their old custom, had brought with them the people out of the city to the place of idolatry, to worship as they were wont, they found all their blocks and stocks broken upon the ground. They were enraged at this, and seized John Clarke, who confessed the act. The people, being not yet acquainted with that kind of doctrine, were wonderfully moved against him, crying out upon him in a great rage. He was soon tried and condemned, and led to the place of execution, where he sustained extreme torments. For first his hand was cut off from his right arm, then his nose with sharp pincers was violently plucked from his face; after that both his arms and his paps were likewise plucked and drawn with the same instrument. To all those who stood by it was an horror to behold the grievous and doleful sight of his pains: again to behold his patience, or rather the grace of God giving him the gift to suffer, it was a wonder. Thus quietly and constantly he endured in his torments, pronouncing, or in a manner singing the verses of the hundred and fifteenth Psalm: "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man's hand," &c. His rent body was committed to the fire and consumed. This was about A.D. 1524.

John Castellane.

In A.D. 1524, Master John Castellane, born at Tournay, a doctor of divinity, after he was called to the knowledge of God, and had become a true preacher of his word, and had preached in France, and had laid some foundation of the doctrine of the gospel in the town of Metz, in returning from thence was taken prisoner by the cardinal of Lorraine's servants, by whom he was carried to the castle of Nommenie; at this the citizens of Metz took great displeasure, and were grievously offended to have their preacher apprehended and imprisoned, so they took some of the cardinal's subjects and kept them prisoners. John Castellane was most cruelly handled from the fourth day of May until the twelfth day of January; during all which time he persevered constantly in the doctrine of the Son of God. Thence he was carried to the castle of Vike, persevering constantly in the profession of the same doctrine; so that they proceeded to the sentence of his degradation, that he might be delivered over to the secular power. And as the form of the sentence and process of degrading is remarkable, we have thought good to annex it here to shew the horrible blasphemies joined with gross and brutish subtlety in those high mysteries which the enemies of the truth use in their processes against the children of God, whereby every man, even the most ignorant, may perceive the horrible blindness that these papists are blinded with.

The Sentence of Degradation.

"Concerning the process inquisitory, formed and given in form of an accusation against thee John Castellane, priest and religious man of the friars Eremites of the order of St. Augustine, and understanding likewise thy confession, which thou hast made of thine own good will, of maintaining false and erroneous doctrine; and marking also besides this, the godly admonitions, and charitable exhortations which we made unto thee in the town of Metz, which thou like unto the adder hast refused and given no ear unto; also considering thine answers made and reiterated to interrogatories, by means of thine oath, in which thou hast devilishly hidden and kept back not only the truth, but also, following the example of Cain, hast refused to confess thy sins and mischievous offences. And finally, hearing the great number of witnesses sworn and examined against thee, their persons and depositions diligently considered, and all other things worthy of consideration being justly examined, the Reverend Master Nicholas Savin, doctor of divinity, and inquisitor of the faith, assistant unto us, hath entered process against thee, and given full information thereof; this our purpose and intent being also communicated unto divers masters and doctors both of the civil and canon laws here present, which have subscribed and signed thereto, whereby it appeareth, that

thou John Castellane hast oftentimes, and in divers places, openly and manifestly spread abroad and taught many erroneous propositions, full of the heresy of Luther, contrary and against the catholic faith, and the verity of the gospel, and the holy apostolic see, and so accursedly looked back and turned thy face, that thou art found to be a liar before almighty God. It is ordained by the sacred rules of the canon law, that such as through the sharp darts of their venomous tongue do pervert the scriptures, and go about with all their power to corrupt and infect the souls of the faithful, should be punished and corrected with most sharp correction, to the end that others should be afraid to attempt the like, and apply themselves the better to the study of christian concord, through the example set before their eyes, as well of severity as of clemency. For these causes, and others rising upon the said process, by the apostolic authority, and also the authority of our said reverend lord the cardinal, which we do use in this our sentence definitive, which we sitting in our judgment-seat declare in these writings, having God only before our eyes, and surely considering, that what measures we mete unto others, the same shall be measured to us again. We pronounce and declare sententially and definitively thee John Castellane, being here present before us, and judge thee because of thy deserts, to be excommunicated with the greatest excommunication, and therewithal to be culpable of treason against the divine majesty, and a mortal enemy of the catholic faith and truth of the gospel; also to be a manifest heretic, and a follower and partaker of the execrable 'cruelty of Martin Luther, a stirrer up of old heresies already condemned; and therefore as thou oughtest to be deposed and deprived of all priestly honour and dignity, of all thy orders, of thy shaving and religious habit, also of thy ecclesiastical benefices, if thou hast any, and from all privilege of the clergy. So we here presently do depose, deprive, and separate thee, as a rotten member, from the communion and company of all the faithful; and being so deprived, we judge that thou oughtest to be actually degraded; that done, we leave thee unto the secular powers, committing the degradation and actual execution of this our sentence unto the reverend lord and bishop here present, with the authority and commandment aforesaid."

