for their religious opinions, as for +their offences against the state. Some of them outraged all decency +and order, and committed such acts as would unquestionably, at the +present day, subject a man to imprisonment, if not to severer punishment.</p> + +<p>"This, according to Winthrop, was the ground of the sentence of banishment, +passed on Roger Williams. 'He broached and divulged divers +new opinions against the authority of magistrates, as also wrote letters +of defamation both of the magistrates and churches.'"—<i>Winthrop's Hist. +of N. E. edit. by Savage, vol. 1, p. 167.</i></p> + +<p>"For a particular account of the causes for which Mr. Williams was +banished, see Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 41; +Dwight's Travels, vol. 1, p. 142; Magnalia, vol. 2, p. 430. As for +the laws subsequently enacted against the Baptists and Quakers, no one +most certainly can justify them. They were oppressive and wrong. +But let no one reproach, too severely, the memory of our fathers, in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +matter, till he is certain, that <i>in similar circumstances</i>, he would have +shown a better temper.</p> + +<p>"It is allowed that they were culpable; but we do not concede, that +in the present instance, they stood alone, or that they merited all the +censure bestowed on them. 'Laws similar to those of Massachusetts +were passed elsewhere against the Quakers and also against the Baptists, +particularly in Virginia. If no execution took place here, it was +not owing to the moderation of the church.'"—<i>Jefferson Virg. Query, +XVIII.</i></p> + +<p>"The prevalent opinion among most sects of christians, at that +day, that toleration is sinful, ought to be remembered; nor should it +be forgotten, that the first Quakers in New England, besides speaking +and writing what was deemed blasphemous, reviled magistrates and +ministers, and disturbed religious assemblies; and that the tendency +of their opinions and practices was to the subversion of the commonwealth +in the period of its infancy."—<i>Holmes' Am. Annals. Hutch. +vol. 1, p. 180-9.</i></p> + +<p>"It should be added, that in Massachusetts the law which enacted +that all Quakers returning into the state after banishment, should be +punished with death, and under which four persons were executed, met +with great, and at first, successful opposition. The deputies, who constituted +the popular branch of the legislature, at first rejected it; but +afterwards, on reconsideration, concurred with the magistrates, (by +whom it was originally proposed,) by a majority of only one."—<i>Chr. +Spect. 1830, p. 266.</i></p> + +<p>"The fathers of New England, endured incredible hardships in +providing for themselves a home in the wilderness; and to protect +themselves in the undisturbed enjoyment of rights, which they had +purchased at so dear a rate, they sometimes adopted measures which, +if tried by the more enlightened and liberal views of the present day, +must at once be pronounced altogether unjustifiable. But shall they +be condemned without mercy for not acting up to principles which +were unacknowledged and unknown throughout the whole of christendom? +Shall they alone be held responsible for opinions and conduct +which had become sacred by antiquity, and which were common +to christians of all other denominations? Every government +then in existence assumed to itself the right to legislate in matters of +religion; and to restrain heresy by penal statutes. This right was +claimed by rulers, admitted by subjects, and is sanctioned by the +names of Lord Bacon and Montesquieu, and many others equally +famed for their talents and learning. It is unjust then, to 'press upon +one poor persecuted sect, the sins of all christendom?' The fault of +our fathers was the fault of the age; and though this cannot justify, +it certainly furnishes an extenuation of their conduct. As well might +you condemn them for not understanding the art of navigating by +steam, as for not understanding and acting up to the principles of +religious toleration. At the same time, it is but just to say, that +imperfect as were their views of the rights of conscience, they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> +nevertheless far in advance of the age to which they belonged; and it +is to them more than to any other class of men on earth, the world is +indebted for the more rational views that now prevail on the subject of +civil and religious liberty."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>PERSECUTIONS OF THE FRENCH PROTESTANTS IN THE SOUTH OF +FRANCE, DURING THE YEARS 1814 AND 1820.</h3> + + +<p>The persecution in this protestant part of France continued with +very little intermission from the revocation of the edict of Nantes, by +Louis XIV. till a very short period previous to the commencement of +the late French revolution. In the year 1785, M. Rebaut St. Etienne +and the celebrated M. de la Fayette were among the first persons who +interested themselves with the court of Louis XVI., in removing the +scourge of persecution from this injured people, the inhabitants of the +south of France.</p> + +<p>Such was the opposition on the part of the catholics and the courtiers, +that it was not till the end of the year 1790, that the protestants +were freed from their alarms. Previously to this, the catholics at +Nismes in particular, had taken up arms; Nismes then presented a +frightful spectacle; armed men ran through the city, fired from the +corners of the streets, and attacked all they met with swords and +forks. A man named Astuc was wounded and thrown into the aqueduct; +Baudon fell under the repeated strokes of bayonets and sabres, +and his body was also thrown into the water; Boucher, a young man +only 17 years of age, was shot as he was looking out of his window; +three electors wounded, one dangerously; another elector wounded, +only escaped death by repeatedly declaring he was a catholic; a third +received four sabre wounds, and was taken home dreadfully mangled. +The citizens that fled were arrested by the catholics upon the roads, +and obliged to give proofs of their religion before their lives were +granted. M. and Madame Vogue, were at their country house, which +the zealots broke open, where they massacred both, and destroyed +their dwelling. M. Blacher, a protestant seventy years of age, was +cut to pieces with a sickle; young Pyerre, carrying some food to his +brother, was asked, "Catholic or protestant?" "Protestant," being +the reply, a monster fired at the lad, and he fell. One of the murderer's +companions said, "you might as well have killed a lamb." +"I have sworn," replied he, "to kill four protestants for my share, +and this will count for one." However, as these atrocities provoked +the troops to unite in defence of the people, a terrible vengeance was +retaliated upon the catholic party that had used arms, which with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> +other circumstances, especially the toleration exercised by Napoleon +Buonaparte, kept them down completely till the year 1814, when the +unexpected return of the ancient government rallied them all once +more round the old banners.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The arrival of King Louis XVIII. at Paris.</i></div> + +<p>This was known at Nismes on the 13th of April, 1814. In a +quarter of an hour, the white cockade was seen in every direction, +the white flag floated on the public buildings, on the splendid monuments +of antiquity, and even on the tower of Mange, beyond the city +walls. The protestants, whose commerce had suffered materially +during the war, were among the first to unite in the general joy, and +to send in their adhesion to the senate, and the legislative body; and +several of the protestant departments sent addresses to the throne, +but unfortunately, M. Froment was again at Nismes at the moment +when many bigots being ready to join him, the blindness and fury of +the sixteenth century rapidly succeeded the intelligence and philanthropy +of the nineteenth. A line of distinction was instantly traced +between men of different religious opinions; the spirit of the old +catholic church was again to regulate each person's share of esteem +and safety. The difference of religion was now to govern every thing +else; and even catholic domestics who had served protestants with +zeal and affection, began to neglect their duties, or to perform them +ungraciously, and with reluctance. At the fetes and spectacles that +were given at the public expense, the absence of the protestants was +charged on them as a proof of their disloyalty; and in the midst of the +cries of "<i>Vive le Roi</i>," the discordant sounds of "<i>A bas le Maire</i>," +down with the mayor, were heard. M. Castletan was a protestant; he +appeared in public with the prefect M. Ruland, a catholic, when potatoes +were thrown at him, and the people declared that he ought to resign +his office. The bigots of Nismes even succeeded in procuring an +address to be presented to the king, stating that there ought to be in +France but one God, one king, and one faith. In this they were imitated +by the catholics of several towns.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The History of the Silver Child.</i></div> + +<p>About this time, M. Baron, counsellor of the Cour Royale of +Nismes, formed the plan of dedicating to God a silver child, if the +Duchess d'Angouleme would give a prince to France. This project +was converted into a public religious vow, which was the subject of +conversation both in public and private, whilst persons, whose imaginations +were inflamed by these proceedings, run about the streets crying +<i>Vivent les Bourbons</i>, or the Bourbons forever. In consequence +of this superstitious frenzy, it is said that, at Alais, women were advised +and instigated to poison their protestant husbands, and at length +it was found convenient to accuse them of political crimes. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> +could no longer appear in public without insults and injuries. When +the mobs met with protestants, they seized them, and danced round +them with barbarous joy, and amidst repeated cries of <i>Vive le Roi</i>, +they sung verses, the burden of which was, "We will wash our hands +in protestant blood, and make black puddings of the blood of Calvin's +children." The citizens who came to the promenades for air and +refreshment, from the close and dirty streets, were chased with shouts +of <i>Vive le Roi</i>, as if those shouts were to justify every excess. If +protestants referred to the charter, they were directly assured it +would be of no use to them, and that they had only been managed to +be more effectually destroyed. Persons of rank were heard to say +in the public streets, "All the Huguenots must be killed; this time +their children must be killed, that none of the accursed race may remain." +Still, it is true, they were not murdered, but cruelly treated, +protestant children could no longer mix in the sports of catholics, +and were not even permitted to appear without their parents. At +dark their families shut themselves up in their apartments; but even +then stones were thrown against their windows. When they arose +in the morning, it was not uncommon to find gibbets drawn on their +doors or walls; and in the streets the catholics held cords already +soaped before their eyes, and pointed out the instruments by which +they hoped and designed to exterminate them. Small gallows or +models were handed about, and a man who lived opposite to one of +the pastors, exhibited one of these models in his window, and made +signs sufficiently intelligible when the minister passed. A figure representing +a protestant preacher was also hung up on a public crossway, +and the most atrocious songs were sung under his window. +Towards the conclusion of the carnival, a plan had even been formed +to make a caricature of the four ministers of the place, and burn +them in effigy; but this was prevented by the mayor of Nismes, a +protestant. A dreadful song presented to the prefect, in the country +dialect, with a false translation, was printed by his approval, and had +a great run before he saw the extent of the error into which he had +been betrayed. The sixty-third regiment of the line was publicly +censured and insulted, for having, according to order, protected protestants. +In fact, the protestants seemed to be as sheep destined for +the slaughter.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Napoleon's Return from the Isle of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Elb'">Elba.</ins></i></div> + +<p>Soon after this event, the duke d'Angouleme was at Nismes, and +remained there some time; but even his influence was insufficient to +bring about a reconciliation between the catholics and the protestants +of that city. During the hundred days betwixt Napoleon's return +from the Isle of Elba, and his final downfall, not a single life was lost +in Nismes, not a single house was pillaged; only four of the most +notorious disturbers of the peace were punished, or rather prevented +from doing mischief, and even this was not an act of the protestant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> +but the <i>arrete</i> of the catholic prefect, announced every where with the +utmost publicity. Some time after, when M. Baron, who proposed the +vow of the silver child in favour of the Duchess d'Angouleme, who +was considered as the chief of the catholic royalists, was discovered +at the bottom of an old wine tun, the populace threw stones at his carriage, +and vented their feelings in abusive language. The protestant +officers protected him from injury.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Catholic arms at Beaucaire.</i></div> + +<p>In May, 1815, a federative association, similar to those of Lyons, +Grenoble, Paris, Avignon, and Montpelier, was desired by many persons +at Nismes; but this federation terminated here after an ephemeral +and illusory existence of fourteen days. In the mean while a +large party of catholic zealots were in arms at Beaucaire, and who +soon pushed their patroles so near the walls of Nismes, "as to alarm +the inhabitants." These catholics applied to the English off Marseilles +for assistance, and obtained the grant of 1000 muskets, 10,000 +cartouches, &c. General Gilly, however, was soon sent against +these partizans, who prevented them from coming to extremes, by +granting them an armistice; and yet when Louis XVIII. had returned +to Paris, after the expiration of Napoleon's reign of a hundred days, +and peace and party spirit seemed to have been subdued, even at +Nismes, bands from Beaucaire joined Trestaillon in this city, to glut +the vengeance they had so long premeditated. General Gilly had left +the department several days: the troops of the line left behind had +taken the white cockade, and waited <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'farther'">further</ins> orders, whilst the new +commissioners had only to proclaim the cessation of hostilities, and +the complete establishment of the king's authority. In vain, no commissioners +appeared, no despatches arrived to calm and regulate the +public mind; but towards evening the advanced guard of the banditti, +to the amount of several hundreds, entered the city, undesired +but unopposed. As they marched without order or discipline, covered +with clothes or rags of all colours, decorated with cockades +not <i>white</i>, but <i>white</i> and <i>green</i>, armed with muskets, sabres, forks, pistols +and reaping hooks, intoxicated with wine, and stained with the +blood of the protestants whom they had murdered on their route, they +presented a most hideous and appalling spectacle. In the open place +in the front of the barracks, this banditti was joined by the city armed +mob, headed by Jaques Dupont, commonly called Trestaillon. To +save the effusion of blood, this garrison of about 500 men consented +to capitulate, and marched out sad and defenceless; but when about +fifty had passed, the rabble commenced a tremendous fire on their +confiding and unprotected victims; nearly all were killed or wounded, +and but very few could re-enter the yard before the garrison gates +were again closed. These were again forced in an instant, and all +were massacred who could not climb over roofs, or leap into the adjoining +gardens. In a word, death met them in every place and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> +every shape and this catholic massacre rivalled in cruelty, and surpassed +in treachery, the crimes of the September assassins of Paris +and the Jacobinical butcheries of Lyons and Avignon. It was marked, +not only by the fervour of the revolution, but by the subtlety of the +league, and will long remain a blot upon the history of the second +restoration.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Massacre and Pillage at Nismes.</i></div> + +<p>Nismes now exhibited a most awful scene of outrage and carnage, +though many of the protestants had fled to the Convennes and the Gardonenque. +The country houses of Messrs. Rey, Guiret, and several +others, had been pillaged, and the inhabitants treated with wanton barbarity. +Two parties had glutted their savage appetites on the farm of +Madame Frat: the first, after eating, drinking, and breaking the furniture, +and stealing what they thought proper, took leave by announcing +the arrival of their comrades, "compared with whom," they said, +"they should be thought merciful." Three men and an old woman +were left on the premises: at the sight of the second company two of +the men fled. "Are you a catholic?" said the banditti to the old woman. +"Yes." "Repeat, then, your Pater and Ave." Being terrified +she hesitated, and was instantly knocked down with a musket. On +recovering her senses, she stole out of the house, but met Ladet, the +old <i>valet de ferme</i>, bringing in a salad which the depredators had ordered +him to cut. In vain she endeavoured to persuade him to fly. +"Are you a protestant?" they exclaimed; "I am." A musket being +discharged at him, he fell wounded, but not dead. To consummate +their work, the monsters lighted a fire with straw and boards, threw +their yet living victim into the flames, and suffered him to expire in +the most dreadful agonies. They then ate their salad, omelet, &c. +The next day, some labourers, seeing the house open and deserted, entered +and discovered the half consumed body of Ladet. The prefect +of the Gard, M. Darbaud Jouques, attempting to palliate the crimes of +the catholics, had the audacity to assert that Ladet was a catholic; but +this was publicly contradicted by two of the pastors at Nismes.</p> + +<p>Another party committed a dreadful murder at St. Cezaire, upon +Imbert la Plume, the husband of Suzon Chivas. He was met on returning +from work in the fields. The chief promised him his life, but +insisted that he must be conducted to the prison at Nismes. Seeing, +however, that the party was determined to kill him, he resumed his +natural character, and being a powerful and courageous man advanced +and exclaimed, "You are brigands—fire!" Four of them fired, and he +fell, but he was not dead; and while living they mutilated his body +and then passing a cord round it, drew it along, attached to a cannon +of which they had possession. It was not till after eight days that +his relatives were apprized of his death. Five individuals of the family +of Chivas, all husbands and fathers, were massacred in the course +of a few days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span></p> + +<p>Near the barracks at Nismes is a large and handsome house, the property +of M. Vitte, which he acquired by exertion and economy. Besides +comfortable lodgings for his own family, he let more than twenty +chambers, mostly occupied by superior officers and commissaries of the +army. He never inquired the opinion of his tenants, and of course +his guests were persons of all political parties; but, under pretence of +searching for concealed officers, his apartments were overrun, his furniture +broken, and his property carried off at pleasure. The houses +of Messrs. Lagorce, most respectable merchants and manufacturers +M. Matthieu, M. Negre, and others, shared the same fate: many only +avoided by the owners paying large sums as commutation money, or +escaping into the country with their cash.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Interference of Government against the Protestants.</i></div> + +<p>M. Bernis, extraordinary royal commissioner, in consequence of +these abuses, issued a proclamation which reflects disgrace on the authority +from whence it emanated. "Considering," it said, "that the +residence of citizens in places foreign to their domicile, can only be +prejudicial to the <i>communes</i> they have left, and to those to which they +have repaired, it is ordered, that those inhabitants who have quitted +their residence since the commandment of July, return home by the +28th at the latest, otherwise they shall be deemed accomplices of the +evil-disposed persons who disturb the public tranquility, and their property +shall be placed under provisional <i>sequestration</i>."</p> + +<p>The fugitives had sufficient inducements to return to their hearths, +without the fear of sequestration. They were more anxious to embrace +their fathers, mothers, wives, and children, and to resume their +ordinary occupations, than M. Bernis could be to insure their return. +But thus denouncing men as criminals who fled for safety from the +sabres of assassins, was adding oil to the fire of persecution. Trestaillon, +one of the chiefs of the brigands, was dressed in complete +uniform and epaulettes which he had stolen; he wore a sabre at his +side, pistols in his belt, a cockade of white and green, and a sash of +the same colours on his arm. He had under him, Truphemy, Servan, +Aime, and many other desperate characters. Some time after this +M. Bernis ordered all parties and individuals, armed or unarmed, to +abstain from searching houses, without either an order, or the presence +of an officer. On suspicion of arms being concealed, the commandant +of the town was ordered to furnish a patrol to make search and +seizure; and all persons carrying arms in the streets, without being +on service, were to be arrested. Trestaillon, however, who still carried +arms, was not arrested till some months after, and then not by +these authorities, but by General La Garde, who was afterwards assassinated +by one of his comrades. On this occasion it was remarked, +that "the system of specious and deceptive proclamations was perfectly +understood, and had long been practised in Languedoc; it was <i>not +too late</i> to persecute the protestants simply for their religion. Even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> +in the good times of Louis XIV. there was public opinion enough in +Europe to make that arch tyrant have recourse to the meanest stratagems." +The following single specimen of the plan pursued by the authors +of the Dragonades may serve as a key to all the plausible proclamations +which, in 1815, covered the perpetration of the most deliberate +and extensive crimes:—</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Letters from Louvois to Marillac.</i></div> + +<p>"The king rejoices to learn from your letters, that there are so many +conversions in your department; and he desires that you would continue +your efforts, and employ the same means that have been hitherto +so successful. His majesty has ordered me to send a regiment +of cavalry, the greatest part of which he wishes to be quartered upon +the protestants, but he does not think it <i>prudent</i> that they should be all +lodged with them; that is to say, of twenty-six masters, of which a +company is composed, if, by a judicious distribution, ten ought to be +received by the protestants, give them twenty, and put them all on the +rich, making this pretence, that when there are not soldiers enough in +a town for all to have some, the poor ought to be exempt, and the +rich burdened. His majesty has also thought proper to order, that all +converts be exempted from lodging soldiers for two years. This +will occasion numerous conversions if you take care that it is rigorously +executed, and that in all the distributions and passage of troops, +by far the greatest number are quartered on the rich protestants. His +majesty particularly enjoins that your orders on this subject, either by +yourself or your sub-delegates, be given by word of mouth to the +mayors and sheriffs, without letting them know that his majesty intends +by these means to force to become converts, and only explaining to +them, that you give these orders on the information you have received, +that in these places the rich are excepted by their influence, to the prejudice +of the poor."</p> + +<p>The merciless treatment of the women, in this persecution at +Nismes, was such as would have disgraced any savages ever heard +of. The widows Rivet and Bernard, were forced to sacrifice enormous +sums; and the house of Mrs. Lecointe was ravaged, and her goods +destroyed. Mrs. F. Didier had her dwelling sacked and nearly demolished +to the foundation. A party of these bigots visited the +widow Perrin, who lived on a little farm at the windmills; having +committed every species of devastation, they attacked even the sanctuary +of the dead, which contained the relics of her family. They +dragged the coffins out, and scattered the contents over the adjacent +grounds. In vain this outraged widow collected the bones of her ancestors +and replaced them: they were again dug up; and, after several +useless efforts, they were reluctantly left spread over the surface +of the fields.</p> + +<p>Till the period announced for the sequestration of the property of +the fugitives by <i>authority</i>, murder and plunder were the daily employment +of what was called the army of Beaucaire, and the catholics of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> +Nismes. M. Peyron, of Brossan, had all his property carried off; his +wine, oil, seed, grain, several score of sheep, eight mules, three +carts, his furniture and effects, all the cash that could be found and +he had only to congratulate himself that his habitation was not consumed, +and his vineyards rooted up. A similar process against several +other protestant farmers, was also regularly carried on during several +days. Many of the protestants thus persecuted were well known +as staunch royalists; but it was enough for their enemies to know +that they belonged to the reformed communion; these fanatics were +determined not to find either royalists or citizens worthy the common +protection of society. To accuse, condemn, and destroy a protestant, +was a matter that required no hesitation. The house of M. Vitte, +near the barracks at Nismes, was broken open, and every thing within +the walls demolished. A Jew family of lodgers was driven out, +and all their goods thrown out of the windows. M. Vitte was seized, +robbed of his watch and money, severely wounded, and left for dead. +After he had been fourteen hours in a state of insensibility, a commissary +of police, touched by his misfortunes, administered some cordials +to revive him; and, as a measure of safety, conducted him to the +citadel, where he remained many days, whilst his family lamented +him as dead. At length, as there was not the slightest charge against +him, he obtained his liberation from M. Vidal; but when the Austrians +arrived, one of the aids-de-camp, who heard of his sufferings +and his respectability, sought him out, and furnished an escort to conduct +his family to a place of safety. Dalbos, the only city beadle who +was a protestant, was dragged from his home and led to prison. His +niece threw herself on the neck of one of them and begged for mercy; +the ruffian dashed her to the ground. His sister was driven away by +the mob; and he being shot, his body remained a long time exposed to +the insults of the rabble.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Royal Decree in favour of the Persecuted.</i></div> + +<p>At length the decree of Louis XVIII., which annulled all the extraordinary +powers conferred either by the king, the princes, or subordinate +agents, was received at Nismes, and the laws were now to be +administered by the regular organs, and a new prefect arrived to +carry them into effect; but in spite of proclamations, the work of destruction, +stopped for a moment, was not abandoned, but soon renewed +with fresh vigour and effect. On the 30th of July, Jacques Combe, +the father of a family, was killed by some of the national guards of +Rusau, and the crime was so public, that the commander of the party +restored to the family the pocket-book and papers of the deceased. +On the following day tumultuous crowds roamed about the city and +suburbs, threatening the wretched peasants; and on the 1st of August +they butchered them without opposition. About noon on the same +day, six armed men, headed by Truphemy, the butcher, surrounded +the house of Monot, a carpenter; two of the party, who were smiths,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> +had been at work in the house the day before, and had seen a protestant +who had taken refuge there, M. Bourillon, who had been a +lieutenant in the army, and had retired on a pension. He was a man +of an excellent character, peaceable and harmless, and had never +served the emperor Napoleon. Truphemy not knowing him, he was +pointed out partaking of a frugal breakfast with the family. Truphemy +ordered him to go along with him, adding, "Your friend, +Saussine, is already in the other world." Truphemy placed him in +the middle of his troop, and artfully ordered him to cry <i>Vive l'Empereur</i>: +he refused, adding, he had never served the emperor. In +vain did the women and children of the house intercede for his life, +and praise his amiable and virtuous qualities. He was marched to +the Esplanade and shot, first by Truphemy and then by the others. +Several persons attracted by the firing, approached, but were threatened +with a similar fate. After some time the wretches departed, +shouting <i>Vive le Roi</i>. Some women met them, and one of them appeared +affected, said one, "I have killed seven to-day, for my share +and if you say a word, you shall be the eighth." Pierre Courbet, a +stocking weaver, was torn from his loom by an armed band, and shot +at his own door. His eldest daughter was knocked down with the +butt end of a musket; and a poignard was held at the breast of his +wife while the mob plundered her apartments. Paul Heraut, a silk +weaver, was literally cut in pieces, in the presence of a large crowd, +and amidst the unavailing cries and tears of his wife and four young +children. The murderers only abandoned the corpse to return to Heraut's +house and secure every thing valuable. The number of murders +on this day could not be ascertained. One person saw six bodies +at the <i>Cours Neuf</i>, and nine were carried to the hospital.</p> + +<p>If murder some time after, became less frequent for a few days, +pillage and forced contributions were actively enforced. M. Salle +d'Hombro, at several visits was robbed of 7000 francs; and on one +occasion, when he pleaded the sacrifices he had made, "Look," said +a bandit, pointing to his pipe, "this will set fire to your house; and +this," brandishing his sword, "will finish you." No reply could be +made to these arguments. M. Feline, a silk manufacturer, was robbed +of 32,000 francs in gold, 3000 francs in silver, and several bales +of silk.</p> + +<p>The small shopkeepers were continually exposed to visits and demands +of provisions, drapery, or whatever they sold; and the same +hands that set fire to the houses of the rich, and tore up the vines of +the cultivator, broke the looms of the weaver, and stole the tools of +the artizan. Desolation reigned in the sanctuary and in the city. +The armed bands, instead of being reduced, were increased; the fugitives, +instead of returning received constant accessions, and their +friends who sheltered them were deemed rebellious. Those protestants +who remained, were deprived of all their civil and religious +rights, and even the advocates and huissiers entered into a resolution +to exclude all of "the pretended reformed religion" from their bodies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> +Those who were employed in selling tobacco were deprived of their +licenses. The protestant deacons who had the charge of the poor +were all scattered. Of five pastors only two remained; one of these +was obliged to change his residence, and could only venture to administer +the consolations of religion, or perform the functions of his ministry, +under cover of the night.</p> + +<p>Not content with these modes of torment, calumnious and inflamatory +publications charged the protestants with raising the proscribed +standard in the communes, and invoking the fallen Napoleon; and, +of course, as unworthy the protection of the laws and the favour of +the monarch.</p> + +<p>Hundreds after this were dragged to prison without even so much +as a <i>written order;</i> and though an official newspaper, bearing the +title of the <i>Journal du Gard</i>, was set up for five months, while it was +influenced by the prefect, the mayor, and other functionaries, the +word <i>charter</i> was never once used in it. One of the first numbers, on +the contrary, represented the suffering protestants as "Crocodiles +only weeping from rage and regret that they had no more victims to +devour; as persons who had surpassed Danton, Marat, and Robespierre, +in doing mischief: and as having prostituted their daughters +to the garrison to gain it over to Napoleon." An extract from this +article, stamped with the crown and the arms of the Bourbons, was +hawked about the streets, and the vender was adorned with the medal +of the police.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Petition of the Protestant Refugees.</i></div> + +<p>To these reproaches it is proper to oppose the petition which the Protestant +Refugees in Paris presented to Louis XVIII. in behalf of their +brethren at Nismes.</p> + +<p>"We lay at your feet, sire, our acute sufferings. In your name our +fellow-citizens are slaughtered, and their property laid waste. Misled +peasants, in pretended obedience to your orders, had assembled at the +command of a commissioner appointed by your august nephew. Although +ready to attack us, they were received with the assurances of +peace. On the 15th of July, 1815, we learnt your majesty's entrance +into Paris, and the white flag immediately waved on our edifices. The +public tranquility had not been disturbed, when armed peasants introduced +themselves. The garrison capitulated, but were assailed on their +departure, and almost totally massacred. Our national guard was disarmed, +the city filled with strangers, and the houses of the principal +inhabitants, professing the reformed religion, were attacked and plundered. +We subjoin the list. Terror has driven from our city the most +respectable inhabitants.</p> + +<p>"Your majesty has been deceived if there has not been placed before +you the picture of the horrors which make a desert of your good +city of Nismes. Arrests and proscriptions are continually taking +place, and difference of <i>religious</i> opinions is the real and only cause.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> +The calumniated protestants are the defenders of the throne. Your +nephew has beheld our children under his banners; our fortunes have +been placed in his hands. Attacked without reason, the protestants +have not, even by a just resistance, afforded their enemies the fatal +pretext for calumny. Save us, sire! extinguish the brand of civil +war; a single act of your will would restore to political existence a city +interesting for its population and its manufactures. Demand an account +of their conduct from the chiefs who have brought our misfortunes upon +us. We place before your eyes all the documents that have reached us. +Fear paralizes the hearts, and stifles the complaints of our fellow-citizens. +Placed in a more secure situation, we venture to raise our voice +in their behalf," &c. &c.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Monstrous outrage upon Females.</i></div> + +<p>At Nismes it is well known that the women wash their clothes +either at the fountains, or on the banks of streams. There is a large +basin near the fountain, where numbers of women may be seen +every day, kneeling at the edge of the water, and beating the clothes +with heavy pieces of wood in the shape of battledoors. This spot +became the scene of the most shameful and indecent practices. The +catholic rabble turned the women's petticoats over their heads, and +so fastened them as to continue their exposure, and their subjection +to a newly invented species of chastisement; for nails being placed +in the wood of the <i>battoirs</i> in the form of <i>fleur-de-lis</i>, they beat them +till the blood streamed from their bodies, and their cries rent the air. +Often was death demanded as a commutation of this ignominious +punishment, but refused with a malignant joy. To carry their outrage +to the highest possible degree, several who were in a state of +pregnancy were assailed in this manner. The scandalous nature of +these outrages prevented many of the sufferers from making them +public, and, especially, from relating the most aggravating circumstances. +"I have seen," says M. Durand, "a catholic avocat, accompanying +the assassins in the fauxbourg Bourgade, arm a battoir +with sharp nails in the form of <i>fleur-de-lis;</i> I have seen them raise +the garments of females, and apply, with heavy blows, to the bleeding +body this <i>battoir</i> or battledoor, to which they gave a name which +my pen refuses to record. The cries of the sufferers—the streams of +blood—the murmurs of indignation which were suppressed by fear—nothing +could move them. The surgeons who attended on those women +who are dead, can attest, by the marks of their wounds, the agonies +which they must have endured, which, however horrible, is most strictly +true."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, during the progress of these horrors and obscenities, +so disgraceful to France and the catholic religion, the agents of government +had a powerful force under their command, and by honestly +employing it they might have restored tranquility. Murder and robbery, +however, continued, and were winked at, by the catholic magistrates,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span> +with very few exceptions; the administrative authorities, it is +true, used words in their proclamations, &c. but never had recourse to +actions to stop the enormities of the persecutors, who boldly declared +that, on the 24th, the anniversary of St. Bartholomew, they intended to +make a general massacre. The members of the reformed church were +filled with terror, and, instead of taking part in the election of deputies, +were occupied as well as they could in providing for their own personal +safety.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Arrival of the Austrians at Nismes.</i></div> + +<p>About this time, a treaty between the French court and the allied +sovereigns, prohibited the advance of the foreign troops beyond the +line of territory already occupied, and traced by the course of the +Loire, and by the Rhone, below the Ardeche. In violation of this +treaty, 4000 Austrians entered Nismes on the 24th of August; under +pretence of making room for them, French troops, bearing the <i>feudal</i> +title of Royal Chasseurs, followed by the murdering bands of the +Trestaillons and Quatretaillons, who continued their march to Alais, +where a fair was to be held, and carried disorder and alarm into all +the communes on that route. Nothing now was heard but denunciations +of fusillading, burning, razing, and annihilating; and while +the catholics were feasting and murdering at Nismes, the flames +of the country houses of the protestants, rising one hundred feet in the +air, rendered the spectacle still more awful and alarming. Unfortunately, +some of the peasants, falsely charged with the murder of two +protestants, were brought to Nismes while the prefect was celebrating +the fete of St. Louis. At a splendid dinner given to the Austrian +commanders, and even without quitting the table, it appears, that the +French prefect placed the fate and fortune of these unfortunate prisoners +at the disposal of Count Stahremberg, who, of course, believing +the representations made to him ordered the accused to be immediately +shot. To mortify and exhaust the protestant communes, the +Austrians were directed to occupy them, where they completely disarmed +the inhabitants without the least opposition. In fact, these +foreigners were soon undeceived. They expected to meet the most +perfidious and brutal enemies in arms, and in open rebellion against +their king; but, on the contrary, they found them all in peace, and +experienced the most kind and respectful treatment; and though their +duty was a most vexatious and oppressive one, they performed it in +general with moderation. On this account they could not refrain +from expressing their astonishment at the reports made to them by the +authorities at Nismes, declaring, "They had found a population suffering +great misfortunes, but no rebels; and that compassion was the +only feeling that prevailed in their minds." The commander himself +was so convinced of the good disposition of the people of the Cevennes, +that he visited those districts without an escort, desiring, he +said, to travel in that country as he would in his own. Such confidence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +was a public reproach on the authorities at Nismes, and a sentence +of condemnation on all their proceedings.</p> + +<p>As the persecution of the protestants was spreading into other departments, +strong and forcible representations were secretly printed +and made to the king. All the ordinary modes of communication had +been stopped; the secrecy of letters violated, and none circulated but +those relative to private affairs. Sometimes these letters bore the postmark +of places very distant, and arrived without signatures, and enveloped +in allegorical allusions. In fact, a powerful resistance on the part +of the outraged protestants was at length apprehended, which, in the +beginning of September excited the proclamation of the king, on which +it was observed, "that if his majesty had been correctly and fully informed +of all that had taken place, he surely would not have contented +himself with announcing his severe displeasure to a <i>misled people, who +took justice into their own hands, and avenged the crimes committed +against royalty</i>." The proclamation was dictated as though there had +not been a protestant in the department; it assumed and affirmed +throughout the guilt of the sufferers; and while it deplored the atrocious +outrages endured by the followers of the duke d'Angouleme, +(outrages which never existed,) the plunder and massacre of the reformed +were not even noticed.</p> + +<p>Still disorders kept pace with the proclamations that made a show +of suppressing them, and the force of the catholic faction also continued +to increase. The catholic populace, notwithstanding the decrees +of the magistrates, were allowed to retain the arms they had illegally +seized, whilst the protestants in the departments were disarmed. The +members of the reformed churches wished at this period to present +another memorial to the government, descriptive of the evils they +still suffered, but this was not practicable. On the 26th of September, +the president of the consistory wrote as follows: "I have only +been able to assemble two or three members of the consistory +pastors or elders. It is impossible to draw up a memoir, or to +collect facts; so great is the terror, that every one is afraid to speak +of his own sufferings, or to mention those he has been compelled to +witness."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Outrages committed in the Villages, &c.</i></div> + +<p>We now quit Nismes to take a view of the conduct of the persecutors +in the surrounding country. After the re-establishment of the +royal government, the local authorities were distinguished for their +zeal and forwardness in supporting their employers, and, under pretence +of rebellion, concealment of arms, non-payment of contributions, +&c. troops, national guards, and armed mobs, were permitted +to plunder, arrest, and murder peaceable citizens, not merely with +impunity, but with encouragement and approbation. At the village +of Milhaud, near Nismes, the inhabitants were frequently forced to +pay large sums to avoid being pillaged. This, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'owever'">however</ins>, would <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'no'">not</ins><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> +avail at Madame Teulon's: On Sunday, the 16th of July, her house +and grounds were ravaged; the valuable furniture removed or destroyed, +the hay and wood burnt, and the corpse of a child, buried in +the garden, taken up and dragged round a fire made by the populace. +It was with great difficulty that M. Teulon escaped with his life. M. +Picherol, another protestant, had deposited some of his effects with a +catholic neighbour; this house was attacked, and though all the +property of the latter was respected, that of his friend was seized +and destroyed. At the same village, one of a party doubting whether +M. Hermet, a tailor, was the man they wanted, asked, "Is he a protestant?" +this he acknowledged. "Good," said they, and he was +instantly murdered. In the Canton of Vauvert, where there was a +consistory church, 80,000 francs were extorted. In the communes +of Beauvoisin and Generac similar excesses were committed by a +handful of licentious men, under the eye of the catholic mayor +and to the cries of "Vive le Roi." St. Gilles was the scene of the +must unblushing villainy. The protestants, the most wealthy of the +inhabitants, were disarmed, whilst their houses were pillaged. The +mayor was appealed to:—the mayor laughed and walked away. +This officer had, at his disposal, a national guard of several hundred +men, organised by his own orders. It would be wearisome to read +the lists of the crimes that occurred during many months. At Clavisson +the mayor prohibited the protestants the practice of singing the +psalms commonly used in the temple, that, as he said, the catholics +might not be offended or disturbed.</p> + +<p>At Sommieres, about ten miles from Nismes, the catholics made a +splendid procession through the town, which continued till evening +and was succeeded by the plunder of the protestants. On the arrival +of foreign troops at Sommieres, the pretended search for arms +was resumed; those who did not possess muskets were even compelled +to buy them on purpose to surrender them up, and soldiers were quartered +on them at six francs per day till they produced the articles in +demand. The protestant church which had been closed, was converted +into barracks for the Austrians. After divine service had been +suspended for six months at Nismes, the church, by the protestants +called the Temple, was re-opened, and public worship performed on +the morning of the 24th of December. On examining the belfry, it +was discovered that some persons had carried off the clapper of the +bell. As the hour of service approached, a number of men, women, +and children, collected at the house of M. Ribot, the pastor, and +threatened to prevent the worship. At the appointed time, when he +proceeded towards the church, he was surrounded; the most savage +shouts were raised against him; some of the women seized him by +the collar; but nothing could disturb his firmness, or excite his impatience: +he entered the house of prayer, and ascended the pulpit; +stones were thrown in and fell among the worshippers; still the congregation +remained calm and attentive, and the service was concluded +amidst noise, threats, and outrage. On retiring many would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> +been killed but for the chasseurs of the garrison, who honourably and +zealously protected them. From the captain of these chasseurs, M. +Ribot soon after received the following letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class='right'> +"<i>January 2, 1816.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p>"I deeply lament the prejudices of the catholics against the <i>protestants</i>, +who they pretend do not love the king. Continue to act as +you have hitherto done, and time and your conduct will convince the +catholics to the contrary: should any tumult occur similar to that of +Saturday last inform me. I preserve my reports of these acts, and if +the agitators prove incorrigible, and forget what they owe to the best +of kings and the <i>charter</i>, I will do my duty and inform the government +of their proceedings. Adieu, my dear sir; assure the consistory of my +esteem, and of the sense I entertain of the moderation with which they +have met the provocations of the evil-disposed at Sommieres. I have +the honor to salute you with respect.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Suval de Laine.</span>"<br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Another letter to this worthy pastor from the Marquis de Montlord, +was received on the 6th of January, to encourage him to unite with +all good men who believe in God to obtain the punishment of the assassins, +brigands, and disturbers of public tranquility, and to read the +instructions he had received from government to this effect publicly. +Notwithstanding this, on the 20th of January, 1816, when the service +in commemoration of the death of Louis XVI. was celebrated, a +procession being formed, the National Guards fired at the white flag +suspended from the windows of the protestants, and concluded the +day by plundering their houses. In the Commune of Angargues, +matters were still worse; and in that of Fontanes, from the entry of +the king in 1815, the catholics broke all terms with the protestants; +by day they insulted them, and in the night broke open their doors, +or marked them with chalk to be plundered or burnt. St. Mamert +was repeatedly visited by these robberies; and at Montmiral, as lately +as the 16th of June, 1816, the protestants were attacked, beaten, and +imprisoned, for daring to celebrate the return of a king who had +sworn to preserve religious liberty and to maintain the charter. In +fact, to continue the relation of the scenes that took place in the +different departments of the south of France, would be little better +than a repetition of those we have already described, excepting a +change of names: but the most sanguinary of all seems that which +was perpetrated at Uzes, at the latter end of August, and the burning +of several protestants places of worship. These shameful persecutions +continued till after the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies +at the close of the year 1816. After a review of these anti-protestant +proceedings, the British reader will not think of comparing them +with the riots of London in 1780, or with those of Birmingham about +1793; as it is evident that where governments possess absolute power, +such events could not have been prolonged for many months and +even for years over a vast extent of country, had it not been for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> +systematic and powerful support of the higher department of the +state.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Farther account of the proceedings of the Catholics at Nismes.</i></div> + +<p>The excesses perpetrated in the country it seems did not by any +means divert the attention of the persecutors from Nismes. October, +1815, commenced without any improvement in the principles or +measures of the government, and this was followed by corresponding +presumption on the part of the people. Several houses in the Quartier +St. Charles were sacked, and their wrecks burnt in the streets +amidst songs, dances, and shouts of Vive le Roi. The mayor appeared, +but the merry multitude pretended not to know him, and +when he ventured to remonstrate, they told him, "his presence was +unnecessary, and that he might retire." During the 16th of October, +every preparation seemed to announce a night of carnage; orders +for assembling and signals for attack were circulated with regularity +and confidence; Trestaillon reviewed his satellites, and urged them +on to the perpetration of crimes, holding with one of those wretches the +following dialogue:</p> + +<p><i>Satellite.</i> "If all the protestants, without one exception, are to be +killed, I will cheerfully join; but as you have so often deceived me, +unless they are all to go I will not stir."</p> + +<p><i>Trestaillon.</i> "Come along, then, for this time not a single man +shall escape." This horrid purpose would have been executed had it +not been for General La Garde, the commandant of the department. +It was not till ten o'clock at night that he perceived the danger; he +now felt that not a moment could be lost. Crowds were advancing +through the suburbs, and the streets were filling with ruffians, uttering +the most horrid imprecations. The generale sounded at eleven +o'clock, and added to the confusion that was now spreading through +the city. A few troops rallied round the Count La Garde, who was +wrung with distress at the sight of the evil which had arrived at such +a pitch. Of this M. Durand, a catholic advocate, gave the following +account:</p> + +<p>"It was near midnight, my wife had just fallen asleep; I was writing +by her side, when we were disturbed by a distant noise; drums +seemed crossing the town in every direction. What could all this +mean! To quiet her alarm, I said it probably announced the arrival +or departure of some troops of the garrison. But firing and shouts +were immediately audible; and on opening my window I distinguished +horrible imprecations mingled with cries of <i>vive le Roi!</i> I roused +an officer who lodged in the house, and M. Chancel, Director of the +Public Works. We went out together, and gained the Boulevarde. +The moon shone bright, and almost every object was nearly as distinct +as day; a furious crowd was pressing on vowing extermination, and +the greater part half naked, armed with knives, muskets, sticks, and +sabres. In answer to my inquiries I was told the massacre was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> +general, that many had been already killed in the suburbs. M. +Chancel retired to put on his uniform as captain of the <i>Pompiers;</i> +the officers retired to the barracks, and anxious for my wife I returned +home. By the noise I was convinced that persons followed. I crept +along in the shadow of the wall, opened my door, entered, and closed +it, leaving a small aperture through which I could watch the movements +of the party whose arms shone in the moonlight. In a few +moments some armed men appeared conducting a prisoner to the very +spot where I was concealed. They stopped, I shut my door gently, +and mounted on an alder tree planted against the garden wall. What +a scene! a man on his knees imploring mercy from wretches who +mocked his agony, and loaded him with abuse. In the name of my +wife and children, he said, spare me! What have I done? Why +would you murder me for nothing? I was on the point of crying out +and menacing the murderers with vengeance. I had not long to deliberate, +the discharge of several fusils terminated my suspense; the +unhappy supplicant, struck in the loins and the head, fell to rise no +more. The backs of the assassins were towards the tree; they retired +immediately, reloading their pieces. I descended and approached +the dying man, uttering some deep and dismal groans. Some National +Guards arrived at the moment, I again retired and shut the door. +"I see," said one, "a dead man." "He sings still," said another. "It +will be better," said a third, "to finish him and put him out of his misery." +Five or six muskets were fired instantly, and the groans ceased. +On the following day crowds came to inspect and insult the deceased. +A day after a massacre was always observed as a sort of fete, and +every occupation was left to go and gaze upon the victims. This was +Louis Lichare, the father of four children; and four years after the +event, M. Durand verified this account by his oath upon the trial of +one of the murderers."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Attack upon the Protestant Churches.</i></div> + +<p>Some time before the death of general La Garde, the duke d'Angouleme +had visited Nismes, and other cities in the south, and at the +former place honoured the members of the protestant consistory with +an interview, promising them protection, and encouraging them to +reopen their temple so long shut up. They have two churches at +Nismes, and it was agreed that the small one should be preferred on +this occasion, and that the ringing of the bell should be omitted, +general La Garde declared that he would answer with his head for +the safety of his congregation. The protestants privately informed +each other that worship was once more to be celebrated at ten o'clock, +and they began to assemble silently and cautiously. It was agreed +that M. Juillerat Chasseur should perform the service, though such +was his conviction of danger that he entreated his wife, and some of +his flock, to remain with their families. The temple being opened +only as a matter of form, and in compliance with the orders of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +duke d'Angouleme, this pastor wished to be the only victim. On his +way to the place he passed numerous groupes who regarded him with +ferocious looks. "This is the time," said some, "to give them the +last blow." "Yes," added others, "and neither women nor children +must be spared." One wretch, raising his voice above the rest, exclaimed, +"Ah, I will go and get my musket, and ten for my share." +Through these ominous sounds M. Juillerat pursued his course, but +when he gained the temple the sexton had not the courage to open the +door, and he was obliged to do it himself. As the worshippers arrived +they found strange persons in possession of the adjacent streets, and +upon the steps of the church, vowing their worship should not be performed, +and crying, "Down with the protestants! kill them! kill +them!" At ten o'clock the church being nearly filled, M. J. Chasseur +commenced the prayers; a calm that succeeded was of short duration. +On a sudden the minister was interrupted by a violent noise, +and a number of persons entered, uttering the most dreadful cries, +mingled with <i>Vive le Roi!</i> but the gens-d'armes succeeded in excluding +these fanatics, and closing the doors. The noise and tumult without +now redoubled, and the blows of the populace trying to break open +the doors, caused the house to resound with shrieks and groans. The +voice of the pastors who endeavoured to console their flock, was inaudible; +they attempted in vain to sing the 42d psalm.</p> + +<p>Three quarters of an hour rolled heavily away. "I placed myself," +says Madame Juillerat, "at the bottom of the pulpit, with my daughter +in my arms; my husband at length joined and sustained me; I +remembered that it was the anniversary of my marriage; after six +years of happiness, I said, I am about to die with my husband and my +daughter; we shall be slain at the altar of our God, the victims of a +sacred duty, and heaven will open to receive us and our unhappy +brethren. I blessed the Redeemer, and without cursing our murderers, +I awaited their approach."</p> + +<p>M. Oliver, son of a pastor, an officer in the royal troops of the line, +attempted to leave the church, but the friendly sentinels at the door +advised him to remain besieged with the rest. The national guards +refused to act, and the fanatical crowd took every advantage of the +absence of general La Garde, and of their increasing numbers. At +length the sound of martial music was heard, and voices from without +called to the besieged, "Open, open and save yourselves." Their +first impression was a fear of treachery, but they were soon assured +that a detachment returning from mass was drawn up in front of the +church to favour the retreat of the protestants. The door was opened, +and many of them escaped among the ranks of the soldiers, who +had driven the mob before them; but this street, as well as others +through which the fugitives had to pass, was soon filled again. The +venerable pastor, Olivier Desmond, between 70 and 80 years of age, +was surrounded by murderers; they put their fists in his face, and +cried, "Kill the chief of brigands." He was preserved by the firmness +of some officers, among whom was his own son; they made a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span> +bulwark round him with their bodies, and amidst their naked sabres conducted +him to his house. M. Juillerat, who had assisted at divine service +with his wife at his side and his child in his arms, was pursued +and assailed with stones, his mother received a blow on the head, and +her life was some time in danger. One woman was shamefully whipped, +and several wounded and dragged along the streets; the number +of protestants more or less ill treated on this occasion amounted to between +seventy and eighty.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Murder of General La Garde.</i></div> + +<p>At length a check was put to these excesses by the report of the +murder of Count La Garde, who, receiving an account of this tumult, +mounted his horse, and entered one of the streets, to disperse a crowd. +A villain seized his bridle; another presented the muzzle of a pistol +close to his body, and exclaimed, "Wretch, you make me retire!" He +immediately fired. The murderer was Louis Boissin, a serjeant in the +national guard; but, though known to every one, no person endeavoured +to arrest him, and he effected his escape. As soon as the general +found himself wounded, he gave orders to the gendarmerie to +protect the protestants, and set off on a gallop to his hotel; but fainted +immediately on his arrival. On recovering, he prevented the surgeon +from searching his wound till he had written a letter to the government, +that, in case of his death, it might be known from what quarter +the blow came, and that none might dare to accuse the protestants +of this crime. The probable death of this general produced a small +degree of relaxation on the part of their enemies, and some calm; but +the mass of the people had been indulged in licentiousness too long +to be restrained even by the murder of the representative of their king. +In the evening they again repaired to the temple, and with hatchets +broke open the door; the dismal noise of their blows carried terror into +the bosom of the protestant families sitting in their houses in tears. +The contents of the poor's box, and the clothes prepared for distribution, +were stolen; the minister's robes rent in pieces; the books torn up +or carried away; the closets were ransacked, but the rooms which +contained the archives of the church, and the synods, was providentially +secured; and had it not been for the numerous patrols on foot, the +whole would have become the prey of the flames, and the edifice itself +a heap of ruins. In the mean while, the fanatics openly ascribed the +murder of the general to his own self-devotion, and said "that it was +the will of God." Three thousand francs were offered for the apprehension +of Boissin; but it was well known that the protestants dared +not arrest him, and that the fanatics would not. During these transactions, +the systems of forced conversions to catholicism was making regular +and fearful progress.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Interference of the British Government.</i></div> + +<p>To the credit of England, the reports of these cruel persecutions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span> +carried on against our protestant brethren in France, produced such a +sensation on the part of the government as determined them to interfere; +and now the persecutors of the protestants made this spontaneous +act of humanity and religion the pretext for charging the sufferers with +a treasonable correspondence with England; but in this state of their +proceedings, to their great dismay, a letter appeared, sent some time +before to England by the duke of Wellington, stating "that much information +existed on the events of the south."</p> + +<p>The ministers of the three denominations in London, anxious not to +be misled, requested one of their brethren to visit the scenes of persecution, +and examine with impartiality the nature and extent of the +evils they were desirous to relieve. The Rev. Clement Perot undertook +this difficult task, and fulfilled their wishes with a zeal, prudence, +and devotedness, above all praise. His return furnished abundant and +incontestible proof of a shameful persecution, materials for an appeal +to the British Parliament, and a printed report which was circulated +through the continent, and which first conveyed correct information to +the inhabitants of France.</p> + +<p>Foreign interference was now found eminently useful; and the declarations +of tolerance which it elicited from the French government, +as well as the more cautious march of the catholic persecutors, operated +as decisive and involuntary acknowledgments of the importance of +that interference, which some persons at first censured and despised +but though the stern voice of public opinion in England and elsewhere +produced a reluctant suspension of massacre and pillage, the murderers +and plunderers were still left unpunished, and even caressed and +rewarded for their crimes; and whilst protestants in France suffered +the most cruel and degrading pains and penalties for alleged trifling +crimes, <i>catholics</i>, covered with blood, and guilty of numerous and horrid +murders, were acquitted.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the virtuous indignation expressed by some of the more +enlightened catholics against these abominable proceedings, had no +small share in restraining them. Many innocent protestants had been +condemned to the galleys and otherwise punished, for supposed crimes, +upon the oaths of wretches the most unprincipled and abandoned. +M. Madier de Montgau, judge of the <i>cour royale</i> of Nismes, and +president of the <i>cour d'assizes</i> of the Gard and Vaucluse, upon one +occasion felt himself compelled to break up the court, rather than +take the deposition of that notorious and sanguinary monster Truphemy: +"In a hall," says he, "of the Palace of Justice, opposite that +in which I sat, several unfortunate persons persecuted by the faction +were upon trial, every deposition tending to their crimination was +applauded with the cries of '<i>Vive le Roi</i>.' Three times the explosion +of this atrocious joy became so terrible, that it was necessary to send +for reinforcements from the barracks, and two hundred soldiers were +often unable to restrain the people. On a sudden the shouts and +cries of '<i>Vive le Roi</i>' redoubled: a man arrives, caressed, applauded, +borne in triumph—it is the horrible Truphemy; he approaches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span> +the tribunal—he comes to depose against the prisoners—he is admitted +as a witness—he raises his hand to take the oath! Seized with +horror at the sight, I rush from my seat, and enter the hall of +council; my colleagues follow me; in vain they persuade me to resume +my seat; 'No!' exclaimed I, 'I will not consent to see that +wretch admitted to give evidence in a court of justice in the city which +he has filled with murders; in the palace, on the steps of which he +has murdered the unfortunate Bourillon. I cannot admit that he should +kill his victims by his testimonies no more than by his poignards. He +an accuser! he a witness! No, never will I consent to see this monster +rise, in the presence of magistrates, to take a sacrilegious oath, +his hand still reeking with blood.' These words were repeated out +of doors; the witness trembled; the factious also trembled; the factious +who guided the tongue of Truphemy as they had directed his +arm, who dictated calumny after they had taught him murder. These +words penetrated the dungeons of the condemned, and inspired hope; +they gave another courageous advocate the resolution to espouse the +cause of the persecuted; he carried the prayers of innocence and misery +to the foot of the throne; there he asked if the evidence of a Truphemy +was not sufficient to annul a sentence. The king granted a full +and free pardon."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Perjury in the case of General Gilly, &c.