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diff --git a/22400.txt b/22400.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af2bfc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/22400.txt @@ -0,0 +1,27081 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS + +OR + +A HISTORY OF THE + +LIVES, SUFFERINGS, AND TRIUMPHANT DEATHS + +OF THE + +PRIMITIVE PROTESTANT MARTYRS + +FROM THE + +INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY + +TO THE + +LATEST PERIODS OF PAGAN, POPISH, AND INFIDEL + +PERSECUTIONS + +EMBRACING, TOGETHER WITH THE USUAL SUBJECTS CONTAINED IN SIMILAR WORKS + +The recent persecutions in the cantons of Switzerland; and the +persecutions of the Methodist and Baptist Missionaries in the West +India Islands; and the narrative of the conversion, capture, long +imprisonment, and cruel sufferings of Asaad Shidiak, a native of +Palestine. + +LIKEWISE + +A SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION + +AS CONNECTED WITH PERSECUTION + +COMPILED FROM FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES + +THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. + +CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA TORONTO + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This work is strictly what its title page imports, a COMPILATION. 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. + +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 _infidel_ +and the avowed _atheist_. 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. + +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 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 valleys 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 _Holy Inquisitors_, 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." + +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. + +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 +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 _auto de fe_. + +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 +_liberalists_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +At the close of this volume will be found a sketch of the French +revolution of 1789, as connected with persecution. It has long 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 stupefies 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. + +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. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS TO THE FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTIONS UNDER +NERO. + + PAGE + + Martyrdom of St. Stephen, James the Great, and Philip 16 + Matthew, James the Less, Matthias, Andrew, + St. Mark and Peter 17 + Paul, Jude, Bartholomew, Thomas, Luke, Simon, + John, and Barnabas 18 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE TEN PRIMITIVE PERSECUTIONS. + + The first persecution under Nero, A. D. 67 19 + The second persecution under Domitian, A. D. 81 19 + The third persecution under Trajan, A. D. 108 20 + The fourth persecution under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A. D. 162 22 + The fifth persecution commencing with Severus, A. D. 192 25 + The sixth persecution under Maximinus, A. D. 235 27 + The seventh persecution under Decius, A. D. 249 27 + The eighth persecution under Valerian, A. D. 257 31 + The ninth persecution under Aurelian, A. D. 274 34 + The tenth persecution under Diocletian, A. D. 303 36 + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA. + + Persecutions under the Arian heretics 45 + Persecution under Julian the Apostate 46 + Persecution of the Christians by the Goths and Vandals 47 + Persecutions from about the middle of the Fifth, to the conclusion + of the Seventh century 48 + Persecutions from the early part of the Eighth, to near the conclusion + of the Tenth century 49 + Persecutions in the Eleventh century 51 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +PAPAL PERSECUTIONS. + + Persecution of the Waldenses in France 53 + Persecutions of the Albigenses 55 + The Bartholomew massacre at Paris, &c. 57 + From the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to the French + Revolution, in 1789 62 + Martyrdom of John Calas 65 + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION. + + An account of the cruel handling and burning of Nicholas Burton, + an English merchant, in Spain 73 + Some private enormities of the Inquisition laid open by a very + singular occurrence 76 + The persecution of Dr. AEgidio 88 + The persecution of Dr. Constantine 89 + The life of William Gardiner. 90 + An account of the life and sufferings of Mr. Wm. Lithgow, a + native of Scotland 92 + Croly on the Inquisition 101 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN ITALY, UNDER THE PAPACY. + + An account of the persecutions of Calabria 107 + Account of the persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont 110 + Account of the persecutions in Venice 117 + An account of several remarkable individuals who were martyred + in different parts of Italy, on account of their religion 119 + An account of the persecutions in the marquisate of Saluces 122 + Persecutions in Piedmont in the Seventeenth century 122 + Further persecutions in Piedmont 126 + Narrative of the Piedmontese War 134 + Persecution of Michael de Molinos, a native of Spain 144 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN BOHEMIA UNDER THE PAPACY. + + Persecution of John Huss 150 + Persecution of Jerom of Prague 154 + Persecution of Zisca 157 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GENERAL PERSECUTIONS IN GERMANY. + + An account of the persecutions in the Netherlands 174 + + +CHAPTER IX. + + AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN LITHUANIA AND POLAND 178 + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN CHINA AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. + + An account of the persecutions in Japan 181 + Persecutions against the Christians in Abyssinia or Ethiopia 182 + Persecutions against the Christians in Turkey 182 + Persecutions and oppressions in Georgia and Mingrelia 183 + An account of the persecutions in the States of Barbary 184 + Persecutions in Spanish America 184 + +CHAPTER XI. + + AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND + PRIOR TO THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY I. 186 + + +CHAPTER XII. + + AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN SCOTLAND, DURING THE + REIGN OF KING HENRY VIII. 194 + An account of the Life, Suffering and Death of George Wishart, + &c. 197 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PERSECUTIONS IN ENGLAND DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY. + + The words and behaviour of Lady Jane upon the scaffold 204 + John Rogers, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, &c. 205 + The Rev. Mr. Lawrence Saunders 207 + History, imprisonment, and examination of John Hooper 209 + Life and conduct of Dr. Rowland Taylor, of Hadley 212 + Martyrdom of Tomkins, Pygot, Knight, and others 214 + Dr. Robert Farrar 216 + Martyrdom of Rawlins White 217 + The Rev. Mr. George Marsh 218 + William Flower 220 + The Rev. John Cardmaker, and John Warne 221 + Martyrdom of Simpson, Ardeley, Haukes, and others 222 + Rev. John Bradford, and John Leaf, an apprentice 223 + Martyrdom of Bland, Middleton, Hall, Carver and many others 225 + John Denley, Packingham, and Newman 226 + Coker, Hooper, Lawrence and others 227 + The Rev. Robert Samuel 227 + G. Catmer, R. Streater and others 228 + Bishops Ridley and Latimer 228 + Mr. John Webb and others 233 + Martyrdom of Rev. F. Whittle, B. Green, Anna Wright, and others 235 + An account of Archbishop Cranmer 236 + Martyrdom of Agnes Potten, Joan Trunchfield and others 245 + Hugh Laverick and John Aprice 246 + Preservation of George Crow and his Testament 247 + Executions at Stratford le Bow 247 + R. Bernard, A. Foster and others 248 + An account of Rev. Julius Palmer 248 + Persecution of Joan Waste 249 + Persecutions in the Diocese of Canterbury 251 + T. Loseby, H. Ramsey, T. Thirtell and others 252 + Executions in Kent 252 + Execution of ten martyrs at Lewes 254 + Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper 255 + Executions at Colchester 255 + Mrs. Joyce Lewes 257 + Executions at Islington 259 + Mrs. Cicely Ormes 261 + Rev. John Rough 262 + Cuthbert Symson 263 + Thomas Hudson, Thomas Carman, William Seamen 264 + Apprehensions at Islington 265 + Flagellations by Bonner 271 + Rev. Richard Yeoman 272 + Thomas Benbridge 274 + Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver 275 + Mrs. Prest 276 + Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion and Thomas Hale 280 + T. Corneford, C. Browne, and others 280 + William Fetty scourged to death 282 + Deliverance of Dr. Sands 285 + Queen Mary's treatment of her sister, the Princess Elizabeth 288 + God's punishments upon some of the persecutors of his people + in Mary's reign 295 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE SPANISH ARMADA. + + The destruction of the Armada 298 + A conspiracy by the Papists for the destruction of James I, commonly + known by the name of the Gunpowder Plot 310 + + +CHAPTER XV. + + RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE PROTESTANT RELIGION IN IRELAND + WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE BARBAROUS MASSACRE OF 1641 315 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE RISE, PROGRESS, PERSECUTIONS AND SUFFERINGS OF THE QUAKERS. + + An account of the persecutions of Friends in the United States 337 + Proceedings at a General Court in Boston, 1656 339 + Proceedings at a General Court in Boston, 1657 340 + An act made at a General Court at Boston, 1658 341 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE FRENCH PROTESTANTS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, DURING +THE YEARS 1814 AND 1820. + + The arrival of king Louis XVIII at Paris 346 + The history of the Silver Child 346 + Napoleon's return from the Isle of Elba 347 + The Catholic arms at Beaucaire 348 + Massacre and pillage at Nismes 349 + Interference of government against the Protestants 350 + Letters from Louvois to Marillac 351 + Royal decree in favour of the persecuted 352 + Petition of the Protestant refugees 354 + Monstrous outrage upon females 355 + Arrival of the Austrians at Nismes 356 + Outrages committed in the Villages, &c. 357 + Further account of the Proceedings of the Catholics at Nismes 360 + Attack upon the Protestant churches 361 + Murder of General La Garde 363 + Interference of the British government 363 + Perjury in the case of General Gilly, &c. 365 + Ultimate resolution of the Protestants at Nismes 367 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +ASAAD SHIDIAK. + + 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 368 + Public statement of Asaad Shidiak, in 1826 377 + 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 410 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARIES IN INDIA, DURING THE YEAR 1824. + + Removal of the prisoners to Oung-pen-la--Mrs. Judson follows + them 430 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES IN THE WEST INDIES. + + Case of Rev. John Smith 449 + Persecutions of the Wesleyan Methodists in St. Domingo 450 + Persecutions at Port au Prince 450 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +PERSECUTIONS IN SWITZERLAND FROM 1813 TO 1830. + + Persecutions in the Pays de Vaud 461 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE MOST EMINENT REFORMERS. + + John Wickliffe 464 + Martin Luther 468 + John Calvin 473 + Agency of Calvin in the death of Michael Servetus 475 + Calvin as a friend of Civil Liberty 478 + The life of the Rev. John Fox 482 + Errors, rites, ceremonies, and superstitious practices of the + Romish church 487 + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1789, AS CONNECTED + WITH THE HISTORY OF PERSECUTIONS 489 + Massacre of prisoners 496 + Death of Louis XVI and other members of the Royal Family 499 + Dreadful scenes in La Vendee 501 + Scenes at Marseilles and Lyons 501 + The installation of the Goddess of Reason 506 + Fall of Danton, Robespierre, Marat and other Jacobins 508 + + + + +BOOK OF MARTYRS + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS TO THE FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER +NERO. + + +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 JESUS CHRIST. 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. + +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 with which they were endued +emboldened them to proclaim his name, to the confusion of the Jewish +rulers, and the astonishment of Gentile proselytes. + + +_I. St. Stephen_ + +ST. STEPHEN 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 aera of his +ascension, in the following spring. + +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." + +About two thousand christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons, +suffered martyrdom during the "persecution which arose about Stephen." + + +_II. James the Great._ + +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. + + +_III. Philip._ + +Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was the first called by the name +of "Disciple." He laboured diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered +martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into +prison, and afterwards crucified, A. D. 54. + + +_IV. Matthew_, + +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. + + +_V. James the Less_, + +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. + + +_VI. Matthias_, + +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. + + +_VII. Andrew_, + +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. + + +_VIII. St. Mark_, + +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. + + +_IX. Peter_, + +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. + +[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.--_Ed._] + + +_X. Paul_, + +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, Iconium, 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. + + +_XI. Jude_, + +The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at +Edessa, A. D. 72. + + +_XII. Bartholomew_, + +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. + + +_XIII. Thomas_, + +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. + + +_XIV. Luke_, + +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. + + +_XV. Simon_, + +Surnamed Zelotes, preached the gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even in +Britain, which latter country he was crucified, A. D. 74. + + +_XVI. John_, + +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. + + +_XVII. Barnabas_, + +Was of Cyprus, but of Jewish descent, his death is supposed to have +taken place about A. D. 73. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE TEN PRIMITIVE PERSECUTIONS. + + +_The First Persecution under Nero, A. D. 67._ + +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 Macaenas, 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Second Persecution, under Domitian, A. D. 81._ + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +The following were the most remarkable among the numerous martyrs who +suffered during this persecution. + +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. + +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. + +Nicodemus, a benevolent christian of some distinction, suffered at Rome +during the rage of Domitian's persecution. + +Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Milan. + +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. + + +_The Third Persecution, under Trajan, A. D. 108._ + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Many other similar cruelties and rigours were exercised against the +christians, until Quadratus, bishop of Athens, made a learned apology +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. + +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. + + +_The fourth persecution, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A. D. 162._ + +This commenced A. D. 162, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus, a +strong pagan. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Felicitatis, an illustrious Roman lady, of a considerable family and +the most shining virtues, was a devout christian. She had seven sons, +whom she had educated with the most exemplary piety. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Several were beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to the image of Jupiter; +in particular Concordus, a deacon of the city of Spolito. + +Some of the restless northern 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +Apollonius, a Roman senator, an accomplished gentleman, and a sincere +christian, suffered under Commodus, because he would not worship him as +Hercules. + +Eusebius, Vincentius, Potentianus, Peregrinus, and Julius, a Roman +senator, were martyred on the same account. + + +_The Fifth Persecution, commencing with Severus, A. D. 192._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Irenaeus, 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, Irenaeus 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. + +The persecutions now extending to Africa, many were martyred in that +quarter of the globe; the most particular of whom we shall mention. + +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, catechumen 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. + +Speratus, and twelve others, were likewise beheaded; as was Andocles in +France. Asclepiades, bishop of Antioch, suffered many tortures, but his +life was spared. + +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. + +Calistus, bishop of Rome, was martyred, A. D. 224; but the manner of +his death is not recorded; and Urban, bishop of Rome, met the same fate +A. D. 232. + + +_The Sixth Persecution, under Maximinus, A. D. 235._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Seventh Persecution, under Decius A. D. 249._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 good prelate. He was +accordingly seized; and on the 20th of January, A. D. 250, he suffered +decapitation. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Andrew and Paul, two companions of Nichomachus the martyr, A. D. 251, +suffered martyrdom by stoning, and expired, calling on their blessed +Redeemer. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Eighth Persecution, under Valerian, A. D. 257_, + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In Africa the persecution raged with peculiar violence; many thousands +received the crown of martyrdom, among whom the following were the most +distinguished characters: + +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 orthodox and +pure; his language easy and elegant; and his manners graceful and +winning: in fine, 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. + +About the year 246, Coecilius, 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 Coecilius 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. + +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." + +A. D. 250, Cyprian was publicly proscribed by the emperor Decius, under +the appellation of Coecilius 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. + +The disciples of Cyprian, martyred in this persecution, were Lucius, +Flavian, Victoricus, Remus, Montanus, Julian, Primelus, and Donatian. + +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. + +Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragon, in Spain, and his two deacons, Augurius +and Eulogius, were burnt for being christians. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Ninth Persecution under Aurelian, A. D. 274._ + +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. + +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 +Praeneste, a city within a day's journey of Rome. + +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. + +Aurelian was succeeded by Tacitus, who was followed by Probus, as the +latter was by Carus: this emperor being killed by a thunder storm, his +sons, Carnious and Numerian, succeeded him, and during all these reigns +the church had peace. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 should +be put to death, which was accordingly executed by the other troops, who +cut them to pieces with their swords, 22d Sept. 286. + +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. + +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. + +Faith, a christian female, of Acquitain, in France, was ordered to be +broiled upon a gridiron, and then beheaded; A. D. 287. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Tenth Persecution under Diocletian, A. D. 303_, + +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. + +The fatal day fixed upon to commence the bloody work, was the 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. + +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. + +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. + +A provocation like this was sufficient to call down pagan vengeance upon +his head; he was accordingly seized, severely tortured, and then burned +alive. + +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. + +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. + +A city of Phrygia, consisting entirely of christians, was burnt, and all +the inhabitants perished in the flames. + +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. + +It is necessary now to particularize the most conspicuous persons who +laid down their lives in martyrdom in this bloody persecution. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Being by order stretched upon the rack, he turned his eyes towards +heaven, and prayed to God to endue him with patience, after 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 batons, and again sent to prison. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Romanus, a native of Palestine, was deacon of the church of Caesarea, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Dativas, a noble Roman senator; Thelico, a pious Christian, Victoria, a +young lady of considerable family and fortune, with some others of less +consideration, all auditors of Saturninus, were tortured in a similar +manner, and perished by the same means. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 plumbetae, 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. + +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. + +Sabinus, bishop of Assisium, refusing to sacrifice to Jupiter, and +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. + +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. + +Among the many martyred by the order of Galerius, we shall enumerate the +most eminent. + +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 martyrdom, by being +beheaded, April 16, A. D. 305. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +Pamphilus, a native of Phoenicia, 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 Caesarea, 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. + +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. + +Peter, the sixteenth bishop of Alexandria, was martyred Nov. 25, A. D. +311, by order of Maximus Caesar, who reigned in the east. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecutions under the Arian Heretics._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecution under Julian the Apostate._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecution of the Christians by the Goths and Vandals._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecutions from about the Middle of the Fifth, to the Conclusion of +the Seventh Century._ + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecutions from the early part of the Eighth, to near the Conclusion +of the Tenth Century._ + +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 diocese of +Winchester, where he would have a much greater opportunity of attaining +improvement than at Exeter. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +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. + +Flora and Mary, two ladies of distinction, suffered martyrdom at the +same time. + +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. + +Adalbert, bishop of Prague, a Bohemian by birth, after being 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. + + +_Persecutions in the Eleventh Century._ + +Alphage, archbishop of Canterbury, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +During his confinement they proposed to him to redeem his liberty with +the sum of L3000, and to persuade the king to purchase their departure +out of the kingdom, with a further sum of L10,000. 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 remanded 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +PAPAL PERSECUTIONS. + + +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. + + +_Persecution of the Waldenses in France._ + +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. + +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 ANTI-CHRIST. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +_Persecutions of the Albigenses._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Bartholomew Massacre at Paris, &c._ + +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. + +At Orleans, a thousand were slain of men, women, and children, and 6000 +at Rouen. + +At Meldith, two hundred were put into prison, and brought out by units, +and cruelly murdered. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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! + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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: _Pontifex_ Coligni _necem probat_, +i. e. 'The pope approves of Coligni's death.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"SIRE--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." + +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 cardinal 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_From the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to the French Revolution in +1789._ + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 noisome dungeons, where +they practised all sorts of torments in secret. Their wives and children +they shut up in monasteries. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 not 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 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. + + +_Martyrdom of John Calas._ + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The most zealous of all the popish monks, and those who most implicitly +obeyed the church of Rome, were the Dominicans and Franciscans: 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 AUTO DE +FE, or act of faith. + +The following is an account of an auto de fe, performed at Madrid in the +year 1682. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +inflicted 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. + + +_An account of the cruel Handling and Burning of Nicholas Burton, an +English Merchant, in Spain._ + +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 quietly 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. + +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 +threatening words to hold his peace, and not speak one word to them. + +And so they carried him to the filthy common prison of the town of +Cadiz, where he remained in irons fourteen days amongst thieves. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +otherwise than he supposed it would have done. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +Mark Brughes, an Englishman, master of an English ship called the +Minion, was burnt in a city in Portugal. + +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. + + +_Some private Enormities of the inquisition laid open, by a very +singular occurrence._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 totally free from superstition: +he united great talents with great bravery: and was, at once, the +skilful officer, and accomplished gentleman. + +The duke, before his departure, had ordered that heavy contributions +should be levied upon the city to the following manner: + +1. That the magistrates and principal inhabitants should pay a thousand +crowns per month for the duke's table. + +2. That every house should pay one pistole, which would monthly amount +to 18,000 pistoles. + +3. That every convent and monastery should pay a donative, +proportionable to its riches and rents. + +The two last contributions to be appropriated to the maintenance of the +army. + +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. + +Of the donatives to be raised by the clergy: + + The college of Jesuits to pay 2000 pistoles + Carmelites, 1000 + Augustins, 1000 + Dominicans 1000 + +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 a +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The next morning he ordered four regiments under arms, and commanded +them to accompany his secretary, and act as he directed. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"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. + +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. + +The maid, who laid in the same room with me, went to the window, and +inquired who was there. The answer was, THE HOLY INQUISITION. 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +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." + +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. 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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +These things were sufficient to irritate the inquisitors against the +prince: they, accordingly, bent their minds to vengeance, and determined +on his destruction. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Persecution of Dr. AEgidio._ + +Dr. AEgidio 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. + +AEgidio, 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. + +As the greatest part of those who belonged to the cathedral church at +Seville, and many persons belonging to the bishopric of Dortois highly +approved of the doctrines of AEgidio, 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Persecution of Dr. Constantine._ + +Dr. Constantine, an intimate acquaintance of the already mentioned Dr. +AEgidio, 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. + +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. + +Having been fully confirmed in protestantism by Dr. AEgidio, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + + +_The Life of William Gardiner._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, Gardiner was drawn up +to the gibbet by pulleys, and then let down near the fire, but not so +close as to touch it; for they burnt or rather roasted him by slow +degrees. Yet he bore his sufferings patiently and resigned his soul to +the Lord cheerfully. + +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. + + +_An account of the Life and Sufferings of Mr. William Lithgow, a native +of Scotland._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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) these +Lutherans, and sons of the devil, ought to have no credit given to what +they say or swear." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 innocence, the governor ordered the +notary to draw up a warrant for delivering him to the alcade to be +tortured. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 their special appointment: thy +books and papers are miraculously translated by the assistance of +Providence influencing thy own countrymen." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 L1000 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. + + +_Croly on the Inquisition._ + +We shall conclude this chapter with the subjoined extract from the New +Interpretation of the Apocalypse by the Rev. George Croly. + +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 into a nursery +tale; and we turn with a generous, yet rash and most unjustifiable +scepticism from the history of Romish authority. + +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. + +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! + +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 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." + +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." + +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. + +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 +_seventeen_ 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 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 +HIM, 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." + +Such was the inquisition, declared by the Spirit of God to be at once +the offspring and the _image_ 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 INQUISITION! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTION IN ITALY, UNDER THE PAPACY. + + +We shall now enter on an account of the persecutions in Italy, a country +which has been, and still is, + +1. The centre of popery. + +2. The seat of the pontiff. + +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. + +In pursuing our narrative we shall include the most remarkable +persecutions which have happened, and the cruelties which have been +practised, + +1. By the immediate power of the pope. + +2. Through the power of the inquisition. + +3. At the instigation of particular orders of the clergy. + +4. By the bigotry of the Italian princes. + +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: + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +_An account of the Persecutions of Calabria._ + +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. + +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, + +With not being Roman catholics. + +With not making any of their boys priests. + +With not making any of their girls nuns. + +With not going to mass. + +With not giving wax tapers to their priests as offerings. + +With not going on pilgrimages. + +With not bowing to images. + +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. + +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. + +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 violence, if they would +accept of preachers appointed by the pope; 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The inhabitants of St. Xist were no sooner exterminated, than those of +La Garde engaged the attention of the cardinal and viceroy. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 any of the reformed, he was +immediately apprehended, and shared the same fate as a favourer of +heretics. + +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. + +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. + + +_Account of the Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont._ + +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. + +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: + +1. That they did not believe in the doctrines of the church of Rome. + +2. That they made no offerings or prayers for the dead. + +3. That they did not go to mass. + +4. That they did not confess, and receive absolution. + +5. That they did not believe in purgatory, or pay money to get the souls +of their friends out of it. + +Upon these charges the archbishop ordered a persecution to be commenced, +and many fell martyrs to the superstitious rage of the priests and +monks. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +These gentlemen, after travelling through all their towns and villages, +and conversing with people of every rank among the Waldenses 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The Waldenses had hitherto only had the new Testament and 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. + +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. + +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 to embrace. + +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. + +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: + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +To each of these propositions the Waldenses nobly replied in the +following manner, answering them respectively: + +1. That no considerations whatever should make them renounce their +religion. + +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. + +3. That they valued the approbation of the King of kings, who reigns in +heaven, more than any temporal authority. + +4. That their souls were more precious than their bodies. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An account of the Persecutions in Venice._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A citizen of Venice, Anthony Ricetti, being apprehended as a +protestant, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An account of several remarkable individuals, who were martyred in +different parts of Italy, on account of their religion._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +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. + +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. + +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 of him. For this +expression his tongue was bored through, and he was afterwards burnt. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The pope then passed this sentence upon him. + +1. That he should be led by the executioner, naked to the middle, +through the streets of Rome. + +2. That he should wear the image of the devil upon his head. + +3. That his breeches should be painted with the representation of +flames. + +4. That he should have his right hand cut off. + +5. That after having been carried about thus in procession, he should be +burnt. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions in the Marquisate of Saluces._ + +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. + +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. + +The inhabitants of Saluces, upon receiving this letter, returned a +general epistle, in answer. + +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. + +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. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont, in the +Seventeenth Century._ + +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +To give greater vigour to the persecution, the duke of Savoy called a +general assembly of the Roman catholic nobility and gentry when a +solemn edict was published against the reformed, containing many heads, +and including several reasons for extirpating the protestants among +which were the following: + +1. For the preservation of the papal authority. + +2. That the church livings may be all under one mode of government. + +3. To make a union among all parties. + +4. In honour of all the saints, and of the ceremonies of the church of +Rome. + +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, Rorata, and the county of Bonetti. + +"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." + +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. + +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 promised pardon and liberty in this world, and absolution +in the next, for assisting to exterminate the protestants from Piedmont. + +"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 Villaro 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +An inhabitant of La Torre, named Giovanni Andrea Michialm, was +apprehended, 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. + + +_Further Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont, in the seventeenth +Century._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Seven persons, viz. Daniel Seleagio and his wife, Giovanni Durant, +Lodwich Durant, Bartholomew Durant, Daniel Revel, and Paul Reynaud, had +their mouths stuffed with gunpowder, which being set fire to, their +heads were blown to pieces. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A soldier, attempting to ravish a young woman, named Susanna Gacquin, +she made a stout resistance, and in the struggle pushed him 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +1. The real presence in the host. + +2. Transubstantiation. + +3. Purgatory. + +4. The pope's infallibility. + +5. That masses said for the dead will release souls from purgatory. + +6. That praying to saints will procure the remission of sins. + +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: + +1. That to believe the real presence in the host, is a shocking union of +both blasphemy and idolatry. + +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. + +3. That the doctrine of purgatory was more inconsistent and absurd than +a fairy tale. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Daniel Benech being apprehended, had his nose slit, his ears cut off, +and was then divided into quarters, each quarter being hung upon a +tree, and Mary Monino, had her jaw bones broke and was then left to +languish till she was famished. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 with their +swords, and making them run about till they dropped 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A protestant gentleman, of considerable fortune, at Bobbio, being +nightly provoked by the insolence of a priest, retorted with great +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. + + +_A Narrative of the Piedmontese War._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 still kept 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. + +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." + +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 an ambiguous +proclamation seemingly favourable to the inhabitants. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Having completed his 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +After each of these signal victories, captain Gianavel made a suitable +discourse to his men, causing them to kneel down, and return thanks to +the Almighty for his providential protection; and usually concluded with +the eleventh psalm, where the subject is placing confidence in God. + +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. + +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: + +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. + +The inhabitants of Roras, on being acquainted with these conditions, +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. + +1. Their estates to be seized. 2. Their houses to be burnt. 3. +Themselves to be murdered. + +Exasperated at this message, the marquis sent them this laconic epistle. + + _To the obstinate Heretics inhabiting Roras._ + + You shall have your request, for the troops sent + against you have strict injunctions to plunder, + burn, and kill. + + PIANESSA. + +The three armies were then put in motion, and the attacks ordered to be +made thus: the first by the rocks of Villaro; the second by the pass of +Bagnol; and the third by the defile of Lucerne. + +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. + +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. + +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 to 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. + +To this epistle, the brave Gianavel sent the following answer. + + My Lord Marquis, + + 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. + + 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 to + my imagination, than 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. + + 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. + + JOSHUA GIANAVEL. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, and compelled to +make a retreat, which they did with great regularity, and but little +loss. + +Captain Gianavel advanced to an advantageous post, situated near the +town of Villaro, and then sent the following information and commands to +the inhabitants. + +1. That he should attack the town in twenty-four hours. + +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. + +3. That all women and children, whatever their religion might be, should +be safe. + +4. That he commanded all male protestants to leave the town and join +him. + +5. That all apostates, who had, through weakness, abjured their +religion, should be deemed enemies, unless they renounced their +abjuration. + +6. That all who returned to their duty to God, and themselves, should be +received as friends. + +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. + +The protestant commanders having called a council of war, resolved to +make an attempt upon the town of La Torre. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The next day they mustered, reviewed the army, and found the 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +One of the Roman catholic officers, previous to the attack, thus +harangued his men: + +"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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions of Michael de Molinos, a Native of +Spain._ + +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. + +Being of a contemplative turn of mind, he pursued the track of the +mystical divines, and having acquired great reputation in Spain, and +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In consequence of d'Estrees' evidence, Molinos was closely confined by +the inquisition, where he continued for some time, during which 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions in Bohemia under the Papacy._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_John Huss._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 penned with a strength of +argument that greatly facilitated the spreading of his doctrines. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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!" + +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?" + +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. + +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. + + +_Jerom of Prague._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +The most bigoted of the assembly were unwilling he should be 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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +The elegant Pogge, a learned gentleman of Florence, secretary to two +popes, and a zealous but liberal catholic, in a letter to Leonard +Arotin, bore ample testimony of the extraordinary powers and virtues of +Jerom whom he emphatically styles, A prodigious man! + + +_Zisca._ + +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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 troops departed till the +return of spring. + +The confederate princes undertook 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 well closed, he waved his sabre round his +head, which was the sign of battle. + +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. + +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 was +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +After the death of Zisca, Procop was defeated, and fell with the +liberties of his country. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The first victim of their cruelty was an aged minister whom they 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 his sentences +were of four kinds, viz. death, banishment, imprisonment for life, and +imprisonment during pleasure. + +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. + +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. + +The prisoners left the castle with as much cheerfulness as if they had +been going to an agreeable entertainment, instead of a violent death. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +GENERAL PERSECUTIONS IN GERMANY. + +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. + +To this end; + +1. He gave the emperor two hundred thousand crowns in ready money. + +2. He promised to maintain twelve thousand foot, and five thousand +horse, for the space of six months, or during a campaign. + +3. He allowed the emperor to receive one-half the revenues of the clergy +of the empire during the war. + +4. He permitted the emperor to pledge the abbey lands for five hundred +thousand crowns, to assist in carrying on hostilities against the +protestants. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Priest._ Were you not both, some years ago, Augustine friars? + +_Voes._ Yes. + +_Priest._ How came you to quit the bosom of the church of Rome? + +_Voes._ On account of her abominations. + +_Priest._ In what do you believe? + +_Voes._ In the Old and New Testaments. + +_Priest._ Do you believe in the writings of the fathers, and the decrees +of the councils? + +_Voes._ Yes, if they agree with Scripture. + +_Priest._ Did not Martin Luther seduce you both? + +_Voes._ 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At Griphenburg, when the imperial forces prevailed, they shut up the +senators in the senate-chamber, and surrounding it by lighted straw +suffocated them. + +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. + +The cruelties used by the imperial troops, under count Tilly in Saxony, +are thus enumerated. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +1. That military executions were ordered against all protestant +shoemakers who should refuse to contribute to the masses of St. Crispin. + +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. + +3. That several protestant ministers had been dispossessed of their +churches, under pretence of their having been originally founded and +built by Roman Catholics. + +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. + +These things he did through fear; but to show his resentment to his +protestant subjects, in other circumstances where protestant 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions in the Netherlands._ + +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: + +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 +Roman catholic lady, the favour was granted, that she should be +strangled before fire was put to the fagots. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In Louviana, a learned man, named Percinal, was murdered in prison; and +Justus Insparg was beheaded, for having Luther's sermons in his +possession. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN LITHUANIA AND POLAND. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, banish our 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The city of Lesna particularly suffered in this persecution; for being +besieged and taken, the inhabitants were all put to the sword. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN CHINA AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. + + +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. + +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. + +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 enjoined his +Chinese christians to omit the rest. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The ensuing year, viz. 1665, the ministers of state publicly and +unanimously resolved, and made a decree specifying, viz. + +1. That the christian doctrines were false. + +2. That they were dangerous to the interest of the empire. + +3. That they should not be practised under pain of death. + +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. + +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. + + +_An account of the Persecutions in Japan._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An account of the Persecutions against the Christians in Abyssinia, or +Ethiopia._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An account of the Persecutions against the Christians in Turkey._ + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecutions and Oppressions in Georgia and Mingrelia._ + +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. + +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. + +The males are used as mutes and eunuchs in the seraglio, as clerks in +the offices of state, and as soldiers in the army. + +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. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions in the States of Barbary._ + +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. + +The punishments among the Algerines are various, viz. + +1. If they join any of the natives in open rebellion, they are strangled +with a bowstring, or hanged on an iron hook. + +2. If they speak against Mahomet, they must either turn Mahometan, or be +impaled alive. + +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. + +4. If they kill a Turk, they are burnt. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An Account of the Persecutions in Spanish America._ + +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 in their +inhumanity, and, as Roman catholics, deemed these atrocious actions +meritorious, which would make a protestant shudder to relate. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The cruel methods by which they massacred and butchered the poor +natives, were innumerable, and of the most diabolical nature. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND PRIOR TO THE +REIGN OF QUEEN MARY I. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In the eighth century, the Danes, a roving crew of barbarians, landed in +different parts of Britain, both in England and Scotland. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 whom they +distinguished from the rest by stripping him stark naked, and executing +him in that indecent manner. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In the year 1430, Richard Wick, a priest, was burnt alive on Tower-hill, +for preaching the doctrines of Wickliffe. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This year also one father Roberts, a priest, was convicted of being a +Lollard before the bishop of Lincoln, and burnt alive at Buckingham. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In 1521, Thomas Bernard was burnt alive at Norwich, for denying the real +presence. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Thomas Bilney, professor of civil law at Cambridge, was brought 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +There were some other persons who suffered the same year, of whom we +shall take notice in the order they lie before us. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 that Christ had counted him worthy to +suffer for his name's sake. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTION IN SCOTLAND DURING THE REIGN OF KING HENRY +VIII. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +These articles Mr. Hamilton acknowledged to be true, in consequence of +which he was immediately condemned to be burnt; and 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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +This steadfast believer in Christ suffered martyrdom in the year 1527. + +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. + +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. + +This advice was taken, and the poor victim was rather suffocated than +burnt. + +The next who fell victims for professing the truth of the gospel, were +David Stratton and Norman Gourlay. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +The accusations laid against these respective persons were as follow: + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The four men, with the woman and child, suffered at the same time, but +James Raveleson was not executed till some days after. + +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. + + +_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._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +After this he went into the west of Scotland, where he preached God's +word, which was gladly received by many. + +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." + +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 called, not knowing +whether he should have such comfort again with them. + +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. + +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." + +He went from thence to Montrose; where he sometimes preached, but spent +most of his time in private meditation and prayer. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 middle of +the night he got up, and went into the yard, which two men hearing they +privately followed him. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"O thou Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me! Father of heaven, I +commend my spirit into Thy holy hands." + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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: + +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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +PERSECUTIONS IN ENGLAND DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY. + + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + + +_The words and behaviour of the lady Jane upon the Scaffold._ + +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. + +Then the executioner kneeled down, and asked her forgiveness whom she +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_John Rogers, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, and Reader of St. Paul's, +London._ + +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. + +The circumstance of Mr. Rogers having preached at Paul's cross, after +queen Mary arrived at the Tower, has been already stated. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +Queen Mary's time 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." + + +_The Rev. Mr. Lawrence Saunders._ + +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. + +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 Northampton, +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +sacraments, and all orders of the church, are the most pure, which come +the nearest to the order of the primitive church. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The history, imprisonment, and examinations, of Mr. John Hooper, Bishop +of Worcester and Gloucester._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +About eight o'clock, on February 9, 1555, he was led forth, and many +thousand persons were collected, as it was market-day. All 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The life and conduct of Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadley._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +After that Dr. Taylor had lain some time in prison, he was cited to +appear in the arches of Bow-church. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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? + +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 halberd struck him on the +head till his brains fell out, and the corpse fell down into the fire. + +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. + + +_Martyrdom of Tomkins, Pygot, Knight, Lawrence, Hunter, and Higbed._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +After undergoing two examinations, and refusing to swerve from his duty +and belief, he was commanded to appear before the bishop. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +William now cast his psalter into his brother's hand, who said 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. + +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. + + +_Dr. Robert Farrar._ + +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. + +His principal accusers and persecutors, on a charge of praemunire 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 praemunire, 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +_Rawlins White._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +When he came to the place, where his poor wife and children stood +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. + +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?" + +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. + + +_The Rev. Mr. George Marsh._ + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 affirmed, that +the said Marsh was a heretic, burnt as such, and was a firebrand in +hell.--Mr. Marsh suffered April 24, 1555. + + +_Mr. William Flower._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Rev. John Cardmaker and John Warne._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + + +_John Simpson and John Ardeley._ + +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. + + +_Thomas Haukes, Thomas Watts, Thomas Osmond, William Bamford, and +Nicholas Chamberlain._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 was brought +before lord Rich, and other commissioners at Chelmsford, and accused for +not coming to the church. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Rev. John Bradford, and John Leaf an apprentice._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Mr. Bradford, and the latter afterward kept close to +him, that his presence might prevent the populace from renewing their +assaults. + +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. + +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. + +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 sheriff 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 unable to turn +himself in his bed; thus he became at last a fearful object to behold. + +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. + + +_Rev. John Bland, Rev. John Frankesh, Nicholas Shetterden, and Humphrey +Middleton._ + +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. + +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. + + +_Nicholas Hall and Christopher Waid._ + +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. + + +_Dirick Carver and John Launder._ + +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. + +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 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. + +Thomas Iveson, of Godstone, in the county of Surry, carpenter, was burnt +about the same month at Chichester. + +John Aleworth, who died in prison at Reading, July, 1555, had been +imprisoned for the sake of the truth of the gospel. + +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. + + +_John Denley, Gent., John Newman, and Patrick Packingham._ + +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. + +Mr. Packingham suffered at the same town on the 28th of the same month. + +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. + + +_W. Coker, W. Hooper, H. Laurence, R. Colliar, R. Wright and W. Stere._ + +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. + +Elizabeth Warne, widow of John Warne, upholsterer, martyr, was burnt at +Stratford-le-bow, near London, at the end of August, 1555. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_The Rev. Robert Samuel._ + +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. 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. + +William Allen, a labouring servant to Mr. Houghton of Somerton suffered +not long after Mr. Samuel, at Walsingham. + +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. + +Thomas Cobb, was a butcher at Haverhill, and condemned by Dunnings, the +furious chancellor of Norwich. Mr. Cobb suffered at Thetford, Sept. +1555. + + +_G. Catmer, R. Streater, A. Burward, G. Brodbridge, and J. Tutty._ + +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. + +About the same time William Glowd, Cornelius Bungey, William Wolsey, and +Robert Pygot, suffered martyrdom. + + +_Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer._ + +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. + +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. + +His tenacious memory, extensive erudition, impressive oratory, and +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 _burn_; but, except you +let me have some fire, I shall deceive your expectation, for here it is +likely I shall be _starved with cold_." + +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. + +Dr. Ridley, the night before execution, was very facetious, had himself +shaved, and called his supper a marriage feast; he remarked 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 passed 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, he bent +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Mr. John Webb, George Roper, and Gregory Parker._ + +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. + +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. + + +_Mr. John Philpot._ + +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 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 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. + + +_Rev. T. Whittle, B. Green, T. Brown, J. Tudson, J. Ent, Isabel Tooster, +and Joan Lashford._ + +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. + +Mr. Bartlet Green was condemned the next day. + +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. + +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. + +Subsequently, John Hunt, Isabella Forster, and Joan Warne, were +condemned and executed. + + +_John Lomas, Agnes Snoth, Anne Wright, Joan Sole, and Joan Catmer._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Archbishop Cranmer._ + +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. + +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 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. + +In this function, it may be said that he followed closely the charge 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. + +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. + +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 Caesar the things which +are Caesar'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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 lost +his confidence. Sir G. Gostwick soon after laid charges against the +archbishop, which Henry quashed, and the primate was willing to forgive. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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:-- + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 whatsoever I have +offended against God or his church, and also I desire and beseech all +christian people to pray for me. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"And now I come to the great thing which so much troubleth my +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. + +"And as for the Pope, I refuse him as Christ's enemy, and antichrist, +with all his false doctrine. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Agnes Potten and Joan Trunchfield._ + +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. + +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! + + +_Rev. Robert Drakes, Rev. William Tyms, Richard Spurge, Sheerman T. +Spurge, Fuller; J. Cavel, Weaver; and G. Ambrose, Fuller._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Hugh Laverick and John Aprice._ + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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, 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." + +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. + + +_Preservation of George Crow and his Testament._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Executions at Stratford-le-Bow._ + +At this sacrifice, which we are about to detail, no less than thirteen +were doomed to the fire. + +Each one refusing to subscribe contrary to conscience, they were +condemned, and the 27th of June, 1556, was appointed for their +execution at Stratford-le-Bow. Their constancy and faith glorified +their Redeemer, equally in life and in death. + + +_R. Bernard, A. Foster, and R. Lawson._ + +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. + +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. + + +_Rev. Julius Palmer._ + +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. + +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. + +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. Askin +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! + +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. + +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. + +Their execution took place, July 18, 1556. On the same day, were burnt +at Grinstead, in Sussex, Thomas Dungate, John Foreman, and Mother Tree. + +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. + + +_Joan Waste._ + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +EIGHTY-FOUR! + +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 heretical book, as +well by the common law, as by our letters of process!" + +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. + +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. + +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 cemetary, and even intermingled with those of +the catholic saint, to the utter astonishment and mortification of the +disciples of his holiness the pope. + +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. + + +_Persecutions in the Diocess of Canterbury._ + +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. + +In the month of February, the following persons were committed to +prison:--R. Coleman, of Waldon, labourer; Joan Winseley, of Horsley +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. + +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. + + +_T. Loseby, H. Ramsey, T. Thirtell, Margaret Hide, and Agnes Stanley._ + +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. + +In May following, W. Morant, S. Gratwick, and ---- King, suffered in St. +George's Field, Southwark. + + +_Executions in Kent._ + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Dr. Harpsfield._ Christ called the bread his body; what dost thou say +it is? + +_Plaise._ I do believe it was that which he gave them. + +_Dr. H._ What was that? + +_P._ That which he brake. + +_Dr. H._ What did he break? + +_P._ That which he took. + +_Dr. H._ What did he take? + +_P._ The text saith, "He took bread." + +_Dr. H._ Well, then, thou sayest it was but bread which the disciples +did eat. + +_P._ I say, what he gave them, that did they eat indeed. + +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. + + +_Execution of ten martyrs at Lewes._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +_Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper,_ + +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. + +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. + + +_Executions at Colchester._ + +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, 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. + +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.-- + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In the same manner, in the afternoon, the county prisoners from +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. + +John Thurston, of whom mention was made before, died in May, in +Colchester castle. + +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. + +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. + +About this time, Richard Crashfield, of Wymundham, suffered at Norwich. + +Nearly about this time a person named Fryer, and the sister of George +Eagles, suffered martyrdom. + + +_Mrs. Joyce Lewes._ + +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. 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Executions at Islington._ + +About the 17th of Sept. suffered at Islington the following four +professors of Christ: Ralph Allerton, James Austoo, Margery Austoo, and +Richard Roth. + +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:-- + + "O dear Brethren and Sisters, + + "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. + + "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. + + "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! + + "Written by me, with my own blood, + "RICHARD ROTH." + +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. + +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 hallelujahs, +till the surrounding flames mounted to the seat of life, and their +spirits ascended to the Almighty Saviour of all who truly believe! + +About this time suffered, at Northampton, John Kurde, shoemaker of +Syrsam, Northamptonshire. + +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 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. + + +_Mrs. Cicely Ormes._ + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +J. Hallingdale, W. Sparrow, and R Gibson, suffered in Smithfield +November 18th, 1557. + + +_Rev. John Rough._ + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +_Cuthbert Symson._ + +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. + +Mr. Symson has written an account of his own sufferings, which we cannot +detail better than in his own words: + +"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! + +"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. + +"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 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!" + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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! + +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. + + +_Thomas Hudson, Thomas Carman, and William Seamen,_ + +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 the stake urged 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Apprehensions at Islington._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +His father, pleased with his change of conduct, gave him forty 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. + +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." + +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. + +"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 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. + +"Mr. Doctor, as to your antiquity, unity, and universality, (for these +Dr. Chedsey alleged as notes and tokens of their religion,) I 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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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 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. + +_Holland._ "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 _after this day, in this place_, 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. + +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 _shall_ live to burn, yea, and I _will_ 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. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +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 writ was sent to +Brentford for their execution, which took place, July 14, 1558. + + +_Flagellations by Bonner._ + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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." + +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!" + +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? + +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. + + +_Rev. Richard Yeoman._ + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +_Thomas Benbridge._ + +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. + +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. + +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 told +the people not to pray for him unless he would recant, no more than they +would pray for a dog. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + + +_Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver._ + +These godly persons were apprehended by Mr. Noone, a justice in Suffolk. + +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 +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. + +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. + + +_Mrs. Prest._ + +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. + +Mrs. Prest 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 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." + +_Bishop._ I promise you, you are a jolly protestant. I pray you in what +school have you been brought up? + +_Mrs. Prest._ 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. + +_B._ 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. + +_Mrs. P._ Sir, I laboured for my living; and as my master Christ +counselleth me, when I was persecuted in one city, I fled into another. + +_B._ Who persecuted thee? + +_Mrs. P._ 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. + +_B._ Belike then you are a good housewife, to fly from your husband and +the church. + +_Mrs. P._ My housewifery is but small; but God gave me grace to go to +the true church. + +_B._ The true church, what dost thou mean? + +_Mrs. P._ 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. + +_B._ 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. + +_Mrs. P._ No, I have but one husband, who is here already in this city, +and in prison with me, from whom I will never depart. + +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 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. + +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. + +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? + +How provest thou that? said they. + +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. + +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 +Dutchman 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. + +During the time of her imprisonment, many visited her, some sent by the +bishop, and some of their own will; among these was one 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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, 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." + +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. + + +_Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion, and Thomas Hale._ + +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. + +With him suffered Thomas Hale, shoemaker, of Bristol, who was condemned +by chancellor Dalby. These martyrs were bound back to back. + +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. + + +_J. Corneford, of Wortham; C. Browne, of Maidstone; J. Herst, of +Ashford; Alice Snoth, and Catharine Knight, an aged woman._ + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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! + +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 to bear witness +that she was a Christian woman, and suffered joyfully for the testimony +of Christ's gospel. + + +_William Fetty scourged to death._ + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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, notwithstanding 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, MERCY. + +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. + + +_Deliverance of Dr. Sands._ + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 L500, 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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Queen Mary's treatment of her sister the Princess Elizabeth._ + +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 _sine qua non_ 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 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! + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +A large number of the wardens and servants of the Tower were 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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +The next day her grace took her journey from thence to Woodstock, where +she was enclosed, as before in the Tower of London, the soldiers +keeping guard within and without the walls, every day, to the number of +sixty; and in the night, without the walls were forty during all the +time of her imprisonment. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +"I must not say so, if it please your majesty, to you." + +"Why, then," said the queen, "belike you will to others." + +"No, if it please your majesty: I have borne the burden, and must bear +it. I humbly beseech 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +When Elizabeth quitted Woodstock, she left the following lines written +with her diamond on the window:-- + + Much suspected by me, + Nothing proved can be. Quoth Elizabeth, prisoner. + +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 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! + + +_God's Punishments upon some of the Persecutors of his People in Mary's +Reign._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +Ralph Lardyn, who betrayed the martyr George Eagles, is believed to have +been afterward arraigned and hanged in consequence of accusing 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." + +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. + +One Clark, an avowed enemy of the protestants in king Edward's reign, +hung himself in the Tower of London. + +Froling, a priest of much celebrity, fell down in the street and died on +the spot. + +Dale, an indefatigable informer, was consumed by vermin, and died a +miserable spectacle. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +After the accession of Elizabeth, most of the Catholic prelates were +imprisoned in the Tower or the fleet; Bonner was put into the +Marshalsea. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE SPANISH ARMADA. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 words +fell from him. + +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. + +This conference, however, came to nothing; undertaken by, the 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The Spaniards report, that the duke, when he saw the fire ships 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. + +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. + +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. + +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] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 English lost, and but one ship. +Whereupon money was coined with a navy fleeing away in full sail, with +this inscription, _Venit, Vidit, Fugit_. Others were coined with the +ships on fire, the navy confounded, inscribed, in honour of the queen, +_Dux Faemina Facti_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +2. A great number of lances used by the Spanish officers. These were +formerly gilt, but the gold is almost worn off by cleaning. + +3. The Spanish ranceurs, made in different forms, which were intended +either to kill the men on horseback, or pull them off their horses. + +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. + +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 _invincible_. + +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. + +7. Spanish bilboes, made of iron likewise, to yoke the English prisoners +two and two. + +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. + +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. + +10. A Spanish poll-axe, used in boarding of ships. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_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._ + +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. + +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. + +The cabal who formed the resolution of putting in practice this horrid +scheme, consisted of the following persons:--Henry Garnet, an +Englishman, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This being done, the conspirators next consulted how they should secure +the duke of York,[B] 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. + +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. + +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: + + + "My Lord, + + "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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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, to his master, who had fled +immediately, apprehending the plot was detected. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 treason, +and for praying for the success of the great action in hand at the +beginning of the parliament." Being found guilty,[C] 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. + +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. + +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. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] The queen made the following animated speech to the troops assembled +at Tilbury: + +"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." + +[B] Afterward Charles I. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE PROTESTANT RELIGION IN IRELAND; WITH AN ACCOUNT +OF THE BARBAROUS MASSACRE OF 1641. + + +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. + +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 had +formerly been an Augustine friar, and was promoted to the mitre on +account of his merit. + +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. + +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'[D] supremacy: adding, that +their isle, called in the Chronicles _Insula Sacra_, 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. + +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. + +Two years after this, the archbishop wrote a second letter to lord +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." + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +On the day after the common-prayer was first used in Christ-church, +Dublin, the following wicked scheme was projected by the papists: + +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 +_vulgar of all ranks_, were terrified at the sight of so _miraculous_ +and _undeniable_ 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 _infallible_ church. + +This incident, however ludicrous it may appear to the enlightened +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. + +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. + +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 _knave of +clubs_ 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. + +Anxious to accomplish the intentions of his "_pious_" 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!" + +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. + +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 +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 _pious_ 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 "_the holy war for the preservation of the +faith in Ireland_;" they were assisted by great numbers of the Irish, +but were at length totally defeated by the deputy, lord Mountjoy, and +his officers. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 Richelieu, 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. + +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_l._ and a pension of 200_l._ during his life. + +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 in 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +Such is the general description of this unparalleled massacre; but it +now remains, from the nature of our work, that we proceed to +particulars. + +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. + +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. + +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 or +shot and great numbers knocked on the head with axes provided for the +purpose. + +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 L1000 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 massacring 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 belly, threw it to its 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In the county of Tyrone no less than three hundred protestants 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +These succours were most happily brought by the ship Mountjoy of Derry, +and the Phoenix 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[C] 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. + +[D] The king of England was at that time called _highness_, not +_majesty_, as at present. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE RISE, PROGRESS, PERSECUTIONS, AND SUFFERINGS OF THE QUAKERS. + + +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. + +The appellation _Quakers_, 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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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 address the king thereon, which they did +in the following words: + + "_O king Charles!_ + +"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. + +"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. + + "London, 16th day, eleventh month, 1660." + +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, +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 filled with them, +and multitudes died of close confinement, in that and other jails. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 praemunire; 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, by persecutions on the conventicle-act, and others, also on +_qui tam_ 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 +L20 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_An account of the persecution of Friends, commonly called Quakers in +the United States._ + +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. + +For an account of the above people, see Sewell's, or Gough's history of +them. + +The principal points upon which their conscientious nonconformity +rendered them obnoxious to the penalties of the law, were, + +1. The Christian resolution of assembling publicly for the worship of +God, in a manner most agreeable to their consciences. + +2. Their refusal to pay tithes, which they esteemed a Jewish ceremony, +abrogated by the coming of Christ. + +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. + +4. Their constant obedience to the command of Christ: "Swear not at +all," &c. Matt. v. 34. + +5. Their refusal to pay rates or assessments for building and repairing +houses for a worship which they did not approve. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 religious +duty. + +Numerous and repeated were the persecutions against them; and sometimes +for transgressions or offences which the law did not contemplate or +embrace. + +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. + +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. + +Great numbers were long confined in loathsome prisons; in which some +ended their days in consequence thereof. + +Many were sentenced to banishment; and a considerable number 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. + + +_"At a General Court held at Boston, the 14th of October, 1656._ + +"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 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. + +"This is a true copy of the court's order, as attests + +"EDWARD RAWSON, Sec." + + +"_At a General Court held at Boston, the 14th of October, 1657._ + +"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 among ourselves, shall +be dealt with, and suffer the like punishment as the law provides +against foreign Quakers. + + "EDWARD RAWSON, Sec." + + +_"An Act made at a General Court, held at Boston, the 20th of October, +1658._ + +"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. + +"For prevention thereof, this court doth order and enact, that any +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 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." + +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. + +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: + + "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. + + "EDWARD RAWSON" + + "Boston, September 12, 1659." + +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 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. + +"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. + +"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.'"--_Winthrop's Hist. +of N. E. edit. by Savage, vol. 1, p. 167._ + +"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 matter, +till he is certain, that _in similar circumstances_, he would have shown +a better temper. + +"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.'"--_Jefferson Virg. Query, +XVIII._ + +"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."--_Holmes' Am. Annals. Hutch. vol. 1, p. 180-9._ + +"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."--_Chr. +Spect. 1830, p. 266._ + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE FRENCH PROTESTANTS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, DURING +THE YEARS 1814 AND 1820. + + +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. + +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 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. + + +_The arrival of King Louis XVIII. at Paris._ + +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 "_Vive le Roi_," the discordant sounds +of "_A bas le Maire_," 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. + + +_The History of the Silver Child._ + +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 _Vivent les +Bourbons_, 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 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 _Vive le Roi_, 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 _Vive le Roi_, 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. + + +_Napoleon's Return from the Isle of Elba._ + +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 but the _arrete_ 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. + + +_The Catholic arms at Beaucaire._ + +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 +farther 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 _white_, but _white_ and _green_, 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 +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. + + +_Massacre and Pillage at Nismes._ + +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 _valet de ferme_, 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Interference of Government against the Protestants._ + +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 _communes_ 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 _sequestration_." + +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 _not too late_ to persecute the protestants simply for their +religion. Even 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:-- + + +_Letters from Louvois to Marillac._ + +"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 _prudent_ 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." + +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. + +Till the period announced for the sequestration of the property of the +fugitives by _authority_, murder and plunder were the daily employment +of what was called the army of Beaucaire, and the catholics of 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. + + +_Royal Decree in favour of the Persecuted._ + +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, 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 _Vive l'Empereur_: +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 _Vive le Roi_. +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 +_Cours Neuf_, and nine were carried to the hospital. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +Hundreds after this were dragged to prison without even so much as a +_written order_; and though an official newspaper, bearing the title of +the _Journal du Gard_, was set up for five months, while it was +influenced by the prefect, the mayor, and other functionaries, the word +_charter_ 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. + + +_Petition of the Protestant Refugees._ + +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. + +"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. + +"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 _religious_ opinions is the real and only cause. 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. + + +_Monstrous outrage upon Females._ + +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 _battoirs_ in +the form of _fleur-de-lis_, 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 _fleur-de-lis_; I have seen them +raise the garments of females, and apply, with heavy blows, to the +bleeding body this _battoir_ 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." + +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, +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. + + +_Arrival of the Austrians at Nismes._ + +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 _feudal_ 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 was a public +reproach on the authorities at Nismes, and a sentence of condemnation on +all their proceedings. + +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 _misled people, who took +justice into their own hands, and avenged the crimes committed against +royalty_." 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. + +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." + + +_Outrages committed in the Villages, &c._ + +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, however, would not 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. + +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 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. + + "_January 2, 1816._ + + "I deeply lament the prejudices of the catholics + against the _protestants_, 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 _charter_, 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. + + SUVAL DE LAINE." + +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 systematic and powerful support of the higher department of the +state. + + +_Farther account of the proceedings of the Catholics at Nismes._ + +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: + +_Satellite._ "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." + +_Trestaillon._ "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: + +"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 _vive le Roi!_ 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 general, that many had been already killed in the +suburbs. M. Chancel retired to put on his uniform as captain of the +_Pompiers_; 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." + + +_Attack upon the Protestant Churches._ + +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 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 _Vive le Roi!_ 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. + +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." + +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 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. + + +_Murder of General La Garde._ + +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. + + +_Interference of the British Government._ + +To the credit of England, the reports of these cruel persecutions +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." + +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. + +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, _catholics_, covered with blood, and guilty of numerous and +horrid murders, were acquitted. + +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 _cour royale_ of Nismes, and president of the +_cour d'assizes_ 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 +'_Vive le Roi_.' 