This sentence being thus ended with their sermon also, the bishop of Nicopolis sitting in pontificalibus in the judgment-seat, being a suffragan of Metz, with the clergy, nobles, and people about him, proceeded to the degrading (as they called it) of John Castellane. Thus John Castellane being prepared and made ready for his degradation by the officers of the bishop, was apparelled in his priestly attire, and afterwards brought forth from the chapel by the priests, with all his priestly ornaments upon him, and holding his hands together, he knelt down before the bishop. Then the officers gave him the chalice in his hand, with wine and water, the patine and the host; all which things the bishop who degraded him, took from him, saying, "We take away from thee, or command to be taken from thee, all power to offer sacrifice unto God, and to say mass, as well for the quick as the dead."

Moreover, the bishop scraped the nails of both his hands with a piece of glass, saying, "By this scraping we take away from thee all power to sacrifice, to consecrate, and to bless, which thou hast received by the anointing of thy hands." Then he took away from him the chesile, saying, "We do deprive thee of this priestly ornament, which signifies charity; for certainly thou hast forsaken the same, and all innocency." Then taking away the stole, he said, "Thou hast villanously rejected and despised the sign of our Lord, which is represented by this stole; wherefore we take it away from thee, and make thee unable to exercise and use the office of priesthood, and all other things appertaining to priesthood." The degradation of the order of priest

(1) If Luther be to be noted of cruelty, who teacheth all men, and killeth no man, what then is to be noted in the pope, who killeth all God's children and teacheth none?-FOXE.

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hood being thus ended, they proceeded to the order of deacon. Then the ministers gave him the book of the gospels, which the bishop took away, saying, "We take away from thee all power to read the gospels in the church of God, for it appertains only to such as are worthy." After this he spoiled him of the dalmatike, which is the vesture that the deacons use, saying, "We deprive thee of this Levitical order; for thou hast not fulfilled thy ministry and office." After this the bishop took away the stole from behind his back, saying, We justly take away from thee the white stole which thou didst receive undefiled, which also thou oughtest to have carried in the presence of our Lord; and to the end that the people dedicated unto the name of Christ, may take example by thee, we prohibit thee any more to exercise or use the office of deaconship. Then they proceeded to degrade him from the subdeaconship, and taking away from him the book of the epistles, and his subdeacon's vesture, deposed him from reading of the epistles in the church of God: and so proceeding to all the other orders, degraded him from the order of Benet and Bollet, from the order of exorcist, from the lectorship, and last of all, from the office of door-keeper, taking from him the keys, and commanding him hereafter not to open or shut the vestry, nor to ring any more bells in the church. That done, the bishop went forward to degrade him from his first shaving, and taking away his surplice, said, "By the authority of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and by our authority we take away from thee all clerical habit, and despoil thee of all ornament of religion: also, we depose and degrade thee of all order, benefit, and privilege of the clergy, and as one unworthy of that profession, we commit thee to the servitude and ignominy of the secular state." Then the bishop took the shears and began to clip his head, saying in this manner, "We cast thee out as an unthankful child of the Lord's heritage, whereunto thou wast called, and take away from thy head the crown, which is the royal sign of priesthood, through thine own wickedness and malice." The bishop also added these words: "That which thou hast sung with thy mouth, thou hast not believed with thy heart, nor accomplished in work, wherefore we take from thee the office of singing in the church of God."