</i></div> + +<p>This catholic system of subornation and perjury was carried to +such an infamous degree, that twenty-six witnesses were found to +sign and swear, that on the 3d of April, 1815, general Gilly, with +his own hand and <i>before their eyes</i>, took down the white flag at +Nismes; though it was proved that at the time when the tri-coloured +flag was raised in its room, the general was fifteen leagues from Nismes, +and that he did not arrive there till <i>three</i> days after that event. +Before tribunals thus constructed, even innocence had not the least +chance for protection. General Gilly knew better than to appear before +them, and was condemned to death for contempt of court. But +when he left Nismes, he thought either of passing into a foreign country, +or of joining the army of the Loire; and it was long supposed +that he had actually escaped. As it was impossible to gain any point, +or find any security, his only hope was in concealment, and a friend +found him an asylum in the cottage of a peasant; but that peasant +was a protestant, and the general was a catholic: however, he did +not hesitate; he confided in this poor man's honour. This cottage +was in the canton of Anduze; the name of its keeper, Perrier; he +welcomed the fugitive, and did not even ask his name: it was a time +of proscription, and his host would know nothing of him, it was +enough that he was unfortunate, and in danger. He was disguised +and he passed for Perrier's cousin. The general is naturally amiable, +and he made himself agreeable, sat by the fire, ate potatoes, and contented +himself with miserable fare. Though subject to frequent and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span> +many painful alarms, he preserved his retreat several months, and +often heard the visiters of his host boast of the concealment of general +Gilly, or of being acquainted with the place of his retreat. Patrols +were continually searching for arms in the houses of protestants; +and often in the night the general was obliged to leave his mattress, +half naked, and hide himself in the fields. Perrier, to avoid these +inconveniences, made an under-ground passage, by which his guest +could pass to an outhouse. The wife of Perrier could not endure +that one who had seen better days should live as her family did, on +vegetables and bread, and occasionally bought meat to regale the +melancholy stranger. These unusual purchases excited attention; +it was suspected that Perrier had some one concealed; nightly visits +were more frequent. In this state of anxiety he often complained +of the hardness of his lot. Perrier one day returned from +market in a serious mood; and after some inquiries from his guest, +he replied, "Why do you complain? you are fortunate compared +with the poor wretches whose heads were cried in the market to-day. +Bruguier, the pastor, at 2400 francs; Bresse, the mayor, at the +same, and general Gilly at 10,000!"—"Is it possible?" "Aye, it +is certain." Gilly concealed his emotion, a momentary suspicion +passed his mind; he appeared to reflect. "Perrier," said he, "I am +weary of life; you are poor and want money: I know Gilly and the +place of his concealment; let us denounce him; I shall, no doubt, +obtain my liberty, and you shall have the 10,000 francs." The old +man stood speechless, and as if petrified. His son, a gigantic peasant, +27 years of age, who had served in the army, rose from his chair, +in which he had listened to the conversation, and in a tone not to be +described, said, "Sir, hitherto we thought you unfortunate, but honest; +we have respected your sorrow, and kept your secret; but since you +are one of those wretched beings who would inform of a fellow +creature, and insure his death to save yourself, there is the door; and +if you do not retire, I will throw you out of the window." Gilly hesitated; +the peasant insisted; the general wished to explain, but he +was seized by the collar. "Suppose I should be general Gilly," said +the fugitive. The soldier paused. "And it is even so," continued he, +"denounce me, and the 10,000 francs are yours." The soldier threw +himself on his neck; the family were dissolved in tears; they kissed +his hands, his clothes, protested they would never let him leave them, +and that they would die rather than he should be arrested. In their +kindness he was more secure than ever; but their cottage was more +suspected, and he was ultimately obliged to seek another asylum. +The family refused any indemnity for the expense he had occasioned +them, and it was not till long after that he could prevail upon them to +accept an acknowledgement of their hospitality and fidelity. In +1820, when the course of justice was more free, general Gilly demanded +a trial; there was nothing against him; and the duke d'Angouleme +conveyed to Madame Gilly the permission of the king for the +return of her husband to the bosom of his country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span></p> + +<p>But, even when the French government was resolved to bring the +factions of the department of the Gard, under the laws, the same men +continued to exercise the public functions. The society, called <i>Royale</i>, +and its secret committee, maintained a power superior to the +laws. It was impossible to procure the condemnation of an assassin +though the evidence against him was incontestible, and for whom, in +other times, there would have been no hope. The Truphemys, and +others of his stamp, appeared in public, wearing immense mustachios, +and white cockades embroidered with green. Like the brigands of +Calabria, they had two pistols and a poignard at their waists. Their +appearance diffused an air of melancholy mixed with indignation. +Even amidst the bustle of the day there was the silence of fear, and +the night was disturbed by atrocious songs, or vociferations like the +sudden cry of ferocious wild beasts.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Ultimate resolution of the Protestants at Nismes.</i></div> + +<p>With respect to the conduct of the protestants, these highly outraged +citizens, pushed to extremities by their persecutors, felt at length that +they had only to choose the manner in which they were to perish. +They unanimously determined that they would die fighting in their +own defence. This firm attitude apprised their butchers that they +could no longer murder with impunity. Every thing was immediately +changed. Those, who for four years had filled others with terror, +now felt it in their turn. They trembled at the force which men, so +long resigned, found in despair, and their alarm was heightened when +they heard that the inhabitants of the Cavennes, persuaded of the danger +of their brethren, were marching to their assistance. But, without +waiting for these reinforcements, the protestants appeared at night +in the same order and armed in the same manner as their enemies. +The others paraded the Boulevards, with their usual noise and fury, +but the protestants remained silent and firm in the posts they had +chosen. Three days these dangerous and ominous meetings continued; +but the effusion of blood was prevented by the efforts of some worthy +citizens distinguished by their rank and fortune. By sharing the +dangers of the protestant population, they obtained the pardon of an +enemy who now trembled while he menaced.</p> + +<p>But though the protestants were modest in their demands, only +asking present safety, and security for the future, they did not obtain +above half of their requests. The dissolution of the National Guard +at Nismes was owing to the prudence and firmness of M. Laine. The +re-organization of the <i>Cour Royale</i> was effected by M. Pasquier, then +Keeper of the Seals; and these measures certainly ensured them a +present safety but no more. M. Madier de Montgau, the generous +champion of the protestants at Nismes, was officially summoned before +the Court of Cassation at Paris, over which M. de Serre, Keeper +of the Seals, presided, to answer for an alleged impropriety of conduct +as a magistrate, in making those public appeals to the Chamber<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span> +which saved the protestants, and increased the difficulties of renewing +those persecutions of which he complained. The French attorney +general demanded the erasure of his name from the list of magistrates, +but this the court refused. Unfortunately since the law of +elections in France has been changed, two of the bitterest enemies of +the protestants had been chosen Deputies at Nismes. The future, +therefore, is not without its dangers, and the condition of the persecuted +may fluctuate with the slightest political alteration; but which, +it is to be hoped, may be prevented from any acts that may again disgrace +the catholic religion, by the powerful expression of the public +mind, actuated with better principles, or by the interference of the +protestant influence in this or other countries. Happily, since the +year 1820, no fresh complaints have issued from the south of France +on the score of religion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>ASAAD SHIDIAK.</h3> + +<div class='center'><small>NARRATIVE OF THE CONVERSION, IMPRISONMENT, AND SUFFERINGS OF +ASAAD SHIDIAK, A NATIVE OF PALESTINE, WHO HAS BEEN CONFINED +FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN THE CONVENT OF MT. LEBANON.</small></div> + + +<p>The following narrative illustrates two points. 1st. The usefulness +of Christian Missions. 2d. The unchanging persecuting spirit +of the papal church. The subject of the following narrative has now +been in confinement about five years; during which time he has suffered +almost every indignity and vexation which the malice of his +enemies could impose upon him. Up to the present time, however, he +has remained steadfast in his adherence to the principles of the gospel. +We give the narrative of his trials and sufferings in the simple +and affecting language of the missionaries, which excited such powerful +interest in the bosoms of Christians, at the time of its first publication. +The principal facts are taken from the Missionary Herald +published by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign +Missions.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Biographical Notices of Asaad Shidiak.</i></div> + +<p>The following account of the remarkable convert from the Maronite +Roman Catholic church, whose name has, of late, appeared frequently +on the pages of the Missionary Herald, is compiled chiefly from the +journal of Mr. Bird, American Missionary in Syria. The other matter +which is inserted, is derived from authentic sources, and is designed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span> +to connect, or to illustrate the extracts from the journal, or to +render the biography more complete and satisfactory.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>His early History.</i></div> + +<p>Asaad Shidiak was born in the district north of Beyroot, called Kesruan, +where, and at Hadet, a small village five miles south-east of Beyroot, +his family have ever since lived. This family now consists of the +widowed mother, five sons, (of whom Asaad is the third) and two or +three daughters. At about the age of 16, he entered the college of Ain +Warka, and spent a year and a half in studying grammar, (Arabic +and Syriac,) logic and theology. After this he passed two years teaching +theology to the monks of a convent near Hadet.</p> + +<p>He has also been some considerable time scribe to the bishop of +Beyroot, and to the patriarch, the latter of whom was a teacher in the +college when Asaad was a student. During the late rebellion, headed +by the shekh Besir, a mere complimentary letter of Asaad's to one of +the disaffected party, being intercepted, and shown to the emir Beshir, +his suspicion was excited, and he wrote immediately to the patriarch, +in whose employ he then was, to dismiss him from his service. The +letter of Asaad was produced, and though it was seen to contain nothing +exceptionable, the patriarch thought proper to dismiss him without +ceremony.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Connexion with Mr. King.</i></div> + +<p>The dispensations of Providence often seem afflictive when they +happen, and most kind and benevolent afterwards, when their design +is perceived. So it was in the case of Asaad. Being thus cast out +upon the world, by those who ought to have befriended him, he applied +to Mr. King for employment as his instructer in Syriac, and was accepted. +Though a young man, Mr. King pronounced him to be one +of the most intelligent natives of the country, whom he had met with +on Mount Lebanon. From morning until night, for several weeks, +they were together, and hours were spent by them, almost every day, +in discussing religious subjects, and upon a mind so candid, so shrewd, +so powerful in its conceptions, and so comprehensive in its surveys, as +that of Asaad, an impression favorable to protestant christianity could +not but be made.</p> + +<p>Having completed his engagements with Mr. King, he, at the recommendation +of Mr. Fisk, set up a school in Beyroot, for teaching Arabic +grammatically, but soon found himself obliged to relinquish it, at the +command of his patriarch. He was also forbidden, as is stated by Mr. +Bird, to give any further instruction to the <i>Bible-men</i>, as the missionaries +are called, because the patriarch "had received fresh instructions +from Rome to <i>persecute</i> these men <i>by every means in his power</i>, so +long as one of them should remain in the country."</p> + +<p>When Mr. King was about to leave Syria, he wrote the farewell +letter to his friends in that country. The letter was designed, by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span> +writer, to show the reasons which prevented his becoming a member <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">of</ins> +the Roman catholic church. This letter Asaad attempted to answer +but his answer, so far from being satisfactory to himself, was the occasion +of raising strong doubts in his mind, as to the general correctness +of the Romish faith.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Connexion with Mr. Bird.</i></div> + +<p>Under the influence of these doubts, which seem to have distressed +him greatly, he entered the service of Mr. Bird as his instructer in +Arabic. His doubts continued to increase; for he now began in earnest +the study of the Bible and of his own heart, and made constant +progress in the knowledge of both. At length he became a protestant +in faith, and, as there is reason to believe, a truly pious man. Immediately +he commenced reformer; and though young, his matured +judgment, his vigorous intellect, his intrepidity, and his acquisitions, +great for his age and his nation, soon drew towards him the general +attention.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Visits his Relations.</i></div> + +<p>On the 12th of November, 1825,—says Mr. Bird—Shidiak received +a letter from the patriarch, in which he threatens him, with his +brother Tannoos and another Maronite youth, with immediate excommunication, +unless they cease from all connexion with the Bible-men.</p> + +<p>15. After mature deliberation it was thought advisable, for the present, +that he should go home to his friends in Hadet, until the fever of +alarm and opposition should subside a little.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>His return to Mr. Bird.</i></div> + +<p><i>Dec. 12.</i> Shidiak returned, after nearly a month's absence, to continue +with me for a year, risking whatever obloquy and violence +might come upon him. He has just been obliged to give up an advantageous +contract of marriage, into which he had some months ago +entered, because, since suspicions were afloat that he is heretical in +his notions, the father of the girl required him to bring a letter from +the patriarch, specifying what office he would give him. He now gives +up all intentions of marriage. For his greater security, I am to procure +for him the usual written protection of the English consul, which shall +insure to him, while in my immediate employ, all the safety and liberty +of an English resident.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Progress of His Opinions.</i></div> + +<p>13. Spent most of the day in conversation with Asaad on the subject +of religion. He had lately been much in company with the emir Sulman, +and observed, that his prejudices against christianity were evidently +much softened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span></p> + +<p>14. Conversed with Asaad on the books of the Apocrypha.<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a> He +seemed satisfied with the proofs that they were not given by inspiration +of God. He is now searching the scriptures with such an intensity +of interest, as to leave him neither time nor relish for any +thing else.</p> + +<p>We have a copy of the Arabic bible, printed at Rome, at the end +of which is an appendix which he has discovered to contain a copious +list of popish doctrines, with their appropriate references to scripture +proofs. These proofs he has found so weak, that he expresses his +astonishment how such doctrines could be inferred from them; and +nothing has occurred of late, which has more strengthened his conviction +that the church of Rome is radically wrong. What seems to +have affected him most sensibly, is, the expression he has found, "We +are under obligation to kill heretics."—Proof,—'False prophets God +commanded to be slain. Jehu and Elijah killed the worshippers and +prophets of Baal.' This passage he shows to all who visit him, +priests and people, and calls upon them to judge whether such sweeping +destruction is according to the spirit of the gospel.</p> + +<p>In this country, where the pope cannot do all he could wish, the +right of murdering every one who differs from him, has not been so +publicly asserted of late, and some, when they hear it, are a little +startled. But most of the good children of "the church" are soon +quieted again, by the recollection, that their kind and compassionate +"mother" <i>means</i> well, even in murder. The common mode of reasoning, +is, in this case, inverted. It is not said, "the action is right, +therefore the church does it;" but, "the church does it, therefore it is +right."</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 1, 1826.</i> Twelve or fourteen individuals were present at the +Arabic service at Mr. Goodell's. After this service, we questioned +Asaad closely with regard to the state of his heart, and were rather +disappointed at the readiness, with which he replied, that he thought +he was born again. For ourselves, we chose rather to suspend our +opinion. He can hardly be supposed to have acquired yet, even <i>speculatively</i>, +very clear notions of what is regeneration; and it would +seem quite as consistent with christian humility, and with a true +knowledge of his sinfulness, if he should speak of himself with more +doubt and caution.</p> + +<p>In the evening, an acquaintance of his, one who has heretofore expressed +great friendship to him, and to us; who had said that there +was no true religion to be found in the whole country, and pretended +to lament very much that the patriarch and priests had so much sway; +came to give Asaad a last serious admonition.</p> + +<p>"This," said he, "is the last time I intend ever to say a word to +you on the subject of religion. I wish, therefore, before you go any +further, that you would pause and think whether you can meet all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span> +reproach of the world, and all the opposition of the patriarch and +priests."</p> + +<p>Asaad replied, that he had made up his mind to meet all these +things. "And now," said he, "if, as you say, you intend never to +hold any more conversation with me on the subject of religion, I +have one request to make of you, and that is, that you will go, and +make the subject of religion a matter of serious prayer and inquiry, +and see where the path of life is; I then leave you with your conscience +and with God."</p> + +<p>After relating the substance of this conversation to us, Asaad remarked, +that these people reminded him of the late patriarch such an +one, who had a moderate share of understanding, but was ambitious +to appear very well. This patriarch had a bishop who was really an +acute and learned man, and whose opinions were always received +with the greatest deference on all matters relative to religion. The +bishop being on a visit one day at the patriarch's, the latter called +him to his presence, and proposed to him the interpretation of a passage +of scripture. The bishop gave the explanation according to the +best of his judgment. "No," said his holiness, "that is not the +meaning of the passage;" and proposed to have a second. When +the bishop had again given his opinions and reasons, the patriarch +answered as before, "That is not the meaning of the passage." In a +third and fourth case, the bishop was equally unfortunate, all his arguments +being swept away by the single sage remark of his holiness, +"That is not the meaning of the passage." At last the bishop, in a +fit of discouragement, said, "Your holiness has put me upon the solution +of a number of questions, in all which, it seems, I have been +<i>wrong</i>. I would now thank your holiness to tell me what is <i>right</i>." +The patriarch being startled at the new ground he was on, changed +the conversation. "So," said Asaad, "these people can all tell me I +am mistaken; but when I ask them what is <i>right</i>, they are silent."</p> + +<p>Asaad has often remarked, that he is full of anxiety, and finds no +rest for the sole of his foot. In many things he sees the Romish +church to be wrong, and in some things he thinks <i>we</i> are so. Our apparent +tranquility of mind, as to our religious views, is a matter of +surprise to him. This evening he conversed on the subject with +more than usual feeling. "I seem," said he, "to be alone among +men. There is nobody like me, and I please nobody. I am not +quite in harmony with the English in my views, and therefore do +not please <i>you</i>. My own countrymen are in so much error, I cannot +please <i>them</i>. <i>God</i> I have no reason to think I please; nor do I please +<i>myself</i>. What shall I do?"</p> + +<p>It was not altogether unpleasant to hear these professions of diffidence +in himself, and I endeavoured to turn off his attention from all +other sources of consolation than that of the "Comforter, which is the +Holy Ghost."</p> + +<p>Asaad observed, that whatever might be said, and whatever might +be true, of our <i>object</i>, in coming to this country he saw that the <i>doctrines</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span> +we taught were according to truth, and he was more than ever +determined to hold to them.</p> + +<p>Asaad says, that wherever he goes, and to whomsoever he addresses +himself on the subject of religion, people say, "Ah, it is very well for +you to go about and talk in this manner: you have, no doubt, been well +paid for it all." These insinuations wear upon his spirit, and he sometimes +says, "O that I were in some distant land, where nobody had +ever known me, and I knew nobody, that I might be able to fasten +men's attention to the truth, without the possibility of their flying off +to these horrid suspicions."</p> + +<p>He wishes also to have another interview with the patriarch, that he +may tell him his whole heart, and see what he will say. The patriarch +is not, he says, of a bad disposition by nature, and perhaps if he +could be persuaded that he was neither acting from revenge nor from +love of money, but simply from a conviction of the truth, he would be +softened in his feelings, and something might be done with him to the +benefit of religion. He desired, among other things, to propose, that +an edition of the New Testament should be printed under the patriarch's +inspection at Schooair, the expense of which, (if he chose) +should be borne by the English.<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Visits the Patriarch.</i></div> + +<p>6. For some time, we had been looking daily for a regular excommunication +to be published by the patriarch's order against Asaad; +but instead of this, a letter arrived from his holiness to-day, brought +by his own brother, priest Nicholas, containing his apostolic blessing, +inviting him to an interview, and promising him a situation in some +office. The messenger said, that the patriarch, his brother, had heard +that the English had given Asaad 40 purses, (2000 dollars) to unite +him with them, and that he had thought of giving Asaad the same +sum, that no obstacle might remain to his leaving them. "This money," +said he, "with which the English print books, and hire men into their +service is but the pelf of the man of sin, and could you but be present +to hear what the people say of you, through the whole country, for +your associating with the English, you would never be in their company +again."</p> + +<p>When we were informed of what occurred between this priest and +Asaad, and of Asaad's intention to go and see the patriarch, we all +expressed our fears that he would be ill-treated, but he did not anticipate +it. He said, he had known an instance of a vile infidel and +blasphemer, who was simply excommunicated, and that it was not +the custom of the Maronites to kill, as we suggested, on account of +religion. We assured him that he had not yet learned how much +men hate the truth, and that his church would not feel herself half as +much in danger from an open blasphemer, as from an active lover<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span> +of the gospel. But he was so confident that good would result from +such a visit, that we ceased from urging our objections, and commended +him to the will of God.</p> + +<p>It was during this visit, that most of the conversations happened +which are so admirably narrated in the public statement made by +himself, which will be found in the sequel. He manifested throughout, +as the reader will discover, the spirit of the early christian confessors. +He denied the infallibility of popes and councils; asserted and +defended the great doctrines of the gospel, and besought, that the scriptures +might be circulated, and read, and be made the only standard of +faith, and rule of practice, and that evangelists might be sent through +the land.</p> + +<p>Against such a formidable innovator, the patriarch and his bishops +rose up in wrath, and Asaad was threatened with imprisonment and +death.</p> + +<p>Two days after his departure, he thus wrote to Mr. Bird.</p> + +<p>"I am now at Der Alma, (convent of Alma,) and thanks to God, I +arrived in good health. But as yet I have not seen the patriarch. +I pray God the Father, and his only Son Jesus Christ our Lord, that +he would establish me in his love, that I may never exchange it for +any created thing—that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor +things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor riches, nor honour, nor dignity, +nor office, nor any thing in creation, shall separate me from this +love. I hope you will pray to God for me; which request I also +make to all the brethren and sisters, (all the saints,) after giving them, +especially Mr. Goodell, abundant salutations."</p> + +<p>24. Heard that Asaad had been sent to the Armenian convent +Bzumar, to confess, and that he would probably be sent to Aleppo as +a priest. Another said, he was seen at the college of Ain Warka.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Is forcibly detained.</i></div> + +<p><i>Feb. 22.</i> Fearing for the safety of Asaad, since hearing that he has +not written to his friends, we this morning sent a messenger with a +short note, to find him, and ascertain his state.</p> + +<p>23. The messenger returned, saying, that he yesterday went to the +village, where he understood the patriarch was, and found that he had +just gone with a train of twenty men, and Asaad in company, to Der +Alma. In the morning, he rose, went to that convent, and chanced to +find Asaad alone. After some conversation, in which they were providentially +not interrupted, Asaad handed him a hasty line, and he returned. +The line was as follows:</p> + +<p>"Much respected brother,—Your note has reached me, and has +added another proof to the many I have had already, of your kind +regard to me. I now beseech you once more, to pray for me, that I +may be delivered from the dark devices of men. I find myself reduced +to quite an extremity. One or more of three things are before +me; either to be thought mad, or to commit sin, or to offer up my life<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span> +I call upon God for deliverance. I cannot now write fully, but the bearer +will tell you of all."</p> + +<p>The messenger said, that the emir of that district had threatened to +send him to Bteddeen, to be imprisoned. Asaad replied, that he was +ready to go to prison and to death. He was engaged in daily disputations +with the patriarch and others. His countenance wore a shade of +melancholy, and his eyes were red with weeping.</p> + +<p>When it was proposed by the messenger to interfere with English +authority for his rescue, he said such a course might exasperate his +enemies, and cost him his life: it would be better to wait a while, and +leave it for Providence to open a way for his escape.</p> + +<p>This assurance of his steadfastness was like a cordial to our spirits, +and was not without a good influence on some that are about us. By +the grace of God, he will witness a good confession before the dignitaries +both of church and state, and by the same grace, he may open +the eyes of some of them to the truth as it is in Jesus. To him that +was with Daniel and with the three children in their dangers, we commend +him.</p> + +<p>24. Called on the consul to inquire what could be done for the protection +or relief of Asaad. He recommended a course of moderation and +forbearance, and said it was not customary to extend English protection +to natives, when abroad on their own business.</p> + +<p>26. Two young emirs from Hadet called. I asked one of them +"Where is Asaad Shidiak at present?"</p> + +<p>He replied, "He is with the patriarch."</p> + +<p>"And is he contented there?"</p> + +<p>"Not very well contented. But what should he do, poor fellow, necessity +is laid upon him."</p> + +<p>This remark proves to us, that it is not a secret among the priests and +emirs, that Asaad is detained against his will.</p> + +<p><i>March 1.</i> A youth called this morning, and said Asaad Shidiak sent +me salutation. He showed me a line he had received from Asaad the +day before, saying, "If you will pass this way about midnight, I will +go with you to Beyroot." Owing to some circumstance, the young man +did not go to the convent, and now he proposed to take a horse, by which +Asaad may escape to-night.</p> + +<p>As we had not perfect confidence in the youth, we did nothing, but +having ascertained his plan, left him to go on as he chose. In the evening, +we had a season of prayer, particularly on his account.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Escapes and returns to Beyroot.</i></div> + +<p>2. Rose early, and repaired to the room, where Asaad would have +been, had he come; but there were no tidings from him. Little expectation +remained of his coming to-day, and we were not without our fears +that the attempt had miscarried. It was not long, however, before it was +announced, that Asaad was at the door.</p> + +<p>The meeting was one of great joy and thanksgiving to us all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span>—After +a little rest and refreshment, he gave us a brief account of his +escape.</p> + +<p>He had not seen the youth, who had undertaken to befriend him, but +finding he did not call the night before, as he expected, he resolved not +to wait another day. Therefore, at about twelve o'clock last night, +having written a paper and left it on his bed, with the quotation, +"Come out of her my people," &c. he set off on foot, committing +himself to God for strength and protection. The darkness was such, +that he often found himself out of his road, sometimes miring in +mud, and sometimes wading in rivers. After some hours of weariness +and anxiety, he came to the shore of the sea, where he found a +large boat thrown up, under which he cast himself, and obtained a little +rest. After this, he continued his walk without interruption, till he +reached Beyroot.</p> + +<p>In the course of the forenoon, a messenger came from the neighbouring +shekh, or sheriff, requesting Asaad to come and see him; +adding, that if he did not come, he would watch an opportunity to +take his life. The messenger came a second time, and returned +without accomplishing his object. We afterwards wrote a line to +the shekh to say, that if he would favour us with a call in person +and take a cup of coffee, he could have the privilege of an interview +with Asaad. Just as the note was sent, the consul providentially +came in, and the shekh found him ready to give him a seasonable +reprimand for presuming to threaten a person under English protection. +The <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'skekh'">shekh</ins> declared, that he had never sent such a message; +that the man who brought it was but an ass, and said it from his own +brain; that having heard of Asaad's arrival, he merely wished to see +whether the reports respecting his insanity were true or false; that +Asaad was his bosom friend, his own son, and that whatever he had +was his; and that as for church, and priests, and patriarch, he cared +for none of them.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, the youth already mentioned entered the house, +ready to faint with excessive fear and fatigue. He had fled from the +mountains in all haste, under the absurd apprehension, that he should +be suspected and taken up as an accomplice with Asaad. Having +thrown himself upon a seat, and taken a little breath, he began to relate +what had happened. He was at the convent, when it was first discovered +that Asaad had fled. The patriarch and his train were occupied +in the religious services of the morning, so that no great sensation was +at first apparent among them. One individual spoke boldly in favour +of Asaad, saying, "Why should he not leave you? What inducement +had he to remain here? What had he here to do? What had he to enjoy? +Books he had none; friendly society none; conversation against +religion abundant; insults upon his opinions and his feelings abundant. +Why should he not leave you?"</p> + +<p>Others, especially the great ones, pitied the poor maniac, (as they +called him,) and sent in quest of him to every direction, lest peradventure,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span> +he might be found starving in some cavern, or floating in the +sea, or dashed in pieces at the bottom of a precipice.</p> + +<p>On learning of Asaad all that had passed during his absence, we +requested him to write a statement of the facts somewhat in the form +of a journal. We wished this not only for our own information, but to +produce it to those who shall inquire on the subject of Asaad's lunacy +hereafter.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Public Statement of Asaad Shidiak.</i></div> + +<div class='right'> +<i>Beyroot, March 1826.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p>Respected Brethren and Friends,—Since many have heard a report, +that I have become insane; and others, that I have become a +heretic; I have wished to write an account of myself in few words, +and then let every reflecting man judge for himself, whether I am +mad, or am slandered; whether following after heresy, or after the +truth of the orthodox faith. Every serious man of understanding +will concede, that true religion is not that of compulsion, nor that +which may be bought and sold; but that which proceeds from attending +to the word of God, believing it, and endeavouring to walk +according to it to the glory of God, and that every one, whose object +is solely contention, and who does not obey the truth, but follows after +unrighteousness, is far distant from the true religion. This is the +standard, by which I would be judged by every one who reads this +narrative.</p> + +<p>About eight or nine months ago, I was employed, by an American +by the name of J. King, in teaching him the Syriac language. At +that time, I was very fond of engaging with him in disputatious conversations, +to prove him to be in error; but with none but worldly +motives, to display my talents and knowledge, and acquire the praise +of men. After this, I applied myself to reading of the word of God +with intense interest. Now this person wrote a farewell letter to his +friends, in which he excuses himself from uniting himself with the +Roman Catholic church. After reading this letter, I found, in the +Holy scriptures, many passages, which made against the opinions of +the writer. These passages I selected, and from them and other evidences, +composed a reply to him. But when I was copying the first +rough draught of the same, and had arrived to the answer to the last +of the objections, which he said prevented his becoming a member of +the Roman Catholic church, viz: that the Roman Catholic church +teaches, that it is wrong for the common people to possess or read the +word of God but that they ought to learn from the popes and councils, +I observed the writer brings a proof against the doctrine from +the prophet Isaiah, viz: "To the law and to the testimony, if they +speak not according to my word, it is because there is no light in +them."</p> + +<p>While I was endeavouring to explain this passage also, according to +the views of the Roman Catholic church, with no other object than +the praise of men, and other <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wordly'">worldly</ins> motives, I chanced to read the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span> +29th chapter of Isaiah, from the 15th verse to the end. I read, and +was afraid. I meditated upon the chapter a long while, and feared +that I was doing what I did, with a motive far different from the only +proper one, viz. the glory and the pleasure of God. I therefore threw +by my paper without finishing the copy, and applied myself diligently +to the reading of the prophecy of Isaiah. I had wished to find, in +the prophets, plain proofs, by which to establish, beyond contradiction, +that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, so long expected from ancient days; +proofs that might be made use of in answer to Moslems and Jews. +While I was thus searching, I found various passages, that would <i>bear</i> +an explanation according to my views, but did not find them sufficient +to enforce conviction on others, until I finally came to the 52d chapter +14th verse, and onward to the end of the next chapter.</p> + +<p>On finding this testimony, my heart rejoiced, and was exceeding +glad, for it removed many dark doubts from my <i>own</i> mind also. +From that time, my desire to read the New Testament, that I might +discover the best means of acting according to the doctrines of Jesus, +was greatly increased. I endeavoured to divest myself of all selfish +bias, and loved more and more to inquire into religious subjects. I +saw, and continue to see, many of the doctrines of the Roman Catholic +church, which I could not believe, and which I found opposed to +the truths of the Gospel; and I wished much to find some of her best +teachers to explain them to me, that I might see how they proved +them from the Holy scriptures. As I was reading an appendix to +a copy of the sacred scriptures, printed at Rome by the Propaganda, +and searching out the passages referred to, for proving the duty of +worshipping saints, and other similar doctrines, I found that these +proofs failed altogether of establishing the points in question, and that +to infer such doctrines from such premises, was even worthy of ridicule. +Among other things, in this appendix, I found the very horrible +<i>Neronian</i> doctrines, <i>that it is our duty to destroy heretics</i>. Now +every one knows, that whoever does not believe that the pope is infallible, +is a heretic in his opinions.</p> + +<p>This doctrine is not merely that it is <i>allowable</i> to kill heretics, but +that we are <i>bound</i> to do it. From this I was the more established in +my convictions against the doctrines of the pope, and saw that they +were the doctrines of the ravenous beast, and not of the gentle lamb. +After I had read this, I asked one of the priests in Beyroot respecting +this doctrine, and he assured me, that it was even so as I had read. I +then wished to go to some place, though it might be a distant country, +that I might find some man of the Roman Catholic church sufficiently +learned to prove the doctrine above alluded to.</p> + +<p>After this, as I was at Beyroot teaching a few Greek youths the +Arabic grammar, I received a letter from his holiness the Maronite +patriarch, saying, that if I did not cease from all assistance whatever +to the English, and that if I did not leave them within one day, I +should, <i>ipso facto</i>, fall under the heaviest excommunication.</p> + +<p>Thinking, as I did, that obeying my superiors, in all things not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span> +sinful, was well and good, I did not delay to leave, and so went to my +friends at Hadet; but still thinking very much on the subject of religion, +so that some people thought me melancholy. I loved exceedingly +to converse on religious subjects, indeed I took no pleasure in +any worldly concerns, and found all worldly possessions vain. After +this, I received a second letter from his holiness the patriarch, in +which he said thus: "After we had written you the first letter, we +wrote you a second; see that you act according to it. And if you +fulfil all that was commanded in it, and come up to us when we come +to Kesran, we will provide you a situation." But I saw that nothing, +in which I was accustomed to take delight, pleased me any longer. +I returned again, after some time, to Beyroot; and after I had been +there no long time, Hoory Nicolas arrived, brother to his holiness +the rev. patriarch, with a request from the latter, to come and see +him, which I hastened to do. Hoory Nicolas then began to converse +with me, in the way of reprimand, for being in connexion with the +English. I replied that, as we ought not to deny the unity of God, because +the Musselmans believe it, so we ought not to hate the gospel because +the English love it. He then began to tell me of the wish of his +holiness, the rev. patriarch, that I should come out to him, and of his +great love to me; and said that he (the patriarch) had heard, that I had +received thirty or forty purses of money from the English; and he assured +me of their readiness not to suffer this to be any hindrance to my +coming out from them.</p> + +<p>Now if my object were money, as some seemed to think, I had then +a fair opportunity to tell him a falsehood, and say, "I indeed received +from the English that sum, but I have expended so and so, and cannot +leave them unless I restore the whole." In this way I might have contrived +to take what I wished. Yet I did not so answer him, but declared +to him the truth, how much wages I had received, and which was nothing +extraordinary.</p> + +<p>He then gave me a paper from his holiness the patriarch, in which +he says, "You will have received from us an answer, requesting that +when we come to Alma, you will come up and see us. We expect +your presence, and, if God please, we will provide you some proper +situation, with an income that shall be sufficient for your sustenance. +Delay not your coming, lest the present happy opportunity should pass +by." Knowing, as I did, that many people supposed my object, in +continuing with the English, to be gain, I did not delay fulfilling the request +of his reverence, hoping to remove this suspicion, and to enjoy +an opportunity of speaking the truth without being hired to do it.</p> + +<p>So, about the 7th of January, I left Beyroot, with Hoory Nicolas, +and arrived at Der Alma the same night. His holiness, the patriarch, +was not there. On the next day, when he came, I met him, and saluted +him in the road. In the evening he called me into his chamber, +and began to ask me questions, that he might discover what I was; +and I answered him telling him the whole truth, although this course +was opposed to my personal convenience. At this he seemed surprised,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span> +for he must have perceived it was contrary to what he had +been accustomed to see in me. Afterwards, when I declared to him, +that I never had before been a believer, according to the true living faith, +he was probably still more astonished. He then asked me if I believed +as the Romish church believed. I again told him the truth, that I +did not. He asked then what was my faith, and I answered to the following +purport, "True and living faith must be divine, connected with +hope, love and repentance, and that all these virtues are the gift of God +&c.; that I believed the truth as God had inspired it; and that it would +be but a lie, if I should say that I believed as the Romish church does, +while in fact I do not. I must have proofs."</p> + +<p>After some conversation like this, he told me that this doctrine of mine +was heretical, and that as long as I remained in this state of opinion, he +would suffer no one to have intercourse with me in buying and selling, +&c. This prohibition of his brought to my mind the words in the Revelation, +xiii, 17.<a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[G]</a> Then he gave me to understand, that if, after three +days, I did not get back out of this state, I must no more enter the +church. At other times, he wished me to swear by the eucharist and +by the gospel, that my faith was like the faith of the Roman catholic +church. He asked me if I was a Bible man; I replied, "I do not follow +the opinions of the Bible men; but if you think me a Bible man on +account of the opinions I have advanced, very well."</p> + +<p>The sum of what I said was, that without evidence I could not believe +what the Romish church believes. From that time, after three days, I +did not enter the church for a space. Some time passed again, and the +patriarch inquired of me my faith. I then explained to him what I believed +respecting the unity and trinity of God, and that the Messiah was +one person with two natures, and that the Holy Spirit proceeds from +the Father and Son. Then arose a disputation about, who is the Vicar +that Christ has appointed to explain his law. I answered in substance +as I afterwards did in writing, that by reason, and learning, and prayer +to God, with purity of motive, we may know, from the holy scriptures, +every thing necessary to our salvation. This was the purport of my +reply, which perhaps was not expressed with sufficient clearness, or +perhaps I was not able to say it in the manner that was appropriate, +for such a tumult and storm were excited in the company that they +seemed to me to be intent on overcoming me by dint of vociferation, +rather than by argument, and to drown my voice, rather than to understand +my opinions.</p> + +<p>When, after some days, came bishop Abdalla Blabul and Padre +Bernardus of Gzir, the patriarch one day called me to them in his +chamber, and asked me what I wished, whether money or office, or +whatever it might be, promising to gratify me, speaking of his love to +me and of his great interest in my welfare. These professions I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span> +know to be sincere, but they are according to the world, and not according +to the Gospel. I assured him that I wanted nothing of the +things he had mentioned; that I was submissive and obedient to him; +and that if he thought of me, that I had taken money of the English, +he was welcome to shut me up in my chamber as to a prison, and +take from me every thing that I possessed; that I wished from them +merely my necessary food and clothing, and that I would give them +this assurance in writing. The bishop and priest then begged me, in +presence of the patriarch, to say that my faith was like that of the +Romish church. I replied, that I feared to tell a falsehood by saying +a thing, while actually, in my reason, I did not believe it.</p> + +<p>"But," said they, "the patriarch here will absolve you from the sin +of the falsehood." I turned to the Patriarch and put the question +whether he would so absolve me. He answered, that he would. I said, +"What the law of nature itself condemns, it is out of the power of any +man to make lawful." He then again asked me what I wished to do. +I said, I wish to go and see the Armenian patriarch Gregory, and inquire +of him what I ought to do. He consented, and requested me, +when I had done this, to return to him, to which I agreed. I was accompanied +by a priest from the station of the patriarch to the College +of Ain Warka, where I found Hoory Joseph Shaheen, with whom I +conversed a considerable time, and with great pleasure; for I found +that for himself, he did not believe that the pope was infallible in matters +of faith, that is to say, unless in concert with the congregated +church. I then began to confess to him: but when I saw that he +held steadfastly some opinions for no other reason than that the +church so believed, and without bringing any proper evidence of +the fact, viz. from councils or from the fathers, and burst out upon +me with exceeding bitter words, saying, "Know that the church neither +deceives, nor is deceived, and be quiet;" and when I wished him +to instruct me according to the word of God, with the simple object of +glorifying God and fulfilling his will, I saw that he was not disposed +to support any opinion because it was according to the word of God, +but because so thought the church; and I saw him also ready to retain +these opinions, although I should bring the strongest evidences against +them from the holy Scriptures. He told me that it was impossible for +him to teach any thing contrary to the council of Trent. So I found +I could not receive his system, because, though you should shew him +that it was wrong, he would not give it up, lest with it he should be +obliged to give up his office. I therefore told him, you are bound, i. e. +shut up as between walls, by the doctrines of the pope and the council +of Trent.</p> + +<p>In conversation on the images, he would have proved their propriety +from Baronius' church history. We found this author quoting the sacred +scriptures to prove that our Saviour sent a picture of himself to +the king of Abgar. I declared that it was false, in so far as he stated +that the <i>Gospel</i> made any such statement, and on that account I +could not believe the story. To this he gave me no answer. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span> +this, as we were reading the book, and found a statement respecting +the bishops collected in Constantinople, to the number of 313; that +they decreed the abolition of the use of images, because it was idolatrous, +and that in the clearest terms,—I asked him the question, "If an +assembly composed of the bishops of the church were infallible, how +is it that this council is said to have committed an error?"</p> + +<p>About this time, I heard that a certain individual wished to converse +with me on the subject of religion, which rejoiced me exceedingly, +and I was impatient for an interview. He came on a Sabbath +day to Ain Warka, for the study of the Arabic grammar, according to +his custom, and we had a short conversation together on works unlawful +on the Sabbath day, and other subjects. He then excused himself +from further conversation for want of time; but promised that when +we should meet again, he hoped to have a sufficient opportunity to +dwell on these subjects at large. I continued at Ain Warka the whole +week, reading with the rest at prayers and confessing to Hoory Joseph +above mentioned; and on the next Lord's day, the Armenian +priest aforesaid came again, and I fully expected to have time and +opportunity to ascertain his opinions; but I was disappointed again; +for he wished to have the dispute carried on in writing, and to have an +assistant with him, with other conditions.</p> + +<p>In these circumstances I failed of my object; but was on the whole +more inclined than before to receive the doctrines of the Romish +church; since the priest had promised to bring his evidence, on all +points, from the word of God, that they (the papists) were walking in +light and not in darkness.</p> + +<p>At this time one informed me that his holiness, bishop Jacob, superior +of the convent of Bzumar, wished to see me. And because Hoory +Joseph, at first told me that this state in which I had fallen was a +temptation of Satan, and at one time shewed me that it was usual for +people, when they came to the age of manhood, to be tempted on the +subject of their religion, and at another, assured me, that this was a +state of delirium:—and again, because I had heard formerly that this +bishop Jacob had himself been delirious, and that he was a man of +information, I wished very much to see him; and on the same day I +went to Hoory Joseph and declared to him plainly my opinions, and +shewed him that the beast mentioned in the Revelation was a figure, +as the lamb evidently was, and how dreadful must be the torments of +those who worship the image of the beast. I then disclosed to him +my intention of going up to the convent of Bzumar, where were the +patriarch Gregory, bishop Jacob, and the Armenian priest already +mentioned.</p> + +<p>I set off the same day, and on my arrival saluted the patriarch, and +on the same night reasoned on the subjects of faith, hope and love. +It appeared that the patriarch's opinion was, that a man may be possessed +of living faith, faith unto salvation, although he should feel +nothing in his heart. I answered him with a quotation from St. Paul,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span> +"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth +confession is made unto salvation." But this did not convince him. +He explained the <i>heart</i> to mean the <i>will</i>. It then appeared to me +that he was not a true believer, and from that time forward I could +not believe him, as I would believe a real Christian, but I wished to +hear his worldly arguments. On the following day, I asked him how +it can he said, that the pope was infallible if there were no proofs of +the fact to be brought. I asked him if this pretension of the pope +was that of an apostle, or a prophet? if an apostle, or a prophet, he +could not be believed without miracles, and that we christians were +not to believe any one, though he were to bring down fire from +Heaven.<a name="FNanchor_H_8" id="FNanchor_H_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_H_8" class="fnanchor">[H]</a> His replies to me were weak; and after considerable conversation +on what is the church of Christ, on the ignorance that is pardonable, +&c. he began to prove that if the pope is not infallible, then +there is <i>no religion</i>, <i>no gospel</i>, and even <i>no God</i>. But I observed +all his proofs so weak, that I could not be convinced, and I fell into +deep perplexity as to what I should do. For sometimes I greatly +endeavoured to submit my judgment to his rules and opinions, and +made these efforts until my very head would ache. The next day I +asked him what was that <i>great city</i>, ruling over the kings of the earth, +mentioned in the Rev. xvii, 18? After he had brought his book of +commentaries, he answered that it was Rome, which is also called spiritual +Babylon, or Babel, and after wishing me to yield to his opinion +or that of the book, he said nothing more. From this time I was with +the patriarch every day for three or four hours, and his best advice to +me was, to pray to St. Antony of Padua, together with one repetition +of the Lord's prayer, and one of Hail Mary, &c. every day for three +days. When I was thus in doubt from the weakness of their proofs, +one of the monks said to me, "If you wish to know <i>good tobacco</i>, ask +the patriarch." I hoped that this priest would explain to me those +doctrines of the Romish church, which I could not believe; so I went +into his chamber and questioned him very particularly on all points. +He expressed his wish that we might discuss together all the points one +by one, but on condition that the patriarch Joseph should appoint him +to do so. He told me he had in his possession a book refuting the opinions +of Luther and Calvin. I begged permission to read it; but he +refused, telling me that the doctrines of the church all remained unrefuted. +He wished me to go down to the patriarch Joseph on this business. +So after a stay of four days from my arrival, I departed for +Ain Warka according to my promise to Hoory Joseph.</p> + +<p>Here I found one of my friends of whom I had heard that he had +been very much astonished at my connexion with the Bible men. +After I had seen him, and had conversed with him a little on +some points, he would no longer hear me, fearing among other things +lest he should be crazed. When we touched on the subject of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span> +great city above mentioned, he told me that he had seen a book of +commentaries on the Revelation, which made the city clearly to be +Rome. At this I wondered greatly, since the meaning was so clear +that not even the teachers of the Romish church herself could deny it. +I then finished my confession to Hoory Joseph Shaheen, and about +sunset the same day, went down to the patriarch to the convent Alma. +He requested me again to write a paper stating that my faith was according +to the faith of the Romish church. From this I excused myself, +begging that such a thing might not be required of me, for the +council of Trent had added nothing to the rule of faith, which was +established by that of Nice, which begins, "I believe in one God," &c. +A short space after, I gave him my advice, with modest arguments, +and mild suggestions, on his duty to cause the gospel to be preached +in the church among the Maronite people; and offered him the opinion +that this should be done by the priests in the vulgar language, +every Sabbath day, for the space of one or two hours; and if this +should appear too burthensome to the people, to take off from them +some of the feast days. After this, I remained silent in my chamber +near to his own; and as there came to me a few of the deacons of the +patriarch, and others, I read to them at their request in the New +Testament printed in Rome. But in a little time after, I entered my +room, and found in it none of all the books that had been there, neither +New Testament nor any other, and I knew that the patriarch had +given the order for this purpose, for he reproved me for reading the +gospel to them, but he could accuse me of no false or erroneous explanations, +or that I taught them any thing heretical.</p> + +<p>One day after this, he called me to his presence and began to threaten +me in a most unusual manner. I said, "What do you wish of me, +your reverence? What have I done, and what would you have me +do? What is my sin, except that I conversed with some individuals, +shewing them the errors of the church of Rome?" Then he requested +me again, to say, that I believed as did that church, and said, grasping +me firmly by the chin, "see how I will take you if you do not repent." +I begged him to appoint some one to shew me the truth, by way of +discussion, but he would not, and continued expressing his own sentiment, +that we are bound to hold fast to the church, even to such a +length, that if she should even reject the gospel, we should reject it +too.</p> + +<p>And here I wish to say a word to every reader that regards and +loves the truth; how does such doctrine appear to you? and how +could I believe in all which the Romish church holds, without <i>knowing</i> +all of it? and how could I say, without a lie, that I believe, when I do +not believe?</p> + +<p>When I saw the patriarch breaking out with an exceeding loud and +unusual voice, I was afraid that I should be found among "<i>the fearful</i>," +(Rev. xxi. 8.) and rose to depart. When I reached the door, I turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span> +and said to him, "I will hold fast the religion of Jesus Christ, and I am +ready for the sake of it to shed my blood; and though you should all +become infidels, yet will not I;" and so left the room.</p> + +<p>One of my friends told me, that he had suggested to the patriarch +the grand reason why I did not believe in the pope, which was, that +among other doctrines of his, he taught, that he could not commit an +error, and that now, though a pope should see any one of his predecessors +had erred, he could not say this, for fear that <i>he</i> also should +appear to be an unbeliever. This friend also told me, that the patriarch +wondered how I should pretend that I held to the Christian religion, +and still converse in such abusive terms against it; and <i>I</i> also +wondered, that after he saw this, he should not be willing so much as +to ask me, in mildness, and self-possession, and forbearance, <i>for what +reasons</i> I was unwilling to receive the doctrines of the pope, or to say +I believed as he did; but he would not consent that the above mentioned +Armenian priest should hold a discussion with me, and more +than this, laid every person, and even his own brother, under excommunication, +if he should presume to dispute or converse with me on +the subject of religion.</p> + +<p>Under this prohibition from conversation, and this bereavement of +books, from what quarter could I get the necessary evidence to believe +in their opinion?</p> + +<p>Another cause I had of wonder, which was, that not one of all with +whom I conversed, after he saw me to be heretical and declining from +the truth, thought proper to advise me to use the only means of becoming +strong in the faith, viz. prayer to God the Most High, and +searching his Holy Word, which a child may understand. I wondered, +too, that they should ridicule me, and report me abroad as one mad +and after all this, be so fearful to engage in a dispute with the madman, +lest he should vanquish them in argument, or spoil their understandings, +or turn them away from the truth.</p> + +<p>After some time came the bishop of Beyroot. I gave him the usual +salutation, and was greatly rejoiced to see him, as I knew the excellency +of his understanding, and his quickness of apprehension, and +hoped that, after some discussion between us, he would explain the +truth, and that he would rest on clear evidence to support his views. +But in this case also, I was disappointed; for one day, when I asked +him a question, and during the whole short conversation which followed, +whenever I began to bring evidence against him, he was angry, +and finally drove me from my chamber in a fury, and that with no +other cause, as he pretended, than that he did not wish to converse with +a heretic.</p> + +<p>Some time after this, Hoory Joseph Shaheen came down to the convent +of Alma, and I endeavoured to get him to unite with me in persuading +the patriarch to send out among the people preachers of the +gospel, or that there should be preaching in the churches as before +mentioned. But he would not co-operate with me in this, and I was +again disappointed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then, when the patriarch and the bishop of Beyroot wished to dispute +with me, I expressed the hope that the discussion might be in +meekness, and without anger. It was concluded that the discussion +should be in writing, that no one afterwards should be able to alter +what he had once said. They then commenced by asking me questions; +the first question was, in amount, this, "Has the Messiah given +us a new law?" At first, I did not grant that he had, strictly speaking, +given us a new law, and quoted the words of John, that "the law +was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ;" <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original smudged on this word">but</ins> +when I afterwards saw that by "<i>a new law</i>," they meant merely <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original smudged on this word">the</ins> +gospel, or the New Testament, I answered in the affirmative. They +then asked me if there was not to be found in this new law some obscurities. +I answered, "Yes." They then asked me, Suppose any +difference of sentiment should arise between the teachers of Christianity, +how are we to distinguish the truth from the error? I answered +thus;—"We have no other means of arriving at the truth, than +searching the word of God, with learning, and reason, and inquiry of +learned spiritual teachers, with purity of motive, and with disinterestedness +of inclination. If the obscurities of the word of God cannot be +understood by these means, our ignorance is excusable, and will not +prevent our salvation. If the passages, which still remain obscure, +concern faith, it is sufficient for a man to say, I believe according as +the truth is in itself before God, or I believe in the thing as God inspired +it to the writer. And if the obscurity respects our practice, +after making use of the means above mentioned, if that branch of our +practice be forbidden, or under a doubt, desist from it, but if it is not +forbidden, do it, and <i>Blessed is he that condemneth not himself in the +thing which he alloweth.</i>"</p> + +<p>After I had given them this answer, they brought no evidence to +prove any error in it, and moreover afterwards never put to me any +question to writing.</p> + +<p>Once, as I was walking with the bishop of Beyroot, he began +to tell me how much they all felt for me; and how unwilling they +should be to put me in chains to die a lingering death; and that were +it not for the sympathy and their love towards me, there were people +who had conversed with them, who were ready to take my life. Some +further conversation passed, and I began to introduce the subject of +religion, and to ask how we could believe in the pope that he was +infallible. He quoted for proof the words of our Saviour, <i>Thou art +Peter, &c.</i> I asked him if it was proper to suppose that all things +bestowed on Peter, were also given to the pope? If so, why does not +the pope speak with tongues; and why is he not secure from the evil +effects of poison, &c.? He answered, that these last things were not +necessary. "But how do you prove it necessary," said I, "that the +pope should not err? Is it not sufficient if any one has doubts, to ask +his teacher who is not infallible? if you say <i>yes</i>, then the opinion of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span> +the fallible man will answer. But if you say <i>no</i>, and that we <i>must</i> +go to the pope, what must become of the man who dies before the +answer of the pope can reach him?"</p> + +<p>He then resorted to another mode of proof, saying, "Is it not desirable +that the pope should be infallible?" I assured him I wished +he might be so. "Well, is not God able to render him so?" "Yes, +He is able to do all things." He wished to infer his point from these +two premises. But I said, "your reasoning with regard to the <i>pope</i>, +may be applied to all the bishops of the church; for it is desirable +that they should all be infallible, and God is able to make them so." +He said, "No, for the bishops feeling less their need of the pope, +would not look to him, or submit to him as their head, and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original smudged on this word">then</ins> there +would be divisions and contentions in the church." But why, said I, +did not divisions and contentions arise among the apostles? Were +they not all infallible as well as Peter? He would not say they +<i>were</i> infallible. I told him, that was an opinion that could not be believed, +that the pope was infallible, and the apostles not; for it was +well known to all, that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in +a peculiar manner. I asked him again, how it could be made to appear +that divisions would be produced if all bishops were infallible, +for if they were all of one opinion, as they of course would be, their +union must be the more perfect. We conversed farther at some +length, when he concluded by saying, "You are possessed of a +devil."</p> + +<p>The next day, as the patriarch and the bishop of Beyroot were +seated under a tree without the convent, I went out to them, and said, +"Your holiness sent to me to come hither for employment, and I came, +and have remained here a considerable time. What do you wish me +to do for you, for I cannot remain here in idleness?" He said, "What +do you wish to do?" If your holiness pleases, that I teach in the +school of Ain Warka, I will do that. "No, I cannot have you go to +Ain Warka, to corrupt the minds of those who are studying science, +and to contradict my opinions." But I will instruct in grammar. +"No, the youths of the college are now attending to <i>moral</i> science." +Well, I only beg you will let me know what I am to do, and if you +have no employment for me, I wish to return home. The bishop +here broke in upon the conversation, saying, I will not suffer you to +go back among my flock to deceive them, and turn them away to heresy. +Will you then debar me, said I, from my home? If so, let me +know where I shall go, what I shall do? The bishop then said to the +patriarch, "Indeed I will not suffer this man to go abroad among my +people, for he is even attempting to make heretics of us also." Yes +replied the patriarch, it will not do after this, to afford him a residence +in any part of the land. The bishop then turned to me, in the bitterest +anger and rage, reviling me and saying, "If you go among my +people again, I will send and take your life, though it be in the bosom +of your own house." I said, "Well, what would you have me to do,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span> +and what will you do with me? If you wish to kill me, or shut me +up in prison, or give me up to the government, or whatever it may be, I +wish to know it." "You must wait here till spring or summer," said +the patriarch, "and then we shall see how you are." I answered him +in the words of that christian who was given by his judge ten days to +deliberate whether he would worship an image: "<i>Consider the time already +past, and do what you please.</i>"</p> + +<p>I asked the bishop his reasons for wishing to kill me. What evil had I +done? He was filled with high and bitter indignation, saying, "What, +miscreant! Shall we let you go forth to corrupt my flock for me? Is +not what has passed enough?" I rose and said to them, "God at least +is with me," and left them. The patriarch sent after me his nephew, +requesting me, in soothing words to return, and saying that he would +do what I wished.</p> + +<p>But when I contemplated the hardness of heart manifested by the +bishop, I could not restrain myself from reproving him, hoping that +he would grow mild. I said, therefore, "Our Lord Jesus Christ said, +<i>out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh</i>, and that Satan, +who was in his heart, wished to kill me, for Satan was a murderer +from the beginning." I told him, moreover, that he was not a true +disciple of Christ. And when I had left them a second time, the +patriarch again sent his nephew to enquire of me what I wished; +whether it was money, or what else, promising that he would answer +my enquiries.