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 '_Vive le Roi_' redoubled: a +man arrives, caressed, applauded, borne in triumph--it is the horrible +Truphemy; he approaches 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." + + +_Perjury in the case of General Gilly, &c._ + +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 +_before their eyes_, 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 _three_ 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 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. + +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 _Royale_, 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. + + +_Ultimate resolution of the Protestants at Nismes._ + +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. + +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 _Cour Royale_ 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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +ASAAD SHIDIAK. + +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. + + +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. + + +_Biographical Notices of Asaad Shidiak._ + +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 to +connect, or to illustrate the extracts from the journal, or to render +the biography more complete and satisfactory. + + +_His early History._ + +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. + +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. + + +_Connexion with Mr. King._ + +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. + +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 _Bible-men_, as the +missionaries are called, because the patriarch "had received fresh +instructions from Rome to _persecute_ these men _by every means in his +power_, so long as one of them should remain in the country." + +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 writer, to +show the reasons which prevented his becoming a member of 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. + + +_Connexion with Mr. Bird._ + +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. + + +_Visits his Relations._ + +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. + +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. + + +_His return to Mr. Bird._ + +_Dec. 12._ 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. + + +_Progress of His Opinions._ + +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. + +14. Conversed with Asaad on the books of the Apocrypha.[E] 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. + +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. + +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" _means_ +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." + +_Jan. 1, 1826._ 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 _speculatively_, +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. + +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. + +"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 reproach of +the world, and all the opposition of the patriarch and priests." + +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." + +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 _wrong_. I +would now thank your holiness to tell me what is _right_." 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 _right_, they are silent." + +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 _we_ 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 _you_. My own countrymen are in so +much error, I cannot please _them_. _God_ I have no reason to think I +please; nor do I please _myself_. What shall I do?" + +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." + +Asaad observed, that whatever might be said, and whatever might be true, +of our _object_, in coming to this country he saw that the _doctrines_ +we taught were according to truth, and he was more than ever determined +to hold to them. + +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." + +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.[F] + + +_Visits the Patriarch._ + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +Against such a formidable innovator, the patriarch and his bishops rose +up in wrath, and Asaad was threatened with imprisonment and death. + +Two days after his departure, he thus wrote to Mr. Bird. + +"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." + +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. + + +_Is forcibly detained._ + +_Feb. 22._ 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. + +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: + +"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 I call upon God +for deliverance. I cannot now write fully, but the bearer will tell you +of all." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +26. Two young emirs from Hadet called. I asked one of them "Where is +Asaad Shidiak at present?" + +He replied, "He is with the patriarch." + +"And is he contented there?" + +"Not very well contented. But what should he do, poor fellow, necessity +is laid upon him." + +This remark proves to us, that it is not a secret among the priests and +emirs, that Asaad is detained against his will. + +_March 1._ 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. + +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. + + +_Escapes and returns to Beyroot._ + +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. + +The meeting was one of great joy and thanksgiving to us all.--After a +little rest and refreshment, he gave us a brief account of his escape. + +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. + +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 shekh 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. + +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?" + +Others, especially the great ones, pitied the poor maniac, (as they +called him,) and sent in quest of him to every direction, lest +peradventure, he might be found starving in some cavern, or floating in +the sea, or dashed in pieces at the bottom of a precipice. + +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. + + +_Public Statement of Asaad Shidiak._ + + _Beyroot, March 1826._ + +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. + +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." + +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 worldly motives, I chanced to read the 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 _bear_ 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. + +On finding this testimony, my heart rejoiced, and was exceeding glad, +for it removed many dark doubts from my _own_ 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 _Neronian_ doctrines, _that it is our duty to destroy +heretics_. Now every one knows, that whoever does not believe that the +pope is infallible, is a heretic in his opinions. + +This doctrine is not merely that it is _allowable_ to kill heretics, but +that we are _bound_ 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. + +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, +_ipso facto_, fall under the heaviest excommunication. + +Thinking, as I did, that obeying my superiors, in all things not +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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." + +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.[G] 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." + +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. + +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 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. + +"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. + +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 _Gospel_ made any such statement, and on that account I could not +believe the story. To this he gave me no answer. After 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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, "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 +_heart_ to mean the _will_. 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.[H] 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 _no religion_, +_no gospel_, and even _no God_. 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 _great city_, +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 _good tobacco_, 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 _knowing_ all of it? and how +could I say, without a lie, that I believe, when I do not believe? + +When I saw the patriarch breaking out with an exceeding loud and unusual +voice, I was afraid that I should be found among "_the fearful_," (Rev. +xxi. 8.) and rose to depart. When I reached the door, I turned 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. + +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 _he_ 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_ 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, _for what reasons_ 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. + +Under this prohibition from conversation, and this bereavement of books, +from what quarter could I get the necessary evidence to believe in their +opinion? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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;" but when I afterwards saw that by "_a +new law_," they meant merely the 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 _Blessed is he that condemneth +not himself in the thing which he alloweth._" + +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. + +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, _Thou art Peter, &c._ 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 _yes_, +then the opinion of the fallible man will answer. But if you say _no_, +and that we _must_ go to the pope, what must become of the man who dies +before the answer of the pope can reach him?" + +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 _pope_, 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 then 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 _were_ 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." + +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 _moral_ 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, 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: "_Consider the time +already past, and do what you please._" + +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. + +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, _out of the +abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh_, 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. + +I returned and told him, that I had a request to make of _one thing +only_, 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. + +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 _one_, take upon +myself this duty of preaching. This remark put an immediate end to the +conversation. + +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, +"_Speak_." 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, _be ye angry and sin not_. 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 _English_ among the 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. + +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: + +"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 _hearts are not transformed_, 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, _We do rest from our labours._ Take heed lest there be in +any of you an evil 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, _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._ 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." + +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--_Amen._ + +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 _told_ that I am +mad, but until I shall be so in _fact_, 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. + + ASAAD SHIDIAK. + + +_Interview with several of his Relatives._ + +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. + +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. + +"But," said they, "then you must hold your tongue, and not broach your +new opinions among the people." + +"What," replied Asaad, "must I go and live like a _dumb_ man? No, that I +will never do. My religion binds me not to do it. I must love my +neighbour as myself." + +"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." + +_Asaad._--"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." + +_They._--"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." + +"Then," said Asaad, "there is no more to be said;"--rising, and with +clasped hands walking the room;--"_Religion unshackled--Religion +unshackled_, is my doctrine." + +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, _we ourselves_ will +do the work: so take heed to your self accordingly.'" + +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. + +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. + + +_Begins to converse more pointedly with the People._ + +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." + + +_Interview with a younger Brother._ + +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. + +Asaad said, "I cannot confide in you." + +"But," said Galed, "if any one were disposed to take your life, could +they not do it as well here, as at home?" + +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." + +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. + +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." + + +_Correspondence with his family._ + +8. A messenger called this morning with the following note. + +"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, + + GALED." + +To this letter, Asaad sat down, and instantly wrote the following reply: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"And now we are prevented from coming to you, and you know we 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. + + "Your brother, ASAAD. + +"P. S. Tell our mother not to think so much of these earthly things but +rather of God our Saviour." + + +_Is visited by his Mother._ + +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. + +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 _am_ mad. How can it be expected that I should +convince others that I am _not_ 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,[I] 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." + +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 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!" + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + + +_Suspects himself to have been poisoned._ + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +_Visits his Relatives at Hadet._ + +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. + + +_Their violence, and the consequent proceedings of Phares Shidiak._ + +24. Phares Shidiak came to my house to day, and wished to speak with me +in private. + +"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. + +"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 _he_ returned, with a line from me to Asaad, and _I_ +came off to Beyroot, with the full determination never 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." + +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. + +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. + + +_Asaad's letter to his brother Phares._ + +"To my beloved brother Phares; the Lord Most High preserve him. Your +departure caused me great grief. _First_, 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. + +"_Secondly_, 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. + +"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. + +"Your brother and companion in tribulation, + + ASAAD." + +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, +to which I was obliged to reply, that instead of taking it for granted +to be a _false_ 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. + +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. + + +_Conversation of Phares with the Bishop of Beyroot._ + +After Galeb had gone, we put a great many questions to Phares, and he +communicated some interesting particulars. Among others was the +following: + +"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. + +"He said to me, 'I understand _you_ have become English, too. You +_reason on the subject of religion_.' + +"But," said I, "is every one English, if he _reasons_ on that subject?" + +_Bishop._--"But you read in the Bibles of the English." + +_Phares._--"Yes, and from whom is the Bible? is it from the English, or +from God?" + +_B._--"But it is _printed_ by the English." + +_P._--"Well, is it altered in any place?" + +_B._--"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." + +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. + +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.[J] + +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: + + +_Letter from Asaad to Mr. Bird._ + + "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. + + "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. + + "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. + + "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. + + "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. + + "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 _me_, 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. + + "Here I am, then, in a sort of imprisonment, + enemies within, and enemies without. + + "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 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.[K] + + "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. + + "I accept with pleasure all your kind wishes, and + send you many salutations in the Lord, and pray for + you length of days. + + "Yours, &c. ASAAD." + + "March 27, 1826." + + +_His relatives deliver him up to the Patriarch._ + +31. Information is received, that Asaad has been taken away against his +will, to the patriarch. + +_April 4._ 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. + +"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. + + ASAAD." + +We were disposed to send off a messenger this very evening, but Phares +said it would not be necessary. + +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." + +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. + +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 in the right," replied Asaad, "the truth is +with you. The _medicine_ is the thing; the _paper_ that holds it, is +nothing. So we ought to say of the gospel, the great medicine for the +soul. 'Tis the _pure gospel_ we want, and not the _church_ that holds +it." + +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. + +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. + +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, _the brother shall deliver up +the brother to death, and a man's foes shall be they of his own +household_. 