The degrading being thus ended, the procurator fiscal of the court and city of Metz, required of the notary an instrument or copy of the degrading; then the ministers of the bishop stripped him of his clerical habit, and put upon him the apparel of a secular man. That done, the bishop that degraded him proceeded no further, but said, "We pronounce that the secular court shall receive thee into their charge, being thus degraded of all clerical honour and privilege."

Then the bishop, after a manner, intreated the secular judge for him, saying "My lord judge, we pray you as heartily as we can, for the love of God, and from tender pity and mercy, and for respect of our prayers, that you will not in any point do any thing that shall be hurtful to this miserable man, or tending to his death, or maiming of his body." These things being thus done, the secular judge of the town of Vike, confirming the sentence, condemned Mr. John Castellane to be burned, which death he suffered on the twelfth day of January, 1525, with such a constancy, that not only a great company of ignorant people were thereby drawn to the knowledge of the truth, but also a great number who had already some knowledge of it, were greatly confirmed by his constant valiant death.

John Diazius, a Spaniard, martyred, A.D. 1546. John Diazius, a Spaniard, having been at Paris thirteen years, returned from thence to Geneva, then to Basil, and afterwards to Strasburg; from whence he was sent ambassador with Bucer and others, to the council at Ratisbon, where, talking with Peter Malvenda, the pope's factor, he stated his views of religion to him, so that Malvenda wrote to the friar, who was the emperor's confessor, about him; at the reading of which letters, Marquina was present. And so Alphonso Diazius,

brother to John Diazius, one of the pope's lawyers in Rome, learned the opinion of his brother John.

After the council of Ratisbon, John Diazius was occupied in Germany in the printing of Bucer's book, and his brother Alphonso having come from Rome to Ratisbon, where Malvenda was, and having brought with him a notorious ruffian or assassin belonging to the city of Rome, Malvenda and Alphonso consulting about their devilish purpose, laboured to ascertain from the friends of Diazius where he was to be found; hereof Alphonso and the homicide having knowledge by certain of his secret friends, pretending great matters of importance, came to Newburgh, where Diazius was printing of Bu cer's book. Having succeeded in this they came to him, and after long debating on religion between the two brothers, Alphonso seeing the heart of his brother John, planted so constantly on the sure rock of God's truth, that he could not be moved from his opinion, or persuaded to ride in his company (being so advised by Bucer and his friends), pretended to take his leave of his brother in a friendly spirit, and to depart; but shortly afterwards, he returned secretly with his assassin, and on the way they purchased a hatchet.

When this was done, Alphonso sends his man in disguise with letters to his brother, he himself following afterwards. And as John Diazius in the morning was rising out of his bed to read the letters, the man with his hatchet clove his head to the brains, leaving the hatchet in his head; and so he and Alphonso took to their horses, which stood without the city gate, with as much speed as they could. The people of Newburgh hearing of the horrible act, sent out horsemen after them, who, coming to Augsburgh, and hearing that the murderers had passed through, gave up the pursuit, and returned. One in the company, however, more zealous than the rest, would not return, but pursued them still, and in the city of Oenipont, caused them to be arrested and put into prison. Otto, the elector Palatine, hearing of their arrest, writes to the magistrates of Oenipont for judgment; but through the intrigues of the papists, and the crafty lawyers, the judicial sentence was so delayed, from day to day, then from hour to hour, that the emperor's letters came at last, requiring the matter to be reserved to his hearing. And thus the terrible murder of Cain and his fellow, was bolstered up by the papists. The like of which, from the memory of man, was never heard of since the first example of Cain, who slew his own brother Abel. But although true judgment in this world be perverted, yet such bloody Cains, with their wilful murder, shall not escape the hands of Him who shall judge truly both the committers, and the bolsterers up of all mischievous wickedness.

In 1546, Charles, the emperor, held an armed council at Augsburgh, after his victory in Germany. Where some endeavoured to make concord between the gospel of Christ, and the traditions of the pope, that is, to make a medley of them both, and so framed a new form of religion, called the Interim. Upon this began a new form of persecution in Germany. For the emperor proceeded strictly against those who would not receive the Interim, intending to have overcome the reformers, but the Lord disappointed his purpose.