</p> + +<p>I returned and told him, that I had a request to make of <i>one thing +only</i>, and that I hoped he would answer me, not as to a little child, +who would ask a childish thing. He asked me what it was. I said +I have to ask of you the favour to send from your priests two faithful +men to preach the gospel through the country, and I am ready, if necessary, +to sell all that I possess to give to them as part of their wages. +He promised me it should be done. But I had reason to expect that he +would receive such a request as from the mouth of one out of his reason. +Now there was at the convent a man called Hoory Gabriel, who +was said to be insane, and was known to all his acquaintance as a man +that never would say a word on the subject of religion, and he was a +scribe of the patriarch, and from the time of my arrival until that day, +had never asked me a single question about my faith, or opinions, nor had +given me the least word of advice about any of my errors. The same +night, as this priest was passing the evening in company with the patriarch, +bishop, and other individuals, as if they had been conversing +on my idiocy in making the request of to-day, the patriarch sent for +me to come and sit with them. I came. The patriarch then asked +this priest and the others present, if two proper men could be found to +go and preach the gospel. They then answered one to another, such an +one, and such an one, would be the fittest persons, some mentioning one +and some another, looking at me in the mean time laughing, to see what +I would say.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span></p> + +<p>I smiled in a pleasant manner at all this, and when one asked me, +why I laughed? I said to the patriarch, "Have you not perfect confidence +in the integrity of the priest Gabriel?" He said, "Yes." I +then said, pray let this priest then examine me for the space of a few +days, and if he does not conclude that I am a heretic, I will for <i>one</i>, +take upon myself this duty of preaching. This remark put an immediate +end to the conversation.</p> + +<p>The third day, when the bishop wished to mock me before the patriarch +and a shekh of the country, I answered his questions according +to his own manner; but in a little time he began to revile me, and rebuke +me for blasphemy against the eucharist, against the virgin Mary +and the pictures, and that because I had said before one of his deacons, +that were it not for fear of the patriarch, I would tear all the +pictures to pieces and burn them. I gave him answer to every particular +by itself, and when he found that he could produce against +me no accusation, he increased in wrath. I then said, if this is your +pleasure, I will say no more. I told him that I had said, that pictures +were not Gods; that such was my opinion always; and that I wished +to tell all the common people so, that they might understand it. But +to this he would not consent. He then began to accuse me of saying +of the eucharist, "Let them smell the scent of it, and know that it is +but bread and wine still." I told him that if he would give me leave +to speak, or if he wished to hear my views, I would speak; "but how +is it that you bring against me accusations, and do not suffer me to +make my defence?" Here again he was not willing that I should +speak, but the patriarch said to me, "<i>Speak</i>." I then observed, that +St. Ephraim says, "Come, eat the fire of the bread, and drink the +spirit of the wine;" and began to say from this, that our eating the +body of Christ was not natural, but spiritual. Then again he fell +into a rage against me. I said to him, "It is written, <i>be ye angry +and sin not</i>. I told you before, that I would keep silence and not +speak without your consent, and whatever you wish, tell me that I +may act or refrain accordingly." At this the patriarch smiled. But +the bishop fell into a passion still more violent, against the patriarch +as well as myself, and rose and went away. I also left the room. In +the evening, when were collected together the patriarch and bishop +and all the monks, with priest Nicholas, whom they were about to ordain +bishop on the morrow, the patriarch began to ask me questions +respecting my faith. When I saw that their object was neither to +benefit me, nor receive benefit, I gave them answers calculated to continue +the conversation in a trifling strain, saying, "My faith is the +faith of Peter, and the faith of Peter is my faith. I believe all that +God has given by inspiration to the one only holy catholic church." +He asked me, What is the church? I answered, "The church is the +whole company of those who believe in the Messiah and his law, on +all the face of the earth." But where is the place of the church? +"The place of the church is the whole world, it is made up of every +nation and people." "What," said he "the <i>English</i> among the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span> +rest?" "Yes, of the English also." Afterwards, when he continued +to question me, and I saw that he had no other object than to try me, +I assured him, this is my faith, and to this faith will I hold, whether +it is worth any thing in your estimation or not. I then asked him if +he was willing to hold a discussion on the subject; but he would not +permit it in any shape. He afterwards requested me to tell my faith +again without fear and without concealment. I referred them to the +priest that was about to be ordained, saying, that I had conversed +with him on all points particularly, and that he was able to make +answer for me. The priest then bore testimony on the spot, that I +had said before him that I believed the pope to be infallible, while I +never said this to him at any time. Afterward, when I was in his +company privately, I inquired how he could bear such testimony as +he had done. He confessed in the fullest terms, that he knew it was +a falsehood, but that he said what he did, that they might cease talking +with me. The same night I had resolved on quitting them; so +at about midnight I left the convent, committing myself to the protection +of God, who never deserts them who put their trust in him, and +arrived at Beyroot, on the morning of Thursday, March 2, 1826.</p> + +<p>Here then I remain at present, not that I may take my views from +the English, or from the Bible men, nor that I may receive my religion +from them. No, by no means; for I hold to the word of God. This +is beyond all danger of error. In this I believe; in this is my faith; +and according to it I desire to regulate my life, and enjoy all my consolations. +By this I wish to show what I believe and not to confer +with flesh and blood, that I may not run now nor hereafter in vain; for +I know and am persuaded, that the true religion is not according to +the teaching of men, but according to the inspiration of God: not according +to the custom of education, but according to the truth, which +is made manifest by the word of God. I therefore say to myself +now, as I did in the convent with the patriarch, where I wrote thus:</p> + +<p>"Far from me be all the commandments of men. Nothing is to +come into comparison with the teaching of Jesus by reading the New +Testament. If our <i>hearts are not transformed</i>, there is the greatest +danger that we die in our sins. If any thing in the doctrine of Jesus +seems burdensome, let us pray that he may make it light; and if +there is any thing that we do not understand, let us pray that he would +instruct us and reveal the obscurity to all who truly believe in Jesus. +There is nothing more delightful to the soul than he. O taste and +see that the Lord is good! Blessed are all that put their trust in +him! Cast thy burthen on the Lord and he will sustain thee. Sweet +is the sorrow produced by his word; for it gives us an aversion to all +the consolations of time. Let us therefore seek refuge in God. Alas +for thee, O thou that trustest to the doctrines of men, especially if +they give rest to your conscience, for that rest is false and deceitful, +proceeding from the thoughts of men, and preventing you from attaining +that true rest, of which the Apostles speak, saying, <i>We do rest +from our labours.</i> Take heed lest there be in any of you an <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'evi'">evil</ins><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span> +heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Read the word +and it shall teach you all things necessary to your salvation. If you +say you do not understand it, behold the promise of St. James, <i>If any +may lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally +and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.</i> The divine word is a +most precious treasure, from which all wise men are enriched. +Drink from the fountain itself. Again, I say, vain is the philosophy of +men; for it recommends to us doctrines newly invented, and prevents +our increase in virtue, rather than promotes it. Cast it far from +you."</p> + +<p>This is what I wrote some time since, and I would revolve these +thoughts in my mind at all times. The object in all that I have done, +or attempted, or written, in this late occurrence, is, that I may act as +a disciple and servant of Christ. I could not, therefore, receive any +advice, which should direct me to hide my religion under a bushel. +I cannot regulate myself by any rules contrary to those of Christ; +for I believe that all who follow his word in truth, are the good grain, +and that all those who add to his word, are the tares sown by the +enemy, which shall soon be gathered in bundles and cast into the +fire unquenchable. And I beg every member of my sect, i. e. of the +Maronite church, who loves truth, if he sees me in an error to point +it out to me, that I may leave it, and cleave to the truth. But I must +request those who would rectify my views, not to do as did a priest at +Beyroot, who after a considerable discussion, denied the inspiration +of the New Testament. Men like him I do not wish to attempt to +point out my errors; for such men, it is evident, need rather to be +preached to, than to preach; and to be guided, rather than to guide. +But if any understanding man will take the word of God and prove +to me from it any doctrine whatever, I will respect him and honour +him with all pleasure. But if a doctrine cannot be established thus, +it is not only opposed to the doctrines of Christ, but to the views of +the early christians, the fathers of the church; such as St. Ephraim +and others. Such doctrines I cannot confess to be correct, although it +should cost me the shedding of my blood. Be it known, that I am +not seeking money, nor office; nor do I fear any thing from contempt, +nor from the cross, nor from the persecution of men, nor from their +insults, nor their evil accusations, so far as they are false. For I am +ready for the sake of Christ to die daily, to be accounted as a sheep +for the slaughter, for he, in that he suffered being tempted, is able to +succour those that are tempted. I consider that the sufferings of this +present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall +be revealed in us. I believe that Jesus is our High Priest for ever +and hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore he is able to save +them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, for he is the one +Mediator between God and man, and he ever liveth to make intercession +with the Father for us; and he is the propitiation for our sins, and +to him be glory with the Father and his Holy Spirit of life for ever and +ever—<i>Amen.</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span></p> + +<p>I would only add, if there is any one, whoever he may be, that will +shew me to be under a mistake, and that there is no salvation for me +unless I submit to the pope, or at least shew me that it is lawful to do +so, I am ready to give up all my peculiar views and submit in the +Lord. But without evidence that my views are thus mistaken, I +cannot give them up, and yield a blind obedience, until it shall be +not only <i>told</i> that I am mad, but until I shall be so in <i>fact</i>, and all my +understanding leaves me. Not until men shall have burned not only +the Bibles printed by the English, but all the Bibles of the world. But +these two things, understanding and the Bible, I pray God to preserve +both to me and to all the followers of Christ, and that he will preserve +and save all you, my friends, in the Lord.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Asaad Shidiak.</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Interview with several of his Relatives.</i></div> + +<p>6. Among those who came to see Asaad to-day, were three of his +brothers and an uncle. Mansoor, the oldest of the brothers, we had +never before seen. He is a furious bigot, and perfectly ignorant and +regardless of the first principles of religion. The second, Tannoos, or +Antony, has lived among us as a teacher, and has good native and acquired +talents; but, though he might be a protestant if he were left at liberty, +he thinks it altogether preposterous to attempt to quarrel with bishops +and patriarchs on the subject of religion.</p> + +<p>These two brothers, and the uncle, (the last worse than the first,) +came and conversed together with Asaad in his chamber a considerable +time. Hearing them very earnest, I took the liberty also to go in. +They continued their rebukes and arguments, (especially the uncle,) +in so harsh and unfeeling a manner, that it made me tremble to hear +them. They contradicted Asaad, scoffed at and threatened him, calling +him possessed, mad, under the power of Satan, and so on. Asaad consented +to go home and leave the English, which was the great point +they wished to gain, provided they would get an assurance from the +patriarch in writing, to say, on the faith of a christian, that he would +not molest him.</p> + +<p>"But," said they, "then you must hold your tongue, and not broach +your new opinions among the people."</p> + +<p>"What," replied Asaad, "must I go and live like a <i>dumb</i> man? No, +that I will never do. My religion binds me not to do it. I must love +my neighbour as myself."</p> + +<p>"Why do you not go," said they, "to the Druses, and the Moslems, +and preach the gospel to them? You answer, because there is danger. +So there is danger in the present case; this is not a land of liberty, +therefore be silent."</p> + +<p><i>Asaad.</i>—"Secure me but the free exercise of my conscience, and I +will go with you. My religion is my all, and I must be free in it."</p> + +<p><i>They.</i>—"We can give you no such security. Nobody dares go to +the patriarch with such a request. You cannot be permitted to publish +your notions abroad among the people."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then," said Asaad, "there is no more to be said;"—rising, and +with clasped hands walking the room;—"<i>Religion unshackled—Religion +unshackled</i>, is my doctrine."</p> + +<p>They rose and left the room in an angry despair. Mansoor returned, +and wished to speak a word with Asaad at the door. In a +moment, Asaad returned. "Do you know what Mansoor has told +me?" said he. "His last words were, 'Even if the patriarch and +the emir should do nothing; if they make no attempts to take your +life; be assured, <i>we ourselves</i> will do the work: so take heed to your +self accordingly.'"</p> + +<p>Asaad was much affected by the interview. As soon as he found +himself at liberty, he stepped up into the loft where he sleeps, and +threw himself on his couch in prayer.</p> + +<p>While in this attitude his next younger brother, Galed, knocked at +the door. I called to Asaad to inform him of the fact; but he gave +me no answer. I then invited Galed to another room, where Asaad +soon joined us with a full and heavy heart. The two brothers saluted +each other with embarrassment. Asaad evidently wished to be +alone, and the brother, after a few mild, unmeaning inquiries, left him.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Begins to converse more pointedly with the People.</i></div> + +<p>7. I yesterday advised Asaad to direct his conversations with the +people, as much as possible to their hearts, and say little or nothing +on the corruption of their church. He objected to the counsel. I +referred him to similar advice he gave me some months ago. "Ah," +said he, "I thought so then, but I now see that you cannot stir a step, +but you meet some of their corruptions." However, he to-day made +the experiment, and held an hour's conversation with two visiters on +the subject of regeneration. They both thought themselves renewed, +but took too little interest in the subject to confine their attention to it. +"You see," said Asaad, after they had gone, "how little they feel on +such a subject. It is painful to talk with such men. I would rather +see them contradict, and dispute, and get angry, or any thing, than to +appear so dead."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Interview with a younger Brother.</i></div> + +<p>Asaad's brother Galed came again to-day, and discovered more +feeling than yesterday on the subject of his brother's leaving the +English. He said he had brought an insupportable shame upon the +family. Asaad insisted, that such shame was no argument whatever +for his leaving us; that all the disciples of Christ were to expect it +as a thing of course. Galed assured him, that nobody would think +of molesting him, if he were at Hadet. I asked Galed if his brother +Mansoor did not threaten yesterday to kill him. He turned away, +colored, and muttered something that I did not understand; but the +whole was a full acknowledgment of the fact.</p> + +<p>Asaad said, "I cannot confide in you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But," said Galed, "if any one were disposed to take your life, could +they not do it as well here, as at home?"</p> + +<p>I answered, "no; that the emir Beshir himself could not enter my +house without my permission, and that if the relatives of Asaad did +not cease from their threats, I should feel myself bound to shut them +out of it."</p> + +<p>After a long conversation, at the end of which he found Asaad as +inflexible as ever, he rose abruptly, and was going out without a compliment, +when Asaad started up, and asked, "Well, what do you +conclude to do? Do you really intend to send some assassin to take +my life in my room?" The youth, without deigning to look at him, +closed the door in sullen grief, and departed.</p> + +<p>Asaad turning to me, said, "I cannot please these people. Whatever +I say, they are sure to be angry. Soft words, or hard words, it +makes no difference to them. They come as if I were under their +kingly authority. They lay hold of my cloak, and say, 'Give me +this.' If I say, 'I will not give it,' they are angry; and if I reason +with them with all the mildness of which I am capable, and say, +'Cannot you be accommodated elsewhere? Can you not wait upon +me in a few days?' &c. they are equally angry."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Correspondence with his family.</i></div> + +<p>8. A messenger called this morning with the following note.</p> + +<p>"To our brother Asaad Esh Shidiak: May God bless you.—We +beg you to come home to-night, and not wait till Sunday. We have +pledged our mother that you shall come. If you fail to do so, you will +trouble us all. Your brother,</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Galed.</span>"<br /> +</div> + +<p>To this letter, Asaad sat down, and instantly wrote the following +reply:</p> + +<p>"To our much honoured and very dear brother Galed: God preserve +him.—Your note has reached us, in which you speak of our +coming home to-night, and say, that if we do not come, we trouble you +all.</p> + +<p>"Now if we were in some distant land, your longing after us in this +manner might be very proper; but we are near you, and you have been +here, and seen us in all health, and we have seen you. Then quiet +our mother, that we, through the bounty of God, are in perfect health, +and that we have great peace in the Lord Jesus Christ, peace above all +that the world can afford, and abundant joy in the Holy Ghost above +all earthly joy. But as to our coming up this evening, we do not find +it convenient, not even though we had the strongest desire to see our +mother and you.</p> + +<p>"I beg you all to love God, and to serve him in our Lord Jesus +Christ. This is of all things the most important; for if we love God, +if he but renew our hearts by the holy Ghost, we shall enjoy each +other's society for ever and ever.</p> + +<p>"And now we are prevented from coming to you, and you know we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span> +are not void of all desire to see you, but the hindrances to which we +have alluded, are, we think, a sufficient apology. We beg you to +accept our excuse, and to apologize for us to our mother, and we pray +God to pour out his grace richly on you all, and lengthen your days.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"Your brother, <span class="smcap">Asaad</span>.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"P. S. Tell our mother not to think so much of these earthly things +but rather of God our Saviour."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Is visited by his Mother.</i></div> + +<p>This letter had been gone scarcely time sufficient to reach Hadet, +when the mother herself was announced at the door. We welcomed +her with all cordiality, and treated her with all the respect and attention +we could. But all we could do or say did not alter her resolution +to get her son away, if in her power. She besought him by the honour +he owed her, by the love he professed for her, by his regard for the +reputation of her family, for religion itself, and for his own personal +safety, that he would immediately accompany her home; and when +she found him inflexible, she declared she would never stir out of the +house unless he went with her.</p> + +<p>To all this Asaad replied, "To what purpose would it be, that I +should go home? You wish me to go, you say, that people may be +convinced that I am not mad. But you, who come hither, and see, +and converse with me, say, after all, that I <i>am</i> mad. How can it be +expected that I should convince others that I am <i>not</i> mad, when my +own mother will not believe it. Or do you think that if I once get +out among you, the air of Hadet will change my opinions, or induce +me to be silent? All these are vain expectations. I see no object to +be gained. If I should go to Hadet, and be constantly disputing +with the people, and telling them, that you are all going astray; that +you are worshipping idols instead of the living God; that I could wish +to tear down every picture in your churches; that the bread and wine +of the Lord's Supper are not Jesus Christ; that I believe the pope to +be the beast in the revelation,<a name="FNanchor_I_9" id="FNanchor_I_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_I_9" class="fnanchor">[I]</a> whose business is to deceive the +people and ruin their souls;—by all this, I should injure your feelings, +enrage the people, excite the opposition of the emirs, and bishops, +and patriarchs, and then return here just in the state I am in now."</p> + +<p>The youngest brother, Phares, who accompanied his mother, conversed +freely and in good temper, and listened with attention to all +Asaad's arguments, by which he endeavoured to justify his views and +determinations. But no argument or evidence could convince the +disconsolate mother. Asaad had repeated the name of Christ, and +the word of God so often, that she, at last, in a fit of impatience +exclaimed, "Away, with Christ, and the word of God; what have +we to do with them!" and when we pointed out to Asaad some text<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span> +of Scripture, which we thought applicable in any case, she would +endeavour to close the book, or catch it from him, as if it taught +paganism, or witchcraft. During her stay we dined, and as Asaad +took the meat upon his plate, and ate it without a scruple, in this +season of Lent, it was remarked with what a gaze of wonder she +regarded him. She seemed to say in her heart, "All is over—my +son is lost!"</p> + +<p>After some hours of troublesome expostulation and entreaty, during +which Asaad once said he could bear it no longer, and rose, and shook +my hand to go, it was finally settled that the mother should go home +without him, but that to save the family from the insupportable shame, +which threatened it, Asaad should give her a paper, stating, in effect, +that he was not a follower of the English. When the paper was finished, +"Now," said Asaad, "go to your home in peace;" and walked +away; but suddenly recollecting himself, he called his brother back, +and said, "Phares, I wish you fully to understand, that I love you, and +I have one request to make of you, which is, that you will take the +New Testament, and read it attentively."—"Give me a New Testament," +said Phares, quickly. We gave him the book, and he went his +way, evidently affected and softened by the interview.</p> + +<p>9. The shekh before mentioned communicated to Asaad, through +the medium of a priest, the offer of his daughter in marriage, on condition +he should leave the English.</p> + +<p>10. Set apart a day of fasting and prayer on Asaad's account. He +was observed not to be in a happy temper. Towards evening he spoke +of going home. I hoped he would finish writing the statement we had +requested of him, "for," said I, "if you go home I shall not see you +again for months." "No," said he, "perhaps not for years." His +manner was very peculiar. I knew not what was the matter, till, in +the evening, after a long conversation on the evidences of inspiration, +he said, "I have been in deep darkness to-day. My heart has been +full of blasphemy, such as I have scarcely ever known. I have even +doubted the existence of God. But now I am relieved, and I would just +say, I shall not go home to-morrow, as I hinted."</p> + +<p>This temptation seems to have arisen chiefly from a discrepancy in +the scriptures, which I had shewed him, and which I knew not how +to reconcile. He begged that, for the present, I would by no means +shew him another such.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Suspects himself to have been poisoned.</i></div> + +<p>11. One of the neighbours brought Shidiak a letter, cautioning him, +if he went to the shekh's house, not to smoke or drink with him.</p> + +<p>12. Word came to Asaad, that the shekh was with the family +below, and would be glad to see him. Asaad went down, but in a few +minutes came up, pale and trembling, and said he was exceedingly +dizzy and faint. He had just taken coffee below, attended with suspicious +circumstances, and begged to know if he might not be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span> +poisoned. We opened a medical book we had, and explained to him, +as rapidly as possible, the symptoms of a poisoned person. "Oh! +these are my feelings," said he, and fell upon his knees before his +seat in silent prayer. We immediately gave him an emetic, which +operated well, and before night he was relieved of every alarming +symptom. The youth who gave the coffee, being sent for, gave good +evidence of having had no bad intentions; and notwithstanding many +suspicious circumstances, we did not think the evidence of an attempt +at poison sufficiently strong, to prosecute any public inquiry into the +matter.</p> + +<p>16. A youth from Der el Kamer called to see Asaad. He remarked, +that he once saw a priest at his village tear in pieces five of +these books of ours, but he could not tell for what reasons. He had, +apparently, never seen the ten commandments before, and was very +much surprised to find image-worship so expressly condemned in them. +A letter was received by Asaad from the patriarch, written in very +plausible terms.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Visits his Relatives at Hadet.</i></div> + +<p>17. Four of the relatives of Asaad came down, and succeeded in +persuading him to accompany them home. He said he could not believe, +after all that has been said, that they would do him violence, and +he strongly expected that his visit to Hadet would do good. A majority +of us opposed his going with all we could say; but he thinks he knows +the people here better than we do. He left us toward evening, expecting +to be absent only a few days.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Their violence, and the consequent proceedings of Phares Shidiak.</i></div> + +<p>24. Phares Shidiak came to my house to day, and wished to speak +with me in private.</p> + +<p>"Yesterday morning," said he, "as I was in my room reading the +New Testament, my brother Mansoor entered, drew a sword he had, +and gave me a blow upon the neck. I continued with the book in my +hand, until one snatched it from me. Mansoor afterwards drew up his +musket, threatening to shoot me; but my mother interfered to prevent +him. My brother Tannoos hearing a bustle, came in with a cane, and +began cudgelling me, without stopping to inquire at all into the merits +of the case, calling out, 'Will you leave off your heresy, and go to +church like other people, or not?' Mansoor not finding Asaad present, +as he seemed to have expected, went to Asaad's chest which stood near +me, seized all the books he had received of you, Hebrew, Syriac, +Italian, and Arabic, tore them, one by one, in pieces, and strewed them +on the floor.</p> + +<p>"In the course of the day, I came down near where the soldiers +of the emir are encamped, and passed the night in company with my +brother Galeb. This morning <i>he</i> returned, with a line from me to +Asaad, and <i>I</i> came off to Beyroot, with the full determination never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span> +to go home again. And now I will either go to some place in this country +where I can enjoy my liberty or I will take ship, and leave the +country altogether."</p> + +<p>As he wished my advice, I counselled him neither to go from the +country, nor from his home, but to return, and at least make a further +trial of doing good to his relatives, and bearing their persecutions. He, +however, continued inflexible.</p> + +<p>In the space of a few hours, Galeb came in search of Phares, with a +letter from Asaad, of which the following is a copy.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Asaad's letter to his brother Phares.</i></div> + +<p>"To my beloved brother Phares; the Lord Most High preserve him. +Your departure caused me great grief. <i>First</i>, because you were +impatient when trial and persecution came upon you. It is a thing we +are regularly to expect, that if we hope in God in this world, we shall +give universal offence. But we have another city, for which we hope. +Do not lose your courage, for you have not yet resisted unto blood, +striving against sin. Remember, we cannot share in the glory of +Christ, if we share not also in his sufferings. Therefore, rejoice +whenever you are tried; rejoice, and never be sad; for our faith is +sure.</p> + +<p>"<i>Secondly</i>, I was grieved because you gave me no information +where you were going, and what you intended to do. Now, it is not +becoming, that we should do any thing rashly, that is, till we have +prayed to God for direction. Come home, then, and let us set apart a +season of fasting and prayer to God, and do what is most agreeable +to him. Perhaps it is best to let our works preach in silence, in these +evil days.</p> + +<p>"You must know, that if you fail to come home, you will give us great +pain, and this, you know, would be inconsistent with love. Jesus says, +'By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love +one to another.' You well know how much joy and consolation it +would give us to see you; do not then deny us this pleasure, but come +at all events. If you do not come, it may be an injury both to yourself +and me. I wish to see you, if it be only to say to you two words, and +then act your pleasure; for not every word can be said with paper and +pen. Farewell.</p> + +<p>"Your brother and companion in tribulation,</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Asaad.</span>"<br /> +</div> + +<p>Galeb took me aside, and begged me to urge his brother to go home. +I said I had already advised him to do so, but that I could not force +him to go—that if he found he could not enjoy liberty of conscience, +and the privilege of reading the word of God, in Hadet, he was welcome +to stay with me as long as he pleased. "You are a man," said +Galeb, "that speaks the truth and acts uprightly, but Asaad and +Phares are not like you; they talk very improper things." Among +these things, he mentioned a report to which Asaad had given circulation, +respecting the patriarch, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'o'">to</ins> which I was obliged to reply, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span> +instead of taking it for granted to be a <i>false</i> report, he ought to +believe it to be true, and that such a report was not abroad respecting +the patriarch alone, but respecting a majority of patriarchs and bishops +of the whole land.</p> + +<p>After some further conversation on the wickedness of treating +brothers, as they had done Phares and Asaad, we went to Phares, and +endeavoured to persuade him to go home with his brother. But it +was all in vain. "If I leave this house," said he, "instead of going to +Hadet, I will go in the opposite direction." The brother returned +without him.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Conversation of Phares with the Bishop of Beyroot.</i></div> + +<p>After Galeb had gone, we put a great many questions to Phares, +and he communicated some interesting particulars. Among others +was the following:</p> + +<p>"The day that Asaad and myself left you, (the 17th,) the bishop of +Beyroot was at the next house, and I went to salute him.</p> + +<p>"He said to me, 'I understand <i>you</i> have become English, too. +You <i>reason on the subject of religion</i>.'</p> + +<p>"But," said I, "is every one English, if he <i>reasons</i> on that subject?"</p> + +<p><i>Bishop.</i>—"But you read in the Bibles of the English."</p> + +<p><i>Phares.</i>—"Yes, and from whom is the Bible? is it from the English, +or from God?"</p> + +<p><i>B.</i>—"But it is <i>printed</i> by the English."</p> + +<p><i>P.</i>—"Well, is it altered in any place?"</p> + +<p><i>B.</i>—"See, now you have begun again to argue on the subject of +religion. I tell you, young man, cease this heretical habit, or you are +excommunicated."</p> + +<p>Phares informed us of three or four Bibles and New Testaments, +that we had given at different times to individuals in Hadet, which +had lately been destroyed by order of the bishop. This news, together +with a discovery we yesterday made in the neighbouring house, +of two covers of the New Testament, whose contents had long ago +been torn out, shews us anew, if new evidence were wanting, that if +the Gospel is ever introduced again in its power and purity into this +country, it will be with a desperate struggle.</p> + +<p>Two brothers of Phares, Mansoor and Galeb, came to converse +with him anew. We saw them seated together on the ground, at a +little distance from the house, but afterwards saw them no more. It +is singular that Phares should have left without coming either to take +his cloak, or bid us farewell.<a name="FNanchor_J_10" id="FNanchor_J_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_J_10" class="fnanchor">[J]</a></p> + +<p>28. Having heard nothing particular directly from Asaad since he +left, especially since the affair of the books, I yesterday sent him a +line, and to-day received the following reply:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span></p> + + +<p><i>Letter from Asaad to Mr. Bird.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Dear Sir,—After expressing imperfectly the love I bear you, and +the desire I have to see you in all health, I have to say, that in due +time your letter came to hand, and I read and understood it. You ask +respecting our health. I answer, I am in a state of anxiety, but not +so great as some days ago.</p> + +<p>"On Thursday last, having come home from a visit to the emir +Sulman, I found the remnants of the Holy Scriptures, torn in pieces, +as there is reason to believe, by order of the bishop. When I was +told, that my brother Mansoor had done this mischief, I returned to +the emir, and informed him of the affair. He sent to call Mansoor, +while I returned again to our house. I now learned, that my brother +Phares had gone off. After searching for him some time, I went down +to the inn in quest of him, but he was not to be found. As I was on +my way returning from the inn, where I had gone in search of my +brother, I prayed to God, that he would take every thing from me, if +necessary, only let faith and love towards him remain in my heart.</p> + +<p>"As I proceeded on, a man came up, and gave me information that +all the consuls of Beyroot were slain, and that you also were slain +with them. The report came from a man, who said he had deposited +goods with you for safety. In order to be the more sure, I asked the +man if it were really true, and he again assured me, that it was. Ask +me not the state of my feelings at that moment.</p> + +<p>"On reaching home, I heard this terrible news confirmed; at the +same time looking out, and seeing the heap of ashes near the house, +all that remained of the 11 copies of the holy scriptures which my +brothers had destroyed, I burst into tears, and committed all my concerns +into the hands of God, saying, 'Blessed be his holy name: the +Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;'—and so I prayed on, with +tears and groanings, which I cannot describe.</p> + +<p>"I afterwards heard, that Phares was probably in the neighbourhood, +and set off to search after him by night, but found him not. When I +heard the news of your death confirmed, I sent off a messenger, that, +wherever Phares might be found, he might return; and when I received +his letter, saying that he had gone to your house, I could not +yet believe that the report respecting you was false.</p> + +<p>"But when the truth on this subject began to appear, then I heard +by a person who came to the yesterday evening, that the patriarch +and the emir had made an agreement to kill <i>me</i>, and that they had sent +men to lie in wait for that purpose. I was afterwards told, by another +person, that some of the servants of the emir were appointed to accomplish +this end.</p> + +<p>"Here I am, then, in a sort of imprisonment, enemies within, and +enemies without.</p> + +<p>"One of my brothers, the other day, advised me to surrender my +self entirely to the mercy of the bishop, whereupon I wrote the bishop +a letter, (of which I send you the enclosed copy,) and gave it to my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span> +brother Tannoos, begging him to carry it to the bishop, and bring me +his reply. Tannoos read the letter, and without saying a word, threw +it down in contempt. I then gave it to my uncle with the same request, +but as yet I have got no reply.<a name="FNanchor_K_11" id="FNanchor_K_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_K_11" class="fnanchor">[K]</a></p> + +<p>"All my concerns I commit into the hands of God, who created me. +Through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, I hope that all my distresses +will be for the best.</p> + +<p>"I accept with pleasure all your kind wishes, and send you many +salutations in the Lord, and pray for you length of days.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"Yours, &c. <span class="smcap">Asaad.</span>"<br /> +<br /></div> +<p>"March 27, 1826."<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><i>His relatives deliver him up to the Patriarch.</i></div> + +<p>31. Information is received, that Asaad has been taken away against +his will, to the patriarch.</p> + +<p><i>April 4.</i> Phares Shidiak arrived here in the evening direct from +Der Alma, and said he had accompanied Asaad to that convent a week +ago, that Asaad was still there, and that the patriarch, having in the +morning set off for Cannobeen, would send down for Assad after a few +days. He then handed me the following line from Asaad.</p> + +<p>"If you can find a vessel setting off for Malta, in the course of four +or five days, send me word; if not, pray for your brother.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Asaad.</span>"<br /> +</div> + +<p>We were disposed to send off a messenger this very evening, but +Phares said it would not be necessary.</p> + +<p>Had some serious conversation with Phares, in which I exhorted +him to continue reading the New Testament, and take particular notice +of the general spirit of it; and then to judge, if all this deceit, confining, +beating, and threatening to kill, was consistent with that spirit. +We observed, that we supposed the patriarch and the bishop were well +pleased with all the violence that Mansoor had used in this affair. +"Yes," said Phares, "priest Hanna Stambodi, at Ain Warka, told me +yesterday, that none of us had any religion, except Mansoor."</p> + +<p>In a subsequent part of his journal, Mr. Bird records the following +particulars respecting Asaad, during his last visit to Hadet, and when +about to be violently removed from thence. They were received from +Phares.</p> + +<p>A neighbouring emir being sick, one day, Asaad carried him a paper +of medicine, on the outside of which he had written how it was to +be taken. While Asaad stood without, a servant took in this medicine, +and gave it to the prince, saying, "This is from Asaad Esh Shidiak, +and here he has written the directions on the paper." The +prince, who is not remarkable for mildness, and perhaps was not conscious +that Asaad overheard him, spoke out angrily, "A fig for the +paper and writing; 'tis the medicine I want." "Your lordship is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span> +in the right," replied Asaad, "the truth is with you. The <i>medicine</i> is +the thing; the <i>paper</i> that holds it, is nothing. So we ought to say +of the gospel, the great medicine for the soul. 'Tis the <i>pure gospel</i> +we want, and not the <i>church</i> that holds it."</p> + +<p>After Mansoor, in his catholic zeal, had torn up and burned all his +Bibles and Testaments, Asaad could not remain without the scriptures, +but sent and obtained a copy from the little church, which he daily +read, marking the most striking and important passages.</p> + +<p>When his relatives, to the number of twenty or more, had assembled, +and Asaad perceived they were come to take him to the patriarch +by force, he began to expostulate with Tannoos, and besought +him to desist from a step so inconsistent with fraternal love. He besought +in vain. Tannoos turned away from him with a cold indifference. +Affected with his hardness, Asaad went aside, and wept and +prayed aloud.</p> + +<p>The evening before he was taken away, he said to those who had +assembled, "If I had not read the gospel, I should have been surprised +at this new movement of yours. But now it is just what I might have +expected. In this blessed book, I am told, <i>the brother shall deliver +up the brother to death, and a man's foes shall be they of his own +household</i>. Here you see it is just so. You have come together to +fulfil this prophecy of the gospel. What have I done against you? +What is my crime? Allowing that I do take the Bible as my only +and sufficient guide to heaven, what sin is there in this?" During +the evening, he laid himself down to sleep, as he was to set off early +in the morning. But he was often interrupted; for, whenever he +caught a word of false doctrine from the lips of those who continued +their conversation, he would rise up, refute them, and again compose +himself to rest. One of his uncles, speaking of his going to the patriarch, +said in a great rage, "If you don't go off with us peaceably, we +will take your life." Asaad replied, "Softly, softly, my dear uncle, +don't be hasty. <i>Blessed are the meek.</i>"</p> + +<p>Phares wrote a letter this evening to Asaad, in a hand that had been +agreed on between them, saying, that if he would come to Beyroot, he +need not fear, and that it might be a matter for further consideration +whether he should leave the country.</p> + +<p>5. The letter of Phares was sent off by a moslem, who returned at +evening, saying that when he arrived at the convent, he was accosted +by two or three men, inquiring his business, telling him he was a +Greek, and had letters from the English. They then seized him, and +took the letter by force, and, had he not shewn them that he was a +moslem, would have probably sent him to the emir of the district for +further examination. They then asked him some questions about the +English, and assured him that after eight days Asaad would no longer +be a living man. Thus were our hopes of a second deliverance of +this sufferer of persecution, for the present, blasted. After all the +threats, which have been thrown out without being put in execution, +we rather hope, that this last will prove like the rest; yet we cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span> +tell how far their hatred of the truth may, with the divine forbearance, +carry them. We leave all with him, in whose hands our life and breath +are, and whose are all our ways, with the humble hope, that light may +yet arise out of darkness, and that much glory may be added to his name, +from this evident work of Satan.</p> + +<p>6. Sent word, in a blind hand, on a torn scrap of paper, to Phares respecting +the fate of our message to his brother. He returns answer +that he is coming to Beyroot to-morrow.</p> + +<p>7. Phares came, according to his notice of yesterday, saying, that +if the patriarch should get his letter to Asaad, there would be danger +in his staying at Hadet. He should be glad to go to Malta, or almost +any other place out of the Maronite influence, lest his brothers should +seize him, and deliver him up to the fury of the patriarch, as they had +done his brother Asaad. Mansoor, the eldest and most violent of them, +when he heard, yesterday, that a letter had arrived for Phares from Beyroot, +breathed out threatenings and slaughter, not only against Phares, +but against the innocent messenger himself.</p> + +<p>8. Wrote to ——, a friendly Maronite bishop, to give me whatever +information he might be able to procure respecting Shidiak.</p> + +<p><i>May</i> 10. A messenger whom we sent to Cannobeen, returned with +the report that he was denied the privilege of seeing Asaad, under +pretence that he was going through a course of confession, during +which the rule is, that the person so confessing, shall pass his time, +for a number of days, alone, and see no company.</p> + +<p>14. We were, to-day, credibly informed, that Shidiak is still firm +in his adherence to the gospel, but that he was kept under rigid inspection, +not being permitted to step out of his room without an attendant.</p> + +<p>17. Phares Shidiak informed us to-day, that he had been told that +his brother Asaad had been at the college of Ain Warka. He +thought it might be true, as one object in delivering him up to the +patriarch was, to give the people the general impression, that he had +no longer any thing to do with the English. He had now been a sufficient +time absent from us to give general currency to the report, that +he was no longer with us, and now, perhaps, the patriarch had let him +go free.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Asaad is cruelly treated.</i></div> + +<p>27. The messenger, who went before to Cannobeen, had set out to +go for us a second time, and this morning early returned with the +following story:—Being met by a man near Batroon, whom he suspected +to be from Cannobeen, he inquired him out, and found him to +be a messenger sent by Asaad himself to his uncles and other connexions, +to beg them to come and deliver him. Asaad saw the man, +and gave him his commission from the window of the convent, without +the knowledge of the patriarch, or the others in his service. This +messenger said, <i>that Asaad was in close confinement, in chains, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span> +was daily beaten;</i> and that the great cause of complaint against him +was, that he refused to worship either the pictures, or the virgin +Mary.</p> + +<p>I had written a letter of mere salutation to Shidiak by my messenger, +which letter he enclosed in one from himself, and sent it on by his +brother, returning himself with the messenger from Asaad. This brother +of his, he is much afraid, may be ill-treated by the patriarch.</p> + +<p>28. J., the messenger, called, and said, that he himself should not +go to Cannobeen, but twelve or fifteen of his other relatives would go +and endeavour at least to save him from chains and stripes. J. had been +to the emir Beshir the less, who lives at Hadet, begging him, (with a +present) to save his brother, if it should prove that he had suffered by +the suspicion or the resentment of the patriarch. The emir promised to +interfere—"But why," said he, "should Asaad go and join the English? +they are a people I do not love."</p> + +<p><i>June</i> 2. A youth of the neighbourhood said it was reported that +Asaad was a complete maniac; that he rent his garments, raved, reviled, +&c. and that he had been sent to the convent at Koshia, like other lunatics, +for a miraculous cure. This news was brought by priest Bernardus, +of Gzir, mentioned in Shidiak's statement.</p> + +<p>3. The brother of J. about whom he was so solicitous, returned last +evening in safety, with the following letter in Asaad's own hand +writing.</p> + +<p>"To our respected brother J. ——. After expressing my love to +you, I have to say, that your letter by your brother ——, arrived in +safety, and I have understood it. In it you and ——, inquire after +my health. May the Lord pour out his grace upon you, and follow +you with his blessings. As to me, I am at present in health, with regard +to my <i>body</i>, but as to other circumstances, your brother will give +you information. Love to cousin ——, your wife. Pray send me +word respecting you every opportunity, and may the Lord lengthen +your days. From your brother.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Asaad Esh Shidiak</span>."<br /> +</div> + +<p>This letter is certainly genuine, and is a full proof of what nature the +insanity is, under which he labours. It has greatly relieved the anxiety +we felt from the report of yesterday.</p> + +<p>From the verbal account, given by the lad who brought the letter, +the following are selected as the most important particulars. He entered +the convent on his arrival, and seeing nobody but the keeper of +the prison-room, obtained leave to go in, and see Asaad alone. He +found him sitting on the bare floor, <i>with a heavy chain around his +neck, and firmly fastened at the other end into the wall</i>. His bed had +been removed together with all his books and writing materials, and +(what is considered here the extreme of privation,) he was left without +a pipe.</p> + +<p>The lad continued with him an hour or two, without being discovered +by any one but the keeper. During the conversation, Asaad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span> +observed, that not long since he was sent to Koshia, as a man possessed +of a devil, and that he escaped from that place and had arrived +near Tripoli, when he was taken by a party of Maronites, and +brought back to the patriarch. He had, since that time, been kept +regularly at Cannobeen, subject occasionally to beating and insult, +from such as might call in to see the heretic. We understood the +man to say, that the patriarch even instructed the common people to +spit in his face, and call him by odious names, in order to shame him +into submission. Asaad gave his advice that we should either send +some one with a horse, and get him away by stealth, or get the consul +to interfere by writing to the pasha. The letter written by Asaad +was done through the contrivance of his keeper for a small reward.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Attempts made to procure his release.</i></div> + +<p>After hearing all this, we went directly to the consul to inform +him of the case, and to urge him to an interference. He consented, +that we should first procure some one to write a firm and consistent +letter to the patriarch, demanding by what right he had taken a man +from an English employer, and under English protection, and imprisoned +him unheard, &c. intimating, that if the man was not soon +given up, something more would be done.</p> + +<p>Toward evening, J. came again to inquire what we had concluded +on. When he found what step we had taken, he seemed much alarmed +for his own safety, and begged us not to proceed, for he should be +immediately suspected as the mediator of the affair, and should be +in danger of being persecuted as such. He mentioned, as a justification +of his fears, that the keeper overheard Asaad when he recommended +that course to his brother, and that the keeper, when inquired +of, would of course mention the fact to the patriarch. Instead of the +measure we were about taking, he recommended to apply to the emir, +through one of his relatives, who was our mutual friend, and to this +we consented. It is, however, probable, that the object of J. is not so +much to avoid danger, as to put his friend the emir in a way to get a +small present.</p> + +<p>5. J. has been to see the emir, in order to persuade him to intercede +with his uncle, the emir Beshir, but the former was not at home, and +therefore the latter was not consulted. J. then went to the emir M. +but found him quite averse to do any thing, saying, that to liberate a +man, who had become English, would never do. He next saw Mansoor, +the brother, and asked him if he knew that Asaad was in close +confinement. "Yes," answered he, "and he may end his days there, +unless he can learn to behave himself better." One characteristic +mark of a heathen is, that he is "<i>without natural affection, implacable, +unmerciful</i>."</p> + +<p>J. says, that his brother has told him in addition, that Asaad himself, +on the whole, wished not to have the consul interfere, but that +some one might, for the present, be sent every week or two, to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span> +how he got along, and in the mean time, he hoped to make his own +escape, for that only a few days before, he had loosed himself from +his chains, and got out of the convent, but not understanding the path, +he became afraid to proceed, and returned of his own accord.</p> + +<p>6. Went again to confer with the consul with regard to Asaad. +When we mentioned the fact, that Asaad was under a sort of oath of +obedience to the patriarch, an agreement which all make who are +educated from the funds of the Ain Warka college, he seemed to +think differently of the case, because, though an oath to bind the conscience, +as in this case, can never be binding, and is neither acknowledged +by Turks or English, yet, in the opinion of all Maronites, it +justifies what the patriarch has done. This English protection, they +would say, is of no avail, since he was under a previous engagement +to serve the patriarch. The consul thinks the case, if presented to the +chief emir, would be rejected without consideration, on the ground, +that it was ecclesiastical, and not civil; and if presented to the +pasha, he would exact fines from many innocent convents, and other +wise oppress them, without perhaps, after all, procuring the release +of the prisoner. He would prefer some secret mode of effecting the +object.</p> + +<p>Priest Bernardus, of Gzir, already mentioned was on a visit to the +family below, and sent up to beg the favour of a sight at Shidiak's +statement. I at first refused, but on a second application, and being +assured that the priest was a friend of Shidiak, I consented, and invited +the man to come and take with me a cup of coffee, which he +did. It will be observed, that this Bernardus was one of those, who +wished Shidiak to say that his faith was like that of the Roman catholic +church, although it should be a falsehood, saying that the patriarch +would bestow on him a pardon for the lie. The priest acknowledged +to the family below, that Shidiak's statement of that affair was +correct.</p> + +<p>14. Received a line from the friendly Maronite bishop, to whom I +had written, (April 8,) who says that he has been assured, probably +afresh, that Shidiak is in prison, and suffers beating.</p> + +<p>15. The emir A. came and conversed a length of time on the case +of Shidiak. I offered to reward him well for his trouble, if he would +procure his release, which he has promised to attempt.</p> + +<p>21. J. came to say, that he had never seen the emir A. who had +endeavoured to persuade his uncle to write to the patriarch. The +uncle, however, refused, but added, "<i>You</i> may write in my name, +and say, that it is my pleasure, that Shidiak should be liberated." +The messenger has, therefore, gone with such a letter.</p> + +<p>22. This morning, came Tannoos Shidiak, accompanied by a young +emir, saying, that they had knowledge of our attempt to liberate +Asaad, through the medium of the emir A. "It will not do," said he, +"you will not accomplish your object so." They both said, that the +emir A. was a great liar, had a little mind, and little, if any, influence +with his uncle. In short, <i>they</i> proposed <i>a more <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original smudged over this word">excellent</ins><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span> +way</i>, viz. that we should give <i>them</i> also a good reward to engage in this +noble work of brotherly love.</p> + +<p>24. The messenger from the emir A. arrived from Cannobeen, with +the following letter from the patriarch, in answer to his own.</p> + +<p>"After kissing the hands of your honourable excellency, &c. &c. +With regard to your slave, <i>Asaad Esh Shidiak</i>, the state into which +he is fallen, is not unknown to your excellency. His understanding +is subverted. In some respects he is a demoniac, in others not. +Every day his malady increases upon him, until I have been obliged +to take severe measures with him, and put him under keepers, lest he +should escape from here, and grow worse, and infuse his poison into +others. Two days ago, he succeeded in getting away in the night, +and obliged me to send men to bind him and bring him back; and +after he was come, he showed signs of returning sanity, and begged +to be forgiven. But he does not abide by his word, for he is very +fickle; and the most probable opinion respecting him is, that he is +possessed of the devil. However, as he was, to appearance, disposed +to yield me obedience, I treated him kindly and humanely, and used +every means to promote his permanent cure. This is what I have +to communicate to your excellency, and the bearer will inform you +further. Whatever your excellency commands, I obey, and the Lord +lengthen your life.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Joseph</span>, <i>Patriarch of Antioch.</i>"<br /> +</div> + +<p>27. A youth from Ain Warka informed us, that he had seen a letter +in Asaad's own hand-writing, saying, that he had yielded obedience +to the patriarch, and professed again the faith of the Roman catholic +church. This report, excited great joy, he says, at the college. We +are rather pained by the news, because, if Asaad has done this, we +are almost sure it has been done insincerely, and merely to escape +the pains of his persecution. The same person says, that a relative +of the patriarch at Cannobeen, has been in the habit of writing, +every week or two, to the college, to give the news of what was done +with Asaad from time to time, in which he spoke of his <i>chains</i> and +<i>stripes</i>, and so on. He also observes, that many people have boldly +questioned the right of the patriarch to proceed to such extremities +with the members of his church, saying, they saw not, at this rate, +which was chief governor of the mountains, the prince, or the patriarch.</p> + +<p><i>July 1.</i> One who seemed certain of delivering Shidiak, if he +should set about it, went, with our recommendation to Tripoli, from +which place he hopes to have a convenient communication with Cannobeen.</p> + +<p>14. The youth who went to Tripoli to attempt something, came +back unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>17. Application has been made by Phares to the emir M., but he +refused to do any thing for Asaad, alleging that it is an affair of religion, +and belongs exclusively to the patriarch. Phares says, that notwithstanding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span> +the superstition and anger, which his mother exhibited +when here, she has more than once said, that the English are better +than the Maronites, for they take an interest in the fate of Asaad, +while the Maronites all seem to care nothing about him, whether he +is dead or alive, happy or wretched.</p> + +<p>Phares, as well as others, says, that Tannoos is Asaad's enemy +from jealousy. Asaad is younger than Tannoos, but has been much +more noticed. This Tannoos could not bear, and has therefore been +quite willing to see him disgraced and punished.</p> + +<p>Phares observes, that Tannoos was quite as favourably disposed to +protestant principles as Asaad, but the moment Asaad took the start +of him, he fell back, and is a much firmer Maronite than ever. He +seemed to be affected at the death of Mr. Fisk, but inferred from it, +that God did not approve the efforts of the protestants in this country. +The death of Mr. Dalton, also, his former pupil, probably confirmed +this feeling.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Great difficulties in the way of Asaad's release.</i></div> + +<p>18. Tannoos came to converse about his brother Asaad. He had +just received a letter in Asaad's own hand-writing, saying, that he +was reduced to a great extremity of distress, and perhaps had not +long to live, and begging Tannoos to come up and see if nothing +could be done to end or mitigate his sufferings. Tannoos declares +that he would be very glad to get him away from Cannobeen, if he +could be safe, but that in any other place in the dominions of the +emir Beshir, he would be killed. He might be safe at the consul's, +but with me, he would <i>not</i> be. "There are men in these mountains," +said he, "that can kill and <i>have</i> killed patriarchs and emirs, and that +in their own houses; and why could they not kill Asaad with you, if +they chose? Is your house more secure than the convent of the patriarch, +or <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'the the'">the</ins> palace of the emir? A man in entering your house, +would violate all law, but the English would not make war for the +killing of a single man."</p> + +<p>I observed, that an application would very possibly be made to the +pasha, by the consul, if Asaad was not soon delivered up. "An application +of that sort," replied T. "would be quite useless. The +pasha would send the application to the emir, and do you not think +the emir would arrange the affair as he pleased? He knows well +this sort of dealing. He has known how to manage these mountains +for forty years, and do you think he would be at a loss about +such a trifle as this? For example, what would be more easy for the +emir, if he chose to detain the man, than to say he had committed +murder, and therefore could not be given up?" "But," said I, "such +a charge must be established by competent witnesses, and under the +consul's inspection." "True," replied he, "and where would be the +difficulty in that? <i>The emir would bring 500 witnesses to-morrow +to establish any crime he was pleased to allege.</i> And as to his fearing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span> +the pasha, though he holds his office under him, yet his power is +even superior to the pasha's."——"The patriarch," continued Tannoos, +"can do just what he chooses, in spite of the English. You have +brought books here, and the patriarch has burned them in spite of +you. He has issued to all denominations a proclamation full of lies +against you, and what have you been able to do? You have indeed +written a reply to the proclamation, and hold it up to the people, and +say, 'Look how the patriarch lies about us;' but what does he care for +all that."</p> + +<p>So talks a Lebanon mountaineer, of more sense, information and truth, +than most others, respecting the moral character and godly fear of his +patriarch and prince.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>His family attempt his liberation.</i></div> + +<p>19. Phares brought us a letter, which had just been received by the +family at Hadet, from the patriarch, wishing them to come immediately +to Cannobeen. Tannoos and his mother have gone, and intend, if +possible, to bring Asaad away, either to Kesroan, or to Hadet. The +mother insisted on going, and wished to pass through Beyroot on her +way, that she might consult us before she went; but this was not permitted +her.</p> + +<p>The above mentioned letter, in English, runs thus:—"After telling +you how much I desire to see you in all health and prosperity, I send +you news respecting the wretch Asaad Esh Shidiak, otherwise called +<i>lord of hell</i>. His obduracy, with which you are acquainted, has exceedingly increased. It is not unknown to you, how much care I have +bestowed on him for his good, how much I have laboured for his salvation, +and under what severe discipline I have put him; and all to no effect. +And now, as might be expected, he has fallen ill, and therefore +can no longer run away, according to his custom, and we have been +thus constrained to take off the severity of our treatment. But fearing +lest his disease should increase upon him, I have sent you word, that +you may come and see how he is, and consult what is best to be done +with him. Make no delay, therefore, in coming, and the apostolic +blessing be upon you."</p> + +<p>This attempt of his family to effect his liberation failed, for some reason +unknown; and he continued immured in prison, suffering persecution. +He was confined in a small room with an iron collar round his +neck fastened to the wall with a strong chain. In October, 1826, another +attempt was made to effect the liberation of Asaad. The civil authorities +were consulted, but could not be prevailed upon to enlist in his behalf. +In November, 1826, however, he effected his escape, but was +soon arrested, and treated more cruelly than ever.</p> + +<p>In the Herald for April, 1828, we find the following history of +Asaad from the time he was betrayed into the hands of the patriarch +till the spring of 1826. It is thus prefaced by Mr. Bird, one of the +missionaries.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This account of our suffering friend, though by no means complete, +may nevertheless be relied on as authentic, and is by far the most +full and satisfactory account which we have been able to obtain. It +was sent us, as you will see in the journal, by the friendly young +shekh, Naami Latoof, who, some time previous, spent a few weeks in +our families, and whose heart seems to have been touched with the +truths of the gospel. The priest, who has proved so great a benefactor +to Asaad, is a relative of the shekh, and they have grown up together +from childhood on the most intimate terms of familiarity and friendship. +Many of the occurrences here related, the priest found written +among the monks, who pass their time idly with the patriarch, and to +many he was an eye-witness. The account was drawn up under his +own inspection. He seems a man unusually conscientious for an Arab, +unusually open to conviction in argument, and has promised to do his +utmost to save Asaad from further abuse, and in the end to deliver him +from his state of confinement. Thus, while all our own efforts have +failed of essentially benefitting the poor man, the Lord, without any of +our instrumentality, has raised up a friend from the midst of his persecutors, +who has already saved him from impending death, and we hope +and pray, will soon open the way for his complete deliverance from +this Syrian Inquisition."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Brief history of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Asaaad'">Asaad</ins> Esh Shidiak, from the time of his being +betrayed into the hands of the Maronite Patriarch, in the spring of +1826.</i></div> + +<div class='center'><b>Translated from the Arabic of Naami Latoof.</b></div> + +<p>When the relatives of Asaad brought him to the convent of Alma +in the district of Kesroan, and gave him up to the patriarch, the latter +began by way of flattery to promise him all the worldly advantages he +could bestow; but withal demanding that he should put away all the +heretical notions, and all the corrupt knowledge, which the Bible-men, +those enemies of the pope, had taught him. He replied, "These things +which you hold out to me, are to me of no value. I no longer trouble +myself about them, for they are vain and of short duration. Every +christian is bound to think, and labour, and strive to be accounted worthy +to hear that blessed welcome, 'Come ye blessed of my Father, +inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' +As to rejecting from my mind those things which I have learned from +the Bible-men, I have to say, that, for many years, I had read, occasionally, +the holy scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto +salvation, but could not live according to them; for I was given to the +indulgence of all wicked passions: but since my acquaintance with +these men, I see myself, through the merits of my Saviour, possessed +of a new heart, though it is not yet, I confess, in all respects such as I +could wish it to be."