The Protestant Schoolmaster. CONTAINING, Plain and Easy Directions for spelling and Reading English, with all necessary Rules for the True Reading of the English Tongue. TOGETHER WITH A Brief and True Account of the Bloody Persecutions, Massacres, Plots, Treasons, and most inhuman Tortures committed by the Papists upon Protestants, for near six hundred years past, to this very time, in all Countries where they have usurped Authority to exercise their Cruelties: That is, The Persecutions of the Protestants in Piedmont. Bohemia. Germany. Poland. Lithuania. France. Italy. Spain. Portugal. The Low Countries. Scotland. Ireland, and England. With a Description of the Variety of their Tortures, curiously Engraven upon Copper Plates. And several other useful Particulars. By Edw. Clark. B. D. LONDON, Printed by T. B. And are to be sold by John How at the Rose and Crown in Sweetings Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1680. The Protestant Schoolmaster. CONTAINING, Plain and Easy Directions for spelling and Reading English, with all necessary Rules for the True Reading of the English Tongue. TOGETHER WITH A Brief and True Account of the Bloody Persecutions, Massacres, Plots, Treasons, and most inhuman Tortures committed by the Papists upon Protestants, for near 600 Years past, to this very time, in all Countries where they have usurped Authority to exercise their Cruelties: That is, The Persecutions of the Protestants in Piedmont. Bohemia. Germany. Poland. Lithuania. France. Italy. Spain. Portugal. The Low Countries. Scotland. Ireland, and England. With a Description of the Variety of their Tortures, curiously Engraven upon Copper Plates. And several other useful Particulars. By Edw. Clark. B. D. LONDON, Printed by T. B. And are to be sold by Enoch Prossor at the Rose and Crown in Sweetings Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1680. TO THE Protestant Nobility, Gentry and Commonalty of ENGLAND. SINCE we may Daily observe, That the Romish Foxes, both Jesuits, Priests, and Layity, do lay out the utmost of their strength and Policy, to introduce their cursed Principles and Practices into this Kingdom, it concerns every Man to be upon his Guard, and to endeavour as much as possible to secure and forewarn all Protestants of the danger of the return of that medley of Nonsense, Blasphemy, and Slavery; And young Persons especially aught to be truly informed thereof, since the design of these Sons of Belial, is to debauch the Youth of this Nation; and therefore upon all occasions you shall hear them vilifying all Religion, and abusing the Holy Scriptures; there being none fit to be Roman Catholics (as they nonsensically call themselves) than Atheists; because they find little or no difference between the Popish Religion, (if it deserves that Name) and none at all, since Treasons, Rebellions, Murders, Rapes, Burn, and all manner of the most Horrid Cruelties Hell itself can invent, are so far from being Crimes or Sins, that they are many times counted meritorious, and a Man shall deserve Heaven for committing them, according to the Doctrine of that Church; there being no sin unpardonable, but that which they falsely call Heresy, or the true Worship of God according to the Scriptures; and for this it is that they would have murdered our Gracious Sovereign, turned our Land into Blood, Slaughter, and Confusion: For this they would have overthrown our Religion, enslaved our Consciences, or else have burnt our Bodies to Ashes, as they did our Ancestors; It is difficult to give a draught of this bloody Beast of Rome, it would be a horrid sight to draw him in his full proportion, yet take a short view of him, so as to tremble at the thoughts of what others have suffered, and what he yet hopes to inflict upon us, if Divine Providence prevent him not; though no doubt but the Almighty will save and deliver us out of his Hands: His Eyes are Flames that have consumed the Bodies of many Thousand Martyrs, His Mouth is like Hell gaping for his Prey; Blood gushes out of his Jaws like Rivers, his bloody Tusks are the Racks and tormenting Engines wherewith he grinds the Bones of God's Saints, His Tail is Armed with the stings of Scorpions, wherewith he lashes Kings and Kingdoms; from his Throat he belches forth Curses and Excommunications, and denounces Judgements and Death upon all that oppose him, It is this Monster of Persecution and Cruelty that the Slaves of Rome endeavour to advance in all places where they have Power and Authority, and by this you may Judge of their Principles and Religion; by these evil Fruits you may Judge of the Tree, and what Spirit they are of; their hopes are very great, and their confidence mighty, but we trust Heaven will blast their designs, and overthrow their Machinations, and yet save his People. So that we may have cause to bless the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and to praise him in the Congregation; Let us therefore have no disagreement among Protestants, but let us as one Man by all justifiable and lawful methods, in our several Places and Stations, oppose this armed Beast of Persecution; And let us instruct our Youth both in their Principles and Practices, that so they may avoid and fly from them, as from that which will certainly ruin Soul, Body, and Estate for ever. This is the design of this little Book, which will give a brief Account of the Mischiefs and Villainies committed by that Man of sin upon the Servants of God, ever since he appeared in the World, the like of which were never acted by Heathens, Turks, or Infidels; and since they make so ill use of Pictures upon many accounts; I have endeavoured to draw in Picture some short strokes of the variety of their Tortures, practised upon Protestants, a Volume not being able to contain the whole of their Horrid Massacres, and Inhuman torments. Here are likewise Rules for teaching young people to read English, so that this may serve instead of any other Book of this kind; and youth may at the same time reap both profit and Delight; and thereby learn in time to read their Bible, that Great Enemy to the Popish Church, and which they formerly have, and would again burn as well as our Bodies, if it were in their power. Therefore let us Conclude in the words of the Royal Psalmist, Psalm 5. Destroy thou the wicked and mischievous Persecutors O God, let them fall by their own Councils, Cast them out in the multitude of their Transgressions, for they have rebelled against thee, but let all those who put their Trust in thee rejoice, let them ever shout for Joy, because thou defendest them, let them also that love thy Name be Joyful in thee; For thou O Lord wilt bless the Righteous, with favour wilt thou compass him as with a Shield. Amen. So Prays he who is an hearty Wellwisher to the Protestant Religion Edw. Clark. The Alphabet of several sorts of Letters. Roman small Letters. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z, &. Italic small Letters. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z, &. English small Letters. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z &. Roman Capitals. A B C D E F G H I I K L M N O P Q R S T V U W X Y Z. Italic Capitals. A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V V W X Y Z. English Capitals. A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z. The five Vowels. a e i o u y. The Consonants. b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s s t v w x y z. Double Consonants. ct sb should sk sl fl ffl. Other Double Letters. fi si ffis ssi & ae oe. Easy Syllables for young Beginners. a e i oh u. a e i oh u. ab eb ib ob ub ba be by bo but by ac ec ic oc uc ca ce ci co cum cy ad ed it odd ud da de di do du dy of of if of of fa fe fi fo fu fie ag egg ig og ug ga ge gi' go gum gy ak eke ik ok uk ka ke ki ko ku kine all el il ol ul la le li lo lu am 'em in am 'em ma me mi more mu my an en in on un na ne ni no nu ny ap ep ip op up pa poe pi po pu py are, er, it or ur ra re ri ro ru ry as es is os us sa se si so sum sy at et it ot ut ta te ti to tu ty axe ex ix ox ux va ve vi vo vu vy wa we wi woe wu wy bat bet bit bot but bram bre bri bro bru cad ced cid cod cud cha che chi cho chu dap dep dip dop dup dra dre dri dro dru fall fell fill fol full fla i'll fli flow flu. gad ged gid god good hac hec hic hoc huc lap leap lip lop lup The Vowels are sometimes written short, as ā for an or am; en for en or 'em; in for in; on for on or am; un for un or 'em; As in the following example: Keep the Commandements of the Lord, so shalt thou be out of danger, of eternal Destruction. A Vowel hath of itself a complete sound as for example; The Eyes of (A) wise Man are in his Head (I) wish we had many such; (O) How happy might we be? Some observe that there are Seven mute or dumb Letters, and they are B, C, D, G, P, Q, T. So called because they borrow the Vowel E at the end to help their sound; Their be Eight half Vowels; F, L, M, N, R, S, X, Z. All which begin their sound with an E, and end in themselves; The several Letters are sometimes thus distinguished, b f m p ph w, are Lip-Consonants, because the lips are necessary in their pronunciation; Ce, ch, ge, je, s, should, z. are Teeth Consonants, d, l, u, r, t, th', are Tongue Consonants; C, g, k, q, x, are palate Consonants; Gh, h, ug, y, are Throat Consonants. If Consonants are without Vowels they will make no sound at all; gl, ss, ch, st, dr, uk, gd, mst; but if a Vowel be added to each of them, than they make a perfect sound, as by adding a to the first word makes it glass, e to the second chest; i to the third drink; o to the fourth God, u to the Fifth must; If a Consonant happen between two Vowels, it is usually joined to the latter, as de-fe-ba-nish, basin, de-sire; If a double Consonant happen in the midst of a word, one of the Letters is joined to the first syllable, and the other to the latter, as kill, suf-fice, suc-cess; And so it is likewise if two Consonants come between two Vowels; as tram-ple, short-ly, ob-scure, per-fect; But if three Consonants which are proper to begin a word come between two Vowels, than the Consonant must not be separated, but joined to the next Vowel, as di-stract-ed, not dis-tracted, nor dist-racted, because stir are proper to begin a Word. The Consonants following of two Letters may likewise begin words, cr, dr, dw, fl, fr, kn, pl, pr, sc, should, sl, sp, st, sk, sm, sn, sq, sw, th', tr, tw, wh, wr. There are Consonants of three Letters also to begin words; as scr, pher, stir, squ, spr, shr, thr, thw, spl. There are some who reckon Eighteen Dipthongs in the English Tongue, but usually we count Fourteen, Eight of which are called proper Dipthongs; as ai, ei, oi, au, eu, ou, ee, oo: Six are named improper, ay, ey, oy, awe, ewe, owe; Now though they differ not much in sound, yet they do very much in writing, for the proper Dipthongs are to be used in the beginning and middle, as in Oyster, fair, Air, neither, but when you have the same in the ends of words, you must write; ay, ey, oy, as prey; may, joy. The Lord's Prayer. Our Father which art in Heaven, Hal-low-ed be thy Name. Thy King-dom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this Day our Daily Bread. And for-give us our Debts, as we for-give our Debtors: And lead us not in-to Temp-ta-ti-on, but de-li-ver us from Evil: for thine is the King-dom, and the Pour, and the Glo-ry for e-ver and e-ver A-men. The Creed or Christian Belief. I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Ma-ker of Heaven and Earth: And in Je-sus Christ his on-ly Son our Lord, which was con-cei-ved by the Holy Ghost, born of the Vir-gin Marry, suf-fe-red under Pon-ti-us Pilot, was Cru-ci-fi-ed, Dead and Bu-ri-ed, he de-scend-ed in-to Hell, the third Day he a-rose a-gain from the Dead, he a-scend-ed in-to Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence he shall come to Judge both the quick and the dead: I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the Com-mu-ni-on of Saints, the For-give-ness of Sins, the Re-sur-re-cti-on of the Bo-dy, and the Life e-ver-last-ing. Amen. The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20. GOD spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of E-gypt, out of the House of Bond-age. I. Thou shalt have no o-ther Gods before me. II. Thou shalt not make un-to thee any graved i-mage, or any like-ness of any thing that is in heaven a-bove, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the wa-ter under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, vi-si-ting the i-ni-quity of the Father's upon the Children; unto the third and fourth Ge-ne-ra-ti-on of them that hate me: and showing mer-cy unto thou-sands of them that love me and keep my Com-mand-ments. III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guilt-less that takes his Name in vain. IU. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; six days shalt thou la-bour and do all thy work; but the se-venth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-ser-vant, nor thy maid-ser-vant, nor thy cat-tle, nor the Stran-ger that is within thy Gates. For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is; and rest-ed the se-venth day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hal-lowed it. V Ho-nour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. VI Thou shalt not kill. VII. Thou shalt not com-mit A-dul-te-ry. VIII. Thou shalt not steal. IX. Thou shalt not bear false wit-ness against thy Neighbour. X. Thou shalt not co-vet thy Neighbour's house, thou shalt not co-vet thy Neighbour's wife, nor his man-ser-vant, nor his maid-ser-vant, his Ox, nor his Ass, nor a-ny-thing that is thy Neighbour's. Useful Instructions for young Persons Alphabetically in Verse. A Verse may find him whom a Sermon flies. And turn delight into a Sacrifice: To get and fix these Rules in memory, There needs no Art, but to mind A, B, C. A. At Table guard thy Tongue, a Civil Guest, Will no more talk all, than eat all the Feast. B. Be well advised, and wary Council take, thou dost any Action undertake. C. Command thyself in chief; He Life's Wa, knows, Whom all his Passions follow as he goes. D. Dare to be true, nothing can need a Lie, A fault which needs it, must grow two thereby. E. Eclipsed the Sun; Earthquakes, rend Vail, dark Sky, Nature must needs be sick when God can die. F. First Worship God, He that forgets to pray, Bids not himself good Morrow, nor good Day. G. Give to all something; but to a good poor man. Bestow as liberally as you can. H. How darest thou sin in secret? God doth see, And will alone thy Judge and Jury be. I. If a Son make his Father's Heart to bleed, He may a Child have to revenge the deed. K. Keep thyself humble, pride hath ruined many, The Proud Man's seldom well-beloved of any. L. Live Jesus live, and let it ever be, Our life to live, yea die, for love of thee. M. Man's Life's a flower, that fadeth in an hour. Who is so vain to dote upon a flower? N. Not House nor Land, nor measured heaps of wealth Can render to a dying man his health. O. Oh my Dear God, though I am quite forgot, Let me not love thee, if I love thee not. P. Pleasure is fleeting still, and makes no stay, It lends a smile or two, and steals away. Q. Quietly learn all Crosses to endure, Repining doth more misery procure. R. Reach Heaven thou canst not here; yet still aspire, And climb, if not in deed, yet in desire, S. Swear not; an Oath is like a dangerous Dart, Which shot, rebounds to strike the shooters heart. T. To all alike be courteous meek, and kind, A winning Carriage with indifferent mind. U. Use Patience what e'er haps, though bade it be, Take it for good, and 'twill be so to thee. W. Wise Men speak little we, scarce know of any, Undone by hearing, but for speaking many. X. Xerxes' with tears surveys his Mighty Host, Thinking how soon they'd all be dead and lost. Y. Youth think old men are Fools, but Old men know, By dear Experience that Youth are so. Z. Zealously practice what is good, and then, Great will be thy reward in bliss. Amen. Deuteronomy Chap. 13. IF there arise among you a Pro-phet or a Dream-er of Dreams, and gives thee a sign or a wonder. And the sign or the wonder come to pass, where-of he spoke to thee, saying; Let us go after o-ther Gods (which thou hast not known) and let us serve them. Thou shalt not harken un-to the words of that Prophet, or the dream-ex of dreams, for the Lord our God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him, and keep his Commandments, and o-bey his voice, and you shall serve him and cleave un-to him. And that pro-phet, or that dream-er of dreams shall be put to death (because he hath spo-ken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of E-gypt, and re-deem-ed you out of the House of Bond-age, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God com-mand-ed thee to walk in) so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. PSALM. 97. THE Lord reign-eth, let the Earth re-joice, let the mul-ti-tude of Is-rael be glad thereof; Clouds and Darkness are round about him, Righ-te-ous-ness and judgement are the ha-bi-ta-ti-on of his Throne. A Fire go-eth before him end burneth up his Enemy's round about; His Lightning's en-light-en-ed the World, the Earth saw and tremb-led. The Hills mel-ted like wax at the pre-sence of the Lord, at the pre-sence of the Lorn of the whole Earth. The Heaven's declare his Righ-te-ous-ness, and all the Peo-ple see his Glo-ry. Con-found-ed be all they that serve graved I-ma-ges, that boast them-selves of I-dols, wor-ship him all ye Gods; Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Ju-dah rejoiced because of thy judgements O Lord. For thou Lord art high a-bove all the Earth, thou art ex-alt-ed far a-bove all Gods; Ye that love the Lord hate evil, he pre-ser-veth the souls of his saints, he de-li-ve-reth them out of the hand of the wick-ed. Light is sown for the Righ-te-ous, and glad-ness for the upright in Heart. Re-joice in the Lord ye Righ-te-ous, & give thanks to the re-mem-brance of his Ho-li-ness. PSALM 124. But that God for us fought may Israel say, But that God for us fought in that sad day, When men inflamed with wrath against us risen, We had alive been swallowed by our Foes. Then had we sunk beneath the roaring waves, And in their horrid Entrails found our Graves, Then had their Violence, like Torrents poured, From melting Hills, our wretched lives devoured. O blessed be God who hath not given our blood; To quench their thirst, nor made our flesh their food, Our Souls like Birds have scaped the Fowler's Net, The snares are broke, which for our Lives were set, Our only confidence is in his Name, Who made the Earth, and Heavens Immortal frame. Psalm 115. NOT to us O Lord, not to us, but to thy Name give the glo-ry; for thy Mercy and for thy Truth's sake. Wherhfore should the Hea-then say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the Heaven's, he hath done whatsoever he pleas-ed. Their I-dols are sil-ver and gold, the work of men's hands, They have mouths, but they speak not, Eyes have they but they see not. They have Ears but they hear not, Noses have they but smell not; They have hands but they han-dle not, Feet have they, but they walk not, neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like un-to them, so is every one that trusteth in them. O Is-ra-el trust thou in the Lord, for he is their help and their shield. O house of A-ron trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. He will bless them that fear the Lord both small and great. The Lord shall in-crease you more and more, both you and your Children: You are blessed of the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth. The Heaven even the Heaven's are the Lords, but the Earth hath he gi-ven to the Children of Men. The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down in-to silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for e-ver-more. Praise the Lord. DANIEL Chap. 3. NEbuchadnezzar ehe King made an Image of Gold, whose height was Threescore Cubits, and the breadth thereof six Cubits, he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the Province of Babylon. Then an Herald cried aloud. To you it is commanded, O People, Nations, and Languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the Cornet, Flute, Harp, Sackbut, Psaltery, Dulcimer, and all kinds of Music, ye fall down and worship the Golden Image that Nabuchadnezzar the King hath set up. And who so falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into a burning fiery Furnace. Therefore at that time when all the People heard the sound of the Cornet, Flute, Harp, Sack-but, Psaltery, and all kinds of Music, all the People, the Nations, and the Languages fell down and Worshipped the Golden Image that Nebuchadnezar the King had set up. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near and Accused the Jews, They spoke and said to the King Nebuchadnezar, O King live for ever. Thou O King hast made a Decree that every Man that shall hear the sound of the Cornet, Flute, Harp, Sackbut, Psaltery, and Dulcimer and all kinds of Music shall fall down and Worship the Golden Image. And who so falleth not down and Worshippeth that he should be cast into the midst of a Burning Fiery Furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the Affairs of the Province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These Men O King have not regarded thee, they serve not thy Gods, nor Worship the Golden Image that thou hast set up. Daniel Chap. 3. Ver. 13. THAN Nabuchadnezzar in his Rage and Fu-ry. com-mand-ed to bring Sha-drach, Meshach, and A-bed-ne-go, than they brought these Men before the King. Nabuchadnezzar Spoke and said, Is it true O Sha-drach, Me-shack, and A-bed-ne-go? do not ye serve my Gods, nor Wor-ship the Golden I-mage that I have set up? Now if ye be rea-dy that at what time ye hear the Sound of the Cor-net, Flute, Harp, Sack-but, Psal-te-ry, and Dul-cimer, and all kinds of Music, ye fall down and Wor-ship the I-mage which I have made, well; but if ye Wor-ship not, ye shall be cast the same Hour in-to the midst of a Burn-ing Fi-e-ry Fur-nace; and who is that God that shall de-li-ver you out of my hands? Sha-drach, Meshach, and A-bed-ne-go, an-swe-red and said un-to the King, O Nabuchadnezzar, we are not careful to an-swer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is a-ble to de-li-ver us from the Burn-ing Fi-e-ry Fur-nace, and he will de-li-ver us out of thy hand O King. But if not, be it known un-to thee O King, we will not serve thy Gods, nor Wor-ship thy Golden I-mage which thou hast set up. Daniel, Chap. 3. Ver. 19 THAN was Nabuchadnezzar full of Fury, and the form of his Visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, therefore he spoke and Commanded that they should heat the Furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heat. And he Commanded, the most Mighty Men that were in his Army to bind Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, and to cast them into the Burning fiery Furnace. Then these Men were bound in their Coats and Hosen, and their Hats, and their other Garments, and were cast into the midst of the Burning Fiery Furnace. Therefore because the King's Commandment was urgent, and the Furnace exceeding hot, the Flame of the Fire slew those Men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; And these three Men fell down bound into the burning fiery Furnace. Then Nabuchadnezzar the King was Astonished, and risen up in haste, and spoke and said unto his Councillors, did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the Fire, they answered and said unto the King, True O King. He answered and said Lo I see four men lose, walking in the midst of the Fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nabuchadnezzar came near to the Mouth of the Burning Fiery Furnace, and spoke and said Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the Servants of the most High God come forth and come hither, then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the Fire. And the Princes and Governors and Captains, and the King's Councillors being gathered together saw these Men, upon whose Bodies the Fire had no Power, nor was an hair of their head Singed, neither were their Coats changed, nor the smell of Fire had passed on them. Daniel 3. Ver. 28. Then Nabuchadnezzar spoke and said Blessed be the God of Sha-drach, Meshech, and A-bed-ne go, who hath sent his An-gel and de-li-ve-red his Servant's that trust-ed in him, and have chang-ed the King's Word, and yield-ed their body's, that they might not serve nor Wor-ship any God except their own God. Therefore I make a De-cree that every peo-ple, Na-ti-on and Language, which speak any thing a-miss against the God of Sha-drach, Meshach, and A-bed-ne-go, shall be cut in Pie-ces, and their House's shall be made a Dunghill, because there is no o-ther God that can de-li-ver after this sort. Then the King pro-mo-ted Sha-drach, Mashach, and A-bed-ne-go in the Pro-vince of Ba-by-lon. Some Verses Written by Mr. John Careless Martyr in Queen Mary's Reign, and presented to a Gentlewoman who came to Visit him in Prison. My Sister Dear God give you Grace, With steadfast Faith in Jesus name; His Gospel always to Embrace, And live according to the same. To Die for Christ think it no Shame, But hope in God, and in him trust, And you shall have Eternal Joy, When you shall rise out of the Dust. For which most sweet and blessed Day, To God with Faith your Prayer make, And in your Prayers pray that I, May of that Heavenly Joy partake. And thus to God I you Commend, Who is your Castle and Defence, Let him protect you from all ill, Until to Heaven you go from hence. Amen. 1. Hast Lord; from such as would devour, Defend by thy Almighty Power, Delay not in so feared an Hour. 2. But let Confusion seize on those, Who would destroy, to Shame expose; Be sudden in their overthrows. 3. Let those with Infamy return, Dejected, and unpitied Mourn, Who would thy Gospel overturn. 4. Who love thy name, with Joy Invest; Let them in Shades of safety Feast, And ever say, The Lord be Blest. 5. But we are poor and full of need, Hast Lord, deliver us with Speed, Our strength, our help from thee proceed. Jeremiah, Chap. 10. HEar the word of the Lord which speaketh to you, O House of Israel. Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the Heathen, and be not dismayed at the Signs of Heaven; for the Heathens are dismayed at them. For the Customs of the people are vain, for one Cutteth a Tree out of the Forest (the work of the hands of the Workman) with the Axe. They deck it with Silver and with Gold, they fasten it with Nails and with Hammers that it move not. They are upright as the Palm Tree but speak not, they must needs be born because they cannot go; be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. For as much as there is none like to thee O Lord, Thou art great and thy name is great in Might; who would not fear thee O King of Nations? for to thee doth it appertain, for as much as among all the Wise Men of the Nations, and in all the Kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. But they are altogether Brutish, and Foolish, the Stock is a Doctrine of Vanities, Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and Gold from Vphaz, the work of the Workman, and of the hands of the Founder; Blue and Purple is their Clothing, they are all the work of Cunning Men. But the Lord is the True God, he is the Living God and an Everlasting King, at his Wrath the Earth shall tremble, and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation. Jeremiah, Chap. 10. Ver. 11. THus shall ye say un-to them, The Gods that have not made the Heaven's and the Earth, even they shall perish from the Earth, and from under these Heaven's. He hath made the Earth by his Pour he hath E-sta-blish-ed the World by his Wisdom, and hath stretch-ed out the Heaven's by his dis-cre-ti-on. When he uttereth his Voice there is a Mul-ti-tude of Waters' in the Heaven's, and he cau-seth the Va-pours to As-cend from the ends of the Earth, he makes Lightning's with Rain, and bring-eth forth the Winds out of his Treasure's. Every Man is Bru-tish in his Knowledge, every Found-er is Con-found-ed by the Graved I-mage, for his Melted I-mage is falsehood, and there is no Breath in them. They are Va-ni-ty, and the Work of er-rors in the time of their Vi-si-ta-ti-on they shall Pe-rish. Those helpless Gods Adored in popish Lands, Are Gold and Silver; wrought by Humane Hands. Blind eyes have they, Deaf Ears, still silent Tongues, They draw no Breath from their Unactive Lungs. Who make them are like to them; such are those, Who in these Senseless Stocks their hopes Repose. O praise the Lord you who from Israel Spring, His praises O you Sons of Aaron Sing. You of the house of Levi praise his Name. All you who God Adore, his praise proclaim. From Zion praise God only Good and Great, Who in Jerusalem hath fixed his Seat. I. Kings 18.21. ANd E-li-jah came un-to all the Peo-ple and said, How long halt ye between two O-pi-ni-ons. 2. If the Lord be God follow him, but if Ba-al then follow him, and the Peo-ple an-swer-ed him not a Word. Then said E-li-jah un-to the Peo-ple, I, even I on-ly, re-main a Pro-phet of the Lord, but Ba-al's Prophet's are four Hun-dred and Fif-ty Men. Let them therefore give us two Bullocks, and let them choose one Bul-lock for them-selves, and cut it in pie-ces, and lay it on Wood, and put no Fire under, and call ye on the Name of your Gods, and I will call on the Name of the Lord, and the God that an-swe-reth by Fire let him be God; and all the Peo-ple an-swer-ed and said, It is well spo-ken. And E-li-jah said un-to the Prophet's of Ba-al, Choose you one Bul-lock for yourselves, and dress it first, for ye are many, and call upon the Name of your Gods, but put no Fire under. And they took the Bul-lock which was gi-ven them, and they dres-sed it, and cal-led on the Name of Ba-al from Mor-ning un-til Noon, saying, O Ba-al hear us, but there was no Voice, nor any that answered, and they leapt upon the Alter which was made. And it came to pass that at Noon E-li-jah Mock-ed them, and said, Cry a-loud, for he is a God, ei-ther he is talk-ing, or he is pursuing, or he is in ajour-ney, or per-ad-ven-ture he sleep-eth and must be a-wa-ked, And they cried a-loud, and cut them-selves after their manner with Knives and Lan-ces till the Blood Gush-ed out upon them. And it came to pass when Midday was past, and they Prophesied until the time of the Of-fering of the E-ve-ning Sa-cri-fice, that there was neither Voice, nor any to an-swer, nor any that re-gard-ed. 1 Kings 18.30. ANd Elijah said unto all the People, come near unto me; and all the People came near unto him, and he repaired the Altar of the Lord that was broken down; and Elijah took Twelve Stones according to the Number of the Sons of Jacob, unto whom the Word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy Name. And with the Stones he Built an Altar in the Name of the Lord, and he made a Trench about the Altar, as great as would contain two Measures of Seed, and he put the Wood in order, and cut the Bullock into Pieces and laid him on the Wood, and said, Fill four Barrels with Water, and pour it on the Sacrifice and the Wood And he said, do it the second time and they did it the second time, and he said, Do it the third time, and they did it the third time, And the Water ran round the Altar, and he filled the Trench also with Water. And it came to pass at the time of the Offering of the Evening Sacrifice, that Elijah the Prophet came near and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel; let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy Servant, and that I have done all these things at thy Word. Hear me O Lord, hear me, that this People may know thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the Fire of the Lord fell, and Consumed the Sacrifice, and the Wood and the Stones and the Dust, and licked up the Water that was in the Trench. And when all the People saw it they fell on their Faces and they said, The Lord he is the God, the Lord he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the Prophets of Ba-al let not one of them escape, and they took them, and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and Slew them there. PSALM 79. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance, thy holy Temple have they Defiled, they have laid Jerusalem in heaps. The dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be Meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven, the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth. Their Blood have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to Bury them. We are become a Reproach to our Neighbours a Scorn and Derision to them that are round about us. How long O Lord, wilt thou be angry forever? Shall thy jealousy burn like Fire? Pour out thy Wrath on the Heathen that have not known thee, and on the Kingdoms that have not called on thy Name, For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his Dwelling place. O Remember not against us former Iniquities, let thy tender Mercies speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low: Help us O Lord our Salvation for the Glory of thy Name, and deliver us, and purge away our Sins for thy Names sake. Wherefore should the Heathen say, where is their God? Let him be known among the Heathens in our sight, by the Revenging the Blood of thy Servants which is shed. Let the Sighing of the Prisoners come before thee; according to the greatness of thy Power, preserve thou those that are appointed to Die. And render unto our Neighbour's into their Bosom their Reproach wherewith they have Reproached thee O Lord. So we thy People and Sheep of thy Pasture will give thee Thanks for ever; we will show forth thy Praise to all Generations. 11 Kings 10.18. And Je-hu ga-the-red all the Peo-ple to-ge-ther, and said unto them, Ahab Ser-ved Ba-al but a little, but Je-hu shall serve him much. Now therefore call un-to me all the Prophet's of Ba-al, all his Servant's, and all his Priests, let none be want-ing; for I have a great Sa-cri-fice to do un-to Ba-al, who-so-e-ver shall be want-ing he shall not Live. But Je-hu did it in Subtlety to the in-tent that he might De-stroy the Worshippers of Ba-al. And Je-hu said, Pro-claim a So-lemn As-sem-bly for Ba-al; and they pro-claim-ed it; and Je-hu sent through all Is-ra-el, and all the Worshippers of Ba-al came, so that there was not a man left that came not; and they came in-to the House of Ba-al, and the House of Ba-al was full from one end to another. And Je-hu said un-to him that was o-ver the Vest-ry, bring forth Vest-ments for all the Worshippers of Ba-al, and he brought them forth Vest-ments. And Je-hu went, and Jehonadab the Son of Re-chab, in-to the House of Ba-al, and said un-to the Worshippers of Ba-al, Search and look that there be here with you none of the Servant's of the Lord, but the Worshippers of Ba-al on-ly. And when they went in to offer Sa-cri-fi-ces and burnt Of-fe-rings Je-hu ap-point-ed Four-score Men without and said; If any of the Men whom I have brought in-to your hands es-cape, he that let-teth him go, his Life shall be for the Life of him. And it came to pass as soon as he had made an end of Of-fe-ring the Burnt-Of-fe-ring, That Je-hu said un-to the Guard and to the Captain's, Go in and Slay them let none come forth, and they Smote them with the Edge of the Sword; and the Guard and the Captain's cast them out, and went to the Ci-ty of the House of Ba-al, and they brought forth the I-ma-ges out of the House of Ba-al and Burnt them. And they broke down the I-mage of Ba-al, and broke down the House of Ba-al, and made it a Draught House un-to this Day. Thus Je-hu de-stroy-ed Ba-al out of Is-ra-el. Jehu Crowned King, Jehu the King must fall To Ahabs God, Jehu must Worship Baal. The God Divided people must go call, Baal's Sacred priests, Jehu must Worship Baal. None must be left behind, they must come all, Jehu must burn a Sacrifice to Baal. The priests come puffing in both Great and Small. Must wait on Jehu and must Worship Baal. Baal's house is filled, and crowded to the Wall, With people that are come to Worship Baal. What must there now be done, what Odours shall, Perfume Baal's Nostrils? Even the Priests of Baal. Baal's holy Temple's now become a Stall, Of priestly flesh, of fleshly priests to Baal. How would our Gospel flourish if that all, Princes like Jehu would but Worship Baal. St. Matthew Chap. 10. Ver. 16. BEhold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves, be ye therefore Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves. But beware of Men for they will deliver you up to the Councils, and they will Scourge you in their Synagogues. And ye shall be brought before Governors and Kings for my sake, for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles, but when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same Hour what you shall speak, For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to Death, and the Father the Children, and the Children shall rise up against their Parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be Hated of all Men for my Names sake, but he that endureth to the end shall be Saved. But when they Persecute you in this City, Flee ye into another; for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the Cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come. The Disciple is not above his Master, nor the Servant above his Lord. And fear not them that can Kill the Body, but are not able to Kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. Whosoever therefore shall Confess me before Men, him will I also Confess before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before Men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven. Think not that I am come to send Peace on Earth; I came not to send Peace but a Sword. For I am come to set a Man at Variance against his Father, and the Daughter against her Mother, and the Daughter in Law against her Mother in Law, And a Man's Foes shall be they of his own Household. He that Loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loveth Son and Daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his Cross and followeth me is not worthy of me. He that findeth his Life shall lose it, and he that loseth his Life for my sake shall find it. St. Luke 3.23. AND Je-sus himself begun to be about Thir-ty Years of Age, being (as was sup-po-sed) the Son of Jo-seph, which was the Son of He-li, which was the Son of Matthat, which was the Son of Le-vi, which was the Son of Melchi, which was the Son of Jan-na, which was the Son of Joseph. Which was the Son of Mattathias, which was the Son of A-mos, which was the Son of Naum; which was the Son of E-li, which was the Son of Nag, which was the Son of Maath, which was the Son of Mattathias, which was the Son of Se-me-i, which was the Son of Jo-seph, which was the Son of Ju-da. Which was the Son of Jo-an-na, which was the Son of Rhe-sa, which was the Son of Zorobabel, which was the Son of Salathiel, which was the Son of Ne-ri, which was the Son of Melchi, which was the Son of Addi, which was the Son of Cosam, which was the Son of Elmodam, which was the Son of Er. Which was the Son of Jo-se, which was ehe Son of Eliezer, which was the Son of Jorim, which was the Son of Matthat, which was the Son of Le-vi. Which was the Son of Mathusala, which was the Son of E-noch, which was the Son of Ja-red, which was the Son of Ma-le-l●-el, which was the Son of Cainan, which was the Son of E-nos, which was the Son of Seth, which was the Son of Adam, which was the Son of God. St. Matthew Chap. 24. AND jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in my name Saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many and ye shall hear of Wars and Rumours of Wars; see that ye be not troubled for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet. For Nation shall rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there shall be Famines and Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of Sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be Afflicted and shall Kill you; and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Names Sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many. And because Iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that endureth unto the end shall be Saved. When ye therefore shall see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the Holy place (who so readeth let him understand) Then let them that be in Judea Flee unto the Mountains. For than shall be great Tribulation, such as was not since the Beginning of the World to this time, no nor never shall be; and except those days should be shortened, there should be no Flesh Saved, but for the Elects sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any Man shall say unto you, lo here is Christ, or lo there, believe it not, for there shall arise false Christ's & False Prophets, and shall show great Signs and Wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. Beloved I have told you before. PSALM. 