Among those who withstood this Interim, besides others, were the citizens of Constance. For which three thousand Spaniards came by night against the town of Constance, where they killed three of the watchmen, who watching in the suburbs, went to ascertain the noise which they heard in the woods. The device of the Spaniards was, that when the citizens were at the sermon, suddenly to set upon the city and take it. But, as the Lord would, some began to suspect it in the night, so that the citizens had intelligence and were in readiness. When the morning came, the Spaniards were at the gate to break into the city. But being driven from thence, and their captain Alphonso slain, they went to the bridge over the Rhine. But being beat also from thence, and a great number of them drowned in the river, the Spaniards broke down the bridge to prevent pursuit.

in Germany, were in great danger, especially such as reAt the same time many godly ministers of the churches

fused to receive the Interim; of whom some were cast into prison. In which number of prisoners was Martin Frectius, with four other preachers, also his brother George, for coming to his house to comfort him. Musculus at the same time, with other preachers, went from Augsburgh, Brentius from Halle, Blaurerus from Constance, Bucer from Strasburg.

It would fill another volume, to include the acts and histories of all who in other countries suffered for the gospel. But praised be the Lord, every region almost has its own historian, who has sufficiently discharged that duty; so that I shall the less need to overcharge this volume: it shall suffice to collect three or four histories, recorded by Oecolampadius and the rest, to bring it into a brief table, and so I shall return to occupy myself with our own matters at home.

Wolfgang Schuch, a German in Lotharing, Martyr. Wolfgang Schuch, coming to St. Hyppolite, a town in Lotharing, and being received as their pastor, laboured to extirpate out of the hearts of the people idolatry and superstition; which, through the grace of Christ working with him, he in a short time brought to pass; so that the observance of Lent, images, and all idols, with the abomination also of the mass, was utterly abolished. It was not long before rumour of this came to the duke Anthony, prince of Lorraine, (under whose dominion they were,) through the report of the adversaries misrepresenting these people; as, though they, in relinquishing the doctrine and faction of the pope, went about to reject and shake off the authority of princes and all governors. By means of which sinister report they incensed the prince so, that he threatened to destroy the town with sword and fire. Wolfgang being informed of this, wrote to the duke's uncle, in a most humble and obedient way, in defence both of his ministry, of his doctrine, and of the whole cause of the Gospel.

In which epistle he excused the people, and said, that those slanderous reporters were more worthy to be punished for their false rumours and forged slanders. And he also opened and explained the cause of the Gospel, and of our salvation, as consisting only in the free grace of God, through faith in Christ his Son, comparing also the same doctrine of the gospel, with the doctrine of the church of Rome.

That done, he touched upon our obedience, honour, and worship, which first we owe to God and to Christ, next under him to the princes, whom God hath raised up and endued with authority, and to whom they offered themselves now, and at all times, most ready with all service and duty, &c.

But with this epistle Wolfgang availed nothing; so, when he saw no other remedy, rather than the town should come into any danger on his account, the good man, of his own accord, rendered a confession of his doctrine, and delivered the town from danger, by taking all the danger upon himself.

As soon as he was come to Nantz, hands were immediately laid on him, and he was cast into a stinking prison, where he was sharply and bitterly handled. In that prison he continued for the space of a whole year, yet would not be moved from his constancy, neither with the straightness of the prison, nor with the harshness of his keepers, nor yet with the compassion of his wife and children, of which he had about six or seven. Then was he removed to the house of the Gray Friars, where he learnedly confuted all that stood against him.

There was a friar named Bonaventure, provincial of that order, whose person was monstrously overgrown, but much more gross in blind ignorance, and a man utterly rude, a contemner of all civility and honesty; who, being long confessor to the duke, and of great authority in Lorraine, as he was an enemy to virtue and learning, so was he ever persuading the duke, to banish out of the court and country, all learned men. The sum of all his divinity was this, that it was sufficient to salvation only, to know the Pater Noster, (Our Father,) and Ave Maria, (Hail, Mary!) And thus was the duke brought up and trained, and in nothing else, as the, duke himself ofttimes confessed. This Bonaventure being judge, where

Wolfgang disputed, or was examined, had nothing else in his mouth, but "Thou heretic, Judas, Beelzebub, &c." Wolfgang bearing patiently those injuries which referred to himself, proceeded mightily in his disputation by the scriptures, confuting or rather confounding his adversaries; who, being no otherwise able to make their party good, took his bible, with his notes in the margin, into their monastery, and burned it! At the last disputation duke Anthony himself was present, altering his apparel, so that he might not be known, who, although he understood not Wolfgang, who spoke in Latin, yet, perceiving him to be bold and constant in his doctrine, gave sentence that he should be burned, because he denied the church and sacrifice of the mass. Wolfgang hearing the sentence of his condemnation, began to sing the hundred and twenty-second psalm.