</p> + +<p>During the few days they remained in the Kesroan, the patriarch +shewed him every attention, and suffered no one to oppose his opinions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span> +saying, "The protestants, by the great sums they have given him, +have blinded his eyes, and inclined him to join them, and diffuse their +poisonous sentiments, so that he cannot, at once, be brought to leave +them. Let him alone for the present, do nothing to oppose or to offend +him, until we shall arrive at Cannobeen, where we may examine into +his faith and state at our leisure, and if we find that he still clings to +his heresy, we then can do with him as circumstances may require." +After a short time they proceeded with him to Cannobeen, and there +began to use arguments to convince him of his errors, and persuade +him to confess and forsake them, and embrace whatever the councils +and the church had enacted;—requiring that he should surrender his +conscience to the holy catholic church, and bless all whom she +blessed, and curse all whom she cursed; and this they did in the most +stern and threatening manner. He replied, "It has been said, by the +mouth of the Holy One, <i>Bless and curse not.</i>" They still pressed +him to yield his opinions, but he said, "I can give up nothing, nor can +I believe any thing but as it is written in the holy scriptures; for in +these is contained all doctrines necessary to salvation."—"But," said +they, "is every thing then, worthless, that has been ordained by the +councils and the fathers?" He answered, "The councils may have +enacted laws good for themselves, but we are not bound to follow +them."</p> + +<p>After urging him, day after day, to no purpose, they finally asked +in despair, "Are you then still of the same sentiment?" "Of the +same sentiment," said he; "I still believe and hold whatever is +written in the holy scriptures, and neither more nor less." "Will +every one, then, who reads the gospel, be saved?" "By no means;—but +as it is written, 'he that hath my commands and <i>keepeth</i> them, +he it is that loveth me.'" "It is the duty of every person to possess +the gospel, and read it?" "Yes, it is the duty of every one. 'For,' +said Paul, 'if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in +whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which +believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto +them.'" They then reviled him, and spurned him away from their +sight, and began to meditate measures of violence against him. He +was separated from all around him, and compelled to take his meals +by himself; and lest he should attempt to escape, a person was set +over him to keep him under a constant watch. He was made to feel +himself in the lowest state of disgrace, all taking the fullest liberty +to reproach and ridicule him.</p> + +<p>From this state of debasement he soon began to meditate his escape. +Accordingly, one evening, just as the sun had set, and while his +keeper's eye was off him, he fled. An immediate and diligent search +was made for him, but he could not be found until the second day, +when he was discovered still hiding in a grove near by, for he was +totally ignorant of the way he ought to take. They brought him +immediately to the patriarch. When he arrived, he was met by +reproaches and revilings, and the servants, by order of the patriarch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span> +beat him, and put him into confinement. This was at Diman, a +pleasant, airy situation belonging to Cannobeen, and about an hour's +distance from it. Soon after this, he was taken up to the latter place, +when he was left a little more at large, but was always under the +watch of a keeper.</p> + +<p>One evening, when all had gone in the chapel for prayers, he lay +as if he had been asleep, and the monk, his keeper, thinking him +really so, went in with the rest, but took with him, as a precaution, +Asaad's silver inkhorn, supposing that if he should wake, and think +of escaping, he would not be willing to leave behind him so valuable +an article. When Asaad saw that all were gone, knowing the length +of their prayers, he at once left the convent, and ran about an hour's +distance. People were despatched in search of him with all diligence, +but they returned without finding him. On account of his ignorance +of the way, he remained secreted near the road till the day broke, +when he continued his flight until he had reached the distance of +three hours or more from his prison, when a couple of men in the +service of the patriarch, having been apprized of his escape by the +pursuers during the night, discovered him, and called out, "Who are +you? Are you Asaad?" He replied, "I am Asaad." They at once +took him into custody, and brought him back, but without any +violence or indignity, to the patriarch. A different treatment, however, +awaited him at the convent. He had no sooner reached it, than +they covered him with insult, beating him, and mocking him, and +saying, "fool that you are, why did you answer to your name?" He +replied, "God has laid a curse upon the lying mouth, and therefore I +cannot use it." They said, "If you do not return to your faith, and +hold to all that has been ordained by the church and the fathers, you +are ruined. You will die under your tortures, and go to perdition." +He replied, "Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be +saved. I am willing to expose myself to every indignity and suffering +for the sake of Him who loved us, and shed his precious blood for +our salvation. These things I am bound to say and do, and I am +bound to exhort you also, as beloved friends." When he had said +this, they all laughed him to scorn, called him a madman, and were +about to beat him for attempting, as they pretended, to make heretics +of them also. When he saw their anger, he cried out, "Why are +you enraged at me, and what are you about to do to me? I am a +dying man like yourselves, and preach unto you that you should +turn from your vanities unto the living God, who made heaven, and +earth, and the sea, and all that are therein." They then renewed +their cries that he was mad, and thrust him into his prison room, and +locked the door upon him, and strict orders were given that no one +should say any thing to him more or less. In this state he remained +for some days. The patriarch then sent to him to inquire after his +faith, especially respecting his trust in the images of the church, +declaring to him that without faith in these, he could not be saved. +He replied, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span> +humility and worshipping of angels." They brought him proofs +from the councils, that images were used by the fathers, and ought to +be set up and worshipped in the churches, in honour of the saints, and +to obtain their intercession. He answered, "I will also bring you +proof from the councils, that the worship of images, and all use of +them in the churches, was forbidden and reprobated by the fathers." +Here they contradicted him. "Be it as it may," said he, "it is impossible +for me to follow the opinions of any man or set of men., and +leave the word of God behind me. This <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'words'">word</ins> tells me, that 'forasmuch +as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the +Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art or man's +device.'" The messengers then quit him, and made their report to +the patriarch, who left him in his prison for a considerable time, in the +most abject and suffering state.</p> + +<p>In process of time, certain individuals, possessed of a little humanity, +became interested in his situation, sympathized in his sufferings, +interceded for him, and procured liberty to open the prison door, so +that any one who chose could go in and see him without restraint. +Again he began to meditate an attempt to escape, and on a certain +evening, set off from the convent. But, as before, his ignorance of +the proper path to escape in, prevented the accomplishment of his +purpose. He soon saw the lighted torches streaming off in every +direction in search of him, and to avoid his pursuers, turned aside a +short distance, and climbed into a tree. From this situation he did not +dare to come down till the night was fairly gone, when he shifted the +position of his clothes, turning his cloak inside out, using his turban +for a girdle and his girdle for a turban, and took his way. He had, +however, not proceeded far, when one of the patriarch's men discovered +him, and called out, "Asaad is it you?" He answered, "it is I." +The man immediately caught him, like a greedy wolf, bound him, beat +him, and drove him before him, as a slave, or a brute, to Cannobeen. +On their way they were met by many others who had been sent off in +quest of him, who all united with the captor in his brutal treatment. +On his arrival, the patriarch gave immediate orders for his punishment, +and they fell upon him with reproaches, caning him and smiting him +with their hands; and so it was, that as often as they struck him on +one cheek, he turned to them the other also. "This," said he, "is a +joyful day to me. My blessed Lord and Master has said, 'Bless them +that curse you, and if they strike you on the right cheek turn to them +the left also.' This I have been enabled to do, and I am ready to suffer +even more than this for him, who was beaten, and spit upon, and led +as a sheep to the slaughter, on our account." When they heard this, +they fell to beating him anew saying, "Have we need of your +preaching, thou deceiver? Of what avail are such pretensions in one +who is in the broad way to perdition?" He replied, "he that believeth +that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, hath eternal life." "Ah," +said they, "this is what blinds you. Your salvation is <i>by faith alone +in Christ;</i> thus you cast contempt on his mother, and his saints; you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span> +deny the presence of his holy body on earth;"—and they threw him +on the ground, overwhelmed with the multitude of their blows. For +three successive days, he was subjected to the bastinado, by order of +the patriarch, who, after that, summoned him to his presence, and demanded +of him his faith. "I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus of +Nazareth." Those present exhorted him to acknowledge the intercession +of the saints, and to repair to them for help in this hour of +trial. But he refused, saying, "My help is in him who shed his blood +for sinners." "But have the saints," said they, "no intercession, and +is it vain to worship them, and pray to them?" He said, "We are +not taught to seek help or protection from any, but from him who is +the Great Shepherd, who has said with his own blessed mouth, 'Come +unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you +rest.' To any other than God, we are not commanded to pray or seek +for refuge."</p> + +<p>They then returned him to his prison as before. Those who sympathized +with him, went and begged him to confess that the canons of +the councils were binding on all Christians, and that the images were +very properly made use of in the churches. He answered, "Professing +themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory +of the incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible +man." At this they turned away from him in despair and disgust, +and reported to the patriarch that he was in the most settled state of +obstinacy, and was doubtless possessed of a devil.</p> + +<p>Upon this, the patriarch ordered him to be put in chains, and the +door to be barred upon him, as formerly, and his food to be given him +in short allowance. In this condition he remained till he was much +reduced, and began to entreat them to have pity on him and take off +the irons from his feet, and open the door of his prison. Some were +moved by his supplications, interceded for him, unbarred the door, took +off his chains, and left him. He arose, walked out, and sat down with +one of them and conversed. He then begged the patriarch to give +him some books to copy, to rid himself of the tedium of his idleness. +But he refused, nor would he suffer any to hold conversation with him.</p> + +<p>After some days, there came into the convent two men, in the +character of beggars, and wished to pass the night, but were turned +away. That same night Asaad made another attempt to escape. As +soon as it was discovered that he was gone, a vigorous search was +made to find him, but all to no purpose. The universal cry now was, +that the two men already mentioned had been sent by the protestants +to steal him away for a large reward. Immediately his holiness, the +patriarch, sent letters to the emeer Abdallah informing him of Asaad's +escape, and requesting him to guard the roads of the Kesroan, and +search the neighbourhood, if possibly Asaad might still be found +lurking in that district. Accordingly search was made, Asaad was +discovered among his relatives by a couple of soldiers, was bound, and +taken off to the emeer, who sent him direct to the patriarch.</p> + +<p>On his arrival, he was loaded with chains, cast into a dark, filthy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span> +room, and bastinadoed, every day, for eight days, sometimes fainting +under the operation, until he was near death. He was then left in his +misery, his bed a thin flag mat, his covering his common clothes. The +door of his prison was filled up with stone and mortar, and his food was +six thin cakes of bread a day, and a scanty cup of water. In this +loathsome dungeon, from which there was no access but a small loop +hole, through which they passed his food, he lay for several days; and +he would lift up his voice, and cry, "Love ye the Lord Jesus Christ +according as he hath loved us, and given himself to die for us. Think +of me, O ye that pass by, have pity upon me, and deliver me from +these sufferings."</p> + +<p>Now when his groans and cries were thus heard, a certain priest, +who had been a former friend of Asaad, was touched with compassion. +His former friendship revived, his bowels yearned over his suffering +brother, and he besought every one who could speak with the patriarch, +that they would intercede and endeavour to soften his feelings +towards his prisoner. By dint of perseverance, the priest at length +succeeded, and obtained permission to open the prison door of his +friend and take off his irons. The first request he made of the priest +on his entering, was, that he would give him a little food, for he was +famishing with hunger. The priest immediately brought him a little +bread and cooked victuals, which he ate, and said, "The name of the +Lord be blessed."</p> + +<p>Those present began to exhort him to turn to the mother of God, if, +peradventure, she would have mercy upon him, and bring him back to +the way of salvation. He answered, "If she has the power of intercession, +let her intercede for us with her beloved Son." The priest was +very assiduous in supplying him with every thing necessary for his +comfort; in particular he obtained the return of his clothes, of which +he had been partly stripped; for the snow was upon the ground, and +the cold filled him with pains.</p> + +<p>Now when the others saw the care and attention of the priest, they +said, "You have become a convert to his heretical opinions." But he +replied, "God has said, 'Blessed are the merciful;'" and continued firm +in his purpose. His assiduity was such, that whenever he left the convent +for any time, he would give money to the cook to prevail on him to +supply Asaad with proper food, and to attend upon him in whatever he +might need. The enemies of the priest accused him to the patriarch, +but they could not succeed in their object, for the priest is of blameless +morals, and has a good name among all.</p> + +<p>The priest now passed much of his time in company with Asaad, and +conversed with him freely. On a certain occasion they began to converse +on the subject of the cross, the priest saying it ought to be worshipped. +Asaad replied, "For what reason? and where is the use of +it?" The priest said, "In memory of the Saviour." Asaad,—"Why +do you kiss the cross, and who has commanded it?" Priest,—"We +kiss it in honour of him who hung upon it." Asaad.—"But why +then do you not paint the <i>ass</i> also, and pay it all obeisance, and all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span> +honours, for our Saviour, when he rode upon the ass, was in all honour, +and all paid him obeisance; but when he was on the cross, he +was in sorrow and disgrace." The priest reproved him gently for +returning such an answer, and when he saw that the priest was displeased, +he said, "On account of your love to me, and the favour you +have done me, I wish to prove to you this point, that all religious reverence +and worship and service to any but God, is vain; for it is said, +'He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath +everlasting life,' and I have to beg of you, that you will continually +search the holy scriptures, and pray as David prayed, 'Create in me +a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.'" During +this time, one of their enemies was standing without the door, and +listened to the whole conversation. This man went immediately, to +the patriarch, and told him all that he had heard, and that the priest +was conversing with Asaad in so gentle a manner, that he was likely +soon to be won over to heresy. His holiness was startled at the intelligence, +and hastening down inquired the truth of the report. Asaad +concealed nothing. The patriarch, however, at first, repressed his +own feelings, and exhorted him in the most winning manner he could +assume, promising that if he would but return to the holy church and +fathers and councils, worship the images, and saints, and the mother +of God, he would again immediately make him his secretary. He +replied, "With regard to the opinions which I hold, I assure you I wish +to hold none which are opposed to the word of God; and as to resorting +to the virgin Mary, I say, as I have before said, that if she has +any power of intercession, let her intercede for us. As to giving up +my opinions to the church and councils, how can I do it, so long as I +am possessed of satisfactory evidence that these councils are opposed +to one another? We are in no need of the councils, but have sufficient +light without them to guide us in the way of salvation. Moreover I +can say, that <i>I do</i> surrender my opinions to the holy catholic church, +for I profess the faith of the church of Christ, and unite my conscience +with it."</p> + +<p>The patriarch could no longer restrain his feelings, but broke out in +the language of reproach, saying, "You are a worthless fellow, obstinately +bent on maintaining your folly. I give you to understand that I +am clear of your guilt. You will not be taught, but love to shew your +contempt of the cross, and of the worship of the images, whose worship +is only in honour of those to whose memory they are set up, and who +laboured and died in the service of Christ." Asaad replied, "With regard +to worshipping such things as these, it is said, 'Thou shalt worship +the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve;' and as to those +who laboured and shed their blood for the Saviour, they are above our +honours, for they have gone to inherit unspeakable glory in their master's +presence." The patriarch was more <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'angy'">angry</ins> than ever, and taking off +his slipper, beat both him and the priest, and drove the latter from the +room, and locked the door.</p> + +<p>After six days of additional confinement, the friendly priest again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span> +procured his release from his prison, and obtained the favour of taking +the entire oversight of him. In this condition the persecuted man remains. +May the Most High grant him speedy deliverance.</p> + +<p> +Feb. 15th, 1827.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The latest accounts from Palestine state that Asaad is still in confinement, +but remains firm to the principles he has embraced. In a +letter from Mr. Goodell, dated April, 1830, we find the following +sentence.—"<i>Asaad Shidiak is still alive, and there is every reason to +believe that he loves and obeys the truth, that he is sanctified by it, +rooted and grounded in it, and ready to suffer for it.</i>" We take our +leave of this interesting narrative, commending the suffering subject of +it to God, and the word of his grace, accounting him more blessed if he +perseveres steadfast unto the end, than if his brows were endowed with +an imperial diadem.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>PERSECUTIONS OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARIES IN INDIA, DURING THE +YEAR 1824.</h3> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Account of the Scenes at Ava during the War.</i></div> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Judson were among the number of the first missionaries +who left this country for India. After labouring for some time +in Hindostan they finally established themselves at Rangoon in the +Burman Empire, in 1813. In 1824 war broke out between the British +East India Company and the emperor of Burmah. Mr. and Mrs. +Judson and Dr. Price, who were at Ava, the capital of the Burman +Empire, when the war commenced, were immediately arrested and +confined for several months. The account of the sufferings of the +missionaries was written by Mrs. Judson, and is given in her own +words.</p> + +<p>The sufferings of the missionaries, during this long and disastrous +period, surpassed all that the most alarmed and fertile imagination +had conceived. Of the dreadful scenes at Ava, a minute account +was written by Mrs. Judson to Dr. Elnathan Judson. It will be read +with strong and painful interest. Fiction itself has seldom invented a +tale more replete with terror.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<i>Rangoon, May</i> 26, 1826.<br /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>"My beloved Brother,</div> + +<p>"I commence this letter with the intention of giving you the particulars +of our captivity and sufferings at Ava. How long my patience +will allow my reviewing scenes of disgust and horror, the conclusion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span> +of this letter will determine. I had kept a journal of every +thing that had transpired from our arrival at Ava, but destroyed it +at the commencement of our difficulties.</p> + +<p>"The first certain intelligence we received of the declaration of war +by the Burmese, was on our arrival at Tsenpyoo-kywon, about a hundred +miles this side of Ava, where part of the troops, under the command +of the celebrated Bandoola, had encamped. As we proceeded +on our journey, we met Bandoola himself, with the remainder of his +troops, gaily equipped, seated on his golden barge, and surrounded by +a fleet of gold war boats, one of which was instantly despatched the +other side of the river to hail us, and make all necessary inquiries. +We were allowed to proceed quietly on, when he had informed the +messenger that we were Americans, <i>not English</i>, and were going to +Ava in obedience to the command of his Majesty.</p> + +<p>"On our arrival at the capital, we found that Dr. Price was out +of favour at court, and that suspicion rested on most of the foreigners +then at Ava. Your brother visited at the palace two or three times, +but found the king's manner toward him very different from what it +formerly had been; and the queen, who had hitherto expressed wishes +for my speedy arrival, now made no inquiries after me, nor intimated +a wish to see me. Consequently, I made no effort to visit at the palace, +though almost daily invited to visit some of the branches of the +royal family, who were living in their own houses, out of the palace +enclosure. Under these circumstances, we thought our most prudent +course lay in prosecuting our original intention of building a house, +and commencing missionary operations as occasion offered, thus endeavouring +to convince the government that we had really nothing to +do with the present war.</p> + +<p>"In two or three weeks after our arrival, the king, queen, all the +members of the royal family, and most of the officers of government, +returned to Amarapora, in order to come and take possession of the +new palace in the customary style. As there has been much misunderstanding +relative to Ava and Amarapora, both being called the +capital of the Burmese Empire, I will here remark, that present Ava +was formerly the seat of government; but soon after the old king had +ascended the throne, it was forsaken, and a new palace built at Amarapora, +about six miles from Ava, in which he remained during his +life. In the fourth year of the reign of the present king, Amarapora +was in its turn forsaken, and a new and beautiful palace built at Ava, +which was <i>then</i> in ruins, but is <i>now the capital</i> of the Burmese Empire, +and the residence of the Emperor. The king and royal family had +been living in the temporary buildings at Ava, during the completion +of the new palace, which gave occasion for their returning to Amarapora.</p> + +<p>"I dare not attempt a description of that splendid day, when majesty +with all its attendant glory entered the gates of the golden +city, and amid the acclamations of millions, I may say, took possession<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span> +of the palace. The saupwars of the provinces bordering on China, +all the Viceroys and high officers of the kingdom, were assembled on +the occasion, dressed in their robes of state, and ornamented with the +insignia of their office. The white elephant, richly adorned with +gold and jewels, was one of the most beautiful objects in the procession. +The king and queen alone were unadorned, dressed in the +simple garb of the country; they, hand in hand, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'enter d th'">entered the</ins> garden +in which we had taken our seats, and where a banquet was prepared +for their refreshment. All the riches and glory of the empire were +on this day exhibited to view. The number and immense size of the +elephants, the numerous horses, and great variety of vehicles of all +descriptions, far surpassed any thing I have ever seen or imagined. +Soon after his majesty had taken possession of the new palace, an order +was issued that no foreigner should be allowed to enter, excepting +Lansago. We were a little alarmed at this, but concluded it was from +political motives, and would not, perhaps, essentially affect us.</p> + +<p>"For several weeks nothing took place to alarm us, and we went on +with our school. Mr. J. preached every Sabbath, all the materials +for building a brick house were procured, and the masons had made +considerable progress in raising the building.</p> + +<p>"On the 23d of May, 1824, just as we had concluded worship at +the Doctor's house, the other side of the river, a messenger came to +inform us that Rangoon was taken by the English. The intelligence +produced a shock, in which was a mixture of fear and joy. Mr. Gouger, +a young merchant residing at Ava, was then with us, and had +much more reason to fear than the rest of us. We all, however, immediately +returned to our house, and began to consider what was to +be done. Mr. G. went to prince Thar-yar-wa-dee, the king's most +influential brother, who informed him he need not give himself any +uneasiness, as he had mentioned the subject to his majesty, who had +replied, that 'the few foreigners residing at Ava, had nothing to do with +the war, and should not be molested.'</p> + +<p>"The government were now all in motion. An army of ten or +twelve thousand men, under the command of the Kyee-woon-gyee, +were sent off in three or four days, and were to be joined by the +Sakyer-woon-gyee, who had previously been appointed Viceroy of +Rangoon, and who was on his way thither, when the news of its attack +reached him. No doubt was entertained of the defeat of the +English; the only fear of the king was, that the foreigners hearing +of the advance of the Burmese troops, would be so alarmed, as to flee +on board their ships and depart, before there would be time to secure +them as slaves. 'Bring for me,' said a wild young buck of the palace, +'six kala pyoo, (white strangers,) to row my boat;' and 'to me,' said +the lady of a Woongyee, 'send four white strangers to manage the +affairs of my house, as I understand they are trusty servants.' The +war boats, in high glee, passed our house, the soldiers singing and +dancing, and exhibiting gestures of the most joyous kind. Poor fellows!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span> +said we, you will probably never dance again. And it so proved, +for few if any ever saw again their native home.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the army were despatched, the government began to +inquire the cause of the arrival of the strangers at Rangoon. There +must be spies in the country, suggested some, who have invited them +over. And who so likely to be spies, as the Englishmen residing at +Ava? A report was in circulation, that Captain Laird, lately arrived, +had brought Bengal papers which contained the intention of the English +to take Rangoon, and it was kept a secret from his Majesty. An +inquiry was instituted. The three Englishmen, Gouger, Laird, and +Rogers, were called and examined. It was found they had seen the +papers, and were put in confinement, though not in prison. We now +began to tremble for ourselves, and were in daily expectation of some +dreadful event.</p> + +<p>"At length Mr. Judson and Dr. Price were summoned to a court of +examination, where strict inquiry was made relative to all they +knew. The great point seemed to be whether they had been in the +habit of making communications to foreigners, of the state of the country, +&c. They answered, they had always written to their friends in +America, but had no correspondence with English officers, or the +Bengal government. After their examination, they were not put in +confinement as the Englishmen had been, but were allowed to return +to their houses. In examining the accounts of Mr. G. it was found +that Mr. J. and Dr. Price had taken money of him to a considerable +amount. Ignorant, as were the Burmese, of our mode of receiving +money, by orders on Bengal, this circumstance, to their suspicious +minds, was a sufficient evidence, that the missionaries were in the pay +of the English, and very probably spies. It was thus represented to +the king, who, in an angry tone, ordered the immediate arrest of the +'two teachers.'</p> + +<p>"On the 8th of June, just as we were preparing for dinner, in rushed +an officer, holding a black book, with a dozen Burmans, accompanied +by <i>one</i>, whom, from his spotted face, we knew to be an executioner, +and a 'son of the prison.' 'Where is the teacher?' was the first +inquiry. Mr. Judson presented himself. 'You are called by the +king,' said the officer; a form of speech always used when about to +arrest a criminal. The spotted man instantly seized Mr. Judson, +threw him on the floor, and produced the small cord, the instrument +of torture. I caught hold of his arm; 'Stay, (said I,) I will give you +money.' 'Take her too,' said the officer; 'she also is a foreigner.' +Mr. Judson, with an imploring look, begged they would let me remain +till further orders. The scene was now shocking beyond description. +The whole neighbourhood had collected—the masons at work on the +brick house threw down their tools, and ran—the little Burman children +were screaming and crying—the Bengalee servants stood in +amazement at the indignities offered their master—and the hardened +executioner, with a hellish joy, drew tight the cords, bound Mr. Judson +fast, and dragged him off, I knew not whither. In vain I begged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span> +and entreated the spotted face to take the silver, and loosen the ropes, +but he spurned my offers, and immediately departed. I gave the money, +however, to Moung Ing to follow after, to make some further attempt +to mitigate the torture of Mr. Judson; but instead of succeeding, +when a few rods from the house, the unfeeling wretches again threw +their prisoner on the ground, and drew the cords still tighter, so as almost +to prevent respiration.</p> + +<p>"The officer and his gang proceeded on to the court house, where +the Governor of the city and officers were collected, one of whom +read the order of the king, to commit Mr. Judson to the death prison, +into which he was soon hurled, the door closed—and Moung Ing saw +no more. What a night was now before me! I retired into my room, +and endeavoured to obtain consolation from committing my case to +God, and imploring fortitude and strength to suffer whatever awaited +me. But the consolation of retirement was not long allowed me, for +the magistrate of the place had come into the verandah, and continually +called me to come out, and submit to his examination. But previously +to going out, I destroyed all my letters, journals, and writings +of every kind, lest they should disclose the fact that we had correspondents +in England, and had minuted down every occurrence since +our arrival in the country. When this work of destruction was finished, +I went out and submitted to the examination of the magistrate, +who inquired very minutely of everything I knew; then ordered the +gates of the compound to be shut, no person be allowed to go in or +out, placed a guard of ten ruffians, to whom he gave a strict charge to +keep me safe, and departed.</p> + +<p>"It was now dark. I retired to an inner room with my four little +Burman girls, and barred the doors. The guard instantly ordered +me to unbar the doors and come out, or they would break the house +down. I obstinately refused to obey, and endeavoured to intimidate +them by threatening to complain of their conduct to higher authorities +on the morrow. Finding me resolved in disregarding their orders, +they took the two Bengalee servants, and confined them in the stocks +in a very painful position. I could not endure this; but called the +head man to the window, and promised to make them all a present in +the morning, if they would release the servants. After much debate, +and many severe threatenings, they consented, but seemed resolved to +annoy me as much as possible. My unprotected, desolate state, my +entire uncertainty of the fate of Mr. Judson, and the dreadful carousings +and almost diabolical language of the guard, all conspired to +make it by far the most distressing night I had ever passed. You +may well imagine, my dear brother, that sleep was a stranger to my +eyes, and peace and composure to my mind.</p> + +<p>"The next morning, I sent Moung Ing to ascertain the situation of +your brother, and give him food, if still living. He soon returned, +with the intelligence, that Mr. Judson, and all the white foreigners, +were confined in the <i>death prison</i>, with three pairs of iron fetters each, +and fastened to a long pole, to prevent their moving! The point of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span> +my anguish now was, that I was a prisoner myself, and could make +no efforts for the release of the Missionaries. I begged and entreated +the magistrate to allow me to go to some member of government to +state my case; but he said he did not dare to consent, for fear I should +make my escape. I next wrote a note to one of the king's sisters, +with whom I had been intimate, requesting her to use her influence +for the release of the teachers. The note was returned with this message—She +'did not understand it,'—which was a polite refusal to interfere; +though I afterwards ascertained, that she had an anxious desire +to assist us, but dared not on account of the queen. The day dragged +heavily away, and another dreadful night was before me. I endeavoured +to soften the feelings of the guard by giving them tea and +segars for the night; so that they allowed me to remain inside of my +room, without threatening as they did the night before. But the idea +of your brother being stretched on the bare floor in irons and confinement, +haunted my mind like a spectre, and prevented my obtaining +any quiet sleep, though nature was almost exhausted.</p> + +<p>"On the third day, I sent a message to the governor of the city, who +has the entire direction of prison affairs, to allow me to visit him with +a present. This had the desired effect; and he immediately sent orders +to the guards, to permit my going into town. The governor received +me pleasantly, and asked me what I wanted. I stated to him +the situation of the foreigners, and particularly that of the teachers, +who were Americans, and had nothing to do with the war. He told +me it was not in his power to release them from prison or irons, but +that he could make their situation more comfortable; there was his +head officer, with whom I must consult, relative to the means. The +officer, who proved to be one of the city writers, and whose countenance +at the first glance presented the most perfect assemblage of all +the evil passions attached to human nature, took me aside, and endeavoured +to convince me, that myself, as well as the prisoners, was entirely +at his disposal—that our future comfort must depend on my liberality +in regard to presents—and that these must be made in a private +way and unknown to any officer in the government! What must I +do, said I, to obtain a mitigation of the present sufferings of the two +teachers? 'Pay to me,' said he, 'two hundred tickals, (about a hundred +dollars,) two pieces of fine cloth, and two pieces of handkerchiefs.' +I had taken money with me in the morning, our house being +two miles from the prison—I could not easily return. This I offered +to the writer, and begged he would not insist on the other articles, as +they were not in my possession. He hesitated for some time, but +fearing to lose the sight of so much money, he concluded to take +it, promising to relieve the teachers from their most painful situation.</p> + +<p>"I then procured an order from the governor, for my admittance +into prison; but the sensations, produced by meeting your brother in +that <i>wretched, horrid</i> situation, and the affecting scene which ensued, +I will not attempt to describe. Mr. Judson crawled to the door of the +prison—for I was never allowed to enter—gave me some directions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span> +relative to his release; but before we could make any arrangement, +I was ordered to depart, by those iron hearted jailers, who could not +endure to see us enjoy the poor consolation of meeting in that miserable +place. In vain I pleaded the order of the governor for my admittance; +they again, harshly repeated, 'Depart, or we will pull you out.' +The same evening, the missionaries, together with the other foreigners, +who had paid an equal sum, were taken out of the common prison, and +confined in an open shed in the prison enclosure. Here I was allowed +to send them food, and mats to sleep on; but was not permitted to enter +again for several days.</p> + +<p>"My next object was to get a petition presented to the queen; but +no person being admitted into the palace, who was in disgrace with his +Majesty, I sought to present it through the medium of her brother's +wife. I had visited her in better days, and received particular marks +of her favour. But now times were altered: Mr. Judson was in +prison, and I in distress, which was a sufficient reason for giving me +a cold reception. I took a present of considerable value. She +was lolling on her carpet as I entered, with her attendants around +her. I waited not for the usual question to a suppliant, 'What do +you want?' but in a hold, earnest, yet respectful manner, stated our +distresses and our wrongs, and begged her assistance. She partly +raised her head, opened the present I had brought, and coolly replied, +'Your case is not singular; all the foreigners are treated alike.' 'But +it is singular,' said I, 'the teachers are Americans; they are ministers +of religion, have nothing to do with war or politics, and came to +Ava in obedience to the king's command. They have never done any +thing to deserve such treatment; and is it right they should be treated +thus?' 'The king does as he pleases,' said she; 'I am not the +king, what can I do?' 'You can state their case to the queen, and +obtain their release,' replied I. 'Place yourself in my situation,—were +you in America, your husband, innocent of crime, thrown into +prison, in irons, and you a solitary, unprotected female—what would +you do?' With a slight degree of feeling, she said, 'I will present +your petition,—come again to-morrow.' I returned to the house, with +considerable hope, that the speedy release of the missionaries was at +hand. But the next day Mr. Gouger's property, to the amount of +fifty thousand dollars, was taken and carried to the palace. The +officers, on their return, politely informed me, they should <i>visit our +house</i> on the morrow. I felt obliged for this information, and accordingly +made preparations to receive them, by secreting as many little +articles as possible; together with considerable silver, as I knew, if the +war should be protracted, we should be in a state of starvation without +it. But my mind was in a dreadful state of agitation, lest it should be +discovered, and cause my being thrown into prison. And had it been +possible to procure money from any other quarter, I should not have +ventured on such a step.</p> + +<p>"The following morning, the royal treasurer, prince Tharyawadees, +chief Woon, and Koung-tone Myoo-tsa, who was in future our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span> +steady friend, attended by forty or fifty followers, came to take possession +of all we had. I treated them civilly, gave them chairs to sit +on, tea and sweetmeats for their refreshment; and justice obliges me +to say, that they conducted the business of confiscation with more regard +to my feelings than I should have thought it possible for Burmese +officers to exhibit. The three officers, with one of the royal +secretaries, alone entered the house; their attendants were ordered +to remain outside. They saw I was deeply affected, and apologized +for what they were about to do, by saying, that it was painful for them +to take possession of property not their own, but they were compelled +thus to do by order of the king. 'Where is your silver, gold, and +jewels?' said the royal treasurer. 'I have no gold or jewels; but here +is the key of a trunk which contains the silver—do with it as you +please.' The trunk was produced, and the silver weighed. 'This +money,' said I, 'was collected in America, by the disciples of Christ, +and sent here for the purpose of building a kyoung, (the name of a +priest's dwelling) and for our support while teaching the religion of +Christ. Is it suitable that you should take it? (The Burmans are +averse to taking what is offered in a religious point of view, which +was the cause of my making the inquiry.) 'We will state this circumstance +to the king,' said one of them, 'and perhaps he will restore +it. But this is all the silver you have?' I could not tell a falsehood: +'The house is in your possession,' I replied, 'search for yourselves.' +'Have you not deposited silver with some person of your acquaintance?' +'My acquaintances are all in prison, with whom should I deposit +silver? They next ordered my trunk and drawers to be examined. +The secretary only was allowed to accompany me in this +search. Everything nice or curious, which met his view, was presented +to the officers, for their decision, whether it should be taken or retained. +I begged they would not take our wearing apparel, as it would +be disgraceful to take clothes partly worn, into the possession of his +majesty, and to us they were of unspeakable value. They assented, +and took a list only, and did the same with the books, medicines, &c. +My little work table and rocking chair, presents from my beloved +brother, I rescued from their grasp, partly by artifice, and partly +through their ignorance. They left also many articles, which were of +inestimable value, during our long imprisonment.</p> + +<p>"As soon as they had finished their search and departed, I hastened +to the queen's brother, to hear what had been the fate of my +petition; when, alas! all my hopes were dashed, by his wife's coolly +saying, 'I stated your case to the queen; but her majesty replied,—'<i>The +teachers will not die: let them remain as they are.</i>' My expectations +had been so much excited, that this sentence was like a thunderbolt +to my feelings. For the truth at one glance assured me, that +if the queen refused assistance, who would dare to intercede for me? +With a heavy heart I departed, and on my way home, attempted to +enter the prison gate, to communicate the sad tidings to your brother +but was harshly refused admittance: and for the ten days following<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span> +notwithstanding my daily efforts, I was not allowed to enter. We attempted +to communicate by writing, and after being successful for a +few days, it was discovered; the poor fellow who carried the communications +was beaten and put in the stocks; and the circumstance +cost me about ten dollars, besides two or three days of agony, for fear +of the consequences.</p> + +<p>"The officers who had taken possession of our property, presented +it to his majesty, saying, 'Judson is a true teacher; we found nothing +in his house, but what belongs to priests. In addition to this money, +there are an immense number of books, medicines, trunks of wearing +apparel, &c. of which we have only taken a list. Shall we take them, +or let them remain?' 'Let them remain,' said the king, 'and put +this property by itself, for it shall be restored to him again, if he is +found innocent.' This was an allusion to the idea of his being a +spy.</p> + +<p>"For two or three months following, I was subject to continual +harassments, partly through my ignorance of police management +and partly through the insatiable desire of every petty officer to enrich +himself through our misfortunes. When the officers came to +our house, to confiscate our property, they insisted on knowing how +much I had given the governor and prison officers, to release the +teachers from the inner prison. I honestly told them, and they demanded +the sum from the governor, which threw him into a dreadful +rage, and he threatened to put all the prisoners back into their original +place. I went to him the next morning, and the first words with +which he accosted me, were, 'You are very bad; why did you tell +the royal treasurer that you had given me so much money?' 'The +treasurer inquired; what could I say!' I replied. 'Say that you had +given nothing,' said he, 'and I would have made the teachers comfortable +in prison; but now I know not what will be their fate.' 'But +I cannot tell a falsehood,' I replied. 'My religion differs from yours, +it forbids prevarication; and had you stood by me with your knife +raised, I could not have said what you suggested.' His wife, who sat +by his side, and who always, from this time, continued my firm friend, +instantly said, 'Very true—what else could she have said? I like +such straight-forward conduct; you must not (turning to the governor) +be angry with her.' I then presented the governor with a beautiful +opera glass, I had just received from England, and begged his +anger at me would not influence him to treat the prisoners with unkindness, +and I would endeavour, from time to time, to make him +such presents, as would compensate for his loss. 'You may intercede +for your husband only; for your sake, he shall remain where he is; +but let the other prisoners take care of themselves.' I pleaded hard for +Dr. Price; but he would not listen, and the same day had him returned +to the inner prison, where he remained ten days. He was then taken +out, in consequence of the Doctor's promising a piece of broad cloth, and +my sending two pieces of handkerchiefs.</p> + +<p>"About this period, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">I</ins> was one day summoned to the Tlowtdan, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span> +an official way. What new evil was before me, I knew not, but was +obliged to go. When arrived, I was allowed to <i>stand</i> at the bottom +of the stairs, as no female is permitted to ascend the steps, or even to +stand, but sit on the ground. Hundreds were collected around. The +officer who presided, in an authoritative voice, began; 'Speak the +truth in answer to the questions I shall ask. If you speak true, no +evil will follow; but if not, your life will not be spared. It is reported +that you have committed to the care of a Burmese officer, a +string of pearls, a pair of diamond ear-rings, and a silver tea-pot. Is +it true? 'It is not,' I replied; 'and if you <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'are'">or</ins> any other person can +produce these articles, I refuse not to die.' The officer again urged +the necessity of 'speaking true.' I told him I had nothing more to +say on this subject, but begged he would use his influence to obtain +the release of Mr. Judson from prison.</p> + +<p>"I returned to the house, with a heart much lighter than I went, +though conscious of my perpetual exposure to such harassments. +Notwithstanding the repulse I had met in my application to the queen, +I could not remain without making continual effort for your brother's +release, while there was the least probability of success. Time after +time my visits to the queen's sister-in-law were repeated, till she refused +to answer a question, and told me by her looks, I had better keep +out of her presence. For the seven following months, hardly a day +passed, that I did not visit some one of the members of government, +or branches of the royal family, in order to gain their influence in our +behalf; but the only benefit resulting was, their encouraging promises +preserved us from despair, and induced a hope of the speedy termination +of our difficulties, which enabled us to bear our distresses +better than we otherwise should have done. I ought, however, to +mention, that by my repeated visits to the different members of government, +I gained several friends, who were ready to assist me with +articles of food, though in a private manner, and who used their influence +in the palace to destroy the impression of our being in any +way engaged in the present war. But no one dared to speak a word +to the king or queen in favor of a foreigner, while there were such +continual reports of the success of the English arms.</p> + +<p>"During these seven months, the continual extortions and oppressions +to which your brother, and the other white prisoners were subject, +are indescribable. Sometimes sums of money were demanded, +sometimes pieces of cloth and handkerchiefs; at other times, an order +would be issued, that the white foreigners should not speak to each +other, or have any communication with their friends without. Then +again, the servants were forbidden to carry in their food, without an +extra fee. Sometimes, for days and days together, I could not go into +the prison till after dark, when I had two miles to walk, in returning +to the house. O how many, many times, have I returned from that +dreary prison at nine o'clock at night, solitary and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'worne'">worn</ins> out with fatigue +and anxiety, and thrown myself down in that same rocking +chair which you and Deacon L. provided for me in Boston and endeavoured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span> +to invent some new scheme for the release of the prisoners. +Sometimes, for a moment or two, my thoughts would glance toward +America, and my beloved friends there—but for nearly a year and a +half, so entirely engrossed was every thought with present scenes and +sufferings, that I seldom reflected on a single occurrence of my former +life, or recollected that I had a friend in existence out of Ava.</p> + +<p>"You, my dear brother, who know my strong attachment to my +friends, and how much pleasure I have hitherto experienced from retrospect, +can judge from the above circumstances, how intense were +my sufferings. But the point, the acme of my distresses, consisted in +the awful uncertainty of our final fate. My prevailing opinion was, +that my husband would suffer violent death; and that I should, of +course, become a slave, and languish out a miserable though short +existence, in the tyrannic hands of some unfeeling monster. But the +consolations of religion, in these trying circumstances, were neither +'few nor small.' It taught me to look beyond this world, to that rest, +that peaceful, happy rest, where Jesus reigns, and oppression never +enters. But how have I digressed from my relation. I will again +return.</p> + +<p>"The war was now prosecuted with all the energy the Burmese +government possessed. New troops were continually raised and sent +down the river, and as frequent reports returned of their being all cut +off. But that part of the Burmese army stationed at Arracan, under +the command of Bandoola, had been more successful. Three hundred +prisoners, at one time, was sent to the capital, as an evidence of +the victory that had been gained. The king began to think that none +but Bandoola understood the art of fighting with foreigners; consequently +his majesty recalled him with the design of his taking command +of the army that had been sent to Rangoon. On his arrival at +Ava, he was received at court in the most flattering manner, and was +the recipient of every favour in the power of the king and queen to +bestow. He was, in fact, while at Ava, the acting king. I was resolved +to apply to him for the release of the missionaries, though +some members of government advised me not, lest he, being reminded +of their existence, should issue an immediate order for their execution. +But it was my last hope, and as it proved, my last application.</p> + +<p>"Your brother wrote a petition privately, stating every circumstance +that would have a tendency to interest him in our behalf. With +fear and trembling I approached him, while surrounded by a crowd of +flatterers, and one of his secretaries took the petition, and read it +aloud. After hearing it, he spake to me in an obliging manner—asked +several questions relative to the teachers—said he would think +of the subject—and bade me come again. I ran to the prison to +communicate the favourable reception to Mr. Judson; and we +both had sanguine hopes that his release was at hand. But the +governor of the city expressed his amazement at my temerity, and +said he doubted not it would be the means of destroying all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span> +prisoners. In a day or two, however, I went again, and took a present +of considerable value. Bandoola was not at home; but his <i>lady</i>, after +ordering the present to be taken into another room, modestly informed +me that she was ordered by her husband to make the following +communication—that he was now very busily employed in making +preparations for Rangoon; but that when he had re-taken that place +and expelled the English, he would return and release all the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Thus again were all our hopes dashed; and we felt that we could +do nothing more, but sit down and submit to our lot. From this time +we gave up all idea of being released from prison, till the termination +of the war; but I was still obliged to visit constantly some of the +members of government, with little presents, particularly the governor +of the city, for the purpose of making the situation of the prisoners +tolerable. I generally spent the greater part of every other +day at the governor's house, giving him all the information relative +to American manners, customs, government, &c. He used to be so +much gratified with my communications, as to feel greatly disappointed, +if any occurrence prevented my spending the usual hours at +his house.</p> + +<p>"Some months after your brother's imprisonment, I was permitted +to make a little bamboo room in the prison enclosures, where he +could be much by himself, and where I was sometimes allowed to +spend two or three hours. It so happened that the two months he +occupied this place, was the coldest part of the year, when he would +have suffered much in the open shed he had previously occupied. +After the birth of your little niece, I was unable to visit the prison +and the governor as before, and found I had lost considerable influence, +previously gained; for he was not so forward to hear my petitions +when any difficulty occurred, as he formerly had been. When +Maria was nearly two months old, her father one morning sent me +word that he and all the white prisoners were put into the inner prison +in five pairs of fetters each, that his little room had been torn down, +and his mat, pillow, &c. been taken by the jailers. This was to me +a dreadful shock, as I thought at once it was only a prelude to greater +evils.</p> + +<p>"I should have mentioned before this, the defeat of Bandoola, his +escape to Danooboo, the complete destruction of his army and loss of +ammunition, and the consternation this intelligence produced at +court. The English army had left Rangoon, and were advancing +towards Prome, when these severe measures were taken with the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"I went immediately to the governor's house. He was not at +home, but had ordered his wife to tell me, when I came, not to ask to +have the additional fetters taken off, or the prisoners released, for <i>it +could not be done</i>. I went to the prison gate, but was forbid to enter. +All was as still as death—not a white face to be seen, or a vestige of +Mr. J.'s little room remaining. I was determined to see the governor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span> +and know the cause of this additional oppression; and for this purpose +returned to town the same evening, at an hour I knew he would be at +home. He was in his audience room, and, as I entered, looked up +without speaking, but exhibited a mixture of shame and affected anger +in his countenance. I began by saying—Your Lordship has +hitherto treated us with the kindness of a father. Our obligations to +you are very great. We have looked to you for protection from oppression +and cruelty. You have in many instances mitigated the sufferings +of those unfortunate, though innocent beings, committed to +your charge. You have promised me particularly, that you would +stand by me to the last, and though you should receive an order from +the king, you would not put Mr. J. to death. What crime has he committed +to deserve such additional punishment? The old man's hard +heart was melted, for he wept like a child. 'I pity you, Tsa-yar-ga-dau, +(a name by which he always called me) I knew you would make +me feel; I therefore forbade your application. But you must believe +me when I say, I do not wish to increase the sufferings of the prisoners. +When I am ordered to execute them, the least that I can do is, +to put them out of sight. I will now tell you (continued he) what I +have never told you before, that three times I have received intimations +from the queen's brother, to assassinate all the white prisoners +privately; but I would not do it. And I now repeat it, though I execute +all the others, I will never execute your husband. But I cannot +release him from his present confinement, and you must not ask it.' I +had never seen him manifest so much feeling, or so resolute in denying +me a favour, which circumstance was an additional reason for thinking +dreadful scenes were before us.</p> + +<p>"The situation of the prisoners was now distressing beyond description. +It was at the commencement of the hot season. There were +above a hundred prisoners shut up in one room, without a breath of air +excepting from the cracks in the boards. I sometimes obtained permission +to go to the door for five minutes, when my heart sickened at the +wretchedness exhibited. The white prisoners, from incessant perspiration +and loss of appetite, looked more like the dead than the living. +I made daily applications to the governor, offering him money, which +he refused; but all that I gained, was permission for the foreigners to +eat their food outside, and this continued but a short time.</p> + +<p>"It was at this period that the death of Bandoola was announced +in the palace. The king heard it with silent amazement, and the +queen, in eastern style, smote upon her breast, and cried, ama! ama! +(alas, alas.) Who could be found to fill his place? who would venture +since the invincible Bandoola had been cut off? Such were the exclamations +constantly heard in the streets of Ava. The common +people were speaking <i>low</i> of a rebellion, in case more troops should +be levied. For as yet the common people had borne the weight of the +war, not a tickal had been taken from the royal treasury. At length +the Pakan Woon, who a few months before had been so far disgraced +by the king as to be thrown into prison and irons, now offered himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span> +to head a new army that should be raised on a different plan from +those which had been hitherto raised; and assured the king in the most +confident manner, that he would conquer the English, and restore +those places that had been taken, in a very short time. He proposed +that every soldier should receive a hundred tickals in advance, and he +would obtain security for each man, as the money was to pass through +his hands. It was afterwards found that he had taken, for his own +use, ten tickals from every hundred. He was a man of enterprise and +talents, though a violent enemy to all foreigners. His offers were +accepted by the king and government, and all power immediately +committed to him. One of the first exercises of his power was, to +arrest Lansago and the Portuguese priest, who had hitherto remained +unmolested, and cast them into prison, and to subject the native Portuguese +and Bengalees to the most menial occupations. The whole +town was in alarm, lest they should feel the effects of his power; and +it was owing to the malignant representations of this man, that the +white prisoners suffered such a change in their circumstances, as I +shall soon relate.</p> + +<p>"After continuing in the inner prison for more than a month, your +brother was taken with a fever. I felt assured he would not live long, +unless removed from that noisome place. To effect this, and in order +to be near the prison, I removed from our house and put up a small +bamboo room in the governor's enclosure, which was nearly opposite +the prison gate. Here I incessantly begged the governor to give me +an order to take Mr. J. out of the large prison, and place him in a +more comfortable situation; and the old man, being worn out with my +entreaties, at length gave me the order in an official form; and also +gave orders to the head jailer, to allow me to go in and out, all times +of the day, to administer medicines, &c. I now felt happy indeed, +and had Mr. J. instantly removed into a little bamboo hovel, so low, +that neither of us could stand upright—but a palace in comparison +with the place he had left.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Removal of the prisoners to Oung-pen-la—Mrs. Judson follows them.</i></div> + +<p>"Notwithstanding the order the governor had given for my admittance +into prison, it was with the greatest difficulty that I could persuade +the under jailer to open the gate. I used to carry Mr. J's. food +myself, for the sake of getting in, and would then remain an hour or +two, unless driven out. We had been in this comfortable situation +but two or three days, when one morning, having carried in Mr. +Judson's breakfast, which, in consequence of fever, he was unable to +take, I remained longer than usual, when the governor in great +haste sent for me. I promised him to return as soon as I had ascertained +the governor's will, he being much alarmed at this unusual +message. I was very agreeably disappointed, when the governor informed, +that he only wished to consult me about his watch, and seemed +unusually pleasant and conversable. I found afterwards, that his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span> +only object was, to detain me until the dreadful scene, about to take +place in the prison, was over. For when I left him to go to my room, +one of the servants came running, and with a ghastly countenance informed +me, that all the white prisoners were carried away. I would +not believe the report, but instantly went back to the governor, who +said he had just heard of it, but did not wish to tell me. I hastily +ran into the street, hoping to get a glimpse of them before they were +out of sight, but in this was disappointed. I ran first into one street, +then another, inquiring of all I met, but none would answer me. At +length an old woman told me the white prisoners had gone towards +the little river; for they were to be carried to Amarapora. I then ran +to the banks of the little river, about half a mile, but saw them not, +and concluded the old woman had deceived me. Some of the friends +of the foreigners went to the place of execution, but found them not. +I then returned to the governor to try to discover the cause of their +removal, and the probability of their future fate. The old man assured +me that he was ignorant of the intention of government to remove +the foreigners till that morning. That since I went out, he had +learned that the prisoners were to be sent to Amarapora; but for what +purpose, he knew not. 'I will send off a man immediately,' said he, +'to see what is to be done with them. You can do nothing more for +your husband,' continued he, '<i>take care of yourself</i>.' With a heavy +heart I went to my room, and having no hope to excite me to exertion, +I sunk down almost in despair. For several days previous, I had +been actively engaged in building my own little room, and making +our hovel comfortable. My thoughts had been almost entirely occupied +in contriving means to get into prison. But now I looked towards the +gate with a kind of melancholy feeling, but no wish to enter. All +was the stillness of death; no preparation of your brother's food, no +expectation of meeting him at the usual dinner hour, all my employment, +all my occupations seemed to have ceased, and I had nothing left +but the dreadful recollection that Mr. Judson was carried off, I knew +not whither. It was one of the most insupportable days I ever passed. +Towards night, however, I came to the determination to set off the +next morning for Amarapora; and for this purpose was obliged to go +to our house out of town.</p> + +<p>"Never before had I suffered so much from fear in traversing the +streets of Ava. The last words of the governor, 'Take care of yourself,' +made me suspect there was some design with which I was unacquainted. +I saw, also, he was afraid to have me go into the streets, +and advised me to wait till dark, when he would send me in a cart, +and a man to open the gates. I took two or three trunks of the most +valuable articles, together with the medicine chest, to deposit in the +house of the governor; and after committing the house and premises +to our faithful Moung Ing and a Bengalee servant, who continued +with us, (though we were unable to pay his wages,) I took leave, as I +then thought probable, of our house in Ava forever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On my return to the governor's, I found a servant of Mr. Gouges, +who happened to be near the prison when the foreigners were led out, +and followed on to see the end, who informed me, that the prisoners +had been carried before the Lamine Woon, at Amarapora, and were to +be sent the next day to a village he knew not how far distant. My +distress was a little relieved by the intelligence that our friend was +yet alive, but still I knew not what was to become of him. The next +morning I obtained a pass from government, and with my little Maria, +who was then only three months old, Mary and Abby Hasseltine, (two +of the Burman children) and our Bengalee cook, who was the only +one of the party who could afford me any assistance, I set off for +Amarapora. The day was dreadfully hot; but we obtained a covered +boat, in which we were tolerably comfortable, till within two miles +of the government house. I then procured a cart; but the violent +motion, together with the dreadful heat and dust; made me almost distracted. +But what was my disappointment on my arriving at the +court house, to find that the prisoners had been sent on two hours before, +and that I must go in that uncomfortable mode four miles further +with little Maria in my arms, whom I held all the way from Ava. +The cart man refused to go any further; and after waiting an hour in +the burning sun, I procured another, and set off for that never to be +forgotten place, Oung-pen-la. I obtained a guide from the governor +and was conducted directly to the prison-yard. But what a scene of +wretchedness was presented to my view! The prison was an old +shattered building, without a roof; the fence was entirely destroyed; +eight or ten Burmese were on the top of the building, trying to make +something like a shelter with the leaves; while under a little low projection +outside of the prison sat the foreigners, chained together two +and two, almost dead with suffering and fatigue. The first <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'word'">words</ins> of +your brother were, 'Why have you come? I hoped you would not +follow, for you cannot live here.' It was now dark. I had no refreshment +for the suffering prisoners, or for myself, as I had expected to +procure all that was necessary at the market of Amarapora, and I +had no shelter for the night. I asked one of the jailers if I might put +up a little bamboo house near the prisoners; he said no, it was not customary. +I then begged he would procure me a shelter for the night, +when on the morrow I could find some place to live in. He took me +to his house, in which there were only two small rooms—one in which +he and his family lived—the other, which was then half full of grain, +he offered to me; and in that little filthy place, I spent the next six +months of wretchedness. I procured some half boiled water, instead +of my tea, and, worn out with fatigue, laid myself down on a mat +spread over the paddy, and endeavoured to obtain a little refreshment +from sleep. The next morning your brother gave me the following +account of the brutal treatment he had received on being taken out of +prison.