74. Great God of Gods forget not those, Who thee Reproachfully Despise, Remember Lord the Blasphemies, Cast on thee by Frantic Foes. O! to the wicked Multitude, Surrender not thy Turtle Dove, Nor from thy tender care remove, The Poor by powerful Wrong pursued. Thy Covenant bound by Oath Maintain, For Darkness overspreads the Face, Of all the Land; in every place, Destruction Rape and Slaughter Reign. Let not th' Oppressed return with shame. But Crown thee with Deserved Applause, O Patronise thy proper cause, Remember, Fools Revile thy name. O! Let their Sorrows never cease, Who blast thee with their Calumnies, The Tumults of their Pride, who rise Against thee, every day Increase. The Protestant Instructed, and the Errors of Popery Discovered. Question. WHat ought to be the great Design of all Men in this World? Answ. So to Serve and Honour God in this Life, that we may for ever enjoy eternal happiness in the World to come. Quest. This indeed is the Interest of every man; but since there are so many Religions in the World, which of these do you profess? Answ. The Christian Religion; which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, and which is commonly called the Protestant Reform Religion. Quest. Why is it called the Protestant Religion? Answ. It is called the Protestant Religion from a solemn Protestation of several Princes and Cities of Germany, against the errors and Usurpations of the Roman Church; but yet it is no new Doctrine brought into the World, but the truth of Christianity, Confessed, Asserted, and purged from the Corruptions of Popery, and hath the very same grounds to prove the Truth thereof, which the Christian Religion itself hath. Quest. How do you prove that the Protestant Religion professed at this day is the pure and Ancient Christian Religion. Answ. 1. Because of its exact Conformity to the Scriptures, and the genuine and clear sense thereof. 2. In that the Protestant Religion is the very same, and exactly agrees with the Faith of the Christian Church in the first three hundred years after the death of our Saviour. 3. From the confession of the Papists themselves, who own that there have been some in all Ages, even in the darkest times of Popery, who have Owned, Asserted, and Died in Defence of the same Doctrines which we now profess, as the Waldenses, Albingenses, Berengatians, and others. Quest. Hath not the Romish Church, the Decrees, Canons, Councils and the Pope himself as their Head, to prove the Truth and Certainty of their Religion. Answ. Though they boast very much of Infallibility yet. 1. They never were agreed, nor are ever like to agree who this Infallible Judge is, whether in a General Council, or the Pope himself, 2. They have no Rational Certainty of what they believe, since they wilfully neglect the Holy Scriptures, and with a Biind Obedience intrust their Souls with those Men whose Credit and Testimony a Man would hardly trust with a Sum of Money without better Security. 3. They have no Bible, nor other Authentic Record to prove their Religion, but a Mass of dead Traditions that have no Voice, nor Sound to be understood, until the Romish Clergy put a sense upon them; So that a Man can hardly embrace Popery, except he first turn Atheist, yea, quit all his Religion and Reason at once. Quest. But do not the Papists damn all the World but themselves, confidently affirming that Rome is the Catholic Apostolic Church, out of which there is no salvation? Answ. Their confidence is not at all to be wondered at, since it is one of the greatest Arguments they use, to prove the most ridiculous Assertions, but that the Romish Church can have no possible claim to their being only saved, is unanswerable from these Arguments. 1. Because we know of no Church which consisteth of all Christians Subjected to one Humane Head, nor do we read that our Subjection to the Pope is made a condition of Salvation. 2. It is evident that in the Apostles time, and for divers Ages since, there was a Christian Catholic Church which had no dependence upon the See of Rome. 3. There are a greater number in the World who embrace and profess the Christian Religion, and have no Communion with Rome, than there are Papists. 4. It is the prerogative of Jesus Christ alone to be Head of his Church, for as there is one Faith, and one Lord Jesus Christ, so there is but one body, which is his Church, united to him as her head, Eph. 4.3, 4. Psalm 2.6. Quest. What are some of those Errors brought in by the Pope and his Clergy, which occasioned the Protestants departure from their Communion? Answ. There were several Errors and Extravagancies Introduced, both in Doctrine and Discipline, one of their Doctrines was that of Purgatory, which they affirm is a place next door to Hell, where the Torments are as extreme as those of Hell itself, but not eternal; in this place they say the Souls of the Faithful are purged, some for a hundred, some for five hundred, or a Thousand years, till they are delivered by the Prayers, Masses, Pope's Pardons, but especially by the Money of their Friends or Relations. Quest. What say the Protestants to this? Answ. They say it is Blasphemy to believe that Men are purged from sins in this place, since the blood of Christ is the only purgatory for our Sins. Besides, there is no ground in Scripture for any such belief. St. Luke 16.23. In Hell he lift up his Eyes being in Torment, etc. St. Matt. 28.12. They shall sit down with Abraham, etc. in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the other shall be cast into utter Darkness, where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth. Mark 26.16: He that believeth shall be Saved, and he that believeth not shall be Damned. Quest. What other Errors do they maintain? Answ. The Doctrine of Transubstantiation; for they say that in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, Jesus Christ is corporally present, and that there is a change of the Substance of the bread and wine into the natural body and blood of Christ. Quest. What answer the Protestants? Answ. That this Doctrine is contrary to many plain Testimonies of Scripture, it overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to very gross Idolatry, and great Superstition; and besides, it contains a multitude of absurdities and contradictions: For 1. Then must our blessed Saviour hold himself in his own hands, yea devour and eat up himself, and yet still sit whole and entire at the Table with his Disciples. 2. The body of Jesus Christ must be in a Thousand places at the same time. 3. His whole body must be in the mouth of every Communicant at once. 4. His whole body must be less in quantity than the least Limb of his body. 5. His body must at the same time be broken and unbroken, and must at the same time ascend and descend; and lastly, must be subject to putrefaction, and many other Absurdities. And therefore those words. This is my Body, are to be understood, that this doth signify and represent my body; and upon the same account Christ is called a Rock, a Door, a Vine, and yet none can be so senseless to think that Jesus Christ was turned into any of these. Quest. What other Errors are they charged with? Ans. That the Scripture ought not to be set forth in the Common Tongue; but that it is dangerous for the people to read the Bible, lest they fall into Heresy. Qu. What do the Protestants answer to this? Answ. That the true Reason of this is because if they suffer the People to read the Scripture, it would make them abhor the Popish Religion, as being absolutely contrary thereunto. For the Scriptures exhort all to be diligent Readers thereof, and our Saviour saith, what say the Prophets and Apostles concerning this? Search the Scriptures, Joh. 5.39. Seek ye the Book of the Lord and read, Isa. 34.16. They were more noble in that they searched the Scriptures daily, Acts 17.11. They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them, Luke 16.29. Let the word of God dwell richly in you, Col. 3.16. Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph. 6.17. From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3.15. Except you utter Words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? 1 Cor. 14.9, 16. Qu. What other erroneous Doctrines do the Papists hold? Answ. The praying to Angels, to the Virgin Mary, and the Apostles and Saints departed. Quest. What say the Protestants to it? Answ. They say, That the Papists by praying in that manner, do give to the Angels and Saints departed the highest religious Worship and Adoration that is possible, and so are guilty of fearful Idolatry, and that we ought to go to God in the mediation of Christ alone; neither have we any ground to believe that the Saints in Heaven know our particular Persons, wants, necessities or desires; and the Scripture seems contrary to all this; Call upon me in the day of trouble, Psal. 50.15. Say, Our Father which art in Heaven, Luke 11.2. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only, Mat. 4.10. Let no man beguile you into a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels, Col. 2.18. There is one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. 2.5. Through him we have access unto the Father, Eph. 2.18. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, Col. 3.17. Whatsoever you shall ask in my name I will do it, John. 14 3. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel know us not, Is. 63.13. Thou sendest man away, his Sons come to Honour, and he knows it not, they are brought low, but he perceives it not. Job. 14.21. St. John fell down to worship before the Feet of the Angel, then saith he, see thou do it not, for I am thy Fellow Servant, worship God. Rev. 22.8, 9 Cornelius fell down at St. Peter 's feet and worshipped him, and Peter said, stand up I myself am also a man, Act. 10.25. Quest. Do not the Papists affirm that we ought to pray for the dead? Answ. Yes but the Protestants answer, They that die in the Lord need not our prayers, and they that die in their sins can have no benefit by them; and that the reason, why the Popish Priests uphold this Error is, because they get so much money by it. last; we have no Command from God; no promise to be heard; no Example in Scripture for praying for the dead, or praying to Saints, Read 2 Sam. 12.21. Now the Child is dead, why should I fast and pray. Blessed are they that die in the Lord, Rev. 14.13. Qu. Do the Papists hold that all that die without Baptism are undoubtedly damned, and shut out of Heaven? Answ. Yes, But Protestants say that is false; for than 1. The Penitent Thief could not be saved; contrary to that of St. Luke 23.43. 2. A multitude of Infants must be damned for the neglect of their Parents, which is a cruel and uncharitable censure, contrary to Gen. 17.7. 1 Cor. 7.14. Rom. 4.11. Mat. 19.14. Quest. Is water the only visible substantial sign to be used in Baptism? Answer. Read that of Saint Mat. 3.11. I Baptise you with water; and Acts 10.47. Can any forbid water that these should not be baptised? But the Papists use Salt, Oil, Spittle and many other Superstitions and Additions, which they have made to the Institution of Jesus Christ in Baptism. King James of Famous Memory, in his Apology, hath these Words, The Queen my Mother at my Baptism, although I was Baptised by a Popish Archbishop, sent him word to forbear to use the Spittle in my Baptism; which was obeyed, it being indeed a Filthy and Apish Trick: Her own words were, That she would not have a Pocky Priest to spit in her Child's Mouth. Quest. What do the Papists mean by the Mass, which they so often talk of? Answ. It is the same which the Protestants call the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and the Papists call it the Mass, thereby intimating that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is made a Sacrifice and offered up to God, which as it is used by them is both Vain and Idolatrous. 1. Because by the Death of our Blessed Saviour, who was Sacrificed for our Sins, Divine Justice is sufficiently satisfied, and the Sinner who returns and Reputes is fully secured as to his everlasting State. Heb. 10.12. This man after he had offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever, sat down at the Right-hand of God. 2. The Papists Worship their Mass not only as God, but trust in it for Salvation instead of Christ our Saviour: Neither doth it excuse them to say, that they worship not the Bread, or a breaden God, but Jesus Christ, whom they suppose to be present; for this Argument cannot free them from Idolatry, no more than it will the Heathen Idolaters, who though they worshipped the Sun, yet supposed it to be God; and so they did Jupiter, whom they worshipped: And therefore if Papists be not Idolaters, there never were any such in the world. Qu. Are these all the Points wherein the Papists and Protestants differ? Ans. No, for a Volume would hardly contain the Fopperies of that Apostate Church; as, denying the Cup in the Lord's Supper to the people, Pardons, Indulgences, Pilgrimages, and Jubilees; their seven Sacraments, instead of two appointed by our Saviour; forbidding Priests to marry, Justification by Works, Merit, Equivocation, and abundance more; which if truly understood, would make every Protestant abhor both their Church and Doctrine. Qu. But is the Apostasy of the Church of Rome such, as there is no safe union with her, or being saved in that Religion? Ans. If Rome be that spiritual Babylon mentioned, Rev. 18.4. as it is there very plain and evident, then are we absolutely commanded to come out of her, lest being partakers of her sins, we be partakers of her plagues. Qu. But though the Roman Church in her Doctrine be directly contrary to Scripture, yet how can all this demonstrate that the Pope is the Antichrist, so expressly foretold in 2 Thes. 3.4.? Ans. To resolve this question, let us consider: 1. That the Holy Ghost in Scripture hath been very exact in pointing out Antichrist by such notorious marks and characters, as after-Ages might easily know him if they do not wilfully shut their eyes. 2. Unless we deny our Senses, (as Papists do in many things) we cannot be ignorant that the Popish Church clearly answers all those marks which are given of him in Scripture, even him, whose coming shall be after the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath appointed to be used with thanksgiving; who sitteth in the Temple of God, and exalteth himself above all that is called God; who bewitcheth the Kings of the Earth with his Enchantments, and is drunk with the blood of the Martyrs of Christ Jesus: yea, whose Traffic and Merchandise is not only silver and gold, but the Souls of men, Rev. 18.13.3. This Mystery began to work in the time of the Apostles, and he who for a time did withhold his coming, (that is the Heathen Emperors of Rome) hath been long since taken out of the way: And 4. It is undeniable, that this Adversary can be no single person, or of a short continuance, but is a Politic Body or Kingdom, united in one Supreme Head, and with a succession for many Ages. 5. It is apparent, that these express characters of Antichrist, can be applied to no other Enemy of Jesus Christ or his Church, under the New Testament, either Pagan or Mahometan. Qu. But it is said of Antichrist that the Lord will consume him by the breath of his mouth; and how can this be applied to the Pope or Church of Rome? Ans. 1. We know that the Fall of Antichrist must be by degrees, as his Rise was, and not all at once. 2. How have these last Ages of the World been cleared from Antichristian darkness, in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Low-Countries, etc. Qu. But do we not see Popery prevail now in a more than ordinary way in several Countries where the Gospel has been clearly preached? Ans. This is not so strange, if we consider: 1. That where the truth is not received in love, God doth many times give up men to strong delusions, to believe lies. 2. Observe, that such as embrace Popery do not do it from Principles of Reason or Conscience, but it is the visible effect of a Licentious Age, and from an unusual growth of Atheism and Ignorance: for it is not to be admired, if those who never really had any Religion, Espouse any Religion that may serve their Interest or Lust. 3. There is no such great slavery exercised over the body under Turkish bondage, as there is over the Reasons and Consciences of men under the Popish Yoke; so that they have no way to be convinced of their Errors, since they must not see with their own eyes; the most clear discoveries of truth that can be made to them, either in the Scriptures, or any other Books. Lastly, though Popery seem to increase, yet it's clear, that they get but little advantage thereby, and it seems only to make way for its utter ruin and destruction: So that if the Pope be not Antichrist, yet we may challenge Antichrist to do worse and wickeder things than he. Qu. Certainly there can be but little encouragement for men to turn Papists, if they rightly understand what Popery is, Ans. No question but there is great blindness upon their minds, since the whole frame of it is but the driving on of a Politic Interest: They shut up the Scripture to keep the people in the dark, their Religion not being able to endure the light; they set up an Infallibility to hold them under a blind obedience; they pick their pockets by their Doctrines of Merit and Purgatory; yea, notwithstanding their high pretences to Charity, it is such a Religion, that no man can be damned except he be poor, neither can any rich man miscarry, if he will part with his Silver to save his Soul; so that it is fitted for a most wicked and licentious life, since men may sin at the highest rate, and not endanger their souls; for if they have money, the Pope's Pardon clears them from the greatest Villainies; so that though they are never so guilty, they can with their last breath solemnly call God to witness, that they are as Innocent as the Child unborn. Qu. Since the Popish Religion is such a compound of Humane Policy, and framed to make men depend upon the Pope, and be subject to his power, though against their Sovereign's Interest, we may wonder that so many Princes do with one consent join their power to support his Throne. Ans. This indeed seems to be a very strange infatuation, and we can give no other reason for it, but that it is the secret Judgement of God to give them thus up, according to what was foretold in Rev. 17.17. For God hath put it into their heart to agree and give their power to the Beast, until the words of God be fulfilled: for else there is nothing more destructive to their Power and Interest, than such a Spiritual Sovereign as the Pope pretends to be. Qu. How doth it appear that the Popish Religion is so destructive to the power of Princes, and the Interest of their Kingdoms? Ans. It is undeniably clear from their own Doctrines and Principles. 1. They assert, that the Pope may dethrone Kings, and give their Kingdoms to others; that he can absolve and free their Subjects from all Duty and Allegiance to them, yea, he can bind and lose their Consciences at his own pleasure. 2. It is such a Religion as expressly frees and exempts all Ecclesiastical persons from the Laws of their Natural Prince, so that they cannot be judged for the most horrid and notorious Crimes that can be committed by them. 3. It makes the Princes and Rulers of the world, to execute with a blind obedience whatsoever the Pope commands them, not leaving them the liberty to judge whether it be right or wrong. 4. It strikes at the very Foundation of all Religion and Piety (which is the greatest security to Government, and the strongest obligation to all Civil and Moral Duties) for if a man commit the most horrid acts of wickedness, such as Murder, Adultery, Incest, Rape, Sodomy, etc. yet an ordinary Priest, by the Almighty power of the Pope, can dispense with them all, the price of them being rated and appointed, which being paid, the Priest can give full pardon and absolution for the same. 5. It is a Religion that expressly teaches, that a man is not bound to repent presently of the most heinous sin, it being sufficient if it be done before the last moment of his life. 6. It destroys truth, righteousness and honesty among men, since it allows and warrants Equivocation and Perjury both in Oaths and words; and that a man may swear in such doubtful terms as may be directly contrary to the intent of him that gives the Oath, whereby an Oath cannot be an end of Controversy. Lastly, it is a Religion which in its Principles is destructive to Humane Society, for it triumphs, delights and glories in those monstrous Prodigies of mischief, Blood and Cruelty, which we would think Humane Nature would tremble at, and which seem rather to have been acted by Devils transformed into the shape of men, than by any who have the least pretence to the name of Christians; witness the Massacres of France and Ireland, and the bloody Persecutions in the, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Piedmont, and most Countries in Europe. Therefore from such a Religion, and all the cursed effects thereof, let us beseech Almighty God to deliver us and our Posterity for ever, Amen. PSALM 64. THou, great Protector, hear our cry. Save from our dreadful Enemy: O vindicate From their close hate, Who for our Souls in ambush lie; From their blind rage protect, Who Truth and thee reject. Who whet their tongues more sharp than Swords, Their Arrows draw even bitter words, To wound th' upright With fierce delight, When time to their desire accords: They on a sudden shoot; Nor fear Divine pursuit. Confirmed in skilful malice, they Conspire, and Nets in secret lay; And say, what eye Can this descry? First counsel take, and then betray; On mischief set their hearts, Pursued by wicked Arts. But God shall let his Arrows fly, Wound in the twinkling of an eye; Each shall be stung By his own Tongue; And with that fatal poison die. The Image Of Antichrist six images representing: I. a pope being carried aloft in a sedan-chair; II Pope Adrian IV riding the horse of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa; III King Henry II of England kissing the knee of the Papal Legate; IV King John of England kneeling and offering his crown to Pandulphus the Papal Legate; V Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI of Germany bowing to take his crown from between the feet of Pope Celestine III; VI a king kneeling to kiss the feet of a pope The Image of ANTICHRIST, Or, The Usurpations of the Pope and Church of Rome, over King's Emperors, etc. ABOUT Five Hundred Years after the death of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, one Phocas (who had Murdered his Master Mauritius Emperor of Constantinople, and his Children) first Advanced the Bishops of Rome, to be Universal Bishops and Heads of the Church; at which time they were endowed with these large Possessions and Donations which they call St. Peter's Patrimony, and which they falsely assert to be the Gift of Constantine the Great. After this the Church of Rome growing Great, Mighty, Rich, and Proud, at once lost its Humility and Purity of Religion, and assumed Politic and Tyrannical Principles, which caused her Defiled hands to lay afide the Sword of the Spirit, and to make use of the Temporal Sword, which she used to the Deposing and Murdering of divers Kings, Princes, and Emperors. I. For after they had once tasted the Sweetness of Wealth, Ease and Prosperity, the Popes began to swell in Pride and Pomp, and the more they Flourished in this World, the more the holy Spirit of God forsook them, so that in a short time those Bishops who were Poor, Mean, indigent, persecuted, and wanting all things, began to Triumph over Princes, to tread upon the Necks of Emperors, and to bring the heads of Kings under their Usurped Authority. They were carried upon men's Shoulders in all manner of Magnificence, as if the earth were not good enough to bear them; they were honoured as Gods on earth; and Sovereign Princes, Dukes, and Lords, etc. went Bareheaded before them. And not only so, but through their Pride and Ambition they grew so great Apostates from Christians, that of being Persecuted they became Persecutors of others, and at last were so Great enemies to God and Religion, that the Pope may now be justly Reckoned and Accounted the Antichrist or Man of Sin, so long before spoken of by St. Paul in Thessalonians 2.2. II. This pride and insolency of the Pope and his Clergy, appeared in several Instances which might, be given of it, but out of the Multitude we shall only Collect some few, to show what Slavery and Bondage both Princes and people were formerly subject to, under this Antichristian Yoke. About the Year 1158. Frederick Emperor of Germany, Marching into Italy, the Pope hearing of it went with his Clergy to meet him; As soon as the Emperor saw the Pope, he Alighted from his Horse to receive him, and held the Pope's Stirrup while he Alighted also, but it seems he mistake the Left Stirrup instead of the Right, at which the Pope seemed to be very much offended, which the Emperor observing, he smilingly told the Pope, That he desired to be excused, since he was not accustomed to hold Stirrups, with which acknowledgement the Pope seemed to be satisfied. After this there happened some difference between the Pope and the Emperor, whereupon the Pope curseth him, and sends his Letters out against him to all the Princes of Christendom, declaring, that he was an accursed person, and aught to be avoided, and cast out of all Christian company: He likewise stirred up his Subjects in Rebellion against him. The Emperor then marched to Rome to chastise his pride, but the Pope fled to Venice, and the Venetians being required to send him to Frederick, refused it; whereupon the Emperor sent his Son Otho against him, with men and Ships very well furnished, but withal, charged him by no means to attempt any thing against the Venetians, till he himself came: But the young man being full of heat, and desire of glory, ventured to engage the Enemy, and was by them overthrown, and himself taken prisoner. Upon this misfortune, the compassionate Father, to release his Son from captivity and misery, was forced to submit to whatever Conditions of Peace the Pope should demand; whereby it was at last agreed, that the Emperor should come into S. Marks Church at Venice, and there kneeling down at the Pope's feet, he should receive Absolution and forgiveness. This the Emperor performed; and the proud Pope setting his foot upon the Emperor's Neck, said that verse in the Psalm, Thou shalt tread upon Lions and Adders, the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou trample under foot; which the Pope applied to the Emperor; but the Emperor answered, Not to thee, but to Peter this power is given. The Pope replied, Both to me, and to Peter. The Emperor fearing further quarrels, durst say no more, but was absolved, and his Son was restored to his liberty. III. Not long after this, that is, in the time of that famous King Henry, the Second, one Thomas, Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was by his extraordinary pride and insolence the occasion of very great disturbance to the King and Kingdom: for the King calling his Nobles and the Clergy together, desired that some Clergymen might be called to answer for some Villainies by them committed; for it was proved that several persons had been murdered by their means: This Thomas Becket would not consent unto, without a Clause of seeing this Order; which very much displeased the King; but by the persuasion of his Brethren, Becket afterward consented; yet being encouraged by the Pope, he again fell off, and repent of what he had done, which the more enraged the King against him: This quarrel continued many years, and the King was so tormented by this proud Prelate, that he once passionately cried out, Will no body avenge me of this Becket? These words were spoken in the Hearing of some Gentlemen, who thereupon guessing at the King's mind, four of them presently went to Canterbury, and finding the Archbishop in the Cathedral, there, they fell upon him, and killed him upon the Stairs of the Altar, every one striking him over the head with his Sword, and then made their escape. This Murder was charged upon the King by the Pope's Legate, and though the King swore that he was neither aiding nor consenting to his death, yet he was forced to kiss the Legates Knee, and submit to such Penance as he should appoint him; one part whereof was, that he should absolutely submit to the Pope in all spiritual matters. And it is likewise recorded, that King Henry coming out of France, went to Canterbury, and as soon as he was in fight of Thomas Beckets Church, he got off his Horse, and pulling off his Shoes and Stockings, he went barefoot o Beckets Tomb, the ways being so sharp and stony that his feet bled as he passed along; and when he came there, every Monk in the Cloister whipped the Kings Back with a Rod; which shows (saith the Historian) what slavery Kings and Princes were at that time brought into, by the Pope's Clergy. The same year the City of Canterbury was almost burnt down, and Beckets Church was utterly consumed. This Becket was afterward Canonised for a Saint; but a Popish Historian saith of him, That he was worthy death and damnation, for being so obstinate against God's Minister, his King. iv King John, the Son of Henry the Second, was likewise made sensible of the danger of offending the Pope; for in the year 1205. the King being incensed against the Clergy who possessed great Benefices, and yet neglected their Charge, he endeavoured to rectify this and some other great miscarriages about Electing Bishops, and several other things: But the Pope fearing he would entrench upon his privileges and gain, stirred Heaven and Earth against him, Excommunicating and cursing him, giving his Kingdom to the French King, and stirring up his own Nobility and people against him; so that the King being compassed about with Enemies on every side, was forced to submit to the Pope, promising to do whatever he should command him: Nay, the King took his Crown off his head, and kneeling upon his knees, in the midst of all his Lords and Barons he gave it to Pandulphus the Popes Legate, saying, Here I resign up the Crown of the Realm of England to the hands of Pope Innocent the Third, and lay myself wholly at his mercy and appointment. Pandulphus took the Crown from King John, and kept it five days; and the King giving then all his Kingdoms to the Pope, to be held in Farm from him and his Heirs for evermore, his Crown was restored again, King John engaging to pay seven hundred Marks a year for England, and three hundred for Ireland; half of it at Easter, and half at Michaelmas, as Rent for the said Kingdoms. This King John was afterward poisoned by a Monk, which was judged such a Meritorious Act, that the Murderer had a Mass appointed to be said for his Soul for ever after, by his Fellow-Monks. V Pope Celestine the Third, standing upon the Stairs of S. Peter's Church in Rome, he there received an Oath of Henry the Sixth, Emperor of Germany, and then had him into the Church, and anointed him, and sitting in his Pontifical Chair, held the Crown of Gold between his feet, and the Emperor bowing down his head to the Pope's feet, received the Crown; the Empress likewise was Crowned in the same manner: The Crown being thus put on, the Pope immediately kicked it off the Emperor's Head with his foot to the ground, declaring thereby, that if he pleased he could depose him again: Then the Cardinals took up the Crown, and again put it on his Head. VI Nay, to such a height did the Popes at last arrive, that they governed all things; Emperors and Princes have been forced to kneel and kiss their Toes; nay, they asserted, that all Kings were Slaves, and in subjection to them; and that all must be judged by the Pope; but he by no man. Psalm 88 LOrd, sit not still as deaf unto our Cries, For lo! Our Enemies in Tumults rise, Even those who thy Omnipotence deny, And hate thy Name, advance their Priests on High; Dark Councils take, and secretly contrive Our slaughter, whom thy mercy keeps alive, Come, say they; let us with incessant strokes, Hue down this Nation like a Grove of Oaks, Till they no longer be; and Israel die, Both in his Race, and Ruined Memory. They all, in one Confederacy, have made, A solemn League, supply d with foreign Aid. Hence Idumeans who in Gomades stray, And Shaggy Ishmaelites that live by prey, Th' incestuous race, that bred are on the Lake, Of salt Asphaltes', savage Thiefs who take, Their Name from servile Hagar; they who dwell, In Geba; Ammonites who peace expel, Oh! say they, let's these Israelites destroy, And all the Cities of their God enjoy; O! let them like a Wheel be worried round, Like chaff which whirlwinds ravished from the Ground, As Woods grown dry with Age, embraced with Fire, Whose Flames above the singed Hills aspire, So in the Tempest of thy wrath pursue, And with thy Storms thy troubling Foes subdue; O fill their Hearts with Grief, their Looks with shame, Till they invoke thy late blaphemed Name, Confound them with eternal Infamy. That they through anguish of their Souls may die: That Men Jehovah's wonders may rehearse, The Great Commander of the Universe. eight panels representing various methods of execution and punishment men's Brains fried & eaten Children torn in Pieces Infants thrown to the dogs & swine Women Carried on Piks Roasted alive Some tied and slain Hanged by the Privity Burnt in a barn A Brief and True Account of the Cruelties and Persecutions Committed by the Papists, upon the Waldenses and Albingenses, and other Protestants in Piedmont, Savoy, and the Valtoline, from the Year, 1160, To the Year, 1656. When by the just Judgement of the Almighty, All the World wondered after the Beast; and the Kings and Princes of Christendom, established the Authority of the Pope and Church of Rome, appointing to slaughter and destruction such as denied the horrid Blasphemies and Errors maintained by them; It occasioned many good Christians to detest their Superstitions, as unknown to the Apostles, and the Primitive Church: And the first we read of, was one Berengarius, who boldly and faithfully published the True Religion contained in the Scripture, and discovered the falseness of the Romish; He lived about the time of William the Conqueror his coming into England, about which time his Followers being taken notice of, as dissenting from many of the Common received Opinions of those times, they were branded with the odious Name of Heretics. About Twenty years after this one Peter Bruis was a famous Preacher among them, who taught them publicly a long time at Tholouse in Savoy; In a short time after they were grown to so great a multitude, that the Popes of Rome were resolved, if possible, by any means to extirpate and destroy them, To which end, they at first incited several of the most learned of their Party to write against them, and warned divers Princes to have a care of them, and to banish them out of their Territories. The first than that fling away the Spiritual Keys, and began valiantly to brandish the bloody Sword of Persecution against them, was Pope Alexander the third, who began therewith to hack, hue, and murder the poor Waldenses, so named from Peter Waldo, or Waldo of Lions in France, who appeared very courageous in opposing the many Corruptions of the Romish Church; as Holy Oil, Consecrated Images, Pope's Indulgences, Candles, Merits, Auricular Confession, the Supremacy of the Pope, false Miracles, Purgatory, Praying for the Dead, Prayers to Saints, extreme Unction, and many other Fopperies of the Popish Communion: This Persecution of Waldo and his Followers (who were increased to a very great number) began in France in the Year 1060. Waldo being compelled to fly into the Mountains of France, among the Savage Inhabitants, to whom he taught his Doctrine, others fled into Picardy, from whence they were called Picards, several into Flanders and Alsatia, and thereby (for the safety of their Lives) they spread their Doctrine into all places. King Philip of France being incited by the ecclesiastics, raised Arms against them, and destroyed Three Hundred gentlemen's Houses, and likewise several Walled Towns: And those that fled into Flanders escaped little better, for they were pursued, and many of them for their Religion put to Death; And the Bishops of Mayence and Strasburgh, raised great persecutions against those which fled thither, there being Five and Thirty Citizens of Mayence burned in one Fire, and Eighteen in another, who suffered Death with very great constancy: and at Strasburgh, at the instance of the Bishop, Fourscore were likewise burnt for professing the same Truth, and yet by the exhortations constancy, and patience of these Martyrs, there were such multitudes who entertained their Doctrines, that in a few Years after in the County of Passau and in Bohemia, there were above Fourscore thousand persons that made profession of the same Faith. Some of them likewise fled into England for shelter, but were more barbarously and cruelly put to death at Oxford, by the Papists there, than ever any Christians were before that time, for matters of Religion: and Three years after Pope Alexander the Third, made a Decree in the Council of Tours in France, that these Gospelers, and all their Favourers should be Excommunicated, and that none of them should buy or sell, according as it was foretold in Revel. 