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. _Blessed are the meek._" + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +8. Wrote to ----, a friendly Maronite bishop, to give me whatever +information he might be able to procure respecting Shidiak. + +_May_ 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Asaad is cruelly treated._ + +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, _that Asaad was in close +confinement, in chains, and was daily beaten_; and that the great cause +of complaint against him was, that he refused to worship either the +pictures, or the virgin Mary. + +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. + +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." + +_June_ 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. + +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. + +"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 +_body_, 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. + + "ASAAD ESH SHIDIAK." + +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. + +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, _with a heavy chain around his neck, and +firmly fastened at the other end into the wall_. 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. + +The lad continued with him an hour or two, without being discovered by +any one but the keeper. During the conversation, Asaad 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. + + +_Attempts made to procure his release._ + +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. + +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. + +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 "_without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful_." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, "_You_ 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. + +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, _they_ proposed _a more excellent way_, viz. that we +should give _them_ also a good reward to engage in this noble work of +brotherly love. + +24. The messenger from the emir A. arrived from Cannobeen, with the +following letter from the patriarch, in answer to his own. + +"After kissing the hands of your honourable excellency, &c. &c. With +regard to your slave, _Asaad Esh Shidiak_, 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. + + JOSEPH, _Patriarch of Antioch._" + +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 _chains_ and _stripes_, 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. + +_July 1._ 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. + +14. The youth who went to Tripoli to attempt something, came back +unsuccessful. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Great difficulties in the way of Asaad's release._ + +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 _not_ be. "There +are men in these mountains," said he, "that can kill and _have_ 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 the 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." + +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? _The emir would bring +500 witnesses to-morrow to establish any crime he was pleased to +allege._ And as to his fearing 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." + +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. + + +_His family attempt his liberation._ + +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. + +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 _lord of +hell_. 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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + + +_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._ + +=Translated from the Arabic of Naami Latoof.= + +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." + +During the few days they remained in the Kesroan, the patriarch shewed +him every attention, and suffered no one to oppose his opinions 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, _Bless and +curse not._" 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." + +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 _keepeth_ 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 word 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. + +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 _by +faith alone in Christ_; thus you cast contempt on his mother, and his +saints; you 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +On his arrival, he was loaded with chains, cast into a dark, filthy +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 _ass_ also, and pay it all obeisance, and all 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 do_ surrender my +opinions to the holy catholic church, for I profess the faith of the +church of Christ, and unite my conscience with it." + +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 angry than ever, and taking +off his slipper, beat both him and the priest, and drove the latter from +the room, and locked the door. + +After six days of additional confinement, the friendly priest again +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. + + Feb. 15th, 1827. + + * * * * * + +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.--"_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._" 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. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[E] The Papists receive these books as of equal divine authority with +the books of the Old Testament.--ED. + +[F] This he actually proposed, but the patriarch would not listen to the +proposal a moment. + +[G] "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. + +[H] See Rev. xiii. 13 + +[I] 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. + +[J] We afterwards ascertained, that he was decoyed off to a distance, as +if for walk, and when he would have returned, was prevented by force. + +[K] This letter was a mere tissue of testimonies, brought from the +fathers, and from the scriptures, condemning the worship of images. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +PERSECUTIONS OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARIES IN INDIA, DURING THE YEAR 1824. + + +_Account of the Scenes at Ava during the War._ + +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. + +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. + + "_Rangoon, May 26, 1826._ + +"My beloved Brother, + +"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 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. + +"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, +_not English_, and were going to Ava in obedience to the command of his +Majesty. + +"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. + +"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 _then_ in ruins, but is +_now the capital_ 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. + +"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 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, entered the 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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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! said we, you will probably never dance again. And +it so proved, for few if any ever saw again their native home. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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 +_one_, 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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 _death prison_, with three pairs of iron fetters each, +and fastened to a long pole, to prevent their moving! The point of 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. + +"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. + +"I then procured an order from the governor, for my admittance into +prison; but the sensations, produced by meeting your brother in that +_wretched, horrid_ 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 +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. + +"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 +_visit our house_ 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. + +"The following morning, the royal treasurer, prince Tharyawadees, chief +Woon, and Koung-tone Myoo-tsa, who was in future our 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. + +"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,--'_The teachers +will not die: let them remain as they are._' 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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"About this period, I was one day summoned to the Tlowtdan, in an +official way. What new evil was before me, I knew not, but was obliged +to go. When arrived, I was allowed to _stand_ 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 or 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. + +"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. + +"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 worn 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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 prisoners. In a day or two, however, I went +again, and took a present of considerable value. Bandoola was not at +home; but his _lady_, 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 _it could +not be done_. 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 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. + +"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. + +"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 +_low_ 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 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. + +"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. + + +_Removal of the prisoners to Oung-pen-la--Mrs. Judson follows them._ + +"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 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, +'_take care of yourself_.' 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. + +"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. + +"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 words 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. + +"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 +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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 hole in +the middle, through which a pole that supports the body is thrust. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 purpose 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 _acting king_ 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. + +"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_ 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. + +"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 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 _he_ 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. + +"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 +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.' + +"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 _one more effort_ 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. + +"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 will hear_, 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"The king caused it to be reported, that this general was executed, in +consequence of disobeying his commands, '_not to fight the English_.' + +"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 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. + +"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 Woongyee 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. + +"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. + +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 _we_ should wait 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. + +"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. + +"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: _What shall we render to the Lord for +all his benefits towards us?_ + +"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. + +"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 is, _It is not in +man that walketh to direct his steps._ 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. + +"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." + +In a concluding paragraph, dated Amherst, July 27, she adds: + +"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." + +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: + +"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. + +"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 to our wants, +and contributed in every way to alleviate our misery. + +"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. + +"When the tattered state of our clothes evinced the extremity of our +distress, she was ever ready to replenish our scanty wardrobe. + +"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. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PERSECUTION OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES IN THE WEST INDIES. + + +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. + +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. + +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 accusation of having been accessary to the +plot. We have collected and embodied such of the leading facts, relative +to these transactions, as have come to our knowledge. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The extract which follows is from the Missionary Chronicle, and was +published in the name of the Directors of the London Missionary Society. + +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 their duty, till he himself was +driven with violence, and with a weapon held to his body, from the +estate. + +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. + +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. + +In a letter to the Directors of the London Missionary Society, Mr Elliot +writes thus: + +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. _They have neither been so weak nor so +wicked as to excite the negroes to rebellion._ 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. + +On the 13th of October, Mr. Smith was brought to trial before a _court +martial_. 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,-- + +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 _guiltless_ of them all. + +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 time of their +execution, which he knew, (for he was a near spectator,) that they never +had uttered. + +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. + +He was condemned, and sentenced to _death_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +_Died,_--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 been 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. + +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. + +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 the +Methodists in the colony we quote the following statement from the +Wesleyan Methodist Magazine: + +We stated in our last number, that Messrs. Mortier and Cheesewright, our +missionaries in Demerara were safe, and that _only_ 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 _no one_ 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. + + +_Case of Rev. John Smith._ + +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. + +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. + +The Rev. Mr. Austin, a clergyman of the church of England, and Chaplain +of the Colony, thus expresses his opinion in a private letter. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +The Directors had resolved to take further measures for obtaining, in +England the reversal of his sentence. + +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. + +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. + + +_Persecutions of the Wesleyan Methodists in St. Domingo._ + +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. + + +_Persecutions at Port au Prince._ + +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. + +On Sunday, Feb. 2d, our assembly was held at Belair. During the morning +service several stones were thrown. + +_Feb. 4._ Whilst we were singing, a shower of stones was thrown, but no +one received any injury. + +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 +_Juge de Paix_, we were ordered to halt for a moment. Colonel Victor +knocked at his door, the _Juge de Paix_ asked who we were, and was +answered, "A band of methodists." The _Juge de Paix_ 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. + +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. + +When Mr. Pressoir heard of this event, he visited his brethren at the +prison. The following extract is from one of his letters. + +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 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. + +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. + +In a subsequent letter, dated July 31st, he writes:-- + +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 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. + +The following brief view of the persecutions of the methodists, in +Hayti, is taken from "Missionary Notices," published by the Wesleyan +Missionary Society. This account gave some particulars in addition to +those narrated in the details inserted above: + +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. + +The letter from Mr. Pressoir is dated about a year since. The following +extracts describe the violence of the mob: + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +President, let our society be narrowly examined, and if fault is found +in us, we are willing to suffer the punishment we merit. + +Confidently expecting your favourable reply, we have the honour of +saluting you most respectfully. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +PERSECUTIONS IN SWITZERLAND FROM 1813 TO 1830. + + +The information contained in the following account of the persecution in +Switzerland, is derived principally from the Christian Spectator and the +London Christian Observer. + +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 _we_ 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 Tell 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 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. + +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 _trades_, 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 enlightened +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. + +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 +_only_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 "_priest_," "_methodist_," "_mummer_," 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 _national_ spirit, +even of those who are devoted to the pleasures of the world. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +These articles however, did not produce the anticipated effect. The +doctrine of the divinity of Christ, and others equally offensive to +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. + +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,--_A bas Jesus +Christ! A bas les Moraves! A mort, a la lanterne_, &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. + + +_Persecution in the Pays de Vaud._ + +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. + +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, 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 +_respectable_ associate. + +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. + +Next, M. Olivier was banished for two years, by the sentence of the same +law. + +Like judgments have been pronounced against M. M. Chavannes, Juvet, and +Fivas, of whom, the two former, were previously confined _ten weeks in +prison_. + +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. + +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 _hanged_. No passport was given +him, so that he was left to be 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.] + +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. + +A large number of Swiss pastors have been driven into banishment, by the +inquisitorial proceedings of those who style themselves the _liberal_ +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. + +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. + +Recent information from Geneva, and the other cantons of Switzerland, +inform us that the spirit of persecution is still exhibited by the +_liberal_ 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 _liberal_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE MOST EMINENT REFORMERS. + + +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 + + +_John Wickliffe._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +Immediately after this transaction, Wickliffe ventured a step further, +and affected the doctrine of transubstantiation. This strange 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. + +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. + +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?" + +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 the fatal stroke of his +disorder in his church at Lutterworth, in the year 1384. + + +_Martin Luther._ + +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. + +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. + +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; 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 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." + +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. + +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 +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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. + + +_John Calvin._ + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +_Agency of Calvin in the death of Michael Servetus._ + +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." + +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 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. + +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."--_Biographia Evangelica_, +vol. II. p. 42. + +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." + +"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 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. + +It was the opinion, that _erroneous religious principles are punishable +by the civil magistrate_, 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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Calvin as a friend of civil liberty._ + +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 +_no man has lived to whom the world is under greater obligations for the +freedom it now enjoys, than John Calvin_." 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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."--_Neal, i. 152, 153, 154, 155, 252._ + +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 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." + +"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." + +"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 exceedingly 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 interruption, in 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.'" + +"In the same way, Dryden traced the origin of republicanism in England, +as appears from his political poem called the _Hind and the Panther_; 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. + + "The last of all the litter scap'd by chance, + And from Geneva first invested France. + Some authors thus his pedigree will trace; + But others write him of an upstart race, + Because of Wickliffe's brood no mark he brings + _But his innate antipathy to kings._ + + * * * * * + + What though your native kennel still be small, + Bounded betwixt a puddle and a wall? + Yet your victorious colonies are sent, + Where the north ocean girds the continent. + Quicken'd with fire below, your monster's breed, + In fenny Holland, and in fruitful Tweed; + And like the first, the last effects to be + Drawn to the dregs of a _democracy_. + + * * * * * + + But as the poisons of the deadliest kind + Are to their own unhappy coasts confined, + So Presbyt'ry and pestilential zeal, + _Can only flourish in a_ COMMONWEAL." + + +_The Life of the Rev. John Fox._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +excuse; he stated his opinions; and was, by the sentence of the college +_convicted, condemned as a heretic, and expelled_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +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 subsistence. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 cathedral of Salisbury, which was +in a manner forced upon him; for it was with difficulty that he could be +persuaded to accept it. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In his able martyrology he has elaborately treated of the vices and +absurdities of papal hierarchy, of which the following is a brief +enumeration. + + +_Errors, Rites, Ceremonies, and Superstitious Practices, of the Romish +Church._ + +TRADITIONS.] 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." + +PRAYERS AND DIVINE SERVICES IN LATIN.] 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." + +SEVEN SACRAMENTS.] 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 ALL of this." Matt. xxvi. 27. + +THE MASS.] 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, +"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. + +TRANSUBSTANTIATION.] 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!" + +PURGATORY.] 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. + +IDOLATRY AND CREATURE-WORSHIP.] 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 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. + +PAPAL SOVEREIGNTY.] 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. + +LUDICROUS FORMS AND CEREMONIES.] 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. + +CRUEL MAXIMS.] 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1789, AS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY +OF PERSECUTION. + + +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, 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." + +Croly, in his new interpretation of the Apocalypse, holds the following +language. + +The primary cause of the French revolution was the exile of +Protestantism. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +In the midst of this tempest of scorn an extraordinary man arose, to +guide and deepen it into public ruin, VOLTAIRE; 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. + +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 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 _lex +scripta_ of the Revolution. + +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 +unwieldy 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. + +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, "DEATH AN ETERNAL SLEEP." +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 than the +words of eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as +to their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of _Pauvre Peuple, +Peuple verteueux!_ 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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +"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 +_denouncing_, 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 _incivism_,--a crime the more mysteriously dreadful, as no one +knew exactly its nature." + +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. + + +_Massacre of Prisoners._ + +The number of individuals accumulated 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. It 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_Death of Louis XVI. and other Members of the Royal Family._ + +On the 21st of January, 1793, Louis XVI. was publicly beheaded in the +midst of his own metropolis, in the _Place Louis Quinze_, 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. + +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!" + +There was a last will of Louis 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +_Dreadful scenes in La Vendee._ + +In La Vendee, one of the departments of France, an insurrection broke +out against the Jacobinical government, in 1793. + +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. + +"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."--_Les Memoires d'un Ancien Administrateur des Armees +Republicaines._ + + +_Scenes at Marseilles and Lyons._ + +Marseilles, Toulon, and Lyons, had declared themselves against the +Jacobin supremacy. Rich from commerce and their maratime situation, +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. + +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 +_engaillement_ 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." + +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. + +This sacrifice was prevented by the courage of the Lyonnois; a courage +which, if assumed by the Parisians, might have prevented 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." + +But ere he could execute his threat, terror 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. + +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 Chalier. He was condemned and executed, along +with one of his principal associates, termed Reard. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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:--"_Lyons +rebelled against the Republic--Lyons is no more._" 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 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. + +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. + + +_The Installation of the Goddess of Reason._ + +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 _Goddess of Reason_, in 1793. + +"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 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 _Pere du Chene_) 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 fittest representative of +that reason whom they worshipped the national convention of France +rendered public homage. + +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. + +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. + + +_Fall of Danton, Robespierre, Marat and other Jacobins._ + +These monsters fell victims by the same means they had used for the +destruction of others. Marat was poignarded 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. + +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 poignard 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 proscribed the Girondists) was about to witness a +similar operation. + +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 _counter-revolutionized_ 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. + +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. + +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." + +The distinguished painter has been reproached, as having, on the +subsequent day, declined the pledge which he seemed so eagerly to +embrace. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 also 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 assentors 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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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, _he_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The arrested deputies had been carried from one prison to another, all +the jailers refusing to receive under their official charge +Robespierre, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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:-- + + "Here lies Robespierre--let no tear be shed: + Reader, if he had lived, thou hadst been dead." + +The fall of Robespierre ended the "_Reign of Terror_." 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired except where noted below. + +Page vi, "Vallie's" changed to "valleys" (the valleys of Piedmont) + +Page vii, "stupifies" changed to "stupefies (first stupefies the) + +Page xi, "Hawkes" changed to "Haukes" (Ardeley, Haukes, and) + +Page 18, "Icunum" changed to "Iconium" (Jerusalem, Iconium, Lystra) + +Page 23, "northen" changed to "northern" (restless northern nations) + +Page 26, "catechhmun" changed to "catechumen" (catechumen of Carthage) + +Page 33, "i ine" changed to "in fine" (in fine, he was) + +Page 39, "batoons" changed to "batons" (with batons, and) + +Page 42, "martrydom" changed to "martyrdom" (conclusion of her +martyrdom) + +Page 51, "dioceas" changed to "diocese" (in the diocese) + +Page 51, "remand" changed to "remanded" (They remanded him) + +Page 60, "cardina" changed to "cardinal" (crowns of the cardinal) + +Page 64, "no" changed to "not" (reached not to) + +Page 73, "nflicted" changed to "inflicted" (inflicted twice without) + +Page 73, "quiety" changed to "quietly" (peaceably and quietly) + +Page 73, "hreatening" changed to "threatening" (threatening words to) + +Page 75, "erwise" changed to "otherwise" (far otherwise than) + +Page 77, "contributious" changed to "contributions" (last contributions +to) + +Page 77, word "a" was inferred and placed in text do to spacing and +context (such a procedure) + +Page 80, inconsistent quotation marks were retained as original intent +could not be assertained. + +Page 91, "iner" changed to "Gardiner" (Gardiner was drawn) + +Page 91, "ne" changed to "near" (near the fire) + +Page 125, "Vilaro" changed to "Villaro" (of Villaro and Bobbio) + +Page 126, "apprended" changed to "apprehended" (Michialm, was +apprehended) + +Page 132, "dorpped" changed to "dropped" (till they dropped) + +Page 134, "stil kep" changed to "still kept" (and still kept) + +Page 136, "s" changed to "his" (completed his regiment) + +Page 136, "retron" changed to "return" (and return thanks) + +Page 137, "Vilaro" changed to "Villaro" (rocks of Villaro) + +Page 137, word "to" inserted into text (put to death) + +Page 138, "that" changed to "than" (than their suffering) + +Page 158, "tr s" changed to "troops" (of his troops) + +Page 158, "un ook" changed to "undertook" (princes undertook the) + +Page 158, "wel" changed to "well" (were all well) + +Page 159, "w s" changed to "was" (Zisca was solicited) + +Page 175, "possesion" changed to "possession" (his possession.) + +Page 179, "ban- s hour" changed to "banish our" (banish our preachers) + +Page 180, "enj ned" changed to "enjoined" (strictly enjoined his) + +Page 204, "see" changed to "she" (whom she forgave) + +Page 206, "queen" changed to "Queen" (in Queen Mary's) + +Page 207, "Northhampton" changed to "Northampton" (preached at +Northampton) + +Page 214, "halbered" changed to "halberd" (halberd struck him) + +Page 222, "Osmand" changed to "Osmond" (Thomas Watts, Thomas Osmond) + +Page 223, "Was" changed to "was" (he was brought) + +Page 224, "sherif" changed to "sheriff" (of the sheriff) + +Page 232, "passsed" changed to "passed" (he passed Bocardo) + +Page 232, word "be" deleted from text. Original read "he be bent +himself" + +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. + +Page 237, "charg" changed to "charge" (closely the charge) + +Page 239, "lest" changed to "lost" (forever lost his) + +Page 248, "Asking" changed to "Askin" (Askin and one John Guin) + +Page 251, "cemetry" changed to "cemetary" (their former cemetary) + +Page 260, "hallejahs" changed to "hallelujahs" (invocations and +hallelujahs) + +Page 264, "he" changed to "the" (at the stake) + +Page 268, "fo" changed to "for" (for these Dr.) + +Page 268, word "I" inserted into text (I am unlearned) + +Page 276, "Preston" changed to "Prest" (Mrs. Prest for some) + +Page 278, "Duchman" changed to "Dutchman" (The Dutchman accused) + +Page 285, "nowithstanding" changed to "notwithstanding" (notwithstanding +his passion) + +Page 292, "t" changed to "to" (every day, to) + +Page 293, "beesech" changed to "beseech" (humbly beseech your) + +Page 300, deleted repeated word "words". Original read "such words words +fell" + +Page 310, "Englisman" changed to "Englishman" (an Englishman, who) + +Page 314, word "to" inserted into text (to his master) + +Page 321, "Richlieu" changed to "Richelieu" (Cardinal Richelieu, the) + +Page 321, duplicate word "in" deleted. Original read: "evening in in the +city" + +Page 325, "massacreing" changed to "massacring" (besides massacring at) + +Page 326, "belley" changed to "belly" (up its belly) + +Page 336, "addess" changed to "address" (address to the king) + +Page 338, "religous" changed to "religious" (of religious duty) + +Page 341, word "any" inserted into text (that any person) + +Page 347, "Elb" changed to "Elba" (the Isle of Elba) + +Page 357, "owever" changed to "however" (This, however, would) + +Page 357, "no" changed to "not" (would not avail) + +Page 370, word "of" inserted in text. (member of the Roman) + +Page 376, "skekh" changed to "shekh" (The shekh declared) + +Page 377, "wordly" changed to "wordly" (other worldly motives) + +Page 386, word "but" presumed due to smudged text. (but when I) + +Page 386, word "the" presumed due to smudged text. (merely the gospel) + +Page 387, word "then" presumed due to smudged text. (and then there) + +Page 391, "evi" changed to "evil" (you an evil) + +Page 398, "o" changed to "to" (to which I was) + +Page 399, Footnote: word "a" inserted into text (to a distance) + +Page 406, the word "excellent" is presumed as the text was smudged. (a +more excellent) + +Page 408, repeated word "the" deleted. Original read: "or the the +palace" + +Page 410, "Assaad" changed to "Asaad" (history of Asaad) + +Page 413, "words" changed to "word" (This word tells) + +Page 416, "angy" changed to "angry" (more angry than ever) + +Page 419, "enter d th" changed to "entered the" (entered the garden) + +Page 425, word "I" inserted into text (period, I was) + +Page 426, "are" changed to "or" (if you or any other) + +Page 432, "word" changed to "words" (first words of) + +Page 432, "worne" changed to "worn" (worn out with fatigue) + +Page 437, "purose" changed to "purpose" (express purpose of) + +Page 442, "Woongypee" changed to "Woongyee" (a Woongyee and Woondouk) + +Page 445, "ion" changed to "accusation" (on an accusation) + +Page 448, "beeen" changed to "been" (having been transmitted) + +Page 453, "Misssionary" changed to "Missionary" (the Wesleyan +Missionary) + +Page 456, "tell" changed to "Tell" (Tell and Winkelreid) + +Page 457, "enlighted" changed to "enlightened" (most enlightened +cantons) + +Page 480, "exeedingly" changed to "exceedingly" (continued exceedingly +troublesome) + +Page 481, word "in" inserted into text (in all christian) + +Page 483, "subsisttence" changed to "subsistence" (his future +subsistence) + +Page 485, "cathdral" changed to "cathedral" (cathedral of Salisbury) + +Page 486, "Canterbery" changed to "Canterbury" (archbishop of +Canterbury) + +Page 492, "unwieldly" changed to "unwieldy" (antiquated and unwieldy) + +Page 496, "accummulated" changed to "accumulated" (individuals +accumulated in) + +Page 498, "t" changed to "It" (It required, as in) + +Page 499, repeated word "Louis" was deleted. Original text reads: "will +of Louis Louis XVI." + +Page 501, "Vendee" changed to "Vendee" twice. (La Vendee) + +Page 503, "terrour" changed to "terror" (terror was awakened) + +Page 508, "poinarded" changed to "poignarded" (poignarded in 1793) + +Page 508, "poinard" changed to "poignard" (poignard the tyrant) + +Page 511, "l o" changed to "also" (also on the day destined) + +Page 512, "assentators" changed to "assentors" (overawed assentors to +the) + +Varied capitalization of Christian, Jew, de Legal, and d'Herbois was +retained. Inconsistent spacing in meanwhile/mean while was retained. + +Different spellings of proper names such as Benifield and Benefield, +Tlowtdan and Tlowtdau, Wittenberg and Wittenburg were retained. Varied +hyphenation was retained throughout. + + + + + + +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.txt or 22400.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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