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I had gone out at the call of the governor, one of the +jailers rushed into Mr. J's little room—roughly seized him by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span> +arm—pulled him out—stripped him of all his clothes, excepting shirt +and pantaloons—took his shoes, hat, and all his bedding—tore off his +chains—tied a rope round his waist, and dragged him to the court +house, where the other prisoners had previously been taken. They +were then tied two and two, and delivered into the hands of +the Lamine Woon, who went on before them on horseback, while +his slaves drove the prisoners, one of the slaves holding the rope +which connected two of them together. It was in May, one of the +hottest months in the year, and eleven o'clock in the day, so that the +sun was intolerable indeed. They had proceeded only half a mile, +when your brother's feet became blistered, and so great was his agony, +even at this early period, that as they were crossing the little river, +he longed to throw himself into the water to be free from misery. +But the sin attached to such an act alone prevented. They had then +eight miles to walk. The sand and gravel were like burning coals +to the feet of the prisoners, which soon became perfectly destitute of +skin; and in this wretched state they were goaded on by their unfeeling +drivers. Mr. J.'s debilitated state, in consequence of fever, +and having taken no food that morning, rendered him less capable of +bearing such hardships than the other prisoners. When about half +way on their journey, as they stopped for water, your brother begged +the Lamine Woon to allow him to ride his horse a mile or two, as he +could proceed no farther in that dreadful state. But a scornful, malignant +look, was all the reply that was made. He then requested +captain Laird, who was tied with him, and who was a strong, healthy +man, to allow him to take hold of his shoulder, as he was fast sinking. +This the kind-hearted man granted for a mile or two, but then found +the additional burden insupportable. Just at that period, Mr. Gouger's +Bengalee servant came up to them, and seeing the distresses of your +brother, took off his head dress, which was made of cloth, tore it in +two, gave half to his master, and half to Mr. Judson, which he instantly +wrapt round his wounded feet, as they were not allowed to rest +even for a moment. The servant then offered his shoulder to Mr. J. +and was almost carried by him the remainder of the way. Had it +not been for the support and assistance of this man, your brother +thinks he should have shared the fate of the poor Greek, who was one +of their number, and when taken out of prison that morning was in +perfect health. But he was a corpulent man, and the sun affected him +so much that he fell down on the way. His inhuman drivers beat +and dragged him until they themselves were wearied, when they +procured a cart, in which he was carried the remaining two miles. +But the poor creature expired in an hour or two after their arrival at +the court house. The Lamine Woon seeing the distressing state of +the prisoners, and that one of their number was dead, concluded they +should go no farther that night, otherwise they would have been driven +on until they reached Oung-pen-la the same day. An old shed was +appointed for their abode during the night, but without even a mat or +pillow, or any thing to cover them. The curiosity of the Lamine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span> +Woon's wife, induced her to make a visit to the prisoners, whose +wretchedness considerably excited her compassion, and she ordered +some fruit, sugar, and tamarinds, for their refreshment; and the next +morning rice was prepared for them, and as poor as it was, it was refreshing +to the prisoners, who had been almost destitute of food the +day before. Carts were also provided for their conveyance, as none of +them were able to walk. All this time the foreigners were entirely ignorant +of what was to become of them; and when they arrived at +Oung-pen-la, and saw the dilapidated state of the prison, they immediately, +all as one, concluded that they were there to be burnt, agreeably to +the report which had previously been in circulation at Ava. They all +endeavoured to prepare themselves for the awful scene anticipated, +and it was not until they saw preparations making for repairing the prison, +that they had the least doubt that a cruel lingering death awaited +them. My arrival was in an hour or two after this.</p> + +<p>"The next morning I arose and endeavoured to find something like +food. But there was no market, and nothing to be procured. One +of Dr. Price's friends, however, brought some cold rice and vegetable +curry, from Amarapora, which, together with a cup of tea from Mr. +Lansago, answered for the breakfast of the prisoners; and for dinner, +we made a curry of dried salt fish, which a servant of Mr. Gouger +had brought. All the money I could command in the world, I had +brought with me, secreted about my person; so you may judge what +our prospects were, in case the war should continue long. But our +heavenly Father was better to us than our fears; for notwithstanding +the constant extortions of the jailers, during the whole six months +we were at Oung-pen-la, and the frequent straits to which we were +brought, we never really suffered for the want of money, though frequently +for want of provisions, which were not procurable. Here at +this place my personal bodily sufferings commenced. While your +brother was confined in the city prison, I had been allowed to remain +in our house, in which I had many conveniences left, and my health +continued good beyond all expectations. But now I had not a single +article of convenience—not even a chair or seat of any kind, excepting +a bamboo floor. The very morning after my arrival, Mary Hasseltine +was taken with the small pox, the natural way. She, though +very young, was the only assistant I had in taking care of little Maria. +But she now required all the time I could spare from Mr. Judson, +whose fever still continued in prison, and whose feet were so dreadfully +mangled, that for several days he was unable to move. I knew +not what to do, for I could procure no assistance from the neighbourhood, +or medicine for the sufferers, but was all day long going backwards +and forwards from the house to the prison, with little Maria in +my arms. Sometimes I was greatly relieved by leaving her, for an +hour, when asleep, by the side of her father, while I returned to the +house to look after Mary, whose fever ran so high as to produce delirium. +She was so completely covered with the small pox, that there +was no distinction in the pustules. As she was in the same little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span> +room with myself, I knew Maria would take it; I therefore inoculated +her from another child, before Mary's had arrived at such a state +as to be infectious. At the same time, I inoculated Abby, and the +jailer's children, who all had it so lightly as hardly to interrupt their +play. But the inoculation in the arm of my poor little Maria did not +take—she caught it of Mary, and had it the natural way. She was +then only three months and a half old, and had been a most healthy +child; but it was above three months before she perfectly recovered +from the effects of this dreadful disorder.</p> + +<p>"You will recollect I never had the small pox, but was vaccinated +previously to leaving America. In consequence of being for so long +a time constantly exposed, I had nearly a hundred pustules formed, +though no previous symptoms of fever, &c. The jailer's children +having had the small pox so lightly, in consequence of inoculation, my +fame was spread all over the village, and every child, young and old, +who had not previously had it, was brought for inoculation. And although +I knew nothing about the disorder, or the mode of treating it, I +inoculated them all with a needle, and told them to take care of their +diet,—all the instructions I could give them. Mr. Judson's health was +gradually restored, and he found himself much more comfortably situated, +than when in the city prison.</p> + +<p>"The prisoners were at first chained two and two; but as soon as +the jailers could obtain chains sufficient, they were separated, and +each prisoner had but one pair. The prison was repaired, a new +fence made, and a large airy shed erected in front of the prison, where +the prisoners were allowed to remain during the day, though locked +up in the little close prison at night. All the children recovered from +the small pox; but my watchings and fatigue, together with my miserable +food, and more miserable lodgings, brought on one of the diseases +of the country, which is almost always fatal to foreigners. My +constitution seemed destroyed, and in a few days I became so weak +as to be hardly able to walk to Mr. Judson's prison. In this debilitated +state, I set off in a cart for Ava, to procure medicines, and some +suitable food, leaving the cook to supply my place. I reached the +house in safety, and for two or three days the disorder seemed at a +stand; after which it attacked me so violently, that I had no hopes of +recovery left—and my only anxiety now was, to return to Oung-pen-la +to die near the prison. It was with the greatest difficulty that I +obtained the medicine chest from the governor, and then had no one +to administer medicine. I however got at the laudanum, and by taking +two drops at a time for several hours, it so far checked the disorder, +as to enable me to get on board a boat, though so weak that I +could not stand, and again set off for Oung-pen-la. The last four +miles was in that painful conveyance, the cart, and in the midst of +the rainy season, when the mud almost buries the oxen. You may +form some idea of a Burmese cart, when I tell you their wheels are +not constructed like ours; but are simply round thick planks with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span> +hole in the middle, through which a pole that supports the body is +thrust.</p> + +<p>"I just reached Oung-pen-la when my strength seemed entirely exhausted. +The good native cook came out to help me into the house +but so altered and emaciated was my appearance, that the poor fellow +burst into tears at the first sight. I crawled on to the mat in the little +room, to which I was confined for more than two months, and never +perfectly recovered, until I came to the English camp. At this period, +when I was unable to take care of myself, or look after Mr. Judson, +we must both have died, had it not been for the faithful and affectionate +care of our Bengalee cook. A common Bengalee cook will do +nothing but the simple business of cooking: But he seemed to forget +his cast, and almost his own wants, in his efforts to serve us. He +would provide, cook, and carry your brother's food, and then return +and take care of me. I have frequently known him not to taste of +food till near night, in consequence of having to go so far for wood +and water, and in order to have Mr. Judson's dinner ready at the +usual hour. He never complained, never asked for his wages, and +never for a moment hesitated to go any where, or to perform any act +we required. I take great pleasure in speaking of the faithful conduct +of this servant, who is still with us, and I trust has been well rewarded +for his services.</p> + +<p>"Our dear little Maria was the greatest sufferer at this time, my +illness depriving her of her usual nourishment, and neither a nurse +nor a drop of milk could be procured in the village. By making presents +to the jailers, I obtained leave for Mr. Judson to come out of +prison, and take the emaciated creature around the village, to beg a +little nourishment from those mothers who had young children. Her +cries in the night were heart-rending, when it was impossible to supply +her wants. I now began to think the very afflictions of Job had +come upon me. When in health, I could bear the various trials and +vicissitudes through which I was called to pass. But to be confined +with sickness, and unable to assist those who were so dear to me, when +in distress, was almost too much for me to bear; and had it not been +for the consolations of religion, and an assured conviction that every +additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I must have +sunk under my accumulated sufferings. Sometimes our jailers seemed +a little softened at our distress, and for several days together allowed +Mr. Judson to come to the house, which was to me an unspeakable +consolation. Then again they would be as iron-hearted in their demands, +as though we were free from sufferings, and in affluent circumstances. +The annoyance, the extortions, and oppressions, to which +we were subject, during our six months residence in Oung-pen-la, are +beyond enumeration or description.</p> + +<p>"It was some time after our arrival at Oung-pen-la, that we heard +of the execution of the Pakan Woon, in consequence of which our +lives were still preserved. For we afterwards ascertained, that the +white foreigners had been sent to Oung-pen-la, for the express <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'purose'">purpose</ins> +of sacrificing them, and that he himself intended witnessing the +horrid scene. We had frequently heard of his intended arrival at +Oung-pen-la; but we had no idea of his diabolical purposes. He +had raised an army of fifty thousand men, (a tenth part of whose advanced +pay was found in his house,) and expected to march against +the English army in a short time, when he was suspected of high treason, +and instantly executed without the least examination. Perhaps +no death in Ava ever produced such universal rejoicings, as that of +the Pakan Woon. We never, to this day, hear his name mentioned, +but with an epithet of reproach or hatred. Another brother of the +king was appointed to the command of the army now in readiness, but +with no very sanguine expectations of success. Some weeks after +the departure of these troops, two of the Woongyees were sent down +for the purpose of negotiating. But not being successful, the queen's +brother, the <i>acting king</i> of the country, was prevailed on to go. Great +expectations were raised in consequence; but his cowardice induced +him to encamp his detachment of the army at a great distance from the +English, and even at a distance from the main body of the Burmese +army, whose head-quarters were then at Maloun. Thus he effected +nothing, though reports were continually reaching us, that peace was +nearly concluded.</p> + +<p>"The time at length arrived for our release from that detested +place, the Oung-pen-la prison. A messenger from our friend, the +governor of the north gate of the palace, who was formerly Koung-tone, +Myoo-tsa, informed us that an order had been given, the evening +before, in the palace, for Mr. Judson's release. On the same evening +an official order arrived; and with a joyful heart I set about preparing +for our departure early the following morning. But an unexpected +obstacle occurred, which made us fear that <i>I</i> should still be retained +as a prisoner. The avaricious jailers, unwilling to lose their prey, +insisted, that as my name was not included in the order, I should not +go. In vain I urged that I was not sent there as a prisoner, and that +they had no authority over me—they still determined I should not go, +and forbade the villagers from letting me a cart. Mr. Judson was +then taken out of prison, and brought to the jailer's house, where, by +promises and threatenings, he finally gained their consent, on condition +that we would leave the remaining part of our provisions we +had recently received from Ava. It was noon before we were allowed +to depart. When we reached Amarapora, Mr. Judson was obliged +to follow the guidance of the jailer, who conducted him to the governor +of the city. Having made all necessary inquiries, the governor +appointed another guard, which conveyed Mr. Judson to the court-house +in Ava, to which place he arrived some time in the night. I +took my own course, procured a boat, and reached our house before +dark.</p> + +<p>"My first object the next morning, was to go in search of your +brother, and I had the mortification to meet him again in prison, +though not the death prison. I went immediately to my old friend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span> +the governor of the city, who now was raised to the rank of a Woongyee. +He informed me that Mr. Judson was to be sent to the Burmese +camp, to act as translator and interpreter; and that he was put +in confinement for a short time only, till his affairs were settled. +Early the following morning I went to this officer again, who told +me that Mr. Judson had that moment received twenty tickals from +government, with orders to go immediately on board a boat for Maloun, +and that <i>he</i> had given him permission to stop a few moments at the +house, it being on his way. I hastened back to the house, where Mr. +Judson soon arrived; but was allowed to remain only a short time, +while I could prepare food and clothing for future use. He was +crowded into a little boat, where he had not room sufficient to lie +down, and where his exposure to the cold damp nights threw him into +a violent fever, which had nearly ended all his sufferings. He arrived +at Maloun on the third day, where, ill as he was, he was obliged to +enter immediately on the work of translating. He remained at Maloun +six weeks, suffering as much as he had at any time in prison, +excepting he was not in irons, nor exposed to the insults of those cruel +jailers.</p> + +<p>"For the first fortnight after his departure, my anxiety was less than +it had been at any time previous, since the commencement of our +difficulties. I knew the Burmese officers at the camp would feel the +value of Mr. Judson's services too much to allow their using any measures +threatening his life. I thought his situation, also, would be +much more comfortable than it really was—hence my anxiety was +less. But my health, which had never been restored, since that violent +attack at Oung-pen-la, now daily declined, till I was seized with the +spotted fever, with all its attendant horrors. I knew the nature of the +fever from its commencement; and from the shattered state of my +constitution, together with the want of medical attendants, I concluded +it must be fatal. The day I was taken, a Burmese nurse came +and offered her services for Maria. This circumstance filled me +with gratitude and confidence in God; for though I had so long and +so constantly made efforts to obtain a person of this description, I had +never been able; when at the very time I most needed one, and with +out any exertion, a voluntary offer was made. My fever raged violently +and without any intermission. I began to think of settling +my worldly affairs, and of committing my dear little Maria to the +care of a Portuguese woman, when I lost my reason, and was insensible +to all around me. At this dreadful period, Dr. Price was released +from prison; and hearing of my illness, obtained permission +to come and see me. He has since told me that my situation was +the most distressing he had ever witnessed, and that he did not then +think I should survive many hours. My hair was shaved, my head +and feet covered with blisters, and Dr. Price ordered the Bengalee +servant who took care of me, to endeavour to persuade me to take a +little nourishment, which I had obstinately refused for several days. +One of the first things I recollect was, seeing this faithful servant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span> +standing by me, trying to induce me to take a little wine and water. +I was in fact so far gone, that the Burmese neighbours who had come +in to see me expire, said, 'She is dead; and if the king of angels should +come in, he could not recover her.'</p> + +<p>"The fever, I afterwards understood, had run seventeen days when +the blisters were applied. I now began to recover slowly; but it was +more than a month after this before I had strength to stand. While +in this weak, debilitated state, the servant who had followed your +brother to the Burmese camp, came in, and informed me that his master +had arrived, and was conducted to the court-house in town. I sent +off a Burman to watch the movements of government, and to ascertain, +if possible, in what way Mr. Judson was to be disposed of. He +soon returned with the sad intelligence, that he saw Mr. Judson go +out of the palace yard, accompanied by two or three Burmans, who +conducted him to one of the prisons; and that it was reported in town, +that he was to be sent back to the Oung-pen-la prison. I was too +weak to bear ill tidings of any kind; but a shock so dreadful as this, +almost annihilated me. For some time, I could hardly breathe; but +at last gained sufficient composure to dispatch Moung Ing to our +friend, the governor of the north gate, and begged him to make <i>one +more effort</i> for the release of Mr. Judson, and prevent his being sent +back to the country prison, where I knew he must suffer much, as I +could not follow. Moung Ing then went in search of Mr. Judson; +and it was nearly dark when he found him in the interior of an obscure +prison. I had sent food early in the afternoon, but being unable +to find him, the bearer had returned with it, which added another +pang to my distresses, as I feared he was already sent to Oung-pen-la.</p> + +<p>"If I ever felt the value and efficacy of prayer, I did at this time. +I could not rise from my couch; I could make no efforts to secure my +husband; I could only plead with that great and powerful Being who +has said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble, and <i>I will hear</i>, and +thou shalt glorify me;'" and who made me at this time feel so powerfully +this promise, that I became quite composed, feeling assured that my +prayers would be answered.</p> + +<p>"When Mr. Judson was sent from Maloun to Ava, it was within +five minutes' notice, and without his knowledge of the cause. On his +way up the river, he accidently saw the communication made to +government respecting him, which was simply this: 'We have no +further use for Yoodathan, we therefore return him to the golden +city.' On arriving at the court-house, there happened to be no one +present who was acquainted with Mr. J. The presiding officer inquired +from what place he had been sent to Maloun. He was answered +from Oung-pen-la. Let him then, said the officer, be returned +thither—when he was delivered to a guard and conducted to the +place above-mentioned, there to remain until he could be conveyed +to Oung-pen-la. In the mean time the governor of the north gate +presented a petition to this high court of the empire, offered himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span> +as Mr. Judson's security, obtained his release, and took him to his house, +where he treated him with every possible kindness, and to which I was +removed as soon as returning health would allow.</p> + +<p>"The rapid strides of the English army towards the capital at this +time, threw the whole town into the greatest state of alarm, and convinced +the government that some speedy measures must be taken to +save the golden city. They had hitherto rejected all the overtures of +Sir Archibald Campbell, imagining, until this late period, that they +could in some way or other, drive the English from the country. Mr. +Judson and Dr. Price were daily called to the court-house and consulted; +in fact, nothing was done without their approbation. Two +English officers, also, who had lately been brought to Ava as prisoners, +were continually consulted, and their good offices requested in +endeavouring to persuade the British General to make peace on easier +terms. It was finally concluded that Mr. Judson and one of the +officers above-mentioned, should be sent immediately to the English +camp, in order to negotiate. The danger attached to a situation so +responsible, under a government so fickle as the Burmese, induced +your brother to use every means possible to prevent his being sent. +Dr. Price was not only willing, but desirous of going; this circumstance +Mr. Judson represented to the members of government, and +begged he might not be compelled to go, as Dr. Price could transact +this business equally as well as himself. After some hesitation and +deliberation, Dr. Price was appointed to accompany Dr. Sandford, +one of the English officers, on condition that Mr. Judson would stand +security for his return; while the other English officer, then in irons, +should be security for Dr. Sandford. The king gave them a hundred +tickals each, to bear their expenses, (twenty-five of which Dr. Sandford +generously sent to Mr. Gouger, still a prisoner at Oung-pen-la,) +boats, men, and a Burmese officer, to accompany them, though he +ventured no farther than the Burman camp. With the most anxious +solicitude the court waited the arrival of the messengers, but did not +in the least relax in their exertions to fortify the city. Men and +beasts were at work night and day, making new stockades and +strengthening old ones, and whatever buildings were in their way +were immediately torn down. Our house, with all that surrounded +it, was levelled to the ground, and our beautiful little compound turned +into a road and a place for the erection of cannon. All articles +of value were conveyed out of town and safely deposited in some +other place.</p> + +<p>"At length the boat in which the ambassadors had been sent was +seen approaching a day earlier than was expected. As it advanced +towards the city, the banks were lined by thousands, anxiously +inquiring their success. But no answer was given—the government +must first hear the news. The palace gates were crowded, +the officers at the Tlowtdau were seated, when Dr. Price made the +following communication: 'The general and commissioners will make +no alteration in their terms, except the hundred lacks (a lack is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span> +hundred thousand) of rupees, may be paid at four different times. +The first twenty-five lacks to be paid within twelve days, or the +army will continue their march.' In addition to this, the prisoners +were to be given up immediately. The general had commissioned +Dr. Price to demand Mr. Judson and myself and little Maria. This was +communicated to the king, who replied, 'They are not English, they are +my people, and shall not go.' At this time, I had no idea that we should +ever be released from Ava. The government had learned the value +of your brother's services, having employed him the last three +months; and we both concluded they would never consent to our departure. +The foreigners were again called to a consultation, to see +what could be done. Dr. Price and Mr. Judson told them plainly that +the English would never make peace on any other terms than those +offered, and that it was in vain to go down again without the money. +It was then proposed that a third part of the first sum demanded +should he sent down immediately. Mr. Judson objected, and +still said it would be useless. Some of the members of government +then intimated that it was probable the teachers were on the side +of the English, and did not try to make them take a smaller sum; and +also threatened if they did not make the English comply, they and their +families should suffer.</p> + +<p>"In this interval, the fears of the government were considerably allayed, +by the offers of a general, by name Layarthoo-yah, who desired +to make one more attempt to conquer the English, and disperse them. +He assured the king and government, that he could so fortify the ancient +city of Pagan, as to make it impregnable; and that he would +there defeat and destroy the English. His offers were heard, he +marched to Pagan with a very considerable force, and made strong +the fortifications. But the English took the city with perfect ease, +and dispersed the Burmese army; while the general fled to Ava, and +had the presumption to appear in the presence of the king, and demand +new troops. The king being enraged that he had ever listened +to him for a moment, in consequence of which the negotiation had +been delayed, the English general provoked, and the troops daily advancing, +that he ordered the general to be immediately executed! +The poor fellow was soon hurled from the palace, and beat all the +way to the court-house—when he was stripped of his rich apparel, +bound with cords, and made to kneel and bow towards the palace. +He was then delivered into the hands of the executioners, who, by their +cruel treatment, put an end to his existence, before they reached the +place of execution.</p> + +<p>"The king caused it to be reported, that this general was executed, +in consequence of disobeying his commands, '<i>not to fight the English</i>.'</p> + +<p>"Dr. Price was sent off the same night, with part of the prisoners, +and with instructions to persuade the general to take six lacks instead +of twenty-five. He returned in two or three days with the appalling +intelligence, that the English general was very angry, refused to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span> +have any communication with him, and was now within a few days' +march of the capital. The queen was greatly alarmed, and said the +money should be raised immediately, if the English would only stop +their march. The whole palace was in motion, gold and silver vessels +were melted up, the king and queen superintended the weighing of a +part of it, and were determined, if possible, to save their city. The +silver was ready in the boats by the next evening; but they had so little +confidence in the English, that after all their alarm, they concluded +to send down six lacks only, with the assurance that if the English +would stop where they then were, the remainder should be forthcoming +immediately.</p> + +<p>"The government now did not even ask Mr. Judson the question +whether he would go or not; but some officers took him by the arm +as he was walking in the street, and told him he must go immediately +on board the boat, to accompany two Burmese officers, a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Woongypee'">Woongyee</ins> +and Woondouk, who were going down to make peace. Most of the +English prisoners were sent at the same time. The general and +commissioners would not receive the six lacks, neither would they +stop their march; but promised, if the sum complete reached them +before they should arrive at Ava, they would make peace. The general +also commissioned Mr. Judson to collect the remaining foreigners, +of whatever country, and ask the question before the Burmese government, +whether they wished to go or stay. Those who expressed a +wish to go should be delivered up immediately, or peace would not +be made.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Judson reached Ava at midnight; had all the foreigners +called the next morning, and the question asked. Some of the members +of government said to him, 'You will not leave us—you shall become +a great man if you will remain.' He then secured himself from +the odium of saying that he wished to leave the service of his majesty +by recurring to the order of Sir Archibald, that whoever wished to +leave Ava should be given up, and that I had expressed a wish to go, +so that he of course must follow. The remaining part of the twenty-five +lacks was soon collected; the prisoners at Oung-pen-la were all released, +and either sent to their houses, or down the river to the English; +and in two days from the time of Mr. Judson's return, we took an affectionate +leave of the good natured officer who had so long entertained us +at his house, and who now accompanied us to the water side, and we +then left forever the banks of Ava.</p> + +<p>It was on a cool, moonlight evening, in the month of March, that +with hearts filled with gratitude to God, and overflowing with joy at +our prospects, we passed down the Irrawaddy, surrounded by six or +eight golden boats, and accompanied by all we had on earth. The +thought that we had still to pass the Burman camp, would sometimes +occur to damp our joy, for we feared that some obstacle might there +arise to retard our progress. Nor were we mistaken in our conjectures. +We reached the camp about midnight, where we were detained two +hours; the Woongyee, and high officers, insisting that <i>we</i> should wait<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span> +at the camp, while Dr. Price, (who did not return to Ava with your +brother, but remained at the camp,) should go on with the money +and first ascertain whether peace would be made. The Burmese +government still entertained the idea, that as soon as the English had +received the money and prisoners, they would continue their march, +and yet destroy the capital. We knew not but that some circumstance +might occur to break off the negotiations; Mr. Judson, therefore strenuously +insisted that he would not remain, but go on immediately. +The officers were finally prevailed on to consent, hoping much from +Mr. Judson's assistance in making peace.</p> + +<p>"We now, for the first time, for more than a year and a half, felt +that we were free, and no longer subject to the oppressive yoke of +the Burmese. And with what sensations of delight, on the next +morning, did I behold the masts of the steam-boat, the sure presage +of being within the bounds of civilized life. As soon as our boat +reached the shore, brigadier A. and another officer came on board, +congratulated us on our arrival, and invited us on board the steam-boat, +where I passed the remainder of the day; while your brother +went on to meet the general, who, with a detachment of the army, had +encamped at Yandaboo, a few miles further down the river. Mr. Judson +returned in the evening, with an invitation from Sir Archibald, +to come immediately to his quarters, where I was the next morning introduced, +and received with the greatest kindness by the general, who +had a tent pitched for us near his own—took us to his own table, and +treated us with the kindness of a father, rather than as strangers of +another country.</p> + +<p>"We feel that our obligations to general Campbell can never be cancelled. +Our final release from Ava, and our recovering all the property +that had there been taken, was owing entirely to his efforts. This +subsequent hospitality and kind attention to the accommodations for +our passage to Rangoon, have left an indelible impression on our minds, +which can never be forgotten. We daily received the congratulation +of the British officers, whose conduct towards us formed a striking +contrast to that of the Burmese. I presume to say, that no persons on +earth were ever happier than we were, during the fortnight we passed +at the English camp. For several days, this single idea wholly occupied +my mind, that we were out of the power of the Burmese government, +and once more under the protection of the English. Our feelings +continually dictated expressions like these: <i>What shall we render +to the Lord for all his benefits towards us?</i></p> + +<p>"The treaty of peace was soon concluded, signed by both parties, +and a termination of hostilities publicly declared. We left Yandaboo, +after a fortnight's residence, and safely reached the mission house in +Rangoon, after an absence of two years and three months.</p> + +<p>"A review of our trip to, and adventures in, Ava, often, excites the +inquiry, Why were we permitted to go? What good has been effected? +Why did I not listen to the advice of friends in Bengal, and +remain there till the war was concluded? But all that we can say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span> +is, <i>It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.</i> So far as my going +round to Rangoon, at the time I did, was instrumental in bringing +those heavy afflictions upon us, I can only say, that if I ever acted from +a sense of duty in my life, it was at that time; for my conscience would +not allow me any peace, when I thought of sending for your brother to +come to Calcutta, in prospect of the approaching war. Our society at +home have lost no property in consequence of our difficulties; but two +years of precious time have been lost to the mission, unless some future +advantage may be gained, in consequence of the severe discipline to +which we ourselves have been subject. We are sometimes induced to +think, that the lesson we found so very hard to learn, will have a beneficial +effect through our lives; and that the mission may, in the end, be +advanced rather than retarded.</p> + +<p>"We should have had no hesitation about remaining in Ava, if no part +of the Burmese empire had been ceded to the British. But as it was, +we felt it would be an unnecessary exposure, besides the missionary +field being much more limited, in consequence of intoleration. We +now consider our future missionary prospects as bright indeed; and our +only anxiety is, to be once more in that situation where our time will +be exclusively devoted to the instruction of the heathen."</p> + +<p>In a concluding paragraph, dated Amherst, July 27, she adds:</p> + +<p>"From the date at the commencement of this long letter, you see, my +dear brother, that my patience has continued for two months. I have +frequently been induced to throw it aside altogether, but feeling assured +that you and my other friends are expecting something of this kind +I am induced to send it with all its imperfections. This letter, dreadful +as are the scenes herein described, gives you but a faint idea of the +awful reality. The anguish, the agony of mind, resulting from a thousand +little circumstances impossible to delineate on paper, can be known +by those only who have been in similar situations. Pray for us, my +dear brother and sister, that these heavy afflictions may not be in vain, +but may be blessed to our spiritual good, and the advancement of +Christ's church among the heathen."</p> + +<p>At the close of this long and melancholy narrative, we may appropriately +introduce the following tribute to the benevolence and talents +of Mrs. Judson, written by one of the English prisoners, who were confined +at Ava with Mr. Judson. It was published in a Calcutta paper +after the conclusion of the war:</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Judson was the author of those eloquent and forcible appeals +to the government, which prepared them by degrees for submission to +terms of peace, never expected by any, who knew the hauteur and inflexible +pride of the Burman court.</p> + +<p>"And while on this subject, the overflowing of grateful feelings, +on behalf of myself and fellow-prisoners, compel me to add a tribute +of public thanks to that amiable and humane female, who, though +living at a distance of two miles from our prison, without any means +of conveyance, and very feeble in health, forgot her own comfort and +infirmity, and almost every day visited us, sought out and administered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span> +to our wants, and contributed in every way to alleviate our +misery.</p> + +<p>"While we were left by the government destitute of food, she, with +unwearied perseverance, by some means or other, obtained for us a +constant supply.</p> + +<p>"When the tattered state of our clothes evinced the extremity of our +distress, she was ever ready to replenish our scanty wardrobe.</p> + +<p>"When the unfeeling avarice of our keepers confined us inside, or +made our feet fast in the stocks, she, like a ministering angel, never +ceased her applications to the government, until she was authorized to +communicate to us the grateful news of our enlargement, or of a respite +from our galling oppressions.</p> + +<p>"Besides all this, it was unquestionably owing, in a chief degree, to +the repeated eloquence, and forcible appeals of Mrs. Judson, that the +untutored Burman was finally made willing to secure the welfare and +happiness of his country, by a sincere peace."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>PERSECUTION OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES IN THE WEST INDIES.</h3> + + +<p>The exertions of Christians to spread the truths of the gospel +among the Africans in the West Indies, have met with much opposition +from the white population. Moravian missionaries, at first, sold +themselves as slaves, and laboured with the negroes on the plantations +for the purpose of preaching the gospel during the intervals of labour. +The Methodist missionaries have been treated with much indignity, +and have had their lives endangered by the violence of the white mob. +In 1816, the white rabble of Barbadoes, collected together, and totally +destroyed the Methodist chapel. The destruction of the chapel occupied +two successive nights, and so listless were the authorities, that no +attempt was made to prevent it. And when the governor issued a +proclamation, offering a reward to any person who should apprehend +the leaders in this outrageous proceeding, the mob immediately issued +a counter proclamation, threatening with death any one who should +dare to comply with the governor's orders.</p> + +<p>In August, 1823, an insurrection took place at Demerara, among the +negroes, which was most unjustly attributed to the efforts of the missionaries. +The principal events in relation to this affair are detailed +in the subjoined account from the Missionary Herald.</p> + +<p>Various accounts have, from time to time, appeared in the public +prints, of the insurrection of the slaves in the colony of Demerara, +and of the condemnation of the Rev. Mr. Smith, a missionary from +the London Missionary Society, on an <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads ' ion'">accusation</ins> of having been accessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span> +to the plot. We have collected and embodied such of the +leading facts, relative to these transactions, as have come to our +knowledge.</p> + +<p>The slaves of many plantations on the eastern coast of Demerara +had formed a conspiracy to obtain their freedom. The plot was disclosed +by a servant to his master on the 18th of August; not till the +conspiracy was thoroughly organized, and arrangements made to secure +simultaneous movements; and only a few hours before the time +appointed for action. Information was immediately communicated to +the commander-in-chief, and the most efficient measures taken; but +before a sufficient force could be assembled to resist a large body of +negroes, who were immediately under arms, the evening, which was +the time for executing the first grand enterprise, had arrived. This +was simultaneously to seize upon the whites at the different plantations, +confine them in the stocks, and take possession of their arms. +This was effected on nearly fifty plantations, containing, inclusive of +women and children, 10 or 12,000 negroes. The whites, to the number +of about 250, were imprisoned. In some places an ineffectual resistance +was made, and several lives lost on both sides.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 19th, the governor issued a proclamation, +declaring the colony under martial law, and ordered all who were +capable of bearing arms, without distinction, to be immediately enrolled. +The most vigorous measures were pursued; and in the course of +a few days, after several skirmishes, in which a considerable number +of negroes lost their lives, the insurrection was subdued.</p> + +<p>A court martial was then constituted, and many of the negroes +brought to trial, condemned and executed. Subsequent accounts state +that more than 1000 had suffered death, in consequence of the insurrection, +and that many of their heads had been fixed up on poles in +various parts of the country.</p> + +<p>We might easily be more particular in regard to the circumstances +of the insurrection, but our object is chiefly to relate what concerns +the missionary who was accused of having a part in the scheme, and +the other missionaries in the colony. On these points we have to regret +that the information which has yet been received is very scanty +and in many respects indefinite.</p> + +<p>The extract which follows is from the Missionary Chronicle, and +was published in the name of the Directors of the London Missionary +Society.</p> + +<p>The insurrection it should seem, manifested itself first in Mahaica, +the district to the east of that in which Mr. Smith resides. Its +appearance on the Le Ressouvenir estate, where Mr. Smith resides, +was on Monday, the 18th August, in consequence of an order to take +into custody two slaves belonging to an adjoining plantation, whom +the negroes of the Le Ressouvenir, as the prisoners had to pass over +it, rose to rescue. Mr. Smith was at home. He successfully used +his endeavours, on perceiving the tumult, to rescue the manager from +the negroes, and continued his exertions to induce them to return to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[447]</a></span> +their duty, till he himself was driven with violence, and with a weapon +held to his body, from the estate.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith was taken into custody on the evening of the 21st +August, and all his papers seized. He is kept a prisoner in the Colony-house, +and has, since the 24th of August, had a guard stationed over +him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Elliot, another missionary, who laboured about 20 miles from Mr. +Smith, was also taken into custody, on the ground of disobedience of +orders, "which he had not understood to be such," in visiting Mr. Smith +in his confinement. He was kept about ten days, and then released. +No charge was preferred against him. The estates on which he labours +had been quiet, and none of the negroes under his instructions were implicated +in the rebellion.</p> + +<p>In a letter to the Directors of the London Missionary Society, Mr +Elliot writes thus:</p> + +<p>Numerous false reports have been sent forth against Mr. Smith, +but assure yourself and all the directors, that whatever reports you +may hear, the only crime the missionaries have committed is their +zeal for the conversion of the negroes. <i>They have neither been so +weak nor so wicked as to excite the negroes to rebellion.</i> The missionaries +want justice only; they have no favour to ask; they have +nothing to fear. The missionaries have not degraded their holy calling, +nor dishonoured the society of which they are members, by sowing the +seeds of rebellion instead of the Word of Life. The real causes of +the rebellion are far, very far from being the instructions given by the +missionaries.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of October, Mr. Smith was brought to trial before a +<i>court martial</i>. All the accounts which we have yet seen of the charges +brought against him are very obscure and imperfect. The January +number of the Missionary Chronicle, from which we have already +quoted, says,—</p> + +<p>The public papers have stated four charges as forming the indictment +against him, but of their accuracy the directors are not enabled to judge. +They trust that, under the direction of Divine Providence, he has been +able to prove himself <i>guiltless</i> of them all.</p> + +<p>It is not, however, to be concealed, that he will have had much to +contend with from the violence of public prejudice in the Colony, +and it is to be feared from the false assertions of some of the unhappy +negroes, whom the hope of favour towards themselves may have led +to bring against him "things that he knew not." Indeed, the directors +are informed, upon authority on which they can rely, that some +of the condemned negroes, finding the hope of life taken away, had +in the most solemn manner declared that they had been induced so to +act; and that others, on being questioned whether they had not been +induced to rebellion by Mr. Smith, had in the strongest terms which +their broken language could supply, denied the imputation. It is +stated by the writer of one letter, that he has often heard charges circulated +against the missionaries, as if spoken by the negroes at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[448]</a></span> +time of their execution, which he knew, (for he was a near spectator,) +that they never had uttered.</p> + +<p>We can as yet learn little more respecting the evidence which was +produced before the court than that some of the negroes testified that +the instructions of Mr. Smith had a tendency to make them dissatisfied +with their condition, and that he knew of the plot before it was carried +into execution.</p> + +<p>He was condemned, and sentenced to <i>death</i>. The sentence was however +transmitted by the governor, to England, for the consideration and +ultimate decision of the king. What we know of the decision will be +seen in the following paragraph, copied from the New-York Observer +of March 27th.</p> + +<p>It appears from the London papers, that "the king has remitted the +sentence of death of the court martial on Mr. Smith, the missionary of +the London Society in Demerara, (which sentence was accompanied by a +recommendation for mercy on the part of the court,) but has given orders +that he should be dismissed from the colony, and should come under +obligations not to reside within any of his majesty's colonial possessions +in the West Indies." The charges against Mr. Smith appear +to have originated in the perjury of some of the negroes engaged in +the insurrection.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Mr. Smith was languishing under the influence of +disease, which rendered the stroke of the executioner unnecessary to remove +him from the earth. He died in prison, before the intelligence had +arrived that his sentence was reversed. The following notice of his +death appeared in the Demerara Courant.</p> + +<p><i>Died,</i>—In the Colonial Jail, at Demerara, February 9th, where he +had been confined, as a state prisoner since the 26th of November +last, on the termination of his trial by the general court martial, on +a charge of high treason, sentence thereon having <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'beeen'">been</ins> transmitted +to his majesty for his final decision—JOHN SMITH, missionary; +he had been in a poor state of health, and had been attended regularly +by skilful physicians. We are happy to state, from personal inquiry +and inspection, that this unhappy man had the utmost attention and +kindness shewn to him, by the humane keeper of the prison, (Mr. Padmore,) +all the time of his confinement. His apartment was airy and +commodious, he had always at his command every comfort which his +taste fancied or his necessities required. He has left a widow to deplore +his fate, and deplore his loss.</p> + +<p>The conviction which results from the present state of our information +on this subject, is that, through prejudice and exasperated feeling, +Mr. Smith was condemned, being innocent. The directors of the society +under which he laboured, have, however, given us reason to look for +further intelligence in a future number of the Missionary Chronicler, +which we hope will soon arrive.</p> + +<p>It appears that none of the negroes under the instruction of any +missionary, either of the London or Wesleyan Missionary Society +except Mr. Smith, were implicated in the insurrection. Respecting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[449]</a></span> +the Methodists in the colony we quote the following statement from the +Wesleyan Methodist Magazine:</p> + +<p>We stated in our last number, that Messrs. Mortier and Cheesewright, +our missionaries in Demerara were safe, and that <i>only</i> two of +the members of our society there had been apprehended on suspicion of +being implicated in the late revolt. We have received a second letter +from Mr. Mortier, dated Demerara, September seventeenth, which +communicated the gratifying intelligence that these two persons, who +were servants of the governor, had been liberated upon full conviction +of their entire innocence, and that <i>no one</i> of the members of our large +society of twelve hundred and sixteen, chiefly slaves, had been in +the least concerned in the revolt: and that the slaves of another estate, +under the care of Mr. Cheesewright, had not only refused to join the +rebels, but had conducted their master to a vessel, by which he reached +Georgetown in safety.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Case of Rev. John Smith.</i></div> + +<p>The London Missionary Chronicle for March contains a statement +respecting Mr. Smith's case, occupying, with accompanying documents +nearly twelve pages, which confirms the impression that Mr. Smith +was innocent. The Directors of the London Missionary Society, after +stating some circumstances relative to his trial, says.</p> + +<p>The Directors having stated these points of serious objection (and +more might easily be found,) to the proceedings on the trial, conclude +that the members of the society, and the candid beyond its circle, will +approve of their declaring that they retain the conviction formerly expressed, +of the moral and legal innocence of their missionary, Smith; +that they do not withdraw from him their confidence; and that they +are "not ashamed of his bonds." They regard him as an unmerited +sufferer, in the diligent and faithful, and it may be added, useful discharge +of his duties, as a missionary; and they earnestly wish the Divine +forgiveness may be extended to those who may have been instrumental +in causing his sufferings.</p> + +<p>The Rev. Mr. Austin, a clergyman of the church of England, and +Chaplain of the Colony, thus expresses his opinion in a private letter.</p> + +<p>"I feel no hesitation in declaring, from the intimate knowledge which +my most anxious inquiries have obtained, that in the late scourge +which the hand of an all-wise Creator has inflicted on this ill-fated +country, nothing but those religious impressions which, under Providence, +Mr. Smith has been instrumental in fixing—nothing but those +principles of the gospel of peace which he has been proclaiming—could +have prevented a dreadful effusion of blood here, and saved the +lives of these very persons who are now (I shudder to write it,) seeking +his."</p> + +<p>The following extract of a letter from William Arrindell, Esq. of +Demerara, Mr. Smith's counsel, addressed to Mrs. Smith, after the +trial, is also inserted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[450]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is almost presumptuous in me to differ from the sentence of a +Court, but, before God, I do believe Mr. Smith to be innocent; nay, I +will go further, and defy any minister, of any sect whatever, to have +shewn a more faithful attention to his sacred duties, than he has been +proved, by the evidence on his trial, to have done."</p> + +<p>The Directors had resolved to take further measures for obtaining, in +England the reversal of his sentence.</p> + +<p>This subject was brought before the English parliament, and after +a full and fair discussion, the innocence of Mr. Smith was established +beyond a question. The following from the London Christian Observer +gives an account of the proceedings in Parliament.</p> + +<p>A debate of two days' continuance on the case of the missionary +Smith has taken place in the House of Commons. A motion was made +by Mr. Brougham, to express the serious alarm and deep sorrow with +which the house contemplated the violation of law and justice, manifested +in the unexampled proceedings against Mr. Smith in Demerara, +and their sense of the necessity of adopting measures to secure a just +and humane administration of law in that colony, and to protect the +voluntary instruction of the negroes, as well as the negroes themselves, +and the rest of his Majesty's subjects from oppression. This motion +was supported by Mr. Brougham with a power of argument and +eloquence which has seldom been equalled; and he was followed +on the same side by Sir James Mackintosh, Dr. Lushington, Mr. J +Williams, Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Denman, and Sir Joseph Yorke. +The motion was opposed by Mr. Horton, Mr. Scarlett, Mr. Tindal, the +Attorney General, and Mr. Canning, on the ground, not of the legality +of the proceedings, or of the justice of the sentence, but that the motion +went to condemn unheard the governor of Demerara, and the +court that tried Mr. Smith. On this ground the previous question +was moved and carried by 193 to 146, the largest minority in the +present session. The division, under all the circumstances of the case +may be considered as a triumph. Not an individual attempted to defend +the proceedings. In short, nothing could have been more decisive +of the innocence of Mr. Smith, and the injustice of his condemnation.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions of the Wesleyan Methodists in St. Domingo.</i></div> + +<p>We extract from the publications of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, +the following account of the aggressions committed upon the Protestant +population of Hayti, by the Roman Catholics of that Island, +during the year 1824.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecutions at Port au Prince.</i></div> + +<p>The following extracts from the journal of Mr. St. Denis, and letters +of Mr. Pressoir, members of the Methodist Society at Port au Prince, +we copied from the Wesleyan Magazine. The first extracts are from +the journal of Mr. St. Denis.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[451]</a></span></p> + +<p>On Sunday, Feb. 2d, our assembly was held at Belair. During the +morning service several stones were thrown.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 4.</i> Whilst we were singing, a shower of stones was thrown, but +no one received any injury.</p> + +<p>That evening (Feb. 7th) we had a small assembly of thirty-two +persons. A plan had been laid for apprehending us, which was put +in execution. We had time to sing a hymn, read a chapter, and a +homily; but whilst singing the second hymn, the noise of the soldiers +was so great in approaching our house of prayer, that we were obliged +to cease singing. Wishing, however, to continue our meeting, an officer +of the police said, "In the name of the law, leave off that prayer!" +Then we left off. Not finding J. C. Pressoir, they made me his second. +We were taken to general Thomas's, who pretended to be ignorant +of the matter. Colonel Victor pretended to be ignorant also. When +we reached the house of the <i>Juge de Paix</i>, we were ordered to halt for +a moment. Colonel Victor knocked at his door, the <i>Juge de Paix</i> +asked who we were, and was answered, "A band of methodists." The +<i>Juge de Paix</i> said, "Ha! ha! take them to the jail!" Col. Victor replied, +"Yes!" We were led to prison, and each of our names was taken. +The sisters were put in the debtor's place, and the men were +shut up in close confinement.</p> + +<p>The next morning, the person who keeps the keys of the prison +under the jailer told us, that the Juge de Paix would not allow our +door to be opened; but the jailer went and spoke respecting it, and +our door was opened about nine o'clock. A moment after the Juge +de Paix came to visit us, and addressing himself to me in anger, I +wished to reply: he would not listen to me; but began to blaspheme +religion, despising the Lord. He withdrew in anger, without being +able to do any thing with us. A moment after he left us, we were taken +into the debtor's prison, near to the sisters, in a separate chamber.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Pressoir heard of this event, he visited his brethren at the +prison. The following extract is from one of his letters.</p> + +<p>I would not run into prison of my own accord, but having waited, +and finding nothing was said to us, I went to see my brethren and sisters. +I found there were thirty-two, and St. Denis preparing to write +to the president, which he did, and I carried this letter to his excellency, +by which we requested him to cause us to be judged, and punished, +if we were found guilty by the law. When I arrived under the +piazza of the palace, I asked an officer on duty if I could see the +president, who answered, Yes. I entered the hall, where I found the +president seated, and surrounded by a circle, as well of officers as +civilians. After saluting them, I presented the letter to the president, +who asked me from whence it came. I replied, "From the methodists +who are in prison." His good humour was immediately changed. +"Methodists," said he, "I did not know that." Colonel Victor, who +was present, thinking that through fear I would wish to conceal myself, +addressed himself to the president, saying, "President, this is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[452]</a></span> +methodist," as if the president did not know it. Immediately the president +replied, "You are fanatics." "Pardon me, president, we are +not." "Why, you have changed your religion." "If I have changed +my religion, president, it is the government which has made me do +it." "How is that?" said he. "It was the late president who sent +for the missionaries. I heard the letter read, and saw the late president's +signature: this is what I can tell you." "Enough, enough," +said he, "I will send an answer." I went to the prison and waited till +it was late; but hearing nothing, and being ill of the fever, I returned +to my mother's.</p> + +<p>The next day orders were given for the brethren and sisters to appear +before the chief judge. A dollar was demanded of each on leaving +prison, and they were conducted by a single serjeant. On their +arrival the chief judge forbade them, in the name of the president, to +assemble together again. "No one can hinder you from worshipping +God as you please; but let every one abide at home, for as +often as you are found assembled you shall be put in prison; and if +you unhappily persist, I have received orders to disperse you every +where." Several wished to reply, but he refused to listen, saying, "It +is not from me; it is not my fault; these orders are given me." All +our brethren and sisters went out, animated with a holy zeal, determining +not to abandon their assemblies. The next day we were assembled. +After an exhortation we sung a hymn which being finished, +we kneeled down to pray: a shower of stones came, as if they +would have demolished the house, and have stoned us like Stephen. +With one accord we commended ourselves to our faithful Creator, and +continued in prayer till they had ceased.</p> + +<p>In a subsequent letter, dated July 31st, he writes:—</p> + +<p>Since the Lord has granted us the favour of meeting again, we +have continued our assemblies without intermission, although forbidden +to do this under pain of prison and exile. The only interruption +we meet with is bad words, and a few stones now and then; and I am +become so marked, that I cannot go out without people crying after +me, "Methodist! Parson!"—with a contemptuous sneer, and a thousand +other things not fit to write, but which serve only to strengthen +my faith in the promises of Him who is faithful; till last Sunday +some foolish young women came to revile us; and on Tuesday evening, +whilst reading, stones were thrown, and whilst we were at +prayer a great number rushed in, armed with sabres, sticks, and, if I +mistake not, with stones, crying out, "In the name of the law," +as if they had been authorized by the heads of the people to arrest us. +This band consisted of boys, led on to commit disorders by a set of +idle, good-for-nothing persons, of the worst class, who had armed +themselves with sabres, and were disguised with old cocked hats; +trying thus to show their bravery over those who would make no +resistance. But the hairs of our head are all numbered; nor have +they been permitted to hurt any of us to the present. It would be +useless for us to ask or hope for the protection of the law; and we are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[453]</a></span> +thus led to place all our confidence in God, who can and will deliver +us in his time. And if the Lord is for me, of whom should I be afraid? +He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for me, will he +not with him freely give me all things? I have already experienced +that all my sufferings for his name are great blessings to me. All my +care is about His church; and what wisdom does it require to conduct +so many persons of such different dispositions! I feel new +wants daily.</p> + +<p>The following brief view of the persecutions of the methodists, in Hayti, +is taken from "Missionary Notices," published by the Wesleyan <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Misssionary'">Missionary</ins> +Society. This account gave some particulars in addition to those +narrated in the details inserted above:</p> + +<p>We regret to find,—say the committee of that society,—from the +following letter received from Mr. Pressoir, that our poor persecuted +society at Port-au-Prince, so long the object of popish rancour, has +again had to sustain the brutal outrages of an ignorant mob, incited +it would seem, in another place, by persons calling themselves "respectable," +and without experiencing any protection from the local +authorities. The committee have endeavoured to obtain for them the +common protection of the laws of their own country, by applications +through various quarters, and hope they may be ultimately successful. +In the mean time this excellent and suffering people are entitled to +the special sympathies, and earnest prayers, of the friends of missions. +We trust that they may yet, by their meek and patient suffering, and +heroic perseverance, obtain that liberty of worship which they so +earnestly desire.</p> + +<p>The letter from Mr. Pressoir is dated about a year since. The following +extracts describe the violence of the mob:</p> + +<p>I have read of many instances of martyrdom for the testimony of +Jesus Christ, but I have not yet read a passage which relates that the +people of a city rose up like murderers, with a very few exceptions, +to stone a few persons met together in a house, as our fathers, mothers, +brethren, and children have done unto us not long ago. O +cruel people! They began to throw stones at us at five o'clock in the +afternoon, and continued their assaults till ten o'clock, committing +all kinds of violence. They broke down the doors, broke open the +windows, destroyed the first and second partitions in the upper chambers; +in a word, every thing that was in the house, and beat with +their cowskin-whips the brethren and sisters there, without showing +compassion for either age or youth or even infancy. I believe I +suffered the least of any. Only a great emissary of Satan, seized +my left hand, and lifting up his whip declared he would knock me +down, if I did not say "Almighty God, the Virgin Mary." My only +answer was, turning my back. Several times he even brought his +whip to my neck, and afterwards laid it on my shoulder, raging and +abusing me with all the fury of Anti-christ. But he that numbered +my hairs did not allow one of them to fall to the ground. Thanks be +to him for confidence in his holy word, which is firmer than heaven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[454]</a></span> +on earth. When the populace entered to knock down our sisters I was +in the first chamber, and hearing their cries, I tried to force my way to +them, to try if I could render them any assistance; then the tyrant persecutor +struck me several times on my hat, but I received no injury. +But we were in great danger; those who wished to go out were stoned, +beaten, torn, outraged, and brought back to the house, where they +exercised their dark cruelty. It appeared as if Satan was unchained, +and had come forth to make war against those whom the truth of the +gospel had made free, and to crush those who had believed the testimony +of the Son of God.</p> + +<p>I ask, then, by whom have we been protected, and delivered unto this +day? Was it by magistrates, judges, and police officers? Or by the other +guards appointed to appease riots and defend the law? It is true, they +were present in great numbers, but it was rather to advise and direct others. +Some brought barrows full of stones, and others threw them, and +said to the cruel populace, that, since we were so obstinate, the government +had given us into their hands, and they might do to us whatever they +pleased; and they did treat us with inhumanity and the greatest violence.</p> + +<p>It was impossible to go out without being beaten, stoned, dragged, +abused, and covered with dirt, and in the end we could neither buy nor +sell without being dragged before a magistrate, beat, and covered with +spitting and mud, and all kinds of outrages. They went beyond Porte +Marchant to brother Floran's, sister Claire's, and J. P. J. Lusant's. At +brother Floran's they destroyed every thing in the garden, and treated +his wife, already broken with age, with the greatest inhumanity; dragging +sister Claire by her feet out of the house, as also her god-daughter. +And at J. P. J. Lusant's what disorders have they not committed amongst +those poor persons, who have fled from the town to have some tranquility. +I must tell you one circumstance which J. P. J. L. told me, to +show you the cowardice of persecutors; five or six of them entered his +gate, concealing their swords, making up to him with loud vociferations; +seeing them coming, he went into his house, took an old rusty +musket without flint, and levelling it at them, they all instantly fled with +all speed, saying, "The Quakers don't carry arms, and see this old +Quaker hero intends killing us."</p> + +<p>Alluding to the letter of Mr. Pressoir, above noticed, and to other +communications received about the same time, the Wesleyan Committee +remark, in their publication for July, 1824.