13.17. At Colen in Germany, Four Men, and Two young Women were discovered hid in a Barn, and the Papists not being able to dissuade them from the Truth, The Men were all tied to the Stake to be burnt, but the Romanists pretending to pity the young Women, persuaded them to recant, but they perceiving their design, got out of the hands of those that held them, and voluntarily leapt into the Fire, where they were burned with them: about this time a Proclamation was published in Arragon, whereby it was made Treason to relieve these poor Christians, or to suffer them to live in that Country, and liberty was given to all people to abuse them at pleasure, without being punished for the same. But these people still increasing, the Pope was resolved to suppress them by all means possible, and therefore about the Year, 1201. He set up the Bloody Inquisition, which with its Racks Tortures, Fire, and all manner of Cruelty, hath destroyed an innumerable company of Good and Holy Men. And in the same Year a noble Knight called Eunandus, and one of the Waldenses, was burnt at Paris: and the persecution still continuing, the people of Dauphin flying from their barbarous Enemies, sheltered themselves in the Caves upon the Mountains, but their cruel Adversaries having notice thereof, pursued and destroyed many of them, and the rest fled higher into the Mountains (which were all covered with Snow) together with their Wives and Children, the Mother's carrying some in their Arms, and others in Cradles, and the Night coming on, and having no means to make a Fire for their tender Infants, they were so benumbed with cold that in the morning above Fourscore of them were found dead in their Cradles, and most of their Mothers died likewise: Many also were burnt in the same Country of Dauphin, and the Fire of persecution raged through the whole Land, so that there was scarce a Town or City in Piedmont, but many were put to death therein, and at Turin one of them had his Bowels taken out of his Belly, and put into a Basin, and was afterward cruelly Martyred, One Gerard being at the Stake to be burnt, requested the Hangman to give him Two or Three Stones, which he at first refused, thinking he would have thrown them at some body, but afterwards did, and Gerard taking them into his hands said. When I shall have eaten up these Stones, then shall you see an end of our Religion, for which you now put me to death, and then throwing them on the Ground, he cheerfully died. These Countries being so hot with the Fire of Persecution, many of these poor People fled into Calabria where they began to plant and build Towns, as Saint Xist La Gardiner, and divers others, where they continued till the year, 1560. at which time they were most grievously persecuted by Pope Pius the Fourth, and were forced to leave their Houses and Habitations, and to fly into the Woods for the saving of their Lives but being there pursued by order from the Viceroy of Naples, most of them were cruelly and barbarously murdered by the Soldiers, and some flying into fortified places, were so straight besieged, that they died with Famine: And at the same time one Charlin was racked in so horrible a manner, that his Guts came out of his Belly: Another was tormented upon the Rack Eight hours together, to force him to confess what they pleased against himself and others, which yet he refused to do: Some were stripped stark naked, and whipped to death with Rods of Iron, others were drawn through the Streets, and burnt with Firebrands, some thrown down from an High Tower, and some cut to pieces with sharp Knives. By order of the Inquisitor Panza, Fourscore persons had their Throats cut, as Butchers do Sheep, and then causing them to be divided into Four Quarters, he made their Limbs to be set upon Stakes for the space of Thirty Miles as a bloody spectacle: A young Man was thrown from an High Tower, because he would not confess himself to a Priest, and the Vice Roy passing by at the same time, and hearing him implore God's Mercy not being quite dead. he kicked him on the Head and said Is the Dog yet living, Take him and cast him to the Hogs. Threescore Women were so cruelly racked, that the Cords pierced their Arms and Legs to the Bones, and then being cast into Prison all there died, except Nine of the handsomest, who being delivered to the Fathers of the Inquisition were never heard of afterward: Many more were delivered to the Secular Power to be burnt, and if any interceded for them, they were presently put on the Rack as Favouters of Heretics. One of their Ministers was famished in Prison, another was carried to Rome, and burnt, the Pope and Cardinals being present at that pleasing spectacle, but the Minister spoke so many things out of God's word against them, that the Pope gnashed his Teeth for Anger, and afterward promised the Marquis of Butiana to make his Son a Cardinal, if he would clear Calabria of these Waldenses, which was then no hard matter for the Inquisition, and the Vice Roy of Naples, did by all manner of Cruelties destroy Man, Woman, and Child, so that in a short time, they were utterly rooted out of that Country. The Waldenses who fled out of Piedmont into Provence, increasing daily, and their Habitations being near to Avignion (many times the Pope's Seat) he soon raised an horrid Persecution against them, but the greatest was in the Year, 1360. In the time of Lewis the Twelfth, wherein many suffered, which continued for some time more and less furious to the Year, 1540 About which time the Inhabitants of Merindol, Cabriers, Posin, and other places in Piedmont, were by means of the Pope's Agents cruelly Burned, Massacred, and Destroyed, The Towns were fired and laid waist, and the Country round about made desolate; The poor People were slain, the young Virgins ravished, and barbarously abused, Children were pulled alive out of their Mother's Bellies, the Breasts of many cut off, so that the Infants died of Famine: There were only Threescore and six weak men left in the Town of Cabriers, who offered to deliver it up, so that they might go to Geneva or Germany, but the Enemy entering, caused them all to be brought into a Field and cut to pieces, the Soldiers striving who should show the best Manhood in cutting off Legs, Arms, etc. The Women they put into a Barn with their young children, and some great with Child, and then firing a great quantity of Straw, they were barbarously burnt together; and some endeavouring to escape through the flames, were knocked on the head by the bloody Papists; many fled into Caves and Cellars, who being brought forth stark naked into the Fields, were there slain: others being bound back to back were in sport run through with one Sword. As soon as any were found, the Villains cried, Kill, kill, destroying all they met with; so that above a thousand men, women and children were slain in this place: some desired leave to departed to some other place, but one oped, a chief Commander amofig the Papists said, That he would send them to dwell in Hell, among the Devils. At Costa, another Town, they committed great slaughter, and many of the Inhabitants flying into an Orchard, the Soldiers ravished divers of the Women and Virgins, and abused them in so filthy a manner for a day and a night, that the women with-child, and younger Maidens, died immediately after Many more were the outrages committed by the Soldiers in this Country, but the Tremendous Justice of God did not suffer some of the most violent persecutors to go unpunished: For oped, the Commander of these Villains, was struck with a strange kind of bleeding in the lower parts, that he was not able to make any Urinal; so that his Guts rotten within him, and Worms bred in his bowels, which continually gnawed him; and so he lay raging and blaspheming, saying, that he felt a fire within him, which burned him from the Navel upwards: which was accompanied with a most filthy stink from his lower parts: and in this miserable manner he ended his wretched life. There was likewise one John de Roma, a Monk, who used horribly to torment these poor Protestants: and among the rest, he would fill Boots with boiling Oil, and put them upon their Legs over a soft fire. Thus he tormented many: but at last, Francis the French King being informed of his Hellish cruelty, sent to the Parliament of Provence to apprehend him, who condemn him: but he having notice of it, fled to Arragon, where a while after he was rob of all he had by his own servants, and then fell into an horrible disease, unknown to the Physicians, being intolerably tormented with pains all over his body, so that he had not one minutes rest, and no creature was able to endure him, for the intolerable stink which proceeded from him, nor he himself, for his body was full of nasty sores and ulcers, which swarmed with Vermin, and rotten away from the bones by piece-meal. In the midst of his torments, he would in a great rage cry out. Oh! who will deliver me? who will rid me out of these intolerable pains which I now suffer, for oppressing and tormenting those poor men? endeavouring several times to kill himself, but had not power: and in this horrible anguish and despair he fearfully died, no man being able to bury him, for some time, by reason of the loathsome smell proceeding from him, till at last a poor man with an Iron Hook dragged his Carcase into a Hole he had digged for him. During this Persecution, the Bishop of Aix, with some other Bishops, walking with some of their Wenches through the Streets of Avignion, they saw a man selling bawdy Pictures, Images, and Songs, which they presently bought up: but going a little further, they found a man selling of French Bibles, at which being extremely enraged, they asked him how he durst be so bold to sell such Merchandise in that Town; the Bookseller answered, Is not the Holy Bible as good as these goodly Pictures you have bought for the Gentlewomen? The Bishop of Aix said, I renounce my part in Paradise, if this Fellow be not a Lutheran: The Attendants cried out, a Lutheran, a Lutheran, to the fire with him, to the fire with him: one giving him a blow with his Fist, others pulled him by the Hair and Beard so that the poor man was all embrued in blood before he came to Prison. The next day he was brought before the Judge, where by the instigation of the Bishops he was burned the same day with two Bible's tied about his Neck, one before, and another behind, where he made a most Christian end. This long and bloody Persecution of these Waldenses lasted near five hundred years in which time the Gospel spread into Bohemia, Austria, Germany, Flanders, England, Poland, Italy, Spain, Dalmatia, Croatia, Solavonia, Salmatia, Bulgaria, and in other places to which they were driven, where they were tormented and persecuted according to the power and influence that the Pope and his Agents had over the Princes and Governors of those Countries. The Albingenses were the same with the Waldenses, professing the same Doctrines and Principles, and differing only in name, their Country being called Albi, the chief Preacher among them being one Arnold, from whom they were sometimes called Arnoldists. Pope Alexander the Third began with them, condemning them for Heretics; and Pope Innocent the Third raising a War against them, calling it the Holy War, giving the same Pardons and Indulgences, and promising Paradise to all that would fight against the Heretics, with the same encouragement, as those which went to the Holy Land, against the Turks and Saracens. In this War he so thundered out Excommunications, and used Temporal Arms against Reymond. Earl or Prince of Tholouse, that he was forced to submit; and his Nobility were much astonished to see their Lord, not only divested of his Possessions, but led to the Church to be reconciled to it, where the Pope's Legate commanded the Earl to strip himself stark naked, all but his Linen Drawers; they than put a Rope about his Neck, and led him nine times round the Grave of one Peter an Hermit, who was killed in that War, scourging him with Rods all the while; of which the Earl complaining, the Legate told him, That he must submit, if he would be reconciled to the Pope; yea, he must be thus scourged before his Earls, Barons, Marquesses, Prelates, and all the people. He made him likewise swear to be obedient to the Pope, and Church of Rome, all his life, and to make irreconcilable War against the Albingenses. The Legate than acts the part of a General, and besieges Bezier, and the Albingenses desiring to come to Terms, the Legate would admit of nothing but the renouncing of their Religion, and embracing Popery; which they absolutely refused, upon those Conditions, saying That God was able to defend them; but if he would please to honour them to die for his sake, they would rather displease the Pope, than God Almighty. In a short time the City was taken by Storm, being assaulted by above an hundred thousand Papists, the Enemy entering and slaying a great multitude, killing all they m t without distinction, the Pope's Legate-bidding them kill all, both Catholics and Heretics, for the Lord knoweth who are his: So that there were threescore thousand persons slain in this City, the Priests and Friars going about the Streets in the mean time, with Crosses and Banners, and singing Te Deum Laudamus: after which, they set the whole City on fire, and burned it to Ashes. They marched next to a Town called Carcasson, which these bloody Villains (who called themselves Holy Pilgrims) took by Storm likewise, killing, burning, and destroying all before them, as they had done before at Beziers. They next proceeded to the City of Carcasson, which was about two miles from the Town, and was defended by the Earl of Pez●ers: when they offered to capitulate, the Legate would grant no other Conditions, but that the Earl, and twelve more, should come forth with their Baggage, but all the rest, both Men, Women, Maids and Children, should come forth stark naked, without any covering, either of Shirt or Smock, and humble themselves before him: but the Earl disdained such unworthy Conditions, upon which the Legate assaulted the City; but they that were within threw down Stones, Fire, Pitch. Brimstone, and Scalding Water from the Walls, which so galled the Legates Soldiers, that the Earth was covered, and the Ditch filled with their dead bodies The Legate finding Force would not avail, used Policy; and therefore, upon pretence of Parley, he persuaded the Earl to come out of the City, with great Oaths and Execrations for his safe return; but having him in possession, they kept him Prisoner, and then instantly stormed the City, to the amazement of the poor Citizens, who expected nothing less: but there being happily discovered a Vault in the Town which went to a Castle some miles from thence, the Citizens in the Evening began their Flight, with their Wives and Children, carrying Victuals with them only for some few days: the next morning they arrived at the Castle, and from thence dispersed themselves, some one way, some another, leaving the City, and all therein to the fury and rage of the unholy Pilgrims. They then surprised the Castle of Bezon, where they pulled out the Eyes, and cut off the Noses of an hundred Albingenses, leaving only one with one Eye to guide the rest to Calaret. They took likewise the Castle of Menerly, defended by the Lord of Terms, whom they fling into a filthy Prison till he died; his Wife, Sister, and Daughter, who was a Virgin, and likewise divers Noble Women, after they had in vain by frowns and threats endeavoured to draw them to Popery, were burnt in an huge fire all together: And after that, they burned an hundred and fourscore more in another great fire, who embraced the flames with joy, giving God thanks that he was pleased so to honour them, as to die for his Name. Simon Monford succeeded the Legate in his Generalship, and at the taking of the Castle of Lavaur, all the Soldiers were put to the Sword, except fourscore Gentlemen, whom that cruel Earl caused to be hanged, and the Lord Almery on a Gibbet above all the rest: the Lady his Sister was cast into a Ditch, and covered with Stones: the rest of the people, who were about four hundred persons were forced into a great fire made purposely for them, and so all burnt, except those that would forsake their Religion, which were very few. About this time there was one Reynard Lollard, a godly and learned man, who by his preaching stirred up the English in Guiene to assist the Albingenses, which they did accordingly, but this worthy man was afterward burnt in Germany: They say he he foretold many things by Divine Revelation, which came to pass in a short time. In the year 1213. near Muret, upon the Gavon, there was a Battle between Simon Montford, and the King of Arra on, who assisted the Albingenses, in which Fight the King of Arragon was slain and the Enemy reported, above two Millions of Albingenses with him, which the Albingenses attributed to the too great confidence of the King, who depended much upon his numbers, and was feasting while his Enemies were in Council. Friar Conradus of Marpurg, the Pope's Inquisitor, made terrible havoc of all that professed the Gospel, under the names of Heretics, whom he tried by making them pass over red hot Irons laid at an unequal distance blindfold, and those that were burnt were accounted Heretics, few escaping the hot Irons; so that neither Noble, nor Ignoble, Clerks, Monks, Nuns, Burgesses. Citizens, nor Country people, escaped the Flames, by means of this bloody Inquisitor. Prince Lewis of France took the Town of Miramond, and therein destroyed five thousand men, women and children of the Albingenses: And in the year 1234 many of them being fled into France, the Pope caused a Crusado to be preached up against them whereby a great Army of Pilgrims assembled together and were sent against them by Pope Gregory, who slew the poor Protestants, with their Bishops and Ministers burned their houses, destroyed their Towns, and plundered and carried away their Goods: And about the same time, some who had retired into Germany. Milan and other parts of Italy, were likewise burnt and destroyed: A while after, four hundred and twenty of these Albingenses were burnt at Tholouse, A great Persecution was raised against the Protestants of Albi in the year 1281. so that they were almost all extirpated, and rooted out, and forced to fly to all parts for safety of their lives; and at the same time, by the Pope's Order, the Bones of several famous Ministers among them were digged up and burnt, twenty or thirty years after they were buried. In the year 1315. the Friars Inquisitors raised an hot Persecution against these Gospelers in Pashaw, and burned many of them, who died cheerfully and constantly in the Faith; and one of them who was burnt at Vienna confessed, that there were fourscore thousand of them in Bohemia and Austria at that time. In the year 1332. Lollard Walterus, a famous Preacher (from whom his Followers were called Lollards) was taken and burnt at Collen: But notwithstanding all these horrid Cruelties used by the Papists against these Saints and Servants of God, yet they could never prevail to a total extirpation of them, but they still increased and revived, and their Posterity profess the same Faith to this very day. In the year 1620, in a Country called the Valtoline, or the Grisons Country, the Papists committed very great cruelties: those poor people had for a long time enjoyed the freedom of their Religion; but about the time , when the Minister of a Town, called Tell, was preaching to his Congregation, the bloody Papists risen in Arms and set upon them, beating and killing several of them: and among the rest, there was an Honourable Lady who was exhorted to change her Religion, if not for her own sake, yet out of pity to her young Infant that she held in her Arms, which otherwise, together with herself, should be immediately slain: But the Lady with an undaunted courage answered, I have not departed out of Italy, my Native Country, nor forsaken all the Estate that I had there, to renounce the Faith of my Lord Jesus Christ; No, I will suffer a thousand deaths, if it be possible, rather than do it: And why in this case should I have so much regard to my Infant, since God my Heavenly Father spared not his own Son, my Lord Jesus, but delivered him up to death in love to me, and such sinners as I am. And then giving her Child to one that stood by, she said, Behold, my Child, the Lord God, who hath care of the Birds of the Air, is much more able to save this poor creature, although it should by you be lest in these wild Mountains. Then unlacing her Gown, she opened her Breast, saying, Here is the Body which you have power to kill; but my Soul, on which you have no power to lay your hands, that I commend to my God. And then these Bloodhounds presently slew her, and cut her to pieces: The Infant being a lovely sweet Child they spared, and delivered to a Popish Nurse to be brought up. These Villains carried divers Women and Children to the tops of high Mountains, and if they would not promise to go to Mass, they were thrown down headlong, and torn to pieces. One Dominico Berto, a young man of sixteen years of age, because he would not turn Papist, was set upon an Ass, with his face to the Tail, and the Tail in his hand for a Bridle, and with many scoffs and mocks was brought into the Market place: there they cut off his Nose, Ears and Cheeks, and then burned many holes in divers parts of his body with hot Irons; and thus they barbarously continued to torment him till he died. They likewise seized upon a Noble young Virgin, and carried her through the Streets with all imaginable disgrace: They put a Mitre of Paper upon her head, besmeared her face with dirt, and busseted her on the Cheeks with their Fists, and then bid her to call upon the Saints; but she smiling said, My trust and my salvation is only in my Saviour Jesus Christ, and upon him only will I rest; as for the Virgin Mary, though see be blessed above all women, yet she is not Omniscient, and therefore knows net our requests; yea, she herself hath need of the Merits of her own Son, without which she could not have been saved. But they reviling and abusing her, she courageously said, I willingly endure all this, as it becomes me to do, desiring no better usage, since the same was done to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to his Apostles, and to thousands of the holy Martyrs. Upon this they carried her away, and murdered her in the Fields. In one house they slew a man and his Wise; and there being a little Girl in the Cradle of about three years old, of a very amiable countenance, the poor Child seemed to smile upon them, whereupon one of these bloody Villains took her by the Heels and dashed out her Brains. From thence these Wretches went to a Town called Bruse, where they murdered many, by shooting some, drowning others, burning others, and grinding their very bones to powder. Amongst others, they found an ancient Woman of fourscore years old, whom they earnestly persuaded to hear Mass, and that she would respect her age to whom with a worthy resolution she answered, God forbidden that I who now of a long time have had one foot in the Grave should forsake my Lord Jesus Christ, who hath so long preserved me in the knowledge and profession of his truth, and that I should now put my trust in Creatures and should receive the Traditions of men, instead of the holy Word of God. Upon these words they immediately slew her. The sufferings of the poor Protestants in Piedmont continued still; they are under the Government of the Duke of Savoy, and are the Offspring of the old Waldenses which inhabited there, and have ever since professed the same Religion; they have Evangelical Churches in the several Valleys of Angrognea, Bobio, Villaro, Valguicharda, Roras, Tagliacetto, and divers others; in all which, most of their Inhabitants are Protestants, and had been long indulged in their Religion by the Princes of Savoy, to whom they were Subjects: but in the year 1565. a cruel Edict was published, that all such as would not comply with the Church of Rome, and go to Mass, should within ten days be banished from their Country, and Habitation; but by the Intercession of the French King, and the Elector Palatine of the Rhine, this Edict was recalled, and they continued quiet till the year 1655. wherein that late horrible Massacre was committed upon them for the sake of their Religion. The Papists had all along by many cunning Plots and contrivances endeavoured their subversion, by using all Arts to stir them up to Rebellion, and by planting Jesuits Colleges among them, which like Goads in their sides still annoyed them, and proved a great trouble and affliction to them; for they often procured some cruel and harsh Edict, or Proclamation, by their Complaints and Lies which they raised in the Duke of Savoys Court against them: As in the year 1602. they got an Edict for banishing all private and public Protestant Schoolmasters, as Enemies to the Government, and disturbers of the Peace: and likewise another Edict 1622. that no Strangers, either Ministers or others, should be entertained among them. In 1634. an Edict came out, that all the Protestants of Compiglione should be banished; and in 1654. the same was done against those of Martino, and Perosa. These Missionary Fathers behaved themselves among them more cruelly than Turks or Barbarians. But at last resolving utterly to root out the Protestants from among them, and throughly to perform the will of their Unholy Father the Pope, they procured an Order in the midst of Winter, that is January 25. 1655. (which is very sharp in those Countries) for the banishing of all Protestants out of the Valleys of Lucerna, Lucernetta, and seven other places, within three days after publication, unless they would turn Roman Catholics; and this extended to all in general, none being excepted, of what Rank, Degree, or Condition soever they were. And thus these poor Creatures were forced in compliance with this cruel Edict, to fly for the security of their Lives and Consciences in the depth of the Snow, and when all the Valleys were covered with water, there being among them some Women with-child, others newly delivered, young children crying and lamenting, old women, and decrepit men, leaning on their Staves, all dragged over the Ice, through Rain, Snow, Waters, and a thousand inconveniencies and hardships; so that it would have grieved the heart of a Barbarian, to have seen them leaving their Goods behind them, or selling them for little to the Papists, who took no pity of their bitter tears, sighing, ringing of hands, beating of Breasts, mourning, complaining, and lamenting: but all these calamities were but as the bleating of Sheep, or the lowing of Oxen to Popish ears, and they rather rejoiced than commiserated the condition of these poor Wretches: They were no sooner gone, but their houses were pillaged, rifled, and ransacked of all that was left, and then pulled to the ground; yea, the Trees were cut down, and such havoc and devastation made, as all was turned into a Wilderness. This cruel Edict was put in execution by one Gustaldo, and others; but this was not all, the Design was for the utter extirpating and roofing out Heretics, as they called these Religious Souls: it would not satisfy them to have banished these few, and the poor Protestants could have no redress at Court, for all their humble Petitions and Remonstrances could not be heard. The Papists had yet more wicked and bloody Designs against them; and to that purpose, they employed some Romish Agents who had great influence over the Duke and Duchess of Savoy. It is next to impossible to reckon up the variety of Cruelties and Murders committed upon these poor Innocent Souls; we shall therefore only give a brief Abstract of some remarkable passages that happened therein Upon the seventeenth of April, 1655. whilst the Protestant Deputies were detained at Turin, and delayed with hopes of redress, some Soldiers were sent on purpose to fall unexpectedly upon the Protestants, who peaceably attended the issue of their Petitions, which caused some bustle; for the poor people being prompted by the Law of Nature stood upon their defence and the Papists lost fifty men, the Protestants only two. Wednesday April 22. the Marquis of Pianessa, the Popish General, came to the Valley of Lucerna, and promised them there should be no violence offered to them, provided they would but quarter a few Soldiers as a token of their obedience, which the wellmeaning people consented to; but no sooner were these Troops entered, but they put all to Fire and Sword, slaying all they met with that had but the likeness of mankind, and that in the most barbarous manner they could possibly devise. There joined immediately to this Army a great number of Outlaws, Prisoners, and other Offenders, who thought to have saved their Souls, and filled their Purses by kill Heretics: Six Regiments of French, besides Irish, likewise helped them in this good work the Country being promised to the Irish when cleared of Protestants. With these, and several other Troops of Highwaymen and Vagabonds, by the Licence of their General, and the encouragement of Popish Priests and Monks, the most unheard-of Villainies were committed upon the poor Protestants: So that there was nothing to be seen through the Protestant Valleys but Churches burning, Towns smoking, Houses flaming, Men, Women and Children massacred and murdered; nothing to be heard, but the confused cries of people flying, the piercing groans of others dying, and the horrid shrieks of others that were tormented: and indeed so dreadful was their usage, that it is scarce to be expressed. In one place they most cruelly tormented an hundred and fifty Women and Children, and afterwards chopped off the Heads of some, and dashed out the Brains of others against the Rocks; they took multitudes of Prisoners, and such of them who were fifteen years of age and upwards, if they refused to go to Mass, some of them were hanged up, others had their feet nailed to Trees, with their Heads hanging down, all which they constantly endured. A Franciscan Friar, and another Priest, set fire to all the Churches and Houses at S. Giovanni, La Tours, and other places, so that they left not one standing. In these Desolations the Mother was bereft of her sweet Child, the Husband of his dear Wife, those which were richest among them were forced to beg their bread; yea, they lay weltering in their own blood, and the pretence for all those bloody Massacres and Cruelties was, that they were Rebels to their Prince's Commands, in not performing an absolute impossibility, by immediately departing from their Habitations in so short a time; and likewise for their frequent Petitioning to the Duke to take pity upon them. The truth is, the Cruelties which were executed would exceed the belief of man, but that they are so fully proved by the Attestations of Eye-witnesses, by the woeful cries of so many poor desolate Wretches who have been miserably rob and despoiled of their Relations, Friends Lands and Houses: yea one of the chief Commanders of their own Army that acted these cruelties, made a formal Oath of the reality thereof, and Signed it with his own hand before two sufficient Witnesses, and likewise the voluntary confession of one of the Soldiers who told some of his Fellows, that during the heat of the Massacre, he had divers times surfeited with eating the boiled Brains of Protestants. The barbarous cruelties following, which were exercised upon those poor people, are likewise attested by divers Persons of Honour and Integrity, who were for the most part eye or ear-witnesses of the same. One Sarah Vi●ues, about threescore years of age, was commanded to say her prayers, and because she refused to say Ave Maria, they ripped her up alive, by putting a Sickle into her privy parts, and so slit up her Belly; after which they dragged her about, and at last cut off her Head. Other Women had their Breasts, Noses, Privities and Hands cut off, and so left to perish miserably; another they stab d in the soles of his feet, then cut off his Privities and fried them, giving them their Comrades to eat as a delicate Dish; then they seared his Wounds with flaming Candles, cut off his Ears, and tore off his Nails with burning Pincers, to make him renounce his Religion; but he still continuing constant, they tied one of his Legs to a Mule, and so dragged him about the Streets till he was almost dead: and after all this, they bond a Cord about his Head, and twisted it with a Stick till his eyes and brains burst out, and then cast his body into a River. One Peter Simond of Angrogna they bond hand and foot, and then fling him down a dreadful Rock, or Precipice; but he happened in his fall to hang upon the stump of an old Tree, where he continued alive several days in a miserable languishing condition before he died, not being able to help himself, and the Precipice being so high, that no other could come at him. They cut the body of an old man of ninety years of age into small pieces, and then cut off his head. Others had their bodies torn and cut in pieces, and their limbs strewed in the highways, and hung upon Hedges. An old Woman had her Hands and Nose cut off, and so was left alive. The body of another Woman was found in a Cave with all the flesh sliced from the bones, and chopped like minced meat. These bloody Papists took many little Children, and tender Infants, and threw them down the sleep Rocks, whereby they were dashed to pieces. They took a Gentleman's Daughter, and put a long Stake into her body, and then carried her upon their shoulders, till at last being weary, they stuck the Stake into the ground and so left her as a miserable Spectacle. Andrea Michalin being taken Prisoner, made his escape strangely, having first seen three of his own Children torn limb from limb, and the fourth and youngest had its brains beaten out against the Rocks. They woefully tormented others, by flaying off their skins alive in long slices, of which they made Points. The Daughter of one Peter Fontana, a beautiful Girl of about ten years of age, being surprised by some of these lecherous Bruits, because they could not ravish her in an ordinary way, they so inhumanely abused her, that they left her for dead. The Daughter of one Moses Long they spitted upon a Pike, and roasted her alive, with a fire made upon a broad stone. One Jacob Michelino they took, and binding his hands to his Privities, hanged him upon a gate, and there left him in exquisite torments in that shameful manner, as they like wise did by many others in the same kind. Four Brothers, and a man and his Wife, all at one time had their mouths crammed full of Gunpowder, and so being fired, their heads were torn to pieces. The Schoolmaster of Roras being stripped naked, after they had torn off his Nails with Pincers, and made a thousand holes in his hands with their Daggers, they dragged him through the Town of Lucerna, and at every turn, one Soldier cut off a Collop of his flesh from one side, and another from another, crying, What sayest thou, wilt thou go to Mass, thou Dog? To which with admirable constancy he answered, Much rather death than the Mass, dispatch me quickly for the love of God. At last they cut off his head, and fling him into the River. One Giovanni, with his Wife and Child, were thrown down from a very high Rock, the Mother holding the Child in her arms, and three days after they were found dead, only the Child was alive, and clasped so fast in the dead Mother's arms, that they could hardly get it out. They took another at the same place, and put out his Eyes, and then cut off his Privities, and thrusting them in his mouth, exposed him some time as a miserable Spectacle, and he being yet alive, they flayed off his skin, and hung it in the Windows of four principal houses in Lucerna, after they had divided it into four pieces. They took out the brains of Daniel Cardon, and frying them in a Pan, eat them up like Cannibals, and then cut open his breast also, that they might eat his Heart, but were frighted by some Protestant Troops that were marching that way. They burned four Women of between eighty and ninety years old alive; they cut divers to pieces, and gave their flesh to Dogs. In another place, having taken eleven Protestants, they heated a Furnace, and forced them to throw one another into it, till it came to the last man, whom they threw in themselves. They stabbed some with empoisoned Knives in the legs and feet, and so left them in torment, till they died. One Gros, a Minister's Son, being taken by them, they cut off his flesh in small Gobbets while he was alive, and in the presence of his Wise and Children, whom they murdered likewise before his eyes. A Woman with seven Children were all barbarously murdered in their Beds: One Daniel Rambout, because he refused to say Jesus Maria, or pray to the Virgin Mary, they first cut off one finger, than another, till they had cut them all off; then they cut off his hands and arms, till after this manner they had cruelly mangled him to death: Others they shut up between two Stonewalls and starved them to death. And to conclude, there was no manner of death no kind of cruelty or torment, that these Firstborn of Hell could invent or devise, but they were exercised with the utmost severity upon the poor miserable Protestants; and it would be almost endless, to give a particular account of all that we murdered, drowned, , shot, starved, smothered, knocked on the head, and cut in pieces by these barbarous Papists. These horrid and inhuman practices made the rest of the Protestants fly to their Arms in the natural defence of themselves, and their Families, against the rage and fury of Lions, Tigers, and Bears, in the shapes of men: But those that were so brisk at massacring and murdering such as did not resist them, were mere Cowards at fight, and the Protestants prevailed against them with small numbers, and defended themselves against their Cruelty. But at last by the Mediation of the Swissers, Hollanders, and other Protestant Princes, and especially the English, who contributed above thirty thousand pound to the relief of their wants and miseries, the breach was made up; but yet so made, that the poor remaining Protestants live under the Tyranny of their Popish Taskmasters, being forbid all manner of Traffic, wronged of their Estates and Goods, their Ministers banished, their