</p> + +<p>In a recent number we laid before our readers some extracts of +letters from our afflicted and persecuted society at Port-au-Prince, +Hayti; from which it appeared that several of them had again been +called to suffer bonds for the cause of Christ; that the house in which +they were in the habit of assembling for religious worship was demolished; +and that they themselves were delivered up to the will of a +blind and infuriated populace, the magistrates refusing to afford them +any protection against the outrages to which they were daily exposed. +From later communications we learn, that, on an appeal being made +by letter to the president, those in prison were set at liberty; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[455]</a></span> +that a proclamation was made by his excellency's orders, forbidding +any one to stone, injure, or otherwise persecute the methodists, but at +the same time prohibiting all meetings of our society for religious worship; +on pain of being arrested.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the above proclamation, our people have still to suffer, +in various ways, the insults and persecutions of the rabble. They +continue, as they are able, and can find opportunity, to meet together +for prayer, &c.</p> + +<p>The letter to president Boyer shows very clearly the pacific character +and object of these protestants. It is too important a part of these +documents to be omitted.</p> + +<p>President,—You are acquainted with our society, formed here six +years ago. The end of our meeting together is, to invoke the blessing +of God, not only on ourselves, but also on the government, its magistrates, +and even on those who evil entreat us without cause; for we do +not hate them, nor render evil for evil. This is what our religion commands. +It is not that we wish by our meetings to disobey our president; +but our desire is to obey God our sovereign, and his law requires that +we should love the head that he has placed over us.</p> + +<p>We know that your excellency will not approve the conduct of those +who have stoned and evil entreated us without cause. We have been +treated as enemies to the government, yet are not such. Yesterday we +were arrested and put in prison, by order of general Thomas, who at +once without examination, pronounced our sentence. And we know +this was not by order of the president, which renders it our indisputable +duty to give you information thereof.</p> + +<p>President, let our society be narrowly examined, and if fault is found +in us, we are willing to suffer the punishment we merit.</p> + +<p>Confidently expecting your favourable reply, we have the honour of +saluting you most respectfully.</p> + +<p>To this letter the president did not reply, but ordered those, who +had been arrested, to be set at liberty. Ten days after the date of +the letter to the president, a letter was written, from which the following +paragraphs are taken. The concluding sentences open the +way for putting a favourable construction on the intentions of the president.</p> + +<p>A proclamation was made in the name of general Thomas, commandant +of the place, to prevent any one from throwing stones at the +methodists, forbidding every one to evil entreat them, or to go before +their houses to insult them. But by that proclamation we were also +forbidden to meet together, and informed that should we meet, the police +is ordered to arrest us; but as for the people, they ought not to interfere, +nor throw stones, because we are citizens of the republic. +This is the substance of the proclamation.</p> + +<p>Although this proclamation was made, yet the people did not cease +to ill treat us, and cry after us, as we went along. General Thomas +gets out of that affair by saying, that they only made use of his name<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[456]</a></span> +when he had nothing to do in it. "But, take care," said he, "if that +continue, that it do not cost the life of some one."</p> + +<p>One of our sisters visited the president, to whom she made her +complaints, and informed him that it was said, that it was by his +order that these things were done. He received her very politely, +assured her that this was not so, but that he was exceedingly sorry +that we should be improperly treated, and that he had written to +general Thomas to that effect, and if the general did not attend to +his orders he could not hold any command in the republic. In consequence +of this the general made the above proclamation. The +president also told her, that he could not allow us to hold our meetings, +because we were not in peace; that France was proposing to +march upon us, &c. &c. Since the last persecution, we enjoy, by +the grace of God, the means of praying, when several of us meet together.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>PERSECUTIONS IN SWITZERLAND FROM 1813 TO 1830.</h3> + + +<p>The information contained in the following account of the persecution +in Switzerland, is derived principally from the Christian Spectator +and the London Christian Observer.</p> + +<p>Scarcely any country of Continental Europe, has excited so deep +an interest in the minds of Americans, as Switzerland. Its valleys +and lakes, its streams and cataracts, its lofty mountains and the seas +of ice and deserts of snow which crown their summits, have been the +Ultima Thule of the traveller, from whatever land. But <i>we</i> have +dwelt upon them from the very days of boyhood, with an interest +belonging to scarcely any thing earthly, because we regarded all this +magnificent and beautiful display, as the mere scenery and decoration +of the stage, on which an important act in the great drama of +liberty, was exhibited. In the christian, these magnificent objects +awaken emotions perhaps less tumultuous, but deeper and more elevating; +for it is here that another scene of that great drama was early +opened, involving interests incomparably more valuable, and a struggle +far more deadly, not for the civil liberty of Switzerland, but to free +the world from a tyranny, in comparison with which, that of Austrian +dukes was paternal kindness,—a despotism that held the soul itself +chained to the papal throne, and assumed the triple crown of heaven +and earth and hell, which its representative still wears. To the +christian, the names of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tell'">Tell</ins> and Winkelreid, sink into insignificance +beside those of Zuingle and Calvin; and the war of Swiss independence +scarcely deserves a thought, in comparison with that struggle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[457]</a></span> +for the moral reformation of the world, in which these men were +such distinguished actors, and to whose influence we ourselves owe +that religious liberty, which is the most precious part of our birthright.</p> + +<p>But it is an humbling reflection, that the palladium of liberty could +not be kept inviolate, even in the fastnesses of the Alps. A few years +only have elapsed, since some of the fairest portions of this "land of +the free," were held as conquered tributaries by other cantons, and +were governed by a bailiff residing in his castle, and exercising a power +like that of a feudal baron. A considerable portion of Switzerland +is still subject to an aristocracy, as absolute in its sway, and as +much opposed to the extension of light and liberty, as any other branch +of the holy alliance. The press is, in many cantons, under severe +restrictions, and industry and enterprise are checked by the regulations +of the incorporated <i>trades</i>, which place the rod of oppression in +the hands of ignorance and self-interest; and which bring home its influence +to the work-bench of the mechanic, and too often paralyze the +arm of laborious poverty. Within ten years, and in one of the most +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'enlighted'">enlightened</ins> cantons, men and women have been arrested, and fined, and +imprisoned, in the most cruel manner, for assembling to read the word +of God; have even been banished under pain of death, and without +any passport to secure them from imprisonment as vagrants in the +neighbouring countries, merely for preaching and hearing the gospel, +out of the established church.</p> + +<p>In the protestant churches of German Switzerland, the Helvetic +confession and the Heidelberg catechism, both in the strictest sense +orthodox, are recognized as standards of faith. This, however, is the +<i>only</i> bond of union between the different portions of the Helvetic +church. The spiritual concerns of each canton are under the direction +of what is called the "church council," established by the government, +and composed of some of its members united with some of +the clergy. This body license, locate and pay the clergy; and form +the court of appeal in the affairs of the church. A congregation have +no voice in the selection of their pastor. Baptism and confirmation, +or admission to the Lord's supper, in the established church, are +required by law, as indispensable to the exercise of civil rights; and +the latter ceremony is generally regarded as a mere introduction into +life. In the canton of Berne, no person can enter the most menial station +as a domestic, without exhibiting his certificate of communion; and +so far is this from being an obsolete law, that we have known a person +incur its penalty, because he delayed for a few days the exhibition +of this certificate to the police. In this canton, (and we believe +in most others,) no person can be excluded from the communion, +except by government; and, as a necessary consequence, no discipline +exists in the church. The Lord's supper is received with +great regularity by the whole parish; and in some districts at least, the +opinion prevails, that this ordinance is a seal of the pardon of their +sins.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[458]</a></span></p> + +<p>Such is the external state of the church in German Switzerland. +In regard to its spiritual condition, we have little encouraging to present. +The mercenary troops which Switzerland has so long been +accustomed to sell to France, Spain and Italy, have usually brought +back corrupt principles and licentious habits; and the young men of +patrician families, from whom the rulers are ultimately chosen, have +been prepared, by serving as officers to these troops, to exert a baneful +influence upon their country. Those who were destined to the +ministry, or to the learned professions, were accustomed to seek an +education, if possible, in the German universities, where they would +imbibe a taste for any thing but evangelical principles. Rousseau, +Voltaire, and Gibbon, during their residence in Switzerland, contributed +not a little to the increase of infidelity; and the French revolution +seemed to sweep away the landmarks of religion and morality, +and to banish whatever might have remained, of the character of +Switzerland, from the portions to which its emissaries had immediate +access.</p> + +<p>It will not be supposed that the church escaped untainted, amidst +all these causes of corruption. The feeling which we found extensively +prevalent, that it was indecorous to inquire into the opinions +of the clergy and the doctrines actually maintained in the church, +and which presented a serious obstacle to investigation on this subject, +sufficiently indicates, that there is something which will not +bear a comparison with the public standard. But more unequivocal +evidence of the change of opinion is found in the fact, that candidates +for the ministry are now only required to avow their belief in the new +testament, and these regulations are avowedly adopted, in order not +to exclude those who are called "liberal" or "rational" in their opinions.</p> + +<p>We trust indeed, that there are many thousands in Switzerland, +who have not bowed the knee to Baal, in any form. We believe +especially, that in the cantons of Basle, Zurich, Appenzell, and +Schaffhausen, as well as Geneva and Vaud, there are many faithful +ministers of the gospel. We know that in the midst of decayed +churches, there are little bands, who, without separating themselves, +or exciting public attention, have adopted the principles and the devotional +habits of the United Brethren, or Moravians. The missionary +seminary at Basle is a radiating point, from which divine truth +is going forth to the ends of the earth; and there is a cluster of christian +institutions around it, which are a monument of love and zeal. +Light is springing up in various directions in the midst of darkness +and these first gleamings of the dawn are a sure and delightful presage, +that the Sun of righteousness is about to arise upon Switzerland, with +healing in its beams.</p> + +<p>For several years past, two or three of the clergy of the established +church in the city of Berne, have preached the doctrines of +the gospel, as exhibited in the standards of the church, with simplicity +and faithfulness. Much interest was thus excited in a small<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[459]</a></span> +number of persons, several of whom were among the class of patricians, +and the result might be termed a little revival. Public attention +was called to it, by the change of conduct in those who were +its subjects. Their consciences would no longer allow them to partake +in those violations of the Sabbath, and those questionable amusements +which were customary in the world around them; and they +felt the need of assembling themselves for social devotion and christian +intercourse, during the week. Those who felt reproved by such +conduct, spared neither censure nor ridicule. The names of "<i>priest</i>," +"<i>methodist</i>," "<i>mummer</i>," etc., were unsparingly applied to them; and +in one instance, the windows of a person who was obnoxious on this +account, were broken. It is but justice to the government to state, +that immediate and vigorous measures were taken to repress all violence; +and no one was suffered to interrupt them, so long as they +continued in connexion with the established church. Much hostility +was indeed expressed against these private assemblies; but so much +patrician influence was exerted in their favour, that the government +did not venture to execute the threats, sometimes thrown out, of prohibiting +them. Pietism continued to increase, from the increased +action produced by these social meetings; and the flame was undoubtedly +nourished by the conversation and correspondence of pious +British travellers, whose influence may now be traced in every part +of the continent, from Calais to Naples, and exhibits one of these remarkable +traits in the divine government, by which the seed of the +word is scattered over the world, often by the consent of those who +wish to destroy it. The wealth of the English gives them access +every where. Even the court of Rome, rather than lose this source +of revenue, allows heresy to rear its standard of rebellion on the +banks of the Tiber; and the efforts of such as are piously disposed +to spread light around them, are winked at, to avoid offending or alarming +the <i>national</i> spirit, even of those who are devoted to the pleasures +of the world.</p> + +<p>During the year 1828, a small number of the persons who were +thus awakened, felt it their duty to separate themselves entirely from +the established church. Their consciences were wounded by the +prostitution of the ordinance of the supper, in admitting all who +chose to come; since many of the openly vicious, and a multitude +who had no apparent interest in religion, belonged to the number. +They urged the necessity of discipline from Matt. xvi. and xviii., +1 Cor. v., etc., and maintained that that could not be deemed a church +of Christ, which tolerated vice in its very bosom. They felt themselves +bound by the precept, 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14, 15, and 2 John 10, +11, to withdraw from a church in which the gospel was not generally +preached; and which cherished in its bosom, so many who crucified +Christ afresh, and whom they considered themselves as recognizing +as brethren, by partaking of the same bread and the same cup. This +measure was promoted by a person who had been banished from the +canton de Vaud; and who was received at Berne, under a pledge to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[460]</a></span> +the police, that he would not speak of separation. The violation of +this pledge led to his expulsion, which was the first act of the government +on this subject. This excited no serious opposition, since those +who agreed with him in sentiment, did not approve of his violation of +truth. It did not however prevent the continuance of the assemblies +of separatists, and their distinct avowal of their sentiments; and +they obtained from a member of the government belonging to the +established church, the use of a room to his own house, on condition +that nothing should be said there in direct promotion of separatism.</p> + +<p>This decided course of conduct, notwithstanding many hints and +threats, placed the government in an embarrassing situation. Eight +years before, the canton of Vaud had treated a similar sect (of which +indeed, some of these very individuals had been members) with great +severity; but with so little effect, that their number had been constantly +increasing, and their spirit had been diffused through a large number +of the established churches; to the great annoyance of those who +did not love the gospel. Thus warned of the danger of violent measures, +and yet anxious to find reasons for expelling the leaders of the +obnoxious party, they directed the superintendent of the police to keep +them and their assemblies under constant and rigid inspection; and all +who were concerned with them, were watched with the same view. +At the same time, one of the evangelical clergymen was sent for, and +warned to alter his mode of preaching; and although he did not approve +or preach separation, he was accused of contributing to the excitement +of feeling, which gave rise to it, by his mode of exhibiting the +doctrines of the bible. We need scarcely add, that the warning was +without effect on this faithful minister of Christ.</p> + +<p>In the year 1813, a few pious individuals began to meet in private, +for the purpose of seeking and cherishing that holy truth which was +banished from the public assemblies. These persons were directed +by some students of theology, among whom was M. Empaytaz. The +venerable company of pastors soon heard of these unauthorized proceedings, +and lost no time in evincing their disapprobation respecting +them. M. Empaytaz, was especially marked out as the object of their +displeasure; and they refused to ordain him, unless he would avoid every +religious assembly which had not their sanction. He chose rather +to incur their anathema than to wound his conscience, and departed +from the city.</p> + +<p>But the light had broke forth, and it was not easy again to extinguish +it. The honourable company seem to have been extremely troubled +as to the course to be pursued. To sit still, however, was to yield +to the rising spirit of reformation, and they determined to bestir themselves. +Accordingly, after due deliberation, they issued certain regulations, +bearing date May 3, 1817, which they hoped would be received +as articles.</p> + +<p>These articles however, did not produce the anticipated effect. +The doctrine of the divinity of Christ, and others equally offensive to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[461]</a></span> +Unitarians, continued to be preached. In 1818, M. Malan, a pious orthodox +divine, was deprived of his place of regent of the college; and +another, M. Mejanel, was ordered to quit Geneva.</p> + +<p>For some time, however, the individuals who retained their allegiance +to the Helvetic Confession, and remained at Geneva, still +held their meetings, with little other provocation than that of a few +hard names, such as "enthusiasts," "Nazarenes," "advocates for +exploded doctrines," &c., which the Unitarians, in the exuberance of +their wit, and the overflowing of their liberality, had the gratification +to bespatter them. These attacks produced very little impression +upon the persons assailed. The arguments next adopted, were calculated +to supply the defect. About the beginning of July, 1818, +the place of meeting being changed, when the persons assembled, +they found a large mob prepared to insult them. These enlightened +and worthy abettors of the reformed church of Geneva, and citizens +of that free republic, assembled at the house of meeting, and vociferated +amidst other expressions of hostility—we transcribe the words +with shame and horror,—<i>A bas Jesus Christ! A bas les Moraves! +A mort, a la lanterne</i>, &c. and pursued the obnoxious ministers as +they came out, with similar cries. Neither did they stop here: their +valour and zeal, as is the case with all mobs, became more impetuous +as they were not resisted. "Our silence," says one who was present, +"in the midst of these insults, did not satisfy them: we had to suffer +menaces, maledictions; stoning through the streets, and the violation +of our houses." Had not the police exerted themselves to suppress +these disorders, the consequences would probably have been still more +fearful.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Persecution in the Pays de Vaud.</i></div> + +<p>In the month of December, 1823, a letter was addressed by three +young men, ministers of that canton, and subsequently signed by a +few others, to the council of state, intimating a determination to withdraw +from the established church, and requesting permission to constitute +places of worship independent of it. The cause assigned was, +that the Helvetic Confession had been virtually set aside, both by pastors +and people; and that the discipline of the church was annihilated. +Their plan was to preach according to that Confession, and to restore +the discipline.</p> + +<p>The petition to the council of state is dated Dec. 24, 1823. The +official answer bears date Jan. 15, 1824; and has all the formalities +with which the spirit of intolerance and persecution generally invests +itself, and is signed, Le Landamman en Charge, F. Clavel, Le Chandelier, +Boisot. In this instrument, the ministers and their friends are +called "Momiers;" and it is summarily decreed, that those who separate +themselves from the national church shall not be tolerated; +that the justices of the peace, &c. are specially charged instantly to +dissolve their meetings, and to report their proceedings to the council +of state, and every person who attends these prohibited assemblies,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[462]</a></span> +and who has disobeyed the orders to leave them, and rendered it necessary +to employ force, shall be imprisoned three days, besides the +possible infliction of other pains and penalties; and that all persons +whose measures shall have tended to gain proselytes, shall be fined +600 livres, or imprisoned two years; the same punishment to be +awarded to him who furnishes a place of meeting, or who has called +or directed a prohibited assembly, or who has taken any part whatever +in quality of a chief or director. The above decree was accompanied +by a circular, dated Jan. 16, 1824, emanating from the +same high quarter, addressed to the justices of the peace, municipalities, +&c. and conceived in the same spirit with its <i>respectable</i> associate.</p> + +<p>This iniquitous and anti-christian enactment has been carried into +effect in several instances. M. Charles Rochat, minister of the gospel, +of the Canton de Vaud, of a respectable family, and whose brother +is one of the national clergy, of the Canton, is the first on whom the +severity of the law has fallen. Five persons were found seated round +a table in his own house, with the bible open before them: the wife of +M. Rochat, a common friend, with two of his sisters, and a young +person, a stranger. This was the whole crime. M. Rochat was found +guilty of reading in his own house, before his wife and four friends, a +chapter of the New Testament! For this he was at first condemned to +three year's banishment, which, however, the tribunal of appeal reduced +to one year.</p> + +<p>Next, M. Olivier was banished for two years, by the sentence of the +same law.</p> + +<p>Like judgments have been pronounced against M. M. Chavannes, +Juvet, and Fivas, of whom, the two former, were previously confined +<i>ten weeks in prison</i>.</p> + +<p>Two females also were banished by the judgment de premiere instant, +of the tribunal of Orbe and Yverden, on the charge of similar +meetings being held at their houses; one of whom, however, has been +since acquitted at Lausanne, as it was proved that she lived with her +mother, and consequently that it was at her house, and not at hers, that +some friends, after dinner, read the bible together.</p> + +<p>But it is not merely in the Canton de Vaud that these enormous instances +of injustice have occurred: at Neufchatel, an act of arbitrary +power has just been committed, almost incredible from its severity. +An old law, long obsolete, has been discovered, which, it seems, was +passed two or three hundred years back. An agriculturer has been +made the first victim of its revived powers. He received into his +house M. Juvet, one of the condemned ministers of the Canton de +Vaud, and allowed him to administer the sacrament. For this crime +he was thrown into prison for three months, and was then brought up +in chains, and with a rope drawn tight round his neck, to receive sentence. +Ten years banishment was the punishment pronounced; and +that if he shall attempt to return before the expiration of this term, he +is to be marked with a hot iron for the first offence, and for the second +to be <i>hanged</i>. No passport was given him, so that he was left to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[463]</a></span> +hunted about from place to place, like the most degraded criminal. +This worthy man, whose name was Maguin, has a wife and three +children, for whom he has now no means of procuring a support. +[Wilson's Tour, 2d ed. page 325.]</p> + +<p>These atrocities were practised by those who claim to be the only +enlightened and liberal characters of our day—by Unitarians and Socinians—by +men too, whose complaints respecting bigotry and intolerance, +have been the burden of many a long article, expressly designed +to represent orthodoxy as peculiarly relentless and cruel.</p> + +<p>A large number of Swiss pastors have been driven into banishment, +by the inquisitorial proceedings of those who style themselves +the <i>liberal</i> party in Switzerland. Many of the exiles are now residing +in different parts of France, mostly near the frontiers of their +own country—others have found a home in different parts of Switzerland.</p> + +<p>One of them is now in that place where the wicked cease from +troubling—and another seems rapidly advancing to it. M. Juvet, +who signed, with two other ministers, the letter to the "Council of +State," having been banished from his own canton, sought an asylum +in another canton: this was refused. He then retired to Ferney Voltaire, +and pursued his labors. He was at that time weak from a pulmonary +consumption; but he ventured on an excursion to L'Isle of +Mantrichen, to visit those who were disposed to hear the word of +God. "He was insulted, attacked and pursued by the populace, from +town to town; and at Le Isle, where he arrived quite exhausted, and +in profuse perspiration, he was thrown into a cold dungeon, with only +a chair and some chopped straw, on which to pass the night. His +friends were not permitted to give him either food, fire, or clothing, +and in this state he was detained fifteen hours." For two months he +was confined in the prison of Yverden, under circumstances of severe +illness and medical attendance was denied him. After leaving the +prison, he was presently arrested and expelled the commune. Under +such accumulated sufferings, nature at length gave way: he slept in the +Lord; and among his last prayers were petitions for his persecutors +whether the magistrates or the mob.</p> + +<p>Recent information from Geneva, and the other cantons of Switzerland, +inform us that the spirit of persecution is still exhibited by the <i>liberal</i> +party in that country. Those who adhere to the Helvetic Confession, +and preach conformably to the doctrines of the creed of the established +church, are called "Momiers," "enthusiasts," and other +terms equally, unkind and unchristian. The <i>liberal</i>, or infidel party, +do not confine themselves simply to reproaches. They disturb the +places of public worship—they stone the people as they return from +their devotions—they arraign them before civil tribunals for preaching +Christ and him crucified—they impose fines upon them, subject them +to imprisonment, banishment, and even death itself. All this is done +too, in the 19th century, and by those who claim to be the only enlightened +and liberal party on the continent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[464]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE MOST EMINENT REFORMERS.</h3> + + +<p>It will not be inappropriate to devote a few pages of this work to a +brief detail of the lives of some of those men who first stepped forward, +regardless of the bigoted power which opposed all reformation, to stem +the tide of papal corruption, and to seal the pure doctrines of the gospel +with their blood. Among these, Great Britain has the honor of taking +the lead, and first maintaining that freedom in religious controversy +which astonished Europe, and demonstrated that political and religious +liberty are equally the growth of that favored island. Among the earliest +of these eminent persons was</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Wickliffe.</i></div> + +<p>This celebrated reformer, denominated the Morning Star of the +Reformation, was born about the year 1324, in the reign of Edward +II. Of his extraction we have no certain account. His parents designing +him for the church, sent him to Queen's College, Oxford, +about that period founded by Robert Eaglesfield, confessor to queen +Philippi. But not meeting with the advantages for study in that +newly established house which he expected, he removed to Merton +College, which was then esteemed one of the most learned societies +in Europe.</p> + +<p>The first thing which drew him into public notice, was his defence of +the University against the begging friars, who about this time, from +their settlement in Oxford in 1230, had been troublesome neighbours +to the University. Feuds were continually fomented; the friars appealing +to the pope, the scholars to the civil power; and sometimes one +party, and sometimes the other, prevailed. The friars became very +fond of a notion that Christ was a common beggar; that his disciples +were beggars also; and that begging was of gospel institution. +This doctrine they urged from the pulpit and wherever they had access.</p> + +<p>Wickliffe had long held these religious friars in contempt for the +laziness of their lives, and had now a fair opportunity of exposing +them. He published a treatise against able beggary, in which he +lashed the friars, and proved that they were not only a reproach to +religion, but also to human society. The University began to consider +him one of her first champions, and he was soon promoted to the mastership +of Baliol College.</p> + +<p>About this time, archbishop Islip founded Canterbury Hall, in Oxford, +where he established a warden and eleven scholars. To this +wardenship Wickliffe was elected by the archbishop, but upon his demise, +he was displaced by his successor, Stephen Langham, bishop of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[465]</a></span> +Ely. As there was a degree of flagrant injustice in the affair, Wickliffe +appealed to the pope, who subsequently gave it against him from +the following cause: Edward the Third, then king of England, had +withdrawn the tribute, which from the time of king John had been paid +to the pope. The pope menaced; Edward called a parliament. The +parliament resolved that king John had done an illegal thing, and given +up the rights of the nation, and advised the king not to submit, whatever +consequences might follow.</p> + +<p>The clergy now began to write in favour of the pope, and a learned +monk published a spirited and plausible treatise, which had many +advocates. Wickliffe, irritated at seeing so bad a cause so well defended, +opposed the monk, and did it in so masterly a way, that he was +considered no longer as unanswerable. His suit at Rome was immediately +determined against him; and nobody doubted but his opposition +to the pope, at so critical a period, was the true cause of his being +non-suited at Rome.</p> + +<p>Wickliffe was afterward elected to the chair of the divinity professor: +and now fully convinced of the errors of the Romish church, and +the vileness of its monastic agents, he determined to expose them. In +public lectures he lashed their vices and opposed their follies. He unfolded +a variety of abuses covered by the darkness of superstition. At +first he began to loosen the prejudices of the vulgar, and proceeded by +slow advances; with the metaphysical disquisitions of the age, he +mingled opinions in divinity apparently novel. The usurpations of +the court of Rome was a favourite topic. On these he expatiated with +all the keenness of argument, joined to logical reasoning. This soon +procured him the clamour of the clergy, who, with the archbishop of +Canterbury, deprived him of his office.</p> + +<p>At this time, the administration of affairs was in the hands of the +duke of Lancaster, well known by the name of John of Gaunt. This +prince had very free notions of religion, and was at enmity with the +clergy. The exactions of the court of Rome having become very burdensome, +he determined to send the bishop of Bangor and Wickliffe to +remonstrate against these abuses, and it was agreed that the pope +should no longer dispose of any benifices belonging to the church of +England. In this embassy, Wickliffe's observant mind penetrated into +the constitution and policy of Rome, and he returned more strongly +than ever determined to expose its avarice and ambition.</p> + +<p>Having recovered his former situation, he inveighed, in his lectures, +against the pope—his usurpation—his infallibility—his pride—his +avarice—and his tyranny. He was the first who termed the pope Antichrist. +From the pope, he would turn to the pomp, the luxury and +trappings of the bishops, and compared them with the simplicity of +primitive bishops. Their superstitions and deceptions were topics that +he urged with energy of mind and logical precision.</p> + +<p>From the patronage of the duke of Lancaster, Wickliffe received +a good benefice; but he was no sooner settled in his parish, than his +enemies and the bishops began to persecute him with renewed vigor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[466]</a></span> +The duke of Lancaster was his friend in this persecution, and by his +presence and that of Lord Percy, earl marshal of England, he so overawed +the trial, that the whole ended in disorder.</p> + +<p>After the death of Edward III. his grandson Richard II. succeeded, +in the eleventh year of his age. The duke of Lancaster not obtaining +to be the sole regent, as he expected, his power began to decline, +and the enemies of Wickliffe, taking advantage of this circumstance, +renewed their articles of accusation against him. Five bulls were +despatched in consequence by the pope to the king and certain +bishops, but the regency and the people manifested a spirit of contempt +at the haughty proceedings of the pontiff, and the former at +that time wanting money to oppose an expected invasion of the +French, proposed to apply a large sum, collected for the use of the +pope to that purpose. The question was submitted to the decision of +Wickliffe. The bishops, however, supported by the papal authority, +insisted upon bringing Wickliffe to trial, and he was actually undergoing +examination at Lambeth, when, from the riotous behaviour of +the populace without, and awed by the command of sir Lewis Clifford, +a gentleman of the court, that they should not proceed to any +definitive sentence, they terminated the whole affair in a prohibition +to Wickliffe, not to preach those doctrines which were obnoxious to +the pope; but this was laughed at by our reformer, who, going about +barefoot, and in a long frieze gown, preached more vehemently than +before.</p> + +<p>In the year 1378, a contest arose between two popes, Urban VI. and +Clement VII. which was the lawful pope, and true vicegerent of God. +This was a favourable period for the exertion of Wickliffe's talents: +he soon produced a tract against popery, which was eagerly read by +all sorts of people.</p> + +<p>About the end of the year, Wickliffe was seized with a violent disorder, +which it was feared might prove fatal. The begging friars, +accompanied by four of the most eminent citizens of Oxford, gained +admittance to his bed-chamber, and begged of him to retract, for his +soul's sake, the unjust things he had asserted of their order. Wickliffe +surprised at the solemn message, raised himself in his bed, and +with a stern countenance replied, "I shall not die, but live to declare +the evil deeds of the friars."</p> + +<p>When Wickliffe recovered, he set about a most important work, the +translation of the bible into English. Before this work appeared, he +published a tract, wherein he showed the necessity of it. The zeal of +the bishops to suppress the scriptures, greatly promoted its sale, and +they who were not able to purchase copies, procured transcripts of particular +gospels or epistles. Afterward, when Lollardy increased, and +the flames kindled, it was a common practice to fasten about the neck +of the condemned heretic such of these scraps of scripture as were found +in his possession, which generally shared his fate.</p> + +<p>Immediately after this transaction, Wickliffe ventured a step further, +and affected the doctrine of transubstantiation. This strange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[467]</a></span> +opinion was invented by Paschade Radbert, and asserted with amazing +boldness. Wickliffe, in his lecture before the university of Oxford, +1381, attacked this doctrine, and published a treatise on the subject. +Dr. Barton, at this time vice-chancellor of Oxford, calling together the +heads of the university, condemned Wickliffe's doctrines as heretical, +and threatened their author with excommunication. Wickliffe could +now derive no support from the duke of Lancaster, and being cited to +appear before his former adversary, William Courteney, now made +archbishop of Canterbury, he sheltered himself under the plea, that, +as a member of the university, he was exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. +This plea was admitted, as the university were determined to +support their member.</p> + +<p>The court met at the appointed time, determined, at least to sit in +judgment upon his opinions, and some they condemned as erroneous, +others as heretical. The publication on this subject was immediately +answered by Wickliffe, who had become a subject of the archbishop's +determined malice. The king, solicited by the archbishop, granted a +license to imprison the teacher of heresy, but the commons made the +king revoke this act as illegal. The primate, however, obtained letters +from the king, directing the head of the university of Oxford to +search for all heresies and the books published by Wickliffe; in consequence +of which order, the university became a scene of tumult. +Wickliffe is supposed to have retired from the storm, into an obscure +part of the kingdom. The seeds, however, were scattered, and Wickliffe's +opinions were so prevalent, that it was said, if you met two +persons upon the road, you might be sure that one was a Lollard. At +this period, the disputes between the two popes continued. Urban +published a bull, in which he earnestly called upon all who had any +regard for religion, to exert themselves in its cause; and to take +up arms against Clement and his adherents in defence of the holy +see.</p> + +<p>A war, in which the name of religion was so vilely prostituted, +roused Wickliffe's inclination, even in his declining years. He took +up his pen once more, and wrote against it with the greatest acrimony. +He expostulated with the pope in a very free manner, and asks him +boldly, "How he durst make the token of Christ on the cross (which +is the token of peace, mercy and charity) a banner to lead us to slay +christian men, for the love of two false priests, and to oppress Christendom +worse than Christ and his apostles were oppressed by the Jews? +When, said he, will the proud priest of Rome grant indulgences to +mankind to live in peace and charity, as he now does to fight and slay +one another?"</p> + +<p>This severe piece drew upon him the resentment of Urban; and +was likely to have involved him in greater troubles than he had before +experienced, but providentially he was delivered out of their +hands. He was struck with the palsy, and though he lived some time +yet in such a way, that his enemies considered him as a person below +their resentment. To the last he attended divine worship, and received<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[468]</a></span> +the fatal stroke of his disorder in his church at Lutterworth, in +the year 1384.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Martin Luther.</i></div> + +<p>This illustrious German divine and reformer of the church, was +the son of John Luther and Margaret Lindeman, and born at Isleben, +a town of Saxony, in the county of Mansfield, November 10, 1483. +His father's extraction and condition were originally but mean, and +his occupation that of a miner: it is probable, however, that by his +application and industry he improved the fortunes of his family, as he +afterward became a magistrate of rank and dignity. Luther was +early initiated into letters, and at the age of thirteen was sent to +school at Madgeburg, and thence to Eysenach, in Thuringia, where +he remained four years, producing the early indications of his future +eminence.</p> + +<p>In 1501 he was sent to the university of Erfurt, where he went +through the usual courses of logic and philosophy. When twenty, +he took a master's degree, and then lectured on Aristotle's physics, +ethics, and other parts of philosophy. Afterward, at the instigation +of his parents, he turned himself to the civil law, with a view of advancing +himself to the bar, but was diverted from this pursuit by the +following accident. Walking out into the fields one day, he was +struck by lightning so as to fall to the ground, while a companion +was killed by his side; and this affected him so sensibly, that, without +communicating his purpose to any of his friends, he withdrew himself +from the world, and retired into the order of the hermits of St. +Augustine.</p> + +<p>Here he employed himself in reading St. Augustine and the school +men; but, in turning over the leaves of the library, he accidentally +found a copy of the Latin Bible, which he had never seen before. +This raised his curiosity to a high degree: he read it over very greedily, +and was amazed to find what a small portion of the scriptures +was rehearsed to the people. He made his profession in the monastery +of Erfurt, after he had been a novice one year; and he took +priest's orders, and celebrated his first mass in 1507. The year after, +he was removed from the convent of Erfurt to the university of Wittemberg; +for this university being just founded, nothing was thought +more likely to bring it into immediate repute and credit, than the authority +and presence of a man so celebrated, for his great parts and +learning, as Luther. In 1512, seven convents of his order having +a quarrel with their vicar-general, Luther was chosen to go to Rome +to maintain their cause. At Rome he saw the pope and the court, +and had an opportunity of observing also the manners of the clergy, +whose hasty, superficial, and impious way of celebrating mass, he has +severely noted. As soon as he had adjusted the dispute which was +the business of his journey, he returned to Wittemberg, and was created +doctor of divinity, at the expense of Frederic, elector of Saxony;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[469]</a></span> +who had often heard him preach, was perfectly acquainted with +his merit, and reverenced him highly. He continued in the university +of Wittemberg, where, as professor of divinity, he employed himself +in the business of his calling. Here then he began in the most +earnest manner to read lectures upon the sacred books: he explained +the epistle to the Romans, and the Psalms, which he cleared up and +illustrated in a manner so entirely new, and so different from what +had been pursued by former commentators, that "there seemed, after +a long and dark night, a new day to arise, in the judgment of all pious +and prudent men." The better to qualify himself for the task he +had undertaken, he applied himself attentively to the Greek and Hebrew +languages; and in this manner was he employed, when the +general indulgences were published in 1517. Leo X. who succeeded +Julius II. in March, 1513, formed a design of building the magnificent +church of St. Peter's at Rome, which was, indeed, begun by Julius, +but still required very large sums to be finished. Leo, therefore, 1517 +published general indulgences throughout all Europe, in favour of +those who contribute any sum to the building of St. Peter's; and appointed +persons in different countries to preach up these indulgences, +and to receive money for them. These strange proceedings gave vast +offence at Wittemberg, and particularly inflamed the pious zeal of +Luther; who, being naturally warm and active, and in the present +case unable to contain himself, was determined to declare against +them at all adventures. Upon the eve of All-saints, therefore, in +1517, he publicly fixed up, at the church next to the castle of that +town, a thesis upon indulgences; in the beginning of which, he challenged +any one to oppose it either by writing or disputation. Luther's +propositions about indulgences, were no sooner published, than Tetzel, +the Dominican friar, and commissioner for selling them, maintained +and published at Francfort, a thesis, containing a set of propositions +directly contrary to them. He did more; he stirred up the clergy of +his order against Luther; anathematized him from the pulpit, as a +most damnable heretic; and burnt his thesis publicly at Francfort. +Tetzel's thesis was also burnt, in return, by the Lutherans at Wittemburg; +but Luther himself disowned having had any hand in that +procedure. In 1518, Luther, though dissuaded from it by his friends, +yet, to show obedience to authority, went to the monastery of St. Augustine, +at Heidelberg, while the chapter was held; and here maintained, +April 26, a dispute concerning "justification by faith," which +Bucer, who was present at, took down in writing, and afterward communicated +to Beatus Rhenanus, not without the highest commendations. +In the meantime, the zeal of his adversaries grew every day +more and more active against him; and he was at length accused to +Leo X. as a heretic. As soon as he returned therefore from Heidelberg, +he wrote a letter to that pope, in the most submissive terms; and +sent him, at the same time, an explication of his propositions about +indulgences. This letter is dated on Trinity-Sunday, 1518, and was +accompanied with a protestation, wherein he declared, that "he did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[470]</a></span> +not pretend to advance or defend any thing contrary to the holy scriptures, +or to the doctrine of the fathers, received and observed by the +church of Rome, or to the canons and decretals of the popes: nevertheless, +he thought he had the liberty either to approve or disapprove the +opinions of St. Thomas, Bonaventure, and other school-men and canonists, +which are not grounded upon any text."</p> + +<p>The emperor Maximilian was equally solicitous with the pope about +putting a stop to the propagation of Luther's opinions in Saxony; +troublesome both to the church and empire. Maximilian, therefore, +applied to Leo, in a letter dated August 5, 1518, and begged him to +forbid, by his authority, these useless, rash, and dangerous disputes; +assuring him also, that he would strictly execute in the empire whatever +his holiness should enjoin. In the meantime Luther, as soon an +he understood what was transacting about him at Rome, used all imaginable +means to prevent his being carried thither, and to obtain a +hearing of his cause in Germany. The elector was also against Luther's +going to Rome, and desired of cardinal Cajetan, that he might +be heard before him, as the pope's legate in Germany. Upon these +addresses, the pope consented that the cause should be tried before cardinal +Cajetan, to whom he had given power to decide it. Luther, therefore, +set off immediately for Augsburg, and carried with him letters +from the elector. He arrived here in October, 1518, and, upon an assurance +of his safety, was admitted into the cardinal's presence. But +Luther was soon convinced that he had more to fear from the cardinal's +power, than from disputations of any kind; and, therefore, apprehensive +of being seized, if he did not submit, withdrew from Augsburg upon +the 20th. But, before his departure, he published a formal appeal +to the pope, and finding himself protected by the elector, continued to +teach the same doctrines at Wittemberg, and sent a challenge to all the +inquisitors to come and dispute with him.</p> + +<p>As to Luther, Miltitius, the pope's chamberlain, had orders to +require the elector to oblige him to retract, or to deny him his protection; +but things were not now to be carried with so high a hand, +Luther's credit being too firmly established. Besides, the emperor +Maximilian happened to die upon the 12th of this month, whose +death greatly altered the face of affairs, and made the elector more +able to determine Luther's fate. Miltitius thought it best, therefore, +to try what could be done by fair and gentle means, and to that end +came to some conference with Luther. During all these treaties, the +doctrine of Luther spread, and prevailed greatly; and he himself +received great encouragement at home and abroad. The Bohemians +about this time sent him a book of the celebrated John Huss, who +had fallen a martyr in the work of reformation; and also letters, in +which they exhorted him to constancy and perseverance, owning, +that the divinity which he taught was the pure, sound, and orthodox +divinity. Many great and learned men had joined themselves to him. +In 1519, he had a famous dispute at Leipsic with John Eccius. But +this dispute ended at length like all others, the parties not the least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[471]</a></span> +nearer in opinion, but more to enmity with each other's persons. +About the end of this year, Luther published a book, in which he +contended for the communion being celebrated in both kinds; which +was condemned by the bishop of Misnia, January 24, 1520. While +Luther was labouring to excuse himself to the new emperor and the +bishops of Germany, Eccius had gone to Rome, to solicit his condemnation; +which, it may easily be conceived, was now become not difficult +to be attained. Indeed the continual importunities of Luther's +adversaries with Leo, caused him at length to publish a formal condemnation +of him, and he did so accordingly, in a bull, dated June +15, 1520; this was carried into Germany, and published there by +Eccius, who had solicited it at Rome; and who, together with Jerom +Alexander, a person eminent for his learning and eloquence, was +entrusted by the pope with the execution of it. In the meantime, +Charles V. of Spain, after he had set things to rights in the Low +Countries, went into Germany, and was crowned emperor, October +the 21st, at Aix-la-Chapelle. The diet of Worms was held in the +beginning of 1521; which ended at length in this single and peremptory +declaration of Luther, that "unless he was convinced by texts of +scripture or evident reason (for he did not think himself obliged to +submit to the pope or his councils,) he neither could nor would retract +any thing, because it was not lawful for him to act against his +conscience." Before the diet of Worms was dissolved, Charles V. +caused an edict to be drawn up, which was dated the 8th of May, and +decreed that Martin Luther be, agreeably to the sentence of the pope, +henceforward looked upon as a member separated from the church, a +schismatic, and an obstinate and notorious heretic. While the bull +of Leo X. executed by Charles V. was thundering throughout the +empire, Luther was safely shut up in the castle of Wittemberg; but +weary at length of his retirement, he appeared publickly again at Wittemberg, +March 6, 1522, after he had been absent about ten months. +Luther now made open war with the pope and bishops; and, that he +might make the people despise their authority as much as possible, he +wrote one book against the pope's bull, and another against the order +falsely called "the order of bishops." He published also, a translation +of the "New Testament" in the German tongue, which was afterward +corrected by himself and Melancthon. Affairs were now in great +confusion in Germany; and they were not less so in Italy, for a quarrel +arose between the pope and the emperor, during which Rome was +twice taken, and the pope imprisoned. While the princes were thus +employed in quarrelling with each other, Luther persisted in carrying +on the work of the reformation, as well by opposing the papists, +as by combating the Anabaptists and other fanatical sects; which, +having taken the advantage of his contest with the church of Rome, +had sprung up and established themselves in several places.</p> + +<p>In 1527, Luther was suddenly seized with a coagulation of the +blood about the heart, which had like to have put an end to his life. +The troubles of Germany being not likely to have any end, the emperor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[472]</a></span> +was forced to call a diet at Spires, in 1529, to require the assistance +of the princes of the empire against the Turks. Fourteen +cities, viz. Stratsburg, Nuremberg, Ulm, Constance, Retlingen, Windsheim, +Memmingen, Lindow, Kempten, Hailbron, Isny, Weissemburg, +Nortlingen, S. Gal, joined against the decree of the diet protestation, +which was put into writing, and published the 19th of April, 1529. +This was the famous protestation, which gave the name of Protestants +to the reformers in Germany.</p> + +<p>After this, the protestant princes laboured to make a firm league +and enjoined the elector of Saxony and his allies to approve of what +the diet had done; but the deputies drew up an appeal, and the protestants +afterwards presented an apology for their "Confession"—that +famous confession which was drawn up by the temperate Melancthon, +as also the apology. These were signed by a variety of princes, +and Luther had now nothing else to do, but to sit down and contemplate +the mighty work he had finished: for that a single monk should +be able to give the church of Rome so rude a shock, that there needed +but such another entirely to overthrow it, may be well esteemed a +mighty work.</p> + +<p>In 1533, Luther wrote a consolatory epistle to the citizens of Oschatz, +who had suffered some hardships for adhering to the Augsburg +confession of faith: and in 1534, the Bible translated by him into +German was first printed, as the old privilege, dated at Bibliopolis, +under the elector's own hand, shows; and it was published in the +year after. He also published this year a book "against masses and +the consecration of priests." In February, 1537, an assembly was +held at Smalkald about matters of religion, to which Luther and Melancthon +were called. At this meeting Luther was seized with so +grievous an illness, that there was no hope of his recovery. As he +was carried along he made his will, in which he bequeathed his detestation +of popery to his friends and brethren. In this manner was he +employed till his death, which happened in 1546. That year, accompanied +by Melancthon, he paid a visit to his own country, which +he had not seen for many years, and returned again in safety. But +soon after, he was called thither again by the earls of Mansfelt, to +compose some differences which had arisen about their boundaries, +where he was received by 100 horsemen, or more, and conducted in +a very honourable manner; but was at the same time so very ill, that +it was feared he would die. He said, that these fits of sickness often +came upon him, when he had any great business to undertake; of +this, however, he did not recover, but died February 18, in his 63d +year. A little before he expired, he admonished those that were +about him to pray to God for the propagation of the gospel; "because," +said he, "the council of Trent, which had sat once or twice, and the +pope, will devise strange things against it." Soon after, his body was +put into a leaden coffin, and carried with funeral pomp to the church +at Iselbein, when Dr. Jonas preached a sermon upon the occasion. +The earls of Mansfelt desired that his body should be interred in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[473]</a></span> +territories; but the elector of Saxony insisted upon his being brought +back to Wittemberg, which was accordingly done; and there he was +buried with the greatest pomp that perhaps ever happened to any +private man. Princes, earls, nobles, and students without number, +attended the procession of this extraordinary reformer; and Melancthon +made his funeral oration.</p> + +<p>We will close this account of the great founder of the reformation, +by subjoining a few opinions, which have been passed upon him, by +both papists and Protestants. "Luther," says Father Simon, "was +the first Protestant who ventured to translate the Bible into the vulgar +tongue from the Hebrew text, although he understood Hebrew but very +indifferently. As he was of a free and bold spirit, he accuses St +Jerom of ignorance in the Hebrew tongue; but he had more reason +to accuse himself of this fault, and for having so precipitately undertaken +a work of this nature, which required more time than he employed +about it. There is nothing great or learned in his commentaries +upon the Bible; every thing low and mean: and though he had +studied divinity, he has rather composed a rhapsody of theological +questions, than a commentary upon the scripture text: to which we +may add, that he wanted understanding, and usually followed his senses +instead of his reason."</p> + +<p>This is the language of those in the church of Rome who speak of +Luther with any degree of moderation; for the generality allow him +neither parts, nor learning, nor any attainment intellectual or moral. +But let us leave these impotent railers, and attend a little to more +equitable judges. "Luther," says Wharton, in his appendix to Cave's +Historia Literaria, "was a man of prodigious sagacity and acuteness, +very warm, and formed for great undertakings; being a man, if ever +there was one, whom nothing could daunt or intimidate. When the +cause of religion was concerned, he never regarded whose love he was +likely to gain, or whose displeasure to incur." He is also highly spoken +of by Atterbury and others.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>John Calvin.</i></div> + +<p>This reformer was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1409. He +was instructed in grammar learning at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, +and studied philosophy in the college of Montaign under a +Spanish professor. His father, who discovered many marks of his +early piety, particularly in his reprehensions of the vices of his companions, +designed him at first for the church, and got him presented, +May 21, 1521, to the chapel of Notre Dame de la Gesine, in the +church of Noyon. In 1527 he was presented to the rectory of Marieville, +which he exchanged in 1529 for the rectory of Pont l'Eveque, +near Noyon. His father afterward changed his resolution, and would +have him study law; to which Calvin, who, by reading the scriptures, +had conceived a dislike to the superstitions of popery, readily +consented, and resigned the chapel of Gesine and the rectory of Pont<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[474]</a></span> +l'Eveque, in 1534. He made a great progress in that science, and +improved no less in the knowledge of divinity by his private studies. +At Bourges he applied to the Greek tongue, under the direction of +professor Wolmar. His father's death having called him back to +Noyon, he stayed there a short time, and then went to Paris, where +a speech of Nicholas Cop, rector of the university of Paris, of which +Calvin furnished the materials, having greatly displeased the Sarbonne +and the parliament, gave rise to a persecution against the protestants, +and Calvin, who narrowly escaped being taken in the college of Forteret, +was forced to retire to Xaintonge, after having had the honour +to be introduced to the queen of Navarre, who had raised this first +storm against the protestants. Calvin returned to Paris in 1534. +This year the reformed met with severe treatment, which determined +him to leave France, after publishing a treatise against those who +believe that departed souls are in a kind of sleep. He retired to Basil, +where he studied Hebrew: at this time he published his Institutions +of the Christian religion; a work well adapted to spread his fame, +though he himself was desirous of living in obscurity. It is dedicated +to the French king, Francis I. Calvin next wrote an apology for +the protestants who were burnt for their religion in France. After +the publication of this work, Calvin went to Italy to pay a visit to +the duchess of Ferrara, a lady of eminent piety, by whom he was very +kindly received.</p> + +<p>From Italy he came back to France, and having settled his private +affairs, he proposed to go to Strasbourg or Basil, in company with his +sole surviving brother, Antony Calvin; but as the roads were not safe +on account of the war, except through the duke of Savoy's territories, +he chose that road. "This was a particular direction of Providence," +says Bayle; "it was his destiny that he should settle at Geneva, and +when he was wholly intent upon going farther, he found himself detained +by an order from heaven, if I may so speak." At Geneva, +Calvin therefore was obliged to comply with the choice which the +consistory and magistrates made of him, with the consent of the +people, to be one of their ministers, and professor of divinity. He +wanted to undertake only this last office, and not the other; but in the +end he was obliged to take both upon him, in August, 1536. The +year following, he made all the people declare, upon oath, their assent +to the confession of faith, which contained a renunciation of popery. +He next intimated, that he could not submit to a regulation which the +canton of Berne had lately made. Whereupon the syndics of Geneva, +summoned an assembly of the people; and it was ordered that Calvin, +Farel, and another minister, should leave the town in a few days, for +refusing to administer the sacrament.</p> + +<p>Calvin retired to Strasbourg, and established a French church in +that city, of which he was the first minister: he was also appointed +to be professor of divinity there. Meanwhile the people of Geneva +entreated him so earnestly to return to them, that at last he consented +and arrived September 13, 1541, to the great satisfaction both of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[475]</a></span> +the people and the magistrates; and the first thing he did, after his arrival, +was to establish a form of church discipline, and a consistorial jurisdiction, +invested with power of inflicting censures and canonical punishments, +as far as excommunication, inclusively.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Agency of Calvin in the death of Michael Servetus.</i></div> + +<p>It has long been the delight of both infidels and some professed christians, +when they wish to bring odium upon the opinions of Calvin, to refer +to his agency in the death of Michael Servetus. This action is +used on all occasions by those who have been unable to overthrow his +opinions, as a conclusive argument against his whole system. Calvin +burnt Servetus!—Calvin burnt Servetus! is good proof with a certain +class of reasoners, that the doctrine of the Trinity is not true—that +divine sovereignty is anti-scriptural,—and christianity a cheat. +We have no wish to palliate any act of Calvin's which is manifestly +wrong. All his proceedings, in relation to the unhappy affair of Servetus, +we think, cannot be defended. Still it should be remembered +that the true principles of religious toleration were very little understood +in the time of Calvin. All the other reformers then living, approved +of Calvin's conduct. Even the gentle and amiable Melancthon expressed +himself in relation to this affair, in the following manner. In +a letter addressed to Bullinger, he says, "I have read your statement +respecting the blasphemy of Servetus, and praise your piety and +judgment; and am persuaded that the Council of Geneva has +done right in putting to death this obstinate man, who would never +have ceased his blasphemies. I am astonished, that any one can +be found to disapprove of this proceeding." Farel expressly says, +that "Servetus deserved a capital punishment." Bucer did not hesitate +to declare, that "Servetus deserved something worse than death." +The truth is, although Calvin had some hand in the arrest and imprisonment +of Servetus, he was unwilling that he should be burnt at all. +"I desire," says he, "that the severity of the punishment should be +remitted." "We endeavoured to commute the kind of death, but +in vain." "By wishing to mitigate the severity of the punishment," +says Farel to Calvin, "you discharge the office of a friend +towards your greatest enemy." "That Calvin was the instigator of the +magistrates that Servetus might be burned," says Turritine, "historians +neither any where affirm, nor does it appear from any considerations. +Nay, it is certain, that he, with the college of pastors, dissuaded +from that kind of punishment."</p> + +<p>It has been often asserted, that Calvin possessed so much influence +with the magistrates of Geneva, that he might have obtained the release +of Servetus, had he not been desirous of his destruction. This +however, is not true. So far from it, that Calvin was himself once +banished from Geneva, by these very magistrates, and often opposed +their arbitrary measures in vain. So little desirous was Calvin of +procuring the death of Servetus, that he warned him of his danger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[476]</a></span> +and suffered him to remain several weeks at Geneva, before he was arrested. +But his language, which was then accounted blasphemous, was +the cause of his imprisonment. When in prison, Calvin visited him, +and used every argument to persuade him to retract his horrible blasphemies, +without reference to his peculiar sentiments. This was the +extent of Calvin's agency in this unhappy affair.</p> + +<p>It cannot, however, be denied, that in this instance, Calvin acted +contrary to the benignant spirit of the gospel. It is better to drop a +tear over the inconsistency of human nature, and to bewail those infirmities +which cannot be justified. He declares he acted conscientiously, +and publicly justified the act. Cranmer acted the same part +towards the poor Anabaptists in the reign of Edward VI. This doctrine +they had learned at Rome, and it is certain, that, with a very +few exceptions, it was at this time the opinion of all parties. The +author of the Memoirs of Literature says, "If the religion of protestants +depended on the doctrine and conduct of the reformers, he +should take care how he published his account of Servetus; but as the +protestant religion is entirely founded on Holy Scripture, so the defaults +of the reformers ought not to have any ill influence on the reformation. +The doctrine of non-toleration, which obtained to the sixteenth century, +among some protestants, was that pernicious error which they +had imbibed in the Church of Rome; and I believe, I can say, without +doing any injury to that church, that she is, in a great measure, answerable +for the execution of Servetus. If the Roman catholics had +never put any person to death for the sake of religion, I dare say that +Servetus had never been condemned to die in any protestant city. Let +us remember, that Calvin, and all the magistrates of Geneva, in the +year 1553, were born and bred up in the church of Rome: this is the +best apology that can be made for them."—<i>Biographia Evangelica</i>, +vol. II. p. 42.</p> + +<p>The apostles John and James would have called down fire from heaven; +Calvin and Cranmer kindled it on earth. This, however, is the +only fault alleged against Calvin; but "Let him that is without sin cast +the first stone."