Virgins ravished, the women affronted, the men beaten and abused, and the Valleys are become like Dungeons, in which they are kept as Slaves, and secured by strong Forts and Garrisons of Papists; so that they are even dying whilst they live, and have cause to cry out, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood, etc. Rev. 6.10. eight panels representing various methods of execution and punishment 〈…〉 〈…〉 Melted Led poured on their heads Killed in a Church men's heads cut of with Scytheses. Some Heads of Men burst with Gunpowder A woman & her 2 Children murdered Some flayed alive The Persecutions and Cruelties of the Papists upon the Protestants in Bohemia, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania. THe Persecutions of the Papists against the Bohemians began very early, even about 9●7 years after the death of our blessed Saviour: Pope Hildebrand (otherwise called Hell-brand) was the first that fell upon them, and afterwards Pope Celestine; and Persecution continued upon them for many years, and John Huss, and Jerom of Prague, were burnt in defence of the Gospel at Constance, notwithstanding they had the Public Faith of the Empire of Germany given them for their security. At a Town called Cuttenburgh there are many deep Metal Mines, into one of which, in the year 1420. the Papists threw one thousand and seven hundred persons at one time, for their Religion; into another, one thousand thirty eight; and into a third, a thousand three hundred and thirty four persons. In the year 1421. one Pichel, a chief Magistrate of the City Litomeritia, having taken twenty four of the chief Citizens, and among them his Son-in-law; put them in an high Tower, and being there almost famished, they were at last brought out, and condemned to be drowned, their Wives, Children and Friends following them to execution with cries and tears; yea, the Magistrates own Daughter came with prayers and tears to her Father, beseeching him to spare her Husband; but he like a hard-hearted wretch only said, Cannot you have a better Husband than this? To whom, seeing his cruelty, she answered, You shall never marry me to any but this: And so going along with them, when she saw her Husband thrown into the River, she leapt in after him, and embracing him, endeavoured to save his life; but being unable to do it, they both perished together, and the next day she was found with him fast in her Arms, and they were both buried in one Grave. A while after a Minister, four men, and four Boys, were all burnt together in one fire at Prague, because they received the Sacrament in both kinds: and indeed many and almost innumerable were the murders, torments, and inhuman barbarities committed both publicly and privately on these poor Christians. About the year 1523. Martin Luther began to shine as a great light in Germany, and his Doctrine soon overspread Bohemia, and all the parts adjoining; which so enraged the Pope and his Clergy that they continually raised very violent persecutions against them, wherein multitudes of good Christians lost their lives by means of Ferdinand the First, and Charles the Fift, Emperors of Germany. There were no less than two hundred Ministers banished out of Bohemia at one time, and the Lord of Schanow, because he was a Lutheran, was accused of a Conspiracy, and laid upon the Rack; but he courageously cut out his own Tongue, and being demanded the reason of it, he wrote, That it was lest the torments of the Rack should make him speak falsely against himself, or others. In the year 1617. Ferdinand the Second was obtruded upon the Bohemians, who joining with the Papists, raised up a very terrible Persecution against the Protestants, which was the cause of the Electing of Frederick, Prince Palatine of the Rhine, to be King of Bohemia, upon which there followed those cruel Wars and troubles in that Country, wherein many godly Ministers, and other pious, holy, and good men, suffered such barbarities and inhumanities' from the Popish Soldiers, that the Ears of a Christian cannot hear, nor his Tongue relate them, without the greatest abhorrency and indignation: for some of them were stoned to death, others hanged upon a Beam, and with a soft fire made under them were roasted to death, others were cut piece-meal: One Minister they laid on his back, and ramming his mouth full of Gunpowder, set fire to it, and blew his head all to pieces: Another they hanged up by the Privy Members, being seventy years old, and burned his own Books under him, and at last shot him to death, after he had endured all manner of torment and pain. In the year 1621. all the Ministers were banished out of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and all the Provinces thereunto belonging, never more to return; and it was made death to harbour or conceal any of them. About the same time twenty one Ministers were banished from Cuttenburg: A Popish Captain caused a Minister's hand first to be stricken off, and then his head, his bowels to be taken out, and wrapped in his shirt, and his four quarters to be set upon four Stakes, and his head on another. At the same time likewise fifty of the Nobility were condemned, some to death, some to banishment, and others to perpetual imprisonment; twenty seven were executed, who all died with great constancy of mind, and fervency of spirit, sealing the Protestant Cause with their blood, the heads and right hands of some of them were hung upon the Tower of the Bridge, but when the Valiant Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, came into Germany, their heads and hands were by his Order taken down and solemnly buried. Not long after there was an Edict published in Bohemia for the banishing of all Protestants in general, and that their Children should be taken from them that they might be brought up in the Popish Religion. Another Edict was published, that all Protestant Women who had married Popish Husbands, should be banished and removed away from them, unless they would turn Papists, and likewise that no Papists should have any Commerce with Protestants. And upon this there followed a cruel Persecution, so that there was scarce a City, Town, or Village in the whole Country, but the poor Protestants suffered very great torments and barbarities. In one City they slew the Mayor, together with sixteen hundred men, women, and children, and suffered their bodies to lie unburied several days in the dirt and mire, and the remainders of the Citizens they cast into Prisons, where they lay in a miserable condition: Bibles, and all manner of Religious Books were prohibited, and likewise Marriages, Burial, and Baptism, were denied to all that would not turn Papists. Some Protestants were thrust into Dungeons and Vaults full of Snakes, Toads, and other filthy Vermin; others were put into places full of Iron Spikes, so that they could neither sit nor stand; others were laid upon narrow Beams over deep waters, that if they did but stir their bodies, they were in danger to be drowned. They put Gags into the mouths of some, and then thrust their Host or Wafer Cake down their Throats: others were beaten on the Calves of their Legs, so that they could not stand nor go, but were forced to fall down on their knees, that they might adore their Host. And thus briefly of the multitude of cruelties committed by the Papists on the Protestants in Bohemia, the whole whereof would not be contained in a large Volume. The next Theatre where we may behold these bloody Papists acting their Tragedies is GERMANY, which was miserably torn and rend to pieces by their cruelties, they endeavouring by all manner of severity to have extinguished the light of the Gospel, which was discovered by Martin Luther, and others, who were stirred up of God to expose the corruptions and superstitions of the Romish Church: whereupon in the year 1523. the Pope excited the Emperor Charles the Fifth to destroy all the Protestants as Heretics, and allowed him two hundred thousand Crowns toward the raising of Soldiers to that purpose, the Pope likewise further engaging to raise twelve thousand Foot, and six hundred Horse, at his own charge, for carrying on the work: and thus he began with the Sword, that he might end with the Faggot. The Duke of Saxony, and the Lansgrave of Hessen, stand up for the Protestants, and are taken Prisoners, in the year 1547. And where ever the Papists got the better, all sorts of cruelties, murders, racks, tortures, fire and faggots followed upon the Protestants, so that all Germany was as it were in a flame and combustion at once, all places being in a lamentable condition, some flying, and others suffering death on every side for their Conscience and Religion. At a Town called Meldorp, they took a godly Minister, named Sutphen out of his Bed, and forced him to go miles on foot in Frost and Snow upon the Ice, and barelegged, beating, cutting, and flashing him, and pricking him forward with their Halberds, and at last they barbarously roasted him to death. Many were drowned at Vienna, and put to several sorts of death. Ladies and Gentlewomen were yoked together like Beasts and so were turned out into the Woods, where they were ravished and abused, and then had their Hair and Ears cut off, and disfigured. In Pomeren they forced the people to eat their own Excrements, and if they refused them, they thrust them down their Throats till they were choked: They crammed the secret parts of several women with Gunpowder, and so setting fire to it, most barbarously tore their Bellies and Wombs. Divers were hung up by the privy parts; they plained the faces of others with Chisels; others they caused to draw on Boots filled with scalding Oil, and so roasted their legs over the fire: some men they gelded in the presence of their wives and children: others had their bodies hung up by Cords, and by tying great weights to their limbs, all the joints of their body were put out of joint; some had Gags put in their mouths, and had stinking water and piss poured down their Throats through a Tunnel till their bellies swelled like a Tun, whereby they died in most cruel torment: They sawed off the legs of some alive, and one Minister they bound upon a Table, and placing a great Cat upon his belly, so provoked the Cat, that she scratched his guts out of his belly with her Teeth and Nails, till he miserably died. At Magdenbur, they ravished the Wife and Daughter of a famous Minister before his face, and then violently snatched a sucking Infant from its Mother's breast, and stuck it on the top of a Lance; and when they had tormented his Eyes and Heart with these horrid Spectacles, they brought the Minister into the Street, and burned him with his own Books. Yea, such was their abominable filthiness in Pomeren, that they ravished the fairest Virgins before their Parents faces, forcing them to sing Psalms the while: one beautiful young woman they ravished, and then cut to pieces, hanging up her quarters in the Church: Girls of ten years old, and under, they ravished and abused, till they killed them; nay, so monstrous beastly were they, that they committed filthiness with the dead Corpse of those women whom they had murdered. At Basil and Friburg they did the like, neither pitying old nor young, men, women, nor innocent Babes, whom sometimes they most barbarously used to eat, even when other meat might be had, yea such inhuman cruelty they used, that in many places they left none remaining alive to relate the sufferings of those that were murdered. Thus these Massacres and bloody murders defiled the whole Land, and Germany groaned under the oppression, till the peace of Munster and Osnaburg in the year 1648. which put a stop to this cruel Persecution, the Papists being compelled thereto, by Gods bringing in the King of Sweden, who over-ran Germany in a short time, and thereby revived the Protestant Cause, which was almost overrun and destroyed by so many thousand violences and miseries, as it had lain under for many years. These bloody Tyrants vented their rage and fury not only in Germany, but also in Hungary, and other Countries, for they committed the same Villainies in all places where they had power, the Ministers were generally banished, and put to death, and the same Picture of their cruelties which has been represented to you in Germany, was acted over again in this Kingdom, which we have not room to insert, only a new sort of death was invented there; they tied Hens Geese, Ducks and Hares to the naked body of a worthy Minister in that Country, and then set the Dogs upon him, who tore and rend his flesh till he died. You have beheld many sad and doleful Spectacles, (and Reader, if thou art a Christian, thy heart must almost bleed at the relation of them) we will therefore Epitomise the bloody cruelties of the Papists in POLAND. All the same things, or worse if it be possible, which we have related to be done in other places, were likewise acted in Poland; many thousand Protestants, and good Christians have been destroyed in that Kingdom, and especially at Karmin, Dumbuick, Shochy, Carienzin, and Lesna, all which Cities and Towns were destroyed and burnt to the ground for the cause of Religion. The City of Lesna was one of the most ancient and flourishing Cities in all the Kingdom of Poland, which was wholly laid in ashes, being three whole days in flames err it was consumed, in which there perished many hundred Protestants, besides inestimable wealth and treasure, no man resisting or opposing the fire: Here they pulled off the Noses of some, and put out the eyes of others, and cut off the tongues, hands, and feet of divers, giving quarter to none, but killing and destroying all that came in their way. They cut off the hands of a pious Matron of Lesna, and then murdered three of her Children before her face, cutting off their heads, and laying one at each breast, and the other by her side. Another woman having her hands and feet cut off, and her tongue cut out, they sowed up in a Sack, and so left her for two days in which she lived, making a most miserable lamentation. In the Lower Poland a multitude suffered, whole Families were butchered, and men and women, young and old, murdered without distinction. And in the year 1654. there was an horrible slaughter amongst them, the Papists putting to death all the Protestants they could meet with to most exquisite tortures: One Mr. Samuel Cardus, a Minister, they used with extreme cruelties, first putting out his eyes, and leading him about as a miserable Spectacle; then they pulled off his fingers with Pincers, and poured melted Led down his throat, and while he was yet half alive, they put his Neck between two folding doors, and so violently severed his head from his body. They used the Minister of Dembuick, and another Minister, very barbarously; for after they had several ways tormented them, they cut their throats with a Razor, and while they were breathing, fling them into a Pit, and covered them with filth and dung. The same Cruelties the Barbarous and bloody Papists acted against the Protestants in LITHUANIA, in the year 1648. slaughtering all that were not Roman Catholics, without distinction of Age or Sex. Here many had their skins flayed off while they were alive, others their hands and feet cut off, some their bowels taken out alive, others had their Shinbones bored through; they poured melted Lead into the wounds of some whom they had cut in the head, and other parts of their bodies: some had their eyes pulled out, and those that were hanged up in all places were such a multitude, that they are hard to be numbered, It was counted a great mercy and kindness to be shot, beheaded, or killed outright, without any other torment. The Wives and Daughters of the Protestants were every where ravished, their Houses and Goods burnt and destroyed, all their Country and their Churches laid waste, so that there was nothing to be seen in every place but Murders and Massacres, and the blood of the poor suffering Protestants ran like Streams through the Streets of Towns and Cities, and those that were left alive, and escaped the slaughter, were banished their Country for ever. The Ministers were chief aimed at, and always cruelly tormented, among the rest one Adrian Chilmiskie, (who was famous for his great Piety and Learning, and likewise for his Reverend Age) was by these barbarous wretches roasted alive, and this they did leisurely, with a few Chips and Straw, that he might be the longer in torment. In another place above forty suffered death by several sorts of tortures: Near Vilna, the chiefest City in Lithuania, one Smolskie, and his Son, both Ministers, had their Heads cruelly sawed off with a Sickle. Another Minister had his flesh sliced off by piece-meal, till he died-And to conclude this Field of Blood, there were no less than fifteen hundred poor Protestants, Ministers as well as others, who were bound to Stakes on the tops of Mountains in the Winter, and there miserably starved to death with hunger and cold. In a word, no Age nor History can parallel all the several tortures and miserable deaths which these poor Protestants suffered from the hands of bloody Papists, for no other Crime but professing and asserting the Truth and Gospel of Jesus Christ. Psalm 74. Lord why hast thou abandoned, O why! for ever shall thine Ire Consume, like a devouring Fire, The Sheep, within thy Pastures fed? Come, O! come quickly and Survey What Spoil the Barbarous Foe hath made, Lo! all in heaps of Ruin laid: Thy Temple their accursed Prey. Like Lions with Sharp Famine whet, They in the Sanctuary roar All Purple in thy People's gore; And there their Conquering Ensigns set. It was esteemed a great renown With Axe to square the Mountain Oaks, Now they demolish with their strokes, And hue the Carved Fabric down. Who lo! with all-infolding Flame The Beauty of the Earth devour; Profanely Prostrate on the Floor That Temple sacred to thy Name. Now said they, with a sudden hand, We'll give a General end to all; By Fire, thy Holy Structures fall, Through this depopulated Land. Ah! how long shall our Enemy's Triumph and glory in our shame? How long shall they blaspheme thy Name Great God, and thy slow Wrath despise? Thy hand out of thy bosom draw, Nor longer thy revenge withhold? Our God thou art our King, The Old Amazed world thy wonders saw. eight panels representing various methods of execution and punishment Hanged in the Water Drawn up with a puller Brained on an Anvil, Children, cut asunder A Famine in Rochel Adm: of France murdered Massacre of Paris Broken on a Cross The Persecutions and Cruelties of the Papists upon the Protestants in France; with an Account of the Bloody Massacre at Paris. ABout the year 1209. There were divers Learned men in France, the Disciples of our Almericus at Paris, who being taken notice of, to hold other Opinions than those commonly heard of at that time; Six of them were brought upon Examination, who freely declared, that they did believe, That God was not otherwise present in the Sacramental Bread, than in any other Bread; That it was Idolatry to build Altars to Saints, or offer incense to their Images: That it was ridiculous to kiss or Worship Relics. They said, that the Pope was Antichrist, and Rome, was Babylon. These being counted horrible Errors in that dark time of superstition, they were persuaded to recant; and upon their refusal so to do, were condemned and burnt at Paris; And the bones of their Master Almericus, which had been buried in the Churchyard, were digged up, and buried in the Fields. In the year 1524, One John Clark set up a Bill on the Church door, against the Pope's Pardons, and called him Antichrist; for which being apprehended, he was ordered to be whipped several days, and then burned in the forehead; His Mother a Religious Woman, standing by, encouraged him, saying with a loud voice, Blessed be Christ, and welcome be these marks for his sake. After this he went to Mitz; and there being some Images without the City which the People used to worship once a year, the Evening before John Clark abhorring their Idolatry, went and broke down all their Idols; the next morning when the Clergy and People came to their Worship, they found their Image lie all broken on the Ground, upon which there began a great Tumult, and John Clark was suspected and taken; who presently confessed the Fact, and gave Reasons for his so doing; for which he was condemned to a most cruel death, His Right hand was first cut off, than his Nose was violently pulled off, and after that his Arms and Breasts with sharp Pincers all which he sustained with admirable Patience, uttering all the while the words of the 115 Psalm. Their Idols are Silver and Gold, the work of men's hands. Lastly, he was thrown into the Fire, and burnt to Ashes. A while after a great number of Protestants at Paris, Melda, Linosin, and divers other Cities and Towns in France were burnt, racked, whipped; beaten, and otherways tormented to death. At Melda one was burnt for saying That the Mass was a plain denial of the death and passion of Christ. He often meditated on the word of Christ: He that denies me before men, him will I also deny before my Father. He was burned in a slow Fire and endured much torment. One Stephen Brame, being condemned to be burned for the Constant Profession of his Faith, when the Fire was kindled, a great wind drove away the Flame from him, so that he stood for an hours space instructing and exhorting the People: They than brought Oil Vessels, and more Faggots, yet still was the flame driven from him, whereupon the Hangman struck him on the head with a staff, to whom he said, I am condemned to be burned, and do you strike me with Staves like a Dog; after which the Hangman run him through the Belly with a Pike, and then threw him in the Fire, and scattered his Ashes in the wind. Four Protestants were condemned at Rouen and were carried to the Stake in a Dung Cart, at which they rejoiced saying, Blessed be God we are reputed as the Excrements of this World, but yet our death is a sweet savour unto God. Aymond de Lavoy, a Godly Minister was burnt at Bordeaux; and likewise one Vercote another Minister, who was imprisoned in such a narrow place, that he could neither stand nor lie down, in which they kept him seven weeks, whereas before no other Malefactor could endure that Torment above fifteen days without dying, or growing mad, afterwards they cut off his Tongue, and lastly they were so merciful to execute him. One Thomas a young man of Eighteen years old coming from Geneva to Paris, rebuked one for swearing, whereupon he was apprehended for a Lutheran and carried before the Inquisition, who committed him to Prison, and racked him so cruelly to confess his Companions, that one of the bloody Inquisitors turned back his head and wept, yea the Hangman self was weary; He was then carried to be burned and was let down into the Fire by a Poultry, and afterward pulled up again, and asked if he would yet turn, To whom he said, He was in his way to God and desired them to let him go, and so he quietly slept in the Lord. The Duke of Guise a great Instrument of Persecution, committed many Barbarous Cruelties upon the Protestants, and among the rest at a place called Vossy, he murdered several Hundreds of Men, Women and Children who were assembled to hear a Sermon, mangling their Limbs, and strewing them about the Seats and Galleries of the Church, and at another Town called Seulis, some were beheaded, some whipped, some beaten, others sent to the Galleys, the poor women being likewise made Slaves. Among the rest one Fournia a Minister was tormented by having his Thumbs strained with a small cord till the blood issued out at the ends of them, and with another Cord was hoist up by the Thumbs, and then twitched down again, having great Stones tied to his Toes, and so was hanged till his Spirits failed him, and then they suddenly let him fall with his Face on the hard Floor, with which Barbarous Usage he in a short time died, being near fifty years old. In the year 1559, in the Reign of Henry the second of France, there was one Ann du Bourg, a Nobleman, and of admirable wisdom and understanding, who when the King came one time into his Parliament at Paris, made a bold Speech before him, wherein he gave hanks to Almighty God for moving the King's Heart to be present at such a weighty matter as that of Religion, (which it seems was then to be debated) humbly entreating him to consider well thereof, it being the Cause of Christ himself, which of good Right aught to be maintained by Princes, but the King was so far from harkening to him, that being enraged he commanded him to be committed to Prison, and protested to him in these very words, These Eyes of mine shall see thee burnt. And a while after he was condemned to die. In the mean time great Triumphs were preparing for the marriage of the King's Sister and Daughter, and the day being come, He spent all the morning in Examining matters against Du Bourg, and some others charged with the same Doctrines, intending to glut his Eyes with their Execution; and then went to Dinner; After Dinner the King ran at Tilt near the Prison where Du Bourg was, and broke many Spears against the Count Montgomery and others, and all thinking he had done enough, desired him to give over with praise; But the King being inflamed with their Commendations would needs run another course with Count Montgomery, who upon his knees begged his Majesty pardon, but the King being resolved, commanded him to do it upon his Allegiance, Montogomery, being compelled addressed himself to it, and the King and he meeting broke their Spears, and the King's Helmet falling down at the same Instant, one of the Splinters of Montgomeries Spear entered just into his right eye, and so pierced his head, that his brains were perished, which wound being incurable, he died thereof, within Eleven days after; whereby his great hopes of seeing the Death of Du Bourg were frustrated; And the Execution of Du Bourg was deferred for six Months longer, all which time persevering constantly in the truth, he was first degraded, and then accompanied with six or seven hundred Horse and Foot well armed, he was guarded to Execution, being first hanged, and then burnt to Ashes. At Amiens in France all the Bibles, Testaments and Psalms Books were burnt, the Minister's Pulpit, and several Men and Women: At Abbevilla they slew the Lord of Harcourt, and dragged some along the Streets with their faces in the Kennel. At Meux above Four Hundred Religious Citizens were slain, the Women and Maids were openly ravished in the Streets, and market-places, Men, Women and Children were Massacred, the very Popish Priests themselves slaying divers with their own hands. At a place called Bar, the same if not worse Villainies were committed, for the Papists pulled out the hearts of these poor Protestants, and most barbarously gnawed them with their Teeth, rejoicing that they tasted of an Hugonots heart. At another place seven Hundred Protestants were inhumanely massacred, and their naked Bodies thrown into the River; Their Houses and Church being likewise plundered and Burnt. At Angies they murdered a Godly Minister and many others and finding a Fair Bible guilt, they hung it upon an Halberd, and carried it in procession, blasphemously crying, Behold Truth hanged, the Truth of the Hugonots, The Truth of all the Devils; behold the Mighty God, behold the Everlasting God will speak, and when they came to the Bridge, they threw it into the River; crying louder, Behold the Truth of all the Devils drowned. At Tours an hundred and forty were murdered and cast into the River, and neither Man, Woman nor Child spared; nay the Precedent of the City being only suspected to be a Favourer of the Protestants, was first beaten with Staves, than script to his shirt, hanged up by one Foot, his Head in the water up to the Breast, and whilst he was yet alive, they ripped up his Belly, plucked out his Guts, threw them into the River, and sticking his heart on a Lance, they carried it about, saying, This is the Heart of the Precedent of the Hugonots. A Poor Woman whose Husband was a while before drowned, having a young Infant sucking at her Breasts; and a beautiful Daughter of about sixteen years old in her hand, these bloody Villains drove them to a River, and taking the Daughter aside, some of the Rascals endeavoured to seduce her to Popery, and one of them who was finer than the rest, promised to marry her, so that the poor Maid began to doubt, which her Mother who was just going to be thrown into the River perceiving, she earnestly exhorted her Daughter to persist in the Truth whereupon the Daughter cried out, I will live and die with my Mother, whom I know to be a Virtuous Woman, and as for your Threats and promises I regard them not, do with me what you please: Before the Mother was quite drowned, the Daughter was likewise thrown in, who making toward her Mother, they mutually embraced each other, and so yielded up their Souls into the hands of God. In the same City of Yours, there was a very Religious Woman, who being brought before the Captain, she there gave an Account of her Faith, which she confirmed by Scripture, insomuch that the Friars who discoursed with her, could not return any answer, but only told her, That she was in a damnable condition: It seems so indeed (said she) being in your hands: And being then committed to prison, she declared her mind freely, and comforted the other Protestant Prisoners; she was afterward condemned to be hanged, and the Rope being put about her neck, she kneeled down praising and magnifying the name of God in showing her so much mercy as by that death to deliver her out of this wretched world, and that she was so far honoured as to die for the Truth, and to wear God's Livery, as she reckoned the halter to be; she than broke her fast with the rest of the Company, and exhorted them to be of good courage and to trust in the free mercy of God to the end. As she went to Execution one of her kindred brought her own little Children to see her, and persuaded her to recant and save her life to provide for these Innocent Babes: This was a very great Temptation, and wrought so upon her Motherly Affection as drew plenty of Tears from her Eyes; But a while after refusing her former Courage and Constancy, she said, I love my Children dearly, yet neither for love to them, nor for any thing else in this World will I renounce my God, or his Truth; God will be a Father to these my Children, and will provide better for them then I could have done, and therefore to his Providence and protection I commend and leave them. After which she went cheerfully to the place of Execution, and having there prayed to, and praised God, she quietly resigned up her Spirit to him. A while after the City of Rouen was besieged and two of the Forts taken, wherein they put all the Protestants to the Sword, and the Queen Mother being at the Siege, she led the young King Charles the Ninth, who was then but twelve years old, to show him the Naked Bodies of several poor Women; who weltered in their Blood; At last the City was taken, wherein all sorts of monstrous Cruelties were used, massacring all they met with, and divers English and Scotch Soldiers were hanged, and the Sick and wounded were cast into the River. In Valogues divers Persons of good Quality were massacred, and among the rest, a Godly Minister whose body they stripped, and with many scoffs and scorns dragged it about the House, and at last bringing it into a Room, where he used to preach, they kicked and spurned his Corpse, saying, Now pray to God and preach if thou canst; The Popish Priests that were present, stuffed his Mouth and likewise his wounds with the Leaves of his Bible; crying, Preach the Truth of thy God, and call upon him now to help thee. In a place called Again many were massacred, and two young Children were roasted: In the Castle of Rheims there was great Cruelty used, many young Children being murdered in their Mother's Arms; and the Mothers also shamefully abused, and afterward killed. Above five hundred men were hanged upon Gibbets, among whom was a grave Counsellor in his long Gown and square Cap. In the City of Blois the Murderers hearing there was a Sermon, broke violently into the house, thinking to have taken the Minister, but being disappointed, they dragged several Women that were there, by the hair of the head, and beating them severely threw them into the River, but by the Providence of God, they had so much skill as to swim safely to an Island, but presently after some Watermen finding them there, stripped them stark naked, and threw them again into the River, yet still they endeavoured to save themselves, and Swum toward the Suburbs of a Town called Vienne, and were they cruelly knocked on the head by the bloody Papists. The French General having taken several Protestants Prisoners, he hanged most of them, but especially the Ministers; among the rest, there was a Captain, called Lafoy moth to whom the General gave divers stabbs with a Dagger, and thrust him thorough with a Sword, saying, Villain thou shalt die in despite of God; But he proved a Liar; for the Captain was carried away, and though extremely wounded, yet was wonderfully cured, and lived afterward. Many horrible Murders were likewise committed upon the Protestants, and amongst others one of their Practices was to throw them down from the top of St. Michael's Abbey, which was built upon an high Rock, under which there ran a deep and swift River, and by the way there was another Rock which stood far out, upon which their bodies falling were dashed and torn to pieces: Among the rest there was a young man, who seeing they were resolved to murder him, requested that he might thus cast himself from the top of the Abbey, and if it pleased God to preserve him in the fall, he might escape with Life, this they promised, whereupon having made his Prayers to God, he fetched a leap from the top of the Abbey and flew so far, that missing the Rocks under him, he fell into the River, and endeavoured to swim out for his life, but these perfidious Villains knocked him on the head, and killed him. A Captain and his Soldiers entering the House of a Religious Widow, they bond her with Cords, and then put a Rope about her neck, whereby she was halled up and down, till she was almost strangled, they then asked her, How often she had played the whore with those of her Religion, she answered, That in the Christian Meetings there were no such Villainies committed. The Captain then dashed her head against the walls till he had almost beaten out her brains, and required her to give him Seven Hundred pieces of Gold which she had hidden, she told him she was a poor woman, and had only one French penny, this enraged him the more, and he thereupon applied hot burning Coals to her Armpits, till they were all blistered, bidding her in derision, to cry to her Father which was in Heaven, She replied, I will not cry aloud for thee, and yet my God can hear me well enough, and when his pleasure is, he will deliver me out of thy hand. This made him swear and blaspheme extremely, which more afflicted the poor Woman than her pains or sufferings; and then he called her Hugonote whore, saying that these were but the beginning of her sorrows, and except she fetched him out her Gold, he would draw her Cheeks and Breasts with Lard and roast her alive, and afterwards throw her body headlong from the highest Steeple in the Town, well (said she) if you throw my body never so low, that shall not hinder my Soul from ascending into Heaven: This her courage did further enrage him, and thereupon he opened her Mouth with his Dagger, and crammed Lime down her Throat, and afterwards forced her to drink a glass of Urine which he had made before her, throwing the remainder with the glass in her Face, they then carried her to their Quarters, and threatened to kill her with strange Cruelties; but some pitying her condition redeemed her for ten Crowns, and conveyed her home, where she soon died. Some of these Hellhounds constrained one Peter Roch to dig his own Grave, and then bid him try how it fitted him, which whilst he was doing, they buried him alive. They stripped a Gentleman's Wife stark Naked, and would have abused her, but she resisting, they cruelly whipped her, crowned her with Thorns, wounded her with their swords, and then shot her to death. In another Town six of the chief men had their heads struck off, and others were divers ways put to death. In Tholouse some Councillors made Proclamation that they should kill and destroy all those of the Protestant Religion, and spare none, since they were Licenced to do it both by the King, and the Pope: This soon spread through all the Villages, and the Papists rang the Bells to the slaughter, and there presently began a most horrible Massacre in those parts; There were above Thirty Thousand Protestants in the City of Tholouse, so that the Prisons were Immediately filled, and many knocked on the Head because they would hold no more, the River was quickly covered with murdered bodies; some Protestants got into the Townhouse, and made an agreement to departed quietly, but the perfidious Papists destroyed most of them. At a Town called Carcasson they pulled out their Eyes, and cut off their Ears and Noses; They took one and blacked his Hands, Face and Feet; and then said he had a Devil, afterwards they hanged him, and threw his body to the Dogs; One being commanded to blaspheme God, upon refusal was presently hewn to pieces. A Blacksmith because he would not give himself to the Devil, they laid his head upon his own Anvil, and beat out his brains with hammers. A young Woman was found hid in a house with her Husband whom they ravished before his Face, and then forced her to take hold of a Rapier, wherewith one of the Villains thrusting her Arm, made her kill her own Husband. In Foix and Aurang, some had their hands and legs cut off, and were afterwards beheaded, others were carried upon Halberds, some were burnt in Churches, some had their Privities cut off; Girls of Five and Six years old were Ravished and spoiled. In Cisterno the men being fled, the Papists fell upon the Women and Children, and slew Three or Four Hundred of them; Some Women with Child were ripped up, and many buried alive, some had their Throats cut like Sheep, others were drawn through the Streets and beaten to death with Clubs, and in brief the Protestants were murdered, without distinction of Age, Sex or Quality, neither Old, Bedrid, nor the diseased in Hospitals being spared. In Masion the bloody Papists apprehended an honest Godly Minister, whom they carried along the Streets, with a Thousand Scoffs and Scorns, and beating and abusing him, and then they made Proclamation, That whosoever would hear this Holy man Preach, should come to the Slaughter House: At which place they abused him two hours together; He than desired that before his death, they would permit him to pray to God; upon which a Villain stepped to