</p> + +<p>"It ought, however," says a sensible writer, "to be acknowledged +that persecution for religious principles was not at that time peculiar +to any party of christians, but common to all, whenever they were +invested with civil power." It was a detestable error; but it was the +error of the age. They looked upon heresy in the same light as we +look upon those crimes which are inimical to the peace of civil society; +and, accordingly, proceeded to punish heretics by the sword of the +civil magistrate. If Socinians did not persecute their adversaries so +much as Trinitarians, it was because they were not equally invested +with the power of doing so. Mr. Lindsay acknowledges, that Faustus +Socinus himself was not free from persecution in the case of +Francis David, superintendent of the Unitarian churches in Transylvania. +David had disputed with Socinus on the invocation of +Christ, and died in prison in consequence of his opinion, and some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[477]</a></span> +offence taken at his supposed indiscreet propagation of it from the pulpit. +"I wish I could say," adds Mr. Lindsay, "that Socinus, or his +friend Blandrata, had done all in their power to prevent his commitment, +or procure his release afterwards." The difference between Socinus +and David was very slight. They both held Christ to be a mere +man. The former, however, was for praying to him; which the latter, +with much greater consistency, disapproved. Considering this, +the persecution to which Socinus was accessary was as great as that +of Calvin; and there is no reason to think, but that if David had differed +as much from Socinus, as Servetus did from Calvin, and if the civil +magistrates had been for burning him, Socinus would have concurred +with them. To this it might be added, that the conduct of Socinus was +marked with disingenuity: in that he considered the opinion of David +in no very heinous point of light; but was afraid of increasing the odium +under which he and his party already lay, among other Christian +churches.</p> + +<p>It was the opinion, that <i>erroneous religious principles are punishable +by the civil magistrate</i>, that did the mischief, whether at Geneva, +in Transylvania, or in Britain; and to this, rather than to Trinitarianism, +or Unitarianism, it ought to be imputed.</p> + +<p>The inflexible rigour with which Calvin asserted, on all occasions, +the rights of his consistory, procured him many enemies: but nothing +daunted him; and one would hardly believe, if there were not unquestionable +proofs of it, that, amidst all the commotions at home, +he could take so much care as he did of the churches abroad, in +France, Germany, England, and Poland, and write so many books +and letters. He did more by his pen than his presence; nevertheless +on some occasions, he acted in person, particularly at Frankfort, in +1556, whither he went to put an end to the disputes which divided +the French church in that city. He was always employed, having +almost constantly his pen in his hand, even when sickness confined +him to his bed; and he continued the discharge of all those duties, +which his zeal for the general good of the churches imposed on him, +till the day of his death, May 27, 1564. He was a man whom God +had endowed with very eminent talents; a clear understanding, a +solid judgment, and a happy memory: he was a judicious, elegant, +and indefatigable writer, and possessed of very extensive learning +and a great zeal for truth. Joseph Scaliger, who was not lavish of +his praise, could not forbear admiring Calvin; none of the commentators, +he said, had so well hit the sense of the prophets; and he +particularly commended him for not attempting to give a comment on +the Revelation. We understand from Guy Patin, that many of the +Roman catholics would do justice to Calvin's merit, if they dared to +speak their minds. It must excite a laugh at those who have been so +stupid as to accuse him of being a lover of wine, good cheer, company, +money, &c. Artful slanderers would have owned that he +was sober by constitution, and that he was not solicitous to heap up +riches.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[478]</a></span></p> + +<p>That a men who had acquired so great a reputation and such an +authority, should yet have had but a salary of 100 crowns, and refuse +to accept more; and after living 55 years with the utmost frugality, +should leave but 300 crowns to his heirs, including the value of his library, +which sold very dear, is something so heroical, that one must have +lost all feeling not to admire. When Calvin took his leave of Strasbourg, +to return to Geneva, they wanted to continue to him the privileges +of a freeman of their town, and the revenues of a prebend, which +had been assigned to him; the former he accepted, but absolutely refused +the other. He carried one of the brothers with him to Geneva, +but he never took any pains to get him preferred to an honourable post, +as any other possessed of his credit would have done. He took care +indeed of the honour of his brother's family, by getting him freed from +an adultress, and obtaining leave for him to marry again; but even his +enemies relate that he made him learn the trade of a bookbinder, which +he followed all his life after.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Calvin as a friend of civil liberty.</i></div> + +<p>The Rev. Dr. Wisner, in his late discourse at Plymouth, on the anniversary +of the landing of the pilgrims, makes the following assertion:—"Much +as the name of Calvin has been scoffed at and loaded +with reproach by many sons of freedom, there is not an historical proposition +more susceptible of complete demonstration than this, that <i>no +man has lived to whom the world is under greater obligations for the +freedom it now enjoys, than John Calvin</i>." In a note appended to the +sermon, Dr. Wisner gives the following testimonies, from history, of the +truth of this proposition—testimonies which deserve the more attention, +as they come from Calvin's opposers. We copy the note from the Boston +Recorder.</p> + +<p>"It may not be unacceptable to the reader, to add a few particulars +in confirmation of the statement in reference to the influence of Calvin +in forming the opinions and character of the Puritans, and thus contributing +to the discovery and establishment of the principles of religious +and civil liberty.</p> + +<p>"The peculiarities of the religious doctrines of the Puritans had an +important influence in producing in them determined and persevering +resistance to arbitrary power, and a successful vindication of their religious +and political rights. The fact is sufficiently illustrated in the +quotation in the sermon from the Edinburg Review. It is admitted by +Hume, and by all, whatever their religious opinions, who have thoroughly +investigated the springs of action in those discoverers, and founders of +religious and civil freedom. But the doctrinal views of the Puritans +were derived from Calvin.</p> + +<p>"Their disapprobation of the rites and ceremonies enjoined by the +English government was a prominent means of leading them to the discovery, +and stimulating to the successful vindication of the principles +of religious and civil liberty. And that disapprobation may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[479]</a></span> +directly traced to the influence of Calvin. With him many of the +leading Puritan divines studied theology, and were taught the importance +of laying aside the whole mass of popish additions to the simplicity +of apostolic worship. When the difficulties arose among the +exiles at Frankfort, in Mary's reign, about the use of King Edward's +Liturgy, they asked advice of Calvin, "who having perused the English +Liturgy, took notice, 'that there were many tolerable weaknesses +in it, which, because at first they could not be amended, were to be +suffered; but that it behooved the learned, grave, and godly ministers +of Christ to enterprise farther, and to set up something more filed from +rust, and purer.' 'If religion,' says he 'had flourished till this day +in England, many of these things would have been corrected. But +since the reformation is overthrown and a church is to be set up in +another place where you are at liberty to establish what order is most +for edification, I cannot tell what they mean, who are so fond of the +leavings of popish dregs.'" When the conformist party had triumphed +at Frankfort, they "wrote to Mr. Calvin to countenance their proceedings; +which that great divine could not do; but after a modest excuse +for intermeddling in their affairs, told them, that, 'in his opinion, +they were too much addicted to the English ceremonies; nor could he +see to what purpose it was to burden the church with such hurtful +and offensive things, when there was liberty to have simple and more +pure order.'" The puritan part of the exiles retired to Geneva, and +there prepared and published a service book, in the dedication of which +they say, that "they had set up such an order as, in the judgment of +Mr. Calvin and other learned divines, was most agreeable to scripture, +and the best reformed churches. And when, subsequently, the important +step was taken, by several puritans in and about London, of breaking +off from the established churches and setting up a separate congregation, +they adopted for use, (as they say in their 'agreement' thus to +separate) a book and order of preaching, administration of sacraments +and discipline, that the great Mr. Calvin had approved of, and which was +free from the superstitions of the English service."—<i>Neal, i. 152, +153, 154, 155, 252.</i></p> + +<p>But most important of all, in its influence on religious and civil +liberty, was the attachment of the puritans to a popular church government. +And of the origin of this system, we have the following +account from 'the judicious Hooker,' prefixed to his famous work on +Ecclesiastical Polity, written expressly against it. "A founder it had, +whom, for mine own part, I think incomparably the wisest man that +ever the French (protestant) church, did enjoy, since the hour it enjoyed +him. His bringing up was in the civil law. Divine knowledge +he gathered, not by hearing or reading, so much as by teaching +others. For thousands were debtors to him, as touching knowledge +in that kind, yet he to none, but only to God, the author of that most +blessed fountain the Book of Life, and of the admirable dexterity of +wit, together with the helps of other learning, which were his guides. +Two things of principal moment there are, which have deservedly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[480]</a></span> +procured him honour throughout the world; the one, his exceeding +pains in composing the institutions of the christian religion; this other, +his no less industrious travels for the exposition of holy scripture, according +to the same institutions. In which two things, whosoever they +were that after him bestowed their labour, he gained the advantage, of +prejudice against them if they gainsayed, and of glory above them +if they consented. Of what account the Master of Sentences was in +the church of Rome, the same, and more, among the preachers of the +reformed churches, Calvin had purchased; so that the perfectest divines +were judged they who were skilfulest in Calvin's writings; his +books being almost the very canon to judge both doctrine and discipline +by."</p> + +<p>"These statements are confirmed by abundant testimony from writers +of authority who had no good opinion of Calvin or his principles. +Says Hume, (History of England, iii. 57,) "These disputes [about +ceremonies, &c.] which had been started during the reign of Edward, +were carried abroad by the protestants who fled from the persecutions +of Mary; and as the zeal of these men had received an increase from +the pious zeal of their enemies, they were generally inclined to carry +their opposition to the utmost extremity against the practices of the +church of Rome. Their communication with Calvin, and the other +reformers who followed the discipline and worship of Geneva, confirmed +them in this obstinate reluctance; and though some of the refugees, +particularly those who were established at Frankfort, still adhered to +king Edward's Liturgy, the prevailing spirit carried these confessors +to seek a still further reformation."</p> + +<p>"The celebrated Dean Swift, in a sermon preached on what tories +and high churchmen in England, have styled, "the martyrdom of +king Charles I." makes the following statements:—Upon the cruel +persecution raised against the protestants under queen Mary, among +great numbers who fled the kingdom to seek for shelter, several went +and resided at Geneva, which is a commonwealth, governed without a +king, where the religion contrived by Calvin is without the order of +bishops. When the protestant faith was restored by queen Elizabeth, +those who fled to Geneva returned, among the rest, home to England, +and were grown so fond of the government and religion of the place +they had left, that they used all possible endeavours to introduce both +into their own country; at the same time continually preaching and +railing against ceremonies and distinct habits of the clergy, taxing +whatever they disliked as a remnant of popery; and continued <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'exeedingly'">exceedingly</ins> +troublesome to the church and state, under that great +queen, as well as her successor, king James I. These people called +themselves puritans, as pretending to a purer faith than those of the +established church. And these were the founders of our dissenters. +They did not think it sufficient to leave all the errors of popery; but +threw off many laudable and edifying institutions of the primitive +church, and at last even the government of bishops, which, having +been ordained by the apostles themselves, had continued without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[481]</a></span> +interruption, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">in</ins> all christian churches, for above fifteen hundred +years. And all this they did, not because those things were evil, but +because they were kept by the papists. From hence they proceeded, +by degrees, to quarrel with the kingly government, because, as I +have already said, the city of Geneva, to which their fathers had +flown for refuge, was a commonwealth, or government of the people." +Having thus stated the foundation and principles of puritanism, the +Dean proceeds with an account of its growth till the breaking out of +the civil war, and concludes the narrative as follows: "That odious +parliament had early turned the bishops out of the House of Lords, +in a few years after they murdered their king; then immediately +abolished the whole House of Lords; and so, at last obtained their +wishes of having a government of the people, and a new religion, +both after the manner of Geneva, without a king, a bishop, or a nobleman; +and this they blasphemously called, 'The kingdom of Christ +and His Saints.'"</p> + +<p>"In the same way, Dryden traced the origin of republicanism in +England, as appears from his political poem called the <i>Hind and the +Panther;</i> in which he characterizes the Romish church under the +name of the Hind, the English church under that of the Panther, and +the Presbyterian under that of the Wolf. In the following extract, the +'kennel' means the city of Geneva; the 'puddle' its lake, and the 'wall' +its rampart.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The last of all the litter poem"> +<tr><td align='left'>"The last of all the litter scap'd by chance,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>And from Geneva first invested France.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Some authors thus his pedigree will trace;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>But others write him of an upstart race,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Because of Wickliffe's brood no mark he brings</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>But his innate antipathy to kings.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />* * * * *</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />What though your native kennel still be small,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bounded betwixt a puddle and a wall?</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Yet your victorious colonies are sent,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Where the north ocean girds the continent.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Quicken'd with fire below, your monster's breed,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In fenny Holland, and in fruitful Tweed;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>And like the first, the last effects to be</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Drawn to the dregs of a <i>democracy</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />* * * * *</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />But as the poisons of the deadliest kind</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Are to their own unhappy coasts confined,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>So Presbyt'ry and pestilential zeal,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Can only flourish in a</i> <span class="smcap">Commonweal</span>."</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[482]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Life of the Rev. John Fox.</i></div> + +<p>John Fox, was born at Boston, in Lincolnshire, in 1517, where +his parents are stated to have lived in respectable circumstances. He +was deprived of his father at an early age; and notwithstanding his +mother soon married again, he still remained under the parental roof. +From an early display of talents and inclination to learning, his friends +were induced to send him to Oxford, in order to cultivate and bring +them to maturity. During his residence at this place, he was distinguished +for the excellence and acuteness of his intellect, which was +improved by the emulation of his fellow-collegians, united to an indefatigable +zeal and industry on his part. These qualities soon gained +him the admiration of all; and as a reward for his exertions and amiable +conduct, he was chosen fellow of Magdalen college; which was +accounted a great honour in the university, and seldom bestowed unless +in cases of great distinction. It appears that the first display of +his genius was in poetry; and that he composed some Latin comedies, +which are still extant. But he soon directed his thoughts to a +more serious subject, the study of the sacred scriptures: to divinity, +indeed, he applied himself with more fervency than circumspection, +and discovered his partiality to the reformation, which had then commenced, +before he was known to its supporters, or to those who protected +them; a circumstance which proved to him the source of his +first troubles.</p> + +<p>He is said to have often affirmed, that the first matter which occasioned +his search into the popish doctrine, was, that he saw divers +things, most repugnant in their nature to one another, forced upon +men at the same time; upon this foundation his resolution and intended +obedience to that church were somewhat shaken, and by degrees a +dislike to the rest took place.</p> + +<p>His first care was to look into both the ancient and modern history +of the church; to ascertain its beginning and progress; to consider +the causes of all those controversies which in the meantime had +sprung up, and diligently to weigh their effects, solidity, infirmities, &c.</p> + +<p>Before he had attained his thirtieth year, he had studied the Greek +and Latin fathers, and other learned authors, the transactions of the +councils, and decrees of the consistories, and had acquired a very +competent skill in the Hebrew language. In these occupations, he +frequently spent a considerable part, or even the whole of the night, +and in order to unbend his mind after such incessant study, he would +resort to a grove near the college, a place much frequented by the +students in the evening, on account of its sequestered gloominess. In +these solitary walks, he has been heard to ejaculate heavy sobs and +sighs, and with tears to pour forth his prayers to God. These nightly +retirements, in the sequel, gave rise to the first suspicion of his alienation +from the church of Rome. Being pressed for an explanation +of this alteration in his conduct, he scorned to call in fiction to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[483]</a></span> +excuse; he stated his opinions; and was, by the sentence of the college +<i>convicted, condemned as a heretic, and expelled</i>.</p> + +<p>His friends, upon the report of this circumstance, were highly offended, +and especially his father-in-law, who was now grown altogether +implacable, either through a real hatred conceived against him +for this cause, or pretending himself aggrieved, that he might now, +with more show of justice, or at least with more security, withhold +from Mr. Fox his paternal estate; for he knew it could not be safe for +one publicly hated, and in danger of the law, to seek a remedy for his +injustice.</p> + +<p>When he was thus forsaken by his own friends, a refuge offered +itself in the house of Sir Thomas Lucy, of Warwickshire, by whom +he was sent for to instruct his children. In this house he afterwards +married. But the fear of the popish inquisitors hastened his departure +thence; as they were not contented to pursue public offences, but +began also to dive into the secrets of private families. He now began +to consider what was best to be done to free himself from further inconvenience, +and resolved either to go to his wife's father or to his +father in-law.</p> + +<p>His wife's father was a citizen of Coventry, whose heart was not +alienated from him, and he was more likely to be well entreated, for +his daughter's sake. He resolved first to go to him; and, in the meanwhile, +by letters, to try whether his father-in-law would receive him +or not. This he accordingly did, and he received for answer, "that it +seemed to him a hard condition to take one into his house whom he +knew to be guilty and condemned for a capital offence; neither was +he ignorant what hazard he should undergo in so doing; he would, +however, show himself a kinsman, and neglect his own danger." If +he would alter his mind, he might come, on condition to stay as long +as he himself desired; but if he could not be persuaded to that, he +must content himself with a shorter stay, and not bring him and his +mother into danger.</p> + +<p>No condition was to be refused; besides, he was secretly advised +by his mother to come, and not to fear his father-in-law's severity; "for +that, perchance, it was needful to write as he did, but when occasion +should be offered, he would make recompense for his words with his +actions." In fact he was better received by both of them than he had +hoped for.</p> + +<p>By these means he kept himself concealed for some time, and afterwards +made a journey to London, in the latter part of the reign of Henry, +VIII. Here, being unknown, he was in much distress, and was even +reduced to the danger of being starved to death, had not Providence interfered +in his favour in the following manner:</p> + +<p>One day as Mr. Fox was sitting in St. Paul's church, exhausted +with long fasting, a stranger took a seat by his side, and courteously +saluted him, thrust a sum of money into his hand, and bade him +cheer up his spirits; at the same time informing him, that in a few +days new prospects would present themselves for his future <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'subsisttence'">subsistence</ins>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[484]</a></span> +Who this stranger was, he could never learn, but at the end +of three days he received an invitation from the dutchess of Richmond +to undertake the tuition of the children of the earl of Surry +who, together with his father, the duke of Norfolk, was imprisoned +in the Tower, by the jealousy and ingratitude of the king. The +children thus confided to his care were, Thomas, who succeeded to +the dukedom; Henry, afterwards earl of Northampton; and Jane +who became countess to Westmoreland. In the performance of +his duties, he fully satisfied the expectations of the dutchess, their +aunt.</p> + +<p>These halcyon days continued during the latter part of the reign of +Henry VIII. and the five years of the reign of Edward VI. till Mary +came to the crown, who, soon after her accession, gave all power into +the hands of the papists.</p> + +<p>At this time Mr. Fox, who was still under the protection of his noble +pupil, the duke, began to excite the envy and hatred of many, particularly +Dr. Gardiner, then bishop of Winchester, who in the sequel became +his most violent enemy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox, aware of this, and seeing the dreadful persecutions then +commencing, began to think of quitting the kingdom. As soon as +the duke knew his intention, he endeavoured to persuade him to remain; +and his arguments were so powerful, and given with so much +sincerity, that he gave up the thought of abandoning his asylum for +the present.</p> + +<p>At that time the bishop of Winchester was very intimate with the +duke (by the patronage of whose family he had risen to the dignity +he then enjoyed,) and frequently waited on him to present his service +when he several times requested that he might see his old tutor. At +first the duke denied his request, at one time alleging his absence, at +another, indisposition. At length it happened that Mr. Fox, not +knowing the bishop was in the house, entered the room where the duke +and he were in discourse; and seeing the bishop, withdrew. Gardiner +asked who that was; the duke answered, "his physician, who +was somewhat uncourtly, as being new come from the university." +"I like his countenance and aspect very well," replied the bishop +"and when occasion offers, I will send for him." The duke understood +that speech as the messenger of some approaching danger; and +now himself thought it high time for Mr. Fox to quit the city, and +even the country. He accordingly caused every thing necessary for +his flight to be provided in silence, by sending one of his servants to +Ipswich to hire a bark, and prepare all the requisites for his departure. +He also fixed on the house of one of his servants, who was a +farmer, where he might lodge till the wind became favourable; and +every thing being in readiness, Mr. Fox took leave of his noble patron, +and with his wife, who was pregnant at the time, secretly departed for +the ship.</p> + +<p>The vessel was scarcely under sail, when a most violent storm +came on, which lasted all day and night, and the next day drove them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[485]</a></span> +back to the port from which they had departed. During the time +that the vessel had been at sea, an officer, despatched by the bishop of +Winchester, had broken open the house of the farmer with a warrant +to apprehend Mr. Fox wherever he might be found, and bring him +back to the city. On hearing this news he hired a horse, under the +pretence of leaving the town immediately; but secretly returned the +same night, and agreed with the captain of the vessel to sail for any +place as soon as the wind should shift, only desiring him to proceed, +and not to doubt that God would prosper his undertaking. The mariner +suffered himself to be persuaded, and within two days landed his +passengers in safety at Nieuport.</p> + +<p>After spending a few days in that place, Mr. Fox set out for Basle, +where he found a number of English refugees, who had quitted their +country to avoid the cruelty of the persecutors, with these he associated, +and began to write his "History of the Acts and Monuments of +the Church," which was first published in Latin at Basle, and shortly +after in English.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the reformed religion began again to flourish in +England, and the popish faction much to decline, by the death of +Queen Mary; which induced the greater number of the protestant exiles +to return to their native country.</p> + +<p>Among others, on the accession of Elizabeth to the throne, Mr. Fox +returned to England; where, on his arrival, he found a faithful and +active friend in his late pupil, the duke of Norfolk, till death deprived +him of his benefactor: after which event, Mr. Fox inherited a pension +bequeathed to him by the duke, and ratified by his son, the earl of Suffolk.</p> + +<p>Nor did the good man's successes stop here. On being recommended +to the queen by her secretary of state, the great Cecil, her majesty +granted him the prebendary of Shipton, in the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'cathdral'">cathedral</ins> of Salisbury, +which was in a manner forced upon him; for it was with difficulty that +he could be persuaded to accept it.</p> + +<p>On his resettlement in England, he employed himself in revising +and enlarging his admirable Martyrology. With prodigious pains +and constant study he completed that celebrated work in eleven years. +For the sake of greater correctness, he wrote every line of this vast +book with his own hand, and transcribed all the records and papers +himself. But, in consequence of such excessive toil, leaving no part +of his time free from study, nor affording himself either the repose or +recreation which nature required, his health was so reduced, and his +person became so emaciated and altered, that such of his friends and +relations as only conversed with him occasionally, could scarcely recognise +his person. Yet, though he grew daily more exhausted, he +proceeded in his studies as briskly as ever, nor would he be persuaded +to diminish his accustomed labours. The papists, forseeing how +detrimental his history of their errors and cruelties would prove to +their cause, had recourse to every artifice to lessen the reputation of +his work; but their malice was of signal service, both to Mr. Fox<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[486]</a></span> +himself, and to the church of God at large, as it eventually made his +book more intrinsically valuable, by inducing him to weigh, with the +most scrupulous attention, the certainty of the facts which he recorded, +and the validity of the authorities from which he drew his information.</p> + +<p>But while he was thus indefatigably employed in promoting the +cause of truth, he did not neglect the other duties of his station; he +was charitable, humane, and attentive to the wants, both spiritual and +temporal, of his neighbours. With the view of being more extensively +useful, although he had no desire to cultivate the acquaintance of the +rich and great on his own account, he did not decline the friendship of +those in a higher rank who proffered it, and never failed to employ his +influence with them in behalf of the poor and needy. In consequence +of his well known probity and charity, he was frequently presented +with sums of money by persons possessed of wealth, which he accepted +and distributed among those who were distressed. He would also +occasionally attend the table of his friends, not so much for the sake +of pleasure, as from civility, and to convince them that his absence +was not occasioned by a fear of being exposed to the temptations of +the appetite. In short, his character as a man and as a christian, was +without reproach.</p> + +<p>Of the esteem in which he was held, the names of the following +respectable friends and noble patrons, will afford ample proof. It has +been already mentioned that the attachment of the duke of Norfolk +was so great to his tutor, that he granted him a pension for life; he +also enjoyed the patronage of the earls of Bedford and Warwick, and +the intimate friendship of Sir Francis Walsingham, (secretary of +state,) Sir Thomas, and Mr. Michael Hennage, of whom he was frequently +heard to observe, that Sir Thomas had every requisite for a +complete courtier, but that Mr. Michael possessed all the merits of +his brother, besides his own, still untainted by the court. He was on +very intimate and affectionate terms with Sir Drue Drury, Sir Francis +Drake, Dr. Grindal, archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Elmar, bishop of +London, Dr. Pilkington, bishop of Durham, and Dr. Nowell, dean of +St. Paul's. Others of his most intimate acquaintances and friends +were, Doctors Umphrey, Whitaker, and Fulk, Mr. John Crowly, +and Mr. Baldwin Collins. Among the eminent citizens, we find +he was much venerated by Sir Thomas Gresham, Sir Thomas Roe, +Alderman Bacchus, Mr. Smith, Mr. Dale, Mr. Sherrington, &c. +&c. &c.</p> + +<p>At length, having long served both the church and the world by +his ministry, by his pen, and by the unsullied lustre of a benevolent +useful, and holy life, he meekly resigned his soul to Christ, on the +18th of April, 1587, being then in the seventieth year of his age. He +was interred in the chancel of St Giles', Cripplegate; of which +parish he had been, in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, for some +time vicar.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[487]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Lord had given him a foresight of his departure; and so fully +was he assured that the time was just at hand when his soul should quit +the body, that (probably to enjoy unmolested communion with God, and +to have no worldly interruptions in his last hours) he purposely sent his +two sons from home, though he loved them with great tenderness; and +before they returned, his spirit, as he had foreseen would be the case, +had flown to heaven.</p> + +<p>His death occasioned great lamentations throughout the city, and his +funeral was honoured with a great concourse of people, each of whom +appeared to bewail the loss of a father or a brother.</p> + +<p>In his able martyrology he has elaborately treated of the vices and +absurdities of papal hierarchy, of which the following is a brief enumeration.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Errors, Rites, Ceremonies, and Superstitious Practices, of the Romish +Church.</i></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Traditions</span>.] The church of Rome having deprived the laity of the +Bible, substitutes in its stead apostolic and ecclesiastical traditions; and +obliges her disciples to admit for truth whatever she teaches them: but +what do the holy scriptures say? "Why do ye transgress the commandment +of God by your tradition?" Matt. xv. 3, 9, &c. They also command +us "to call no man master (in spiritual concerns;) to try the spirit, +and beware of false teachers."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Prayers and Divine Services in Latin</span>.] The Roman Catholics +will not interpret the scriptures otherwise than according to the +sense of holy mother church, and the pretended unanimous consent +of the fathers: they assert also, that the scriptures ought not to be +read publicly, nor indifferently by all; and, that the common people +may be enslaved by gross ignorance, they perform public worship in +an unknown tongue, contrary to the rule laid down by the apostle, +"That all things should be done to edification." St. Paul says, "If I +pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding +is unfruitful."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Seven Sacraments</span>.] Two only were instituted by Christ, to +which the Romish church has added five more, making in all seven, +necessary to salvation, namely, the eucharist, baptism, confirmation, +penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony. To those two +which Christ instituted, she has added a mixture of her own inventions; +for in the sacrament of baptism, she uses, salt, oil, or spittle; and +in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the laity have only the bread administered +to them; and even that not after the manner ordained by +Christ, who broke the bread and gave it to his disciples; instead of which +the church of Rome administers to her members not bread, but a wafer, +and the priests only drink the wine, though our blessed Lord said, +"Drink ye <span class="smcap">all</span> of this." Matt. xxvi. 27.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Mass</span>.] Roman catholics believe it to be a true, proper, and +propitiatory sacrifice, and therefore call it the sacrament of the altar; +whereas, the death of Christ was a full and complete sacrifice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[488]</a></span> +"in which he hath, by one suffering, perfected for ever them that are +sanctified. He himself is a priest for ever; who, being raised from the +dead, died no more; and who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself +without spot to God." Paul's Epist. to the Hebrews, ch. ix. 10. It was +on account of this gross absurdity, and the irreligious application of it, +that our first reformers suffered, and so many were put to death in the +reign of queen Mary.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Transubstantiation</span>.] Roman catholics profess, that in the most +holy sacrament of the Lord's supper, there is really and substantially +the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of Christ, +and that the whole substance of the bread is turned into his body, +and the whole substance of the wine into his blood; which conversion, +so contradictory to our senses, they call transubstantiation, but at +the same time they affirm, that, under either kind or species, only one +whole entire Christ, and the true sacrament, is received. But why +are those words, "This is my body," to be taken in a literal sense, +any more than those concerning the cup? Our Saviour says, "I am +the true vine, I am the door." St. Paul says, "Our fathers drank of +the rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ;" and writing +to the Corinthians, he affirms, that, "he had fed them with milk." Can +these passages be taken literally? Why then must we be forced to interpret +our Saviour's words in a literal sense, when the apostle has explained +the intention of the sacrament to be "to show forth the Lord's +death till he come!"</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Purgatory</span>.] This, they say, is a certain place, in which, as in a +prison, after death, those souls, by the prayers of the faithful, are purged, +which in this life could not be fully cleansed; no not by the blood of +Christ: and notwithstanding it is asserted in the scriptures, "if we confess +our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from +all unrighteousness." 1 John i. 9. This place of purgatory is in the +power of the pope, who dispenses the indulgences, and directs the treasury +of his merits, by which the pains are mitigated, and the deliverance +hastened. For the tormented sufferers, in this ideal inquisition, +his monks and friars say masses, all of whom must be paid for their +trouble; because, no penny, no pater-noster; by which bubble the +church of Rome amasses great wealth.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Idolatry and Creature-worship</span>.] In all the Romish worship +the blessed virgin is a principal object of adoration. She is styled the +queen of Heaven, lady of the world, the only hope of sinners, queen +of angels, patroness of men, advocate for sinners, mother of mercies, +under which titles they desire her, by the power of a mother, to command +her Son. In some prayers, they invoke God to bring them to +heaven by the merits and mediation of the Virgin Mary and all her +saints, and that they may enjoy perpetual soundness both of body and +mind by her glorious intercession. Hence it might be imagined by a +papist, that the sacred writings were full of encomiums on this pretended +mother of God; whereas, on the contrary, we do not find +Christ in any part of scripture called the Son of Mary, nor that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[489]</a></span> +at any time calls her mother; and when the woman cried, "Blessed is +the womb that bore thee, and the paps that thou hast sucked." "Yea, +(returns our Lord) rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, +and keep it." Nor does our Saviour own any relation but that of a +disciple; for when his mother and brethren stood without, desiring to +speak with him, Jesus answered, "Who are my mother and brethren?" +And looking round upon his disciples, he saith, "Behold my mother +and my brethren; for whosoever shalt do the will of my Father who +is in heaven, the same is my brother, sister, and mother." Of the +same nature are their prayers to other saints and angels, by which +they derogate from the honour of our Christ, and transfer his offices +to others; though the scriptures expressly assert, there is but one mediator +between God and man. Nor must we omit under this head the +idolatry of the mass, in the elevation of the host. Thus is the second +commandment infringed, which the Romish church has endeavoured +as much as possible to suppress, and in many of their little manuals +it is altogether omitted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Papal Sovereignty</span>.] This is politically supported by a pretended +infallibility; auricular confession, founded upon the priest's power +to forgive sins; indulgences; pretended relics; penance; strings of +beads for Ave-Marys and pater-nosters; celibacy; merits and works +of supererogations; restrictions; monkish austerities; religious vows +and orders; palms; candles; decorated images; holy water; christening +of bells; hallowed flowers and branches; agnus dei; oblations; +consecrations, &c., &c.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ludicrous Forms and Ceremonies</span>.] At the feast of Christmas, +the Roman catholics have exhibited in their churches a cradle, with +an image of an infant in it, which is rocked with great seeming devotion; +and on Good-Friday they have the figure of our Saviour on the +cross, and then they perform the service which they call the Tenebres; +having abundance of lighted candles, all of which they extinguish +one by one, after which the body is taken down from the cross +and put into a sepulchre, and men stand to watch it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cruel Maxims</span>.] Papists hold that heretics may not be termed +children and kindred; that no faith is to be kept with heretics; and +that it is lawful to torture or kill them for the good of their souls.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1789, AS CONNECTED WITH +THE HISTORY OF PERSECUTION.</h3> + + +<p>The design of those who were the primary agents in originating the +causes of the French Revolution, was the utter subversion of the +christian religion. Voltaire, the leader in this crusade against religion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[490]</a></span> +boasted that "with one hand he would pull down, what took +twelve Apostles to build up." The motto on the seal of his letters +was, "Crush the wretch," having reference to Jesus Christ, and the +system of religion, which he promulgated. To effect his object he +wrote and published a great variety of infidel tracts, containing the +most licentious sentiments and the most blasphemous attacks upon the +religion of the Bible. Innumerable copies of these tracts were printed, +and gratuitously circulated in France and other countries. As +they were adapted to the capacity of all classes of persons, they +were eagerly sought after, and read with avidity. The doctrines inculcated +in them were subversive of every principle of morality and +religion. The everlasting distinctions between virtue and vice, were +completely broken down. Marriage was ridiculed—obedience to parents +treated as the most abject slavery—subordination to civil government, +the most odious despotism—and the acknowledgement of a +God, the height of folly and absurdity. Deeply tinged with such sentiments, +the revolution of 1789, found the popular mind in France +prepared for all the atrocities which followed. The public conscience +had become so perverted, that scenes of treachery, cruelty and blood +were regarded with indifference, and sometimes excited the most unbounded +applause in the spectators. Such a change had been effected +in the French character, by the propagation of Infidel and Atheistical +opinions, "that from being one of the most light hearted and kind +tempered of nations," says Scott, "the French seemed upon the revolution +to have been animated, not merely with the courage, but with +the rabid fury of wild beasts." When the Bastile was stormed "Fouton +and Berthier, two individuals whom they considered as enemies of +the people, were put to death, with circumstances of cruelty and insult +fitting only at the death stake of an Indian encampment; and in +imitation of literal cannibals, there were men, or rather monsters +found, not only to tear asunder, the limbs of their victims, but to eat +their hearts, and drink their blood."</p> + +<p>Croly, in his new interpretation of the Apocalypse, holds the following +language.</p> + +<p>The primary cause of the French revolution was the exile of Protestantism.</p> + +<p>Its decency of manners had largely restrained the licentious tendencies +of the higher orders; its learning had compelled the Romish Ecclesiastics +to similar labours; and while christianity could appeal to +such a church in France, the progress of the infidel writers was checked +by the living evidence of the purity, peacefulness and wisdom of +the Gospel. It is not even without sanction of scripture and history +to conceive that, the presence of such a body of the servants of God +was a divine protection to their country.</p> + +<p>But the fall of the church was followed by the most palpable, immediate, +and ominous change. The great names of the Romish priesthood, +the vigorous literature of Bossnett, the majestic oratory of Massillon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[491]</a></span> +the pathetic and classic elegance of Fenelon, the mildest of all +enthusiasts; a race of men who towered above the genius of their +country and of their religion; passed away without a successor. In +the beginning of the 18th century, the most profligate man in France +was an ecclesiastic, the Cardinal Dubois, prime minister to the most +profligate prince in Europe, the Regent Orleans. The country was +convulsed with bitter personal disputes between Jesuit and Jansenist, +fighting even to mutual persecution upon points either beyond or beneath +the human intellect. A third party stood by, unseen, occasionally +stimulating each, but equally despising both, a potential fiend, +sneering at the blind zealotry and miserable rage that were doing its +unsuspected will. Rome, that boasts of her freedom from schism +should blot the 18th century from her page.</p> + +<p>The French mind, subtle, satirical, and delighting to turn even +matters of seriousness into ridicule, was immeasurably captivated by +the true burlesque of those disputes, the childish virulence, the extravagant +pretensions, and the still more extravagant impostures fabricated +in support of the rival pre-eminence in absurdity; the visions of +half-mad nuns and friars; the Convulsionaries; the miracles at the +tomb of the Abbe Paris, trespasses on the common sense of man, +scarcely conceivable by us if they had not been renewed under our +eyes by popery. All France was in a burst of laughter.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this tempest of scorn an extraordinary man arose, +to guide and deepen it into public ruin, <span class="smcap">Voltaire</span>; a personal profligate; +possessing a vast variety of that superficial knowledge which +gives importance to folly; frantic for popularity, which he solicited +at all hazards; and sufficiently opulent to relieve him from the necessity +of any labours but those of national undoing. Holding but an +inferior and struggling rank in all the manlier provinces of the mind, +in science, poetry, and philosophy; he was the prince of scorners. +The splenetic pleasantry which stimulates the wearied tastes of high +life; the grossness which half concealed captivates the loose, without +offence to their feeble decorum; and the easy brilliancy which throws +what colours it will on the darker features of its purpose; made Voltaire, +the very genius of France. But under this smooth and sparkling +surface, reflecting like ice all the lights flung upon it, there was +a dark fathomless depth of malignity. He hated government; he hated +morals; he hated man, he hated religion. He sometimes bursts +out into exclamations of rage and insane fury against all that we honour +as best and holiest, that sound less the voice of human lips than +the echoes of the final place of agony and despair.</p> + +<p>A tribe worthy of his succession, showy, ambitious, and malignant, +followed; each with some vivid literary contribution, some powerful +and popular work, a new despotic of combustion in that mighty mine +on which stood in thin and fatal security the throne of France. Rousseau, +the most impassioned of all romancers, the great corrupter of +the female mind. Buffon, a lofty and splendid speculator, who dazzled +the whole multitude of the minor philosophers, and fixed the creed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[492]</a></span> +of Materialism. Moutesquieu, eminent for knowledge and sagacity +in his "Spirit of Laws" striking all the establishments of his country +into contempt; and in his "Persian Letters," levelling the same blow +at her morals. D'Alembert, the first mathematician of his day, an +eloquent writer, the declared pupil of Voltaire, and, by his secretary-ship +of the French academy, furnished with all the facilities for propagating +his master's opinions. And Diderot, the projector and chief +conductor of the Encyclopedia, a work justly exciting the admiration +of Europe, by the novelty and magnificence of its design, and by the +comprehensive and solid extent of its knowledge; but in its principles +utterly evil, a condensation of all the treasons of the school of anarchy, +the <i>lex scripta</i> of the Revolution.</p> + +<p>All those men were open infidels; and their attacks on religion, +such as they saw it before them, roused the Gallican church. But +the warfare was totally unequal. The priesthood came armed with +the antiquated and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'unwieldly'">unwieldy</ins> weapons of old controversy, forgotten +traditions and exhausted legends. They could have conquered them +only by the bible; they fought them only with the breviary. The +histories of the saints, and the wonders of images were but fresh food +for the most overwhelming scorn. The bible itself, which popery +has always laboured to close, was brought into the contest, and used +resistlessly against the priesthood. They were contemptuously asked, +in what part of the sacred volume had they found the worship of the +Virgin, of the Saints, or of the Host? where was the privilege that +conferred Saintship at the hands of the pope? where was the prohibition +of the general use of scripture by every man who had a soul to +be saved? where was the revelation of that purgatory, from which a +monk and a mass could extract a sinner? where was the command to +imprison, torture, and slay men for their difference of opinion with an +Italian priest and the college of cardinals? To those formidable +questions the clerics answered by fragments from the fathers, angry +harangues, and more legends of more miracles. They tried to enlist +the nobles and the court in a crusade. But the nobles were already +among the most zealous, though secret, converts to the Encyclopedia; +and the gentle spirit of the monarch was not to be urged into +a civil war. The threat of force only inflamed contempt into vengeance. +The populace of Paris, like all mobs, licentious, restless, +and fickle; but beyond all, taking an interest in public matters, had +not been neglected by the deep designers who saw in the quarrel of +the pen the growing quarrel of the sword. The Fronde was not yet +out of their minds; the barrier days of Paris; the municipal council +which in 1648, had levied war against the government; the mob-army +which had fought, and terrified that government into forgiveness; +were the strong memorials on which the anarchists of 1793 founded +their seduction. The perpetual ridicule of the national belief was +kept alive among them. The populace of the provinces, whose religion +was in their rosary, were prepared for rebellion by similar means +and the terrible and fated visitation of France began.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[493]</a></span></p> + +<p>After passing through many scenes from the recital of which the +mind turns away with loathing and disgust, the reign of terror commenced. +Previous to this, however, there had been dreadful riots, and +disorders in Paris. The Swiss Guards had been cut to pieces, and +the king and royal family imprisoned. The priests had nearly all +perished or been banished from France. The national assembly was +divided into desperate factions, which often turned their arms against +one another. When one party triumphed, proscription followed, and +the guillotine was put in requisition, and blood flowed in torrents. +The grossest irreligion likewise prevailed. Leaders of the atheistical +mob would extend their arms to heaven and dare a God, if he existed, +to vindicate his insulted majesty, and crush them with his thunderbolts. +Over the entrance of their grave yards was placed this inscription, +"<span class="smcap">Death an eternal sleep</span>." Men who dared to think +differently from the dominant faction, were immediately executed, in +mockery, often, of all the forms of justice. The most ferocious of +the bloody factions, were the jacobins, so called from their place of +meeting. The leaders of this party were Danton, Robespierre, and +Marat. They are thus described by Scott in his life of Napoleon.</p> + +<p>Three men of terror, whose names will long remain, we trust, unmatched +in history by those of any similar miscreants, had now the +unrivalled leading of the jacobins, and were called the Triumvirate.</p> + +<p>Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his colleagues +in talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, and possessed +a voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an Ogre on the +shoulders of a Hercules. He was as fond of the pleasures of vice as +of the practice of cruelty; and it was said there were times when he +became humanized amidst his debauchery, laughed at the terror which +his furious declamation excited, and might be approached with safety +like the Maelstrom at the turn of tide. His profusion was indulged to +an extent hazardous to his popularity, for the populace are jealous of a +lavish expenditure, as raising their favourites too much above their own +degree; and the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with +them, when brought against public men.</p> + +<p>Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did not +seem to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but lived in +strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of the Incorruptible, +with which he was honoured by his partisans. He appears to +have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of hypocrisy, considerable +powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated strain of oratory, +as foreign to good taste, as the measures he recommended were to ordinary +humanity. It seemed wonderful, that even the seething and +boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should have sent up from the +bottom, and long supported on the surface, a thing so miserably void +of claims to public distinction; but Robespierre had to impose on the +minds of the vulgar, and he knew how to beguile them, by accommodating +his flattery to their passions and scale of understanding, and +by acts of cunning and hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[494]</a></span> +than the words of eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The +people listened as to their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes +of <i>Pauvre Peuple, Peuple verteueux!</i> and hastened to execute whatever +came recommended by such honied phrases, though devised by the +worst of men for the worst and most inhuman of purposes.</p> + +<p>Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his countenance +was the image of his mind, he was vain even of his personal appearance, +and never adopted the external habits of a sans culotte. Amongst his +fellow jacobins he was distinguished by the nicety with which his hair +was arranged and powdered; and the neatness of his dress was carefully +attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of +his person. His apartments, though small, were elegant, and vanity +had filled them with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's +picture at length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust +occupied a niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions exhibiting +his head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was +of the coldest and most selfish character, being such as considers neglect +as insult, and receives homage merely as a tribute; so that, while praise +is received without gratitude, it is withheld at the risk of mortal hate. +Self-love of this dangerous character is closely allied with envy, and +Robespierre was one of the most envious and vindictive men that ever +lived. He never was known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even +rivalry; and to be marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, +though perhaps not an immediate sentence of death. Danton was a +hero, compared with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his +passions, though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and +his brutal ferocity was supported by brutal courage. Robespierre was +a coward, who signed death-warrants with a hand that shook, +though his heart was relentless. He possessed no passions on which +to charge his crimes; they were perpetrated in cold blood, and upon +mature deliberation.</p> + +<p>Marat, the third of this infernal triumvirate, had attracted the attention +of the lower orders, by the violence of his sentiments in the +journal which he conducted from the commencement of the revolution, +upon such principles that it took the lead in forwarding its successive +changes. His political exhortations began and ended like the +howl of a blood-hound for murder; or, if a wolf could have written a +journal, the gaunt and famished wretch could not have ravined more +eagerly for slaughter. It was blood which was Marat's constant demand, +not in drops from the breast of an individual, not in puny +streams from the slaughter of families, but blood in the profusion of +an ocean. His usual calculation of the heads which he demanded +amounted to two hundred and sixty thousand; and though he sometimes +raised it as high as three hundred thousand, it never fell beneath +the smaller number. It may be hoped, and, for the honour of human +nature, we are inclined to believe, there was a touch of insanity in +this unnatural strain of ferocity; and the wild and squalid features of +the wretch appear to have intimated a degree of alienation of mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[495]</a></span> +Marat was, like Robespierre, a coward. Repeatedly denounced +in the Assembly, he skulked instead of defending himself, and lay +concealed in some obscure garret or cellar, among his cut-throats, until +a storm appeared, when, like a bird of ill omen, his death-screech was +again heard. Such was the strange and fatal triumvirate, in which +the same degree of cannibal cruelty existed under different aspects. +Danton murdered to glut his rage; Robespierre to avenge his injured +vanity, or to remove a rival whom he envied! Marat, from the same +instinctive love of blood, which induces a wolf to continue his +ravage of the flocks long after his hunger is appeased.</p> + +<p>These monsters ruled France for a time with the most despotic sway. +The most sanguinary laws were enacted—and the most vigilant system +of police maintained. Spies and informers were employed—and every +murmur, and every expression unfavourable to the ruling +powers was followed with the sentence of death and its immediate execution.</p> + +<p>"Men," says Scott, "read Livy for the sake of discovering what +degree of private crime might be committed under the mask of public +virtue. The deed of the younger Brutus, served any man as an +apology to betray to ruin and to death, a friend or a patron, whose +patriotism might not be of the pitch which suited the time. Under +the example of the elder Brutus, the nearest ties of blood were +repeatedly made to give way before the ferocity of party zeal—a zeal +too often assumed for the most infamous and selfish purposes. As +some fanatics of yore studied the old testament for the purpose of +finding examples of bad actions to vindicate those which themselves +were tempted to commit, so the republicans of France, we mean the +desperate and outrageous bigots of the revolution, read history to +justify, by classical instances, their public and private crimes. Informers, +those scourges of a state, were encouraged to a degree scarce +known in ancient Rome in the time of the emperors, though Tacitus +has hurled his thunders against them, as the poison and pest of his +time. The duty of lodging such informations was unblushingly +urged as indispensable. The safety of the republic being the supreme +charge of every citizen, he was on no account to hesitate in +<i>denouncing</i>, as it was termed, any one whomsoever, or howsoever connected +with him,—the friend of his counsels, or the wife of his bosom,—providing +he had reason to suspect the devoted individual of the +crime of <i>incivism</i>,—a crime the more mysteriously dreadful, as no +one knew exactly its nature."</p> + +<p>In this place we shall give an account of some of the scenes to +which France was subject during this awful period. In order to render +the triumph complete, the leaders of the Jacobins determined upon +a general massacre of all the friends of the unfortunate Louis and the +constitution in the kingdom. For this purpose, suspected persons of +all ranks were collected in the prisons and jails, and on the 2d of September, +1792, the work of death commenced.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[496]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Massacre of Prisoners.</i></div> + +<p>The number of individuals <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'accummulated'">accumulated</ins> in the various prisons of +Paris had increased by the arrests and domiciliary visits subsequent +to the 10th of August, to about eight thousand persons. It was the +object of this infernal scheme to destroy the greater part of these under +one general system of murder, not to be executed by the sudden +and furious impulse of an armed multitude, but with a certain degree +of cold blood and deliberate investigation. A force of armed banditti, +Marsellois partly, and partly chosen ruffians of the Fauxbourgs, +proceeded to the several prisons, into which they either forced their +passage, or were admitted by the jailers, most of whom had been +apprised of what was to take place, though some even of these steeled +officials exerted themselves to save those under their charge. A +revolutionary tribunal was formed from among the armed ruffians +themselves, who examined the registers of the prison, and summoned +the captives individually to undergo the form of a trial. If the +judges, as was almost always the case, declared for death, their doom, +to prevent the efforts of men in despair, was expressed in the words +"Give the prisoner freedom." The victim was then thrust out into +the street, or yard; he was despatched by men and women, who, with +sleeves tucked up, arms dyed elbow-deep in blood, hands holding axes, +pikes, and sabres, were executioners of the sentence; and, by the +manner in which they did their office on the living, and mangled the +bodies of the dead, showed that they occupied the post as much from +pleasure as from love of hire. They often exchanged places; the +judges going out to take the executioners' duty, the executioners, +with reeking hands, sitting as judges in their turn. Mailard, a ruffian +alleged to have distinguished himself at the siege of the Bastile, +but better known by his exploits on the march to Versailles, presided +during these brief and sanguinary investigations. His companions +on the bench were persons of the same stamp. Yet there were occasions +when they showed some transient gleams of humanity, and it +is not unimportant to remark, that boldness had more influence on +them than any appeal to mercy or compassion. An avowed royalist +was occasionally dismissed uninjured, while the constitutionalists were +sure to be massacred. Another trait of a singular nature is, that two +of the ruffians who were appointed to guard one of these intended victims +home in safety, as if they were acquitted, insisted on seeing his +meeting with his family, seemed to share in the transports of the moment, +and on taking leave, shook the hand of their late prisoner, while +their own were clotted with the gore of his friends, and had been just +raised to shed his own. Few, indeed, and brief, were these symptoms +of relenting. In general, the doom of the prisoner was death, and that +doom was instantly accomplished.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, the captives were penned up in their dungeons +like cattle in a shambles, and in many instances might, from windows +which looked outwards, mark the fate of their comrades, hear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[497]</a></span> +their cries, and behold their struggles, and learn from the horrible +scene, how they might best meet their own approaching fate. They +observed, according to St. Meard, who, in his well-named Agony of +Thirty-Six Hours, has given the account of this fearful scene, that +those who intercepted the blows of the executioners, by holding up +their hands, suffered protracted torment, while those who offered no +show of struggle were more easily despatched; and they encouraged +each other to submit to their fate, in the manner least likely to prolong +their sufferings.</p> + +<p>Many ladies, especially those belonging to the court, were thus +murdered. The Princess de Lamballe, whose only crime seems to +have been her friendship for Marie Antoinette, was literally hewn to +pieces, and her head, and that of others, paraded on pikes through the +metropolis. It was carried to the temple on that accursed weapon, +the features yet beautiful in death, and the long fair curls of the hair +floating around the spear. The murderers insisted that the King and +Queen should be compelled to come to the window to view this dreadful +trophy. The municipal officers who were upon duty over the +royal prisoners, had difficulty, not merely in saving them from this +horrible inhumanity, but also in preventing their prison from being +forced. Three-coloured ribbons were extended across the street, and +this frail barrier was found sufficient to intimate that the Temple was +under the safeguard of the nation. We do not read that the efficiency +of the three-coloured ribbons was tried for the protection of +any of the other prisoners. No doubt the executioners had their instructions +where and when they should be respected.</p> + +<p>The clergy, who had declined the constitutional oath from pious +scruples, were, during the massacre, the peculiar objects of insult and +cruelty, and their conduct was such as corresponded with their religious +and conscientious professions. They were seen confessing +themselves to each other, or receiving the confessions of their lay companions +in misfortune, and encouraging them to undergo the evil hour, +with as much calmness as if they had not been to share its bitterness. +As protestants, we cannot abstractedly approve of the doctrines which +render the established clergy of one country dependant upon the +sovereign pontiff, the prince of an alien state. But these priests did +not make the laws for which they suffered; they only obeyed them; +and as men and christians we must regard them as martyrs, who preferred +death to what they considered as apostacy.</p> + +<p>In the brief intervals of this dreadful butchery, which lasted four +days, the judges and executioners ate, drank, and slept: and awoke +from slumber, or arose from their meal, with fresh appetite for murder. +There were places arranged for the male, and for the female murderers, +for the work had been incomplete without the intervention of +the latter. Prison after prison was invested, entered, and under the +same form of proceeding made the scene of the same inhuman +butchery. The Jacobins had reckoned on making the massacre +universal over France. But the example was not generally followed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[498]</a></span> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 't'">It</ins> required, as in the case of St. Bartholomew, the only massacre +which can be compared to this in atrocity, the excitation of a large +capital, in a violent crisis, to render such horrors possible.</p> + +<p>The community of Paris were not in fault for this. They did all +they could to extend the sphere of murder. Their warrant brought +from Orleans near sixty persons, including the Duke de Cosse-Brissac, +De Lesart the late minister, and other royalists of distinction, who +were to have been tried before the high court of that department. +A band of assassins met them, by appointment of the community, at +Versailles, who, uniting with their escort, murdered almost the whole +of the unhappy men.</p> + +<p>From the 2d to the 6th of September, these infernal crimes proceeded +uninterrupted, protracted by the actors for the sake of the +daily pay of a louis to each, openly distributed amongst them, by +order of the Commune. It was either from a desire to continue as +long as possible a labour so well requited, or because these beings +had acquired an insatiable lust of murder, that, when the jails were +emptied of state criminals, the assassins attacked the Bicetre, a prison +where ordinary delinquents were confined. These unhappy wretches +offered a degree of resistance which cost the assailants more dear +than any they had experienced from their proper victims. They were +obliged to fire on them with cannon, and many hundreds of the miserable +creatures were in thus way exterminated, by wretches worse +than themselves.