him, and cut off half his Nose, and one of his ears, saying, Now pray as long as thou wilt, and then we will send thee to all the Devils: And then this holy man kneeling down, prayed with such zeal and fervency of Spirit, as drew sighs from some of the Murderers, and afterwards speaking to him that had cut off his Nose, he said, Friend I am now ready to suffer what thou hast to inflict upon me, but I entreat you and your Companions to consider seriously of the Mischiefs and Outrages committed by you against this poor City, for there is a God in Heaven, before whose Tribunal you must shortly give an Account of these your Cruelties: Just than a Captain passing by, cried, send that wretched man to the Devil; which one of them hearing took him by the hand, pretending to lead him to the River to wash off his blood; but when he came thither, he threw him into the water, and then battered him with Stones till he was drowned. In the year 1571. after the end of the third Civil War in France, great means were used to draw the chief of the Protestants to Paris under the pretence of a Marriage that was between the King of Navarre, who was a Protestant, and the Lady Margaret, Sister to the French King, but in the mean time several Protestants were murdered in the City of Rouen, as they came from a Sermon, which seemed very much to displease the King, and divers were Executed for the Mutiny; then were the Articles of Marriage agreed upon at Paris, the Admiral Coligni was invited to the Wedding, and those that belonged to the Family of the Duke of Guise, were forbid the Court, which was very acceptable to the Protestants, as judging it an assured pledge of the King's fidelity, since he declared much satisfaction in the Marriage, saying, That it was not so much for the Wedding, as that it was a strong knot of Peace, and would be for the good of the whole Nation. The Admiral for his security was allowed to bring with him fifty Gentlemen armed; and being come to Paris he was honourably received of the King, who called him Father, and protested that in his whole life, he had not been better pleased, as judging this day would end all his troubles, and settle firm peace and quietness in his Kingdom: Notwithstanding this, the Admiral had several Intimations of some Treachery intended against him, but though very wise, yet he took little notice of it. The Queen Mother likewise entertained him with great favour, and the King sent him One Hundred Thousand Franks out of his Treasury for the loss which he had received in the Wars: And the King to delude the People spoke publicly, That he did not give his Sister in Marriage to the King of Navarre only, but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to join with them in an indissoluble union and as a tye to their peace and safety. The Seventeenth of August, the King of Navarre, and the Lady Margaret were married with great Solemnity before the great Church of Paris, on a Scaffold in the sight of all the People, by the Cardinal of Bourbon, the King of Navars Uncle, and the Wedding was solemnised with Banquets, Dancing and Masques, with a strange mixture of Protestants and Papists together, after which the Bride was led into the Church to hear Mass with great solemnity, but the King of Navarre her Bridegroom, the Prince of Conde, and other Protestant Noblemen walked without the Church door, till her return, as misliking their Religion and Ceremonies. In the mean time the Queen Mother, and her bloody Councillors, together with the Duke of Anjou and Guise contrive the Murder of the Admiral, and the dividing the Protestants. The Admiral after the Marriage moved the King for his departure home, but the continual complaints of the Protestants still detained him at Court, and going some days after th' there, in his return home while he was reading a Petition with divers Noblemen and Gentlemen about him; He was shot by a Harquebuzie, the Bullet taking off the forefinger of his right-hand, and hurting him in the left Arm, he feeling himself shot, said, without alteration of Countenance, It came through yonder Window, what kind of Treachery is this? The door of the House being broke open, they understood that he which shot, presently mounted upon a Spanish Jennet at a back door, and made his escape, leaving his Gun behind him, and upon Examination it was found, that the Harquebuz was brought to the house the day before, by one Chally Steward of the King's House, and an acquaintance of the Duke of Guise. The King having notice of this Villainy, seemed to be extremely concerned, causing all the Gates of Paris to be presently shut, and swore to the Admiral's Friends, that those that had committed this horrid Fact should not escape: the Queen Mother likewise seemed much discontented at it. The King went to visit the Admiral, assuring him of his love and care over him. However the King of Navarre, Prince of Conde and other Protestants had private advice to departed speedily out of Paris, and to look upon this but as the beginning of the Tragedy which was to follow; but they, trusting to the King's word, would not go. The Dukes of Guise and Anjou employed some to go to every house, and bring them a Catalogue of all the Protestants, and the King set a Guard of Fifty Harquebuzies at the Admiral's Gate; and abundance of Arms were sent into the King's Palace of the Lovure, and in the Evening of the same day, all the Papists were in Arms; the Protestants observing all this, many of then assembled at the admiral's Lodgings, where it was advised that the Admiral should be Immediately conveyed out of Paris, and the rest should change their Lodgings, but this was again refused they still relying upon the King's word, who promised them Justice. In the Evening, divers Protestant Gentlemen offered to watch with the Admiral, but he refused it, and the same night the Duke of Guise sent for the Captain of the Swissers, and shown him his Commission to kill the Admiral and the rest of the Protestants, and exhorted him and his Soldiers to be courageous in shedding their blood; At midnight the Provost, Sheriffs, and Captains of every Ward had the same Orders given them, with assurance, that the like should be Executed upon the Protestants through the whole Kingdom of France, and that the Signal for the General Massacre, would be the ringing of the Bell in the King's Palace, which would be about break of day, and that the Murderers should have a white handkerchief tied about their Arms, and a white Cross in their hats, and Candles to be lighted in every house: At the time appointed, the Bell rung, and the Duke of Guise hasted to the Admiral's Lodgings with his Cutthroats, and knocking at the Door, he that opened it was murdered; the Admiral hearing the noise, got out of his Bed, and there being a Minister in the Room, they both went to Prayers, and the Admiral fervently commended his Soul to God, and then said to those about him, It is long since I disposed myself to die, save yourselves if it be possible, for you cannot save my life, I commit my soul into the hands and mercy of God. The Minister, and the rest of his attendants got up to the top of the house, and crept out of the Windows to save themselves, yet most of them were slain in the next House. Presently seven or eight men broke into the Admiral's Lodgings, and one of them set his Naked Sword to his Breast, saying, Art thou the Admiral? To whom with a Christian Constancy he answered, I am called so, and withal said, young man thou oughtest to consider my Age and the weak condition I am now in, but do what thou wilt, for thou canst not shorten my life but a very little: But the Wretch blaspheming God, thrust him through the Breast, and afterward struck him on the head, another shot him with a Pistol, and a third wounded him in the Thigh, so that he lay gasping for life; the Duke of Guise was below, and with a loud voice cried, Have you done? It was answered, Yes; the Duke replied, Our Chevalier (which was the King's Bastard Brother) will not believe it, unless he see it; which being done, his Face was all bloody, which the Duke of Guise wiping, said, Now I know it is he, and then kicked him on the Face with his Foot, whom all the Murderers of France feared so much when he was alive. Then the Duke and his bloody Train went into the Streets, crying Arm, Arm, we have had good success, and a happy beginning, Let us now proceed to the rest, for it is the King's Command, which words he repeated often, This is the King's Commandment, this is his Will, this is his express pleasure, therefore courage my Fellows. Then the great Bell of the Palace which was the bloody token of the General Alarm, began to ring out aloud, and presently a Report was spread, That the Protestants had conspired against the King; Queen and Court, and were just going to Execute their Design; After this the Admiral's head was cut off, and sent to the King, and Queen Mother, and being by them preserved with Spices, it was sent to the Pope, and the Cardinal of Lorraine at Rome as a very grateful present. The Pope when he first heard the News of the Massacre, appointed a day of Public Thanksgiving to God, where Te Deum was sung for joy in the Church of St. Lewes; He likewise Published a Bull of Pardons and extraordinary Indulgence to such as should pray for the Heavenly assistance to the King and Kingdom of France for rooting out of Heretics. The Rascally Rabble cut off the Hands and Privy Members of the Admiral, dragging his mangled body besmeared with blood and filth, through the Streets three days together, and then hanged it by the Feet upon the Gallows; All the Attendants of the King of Navarre, and Prince of Conde which lay in the King's Palace were murdered, and likewise all the Lords and Gentlemen about the Admiral's Lodgings, and among the rest his Son Teligny, and then through all the City and Suburbs were the poor Protestants Massacred with all manner of Cruelties; Nothing was then to be heard but the Terrible noise of Horses and Arms, Guns and Pistols, mingled with the doleful, sad and woeful Schreeches and miserable complaints of Men, Women, and Children, Rich and Poor, crying for mercy to these bloody Hellhounds, howling and lamenting at their miserable Condition, to bet hus wretchedly murdered for they knew not what: And all this intermixed with the groans of the dying, and the merciless shouts of the Cruel Murderers, continually crying, kill, kill, for the King commands it, that it seemed as if Heaven and Earth had met together, or as if the Heavens had rend with Thunder. So that in that night, and the Two next days there was slain in Paris above Ten Thousand Persons of both Sexes, and all Ranks and Ages, the bloody Papists not sparing the Children in the Cradle, nor the Infants in their Mother's wombs, insomuch that the Streets, Market-place, and Rivers were died with Blood, and the Murderers boasted that they had in a few days put an end to that Quarrel, that neither Pen, Paper, decrees of Justice nor open War could accomplish in Twelve years. This horrid Massacre was committed on St. Bartholomews' day, being the 24. of August 1571. which was the Sabbath day, and is made famous for ever, by the Effusion of so much precious Innocent blood, as no Age nor time can parallel, for there were at this time in Paris Threescore Thousand men, with Pistols, Poniards, Swords, Knives, and such other Bloody Instruments, who ran up and down, swearing and blaspheming the Sacred Majesty of God, cruelly massacring all they met, so that the Streets were covered with mangled Bodies, and the Gates and Doors defiled with blood, the Lords and Gentlemen were Inhumanely murdered, some in their Beds, others on the top of their Houses, and in all other places where they were found, and such a multitude of dead Bodies, were thrown into the River Se-Sin, that the water was died Red with their Blood. In the Hellish Assembly wherein this bloody Massacre was concluded on, it was debated whether the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde should not be destroyed with the rest; the Duke of Guise pleaded for it, but others were against it, and argued how abominable it would be to destroy two young Princes of the Blood, in the Flower of their Age, and one of them in the embraces of his young Bride, and the Kings own Sister, and therefore it was concluded, That they should be threatened violently with death and all manner of Torments if they would not turn Papists,; And thereupon the King commanded them to be brought into his presence, and told them, That now he had cut off all the Instruments of the late Civil Wars, which he hoped would prevent future troubles, for by his Command the Admiral was slain, and all the rest of the Heretics and that the like should be Executed in all other places throughout the Kingdom, and that if they would now save their Lives they must turn Catholics, for he was resolved to have but one Religion in his Kingdom. The King of Navarre, and the Prince of Conde humbly beseeched his Majesty to Remember his Oaths, Promises, and solemn Vows and Protestations that they should have the free Exercise of their Religion, and withal told the King, That he might do as he pleased with their Bodies and Estates, but their unspotted Souls were in the hands of God; and that they were resolved to remain steadfast in their Religion, though with the loss of their lives; which answer so enraged the King, that he called the Prince of Conde Rebel, and the Son of a Rebellious Person, horribly threathing him, That if within three days he did not obey his Command he should die for it, and then with a furious Countenance left them with these three Terrible Words, Death, Mass or the Bastile. Many Gentlemen that were attendants upon them, as likewise their Schoolmasters and Tutors, were thrust out of the Chamber among the Murderers, that is among the King's Guard of Swissers who stood in two Ranks with their Swords drawn ready for Blood and Cruelty. These Gentlemen crying out of the King's Oaths, Promises and Fidelity, were yet by the King's Command, and in his own Sight unmercifully hewn and cut in pieces. In this Butcherly Massacre at Paris there were above four Thousand Houses rob and plundered, and above Five Hundred Barons, Knights and Gentlemen, who were chief Officers in the War, with abundance of Noble young Gentlemen, Ladies, and Gentlewomen Inhumanely murdered, who little expected such a bloody Fate, for they came from all parts to rejoice, in honour of the marriage of the King of Navarre, and instead of Jollity and pleasures, they here met with an untimely death, from Bloody and Cowardly Papists, who murder like Devils, but dare not fight like men. The King and his Confidents fearing that this Massacre would not end the Quarrel, but rather stir up the Protestants in other places to stand upon their own defence; He therefore sends Messengers by Post to all parts of the Kingdom, often shifting Horses for more speed, with express Commands to the Governors of all other Towns and Cities in France to follow the Example of Paris, and to destroy and kill all the Protestants which were amongst them; and yet at the same time, the King writes other Letters wherein he laid the fault of the murder of the Admiral, and the rest upon the Duke of Guise. As soon as this Command was published, and that the King's Letters came, the Papists fell with all imaginable fury upon all the Protestants at Meaux, Troy's, Orleans, and other places, murdering them without any matter of pity and Compassion. And among the rest monsieur De la Place, Precedent of the Court of Requests being in his house, a Captain came to him, and told him, that the Duke of Guise had killed the Admiral by the Kings Appointment, and many other Hugonots, but however he was willing to secure him, but desired to see his Gold; The Lord De la Place observing his Impudence asked him whether he thought there were a King or no; the Captain blaspheming bid him go to know the King's pleasure; The Lord De la Place thinking there was danger near, went from him to secure himself, and the Captain thereupon plundered his House. The poor Gentleman seeking shelter in three Houses for his life, was denied, and was at last forced to return home again, where finding his wife very sorrowful, he rebuked her, and discoursed with her of the Promises of God, telling her, That through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God; and then calling his Family together, he made an Exhortation to them, went to prayer, and then read a Chapter in Job, with Calvin's Exposition, and then praying again, he resolved by God's assistance to suffer all Torments rather than to fly for it. Presently after the Provost of the Merchants comes to his House with many Archers, and an Order to bring him to the King, and would not admit of any Excuse, whereupon the Lord supposed what would happen, and therefore embracing his Wife, he desired her never to forsake the truth of God; And so going toward the Palace, some Murderers waited for him, and Immediately stabbed him with their Daggers, so that he fell down dead, and then stripping him, cast his Body into the River. After this, there followed the like Cruelties and Murders upon the Protestants in the Cities of Lions, Tholouse, Bordeaux, Angiers, where the Protestants were most barbarously killed and destroyed, as likewise in most other Cities and Towns, so that in a few Months there were murdered above threescore Thousand Protestants in France, for no other Crime, but only for being Protestants. Yet in the midst of these dangers it pleased God to provide some places of refuge for them, as Rochel, Montalbon, Wismes, Saucerre, Privas, etc. whither many Protestants fled from other places. In the year 1573, the Town of Saucerre was besieged by the Lord of Chastre, who with his Canon played incessantly upon the place, so that the Stones, Pavements, and Splinters of Timber flew about continually, and yet it pleased God that only one young Woman was slain thereby, though sometimes the Coats, Breeches, and Hats of the Inhabitants were shot through; The Siege being long, there was great scarcity, insomuch that the People were forced to eat Horses, Asses, and Mules, which lasted a Month; Afterwards they eat all the Dogs, Cats, Rats, Mice and Moles that they could get; and then they were forced to eat Parchments, Horses, and Beasts-Hoofs, Horns, Lanterns, Halters, Girdles of Leather, Herbs, wild Roots, and Furniture for Horses; this being all spent, and no bread in the City, they made bread of Linseed, Herbs mixed with Bran, Straw-Meal, Powder of Nutshells; yea Slates, Suet, Old Ointments, and other Grease served to make Pottage; and therewith, they likewise fried the the Excrements of Horses and Men, which they eat, yea the very filth in the Streets was not spared. During this Extremity, a labourer and his wife were put to death for eating the Head, Intrials and Brains of their own Child, a Girl of three years old, who died with Famine, having likewise dressed the rest of her body to eat at other times. Those that went out of the City Walls, were forced to live upon the Spriggs of Vines, Black-beries, Snails, and Herbs; and many of them were killed by the Enemy. And among other lamentable Spectacles, a poor man and his Wife were found dead among the Vines, and two of their Children crying by them; the youngest being not above Six weeks old, whom a Charitable Widow took home and relieved, etc. Many died of this terrible Famine in their Houses, and others fell down dead in the Streets; Most of the Children under Twelve years old died, and most lamentable it was to see their poor Fathers and Mothers lamenting their misery, and yet could not relieve them; yet most of them did wonderfully encourage themselves in God's help and assistance, as may appear by this strange Example. A Boy about five years old being famished for Hunger, running along the Streets, fell down for dead in the presence of his Father and Mother, who wept over him, and felt his Arms and Legs, which were as dry as a Stick: To whom the Child said, Why do you weep to see me die of hunger? I ask you no Bread Mother, for I know you have none, but since it is God's will that I should die in this manner, I must take it thankfully; Had not the Holy man Lazarus Hunger, have I not read it in my Bible? and saying thus, he yielded up his Spirit. And that which preserved the rest from perishing was, because there were six Cows kept alive to give Milk to some few Infants, and some Horses of service referred for extremity were killed, and their flesh sold, and some little Corn was brought into the Town by stealth, which was sold for half a Crown a pound. There died by the War but Eighty four Persons, but the Famine destroyed Five Hundred, and the rest were brought so low, that they hardly recovered. Divers voluntarily went out of the Town choosing rather death than such misery, whereof some were slain, and others Imprisoned, and Executed. And now when all humane help failed, the King having sworn, He would make them eat one another, and the Papists threatening to Massacre them all; it Pleased God strangely to deliver these poor Protestants. For Ambassdors coming from Poland to fetch the Duke of Anjou the King's Brother thither, whom they had chosen for their King; They having notice of this terrible siege, obtained by their Solicitations, that all the Towns in France which were molested for Religion should have their Liberty, by which means the poor Saucerreans half dead with hunger obtained their freedom, and were quietly suffered to departed with their Arms and Goods, and those that would stay not to be questioned for what was passed. About the same time the Town of Rochel was likewise besieged, the Townsmen often sallying out, and divers hot skirmishes past; among the rest a young Gentleman boasted with horrible blasphemies, that he was one of the horrible Murderers of the Admiral, showing his Sword, which he said he brought from that exploit, to slash the Rochellers, but upon Trial his heart failed him and he ran away, and one of the Rochellers pursuing him slew him, stripped him, and left his body in the Field, and before next morning the had torn his Face. In one months' space the Papists discharged above Thirteen Thousand Shot against the Town, and made many assaults, but always came off with loss, The Siege continued two Months, and the Famine much increaseh upon them, but by Divine Providence, when all other Provision failed them, there came a multitude of small Fishes into the Haven, which were never seen there before, and was a very great relief to them, who continued during the siege, but presently after the publishing the Edict of Peace, they went away and were never seen more. A while after the Rochellers were likewise freed from the siege by means of the Poland Ambassadors and enjoyed their ormer Privileges: It is very remarkable that most of those Persons which were employed in the Massacre of Paris and other Places, were killed at this siege, for there were slain before this Town Three Masters de Camp, divers Lords and Gentlemen, above Threescore Captains, as many Lieutenants and Ensigns, and above Twenty Thousand Common Soldiers. The next year after, the King himself, who was at least the Countenancer of all these horrible Massacres, being in the prime of his Youth, not above Twenty five years old, fell sick of a languishing disease; his Physicians let him blood and purged him to no purpose; for he consumed away so strangely, as astonished many. He long struggled against his Disease, but at last betook himself to his Bed for about fourteen days before his death, and was sore tormented with a great Effusion of blood, which issued from all parts of his body, and one time, to the terror of those about him, he rolled himself in his own blood; A while before he died he desired his Mother to pursue his Enemies to the utmost repeating the same, and with great eagerness, and saying Madam I pray you hearty to do it, and so expired May 30. 1574. And it was observed that the rest of the Chief Agents were strangely cut off; The Duke of Anjou the King's Brother, afterwards King Henry the Third was stabbed by a Jacobine Monk in the same Chamber where he sat in Council for contriving the late Tragedies. The Duke of Guise was murdered in the Kings own Chamber, Five and Forty Persons waiting with Swords and Daggers to do it; The Queen Mother broke her heart, and died the first of January after: And in short, it hath been observed by a good Author, that since the year of our Lord 1560 of a Thousand Murderers that remained unpunished by men, there was not ten who escaped the Divine hand of God; but came to deserved and wretched Ends, suitable to their bloody and wicked Lives. At a Town called Sansay in France in the year 1593., one Margaret Pieron was by her maid accused to the Jesuits for not going to Mass, and for keeping a Bible in her house, who complaining thereof to the Judges, they sent for her, and said, Margaret, are you not willing to return home to your house, and there enjoy your Husband and Children? Yes, said she, if it may stand with the good will of God; Then said they, If thou wilt do but a small matter thou shalt be set at Liberty; If, said she, if it be not contrary to God's glory and my own Salvation, you shall hear what I will say to it. No such thing, said they, for all that we require is but this, That a Scaffold being set up in the chief part of the Town, you shall there crave pardon for offending the Law, and a fire being made you shall burn your Bible in it without speaking a word. I pray you my Masters said she, tell me is my Bible a good Book or no? Yes, said they, we confess it is, only to please the Jesuits we would have thee throw it in the Fire, Imagine it to be but Paper, and then you may burn it, and you may buy another at any time, and thereby you may secure your Life. They spent two Hours in persuading her that she might commit a less Evil to do a greater good. But she courageously answered them, That by the help of God she would never do it. Will not the People say said she, This is a wretched Woman indeed, that burns the Bible, wherein all the Articles of Christian Religion are contained? I will certainly burn my Body, rather than I will burn my Bible. Upon this she was committed to Prison, and fed only with bread and water, and her Friends forbade to come to her, but continuing steadfast in the Truth, she was thereupon condemned to be set upon a Scaffold, to have the Bible burnt before her Face, herself to be strangled, and her body to be dragged through the Streets to a Dunghill, which Sentence she willingly and cheerfully underwent. In the year 1628. The City of Rochel was again besieged with a great Army by the French King, whereby the Inhabitants were in such extremity for want of Victuals, that they eat Horses, Dogs Cats, Rats, and Mice, and after that the poor Protestants lived Two Months upon Cow-hides and Goatskins boiled. They likewise eat old Gloves, and whatsoever was made of Leather, yea the poor people cut off the buttocks of the dead and eat them, young Maids of Fourteen or Sixteen years old looked like old Women of an Hundred years old, a Bushel of Wheat was sold for Twenty Pound, a Pound of Bread Twenty Shillings, a Quarter of Mutton above six Pound, An Egg eight shillings, An Ounce of Sugar Half a Crown, a dried Fish Twenty Shillings, a Pint of Milk Thirty Shillings. After a while the City was taken, and some English that were therein, when they came aboard, looked like Anatomies or dead Bodies. And since that to this very day the Protestants have suffered very great hardships and Persecutions in France by having their Churches pulled down, by Fires and Imprisonments, and Banishments, by being excluded from all Officer and Employments of Trust or Profit, and by all manner of discouragements whatsoever, and that only upon the Account of their Religion; and all this contrary to Oat, his Protestations, Edicts and Proclamations, which have been solemnly made, and granted to them for the free Exercise of the Protestant Religion. Psalm 68 LEt God arise, let his Enemies be scattered, let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away, as wax melteth before the Fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of the Lord. But let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God, yea let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his Name, extol him that rideth upon the Heavens, by his Name I A H; and rejoice before him. A Father of the Fatherless, and a Judge of the Widow, is God in his Holy Habitation. God setteth the solitary in Families, he bringeth out those that are bound with chains, but the Rebellious dwell in a dry Land. To him that rideth upon the Heaven of Heavens, which were of old, lo, he doth send out his Voice, and that a mighty Voice. Ascribe the strength unto God, his Excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the Clouds. O God, thou art terrible out of the holy places, the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his People: blessed be God. Psalm 94. GReat God of Hosts revenge our wrong On those, who are in Mischief strong, Upon thy Foes Inflict our woes, For Vengeance doth to thee belong: Judge of the world, prevent The Proud and Insolent. How long shall they the just oppress, And Triumph in their Wickedness; How long supplant! Ah! how long Vaunt And Glory in their dire success! Thy Saints they kill and break, And Insult o'er the weak. They Strangers and poor Widows kill, And Blood of wretched Orphans spill; And say, can he Or hear, or see? Doth God regard what's good or ill? Brute Beasts, without a mind, O Fools in knowledge blind! Shall not the Almighty see and hear, Who formed the Eye, and framed the Ear, Who Nations slew Not punish you? For he all knows; to him appear Dark Councils, secret Fires Vain hopes and vast desires. eight panels representing various methods of execution and punishment One burned for throwing down the Chest P: Orange murdered Racked the Inquisition. Tortured in the Inquisition 80 had their Throats Cut Some beheaded. Some stoned to Death Others thrown upon Pikes The Cruelties of the Papists in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Low-countrieses. LEt us next proceed to look into Italy, which being under the Inspection of the Pope, it may well be supposed not to harbour many Protestants, at least such as dare openly appear to be such, by reason of the Inquisition, which was first Instituted against the Moors and Jews in Spain, but is now only used for the discovery, and Tormenting of good Christians; yet not withstanding all this, there have been divers who have owned the Gospel even in the City of Rome itself, and several other places in Italy. For in the time of Pope Adrian the Fourth who was an Englishman, one Arnald of Brixia came to Rome and preached publicly and boldly against the Corruptions of the Romi h Church; and found great favour among the Senators and People, insomuch that when the Pope commanded them to drive Arnal, out of the City for an Heretic, they resisted his command and defended Arnald, upon which the Popo thundered out an Excommuncation against the whole City of Rome; so that upon the importunity of the Clergy they were forced to send him away; but he was entertained by the Lords of Campania who were subject to the Emperor, of Germany with whom he remained, and preached the Gospel to them. The Emperor coming afterwards into Italy to be Crowned the Pope desired him to deliver up Arnald into his hands; whereupon the Emperor seized upon one of the Lords of Campania, which so terrified the other, that he delivered up Arnald, who being sent to the Pope he used him most cruelly, and then ordered him first to be hanged, and then burnt as an Arch Heretic; His Chief Heresies were, That he preached against the Pride and Covetousness of the Monks and Clergy, that he inveighed against the Errors in the Sacrament, that he expounded the Scriptures, etc. In the year 1546. there was one Eucenas or Driander, a Spaniard born, who being bred up in Rome, yet came at last to the knowledge of the Truth, and having discovered his dislike of the false Doctrine of Popery, he was betrayed by his own Countrymen and Acquaintance, and being brought before the Cardinals, he was committed close Prisoner, and was afterwards brought forth to declare his Judgement where he gave a Notable Testimony to the Truth, upon which, when he refused to recant the same, he was condemned to be burnt, and suffered Martyrdom with great patience and constancy. In the year 1550, One Faninus of Ferrara in Italy being by the Grace of God and reading of good books converted to the Gospel, and began to Instruct others privately therein, but this coming to the ears of some of the Pope's Bloodhounds, they seized him and committed him to Prison, where by the earnest Importunities of his Wife, Children and Friends, he was persuaded to deny the Truth, and was thereupon released out of Prison; He had not been long at liberty, but he was extremely troubled in mind, for preferring the Love of his Relations and Friends before the service of Jesus Christ, neither could he by ny means be free from these Tortures till he had fully resolved to venture his Life for the Gospel; Being thus inflamed with holy Zeal, he went about the Country teaching and Instructing the People wherever he came. Whereupon he apprehended and cast into Prison, and was condemned to be burnt, but he told his Judges, That his time was not yet come, and so it happened for he was removed to Ferrara where he continued in Prison for Two years, and afterwards Eighteen Months in another Prison, and was again condemned by the Pope's Inquisitors, but still his death was one way or other prevented. His Wife and Sister came to him in Prison and weeping pitifully entreated him to remember and consider his poor Family, To whom he answered, That his Lord and Master had commanded him not to deny the Truth for his Family's sake, and that it was too much that for their sakes he had once fallen already, and therefore desired them not to solicit him any more in that matter, for he knew his end drew near, and therefore he commended them to the Lord. In a short time after the Pope sent word Faninus should be burnt, at which he very much rejoiced and thanked the Messenger. Being still offered Life if he would recant, and thereby prevent the misery of his Wife and Children, He said, He would leave them to a careful and sufficient Overseer; and being asked who that was, he answered even the Lord Jesus Christ a faithful Keeper of all that are committed to him. As he was going to Execution, one that saw him so merry and cheerful asked him, what the reason of it was, since Jesus Christ before his death sweat Water and Blood? To whom he answered, That Christ sustained all the sorrows and conflicts with Hell and Death, which were due to us, that by his sufferings we might be free from the sorrow and fear of them all. At the place of Execation after having earnestly prayed to God, he went patiently to the stake, and was first strangled and then burnt. There was likewise one Dominicus a Soldier under Charles the First, in Germany, who having received the Gospel, grew so much in knowledge in a short time, that he able to instruct others, whereupon he returned into Italy, and taught the People in Naples, Placentia, and several other places: In a little time after he was apprehended and readily obeyed the Magistrate, saying, That he wondered the Devil had let him alone so long; And being asked whether he would renounce his Doctrine, He said, That he maintained no Doctrine of his own, but the Doctrine of Christ which he was also ready to seal with his blood; Being therefore condemned to death, he was brought into the Marketplace, where he most hearty prayed for his Enemies, Instructed the People, and then was hanged, resting in peace in the Lord. In the City Paria in Italy, one Galleacius Trecius a Gentleman of good Quality, very rich, and bountiful to the poor embraced the Gospel, for which being presecuted he fled from thence, but being afterwards apprehended he was brought before the Lords Inquisitors where he boldly and courageously asserted the Truth; whereupon he was condemned to be burnt; next morning he was bound to a stake in the Market place, where he continued till noon to be gazed at by the People, during which time many of his Friends persuaded him to recant, but nothing could alter the firm mind of this constant Martyr and Fire being put to him, be quietly slept in the Lord. A little before his Execution he heard there were some Differences between the Bishop and the Mayor of the Town, who should be at the cost of wood to burn him, but to end the Quarrel he sent them word he would be at the cost out of his own Goods. In the year 1553 one John Mollius a famous Preacher was hanged and burnt for preaching the Gospel, and the next year Francis Gamba was condemned upon the same account, and because he made adm rabble discourses to the People, his Tongue was bored through, and he was first strangled, and then burnt, undergoing death with great patience and Constancy. The next year after there was one Algerius a Student in Milan, a young man of Excellent Learning, who having attained the knowledge of the Truth, he endeavoured by Example and Instruction to bring in others, for which being accused of Heresy, he was apprehended at Venice, and was afterwards sent for to Rome by the Pope, where many endeavours were used to tempt him to desert and deny the Truth, which not prevailing, he was Condemned to be burnt alive; which he constantly suffered to the Admiration of all that saw him. In the year 1559. John Aloysius a Minister, being sent from Geneva to Calabria, was sent for to Rome by the Pope, where he suffered Martyrdom, and at the same James Bovellus a worthy Minister was Martyred by the Pope's Order at Messina. Pope Pius the Fourth raised an hot persecution against the Protestants in all the Territories of the Church of Rome, which was the destruction of many faithful Christians, yea the Persecution was so hot in the Kingdom of Naples that many Noblemen and their Wives, with divers others were slain. And a Papist writing to a Noble Lord about the Cruelties showed to some Christians in Calabria in the year 1560, hath these expressions, when I think upon it I verily quake and tremble, for their manner of putting to death may be fitly resembled to the slaughter of Calves and Sheep, for Fourscore and Eight of them being thrust up together in one House as in a Sheepfold, the Executioner cometh in, takes one and blindfolds him, and then leading him forth to a larger place commands him to kneel down, and then cuts his Throat; and leaving him half dead, he takes his Butcher's Knife and Muffler all gore blood, and fetches the rest, and so one after another dispatches them all. How sad this spectacle was I leave to your Lordship to Judge, for my own part I cannot but weep to think of it, neither were there any Spectators who seeing one to die, could endure to behold another, But truly so humbly and patiently they went to their deaths, as it almost incredible to believe: All the Aged Persons went more cheerfully; the younger were something more timorous, I tremble and shake to remember how the Hangman held his bloody Knife between his Teeth, and his bloody Muffler in his hand, and his Arms all gore blood up to the Elbows, going to the Fold, and taking every one of them one after another by the hand and so dispatching them all, no otherwise then a Butcher doth his Calves and Sheep. The City of Venice kept itself free a long time from this Plague of the Inquisition so that multitudes of Christians flocked thither from other places; but in the year 1542, the Pope so far prevailed as to introduce it there likewise, and then began a Terrible Persecution of the poor protestants there, and they found out a new kind of death for them, which was to drown them in the bottom of the sea, in the manner following: when they were condemned to die by the Inquisitors there was an Iron Chain fastened round their waist, and a heavy stone was tied thereto, than they were laid upon a Planck between two Boats, and so rowed to an appointed place in the Sea where the Boats parting asunder, the Person immediately sunk into the Sea and was drowned; notwithstanding which divers good Christians met together, and had a Minister who preached the Gospel and Administered the Sacrament to them; but some false brethren creeping in among them, betrayed them; upon which many of them were apprehended and cast into the Sea, others were imprisoned at Rome till they died. Among others who were condemned to be drowned at Venice, there was one Signior Anthony Ricetto; To whom after his condemnation his son of about Twelve years of Age came, and with Tears beseeched his Father to recant, for the saving of his own Life, and that he himself might not be left fartherless, To whom his Father answered, A good Christian is bound to forgo Children, goods, yea, and Life itself for the maintenance of God's Honour and Glory, for which cause (said he) I am now resolved with God's assistance to lay down my Life. When he came to the place where he was to suffer, the Stone and Chain were fastened to him, whereupon lifting up his Eyes to Heaven, he said, Father forgive them, they know not what they do, Lord Jesus into thy hands I do commend my Spirit; And so he ended his Life in the Sea. A while after one Francis Spinola was apprehended and committed to Prison, and being called before the Inquisitors, he boldly reproved the Pope's Legate and the other Judges, in that c ntrary to their Consciences they persecuted the Truth of God, and told them they were the Offspring of the Pharisees, etc. Whereupon he had sentence passed upon him, That he should be drowned as an Heretic, to whom he answered, I am no Heretic but the Servant of Jesus Christ, At which words the Pope's Legate bid him be silent and told him That he lied; The night after he was conveyed into the Sea and there drowned, blessing and praising God with invincible Constancy. In the year 1595, There was a young English Protestant at Rome, who going into a Church, and seeing their gross Idolatry he was so moved that he could not endure the sight of those impieties, and therefore as the Procession passed by him, he stepped to him that bore the Host and Sacrament, and plucking it out of his hands, threw it on the Ground, saying, ye wretched Idolaters, do ye fall down to a Morsel of Bread? This so provoked the People, that they were like to have torn him in Pieces, but he escaped death, and was sent to Prison, and complaint thereof being made to Pope Clement the Eight, he was so enraged that he commanded him to be burnt the same day, but his Cardinals advised to have him kept in Prison and Examined with Exquisite Tortures who set him on; This they accordingly practised, tormenting him with the utmost severity, but could get nothing from him, but these words, Such was the will of God; Then was he adjudged to be led from the Capitol naked to his middle, and to wear on his head the form of a Devil, his breeches to be painted over with Flames of Fire, and so to be carried all about the City, and then burnt alive. This was Executed upon him, and as he passed through the Streets he was mocked and derided of the People, but he prayed fervently to God, and at last uttered something against the debauched Lives of the Cardinals, which so enraged them, that they gagged him; When he came before the Church where he threw down the Idol, his Right hand was cut off by the Hangman, and set upon a Pole in the Cart to which he was tied; Then two Tormentors with flaming Torches scorched and burnt his Flesh all the way, so that his body was all over blistered and bloody, having no part free but his head; then was he taken from the Cart, and went himself to the stake kissing the Chains that should bind him. The Friars urged him to worship an Idol, but he turned away his Face and showed his Detestation of it, and when the Fire seized on him, he bowed his head, and quietly resigned up his Spirit to God. The same year there was an Ancient Religious man that had lain long in the Inquisition, who was at last brought forth, and condemned, after which the Friars brought a Crucifix to him, importuning him to kiss and adore it, He seeing their Importunity, said to them, If you take not this Idol out of my sight, I shall spit upon it; The Friars hearing this sent him away immediately to the Fire, where with great Courage and Constancy he resigned up his Spirit to God. Of the Spanish Inquisition. Since mention is often made of the Spanish Inquisition; It may not be amiss to give a brief Account of the Original and Practice thereof. Ferdinando and Isabel King and Queen of Spain having expelled the Moors or Turks out of the Kingdom of Granada, who had inhabited there Seven Hundred Seventy Eight years, they res lved to Reform Religion, and granted the Conquered Moors Liberty to continue there, and enjoy their Goods if they would turn Christians, and because there were many Jews that had likewise continued there ever since Titus conquered Jerusalem, they had also leave to remain there upon the same Conditions, but all that refused were commanded presently to go out of Spain, Yet afterwards observing that those who stayed were only Christians in name, and had submitted merely to save their Estates, instead of providing Religious men, who with Gentleness and meekness might instruct and reduce them from their Errors, they by the advice of the Dominican Friars, erected a Court of Inquisition, whereby the poor wretches instead of Instruction were rob of all their Estates, and either put to most cruel deaths, or else suffered intolerable whip and other Tortures; and spent the rest of their lives in shame and misery: neither was this only Inflicted upon such as blasphemed Christ, but for observing the least Jewish or Moorish Ceremony, or holding the smallest Error in the Christian Religion. But this Holy Inquisition (as they call it) which was first erected against Jews and Moors, was afterwards turned against the faithful Servants of Jesus Christ, and for suppressing the Gospel and the True Professors thereof; and thus you have briefly the Original of it, let us a little observe the Method of their proceeding therein. As soon as Information is given against any Person they do not presently cite the party to appear before them, but send one of their Informers, who taking opportunity to meet with him, usually greets him thus, Sir I was yesterday by Accident at my Lords Inquisitors, who said than they had occasion to speak with you about certain Affairs, and therefore they command me to summon you to appear before them to morrow at such an Hour. The party not daring to refuse goes to the place and sends in word, That he is come to attend them; and being called in, the Inquisitors ask him What suit he hath to them, And when he Answers That he is come upon summons; they inquire his Name, (For (say they) we know not whether you be the man, but since you are come, if you have any thing to inform the Court of, either concerning yourself or any other, you may let us hear it for the discharge of your Conscience. Now in this Case it is the safest way constantly to deny that he hath any thing to declare to them; For if through simplicity a man doth accuse himself or any other, they rejoice, as having attained their desires, and so presently commit him to Prison. If any chance to make his escape, they have many devices to fetch him and find him again, one of them is by making his picture to the Life, and sending it about by their Apparators and Promoters, who are commonly the greatest Villains in the Country, and will swear any thing against the Prisoner. After the Prisoner has been six or eight Months in Gaol, he is brought before the Inquisitors who tell him that they have deeply considered his case, and have found that he doth not declare the whole Truth, and therefore they are resolved he shall be racked, that they may draw from him by force, what by fair means he will not acknowledge, and then they advise him rather to confess voluntarily and thereby avoid that pain and daanger that attends him; but whether he confess or not, it is the same thing, for to the rack he must go, to be compelled to confess more. Then is the poor Prisoner led into a deep and dark Dungeon under Ground where the Rack standeth, passing through many doors before he come to it, because the terrible cries and schreiks of the tormented should not be heard. Then the Lords Inquisitors set themselves upon a Scaffold hard by the Rack, and the Torches being lighted, the Hangman or Tormenter comes in, all clothed from Head to Foot in black Canvas, and a long black hood likewise, which covereth his Face, having only two holes in it to look out at, which sight doth many times very much affright the poor Soul, to see one in the likeness of a Devil come to Torment him. The Inquisitors being seated near him, again persuade him to confess freely and Voluntarily, and then with very sharp words command him to be stripped stark naked, yea though it be the modestest Virgin or chastest Matron in the Country, whose grief is not so much the pain as to be seen naked by so many persons, and yet these wicked Villains, without any regard of honesty, will not by the utmost prayers, or Entreaties of the most virtuous Women or Maidens, be persuaded to forbear one jot of this barbarous Impudence; As if a Shirt or Shift could hinder the Rack from cruelly tormenting them. The party being stripped naked, the Lords Inquisitors signify their pleasure how they will have him Tormented, and the first kind of Torment is usually the Gibbet or Poultry; First one comes hehind him, and binds his hands together with a Cord Eight or Ten times about, and then his Thumbs in the same manner, the Inquisitors bidding him every time to bind them harder than other, and then both hands and Thumbs are fastened to a Poultry which hangs to the Gibbet, they then fasten great and heavy bolts to his heels, and hung upon those bolts divers Iron weights, and so hoist the poor wretch up from the ground: Having continued thus for some time they let him down, and hang twice as much more to his heels, and then hosing him up, they let him slip half way down of a sudden, which rends and tears Arms, Shoulders, Back, Legs, and all his whole body out of joint, by reason of the sudden lirk, and the weights hanging at his heels. If the party shriek or cry out, they roar out as fast and call him Heretic Rogue and Dog, and if in his cruel pangs he call upon Jesus Christ for his aid and assistance, they mock and deride him, saying, Why callest thou on Jesus Christ? Let Jesus Christ alone and tell us the Truth, etc. After they have tormented him about three hours; the Inquisitors ask the Hangman whether the rest of his Instruments of Torment are ready, who to affright the Prisoner answers, They are, but he hath not brought them with him: they then bid him bring them to morrow, and so turning to the poor wretch which lies in miserable pain, the Inquisitors cry, How now Sirrah, how do you like this, well, consider of it against to morrow or else you die, for what you have felt, is but a flea-biting to what remains behind. Then the Gaoler plays the Bonesetter as well as he can, three days after brings him to the Rack again when his joints are most sore, and sometimes they have another Torment with the Trough, where the Person is laid with his feet higher than his head, bound hand and foot in the Trough, and then laying a thick Cloth over his Mouth and Nostrils, they power water thereupon with a long stream, which falling from on High, drives the Cloth down his Throat, with miserable Torture and pain, and being drawn out again from the bottom of his Throat, it draws forth blood with it, and seems as if it tore out his bowels. They have another Torment with Fire, which is no whit inferior to the former, and that is by holding the Prisoners Feet over a pan of burning Charcoal, and that the Fire may have the more force, they baste their Feet with Lard and Bacon. If after all these and divers other cruel Tortures they continue constant, they are then condemned to death, Then he is clothed in a Sambernetto or long Garment painted over with ugly Devils; he hath on his head a high Crowned Hat, whereon a man is painted burning in the Fire, with many Devils about him, plying him with Fire and Faggot; upon his Tongue a piece of cloven wood is put to hinder his speaking, a Cord about his Neck, and his hands fast tied behind him. All things being finished, they are delivered by the Inquisitors into the hands of the Magistrate who presently conveys him to Execution, where several Friars swarm about him earnestly persuading him to deny the Truth, and when they cannot prevail upon him, he is tied to the stake, and in an Instant the Hangman breaks his neck, without being perceived, and then they report among the Common People, that he recanted at his last hour, and returned to the Church of Rome, and therefore he felt no pain in the Fire, but took his death so patiently without any motion, or crying out. And though by the Terrors of the Inquisition the Professors of the Gospel in Spain have been but few, they having been so wickedly industrious as to crush all appearances of Truth in the bud; yet in the year 1545 several Protestants at St. Lucar, Valedolid, Sevil, and other places in Spain, suffered death, no less than thirty being Martyred at one time, and five years after, divers more likewise were put to death, as one Francis Romans, a Merchant; De Cacalla a man of Excellent Learning, and one Rochus a skilful Graver of Images, who turned Protestants and died for the same; also one John Pontio Gónsalvo a Priest, Juliano, Leon, Arias Losada a Physician; Together with a Lady and several Women and Virgins who were burnt at several times in divers places, and Twenty others besides who were burnt in one Fire: after they had endured all the horrid torments of the Rack, the Poultry, the Trough, the Barnacle, the Twisting Cord, and the rest of the barbarous Tortures and Inventions of the cursed Inquisition. Nay divers English men being betrayed by the Insinuation of wicked Informers were likewise burnt in Spain, as Nicholas Burton Merchant of London was burnt at Sevil, and another English man with him, and not long after two more named John Baker and Villiam Burgate, and about the same time William Burges Master of an English Ship was burnt there likewise, and one William Hooker a youth of about sixteen years old, was stoned to death for the bold profession of the Truth. As Portugal is but a little Kingdom, and the power of the Pope and his Clergy very considerable there as well as in Spain, they have wonderfully suppressed the power of the Truth with their Tortures, yet some have their likewise suffered for the Gospel, and among others William Gardner an English man, whom they put to death with most exquisite Tortures at Lisbon in the year 1552, for taking the Host out of a Cardinal's Hand, and stamping it under his Feet; He boldly asserting to the King himself, That he did it out of Conscience, as not being able to endure to see the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper irreverently used to so great Idolatry; and although all manner of cruelty was used toward him, yet he died with extraordinary Constancy, singing Psalms in the Flames to the very last moment of his life. The Rage and Fury of Papists in the Low-countrieses or Netherlands was no less than in other places. For the Inquisition being introduced there, it was accompanied with all manner of cruelty. At Antwerp one Nicholas an Holy good man was bound up in a Sack and drowned. In Holland a Learned Preacher called Pistorius was burnt, being carried to the stake with a Fool's Coat on his back. Wendol muta a Widow likewise suffered death with much Constancy. Several Ministers were beheaded, among the rest one George Scherter, who after his head had been cut off for some time, and his body lying on his Belly, he turning himself on his Back, and crossing his Right Foot over the left, and his right hand over the left continued so to the great admiration of the Spectators, and the Conversion of many. Several were drowned, others were made away in Prisons, others shut up in dark and noisome places, and none suffered to come at them; being fed only with Bread and Water till they were famished; At Lorain several were Martyred, some by Fire, others beheaded. There was a very great Persecution all over Flanders about the year 1544; so that there was hardly a Town or City in all the Country wherein some were not banished, beheaded, or condemned to perpetual Imprisonment, neither was there any respect either to Age or Sex, but especially at Gaunt many of the chief Persons were burned for being Protestants, and several others in Brabant and Artois, insomuch that Two Hundred Men and Women were cruelly destroyed at one time, some of them being drowned, some burned alive, and some privately murdered, so that the Hangman began to be tired and wearied out with such continual Executions. At the Town of Mecklin, Dornick and Delden, several were put to death, and among the rest two Noble Virgins who were Sisters; and likewise a Mother and her three Sons who all died, owning the Gospel, and zealously exclaiming against the Cruelty and Idolatry of the Papists; And about the same time they miserably tormented one Bertrand for trampling the Host under his Feet, whom they thrice put to the Rack, and because he would not recant in the Market place of Dornick, they put a Ball of Iron into his Mouth to keep him from speaking, and then crushed his Right hand between two flat Red hot Irons till the form of it was changed, and then did the like by his Foot, which he endured with admirable patience, then tying him round the waist by a Poultry, and making a Fire underneath, they hoist him up and down till he was burnt to Ashes, which they cast into the River. There were several Martyred at Valence, and Lisle and one of the Judges pronouncing sentence against these good People, said, This Day you shall go to dwell with all the Devils in Hell Fire. But the greatest Instrument of the Devil in those countries' was the Duke of Alva, who was sent by the King of Spain to Root the Protestants out of the Low-countrieses. This Duke boasted one time at his own Table, That he had been diligent to root out Heresy; for besides those he had slain in the Wars, He had put into the hands of the Common Hangman to be Executed within the space of six years no less than Eighteen Thousand Persons And to complete this sad Catastrophe we may also remember that William of Nastaw Prince of Orang was shot by a Villain called Joanville, who was encouraged by a Jacobine Friar to do it; the Rascal was thrust through with an Halberd, and the Friar was hanged: But this wound not proving mortal, they hired one Gerard a Burgundion, who standing behind the Pillar in a Room, shot the Prince dead as he passed by. PSALM 105. WE nothing can of merit claim, Not for our sakes thy aid afford, But for the Honour of thy Name Thy Mercy and unfailing Word. Why should th' insulting Heathen cry, Where's now the God they vainly Praise? Our Lord enthroned above the Sky All underneath at pleasure sways; Their Gods but Gold and Silver be Made by a frail Artificer; For they have eyes that cannot see, Dumb Mouths, and Ears that cannot hear: Fools on their Altars Incense throw, Who nothing smell, their feet are bound, Nor have they Power to move or go: Their throats give Passage to no sound, Their hands can neither give nor take, Unapt to punish or defend, As senseless they who Idols make, Or to their carved Statues bend: Your hopes in God O Israel place, He is your help and strong defence; Be he you Priests of Aaron's Race The Object of your Confidence; In him all you that fear him Trust, He shall protect you in destress: The Lord is of his Promise Just, And will his Faithful Servants Bless He in the Heaven of Heavens resides, And over all his Creatures reigns; Among the Sons of men divides The Earth, and all that Earth contains; Who sleep within the Vaults of Death No Offerings to his Altars bring: O Praise his Name while we have Breath, And loudly Halelujah sing. eight panels representing various methods of execution and punishment Mr. Wischard burnt A 1000 drown in a River Candles made of men's fat Irish Children Kill the English. Some buried alive A Girl hanged in her mother's hair Some hanged on tenters Bibles burnt. The Persecutions and Cruelties of the Papists upon the Protestants in Scotland and Ireland. AS most Kingdoms in Europe felt the rage and fury of Romish Cruelty and Persecution, so Scotland though in the frozen north was not insensible thereof; For in the Year 1572. Mr. Patrick Hamilton of an Ancient and Honourable Family, and called Abbot of Fern, left Scotland and went into Germany, where conversing with Luther and Melancton, he greatly increased in godly knowledge and learning; and returning home he publicly Preached concerning Faith and good works, and against the Supertitions and Idolatry of the Papists. This so enraged James Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrews, that in the absence of the King, Mr. Hamilton was seized upon by the Bishop's Officers, and carried to the Castle, and the next day he was brought forth to Judgement, and Condemned to be Burnt for the Testimony of God; The Articles charged against him, were about Pilgrimages, Purgatory, Praying to Saints and for the Dead. After Dinner the Fire was prepared, which some thought was only to terrify him, but it pleased God to strengthen him against the fear of Death, and so he was tied to the Stake; giving his Garments to his Servant, and saying thus to him: These will not profit in the Fire, they will Profit thee; After this thou canst receive no Benefit by me, except the example of my Death; which I pray thee to remember; for though it be bitter to the Flesh, and fearful before men, yet it is the entrance into eternal Life, which none shall possess who deny Jesus Christ before this wicked Generation. And the Eire being kindled he cried with a loud voice, Lord Jesus receive my Spirit how long shall Darkness overwhelm this Realm? and how long wilt thou suffer the Tyranny of these men? A Friar troubling him by crying out, Turn thou Heretic, call upon our Lady, say Salve Regina, &c he replied, Depart from me, and trouble me not, thou Messenger of Satan: and speaking to one Campbel the chief among them, he said, Wicked man thou knowest the contrary, and hast confessed the contrary to me, I appeal thee before the Tribune Seat of Jesus Christ; after which words he resigned up his Spirit to God; and within a few days 〈…〉 Friar died in a Frenzy and desperation. The Archbishop of St. Andrews likewise called before him two Gentlemen, David Straton, and M Norman Gomlay: Mr. Straton being accused for Heresy was much troubled at it, and thereupon frequente● the company of Religious men; and hearing tha● Text read, He that denieth me b fore men, or is ashamed of me in this Wicked Generation, I will deny him before m● Father and his Holy Angels; he steadfastly lift up his ey●● and hands to Heaven and burst forth into these word O Lord I have been wicked, and justly mayest thou withdraw thy Grace from me, but Lord for thy Mercy sake, 〈◊〉 me never deny thy Truth for fear of Death or Corporal pain Being afterwards together with Mr. Norman brought to Judgement in Holy Rood-House, where the King himself was present, they were both condemned to th● fire, and in the afternoon were first Hanged and the , which they cheerfully suffered. There was likewise one Dean Thomas Foret, wh● who used to Preach to his parishioners every Lord's da● out of the Epistles and Gospels as they came in order for which being complained of to the Bishop of D●keldon, he reproved him for it, telling him that 〈◊〉 was too much to preach every Sunday, since the Pe●ple might think they ought to do so likewise; and s● the Bishop, Is it not enough for you when you find a good Epistle and Gospel, to set forth and preach the Liberty of Holy Church, and let the rest alone. Dean Thomas replied, that he had read them all over, and knew no bad ones among them, But, said he, when your Lordship shows me any such, I will pass them by; The Bishop answered, I thank God I never knew what the Old and New Testament was, but go your ways and repent of these fancies, ere it be too late: The Dean answered, My cause is good and just in the presence of God, and therefore I care not what follows thereupon; and so went away; but he was shortly after sent for before Cardinal Beton, by whom he was condemned and Burned for an Heretic. The Year after Jerom Russel, and Alexander Kennedy who was not above eighten years old, were brought before the Archbishop and his Associates, who railed upon them, and called them Heretics; Jerom Russel replied, This is your hour and power of darkness, now sit ye as Judges, and we are wrongfully accused, but the day will come wherein our Innocency will appear, and ye shall see your own blindness to your everlasting confusion, go forward and fulfil the measure of your Iniquity. A while after they were sentenced to die, and as they went to Execution, Jerom comforted Kennedy, saying, Brother fear not, greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World; the pain 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 strait way which he hath taken before us; Death cannot hurt us, for it is destroyed by him for whose sake we now suffer. And in this manner past reason they joyfully gave up their Souls unto God in the Flaming Fire. In the year 1543. Cardinal Beton coming to Edinburgh, caused several Religious Persons to be brought before him, and when he could prove nothing else against them: he caused four men to be hanged upon suspicion that they had eaten a Goose upon a Friday. And a Woman with a Child sucking at her breast, was drowned for refusing to pray to the Virgin Mary. Many others were likewise Banished and Imprisoned for the Gospel; and among the rest John Rogers a learned and Godly Minister, whom he caused to be murdered in Prison, and then thrown over the Wall, giving it out, that by attempting to make his escape he broke his neck. In the year 1546. Mr. George Wischard a Famous Minister was sent for to appear before Cardinal Beton and the other Bishops at St. Andrews; where a Priest was ordered to curse him, who called him Runagate, Traitor, Thief, etc. However Mr. Wischard gave them an account of his Faith and Doctrine, but they not being able to answer him, immediately condemned him to be Burnt; and presently a fire was prepared over against the Castle, and Velvet Cushions were laid in the Castle windows for the Cardinal and the rest of the Prelates to see him suffer; and for fear he should be rescued by his Friends, all the Castle Guns were mounted against the place of his Execution, by the Cardinal's order; then with a Rope about his Neck, and a Chain about his middle he was fastened to the Stake; and having earnestly prayed, and Exhorted the People, and forgiven his Enemies and persecutors, he said thus: I Beseech you Brethren Exhort your Prelates to learn the Word of God, that they may be ashamed to do evil, and learn to do good, or else there shall come upon them the Wrath of God, which they shall not eschew: Then the Hangman upon his knees said, Sir, I pray forgive me, for I am not the cause of your Death. Mr. Wischard called him to him and kissing his Cheek said, Lo here is a token that I forgive thee, My Heart do thing Office; and so he was tied to the Stake and the fire kindled. The Captain of the Castle came to him, and bid him be of good Courage; to whom Mr. Wischard said, This fire Torments my Body, but no whit abates my Spirits; then looking towards the Cardinal he said, He who in such State from that high place feeds his eyes with my Torments, within few days shall be hanged out at the same Window, with as much shame and Ignominy as he there leans with Pride: then his Breath being stopped with the Flames, he gave up the Ghost. This Prophecy was fulfilled in a short time after; for the people being generally discontented at the Cruelty used against Mr. Whischard; several persons conspired against him, and killed him in the Castle, and the Provost raising the Town, came to the Castle Gates, crying, What have you done with my Lord Cardinal? where is he? To whom they answered from within, Return to your Houses, for he hath received his reward, and will trouble the World no more. But they cried, We will never departed till we see him. Then was he hanged out at that very window to satisfy them he was dead, and so the people departed. Shortly after one Adam Wallace was Burned likewise; and Henry Forest suffered the same Cruel Death, upon Account of Heresy. One Walter Mill was accused for Heresy, and being bid to recant, he said, I am Corn and not Chaff, I will not recant the Truth; and being thereupon condemned to the Fire, and all things made ready to that purpose, they commanded him to go to the Stake; No, said he, by the Laws of God I am forbidden to lay hands on myself, therefore do you put me in the Fire, and you shall see my resolution. Having then made his Prayer unto God, he spoke thus to the people; Although I have been a Great Sinner, yet it is not for that, but for God's Truth contained in his Word of the Old and New Testament that I now suffer; and God out of his abundant Mercy doth honour me so far, as to make me among other of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Blood; Dear Friends, as you would escape Eternal Death, be no more seduced with the Lies of Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, etc. but trust only in God: After he had thus spoke, he was tied to the Stake, and the Fire being kindled, he quietly slept in the Lord; and was the last person that died for the Protestant Religion in Scotland. In the year of our Lord 1641. there broke forth a most horrid and Bloody Rebellion and Massacre of the Irish Papists, committed on the English in Ireland; a Nation famous for the Birth of divers worthy persons therein, but none more renowned than that Excellent, Learned and Religious Person James Usher, late Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and Lord Primate of Ireland; who amongst many other extraordinary Gifts and Graces which it pleased the Almighty to bestow upon him, was wonderfully endued with a Spirit of Prophecy; from which among many other things he foretold this bloody Rebellion forty years before it came to pass, in a Sermon which he preached at Dublin in the Year 1601. where from Ezekiel 4.6. discoursing concerning the Prophets bearing the Iniquity of Judah forty days, the Lord therein appointing a day for a Year, he made this direct application in relation to the Connivance at Popery at that time. From this Year, says he, will I reckon the sin of Ireland, that those whom you now embrace shall be your Ruin, and you shall bear your Iniquity: which Prediction proved exactly true; for from that time 1601. to the Year 1641. was just forty years, in which it is notoriously known that the Rebellion and destruction of Ireland happened; and which was acted by those Popish Priests, Jesuits and other Papists which were then connived at. For the Jesuits, Priests and Friars were the chief Instigators to this horrid Massacre, by continual incensing and stirring up the Popish Gentry and Commonalty to show the utmost of their Zeal therein, and this without any provocation given by the English: for it was observed, that they had all the Liberty they could reasonably desire, and that there was not any reason for such Cruel Proceed against the English, but only for that damnable and unpardonable sin of being Protestants: And the Popish Clergy the more to engage the deluded Papists to murder them, every where loudly declaimed, That they were Heretics, and not fit to be suffered any longer amongst them; that it was no more sin to kill one of them, than to kill a Dog, and that it was a mortal and unpardonable sin to relieve or protect any of them. And when their business was so fixed that they did not fear any miscarriage, the success of this Great Design was recommended in their public Prayers, as tending very much to the advancement of the Catholic cause; and they likewise maliciously represented to the People the severe proceed against the Papists in England. All things being in a readiness, they proceeded to the Execution of this Damnable Contrivance; but their proceeding therein was various; some of the Irish only stripping the English Protestants, and turning them out a Doors naked in the cold and snow, others cruelly Murdering man, woman and child, without the least compassion; but they all resolved upon this point, that by all manner of ways and means they would universally destroy and root the English out of Ireland: Nay the Irish were so inveterately malicious against them, that they would not endure the very sound of their Language, but punished those that spoke English, and the names of English places they changed into Old Irish. In some places they killed the Cows and Sheep, merely because they were English; and sometimes they cut off their Legs, or a piece out of their Buttocks, and so left them to live in pain; and in other places those English that they could not devour, they killed them, and left them in great multitudes stinking upon the Ground. The Popish Priests gave the Sacrament to divers of the Irish upon Condition that they should neither spare Man, Woman, nor Child of the Protestants, saying, That it did them a great deal of good to wash their hands in their Blood. Some of their Priests Excommunicated all that should from thenceforth relieve or harbour any English, Scotch, or Welshman, or give them Alms at their Doors, whereby many were Famished to Death. Yea the Popish Monks and Friars exhorted them with Tears not to spare the English, but utterly to destroy them; nay they boasted that when they had made an end of them in Ireland, they would go over into England, and would not leave the memorial of an Englishman under Heaven; and their Priests told them, it was as lawful to kill an English man as to kill a Sheep or a Dog; and that it was no more Pity or Conscience to take their Estates from them, than to take a Bone out of a Dog's mouth. The day before this Horrid Massacre began, the Priests gave the people a dismission at Mass, with full liberty to go out and take possession of all their Lands, which they pretended were unjustly detained from them by the English, although they were justly forfeited by their repeated Rebellions and Treasons against the Government. They further told them, that they might lawfully strip, rob, and despoil them of all their Goods and Chattels, The Protestants being (as they said) worse than Dogs, for they were Devils and worshipped the Devil, and therefore, that the Killing of such was Meritorious, and an Excellent Preservative against the Pains of Purgatory; since the Bodies of such Catholics as should die in this Quarrel, would not be cold before their Souls should ascend up into Heaven; so that they need not fear the Pains of Purgatory: which occasioned some of these Murdering Villains to Boast, after they had Massacred many of the English, that if they should die presently, they should go strait to Heaven. When this Horrid Rebellion first began, several Irish Gentlemen pretended great kindness to some of their Protestant Neighbours, and persuaded them to put their Goods and into their hands; engaging that they would secure them from the rage of the Rabble; which made the Protestants so confident, because of former familiarity, that they gave them Inventories of all they had; nay they digged up some of their best things which they had hidden in the Ground, and put it into their hands, whereby they got vast Quantities of Goods into their hands; And yet like True Papists they cheated them of it all; nay which was more Barbarous, they promised the English that if they would be contented to lose their Goods, they and their Wives, and Children, should peaceably departed the Country; and yet when they had got all they had, they inhumanely murdered them. In one place there were no less than Twenty two Widows, who were first Rob, and then stripped stark naked, and when in an House they had covered themselves with Straw, the Bloody Papists threw in burning Straw among them, on purpose to burn them together; And in a while after they broke forth into such abominable Cruelties, Bloody Massacres and Murders, as would make the heart of any Christian to ache, and his Ears to tingle at the Relation of them. In the Castle of Lisgol above an Hundred and Twenty Men, Women and Children were burnt together: Another Castle was delivered to one of the Popish Commanders, upon Condition their lives should be saved, but as soon as he entered he cruelly murdered and destroyed them all without Mercy. At Portendown Bridge a thousand Men, Women, and Children were drowned in the River; and it was testified upon Oath, that nine days after there was the Apparition of a man bolt upright in the water, Breast-high, with his hands lifted up to Heaven, and that he was seen several times in that Posture, from December to the end of Lent, at which time some of the English Army passing that way, saw it likewise: after which it Vanished away. One Elizabeth Price made Oath, that she with other Women whose Husbands and Children were drowned in that place, hearing of those Apparitions, went thither one Evening, at which time they saw a Woman rise out of the River Breast-high, her hair hanging down, which was as white as Snow, and so was her skin, and that she often cried out, Revenge, Revenge, Revenge; which so affrighted them, that they went away. In Queen's County, an Englishman, his wife, five Children and a Maid were all hanged together, and