</p> + +<p>No exact account was ever made of the number of persons murdered +during this dreadful period; but not above two or three hundred +of the prisoners arrested for state offences were known to escape, +or be discharged, and the most moderate computation raises the number +of those who fell to two or three thousand, though some carry it +to twice the extent. Truchod announced to the Legislative Assembly, +that four thousand had perished. Some exertion was made to +save the lives of those imprisoned for debt, whose numbers, with +those of common felons, may make up the balance betwixt the number +slain and eight thousand who were prisoners when the massacre +began. The bodies were interred in heaps, in immense trenches, prepared +beforehand by order of the community of Paris; but their bones +have since been transferred to the subterranean catacombs, which +form the general charnel-house of the city. In those melancholy regions, +while other relics of mortality lie exposed all around, the remains +of those who perished in the massacres of September, are alone +secluded from the eye. The vault in which they repose is closed with +a screen of freestone, as if relating to crimes unfit to be thought of +even in the proper abode of death; and which France would willingly +hide in oblivion.</p> + +<p>After this dreadful massacre, the Jacobins eagerly demanded the +life of Louis XVI. He was accordingly tried by the convention and +condemned to be beheaded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[499]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Death of Louis XVI. and other Members of the Royal Family.</i></div> + +<p>On the 21st of January, 1793, Louis XVI. was publicly beheaded +in the midst of his own metropolis, in the <i>Place Louis Quinze</i>, erected +to the memory of his grandfather. It is possible, for the critical eye of +the historian, to discover much weakness in the conduct of this unhappy +monarch; for he had neither the determination to fight for his rights, +nor the power of submitting with apparent indifference to circumstances +where resistance inferred danger. He submitted, indeed, but with so bad +a grace, that he only made himself suspected of cowardice, without +getting credit for voluntary concession. But yet his behaviour +on many trying occasions effectually vindicate him from the charge +of timidity, and showed that the unwillingness to shed blood, by which +he was peculiarly distinguished, arose from benevolence, not from pusillanimity.</p> + +<p>Upon the scaffold, he behaved with the firmness which became a +noble spirit, and the patience beseeming one who was reconciled to +heaven. As one of the few marks of sympathy with which his sufferings +were softened, the attendance of a confessor, who had not taken +the constitutional oath, was permitted to the dethroned monarch. He +who undertook the honourable but dangerous office, was a gentleman of +gifted family of Edgeworth of Edgeworthstown; and the devoted zeal +with which he rendered the last duties to Louis, had like in the issue to +have proved fatal to himself. As the instrument of death descended, +the confessor pronounced the impressive words,—"Son of Saint Louis, +ascend to heaven!"</p> + +<p>There was a last will of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Louis Louis'">Louis</ins> XVI. circulated upon good authority, +bearing this remarkable passage:—"I recommend to my son, should +you have the misfortune to become king, to recollect that his whole faculties +are due to the service of the public; that he ought to consult the +happiness of his people, by governing according to the laws, forgetting +all injuries and misfortunes, and in particular those which I may +have sustained. But while I exhort him to govern under the authority +of the laws, I cannot but add, that this will be only in his power, +in so far as he shall be endowed with authority to cause right to be respected, +and wrong punished; and that without such authority, his situation +in the government must be more hurtful than advantageous to the +state."</p> + +<p>Not to mingle the fate of the illustrious victim of the royal family +with the general tale of the sufferers under the reign of terror, we must +here mention the deaths of the rest of that illustrious house, which +closed for a time a monarchy, that existing through three dynasties, had +given sixty-six kings to France.</p> + +<p>It was not to be supposed, that the queen was to be long permitted to +survive her husband. She had been even more than he the object of revolutionary +detestation; nay, many were disposed to throw on Marie +Antoinette, almost exclusively, the blame of those measures which +they considered as counter-revolutionary.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[500]</a></span></p> + +<p>The terms of her accusation were too basely depraved to be even +hinted at here. She scorned to reply to it, but appealed to all who had +been mothers, against the very possibility of the horrors which were +stated against her. The widow of a king, the sister of an emperor, +was condemned to death, dragged in an open tumbril to the place of execution, +and beheaded on the 16th October, 1793. She suffered death +in her 39th year.</p> + +<p>The princess Elizabeth, sister of Louis, of whom it might he said, +in the words of lord Clarendon, that she resembled a chapel in a +king's palace, into which nothing but piety and morality enter, while +all around is filled with sin, idleness, and folly, did not, by the most +harmless demeanour and inoffensive character, escape the miserable +fate in which the Jacobins had determined to involve the whole family +of Louis XVI. Part of the accusation redounded to the honour of +her character. She was accused of having admitted to the apartments +of the Tuilleries some of the national guards, of the section +of Filles de Saint Thomas, and causing the wounds to be looked to +which they had received in a skirmish with the Marsellois, immediately +before the 10th of August. The princess admitted her having +done so, and it was exactly in consistence with her whole conduct. +Another charge stated the ridiculous accusation, that she had distributed +bullets chewed by herself and her attendants, to render then +more fatal, to the defenders of the castle of the Tuilleries; a ridiculous +fable, of which there was no proof whatever. She was beheaded +in May, 1794, and met her death as became the manner in which her +life had been spent.</p> + +<p>We are weary of recounting these atrocities, as others must be of +reading them. Yet it is not useless that men should see how far human +nature can be carried, in contradiction to every feeling the most sacred, +to every pleading, whether of justice or of humanity. The Dauphin +we have already described as a promising child of seven years old, an +age at which no offence could have been given, and from which no danger +could have been apprehended. Nevertheless, it was resolved to +destroy the innocent child, and by means to which ordinary murders +seem deeds of mercy.</p> + +<p>The unhappy boy was put in charge of the most hard-hearted villain +whom the community of Paris, well acquainted where such +agents were to be found, were able to select from their band of Jacobins. +This wretch, a shoemaker called Simon, asked his employers, +"what was to be done with the young wolf-whelp; Was he to be +slain?"—"No?"—"Poisoned?"—"No."—"Starved to death?"—"No." +"What then?"—"He was to be got rid of." Accordingly, by a continuance +of the most severe treatment—by beating, cold, vigils, fasts, and +ill usage of every kind, so frail a blossom was soon blighted. He died +on the 8th June, 1795.</p> + +<p>After this last horrible crime, there was a relaxation in favour of the +daughter, and now the sole child of this unhappy house. The princess +royal, whose qualities have honoured even her birth and blood, experienced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[501]</a></span> +from this period a mitigated captivity. Finally, on the 19th +December, 1795, this last remaining relic of the family of Louis, was +permitted to leave her prison and her country, in exchange for La +Fayette and others, whom, on that condition, Austria delivered from +captivity. She became afterwards the wife of her cousin, the duke +d'Angouleme, eldest son of the reigning monarch of France, and obtained, +by the manner in which she conducted herself at Bourdeaux +in 1815, the highest praise for gallantry and spirit.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Dreadful scenes in La <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Vendee'">Vendée</ins>.</i></div> + +<p>In La <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Vendee'">Vendée</ins>, one of the departments of France, an insurrection +broke out against the Jacobinical government, in 1793.</p> + +<p>Upwards of two hundred battles and skirmishes were fought in this +devoted country. The revolutionary fever was in its access; the +shedding of blood seemed to have become positive pleasure to the +perpetrators of slaughter, and was varied by each invention which +cruelty could invent to give it new zest. The habitations of the Vendeans +were destroyed, their families subjected to violation and massacre, +their cattle houghed and slaughtered, and their crops burnt and +wasted. One republican column assumed and merited the name of the +Infernal, by the horrid atrocities which they committed. At Pilau, +they roasted the women and children in a heated oven. Many similar +horrors could be added, did not the heart and hand recoil from the +task. Without quoting any more special instances of horror, we use +the words of a republican eye witness, to express the general spectacle +presented by the theatre of public conflict.</p> + +<p>"I did not see a single male being at the towns of St. Hermand, +Chantonnay, or Herbiers. A few women alone had escaped the +sword. Country-seats, cottages, habitations of whichever kind, were +burnt. The herds and flocks were wandering in terror around their +usual places of shelter, now smoking in ruins. I was surprised by +night, but the wavering and dismal blaze of conflagration afforded +light over the country. To the bleating of the terrified flocks, and +bellowing of the terrified cattle, was joined the deep hoarse notes of +carrion crows, and the yells of wild animals coming from the recesses +of the woods to prey upon the carcasses of the slain. At length a +distant colume of fire, widening and increasing as I approached, +served me as a beacon. It was the town of Mortagne in flames. +When I arrived there, no living creatures were to be seen, save a few +wretched women who were striving to save some remnants of their +property from the general conflagration."—<i>Les Memoires d'un Ancien +Administrateur des Armees Republicaines.</i></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Scenes at Marseilles and Lyons.</i></div> + +<p>Marseilles, Toulon, and Lyons, had declared themselves against the +Jacobin supremacy. Rich from commerce and their maratime situation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[502]</a></span> +and, in the case of Lyons, from their command of internal navigation, +the wealthy merchants and manufacturers of those cities foresaw +the total insecurity of property, and in consequence of their own +ruin, in the system of arbitrary spoliation and murder upon which +the government of the Jacobins was founded. But property, for +which they were solicitous, though, if its natural force is used in time, +the most powerful barrier to withstand revolution, becomes, after a +certain period of delay, its helpless victim. If the rich are in due season +liberal of their means, they have the power of enlisting in their +cause, and as adherents, those among the lower orders, who, if they +see their superiors dejected and despairing, will be tempted to consider +them as objects of plunder. But this must be done early, or those +who might be made the most active defenders of property, will join +with such as are prepared to make a prey of it.</p> + +<p>Marseilles showed at once her good will and her impotency of +means. The utmost exertions of that wealthy city, whose revolutionary +band had contributed so much to the downfall of the monarchy +in the attack on the Tuilleries, were able to equip only a small and +doubtful army of about 3000 men, who were despatched to the relief +of Lyons. This inconsiderable army threw themselves into Avignon, +and were defeated with the utmost ease, by the republican general +Cartaux, despicable as a military officer, and whose forces would not +have stood a single <i>engaillement</i> of Vendean sharp-shooters. Marseilles +received the victors, and bowed her head to the subsequent +horrors which it pleased Cartaux, with two formidable Jacobins, Barras +and Ferron, to inflict on that flourishing city. The place underwent +the usual terrors of Jacobin purifaction, and was for a time affectedly +called "nameless commune."</p> + +<p>Lyons made a more honourable stand. That noble city had been +subjected for some time to the domination of Chalier, one of the most +ferocious, and at the same time one of the most extravagantly absurd, +of the Jacobins. He was at the head of a formidable club, which was +worthy of being affiliated with the mother society, and ambitious of +treading in its footsteps; and he was supported by a garrison of two +revolutionary regiments, besides a numerous artillery, and a large addition +of volunteers, amounting in all to about ten thousand men, forming +what was called a revolutionary army. This Chalier, was an apostate +priest, an atheist, and a thorough-paced pupil in the school of +terror. He had been procureur of the community, and had imposed +on the wealthy citizens a tax, which was raised from six to thirty millions +of livres. But blood as well as gold was his object. The massacre +of a few priests and aristocrats confined in the fortress of Pierre-Scixe, +was a pitiful sacrifice; and Chalier, ambitious of deeds more +decisive, caused a general arrest of an hundred principal citizens, +whom he destined as a hecatomb more worthy of the demon whom he +served.</p> + +<p>This sacrifice was prevented by the courage of the Lyonnois; a +courage which, if assumed by the Parisians, might have prevented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[503]</a></span> +most of the horrors which disgraced the revolution. The meditated +slaughter was already announced by Chalier to the Jacobin club. +"Three hundred heads," he said, "are marked for slaughter. Let us +lose no time in seizing the members of the departmental office-bearers, +the presidents and secretaries of the sections, all the local authorities +who obstruct our revolutionary measures. Let us make one fagot of +the whole, and deliver them at once to the guillotine."</p> + +<p>But ere he could execute his threat, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'terrour'">terror</ins> was awakened into the +courage of despair. The citizens rose in arms and besieged the Hotel +de Ville, in which Chalier, with his revolutionary troops, made a +desperate, and for some time a successful, yet ultimately a vain defence. +But the Lyonnois unhappily knew not how to avail themselves +of their triumph. They were not sufficiently aware of the +nature of the vengeance which they had provoked, or of the necessity +of supporting the bold step which they had taken, by measures +which precluded a compromise. Their resistance to the violence and +atrocity of the Jacobins had no political character, any more than that +offered by the traveller against robbers who threaten him with plunder +and murder. They were not sufficiently aware, that, having done so +much, they must necessarily do more. They ought, by declaring themselves +royalists, to have endeavoured to prevail on the troops of Savoy, +if not on the Swiss, (who had embraced a species of neutrality, which, +after the 10th of August, was dishonourable to their ancient reputation,) +to send in all haste, soldiery to the assistance of a city which +had no fortifications or regular troops to defend it; but which possessed, +nevertheless, treasures to pay their auxiliaries, and strong hands and +able officers to avail themselves of the localities of their situation, +which, when well defended, are sometimes as formidable as the regular +protection erected by scientific engineers.</p> + +<p>The people of Lyons vainly endeavoured to establish a revolutionary +character for themselves upon the system of Gironde; two of whose +proscribed deputies tried to draw them over to their unpopular and +hopeless cause: and they inconsistently sought protection by affecting +a republican zeal, even while resisting the decrees, and defeating the +troops of the Jacobins. There were undoubtedly many of royalist principles +among the insurgents, and some of their leaders were decidedly +such; but these were not numerous or influential enough to establish +the true principle of open resistance, and the ultimate chance of rescue, +by a bold proclamation of the king's interest. They still appealed to the +convention as their legitimate sovereign, in whose eyes they endeavoured +to vindicate themselves, and at the same time tried to secure the interest +of two Jacobin deputies, who had countenanced every violation +attempted by Chalier, that they might prevail upon them to represent +their conduct favourably. Of course they had enough of promises to +this effect, while Messrs. Guathier and Nioche, the deputies in question, +remained in their power; promises, doubtless the more readily given, +that the Lyonnois, though desirous to conciliate the favour of the convention, +did not hesitate in proceeding to the punishment of the Jacobin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[504]</a></span> +Chalier. He was condemned and executed, along with one of his principal +associates, termed Reard.</p> + +<p>To defend these vigourous proceedings, the unhappy insurgents placed +themselves under the interim government of a council, who, still desirous +to temporize and maintain the revolutionary character, termed themselves +"the popular and republican commission of public safety of the +department of the Rhine and Loire;" a title which, while it excited +no popular enthusiasm, and attracted no foreign aid, no ways soothed, +but rather exasperated, the resentment of the convention, now under +the absolute domination of the Jacobins, by whom every thing short of +complete fraternization was accounted presumptuous defiance. Those +who were not with them, it was their policy to hold as their most decided +enemies.</p> + +<p>The Lyonnois had indeed letters of encouragement, and promised concurrence, +from several departments; but no effectual support was ever +directed to their city, excepting the petty reinforcement from Marseilles, +which we have seen was intercepted and dispersed with little trouble +by the Jacobin general, Cartaux.</p> + +<p>Lyons had expected to become the patroness and focus of an Anti-Jacobin +league, formed by the great commercial towns, against Paris +and the predominant part of the convention. She found herself isolated +and unsupported, and left to oppose her own proper forces and +means of defence, to an army of sixty thousand men, and to the numerous +Jacobins contained within her own walls. About the end of +July, after a lapse of an interval of two months, a regular blockade +was formed around the city, and in the first week of August, hostilities +took place. The besieging army was directed in its military +character by general Kellerman, who, with other distinguished soldiers, +had now began to hold an eminent rank in the republican armies. +But for the purpose of executing the vengeance for which +they thirsted, the Jacobins relied chiefly on the exertions of the deputies +they had sent along with the commander, and especially of the +representative, Dubois Crance, a man whose sole merit appears to +have been his frantic Jacobinism. General Percy, formerly an officer +in the royal service, undertook the almost hopeless task of defence, +and by forming redoubts on the most commanding situations around +the town, commenced a resistance against the immensely superior +force of the besiegers, which was honourable if it could have been +useful. The Lyonnois, at the same time, still endeavoured to make +fair weather with the besieging army, by representing themselves as +firm republicans. They celebrated as a public festival the anniversary +of the 10th of August, while Dubois Crance, to show the credit +he gave them for their republican zeal, fixed the same day for commencing +his fire on the place, and caused the first gun to be discharged +by his own concubine, a female born in Lyons. Bombs and red-hot bullets +were next resorted to, against the second city of the French empire; +while the besieged sustained the attack with a constancy, and on +many parts repelled it with a courage highly honourable to their character.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[505]</a></span> +But their fate was determined. The deputies announced to the +convention their purpose of pouring their instruments of havoc on +every quarter of the town at once, and when it was on fire in several +places, to attempt a general storm. "The city," they said, "must +surrender, or there shall not remain one stone upon another, and this +we hope to accomplish in spite of the suggestions of false compassion. +Do not then be surprised when you hear that Lyons exists no +longer." The fury of the attack threatened to make good these +promises.</p> + +<p>The sufferings of the citizens became intolerable. Several quarters +of the city were on fire at the same time, immense magazines +were burnt to the ground, and a loss incurred, during two night's +bombardment, which was calculated at two hundred millions of livres. +A black flag was hoisted by the besieged on the Great Hospital, as a +sign that the fire of the assailants should not be directed on that asylum +of hopeless misery. The signal seemed only to draw the republican +bombs to the spot where they could create the most frightful distresses, +and outrage in the highest degree the feelings of humanity. +The devastations of famine were soon added to those of slaughter; and +after two months of such horrors had been sustained, it became obvious +that farther resistance was impossible.</p> + +<p>The parylitic Couthon, with Collot D'Herbois, and other deputies +were sent to Lyons by the committee of public safety, to execute +the vengeance which the Jacobins demanded; while Dubois Crance +was recalled, for having put, it was thought, less energy to his proceedings +than the prosecution of the siege required. Collot D'Herbois +had a personal motive of a singular nature for delighting in the +task intrusted to him and his colleagues. In his capacity of a play-actor, +he had been hissed from the stage at Lyons, and the door to +revenge was now open. The instructions of this committee enjoined +them to take the most satisfactory revenge for the death of Chalier +and the insurrection of Lyons, not merely on the citizens, but on the +town itself. The principal streets and buildings were to be levelled +with the ground, and a monument erected where they stood, was to +record the cause:—"<i>Lyons rebelled against the Republic—Lyons is +no more.</i>" Such fragments of the town as might be permitted to +remain, were to bear the name of Ville Affranchie. It will scarce be +believed that a doom like that which might have passed the lips of +some eastern despot, in all the frantic madness of arbitrary power +and utter ignorance, could have been seriously pronounced, and as +seriously enforced, in one of the most civilized nations in Europe; +and that to the present enlightened age, men who pretended +to wisdom and philosophy, should have considered the labours of the +architect as a proper subject of punishment. So it was, however; and +to give the demolition more effect, the impotent Couthon was carried +from house to house, devoting each to ruin, by striking the door with +a silver hammer, and pronouncing these words—"House of a rebel. +I condemn thee in the name of the law." Workmen followed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[506]</a></span> +great multitudes, who executed the sentence by pulling the house +down to the foundations. This wanton demolition continued for six +months, and is said to have been carried on at an expense equal to +that which the superb military hospital, the Hotel des Invalides, cost +its founder, Louis XIV. But republican vengeance did not waste itself +exclusively upon senseless lime and stone—it sought out sentient +victims.</p> + +<p>The deserved death of Chalier had been atoned by an apotheosis +executed after Lyons had surrendered; but Collot D'Herbois declared +that every drop of that patriotic blood fell as if scalding his own heart, +and that the murder demanded atonement. All ordinary process, and +every usual mode of execution, was thought too tardy to avenge the +death of a Jacobin proconsul. The judges of the revolutionary +commission were worn out with fatigue—the arm of the executioner +was weary—the very steel of the guillotine was blunted. Collot +D'Herbois devised a more summary mode of slaughter. A number +of from two to three hundred victims at once were dragged from +prison to the place de Baotteaux, one of the largest squares in Lyons, +and there subjected to a fire of grape-shot. Efficacious as this mode +of execution may seem, it was neither speedy nor merciful. The +sufferers fell to the ground like singed flies, mutilated but not slain, +and imploring their executioners to despatch them speedily. This +was done with sabres and bayonets, and with such haste and zeal, that +some of the jailers and assistants were slain along with those whom +they had assisted in dragging to death; and the mistake was not discerned, +until, upon counting the dead bodies, the military murderers +found them to amount to more than the destined tale. The bodies of +the dead were thrown into the Rhone, to carry news of the republican +vengeance, as Collot D'Herbois expressed himself, to Toulon, then +also in a state of revolt. But the sullen stream rejected the office +imposed on it, and headed back the dead in heaps upon the banks; and +the committee of Representatives was compelled at length to allow +the relics of their cruelty to be interred, to prevent the risk of contagion.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The Installation of the Goddess of Reason.</i></div> + +<p>At length the zeal of the infuriated Atheists in France hurried them +to the perpetration of one of the most ridiculous, and at the same time +impious transactions which ever disgraced the annals of any nation. +It was no less than a formal renunciation of the existence of a Supreme +Being, and the installation of the <i>Goddess of Reason</i>, in 1793.</p> + +<p>"There is," says Scott, "a fanaticism of atheism, as well as of +superstitious belief; and a philosopher can harbour and express as much +malice against those who persevere in believing what he is pleased +to denounce as unworthy of credence, as an ignorant and bigoted +priest can bear against a man who cannot yield faith to dogmata +which he thinks insufficiently proved." Accordingly, the throne being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[507]</a></span> +totally annihilated, it appeared to the philosophers of the school of +Hebert, (who was author of the most gross and beastly periodical paper +of the time, called the <i>Pere du Chene</i>) that in totally destroying +such vestiges of religion and public worship as were still retained by +the people of France, there was room for a splendid triumph of liberal +opinions. It was not enough, they said, for a regenerate nation to have +dethroned earthly kings, unless she stretched out the arm of defiance +towards those powers which superstition had represented as reigning +over boundless space.</p> + +<p>An unhappy man, named Gobet, constitutional bishop of Paris, was +brought forward to play the principal part in the most impudent and +scandalous farce ever acted in the face of a national representation.</p> + +<p>It is said that the leaders of the scene had some difficulty in inducing +the bishop to comply with the task assigned him, which, after all, +he executed, not without present tears and subsequent remorse. But +he did play the part prescribed. He was brought forward in full procession, +to declare to the convention, that the religion which he had +taught so many years, was, in every respect, a piece of priestcraft, +which had no foundation either in history or sacred truth. He disowned, +in solemn and explicit terms, the existence of the Deity to whose +worship he had been consecrated, and devoted himself in future to the +homage of liberty, equality, virtue, and morality. He then laid on the +table his episcopal decorations, and received a fraternal embrace from +the president of the convention. Several apostate priests followed the +example of this prelate.</p> + +<p>The gold and silver plate of the churches was seized upon and desecrated, +processions entered the convention, travestied in priestly garments, +and singing the most profane hymns; while many of the chalices +and sacred vessels were applied by Chaumette and Hebert to the +celebration of their own impious orgies. The world for the first time, +heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming +the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, +uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man's +soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a +Deity. For a short time the same mad profanity continued to be acted +upon.</p> + +<p>One of the ceremonies of this insane time stands unrivalled for absurdity, +combined with impiety. The doors of the convention were +thrown open to a band of musicians; preceded by whom, the members +of the municipal body entered in solemn procession, singing a hymn in +praise of liberty, and escorting, as the object of their future worship, +a veiled female, whom they termed the Goddess of Reason. Being +brought within the bar, she was unveiled with great form, and placed +on the right hand of the president; when she was generally recognized +as a dancing-girl of the opera, with whose charms most of the persons +present were acquainted from her appearance on the stage, while the +experience of individuals was farther extended. To this person, as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[508]</a></span> +fittest representative of that reason whom they worshipped the national +convention of France rendered public homage.</p> + +<p>This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion; and +the installation of the Goddess of reason was renewed and imitated +throughout the nation, in such places where the inhabitants desired to +show themselves equal to all the heights of the revolution. The churches +were, in most districts of France, closed against priests and worshippers—the +bells were broken and cast into cannon—the whole ecclesiastical +establishment destroyed—and the republican inscription over +the cemeteries, declaring death to be perpetual sleep, announced to +those who lived under that dominion, that they were to hope no redress +even in the next world.</p> + +<p>Intimately connected with these laws affecting religion, was that +which reduced the union of marriage, the most sacred engagement +which human beings can form, and the permanence of which leads +most strongly to the consolidation of society, to the state of a mere civil +contract of a transitory character, which any two persons might engage +in, and cast loose at pleasure, when their taste was changed, or their +appetite gratified. If fiends had set themselves to work, to discover a +mode of most effectually destroying whatever is venerable, graceful, or +permanent in domestic life, and of obtaining at the same time an assurance +that the mischief which it was their object to create should be +perpetuated from one generation to another, they could not have invented +a more effectual plan than the degradation of marriage into a state +of mere occasional co-habitation, or licensed concubinage. Sophie Arnoult, +an actress famous for the witty things she said, described the republican +marriage as the sacrament of adultery.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><i>Fall of Danton, Robespierre, Marat and other Jacobins.</i></div> + +<p>These monsters fell victims by the same means they had used for +the destruction of others. Marat was <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'poinarded'">poignarded</ins> in 1793, by Charlotte +Corday, a young female, who had cherished in a feeling between lunacy +and heroism, the ambition of ridding the world of a tyrant. Danton +was guillotined in 1794. Robespierre followed soon after. His fall +is thus described by Scott in his life of Napoleon.</p> + +<p>At length his fate urged him on to the encounter. Robespierre descended +to the convention, where he had of late but rarely appeared, +like the far nobler dictator of Rome; and in his case also, a band of +senators was ready to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'poinard'">poignard</ins> the tyrant on the spot, had they not +been afraid of the popularity he was supposed to enjoy, and which +they feared might render them instant victims to the revenge of the +Jacobins. The speech which Robespierre addressed to the convention +was as menacing as the first distant rustle of the hurricane, and +dark and lurid as the eclipse which announces its approach. Anxious +murmurs had been heard among the populace who filled the tribunes, +or crowded the entrances of the hall of the convention, indicating +that a second 31st of May (being the day on which the Jacobins<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[509]</a></span> +proscribed the Girondists) was about to witness a similar operation.</p> + +<p>The first theme of the gloomy orator was the display of his own virtues +and his services as a patriot, distinguishing as enemies to their +country all whose opinions were contrary to his own. He then reviewed +successively the various departments of the government, and loaded +them in turn with censure and contempt. He declaimed against the +supineness of the committees of public safety and public security, as if +the guillotine had never been in exercise; and he accused the committee +of finance of having <i>counter-revolutionized</i> the revenues of the republic. +He enlarged with no less bitterness on withdrawing the artillery-men +(always violent Jacobins) from Paris, and on the mode of +management adopted in the conquered countries of Belgium. It seemed +as if he wished to collect within the same lists all the functionaries +of the state, and in the same breath to utter defiance to them all.</p> + +<p>The usual honorary motion was made to print the discourse; but then +the storm of opposition broke forth, and many speakers vociferously +demanded, that before so far adopting the grave inculpations which it +contained, the discourse should be referred to the two committees. +Robespierre in his turn, exclaimed, that this was subjecting his speech +to the partial criticism and revision of the very parties whom he had +accused. Exculpations and defences were heard on all sides against +the charges which had been thus sweepingly brought forward; and there +were many deputies who complained in no obscure terms of individual +tyranny, and of a conspiracy on foot to outlaw and murder such part +of the convention as might be disposed to offer resistance. Robespierre +was but feebly supported, save by Saint Just, Couthon, and by +his own brother. After a stormy debate, in which the convention were +alternately swayed by their fear and their hatred of Robespierre, the +discourse was finally referred to the committees, instead of being printed; +and the haughty and sullen dictator saw in the open slight, thus put +on his measures and opinions, the sure mark of his approaching fall.</p> + +<p>He carried his complaints to the Jacobin Club, to repose, as he expressed +it, his patriotic sorrows in their virtuous bosoms, where alone +he hoped to find succour and sympathy. To this partial audience he +renewed, in a tone of yet greater audacity, the complaints with which +he had loaded every branch of the government, and the representative +body itself. He reminded those around him of various heroic eras, +when their presence and their pikes had decided the votes of the trembling +deputies. He reminded them of their pristine actions of revolutionary +vigour—asked them if they had forgot the road to the convention, +and concluded by pathetically assuring them, that if they forsook +him, "he stood resigned to his fate; and they should behold with what +courage he would drink the fatal hemlock." The artist David, caught +him by the hand as he closed, exclaiming, in rapture at his elocution, "I +will drink it with thee."</p> + +<p>The distinguished painter has been reproached, as having, on the +subsequent day, declined the pledge which he seemed so eagerly to embrace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[510]</a></span> +But there were many of his original opinion, at the time he +expressed it so boldly; and had Robespierre possessed either military +talents, or even decided courage, there was nothing to have prevented +him from placing himself that very night at the head of a desperate insurrection +of the Jacobins and their followers.</p> + +<p>Payan, the successor of Hebert, actually proposed that the Jacobins +should instantly march against the two committees, which Robespierre +charged with being the focus of the anti-revolutionary machinations, +surprise their handful of guards, and stifle the evil with which the state +was menaced, even in the very cradle. This plan was deemed too +hazardous to be adopted, although it was one of those sudden and master +strokes of policy which Machiavel would have recommended. +The fire of the Jacobins spent itself in tumult, and threatening, and in +expelling from the bosom of their society Collot d'Herbois, Tallien, and +about thirty other deputies of the mountain party, whom they considered +as specially leagued to effect the downfall of Robespierre, and whom +they drove from their society with execration and even blows.</p> + +<p>Collot d'Herbois, thus outraged, went straight from the meeting of +the Jacobins to the place where the committee of public safety was still +sitting, in consultation on the report which they had to make to the +convention the next day upon the speech of Robespierre. Saint Just, +one of their number, though warmly attached to the dictator, had been +intrusted by the committee with the delicate task of drawing up that +report. It was a step towards reconciliation; but the entrance of Collot +d'Herbois, frantic with the insults he had received, broke off all +hope of accommodation betwixt the friends of Danton and those of +Robespierre. D'Herbois exhausted himself in threats against Saint +Just, Couthon, and their master, Robespierre, and they parted on terms +of mortal and avowed enmity. Every exertion now was used by the +associated conspirators against the power of Robespierre, to collect +and combine against him the whole forces of the convention, to alarm +the deputies of the plain with fears for themselves, and to awaken the +rage of the mountaineers, against whose throat the dictator now waved +the sword, which their short sighted policy had placed in his hands. +Lists of proscribed deputies were handed around, said to have been copied +from the tablets of the dictator; genuine or false, they obtained +universal credit and currency; and these whose names stood on the fatal +scrolls, engaged themselves for protection in the league against +their enemy. The opinion that his fall could not be delayed now became +general.</p> + +<p>This sentiment was so commonly entertained in Paris on the 9th +Thermidor, or 27th July, that a herd of about eighty victims, who +were in the act of being dragged to the guillotine, were nearly saved +by means of it. The people, in a generous burst of compassion, began +to gather in crowds, and interrupted the melancholy procession, as if +the power which presided over these hideous exhibitions had already +been deprived of energy. But the hour was not come. The vile Henriot, +commandant of the national guards, came up with fresh forces<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[511]</a></span> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'l o'">also</ins> on the day destined to be the last of his own life, proved the means +of carrying to execution this crowd of unhappy and doubtless innocent +persons.</p> + +<p>On this eventful day, Robespierre arrived in the convention, and beheld +the mountain in close array and completely manned, while, as in +the case of Catiline, the bench on which he himself was accustomed to +sit, seemed purposely deserted. Saint Just, Couthon, Le Bas (his +brother-in-law,) and the younger Robespierre, were the only deputies +of name who stood prepared to support him. But could he make an +effectual struggle, he might depend upon the aid of the servile Barrere, +a sort of Belial in the convention, the meanest, yet not the least able, +amongst those fallen spirits, who, with great adroitness and ingenuity, +as well as wit and eloquence, caught opportunities as they arose, and +was eminently dexterous in being always strong upon the strongest, +and safe upon the safest side. There was a tolerably numerous party +ready, in times so dangerous, to attach themselves to Barrere, as a leader +who professed to guide them to safety if not to honour; and it was +the existence of this vacillating and uncertain body, whose ultimate motions +could never be calculated upon, which rendered it impossible to +presage with assurance the event of any debate in the convention during +this dangerous period.</p> + +<p>Saint Just arose, in the name of the committee of public safety, to +make, after his own manner, not theirs, a report on the discourse of +Robespierre on the previous evening. He had begun a harangue in the +tone of his patron, declaring that, were the tribune which he occupied +the Tarpeian rock itself, he would not the less, placed as he stood there, +discharge the duties of a patriot. "I am about," he said, "to lift the +veil."—"I tear it asunder," said Tallien, interrupting him. "The public +interest is sacrificed by individuals, who come hither exclusively +in their own name, and conduct themselves as superior to the whole +convention." He forced Saint Just from the tribune, and a violent +debate ensued.</p> + +<p>Billaud Varennes called the attention of the assembly to the sitting +of the Jacobin club on the preceding evening. He declared the military +force of Paris was placed under the command of Henriot, a traitor +and a parricide, who was ready to march the soldiers whom he commanded, +against the convention. He denounced Robespierre himself +as a second Catiline, artful as well as ambitious, whose system it had +been to nurse jealousies and inflame dissentions in the convention, so as +to disunite parties, and even individuals from each other, attack them +in detail, and thus destroy those antagonists separately, upon whose +combined and united strength he dared not have looked.</p> + +<p>The convention echoed with applause every violent expression of +the orator, and when Robespierre sprung to the tribune, his voice was +drowned by a general shout of "down with the tyrant!" Tallien +moved the denunciation of Robespierre, with the arrest of Henriot, his +staff-officers, and of others connected with the meditated violence on +the convention. He had undertaken to lead the attack upon the tyrant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[512]</a></span> +he said, and to poignard him in the convention itself, if the members +did not show courage enough to enforce the law against him. With +these words he brandished an unsheathed poignard, as if about to +make his purpose good. Robespierre still struggled hard to obtain audience, +but the tribune was adjudged to Barrere; and the part taken +against the fallen dictator by that versatile and self-interested statesman, +was the most absolute sign that his overthrow was irrecoverable. +Torrents of invective were now uttered from every quarter of the +hall, against him whose single word was wont to hush it into silence.</p> + +<p>This scene was dreadful; yet not without its use to those who may +be disposed to look at it as an extraordinary crisis, in which human passions +were brought so singularly into collision. While the vaults of +the hall echoed with exclamations from those who had hitherto been +the accomplices, the flatterers, the followers, at least the timid and +overawed <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'assentators'">assentors</ins> to the dethroned demagogue—he himself, breathless, +foaming, exhausted, like the hunter of classical antiquity when on +the point of being overpowered and torn to pieces by his own hounds, +tried in vain to raise those screech-owl notes, by which the convention +had formerly been terrified and put to silence. He appealed for a hearing +from the president of the assembly, to the various parties of which +it was composed. Rejected by the mountaineers, his former associates, +who now headed the clamour against him, he applied to the +Girondists, few and feeble as they were, and to the more numerous but +equally helpless deputies of the plain, with whom they sheltered. The +former shook him from them with disgust, the last with horror. It +was in vain he reminded individuals that he had spared their lives, +while at his mercy. This might have been applied to every member +in the house; to every man in France; for who was it during two years +that had lived on other terms than under Robespierre's permission? +and deeply must he internally have regretted the clemency, as he might +term it, which had left so many with ungashed throats to bay at him. +But his agitated and repeated appeals were repulsed by some with indignation, +by others with sullen, or embarrassed and timid silence.</p> + +<p>A British historian might say, that even Robespierre ought to have +been heard in his defence; and that such calmness would have done +honour to the convention, and dignified their final sentence of condemnation. +As it was, they no doubt treated the guilty individual according +to his deserts: but they fell short of that regularity and manly +staidness of conduct which was due to themselves and to the law, and +which would have given to the punishment of the demagogue the effect +and weight of a solemn and deliberate sentence, in place of its seeming +the result of the hasty and precipitate seizure of a temporary advantage.</p> + +<p>Haste was, however, necessary, and must have appeared more so at +such a crisis, than perhaps it really was. Much must be pardoned to +the terrors of the moment, the horrid character of the culprit, and the +necessity of hurrying to a decisive conclusion. We have been told +that his last audible words, contending against the exclamations of +hundreds, and the bell which the president was ringing incessantly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[513]</a></span> +had uttered in the highest tones which despair could give to a voice +naturally shrill and discordant, dwelt long on the memory, and haunted +the dreams of many who heard him:—"President of assassins," he +screamed, "for the last time I demand privilege of speech!" After +this exertion, his breath became short and faint; and while he still uttered +broken murmurs and hoarse ejaculations, the members of the +mountain called out, that the blood of Danton choked his voice.</p> + +<p>The tumult was closed by a decree of arrest against Robespierre, +his brother, Couthon, and Saint Just; Le Bas was included on his own +motion, and indeed could scarce have escaped the fate of his brother-in-law, +though his conduct then, and subsequently, showed more energy +than that of the others. Couthon hugging in his bosom the spaniel +upon which he was wont to exhaust the overflowing of his affected sensibility, +appealed to his decrepitude, and asked whether, maimed of +proportion and activity as he was, <i>he</i> could be suspected of nourishing +plans of violence or ambition. "Wretch," said Legendre, "thou hast +the strength of Hercules for the perpetration of crime." Dumas, president +of the revolutionary tribunal, with Henriot, commandant of the +national guards, and other satellites of Robespierre, were included in +the doom of arrest.</p> + +<p>The convention had declared their sitting permanent, and had taken +all precautions for appealing for protection to the large mass of citizens, +who, wearied out by the reign of terror, were desirous to close it +at all hazards. They quickly had deputations from several of the +neighbouring sections, declaring their adherence to the national representatives, +in whose defence they were arming, and (many undoubtedly +prepared beforehand) were marching in all haste to the protection of +the convention. But they heard also the less pleasing tidings, that +Henriot, having effected the dispersion of those citizens who had obstructed, +as elsewhere mentioned, the execution of the eighty condemned +persons, and consummated that final act of murder, was approaching +the Tuilleries, where they had held their sitting, with a numerous +staff, and such of the Jacobinical forces as could hastily be collected.</p> + +<p>Happily for the convention, this commandant of the national guards, +on whose presence of mind and courage the fate of France perhaps for +the moment depended, was as stupid and cowardly as he was brutally +ferocious. He suffered himself without resistance, to be arrested by a +few gens d'armes, the immediate guards of the convention, headed by +two of its members, who behaved in the emergency with equal prudence +and spirit.</p> + +<p>But fortune, or the demon whom he had served, afforded Robespierre +another chance for safety, perhaps even for empire; for moments which +a man of self-possession might have employed for escape, one of desperate +courage might have used for victory, which, considering the divided +and extremely unsettled state of the capital, was likely to be +gained by the boldest competitor.</p> + +<p>The arrested deputies had been carried from one prison to another, +all the jailers refusing to receive under their official charge Robespierre,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[514]</a></span> +and those who had aided him in supplying their dark habitations +with such a tide of successive inhabitants. At length the prisoners +were secured in the office of the committee of public safety. But +by this time all was in alarm amongst the commune of Paris, where +Fleuriot the mayor, and Payan the successor of Hebert, convoked the +civic body, despatched municipal officers to raise the city and the +Fauxbourgs in their name, and caused the tocsin to be rung. Payan +speedily assembled a force sufficient to liberate Henriot, Robespierre, +and the other arrested deputies, and to carry them to the Hotel de +Ville, where about two thousand men were congregated, consisting +chiefly of artillerymen, and of insurgents from the suburb of Saint +Antoine, who already expressed their resolution of marching against +the convention. But the selfish and cowardly character of Robespierre +was unfit for such a crisis. He appeared altogether confounded +and overwhelmed with what had passed and was passing around him; +and not one of all the victims of the reign of terror felt its disabling influence +so completely as he, the despot who had so long directed its +sway. He had not, even though the means must have been in his +power, the presence of mind to disperse money in considerable sums, +which of itself would not have failed to insure the support of the revolutionary +rabble.</p> + +<p>Meantime the convention continued to maintain the bold and commanding +front which they had so suddenly and critically assumed. +Upon learning the escape of the arrested deputies, and hearing of the +insurrection at the Hotel de Ville, they instantly passed a decree outlawing +Robespierre and his associates, inflicting a similar doom upon +the mayor of Paris, the procureur, and other members of the commune, +and charging twelve of their members, the boldest that could be selected, +to proceed with the armed force to the execution of the sentence. +The drums of the national guards now beat to arms in all the sections +under authority of the convention, while the tocsin continued to summon +assistance with its iron voice to Robespierre and the civic magistrates. +Every thing appeared to threaten a violent catastrophe, until +it was seen clearly that the public voice, and especially amongst the +national guards, was declaring itself generally against the terrorists.</p> + +<p>The Hotel de Ville was surrounded by about fifteen hundred men, +and cannon turned upon the doors. The force of the assailants was +weakest in point of number, but their leaders were men of spirit, and +night concealed their inferiority of force.</p> + +<p>The deputies commissioned for the purpose read the decree of the +assembly to those whom they found assembled in front of the city hall, +and they shrunk from the attempt of defending it, some joining the assailants, +others laying down their arms and dispersing. Meantime the +deserted group of terrorists within conducted themselves like scorpions, +which, when surrounded by a circle of fire, are said to turn their stings +on each other, and on themselves. Mutual and ferocious upbraiding +took place among these miserable men. "Wretch, were these the +means you promised to furnish?" said Payan to Henriot, whom he found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[515]</a></span> +intoxicated and incapable of resolution or exertion; and seizing on him +as he spoke, he precipitated the revolutionary general from a window. +Henriot survived the fall only to drag himself into a drain, in which +he was afterwards discovered and brought out to execution. The +younger Robespierre threw himself from the window, but had not the +good fortune to perish on the spot. It seemed as if even the melancholy +fate of suicide, the last refuge of guilt and despair, was denied to men who +had so long refused every species of mercy to their fellow-creatures. +Le Bas alone had calmness enough to despatch himself with a pistol +shot. Saint Just, after imploring his comrades to kill him, attempted +his own life with an irresolute hand, and failed. Couthon lay beneath +the table brandishing a knife, with which he repeatedly wounded his +bosom, without daring to add force enough to reach his heart. Their +chief, Robespierre, in an unsuccessful attempt to shoot himself, had +only inflicted a horrible fracture on his under-jaw.</p> + +<p>In this situation they were found like wolves in their lair, foul with +blood, mutilated, despairing, and yet not able to die. Robespierre lay +on a table in an anti-room, his head supported by a deal box, and his +hideous countenance half hidden by a bloody and dirty cloth bound +round the shattered chin.</p> + +<p>The captives were carried in triumph to the convention, who, without +admitting them to the bar, ordered them, as outlaws, for instant execution. +As the fatal cars passed to the guillotine, those who filled +them, but especially Robespierre, were overwhelmed with execrations +from the friends and relatives of victims whom he had sent on the same +melancholy road. The nature of his previous wound, from which the +cloth had never been removed till the executioner tore it off, added to +the torture of the sufferer. The shattered jaw dropped, and the wretch +yelled aloud to the horror of the spectators. A masque taken from +that dreadful head was long exhibited in different nations of Europe, +and appalled the spectator by its ugliness, and the mixture of fiendish +expression with that of bodily agony.</p> + +<p>Thus fell Maximilian Robespierre, after having been the first person +in the French republic for nearly two years, during which time he governed +it upon the principles of Nero or Caligula. His elevation to the +situation which he held, involved more contradictions than perhaps attach +to any similar event in history. A low-born and low-minded tyrant +was permitted to rule with the rod of the most frightful despotism +a people, whose anxiety for liberty had shortly before rendered them +unable to endure the rule of a humane and lawful sovereign. A dastardly +coward arose to the command of one of the bravest nations in +the world; and it was under the auspices of a man who dared scarce +fire a pistol, that the greatest generals in France began their careers +of conquest. He had neither eloquence nor imagination; but substituted +in their stead a miserable, affected, bombastic style, which, until +other circumstances gave him consequence, drew on him general ridicule. +Yet against so poor an orator, all the eloquence of the philosophical +Girondists, all the terrible powers of his associate Danton, employed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[516]</a></span> +in a popular assembly, could not enable them to make an effectual +resistance. It may seem trifling to mention, that in a nation where a +good deal of prepossession is excited by amiable manners and beauty +of external appearance, the person who ascended to the highest power +was not only ill-looking, but singularly mean in person, awkward and +constrained in his address, ignorant how to set about pleasing even +when he most desired to give pleasure, and as tiresome nearly as he +was odious and heartless.</p> + +<p>To compensate all these deficiencies, Robespierre had but an insatiable +ambition, founded on a vanity which made him think himself +capable of filling the highest situation; and therefore gave him daring, +when to dare is frequently to achieve. He mixed a false and overstrained, +but rather fluent species of bombastic composition, with the +grossest flattery to the lowest classes of the people; in consideration of +which, they could not but receive as genuine the praises which he always +bestowed on himself. His prudent resolution to be satisfied with +possessing the essence of power, without seeming to desire its rank and +trappings, formed another art of cajoling the multitude. His watchful +envy, his long-protracted but sure revenge, his craft, which to vulgar +minds supplies the place of wisdom, were his only means of competing +with his distinguished antagonists. And it seems to have been a merited +punishment of the extravagances and abuses of the French revolution, +that it engaged the country in a state of anarchy which permitted +a wretch such as we have described, to be for a long period master of +her destiny. Blood was his element, like that of the other terrorists +and he never fastened with so much pleasure on a new victim; as when +he was at the same time an ancient associate. In an epitaph, of which +the following couplet may serve as a translation, his life was represented +as incompatible with the existence of the human race:—</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Here lies Robespierr"> +<tr><td align='left'>"Here lies Robespierre—let no tear be shed:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reader, if he had lived, thou hadst been dead."</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The fall of Robespierre ended the "<i>Reign of Terror</i>." Most of the +leaders who had acted a conspicuous part in these horrid scenes, met a +doom similar to that of their leaders. It is impossible to convey to the +reader any adequate conception of the atrocities committed in France +during this gloomy period, in the name of liberty. Men, women, and +children were involved in the massacres which took place at the instigation +of the Jacobin chiefs. Hundreds of both sexes were thrown into +the Loire, and this was called republican marriage and republican baptism. +And it should never be forgotten, that it was not till France as +a nation, had denied the existence of a Deity, and the validity of his institutions, +that she was visited by such terrible calamities. Let it be +"burnt in on the memory" of every generation, that such is the legitimate +tendency of infidel opinions. They first destroy the conscience—blunt +the moral sense—harden the heart, and wither up all the social +and kindly affections, and then their votaries are ripe for any deed of +wickedness within the possibility of accomplishment by human agency.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[517]</a></span></p> + +<p>Says an eloquent writer—"When the Sabbath was abolished in +France, the Mighty God whose being they had denied, and whose worship +they abolished, stood aloof and gave them up,—and a scene of proscription, +and assassination, and desolation, ensued, unparalleled in the +annals of the civilized world. In the city of Paris, there were in +1803, eight hundred and seven suicides and murders. Among the +criminals executed, there were seven fathers who had poisoned their +children, ten husbands who had murdered their wives, six wives who +had poisoned their husbands, and fifteen children who had destroyed +their parents."</p> + +<p>It may be profitable here to record the end of several other Jacobin +leaders who had been conspicuous during these scenes of atrocity and +bloodshed. Public opinion demanded that some of the most obnoxious +members should be condemned. After hesitating for some time, at +length the convention, pressed by shame on the one side and fear on +the other, saw the necessity of some active measure, and appointed a +commission to consider and report upon the conduct of the four most +obnoxious Jacobin chiefs, Collot d'Herbois, Billaud Varennes, Vadier, +and Barrere. The report was of course unfavourable; yet upon the +case being considered, the convention were satisfied to condemn them +to transportation to Cayenne. Some resistance was offered to this +sentence, so mild in proportion to what those who underwent it had +been in the habit of inflicting; but it was borne down, and the sentence +was carried into execution. Collot d'Herbois, the demolisher and depopulator +of Lyons, is said to have died in the common hospital, in +consequence of drinking off at once a whole bottle of ardent spirits. +Billaud Varennes spent his time in teaching the innocent parrots of +Guiana the frightful jargon of the revolutionary committee; and finally +perished in misery.</p> + +<p>These men both belonged to that class of atheists, who, looking up +towards heaven, loudly and literally defied the Deity to make his existence +known by launching his thunderbolts. Miracles are not wrought +on the challenge of a blasphemer more than on the demand of a sceptic; +but both these unhappy men had probably before their death reason to +confess, that in abandoning the wicked to their own free will, a greater +penalty results even in this life, than if Providence had been pleased to +inflict the immediate doom which they had impiously defied.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by the success of this decisive measure, the government +proceeded against some of the terrorists whom they had hitherto spared, +but whose fate was now determined, in order to strike dismay into their +party. Six Jacobins, accounted among the most ferocious of the class, +were arrested and delivered up to be tried by a military commission. +They were all deputies of the mountain gang. Certain of their +doom, they adopted a desperate resolution. Among the whole party, +they possessed but one knife, but they resolved it should serve them +all for the purpose of suicide. The instant their sentence was pronounced, +one stabbed himself with this weapon; another snatched +the knife from his companion's dying hand, plunged it in his own bosom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[518]</a></span> +and handed it to the third, who imitated the dreadful example. +Such was the consternation of the attendants, that no one arrested the +fatal progress of the weapon—all fell either dead or desperately wounded—the +last were despatched by the guillotine.</p> + +<p>After this decisive victory, and last dreadful catastrophe, Jacobinism, +considered as a pure and unmixed party, can scarce be said to have +again raised its head in France, although its leaven has gone to qualify +and characterize, in some degree, more than one of the different parties +which have succeeded them. As a political sect, the Jacobins can be +compared to none that ever existed, for none but themselves ever thought +of an organized, regular, and continued system of murdering and plundering +the rich, that they might debauch the poor by the distribution of +their spoils. They bear, however, some resemblance to the frantic +followers of John of Leyden and Knipperdoling, who occupied Munster +in the seventeenth century, and committed, in the name of religion, +the same frantic horrors which the French Jacobins did in that of freedom. +In both cases, the courses adopted by these parties were most +foreign to, and inconsistent with, the alleged motives of their conduct. +The Anabaptists practised every species of vice and cruelty, by the +dictates, they said, of inspiration—the Jacobins imprisoned three hundred +thousand of their countrymen in the name of liberty, and put to +death more than half the number, under the sanction of fraternity.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The queen made the following animated speech to the troops assembled at Tilbury: +<p> +"My loving people, we have been persuaded by some, that are careful of our safety, +to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery, +but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.—Let +tyrants fear: I have always so behaved myself, that under God, I have placed +my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. +And therefore I am come among you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, +but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die among you all, +to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and +my blood, even in the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, +but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too; and think foul +scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders +of my realms: To which rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself +will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one +of your virtues in the field. I know already, by your forwardness, that you have deserved +rewards and crowns; and I do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall +be duly paid you. In the mean time my lieutenant-general shall be in my stead, +than whom never prince commanded a more noble and worthy subject; not doubting +by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in +the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of +my kingdom, and of my people."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Afterward Charles I.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> Although Garnet was convicted for this horrible crime, yet the bigoted papists +were so besotted as to look upon him as an object of devotion; they fancied that miracles +were wrought by his blood; and regarded him as a martyr! Such is the deadening +and perverting influence of popery.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> The king of England was at that time called <i>highness</i>, not <i>majesty</i>, as at present.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_E_5"><span class="label">[E]</span></a> The Papists receive these books as of equal divine authority with the books of the +Old Testament.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_F_6"><span class="label">[F]</span></a> This he actually proposed, but the patriarch would not listen to the proposal a +moment.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_G_7"><span class="label">[G]</span></a> "He causeth all—to receive a mark," &c. "and no man might buy or sell save +he that had the mark or the name of the beast." The patriarch was also clothed in +scarlet, like the woman on the scarlet coloured beast.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_H_8" id="Footnote_H_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_H_8"><span class="label">[H]</span></a> See Rev. xiii. 13</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_I_9" id="Footnote_I_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_I_9"><span class="label">[I]</span></a> When he first came to Beyroot, this same sentence was dictated to him, and it +appeared in his eyes so much like blasphemy, that he refused to write it.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_J_10" id="Footnote_J_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_J_10"><span class="label">[J]</span></a> We afterwards ascertained, that he was decoyed off to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original omits this word">a</ins> distance, as if for walk, +and when he would have returned, was prevented by force.</div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_K_11" id="Footnote_K_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_K_11"><span class="label">[K]</span></a> This letter was a mere tissue of testimonies, brought from the fathers, and from +the scriptures, condemning the worship of images.</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired with the exception of some quotation +marks where original intent could not be ascertained.</p> +<p>Page 235, the last four names in the article ""Rev. T. Whittle, B. Green, T. Brown" do not match the names +used in the article. As each was used only once, this was retained as author's intent could not +be ascertained.</p> +<p>Items retained in this edition:</p> +<p>Varied capitalization of Christian, Jew, de Legal, and d'Herbois.</p> +<p>Inconsistent spacing in meanwhile/mean while.</p> +<p>Variations in the spelling of proper names such as: Benifield and Benefield, Tlowtdan and Tlowtdau, Wittenberg and Wittenburg.</p> +<p>Varied hyphenation was retained throughout.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fox's Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS *** + +***** This file should be named 22400-h.htm or 22400-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/4/0/22400/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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