then cut down and put into a hole; the youngest Child though it was hanged, was not quite dead when it was put in, but put up its hand and cried, Mammy, Mammy, and yet these Villains without Mercy buried it alive. They stripped a Scotchman, and knocked him down for dead, but he afterwards recovering went into the Town naked, whereupon they hewed him all to pieces: They also ripped up his Wife's Belly so that the Child dropped out: They likewise hanged up divers other Women with Child, and ripping them up, they gave their Infants to be devoured by Dogs and Swine. In one place they set a Castle on fire wherein were many Protestants, and then rejoicingly said among themselves, Oh how sweetly do they fry. In one place they burned two English Bibles, and said, it was Hell fire they burnt; they cut other Bibles to pieces, and burned them, threatening to do the like to all English Bibles: and in one place they took a Bible and laid it in a puddle of water, and then stamping on it, said, A Plague on it, this Bible hath bred all the Quarrel. A Papist would have persuaded a man and his wife to have joined with them in the Massacre, but they protested, That rather than they would forsake their Religion, they would die upon the Sword's point; then they would have had the Woman burn her Bible, but she told him, Rather than she would burn her Bible, she would die the Death; whereupon they were both cruelly murdered. These Barbarous Villains caused some Children to carry their Aged Parents to the River, and drown them: some Wives were forced to help to hang their Husbands; in one Town they caused a young man to Murder his own Father, and then hanged him up; in another place they forced a Woman to kill her Husband, and then caused her Son to kill his Mother, and then immediately hanged her Son: and their cursed malice was thereby shown, that they might as much as in them lay, destroy Soul and Body together. Yea so detestable was their Cruelty, that they taught Irish Children to kill English Children, and two Boys boasted that they had at several times murdered and drowned thirty six English Women and Children; The Irish Women followed this Army of Murderers, and provoked the men to Cruelty, crying out, Kill them all, spare neither Man, Woman, nor Child; and many of them stoned the English Women and their Children to Death; and cried, Slay them all, the English are fit meat for Dogs, and their Children are Bastards. Yea so Implacable was their malice, that one of them was very angry with her Husband because he did not bring the Grease of a Fat Gentlewoman whom they had slain, for them to make Candles of, which was commonly practised by them in other places. Yea they Boasted that the day was their own, and that ere long they would not leave one Protestant Rogue living, but would utterly destroy every one that had but a drop of English Blood in him: yea they vowed, they would not leave one English Beast alive, nor any of their breed. Alas! who can comprehend the Sighs, the Groans, the trembling and Astonishment of these poor Innocent Souls, to find themselves so suddenly surprised, and that without Remedy; What Shrieks, Cries, and bitter Lamentations were there of Husbands, Wives, Children, Servants and Friends, howling and weeping, finding themselves without all hope of deliverance from their present woeful Miseries and Calamities. For by these and all manner of Cruelties and Barbarities which Hell itself could invent, the Irish and English Papists murdered and destroyed in a few Months near Three Hundred Thousand Protestants, as it is commonly computed, without any manner of provocation, but only because they were Protestants; whose deaths the Divine Vengeance in a short time after recompensed upon several of the chief Murderers, many thousands perishing by the Sword and the Plague that followed it, and the rest without doubt, unless they hearty repent will receive the reward of their wickedness. PSALM 54. LOrd for thy Promise sake defend, And thy All-saving Shield extend: O hear our Cries, Which with wet eyes And sighs to thee ascend. For Cruel men our lives pursue, And who thy Statutes never knew. Suppress our Foes; O favour those Who to our Souls are True. With Vengeance recompense their hate, And in an instant ruinated: Then will we bring Our Offering, And thy great Acts relate. Thy name for ever Praised be, Who from those snares hast set us free: For lo! Our Eyes Our Enemies Desired Destruction see. six panels representing various events in the Anglo-Papal conflict Spanish Invasion Martyrs burned Burning of London Gunpowder Treason Sr. Godfrey murdered Traitors Executed The Cruelties, Plots, and Treasons of the Papists against the Protestants in England, with a brief account of the late Horrid Plot. AFter having briefly epitomised the bloody Cruelties and slaughters of this Monster of Rome, and his Vassals, throughout Europe, let us now return home, and see if our own Country has escaped better than our Neighbours. Englishmen are generally accounted to be of a merciful nature, and pitiful disposition, apt to be touched with the miseries of others, and are not in their own natures bloody, barbarous or Cruel; what then may be the cause of those dreadful marks of Rage and Fury that have been seen among us? How has this Fair Island been made an Acheldama, a Field of Skulls and Martyrs bones? All this we shall find proceeds from corrupt principles of Religion. I doubt not, (says a worthy Divine) but Papists are made like other men; nature hath not generally given them such Savage and Cruel Dispositions, but their Religion hath made them so; I am loath to say it, and yet I am confident it is true, that many Papists would have been excellent Persons and very good men, if their Religion had not hindered them, if the Doctrines, and Principles of their Church had not spoiled their natural Disposition. Good God that any thing that is called Religion should so presently strip men of all Humanity, and transform the mild and gentle Race of Mankind into Wolves and Tigers. It is Popery that altars the Nature of Englishmen, and makes them act like Turks, Infidels or Barbarians: its principles infect the Blood, and invenome the Soul; instead of being weak and humble, it makes them Proud and Arrogant; instead of performing the Commands of Christ, it makes men obey the Pope, though never so contrary to Religion. If our Blessed Saviour says, Hurt no man, pray for your Persecutors, submit to Magistrates and Governors. The Pope and his Doctrines say, Kill every man that is not of your Religion; Curse those that disobey your Commands: Kill, Stab, or depose your Kings or Govenours. This is the Doctrine, and these are the Principles and Commands of the Romish Church. It is some hundreds of years since this Bloody Beast of persecution began to show his Fangs and armed Claws in this Kingdom; and it was almost as soon perceived and testified against by some good men in those times. For in the Year one Thousand Two Hundred, John of Salisbury declared against the Corruptions and Superstitions of the Romish Church, and plainly discovered the oppression of the burden of the Pope and his Ravenous Clergy; and after him John Grostead Bishop of Lincoln wrote to the Pope, and admonished him, for which he had like to have lost his life; yet the Pope did only hitherto show his Teeth, and could not take his full swinge in Blood and Murder, which he afterward attained to. But since the Papists impertinently urge against us the Newness of our Religion, and that it was not known before Martin Luther's days, we shall produce much more early Testimonies against the Errors and abuses in the Romish Church: For we find in the Year 884. John Patrick Erigena; a Britain, who was ordained the first Reader in Oxford by King Alfred, was afterward Condemned, and Martyred by the Pope, for writing a Book concerning the Sacrament. And in the year 960. many Ministers and Divines wore the mark of the Beast in their faces, being by the Pope's order Branded in the Faces with hot Irons, for Dissenting in many things about the Mass, Purgatory, Monkery, and the like; and for saying, that Rome was Babylon, and that Cloisters were the Nurses of Sodomy. In the year 1126. one Arnold and Englishman, and a Preacher of the Gospel, was Butchered at Oxford, for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates, and the wicked lives of the Priests. In the Year 1160. the poor Persecuted Waldenses came hither for succour, but instead thereof they were Persecuted, Condemned, , Whipped, and stigmatised for their Religion, both at Oxford and other places. After which almost in every Year it pleased God to raise up several Learned and worthy men to testify against the Horrid Corruptions of Rome, both by Speaking, Writing and Disputing against them. As in the Year 1170. Gualo, and Gilbert Foliot, Doctors of Divinity, and after them Silvester Gerald, Alexander a Divine, Gualther Maxes Arch Deacon of Oxford, Sebald Archbishop of York, William Stringham Doctor of Divinity, Roger Bacon Fellow of Merton College, a Divine and Mathematician, John Scotus the Great Scotchman; and about the same time Doctor John Wickliff, Jeoffery Chaucer, William Wickham Bishop of Winchester, and many other Learned men. All these gave ample Testimonies by their public Writings against the many Corruptions, evil Doctrines and Superstitious Worship of the Romish Church, with the hazard of their Lives, Honours, Liberties, Estates and Fortunes; so that many were persecuted, and some were burnt in the Reign of King Henry the second, 1174. and in the Year 1380. Vtred Bolton, and John Ashwerly endured Persecution; and a while after John Ashton, Walter Bruce, John Pateskul, and Doctor Crump, were persecuted; and William Sawtree a Divine of Oxford was martyred, and William Swinderly was Burnt in Smithfield. In the Year 1407. William Thorp was Burnt, and Laurence Redman and six others grievously persecuted. In the Year 1417. the Lord Cobham was Burnt in St. Giles Fields: John Purey and Will. White, and Richard White were burnt. Peter Clark a Divine of Oxford, for maintaining publicly the Doctrine of Wicklif, was forced to fly, but was taken beyond Sea, his Tongue cut out, then hanged, and afterwards burnt. Roger Ovely was hanged and Quartered. In the Year 1447. Humfery Duke of Gloucester was murdered by the Papists, for being a favourer of Wicklif, and other Preachers of the Truth; and divers others were many ways persecuted for the sake of Religion, before the rising of Luther; God having in all Ages raised up some to Testify to the Truth, and to maintain the purity of the Gospel. And besides these Divines, Learned and great men, there were several other good men of a meaner quality who openly owned the Truth, and suffered for the same; and as the number of the professors grew greater, who now began to be called Lollards, so Persecution grew hotter, and the Rage and Malice of the Papists increased. In the Reign of King Henry the fifth, 1413. Sir Roger Acton, John Brown, John Beverly, and Thirty six more, were all put to Death in St. Giles Fields; and John Claydon and Richard Turning, Benedict, Vlman and several others were burnt, and many Imprisoned. In the Reign of King Henry the sixth, William Tailor, one of Wickliffs' followers, was burnt in Smithfield: Henry Web, and Henry Florence, were Cruelly whipped, and about an hundred and twenty men and Women suffered persecution, many of them were burnt. William White was Martyred; and at the same time two were burnt at Colchester; Richard Hoveden a Citizen of London was Martyred for the same cause near the Town, and several more severely whipped and terribly handled; Thomas Baily and Richard Wiche both Ministers were burnt; one in Smithfield and the other on Tower-hill. In the Reign of Edward the fourth, John Goose was Burnt; and in H nry the sevenths Regn, one Jean Boughton of Fourscore years old was burnt in Norfolk; another person was Burnt in Smithfield; several were likewise stigmatised, and many did penance. William Tilsworth was Burnt in the Town of Anasham, where they forced his own Daughter to set fire to Faggots that were to Burn her Father; and two Years after Thomas Bernard, and John Melton, and one Roberts were Burnt in the same County of Buckingham. Thomas Chase after many Cruel Usages and hardships was Murdered in Prison. Thomas Norris: was burnt at Norwich and Laurence Guest at Salisbury, and a Woman at Chipping Sadbury, with several other persons in the Reign of King Henry the seventh. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, the Flames increased very much, and abundance Suffered in every place. In the Year 1511. Willam Sweeting and John B ewster were burnt in Smithfield: the same year William Carder, Robert Harrison, and Agnes Grebel were burnt, they forcing the Husband and Daughter of the Woman to come in as Witnesses against her: After this one Mr. Style with his Book of the Revelations, and twenty five more were Burnt; five other Persons were accused for reading an Heretical Book, which contained many Damnable Opinions; and what should this Book be, but only the Evangelists in English. In the Year 1514. Richard Hun was murdered in the Lollards Tower, and afterwards burnt; John Brown, John Stileman, and Thomas Man were burnt in Smithfield; Robert Cousin was Burnt at Buckingham, Christopher Shoemaker at Newberry, Richard and Robert Bartlet, and John Scrivener were likewise burnt; and the Children of John Scrivener were forced to set fire to their Father; For it was usual with them to compel Children to accuse their Parents, and Parents their Children; Husbands their Wives, and Wives their Husbands; Intimate Friends, Brothers and Sisters to accuse one another; and many Hundreds were likewise forced to recant and abjure against their Consciencies, or else be Burnt. There were two things about this time that very much increased the professors of the Gospel in England; One was the appearance of Martin Luther in the World, who boldly owned the Truth, and loudly Declaimed against the corruptions of the Romish Church. Another thing was the Art of Printing, which now began to be common, whereby the True Religion was the more easily promulgated and Dispersed through every Country, and in all Languages. This Alarumed the Pope and his Debauched Clergy, who were afraid to have their wicked Doctrines and Practices discovered to the people and thereupon they began to rage, and bestir themselves, raising Persecution, and making destruction and Slaughter in all places throughout the Kingdom against the Lutherans, as they were now called. In the Year 1519. several Protestans were apprehended at Coventry, and imprisoned in filthy and nasty Dungeons, six of whom were afterwards burnt: Robbert Silkeb, and Thomas Harding were burnt shortly after. One Sigal Nicholson a Stationer at Cambridge, was hung up by the Privy-members for having Luther's Books in his House: several likewise abjured; and the Body of William Tracy Esq; in , because he had left nothing for Masses for his Soul, was taken out of the Grave and Burnt two Years after his Death. Richard Brafield a Monk of Bury, after he had been whipped and most Cruelly handled in Prison, and Gagged, Beaten, and Bound, and Degraded after a very shameful manner, was Burnt with much Cruelty in London, continuing half an Hour alive in the Flames for want of Wood; and when his left arm was burnt, he rubbed it with his right hand, and it fell down in the Fire; he continued in Prayer without moving to the last moment: several were imprisoned, and fed with Bread made of Sawdust; some were set in the Stocks with Horseleeches on their Legs, and their hands so manacled with Irons, that the Flesh grew higher than the Irons, and with Iron Collars about their Necks: and many were Racked till they were Lamed. John Tewsbury, James Bainham, Valentine Sheafe and his Wife, John Bent, and one Trapnel, were all Burnt about the same time; three were hanged in Chains for Burning the Image or Rood of Dover Court. John Frith, Andrew Honour, Thomas Bennet, William tindal, John Lambert, William Leiton and Collins a Lawyer, were burnt, and Robert Packington Murdered: Doctor Barns, Thomas Garret, William Hieron, were burnt in Smithfield, John Potter was murdered in Prison: Robert Testwood, Anthony Parker and Henry Filmer, were burnt at Windsor. About five hundred persons in and about London either died in prison, or were burnt in Smithfield. In the Year 1541. Damlip, Dod, Sary, were Slain. One Henry at Colchester, Kerby and Clark at Ipswich and Bury were burnt. In the Year 1546. Mistress Ann Askew, one of the Ladies belonging to Queen Katherine Parr, because she would not confess any other Ladies, was put upon the Rack, and the Lord Chancellor himself being more Cruel, he acted then the Executioner, ordered her to be wracked to the utmost; she was afterward Burnt in Smithfield; and at the same time and place were likewise Burnt Nicholas Belerrian a Minister in Shrop-shire, John adam's a Tailor, and John Lacels a Gentleman belonging to King Henry the Eighth; these beholding the Invincible Constancy and patience of Mistress Askew, were thereby much encouraged in their Sufferings. About the same time Sir John Blage of the King's Privy Chamber was falsely accused to have spoken against the Mass, upon which he was condemned to be burnt in Smithfield, whereupon the Earl of Bedford begged his pardon of the King, who Commanded it to be drawn immediately. After his release Sir George coming to the King, Ah my Pig, said he, (for so he usually called him;) Yea, (said Blage) if your Majesty had not been better to me than your Bishops were, your Pig had been roasted before this time. Presently after Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and his Confederates set forth a Cruel Proclamation in the King's Name, for abolishing the Scriptures and all other English Books that discovered the truth to the people, and having obtained this, they very much rejoiced therein, hoping that they had now for ever suppressed the Gospel, so that it should never rise again; and to strike the greater terror into men's minds, they made a diligent search after the Professors of the Truth, of whom they took the Names of some, drove away others, and hereby doubted not but to attain their ends. But it pleased God that in the midst of these subtle Contrivances, for the destruction of his Gospel and Servants, to take away King Henry the Eighth within four Months after the Proclamation; and thereby all their hopes and projects were utterly disappointed. King Henry the Eighth being dead, his only Son Prince Edward (our English Josiah) ascended the Throne, under whom the Protestant Religion was established, and Popery and Superstition abolished; for he caused all Images to be demolished, and as Idolatrous to be taken out of all Churches within his Dominions; the Learned men of his time he encouraged, and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures, he abolished the Mass, and ordered the Service to be read in the English Tongue, and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be administered in both kinds to the People. But it pleased God in a short time to take him to himself: for in the Seventh Year of his Reign, and the seventeenth Year of his age, he was taken with a lingering sickness; during which time a Marriage was concluded between the Lord Guildford Dudley eldest Son to the Duke of Northumbereand, and the Lady Jane the Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, whose mother being then alive was Daughter to Marry King Henry the Eighth's second Sister. The Marriage being finished, and the King every day more sick than other, so that he seemed past Recovery, the Duke of Northumberland being ambitious to advance his Family, persuaded the King that the Church and the True Religion would be in great danger, if he did not choose a pious Successor; and that it was the part of a good Prince to set aside all other respects, when the Glory of God and the good of his Subjects were concerned. The King partly for his great desire to have the Protestant Religion confirmed, and partly for the entire love which he bore to his Cousin the Lady Jane, signed Letters Patents under the Broad Seal to appoint the Lady Jane to succeed him in the Kingdom, although her Title were excluded by the Lady Mary (who was always a zealous Papist) and the Lady Elizabeth. This was afterwards confirmed by the Nobility and Chief Lawyers of the Kingdom, and was subscribed to by all the King's Council, the Lord Maior and Aldermen of Lndon, who upon the Death of King Edward which happened in a short time after, proclaimed the Lady Jane Queen in London and Westminster. The Lady Mary being in Hartford-shire, and hearing of it, presently sent to the Lords of the Council, commanding and requiring them to Proclaim her Queen; which if they refused to do, she threatened to recover her Right by force of Arms. The Lords returned answer, That the Lady Jane was invested, and possessed of the Crown by just Right and Title, both by the Ancient Laws of the Land, and by Letters Patents signed and sealed by the late King before his death, and therefore they declared they would adhere to her and to none other, requesting the Lady Mary that she would not upon any pretence endeavour to disturb the peace of the Kingdom, promising her that if she would carry herself as a dutiful Subject, they would be ready to do her any service. The Lady Mary having received this answer, withdrew further from the City, and the Council being sensible of her stout and unquiet disposition, they raised an Army, which was commanded by the Duke of Northumberland. The Lady Mary went into Suffolk and Norfolk gathering such aid of the Commons as she could, and kept herself in Framingham Castle, to whom the Suffolk men first resorted, who being always forward in promoting the Gospel, promised her their aid and assistance, provided she would make no alteration of the Protestant Religion as it was established by her Brother King Edward. To this she readily agreed, and confirmed it with such Vows and Ptotestations that none could suspect her; whereupon they joined with her: and thus by the help of the Protestants she vanquished the Duke of Northumberland and his Army, and was settled in the Kingdom; but she soon forgot her promises, for these very Suffolk men observing that Popery would be reestablished, they Petitioned to her to perform her word to them; at which she was extremely displeased, and told them, Forasmuch as you who are Members desire to rule your Head, you shall one day find that Members must obey, not see k to rule; Yea one of the chief of these men, Mr. Dob by name, she caused for the Terror of others to be set in the Pillory several times, and divers others that presented Supplications to her not to set up Popery, she caused to be sent to prison. Queen Mary being settled in the Kingdom, the Lady Jane, her Father the Duke of Northumberland, and her Husband the Lord Guildford Dudley, were soon after Beheaded; and the Queen soon discovered her disaffection to the Protestant Religion, by displacing all the Orthodox Bishops, as Poinet, Ridley, Scorie, Hooper, Coverdale; and by releasing out of the Tower Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, whom she made Lord Chancellor of England, and Bonner who was made Bishop of London. Then the Queen published a Proclamation that she was resolved to observe and maintain the Catholic Religion, wherein she was bred up, requiring all her Subjects quietly to embrace the same. A while after this Bonner and Gardiner begun a cruel and bloody persecution upon the Protestants, and made them fall in heaps: For Mr. Hooper, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Saunders, all famous men, were condemned and burned for Heresy. In the year 1555. Thomas Tomkins (whose hand B. Bonner burnt in prison to try his constancy) was afterward burnt in Smithfield: William Hunter was cruelly handled and then burnt. Mr. Higbed and Mr. Causton were burnt in Essex: William Piggot, Stephen Knight, and John Laurence were examined before Bishop Bonner, and then burnt at several places in Essex. Dr. Farrar Rishop of St. David's was burnt there; and Rawlins White was burnt at Cardiff, George Marsh at Chester, William Flower at Westminster, John Card-maker a godly Minister in Smithfield, and with him John Warn. About this time came a Letter from King Philip and Queen Mary to Bishop Bonner, that Heretics were not prosecuted with such severity as they ought to be; which easily prevailed with Bonner, who was ready enough for Cruelty, and thereupon condemned John Symson and John Ardeley of Essex, who were burnt there: Thomas Hawks, Thomas Watts, Thomas Osmund, William Bamford, Thomas Osburn, all of Cogshall in Essex, being sent up to Bonner, for not receiving the Sacrament at Easter, they were condemned and burnt in several places in Essex. John Bland, Nicholas Shetterden, Humphrey Middleton, John Frankesh, were all burnt: And a few days after, Nicholas Hall, Christopher Wade, John Harpole, and Margery Boley, were burnt in Kent. Dirick Carver, John Launder, Thomas Iveson, James Abbes, John Denley, John Newman, Patrick Packingham, Richard Hook and John Newman, were likewise burnt for Heretics. The Prisons were now full in every place, and six men were condemned and burnt at Canterbury; and nothing but Cruelty and Oppression was to be seen through the whole Land: Whereupon the Queen's Commissioners for the more quick dispatch took out ten of the Prisoners, whom they sent to B. Bonner, and being examined by him about the Sacrament, they constantly adhering to the Truth, were condemned and burnt in several places. Robert Samuel a Minister suffered Martyrdom at Norwich; two others at Ipswich; five more in the Diocese of Canterbury; the famous Ridley and Latimer at Oxford, and Mr. Philpot in Smithfield. In the year 1556. their wicked and bloody rage still continued, the Land was all in a Flame, and Blood and Cruelty reigned in every place: For there were seven burnt in Smithfield in one fire; four more in Canterbury, and Dr. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury was burnt in Oxford. And, to conclude, though the Reign of Queen Mary was the shortest of any Prince since the Conquest, except King Richard the Third, yet in her days there was more Christian blood spilt for Religion, than in any King's Reign whatsoever, since Lucius the first Christian King established Christianity in this Land; for in the five years of her Reign, there perished in the consuming Flames, for the Profession of the Protestant Religion, no less than two Hundred seventy seven Persons, of all Ages and both Sexes: there suffered five Bishops and Archbishops, twenty one Divines, eight Gentlemen, four Tradesmen, an hundred Husbandmen, Servants and Labourers, twenty six Wives, twenty Widows and Virgins, two Boys, and two Infants; one in the Isle of Guernsey, who springing out of his Mother's Womb as she was burning at the Stake, was most inhumanely thrown in again and burnt for a young Heretic. And besides these, there were sixty four persecuted for their Religion, whereof seven were whipped, sixteen perished in Prison, twelve were buried in Dunghills, and many more lay condemned, but were saved by the Death of Queen Mary. The Succession of Queen Elizabeth put some stop to the cruel rage of the Papists; for the Power and Authority of the Pope vanished, and Peace, Rest and Liberty for all the good People of the Nation ensied. But the Papists, out of their extreme Loyalty to the Pope, thought it a sin to live peaceably under an Heretical Prince: Especially when two Popes had thundered out Excommunications against her, cursing her, and freeing her Subjects from their Allegiance towards her, and threatening them under danger of the Wrath of God, not to assist her, but to employ all their Power to bring her to condign punishment, and promising rewards to all persons who should lay hands upon this proscribed Woman, which was to be paid out of the Treasury of the Church, together with a full pardon of all their sins who should engage against her. But when the Pope and his Accomplices saw, that all this would not effect their desires, the Queen's Subjects being too faithful to engage in any such villainous designs; they then proceed to secret Plots and Attempts against her: As that wherein the Duke of Norfolk and Robert Biddulph were engaged, in the year 1566. and for which Northumberland Suffered at York, and after that Leonard Davis designed mischiefs against her with the like ill success. In the year 1578. the Invasion of Ireland at the great charges of the Pope, was happily prevented. The next year James Fitz-morris is sent into Ireland, with Saunders, who carried consecrated Banners to them. The next year after San Joseph was likewise sent thither with seven hundred Spanish and Italian Soldiers, and the Pope's promise of ten hundred thousand Crowns, to carry on the work of Rebellion; and to them joined the Earl of Desmond and his Brothers; but they were all happily defeated. But these projects likewise failing, they conspire the death of the Queen, and make several Attempts to murder her; first by one Somervile and Hall, Priests; and one of them being condemned was found secretly murdered, for fear he should discover others. After this followed the practices of Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador here, with Throgmorton and Parry, who had Letters of plenary Indulgence, Pardon, and remission of all their sins sent them by the Pope, for killing the Queen; And the same year, Savage made the like Vow to murder the Queen, being instigated thereto by Gifford and Hodgson two Popish Priests. A while after Babington upon the same principles engaged to commit the like wicked act, by the procurement of one Ballard a Jesuit, but being happily discovered, divers of them were condemned, and justly executed for the same, and were registered for Saints and Martyrs in the Romish Calendar. Yet by the means of the French Ambassador out Stafford and Moody were dealt withal to commit the like Villainy, Moody proposing to lay a bag of Gunpowder under the Queen's Bedchamber. But this like the rest being happily prevented, the Pope stirs up his Dear Son, Philip the Second King of Spain, openly to invade England, which he did in the year 1588. who though in Queen mary time, he pretended great kindness to the Queen, yet now in hopes of gaining England and Ireland, which the Pope had bestowed upon him, he comes to take possession thereof, with a vast and (as the Pope Christened it) Invincible Armada, consisting of an hundred and thirty tall Ships, extraordinary well furnished, and containing fifty seven Thousand eight hundred and eight Tun, wherein were Eight Thousand six hundred Seamen, Twenty Thousand Soldiers, two Thousand Galley Slaves; besides Gentlemen and Volunteers in abundance, so that there was scarce a Family in Spain, who had not either a Son, Brother, or Cousin in the Fleet. There were likewise aboard them two thousand six hundred and thirty great Ordnance, with Powder, Bullets, Match, Muskets, Pikes, Spears, Swords, and all things proportionable, with Knives, Daggers, Skeins, Chains and Whips, to Torment and cut the Throats of the poor English Protestants; and with them came swarms of those Locusts called Capuchins, Mendicants, Jesuits, and other Officers of the Sacred Order of the Inquisition, as they profanely call it. And besides all this, there lay in Flanders, fifty thousand old Soldiers, and two hundred eighty eight Vessels, ready to transport them, under the command of the Duke of Parma; all the King of Spain's best Soldiers, even as far as America, being drawn forth for this Holy War: The whole of this Expedition having cost the Spaniard twelve Millions of Crowns before their setting forth; the Pope likewise contributing a Million of Gold to so pious a design. But the goodness and mercy of God at that time defended England from the gaping Jaws of destruction, and discomfited this Mighty Armada and all its mighty preparations, and sent them home full of shame, loss and confusion; so that of one hundred thirty four Ships that set sail out of Lisbon, only thirty three returned: the Spaniard losing in this Voyage Eighty one Ships, and above thirteen thousand five hundred Soldiers, and two thousand more taken Prisoners in England, Ireland, and the Low Countries, the rest of the Navy being lost and destroyed by the English, the Dutch, the Seas, Rocks, Sands and Tempests, all seeming to conspire to the defeating of this proud and Insolent attempt. But these sort of People will never take notice of God's Judgements upon their wicked designs and Erterprises, and notwithstanding all this, they shut their Eyes and will not see that God is against them; for they no sooner recover breath, but they send over new Commissions, and more cursed Emissaries disguised in all shapes into England, with new Plots, Contrivances and designs; Lopez and his Confederates, Cullen, York, Williams, Squire and Hesket, all enter into a Conspiracy to kill the Queen, being constantly encouraged by the Jesuits and the Spanish Ministers of State. And these proving abortive, in the year 1599 the Earl of Tyrone is stirred up to make a new Rebellion in Ireland, having the same Pardons and Indulgences sent them, as is usually given by the Popes to those that go to fight against the Turks. And in the year 1601. the King of Spain sends a great Fleet of Soldiers to Kinsale in Ireland, for the assistance of the Rebels. But notwithstanding all these wicked and execrable designs, this glorious and Heroic Queen of blessed memory, having outlived four Kings and Eight Popes, died in Peace, and left her flourishing Kingdoms to her Successor King James. And now the Papists being thus disappointed of their great hopes and expectations, by the succession of a Protestant King to the Crown of England, and thereby uniting into one Body Scotland, England and Ireland; one would have Imagined that all their contrivances would have been dashed, since they could not well think that so long and well settled a Reformation in Church and State, could very easily be broken and confounded; yet still they give not over, but encourage one another in their wickedness, and the Pope sent over two Bulls to deprive King James of the Crown, and sought to raise divisions and dissensions amongst us. But God continuing to frustrate all their designs, they now grew as it were desperate and entered upon the most barbarous and Hellish Plot and contrivance that ever was hatched in the Brains or Hearts of men, which is that which we call the Gunpowder Treason, and which we yearly commemorate upon the fifth of November, they designing to act it on that day in the year 1605. This horrid design was contrived by divers Jesuits, Priests, and other English Papists, who by undermining the Parliament-House, and planting there Thirty six Barrels of Gunpowder, intended by firing the same when both Houses were sitting, to have blown up and destroyed not only the King as the Head of the Kingdom, but with him his Queen, the Prince, and all the Royal Issue, together with the Clergy, Nobility and the chief of the Gentry of the whole Kingdom; all should have perished together at one Blow, and have become a Sacrifice to the enraged Lusts of these Bloody minded Papists. A Plot and Villainy that no Age can parallel, no Country ever could produce the like, and which was as miraculously prevented and detected, as if it were by the immediate finger of God, who discovered their treasonable practices, even within their dark Vaults and Cellars, when the very Train was laid, and fire almost put to it: and in this horrid Conspiracy Catesby, Piercy, Faux, Digby, Garnet, Hall, etc. all Popish Priests, were considerable Actors and Promoters, and all sworn to secrecy, with Horrid Oaths and Imprecations, taking the Holy Sacrament and engaging themselves one to another thereby, and by their Faith in the Holy Trinity, never to shrink from the Execution of this their Hellish Intention, till they had performed the same: They were likewise promised from abroad Ships and men, and ten hundred thousand Crowns to carry on their work. And though this horrid Conspiracy has been sufficiently discovered and made plain, by the confession of some of the Conspirators who were executed, and by writings under their own hands; yet according to their usual Impudence, which they learned of their predecessor Nero, (who when he had set Rome on Fire, charged it upon the Christians) the Papists intended to have laid that wicked Act upon the Puritans; and since this they have endeavoured to make the world believe that it was a Contrivance of King James, thereby endeavouring since they could not blow up the King with Gunpowder, to blast his good Name, and to make him odious to Posterity. But three Kingdoms are not so easy to be deluded, neither are we so horridly impious, to mock God so solemnly with yearly Prayers and Thanksgivings; neither need we think it so strange, since Lies and Impudence are the grand supporters of the Papal Kingdom, without which such a medley of Nonsense and Foolery would be hooted out of the world. And from that time to this very day, the Papists have been and are the Grand Disturbers of these Nations: and it is sufficiently manifested that they had no small hand in our late Troubles, since which they have continually sought the ruin and destruction of all Protestants, by all manner of cursed ways and methods imaginable. In the year 1666. Sept. 2. about two a Clock in the morning, there began a sad and lamentable Fire in a Baker's House in Pudding Lane near Fish-street-hill, London, which raged with extreme Violence, being accompanied with a strong North-east wind, so that despising all means used for its extinguishing, it spread far and near, sometimes with and sometimes against the wind, and so continued for the space of near four days, till it had burnt down thirteen thousand two hundred houses, which stood upon three hundred thirty seven Acres of Ground within the Walls, and sixty three Acres three Roods without; besides eighty nine Parish Churches, the most spacious Cathedral of St. Paul, the Royal Exchange, the Great Guildhall, the Custom House, Many magnificent Halls of Companies, several principal City Gates, and other public Edifices; which was accompanied with the loss of vast quantities of rich Household-stuff, and Goods of all sorts, but especially four or five; that is, Books, of which alone were lost near the value of an hundred and fifty thousand pound; Tobacco, Sugar, Wines, and Plumbs, being heavy goods: So that the whole loss is computed by an Ingenious Person to be Nine Millions and nine hundred thousand pounds, and yet not above six or eight persons through God's Providence were burnt in this vast desolation. Upon the Eighteenth of September the Parliament met, and the Commons appointed a Committee to examine into the Causes of the fire, and to take Informations concerning it; and in a short time so many and such very considerable Informations were brought in, that it was no longer doubtful but the Papists were the Contrivers and Managers of this dreadful Fire. For among other things it plainly appeared, that divers of the Popish Party were made acquainted with it before it happened: for Mr. Light of Ratcliff deposed, That being in discourse with Mr. Richard Langhorn (since Executed for High Treason) in February before the Fire, concerning Religion, Langhorn took him by the hand and said to him, You expect great things in sixty six, and think that Rome will be destroyed, but what if it be London? A French man told one Elizabeth Styles, in April before the fire, that the English Maids would love the Frenchmen better when there was not an house left standing between Temple-Bar and London-Bride: to which she replied, She hopes his eyes would never see that: he said, This will happen betwixt June & October. Dr. Oats in his Narrative, pag. 22. says, That in July 1678. being in discourse with one Strange a Jesuit, Strange told him that they had got fourteen thousand pound by the Fire of London, in 1666. and that they spent seven hundred fireballs to effect their Villainy; and that when the Fire-Merchants were at work, than other Papists both men and women were employed by them to plunder what they could; that they had a Warehouse in Wild-street, where some of their stolen Goods were laid, and other Goods they concealed in , as Hollands, Cambrics, Fine Cloth, and some considerable quantities of Plate, and a Box of Jewels. Dr. Oats asked Strange, How the King came to escape (for it seems his death was designed then?) Strange replied, Indeed they were resolved to have cut him off, but seeing him so Industrious about Quenching the Fire, they could not find in their hearts to do it; Strange said, there were about Fourscore and six employed in it; and John Grove since Executed for high Treason, told Dr. Oats that he fired Southwark, and that the Society of Jesuits got two thousand pound by that Fire. Robert Hubert a French Papist of Normandy began this Fire in London, being Hired thereto by Stephen Peidelow likewise a papist; and Hubert observing the Ruin and desolation that followed, could not be quiet till he had freely discovered the whole matter; Affirming that by Peidelows directions he put a Fireball to the end of a long pole, and lighting it with a piece of Match put it into the Baker's window, and stayed till the house was in a Flame. A French Merchant went to Hubert in the White Lion Prison in Southwark, and told him, He did not believe him Guilty of what he had confessed: Hubert replied, Yes Sir, I am guilty of it, and have been brought to it by the instigation of Mr. Peidelow, but not out of any malice to the English Nation, but from a desire of reward which he promised me upon my return into France. A while after Hubert was Tried and Executed for this horrid Fact, owning and acknowledging to the last his doing thereof, by the Instigation of Piedelow. But this not doing their work, they took divers other methods for carrying on their designs, which they had very near brought to perfection in the year 1678. had not the Divine Providence most eminently made use of Dr. Titus' Oats in the discovery thereof; who notwithstanding the reproaches of his Popish adversaries, was liberally Educated in St. John's College in Cambridge, where he took his Degree, and afterward proceeded Doctor in Divinity at Salamanca in Spain, no contemptible University. In the year 1672. he was Vicar of Bobbing in Kent, but the Air not agreeing with him, he left it; and was for some time Minister near Chichester in Sussex, and afterwards came to be Chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk, with an ample testimony of his sober Life and Conversation; and whilst he was there, he overheard some whisper among the Popish Priests, (who were very conversant in that Family) that there was some Great Design in hand, but could not learn the particulars. He had heard from his Protestant Friends, and had read in Sir Hamond L'stranges' History of King Charles the First, and other Judicious Authors, That the Papists had for many years carried on a design to Introduce Popery once more into these Kingdoms; which made him desire to know the bottom thereof, and if it were possible to prevent it: To this end, he more freely conversed with that Party than he formerly used to do, and seemed dissatisfied in some things concerning our Church, and desired to discourse with some Jesuits, who are accounted the most learned Men of the Popish faction. This upon some Cautions he obtained, and after divers Conferences with them (in which he suffered himself to be overcome,) he was formally reconciled to the Church of Rome: and a while after seeming to aspire to a higher degree of Perfection, he desired to be admired into the Order of the Jesuits, which after three day's consideration they consented to; and because he was a man of years, being about Twenty eight, they would not employ him as a Novice, but made him a Messenger of the Society. This being the mark he aimed at, they sent him with Letters to Valedolid in Spain, which he judging to contain something of their Hellish contrivances, dexterously opened by the way, and thereby made some discovery of their wicked Intentions; however he managed their Affairs with so much satisfaction, that in a short time they made him privy to their most secret Consultations, and keeping short Notes of all things of Concernment, he was thereby in a capacity to give an account of so many several particulars as he has discovered; which have had the happiness to be confirmed by other Circumstances and Evidence, and have not the least contradicted one another, nor those other Papers which have been found elsewhere, nor differed from the Informations that have been given in by Mr. Bedlow, Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Jennison, Mr. Mowbray, Mr. Baldron, and others, whom God hath since raised up, further to clear and unmask this detestable and bloody Conspiracy. Dr. Oats was resolved as much as in him lay to prevent their Traitorous designs upon his Majesty's Life, though he endangered his own thereby, since he observed that all their Contrivances were ripe, and there only wanted the Fatal Blow to destroy the life of his Sacred Majesty, and the Religion, and Liberties of these three Kingdoms; And whereas Father Whitebread the Provincial of the Jesuits, had engaged Dr. Oats (before his last return into England) to assassinate and murder Israel Tongue Doctor of Divinity, because he had translated a Book Entitled The Jesuits Morals, and had promised him Fifty pound as a reward for the same, Dr. Oats after his coming over became acquainted with Dr. Tongue, and finding him to be a person of Trust and Integrity, he gave him an Account of his Assassination, and likewise some Heads of the Plot in General. After which they both seriously Consulted together of the best methods for making this necessary Discovery; since they were sure to meet with great opposition therein. At last they concluded to acquaint Mr. Christopher Kirby therewith, as a person whom for his Loyalty Courage, and zeal for the Safety of his Majesty's Person, and the Protestant Religion, they judged very fit and capable to assist them; and therefore on Monday, August 12. 1678. Dr. Tongue showed Mr. Kirby Forty three Articles drawn up in writing, desiring him that without making any other Person acquainted therewith, he would discover the same to the King: And Mr. Kirby very generously undertook the same, and accordingly the next morning in St. James' Park, he humbly acquainted his Majesty, That his Enemies had a Design against his Life, and humbly beseeched his Majesty to use all Caution, for he did not know but he might be in danger in that very walk. But his Majesty armed with his Native goodness and Innocency, seemed more surprised with the Strangeness of the News, than with the apprehension of the danger, and only asked, How that could be? To which Mr. Kirby replied, That it might be, by being shot at: And gave a particular account that there were two men, Grove and Pickering by name, that watched an opportunity to shoot his Majesty, and that another Person was hired to Poison him. His Majesty ordered further Scrutiny should be made into the business; and a while after Doctor Oats having written fair Copies of his Informations, upon the 28. of September, 1678. went to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and made Oath of the truth and reality thereof; Sir Edmundbury desiring to keep a Copy of the Informations himself, as having never before perused them, which it may be was the occasion of his horrid Murder, which soon after followed. The Plot in General seemed to be by Fire and Sword to subvert and destroy the Protestant Religion, and established Government of these three Kingdoms, and to reduce them to Popery: The chief Conspirators being Innocent 11 th'. now Pope, who in The Congregation for propagating the Faith, held about Decemb. 1677. and consisting of about 350. Persons, Declared, All His Majesty's Dominions to be part of St. Peter's Patrimony, as forfeited to the Holy See for the Heresy of the Prince and People, and to be disposed of as he should think fit; And our English Cardinal Howard was appointed by the Pope to take Possession of England in his Name, who was likewise made Archbishop of Canterbury, and other Popish Priests were made Bishops in England, all the present Bishops being designed to be removed from their Dignities: Johannes Paulus de Oliva, Father General of the Jesuits was to give Directions to the Provincial of the Jesuits in London, how to manage their Affairs. Mounsieur le Cheese, a Jesuit, Confessor to the French King, was likewise concerned; with whom Edward Coleman held correspondence; Also Strange and Whitebread Provincials of the Jesuits, and the Benedictine Monks of the Savoy were in this cursed Conspiracy, and the Jesuits and Seminary Priests, of whom there were at that time in England about Eighteen Hundred. Divers Lay Persons of Quality were drawn in, who were to command Forces, and to execute the Great Offices of the Realm; as the Lord Arundel of Warder was appointed Lord Chancellor of England, the Lord Powis Lord Treasurer, Sir William Godolphin Lord Privy Seal, Edward Coleman Secretary of State; and for the Military part, Lord Bellasis to be Lord General, Lord Peter's Lieutenant General, Sir Francis Ratcliff Major General, John Lambert Adjutant General, Richard Langhorn Advocate General, who had Commissions sent them from Paulus de Oliva, and directed from Rome to Mr. Langhorn. This was so great and glorious a work, that the chiefest of the Romish Clergy through Europe were engaged therein; so that it cannot be said to be the Act or Contrivance of any few particular Persons, but The unanimous undertaking of their whole Church, and so to their everlasting Infamy ought to be Recorded. Now as to the Means whereby this was to be accomplished, the first and chief was, By Murdering his Sacred Majesty, which was to be accomplished either by Pistolling of him, wherein Pickering and Grove were engaged; or by Stabbing, and this to be done by Conyers and Anderton, Benedictine Monks, or four Irish Ruffians. Or lastly by Poisoning, for which Money was paid to the Undertaker. 2. Another means was by firing London, Westminster and the parts adjacent, and likewise other Cities and great Towns in England, immediately upon the Murder of his Majesty. 3. By a General Massacre, to which purpose they had designed to raise an Army, which was to consist of Fifty Thousand men, to be Listed in and about London: The Officers to be all Resolute Papists, and for the most part French and Irish; and these they gave out were enough to cut the Throats of One Hundred Thousand Protestants, especially being taken upon a Surprise, when the Militia of London was undisciplined and unprovided. Care was taken likewise about securing Ireland and Scotland to their Interest. Great sums of Money were provided for the necessary charge of this mighty undertaking, and it was discoursed, that the Jesuits in England had purchased a great Estate per Annum for that purpose; and that they had a great Stock in ready Money; and were to receive Eleven thousand Crowns from Rome, Ten thousand pound from Spain, and Ten thousand from France, besides several other very considerable sums, for promoting this vast design. And this is a brief Abstract of this bloody and Hellish Popish Plot, abundance of other particulars being omitted; whereby it appears that this Horrid Plot is hardly to be paralleled in any History, considering that without any provocation so many Thousand Protestants were designed for slaughter, destruction and Murder, only to advance and promote the Holy Catholic Religion, as they falsely call that Chaos of Blasphemy and Cruelty. Presently after this Remarkable discovery, happened the murder of that worthy Magistrate Sir Edmondbury Godfrey; who as is before related, having taken the Depositions of Doctor Oats, which was no more than any Justice of Peace by Virtue of his Office was bound to do; yet it so enraged the Conspirators, that they resolved to cut him off, to deter (as may be supposed) all other Magistrates from intermeddling with any Affairs relating to the Plot. But it pleased God that the Crafty were taken in their own snare, and they Mortally wounded their own cause; for this bloody Enterprise alarumed the whole Kingdom, and left no doubt whether there were a Plot or no. It is not certainly discovered how many there were in all, who conspired his Death; but those that are known, are Father Kelly and Father Girald, two Irish Priests, Robert Green Cushion-man to the Queen's Chapel, Laurence Hill Servant to Dr. God-den Treasurer of the Chapel, Henry Berry who was Porter of Somersethouse, and Mr. Miles Prance a Goldsmith in Covent-Garden; these were actually present at the Murder; two other should have been there, but were not; that is, Father Lewson a Priest, and one Philip Vernatti, who are since fled. There were another Party to have done it, but did not, namely, Pritchard, Le Fair, Welch, Keins, all Jesuits, and Mr. William Bedlow. Of those that effected the Villainy, 'tis Judged that Vernatti, and some other Popish Priests undertook it, and that they drew in Green, Hill, and Berry first, and afterwards engaged Mr. Prance, telling him, That Sir Edmundbury was a bitter Persecutor of Catholics, and a particular Enemy to her Majesty's Servants, (whereof Mr. Prance reckoned himself one:) And that he had lately examined People against them, and had got Depositions to fix base Crimes and Scandals on their Religion, and that the Catholics would be ruined, unless he were taken off; and therefore it was necessary for the Glory of God, and good of the Church, that it should be effected; and that there should be a good reward given them for it: And when Mr. Prance scrupled it, the two Priests, Girald and Kelly told him, It was no sin, but a work of Charity, and so far from being a Murder, that it was a Meritorious work, and he ought to assist in it. Having thus resolved of his Death, they consulted several times how to effect it; but at last, upon Saturday, October 12. 1678. Hill went to Sir Edmundbury Godfry's house in the Morning, but what he said to him is not known, and then taking his leave, went to Girald and Green, and stayed with them hard by, waiting Sir Edmundburys going forth, which was about Ten or Eleven a Clock, they dogged him up and down all day, till about seven a Clock in the Evening, and then Green came to Prances house, and told him that they had set him, but did not name where, only near St. Clement's, and that Prance must hasten down to the Water-Gate at , where he should find Kelly and Berry; which he did, and they three waited there till about Nine a Clock at night, than Hill came in haste and told them he was coming, and that they must pretend a Quarrel, and he would fetch him in; Kelly and Berry began a seeming Quarrel, and just as Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was passing by the Gate, Hill who was acquainted with him, steps out in a great deal of haste, and entreated him, For God's sake to come in, for there were two men a Quarrelling, and he was afraid there would be blood shed: He refused at first, but the other being importunate, he consented, and Hill entered the Gate first, after him Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and Girald and Green followed just behind. As soon as they were in, Prance watched at the Water-Gate that no body came that way, Berry was to secure the Stairs and passage by the Chapel, but first he and Kelly who pretended to Quarrel, stood at the end of the rail by the Queen's Stables, and as Sir Edmondbury went down toward them, Green suddenly threw a twisted Handkerchief, or Cravat about his neck, and presently all four pulled him down, and throttled him, so as he could make no noise, than they threw him behind the Rail, and gave him many Violent punches on the breast with their Knees, and Green with all his force wrung his Neck almost round. Having committed this Horrid Murder, they removed the body into Dr. Goddins Lodgings, and on Monday to another Room, on Tuesday from thence to another, but on Wednesday night about twelve a Clock they carried his body towards Hamstead, about two miles out of Town, and laid it at a place called Primrose-Hill, Girald having run Sir Edmundbury's own Sword through him, and left it in, and the Scabbard and Gloves they laid at a small distance from him, that it might be supposed he had murdered himself. The death of this worthy Gentleman caused great Consternation among the People, and his Majesty was graciously pleased to publish a Proclamation promising 500 l. to the Discoverer. And a while after Mr. William Bedlow, came in, and gave some Account of the Murder, and likewise of the Plot in General; and upon the 21. of December being in the Lobby of the House of Commons, he there saw Mr. Prance, whom he knew to be concerned, they two having Viewed Sir Edmundbury's dead body together at , and charging Mr. Prance with the Murder, he was thereupon committed to Newgate, and a while after confessed the whole matter as is before related. Whereupon, Green, Hill and Berry were seized, and upon full Evidence condemned, and executed, Kelly and Girald fled; there were likewise several Traitors tried and Executed for the Horrid Plot; that is, Edward Coleman, William Ireland, Tomas Pickering, John Grove, Thomas Whitebread, William Harcourt, John Fenwick, John Gaven, Anthony Turner, and Richard Langhorn. The Papists being still disappointed in their cursed contrivances, yet resolved not wholly to desist, but endeavoured to stifle the Evidence by promising them great rewards and encouragements not to discover the whole of what they knew, or to deny what they had deposed; and upon this account Mr. Reding tampered with Mr. Bedlow; Mrs. Price and Mr. Tasborough endeavoured to corrupt Mr. Dugdale; Osburn and Lane designed to invalidate the Evidence of Dr. Oats: But these ill practices being discovered, some of the persons concerned were fined and Imprisoned, and others set in the Pillory; after which the Papists had several other Contrivances to throw off the Plot from their own party, but all will not do; for certainly he cannot pretend to be a good Protestant, who (after his Majesty's repeated Proclamations for the discovery and apprehension of the Plotters, after the Execution of so many of the Conspirators, upon the clearest Evidence imaginable, and after the Votes and Proceed in both Houses of Parliament thereupon) shall in the least doubt of the reality of this horrid and damnable Popish Plot; as it is fully expressed in the Vote of both Houses, March 25. 1679. Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in Parliament Assembled; That they do declare, that they are fully satisfied by the Proofs they have heard, that there now is, and for divers years last passed hath been, an horrid and Treasonable Plot and Conspiracy, contrived and carried on by those of the Popish Religion, for the Murdering of his Majesty's Sacred Person, and for subverting the Ptotestant Religion, and the Ancient and Established Government of this Kingdom. John Brown Cleric Perliam. Let us conclude all with the Thanksgiving of the Church of England, set forth by Authority upon the Discovery of the Gunpowder Treason in 1605. NOt unto us O Lord, not unto us, but to thy Name be ascribed all honour and glory in all Churches of the Saints throughout all Generations; for thou Lord hast discovered the Snares of Death, thou hast broken them and we are delivered; be thou still our mighty Protector, and scatter our Cruel Enemies which delight in Blood; Infatuate their Counsel, and root out that Babilonish and Antichristian Sect, which say of Jerusalem, Down with it, down with it even to the Ground: and to this end strengthen the hands of our Gracious King, the Nobles and Magistrates of the Land with Judgement and Justice, to cut off these workers of Iniquity, whose Religion is Rebellion, whose Faith is Faction, whose Practice is Murdering of Souls and Bodies; and to root them out of the Confines and Limits of this Kingdom, that they may never prevail against us, and Triumph in the ruin of thy Church. And give us grace by true and serious Repentance to avert these and the like Judgements from us. This Lord we earnestly crave at thy merciful hands, together with the continuance of thy powerful Protection over our Dread Sovereign, the whole Church, and these Realms, and the speedy confusion of our Implacable Enemies; and that for thy dear Sons sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. PSALM 91. WHo makes th' Almighty his retreat Shall rest beneath his Shady Wings, Free from th' Oppression of the Great, The Rage of War, or Wrath of Kings; Free from the Cunning Fowler's Train, The Tainted Air's Infectious Breath; His Truth in Perils shall sustain And Shield thee from the stroke of Death. No terrors shall thy sleeps affright, Nor deadly flying Arrows slay; Nor Pestilence devour by night, Or slaughter Massacre by day: Words and Proper Names of two, three and four syllables both whole, and divided into syllables. ABuse A-buse Adam Adam Affected Affected Abigail A-bi-gail Activity Ac-ti-vi-ty Amasia Amasia Ahasuerus A-ha-su-e-rus Banquet Ban-quet Barak Ba-rak Backslider Back-sli-der Belshazzer Belshazzer Bountifully Boun-ti-ful-ly Barzillai Bar-zil-la-i Beatificial Beatisical Beeliada Beeliada Cleansed Clean-sed Carmel Car-mel Chastening Chast-en-ing Chorazin Cho-ra-zin Calamity Ca-la-mi-ty Cyrenius Cy-re-ni-us Cogitation Co-gi-ta-ti-on Daughter Daughter Dathan Da-than Destroyed De-stroy-ed Dalilah Da-li-lah Difficulty Dif-fi-cul-ty Dalmatia Dalmatia Estrang Estrang Esther Est-her Effected Ef-fect-ed Ephraim Ephraim Election E-lec-ti-on Ebenezer E-ben-e-zer Frustrate Frus-trate Francis Francis Forreigner Foreigner Familiar Fa-mi-li-ar Favonia Fa-vo-ni-a Grudging Grudg-ing Ginath Ginath Garnishing Gar-nish-ing Gomorrah Go-mor-rah Gloriously Glo-ri-ous-ly Gethsemane Geth-se-ma-ne Genealogy Ge-ne-a-lo-gy Haughty Haugh-ty Huzoth Huzoth Heretic Heretic Habakkuk Hab-ak-kuk Hallelujah Hal-le-lu-jah Hymeneus Hymeneus' Habitation Ha-bi-ta-tion Heliopolis He-li-o-po-lis Judgement Judgement Jephtha Jeph-tha Journeying Jour-ney-ing Issachar Is-sa-char Ignominy Ig-no-mi-ny Illyria Il-ly-ri-a Jerusalem Je-ru-sa-lem Infidelity In-fi-de-li-ty Kinsfolk Kins-folk Kahath Kahath Kindnesses Kind-nes-ses Keturah Ke-turah Laughter Laugh-ter London London Languishing Lan-guish-ing Lazarus La-za-rus Lascivious Las-ci-vi-ous Leviathan Le-vi-a-than Liberality Li-be-ra-li-ty Merchant Mer-chant Mesheck Mesheck Magistrate Ma-gis-trate Manasseh Ma-nas-seh Malefactor Malefactor Neighbour Neighbour Nadab Nadab Nakedness Na-ked-ness Naphtali Naph-ta-li Negligently Neg-li-gent-ly Nathanael Na-tha-na-el Offspring Offspring Ophri Ophri Offering Of-fer-ing Oppressing Oppress sing Othniel Oth-ni-el Overseer O-ver-se-er Ohemoed Ohemoed Operation O-pe-ra-tion Preaching Preach-ing Phicol Phicol Possessor Pos-ses-sor Phinebas Phinebas Pal stina Pa-les-ti-na Quenching Quench-ing Quinzay Quinzay Quartering Quar-ter-ing Qualified Qua-li-fied Quaternion Qua-ter-ni-on Roughly Rough-ly Rehum Rehum Ravished Ra-vish ed Rabshakeh Rab sha' keh Religion Re ligion Rehoboam Re-ho-bo-am Slaughter Slaugh-ter Shushan Shu-shan Schismatic Schismatic Synagogue Sy-na-gogue Shelhazzer Shelhazzer Softhenes Softhenes Sanctuary Sanc-tu-a-ry Taphath Taphath Trespasses Trespasses Thaddeus Thad-de-us Testimony Tes-ti-mo-ny Trogyllium Trogyllium Viewing View-ing ukrain Vkrain Victory Vic-to-ry Vpharsin Upharsin unadvised Vnadvised Vespasian Ves-pa-si-an Witchcraft Witchcraft Wrongfully Wrong-ful-ly Wolfgangus Wolf-gan-gus Warsovia Warsovia Xerxes' Xerxes' Younger Younger Youthfully Youth-ful-ly Zealous Zeal-ous Zopheth Zopheth Zealously Zeal-ous-ly Zipporah Zip-po-rah Zeboim Zeboim Zerobabel Zerobabel Zurishadda Zurishadda Words and proper Names of five, six, and seven Syllables. Allegorical Al-le-go-ri-cal Alsufficiency Allsufficiency Adramytium Adramytium Beatification Be-a-ti-fi-ca-ti-on Baalathbeor Baalathbeor Bothbaalmeon Beth-ba-al-me-on Consubstantiation Con-sub-stan-ti-a-ti-on Chederlaomer Chederlaomer Dedication De-di-ca-ti-on Deuteronomy Deu-te-ro-no-my Dissimulation Dis-si-mu-la-ti-on Extortioner Ex-tor-ti-o-ner Excommunication Ex-com-mu-ni-ca-ti-on Elihoenai Elihoenai Familiarity Fa mi li-a-ri-ty Fortification For-ti-ca-ti-on Gederothaim Gederothaim Glorification Glo-ri-fi-ca-tion Habitation Ha-bi-ta-ti-on Hypocritically Hy-po-cri-ti-cal-ly Helarazaruus Helarazaruus Helcathhazurim Helcathhazurim Jehovashallom Jehovashallom Jurisdiction Ju-ris-dic-ti-on Incomprehensible In-com-pre-hen-si-ble Jebereheah Jebereheah Kiriathaim Kiriathaim Kireathebaal Kireathebaal Languishing Lan-guish-ing Lamentation La-men-ta-ti-on Lusitania Lu-si-ta-ni-a Meditation Me-di-ta-ti-on Manifestation Ma-ni-fes-ta-tion Melchizedeck Melchizedeck Mesherabeel Mesherabeel Mathematician Ma-the-ma-ti-ci-an Mesopotamia Me-so-po-ta-mi-a Multiplication Mul-ti-pli-ca-ti-on Nonconformity Non-con-for-mi-ty Naturalisation Naturalisation Nebuchadnezzer Ne-bu-chad-nezar Onisephorus O-ne-se-pho-rus Predestinate Pre des-ti-nate Presbiterian Presbiterian Purification Pu-ri-fi-ca-tion Philosophically Phi-lo-so-phi-cal-ly Propitiation Pro pi-ti ati on Qualification Quadratus li fi ca ti on Renunciation Re nun ci a ti on Resurrection Re-sur-rec ti on Reconciliation Re-con ci li ati on Representation Re-pre-sen-ta-ti-on Satisfaction Satis-fac-ti-on Superiority So poe ri ori ty Sanctification Sanctificati on Temporality Tem-po ra li ty Taanathshiloth Ta-a-nath shi loath Thessalonica Thes sa lo-ni ca Transubstantiation Tran sub stan ti ati on Vexatiously Vex-a ti ous Universality Universal li ty Vnreconcilable Vn-re con cil a ble Gods Judgements upon Popish Persecutors, discovered in some eminent Examples. 1. FRom the First plantation of the Christian Religion in this Nation under King Lucius, there was never any King or Queen of England in whose reign so much Christian blood was spilt, as in four years' space during the Reign of Queen Mary; But as she was prodigal of the Lives of the best of her subjects, and a Persecutor of the Gospel, so it pleased God to follow her with Plagues and Judgements all her life; for nothing prospered which she took in hand, of which we shall give some few Instances. The fairest and greatest Ship she had, called the Great Harry, was burnt by Lightning from Heaven, the Christian world at that time not affording such another. Then she would needs marry Philip King of Spain, thereby Subjecting England to Strangers, yet with her utmost endeavour, she could never set the English Crown on his head. Then did she attempt the Restitution of Abbey Lands, and had all the assistance that the Pope could give her therein, yet she was utterly crossed also in that Design. Then she lost Calais in France, which had been in the possession of the English during the Reign of eleven Kings, that is, from the Reign of King Edward the third; with which loss she was so afflicted, that she told some of her Courtiers, If they opened her body when she was dead, they would find Calais written in her heart. She was reported to be with Child, but it came to nothing. Her beloved Husband left her, in whom she placed her greatest felicity and content. So that now she could neither enjoy him, nor marry another. About the same time the Land was grieviously afflicted with horrible Tempests, Famines, Plagues, mortal Diseases and burning Agues, so that between October and December, there died seven Aldermen in London that had been Lord Majors: and the mortality was so great, that much Corn was lost in the Fields for want of men to gather it; whereby great scarcity ensued, and many poor people lived upon Acorns. And lastly, she was struck with a lingering and pining sickness, whereof she died, having only reigned Five years and Five months, a shorter time than any of the Kings of England enjoyed since the Conquest, Richard the Third only excepted. 2. In the next place, let us consider God's Judgements upon some other Instruments of Cruelty; and among the rest Stephen Gardiner, who was a most Cruel Persecutor of the Protestants; In King Henry the Eighths' time he was a great stickler for the divorce from the Lady Katherine of Spain, and was therefore made Bishop of Winchester. In King Edward the sixths' time he seemed a Friend to the Gospel, and preached it up; but in Queen mary days he was the greatest and most inveterate enemy against it, and the professors thereof, and continued so to his dying day; For the same day that Bishop Ridley, and Bishop Latimer were burnt at Oxford, the old Duke of Norfolk came to dine with Gardener: The Bishop deferred his dinner till about four a Clock in the Afternoon, at which time came one of his Servants posting to tell him, that fire was put to these Servants of God; which when he was certified of, he came out rejoicing to the Duke, and said, Now let us go to dinner; The Table was presently set, and the Bishop began to eat merrily, but as soon as he had eaten a few bits, he was on a sudden struck very sick, and being carried from the Table to bed, he there continued in such intolerable Anguish and Torment, that he could void nothing either by stool or urine. His Tongue was black and swollen so big that his mouth could not contain it, and his body violently Inflamed. In this sad condition he lay fifteen days, and then ended his miserable life. In the beginning of his sickness, Dr. Day Bishop of Chichester coming to see him, began to speak to him about the merciful Promises of God, and free Justification by the blood of Christ. To whom he answered, What my Lord will you open that gap now, then farewell all together; Open this window to the People, and farewell all together; And being by another Person put in mind of St. Peter's denying his Master, and that he ought not to despair; He answered, I have denied Christ with Peter, but I never repent with Peter. 3. Bloody Bonner, though he died in his bed, yet lay under the Spiritual Judgement of Impenitency, and as he had been a Persecutor of the Light, and a Child of Darkness, so in darkness and at midnight his Carcase was tumbled into the Earth; And as himself had been a Murderer, so was he laid among Thiefs and Murderers, a place by God's Judgement fitly appointed for him. 4. Dr. Whittington Chancellor having condemned a Godly Religous woman to be Burnt at Chipping Sadbury, a multitude of People came to see her Suffer, and among the rest Whittington himself. At the same time there was a Butcher in another place of the Town killing a Bull, who was fast bound with a Rope ready to be knocked on the head; the Butcher missing his stroke, the Bull broke lose just as the people were coming from the Execution of this Holy Martyr; the people seeing him coming severed themselves, and made a Lane for him, the Bull passed through them without hurting man, woman or child, till he came to the place where Whittington was, against whom he ran very furiously, and thrusting his Horns into his belly, ran him quite through; and tearing out his Guts with his horns, he trailed them about the streets, to the great astonishment of those that saw his wretched end. 5. One Burton Bailiff of Crowland in Lincolnshire, seemed in King Edward the Sixths' days to be a zealous Protestant, but as soon as Queen Mary came to the Crown he turned Papist; and being forward to set up the Mass, he went to Church, and the Curate being then reading the English Service, he went to him and said, Sirrah, will you not say Mass, buckle yourself to it, you knave, or by God's Blood I'll sheathe my dagger in your shoulder; The poor Curate being affrighted betook himself to the Mass. Shortly after this Burton and a neighbour riding together, a Crow flew over his head, and voided her Excrements upon his Nose, which ran down his beard, and yielded such an horrible stink, that it caused him to vomit in a most violent manner, whereupon he got home to bed, but could eat nothing, the stink and vomiting still continuing, which made him with dreadful Oaths and Execrations curse the Crow that had poisoned him, and so he continued in extreme pain till he died. A Prayer of King Edward the Sixth a while before his Death LOrd God, deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life, and take me among thy chosen; howbeit not my Will but thy Will be done. Lord I commit my Spirit to thee, O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee, yet for thy chosens sake send me that in Life or Death I may serve thee. O my Lord God, Bless thy People, and save thine Inheritance. O Lord God save thy chosen People of England. O my Lord God defend this Land from Papistry, and maintain the True Religion, that I and my People may Praise thy Holy name for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake. A Speech of Queen Elizabeth to her Army at Tilbury Camp, in the time of the Spanish Invasion, in the year 1588. 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 Tyrant's fear, I have always so behaved myself, that under God, I have always placed my chiefest strength and safeguard, in the Loyal Hearts, and good will of my Subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see at this time, not for my Recreation and Disport, but being resolved in the midst, and heat of the Battle, to live and die amongst 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 the Body but of a weak and feeble Woman, yet I have the Heart and Courage 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 Kingdom; to which rather than any dishonour shall 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 that already for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and Crowns, and we do assure you in the Word of a Prince they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time my Lieutenant General Leicester shall be in my stead, than whom never Prince commanded a more Noble or worthy Subject; not doubting but by your obedience to your General, by your concord in the Camp, and Valour in the Field, we shall shortly obtain a Famous Victory over these Enemies of my God, of my Kingdom, and of my People. A Prayer for the Morning. BLessed and Glorious Lord God, thy Mercies are Infinite, and thy long suffring and patience is exc eding great, else had not I poor wretched miserable sinner been spared so long, considering my manifold provocations against thee. Blessed be thy Name that thou hast been graciously pleased, to preserve me the night past, and that thou hast once more vouchsafed me the Light of the morning; O Lord preserve me this day, and keep me in all my ways; give unto me the repose of a quiet Conscience, and the clear Light of the Gospel. Turn mine eyes away from Vanity, and strengthen me in thy ways; Protect and defend our Sovereign Lord the King; Bind up his soul in the bundle of Life, and let no weapon formed against him prosper. Preserve thy Church and the True Protestant Religion, and discover more and more the snares of death, and Popish Treachery, and let us never fall into the hands of those men whose mercies are cruel. Bless my Relations, kindred and friends, and all others whom I am bound to pray for; All which I humbly beg in the Name and through the Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Saviour. Amen. A Prayer for the Evening. MOst Gracious God, and merciful Father, I wretched sinner do beseech thee to look upon me with the eyes of thy mercy, and let thy Holy Spirit work in me such a serious Repentance, as that I may with Tears lament my sins past, with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present, and with all my endeavours resist them for the time to come. And now O Lord I bless thee for my health, food, and raiment, and that thou hast defended me this day now past, from all dangers and Perils; and as thou hast ordained the day for man to Travel in, and the night for him to take his rest, so I beseech thee sanctify unto me this Night's rest, that being refreshed with moderate sleep, I may be the better enabled to serve thee, and 〈…〉 in the profession of thy True Religion and 〈…〉 Gracious Sovereign, preserve him as the Apple 〈…〉 hid him under the sha' low of thy wings, 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 with shame, and let them never prevail against him. Protect thy Church, and these Kingdom, from Popery, Superstition and Idolatry, and unite our hearts in the profession of the True Religion, which thine own right hand hath planted amongst us. Bless the whole People of this Land, and be merciful to all our Kinsfolks, Families, and Neighbours. These and all other blessings, we beg of thee for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whose blessed Name and words we further pray, Our Father, etc. Grace before meat. LOrd lift up our hearts to look unto thee for a blessing upon our meats, that we may comfortably use thy Creatures, as pledges of thy Favour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. After meat. AS thou hast filled our Bodies, O Lord, with thy good Creatures, far above our desert, so be pleased to endue our Souls with all Spiritual Blessings, in Heavenly things, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Before meat. MOst gracious God, and Loving Father, we humbly beseech thee, to forgive us all our Sins, and Bless thy good Creatures provided for us, and give us Grace to receive them as from thine hand, and to use them soberly, as in thy sight, to thy Glory and our Comfort, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. After meat. ETernal Thanks and Praise be ascribed unto thee, O Blessed Lord, who hast opened thy hand at this time, and made us partakers of thy Benefits: Lord let us never cease to Offer unto thee the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. FINIS.