As he was led to the place of execution, and when passing by the house of the Gray Friars, Bonaventure, who was sitting at the door, cried out to him, "Thou heretic, do thy reverence here to God, and to our lady, and to his holy saints," shewing to him the idols standing at the Friars' gate. To whom Wolfgang answered, "Thou hypocrite, thou painted wall, the Lord shall destroy thee, and bring all thy false dissimulation to light." When they were come to the place of his martyrdom, first his books were thrown into the fire; then they asked him, "Whether he would have his pain diminished and shortened?" He said, "No," bidding them to do their will, "for," said he, "as God has been with me hitherto, so I trust now he will not leave me, when I shall have most need of him;" concluding his words thus," that they should put the sentence in execution." And so, beginning to sing the fifty-first psalm, he entered into the place, heaped up with fagots and wood, continuing to sing his psalm, till the smoke and flame took from him both his voice and life.

The singular virtue, constancy, and learning of this blessed man, as it refreshed and greatly edified the hearts of many good men, so it astonished the minds of his adversaries, and wrought to their confusion.

John Huglein, Martyr.

John Huglein, a priest, was burned at Merspurg, (A.D. 1526,) by the bishop of Constance, because he did not hold the bishop of Rome's doctrine in all points.

George Carpenter, Martyr.

On the 8th of February, (A.D. 1527,) George Carpenter of Emering, was burned in Munchen, in Bavaria. When he came before the council his offences were read, contained in four articles :

First, That he did not believe that a priest could forgive a man's sins.

Secondly, That he did not believe that a man could call God out of heaven.

Thirdly, That he did not believe that God was in the bread, which the priest hangs over the altar, but that it was the bread of the Lord.

Fourthly, That he did not believe that the very element of the water itself in baptism gives grace.

Which four articles he refused to recant. Then came to him a certain schoolmaster, saying, "My friend George, dost thou not fear the death and punishment which thou must suffer? If thou wert let go, wouldst thou return to thy wife and children ?" He answered, "If I were at liberty, whither should I rather go, than to my wife and beloved children?" Then said the schoolmaster, "Revoke your former opinion, and you shall be set at liberty." George answered, "My wife and my children are so dearly loved by me, that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the duke of Bavaria; but for the love of the Lord God I will willingly forsake them." When he was led to the place of execution, the schoolmaster spake to him again, say. ing, "Good George, believe in the sacrament of the altar; do not affirm it to be only a sign." He answered, "I believe this sacrament to be a sign of the body of Jesus Christ offered upon the cross for us." Then said the schoolmaster, "What dost thou mean, that thou

burned for the gospel. This man, being at his study in Wittenburg, was sent for by his brethren, who certified to him, that if he ever wished to see his father alive, he should come with speed, which he did. He was scarcely come thither, when, by the command of the bishop of Passaw, he was taken. The articles upon which he was accused, and for which he was most cruelly put to death, and shed his blood for the testimony of the truth, were these:

dost so little esteem baptism, knowing that Christ suffered himself to be baptised in Jordan?" He answered, and shewed the true use of baptism, and the end why Christ was baptised in Jordan, and how necessary it was that Christ should die and suffer upon the cross. "The same Christ," said he, "will I confess this day before the whole world; for he is my Saviour, and in him I believe." After this came one Master Conrade Scheter, the vicar of the Cathedral church, saying, George, if thou wilt not believe the sacrament, yet put all thy trust in God, and say, I trust my cause to be good and true, but if I should err, truly I would be sorry and repent.'" George Carpenter answered, "God, suffer me not to err, I beseech thee." Then Master Conrade began the Lord's prayer:-" Our Father which art in heaven." When Carpenter answered, "Truly thou art our Father, and no other, this day I trust to be with thee." Then Master Conrade went forward with the prayer, saying, "Hallowed be thy name.' Carpenter answered, "O, my God, how little is thy name hallowed in this world!" Then said Conrade, "Thy kingdom come." Carpenter answered, "Let thy kingdom come this day to me, that I also may come to thy kingdom." Then said Conrade, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Carpenter answered, "For this cause, O Father! am I now here, that thy will might be fulfilled, and not mine." Then said Conrade, "Give us this day our daily bread." Carpenter answered, "The only living bread, Jesus Christ, shall be my food." Then said Conrade, " And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." Carpenter answered, "With a willing mind do I forgive all men, both my friends and adversaries." Then said Master Conrade, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil." Carpenter answered, "O, my Lord! without doubt thou shalt deliver me, for upon thee only have I laid all my hope." Then he began to rehearse the creed, saying, "I believe in God the Father Almighty." Carpenter answered, "O, my God! in thee alone do I trust; in thee, only, is all my confidence, and upon no other creature." In this manner he answered to every word. His answers, if they should be described at length, would be too long. The schoolmaster said, "Dost thou believe so truly and constantly in thy Lord and God with thy heart, as thou dost cheerfully seem to confess him with thy mouth?" He answered, "It were a very hard matter for me, if I, who am ready here to suffer death, should not believe that with my heart, which I openly profess with my mouth; for I knew before that I must suffer persecution if I would cleave unto Christ, who saith, 'Where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.'" Then said Master Conrade to him, "Dost thou think it necessary after thy death, that any man should pray for thee, or say mass for thee?" He answered, "So long as the soul is joined to the body, pray God for me, that he will give me grace and patience, with all humility, to suffer the pains of death with a true christian faith; but when the soul is separate from the body, then I have no more need of your prayers.' Then he was desired by certain christian brethren, that, as soon as he was cast into the fire, he should give some sign or token what his faith was. He answered, "This shall be my sign and token, that so long as I can open my mouth, I will not cease to call upon the name of Jesus."

Behold what an incredible constancy was in this godly man. His face and countenance never changed colour, but he went cheerfully to the fire. " In the midst of the town this day," said he, "will I confess my God before the whole world." When he was laid upon the ladder, and after the executioner had put a bag of gunpowder about his neck, he said, " Let it be so, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." When they thrust him into the fire, he with a loud voice cried out, "Jesus! Jesus!" Then the executioner turned him over, and again he cried, "Jesus! Jesus!" and joyfully yielded up his spirit.

Leonard Keyser.

Here also is not to be passed over the wonderful constancy of Mr. Leonard Keyser, of Bavaria, who was

That faith only justifies.

That works are the fruits of faith.

That the mass is no sacrifice or oblation.

That he rejected confession, satisfaction, the vow of chastity, purgatory, difference of days, and affirmed only two sacraments, and denied invocation of saints.

Sentence was given against him, that he should be degraded, and put into the hands of the secular power. The good and blessed martyr, early in the morning, being rounded and shaven, and clothed in a short gown, and a black cap set upon his head, all cut and jagged, was delivered to the officer. As he was led out of the town to the place where he was to suffer, he boldly spake, turning his head first on the one side, and then on the other, saying, "O Lord Jesus, remain with me, sustain, and help me, and give me force and power."

Then the wood was made ready, and he began to cry with a loud voice, "O Jesus, I am thine, have mercy upon me, and save me;" and then he felt the fire begin sharply under his feet, his hands, and about his head: and because the fire was not great enough, the executioner plucked the body, half burnt, with a long hook from under the wood. Then he made a great hole in the body, through. which he thrust a stake, and cast him again into the fire. This was August 16, A.D. 1526.

Wendelmuta, Martyr.

In Holland also, in the year 1527, was martyred and burned a good and virtuous widow, named Wendelmuta. This widow receiving to her heart the brightness of God's grace, by the appearing of the gospel, was apprehended and committed to the castle of Werden, and shortly after was brought to appear at the general sessions of that country. Several monks were appointed to talk with her, that they might convince her, and win her to recant; but she constantly persisting in the truth would not be removed. Many also of her kindred were suffered to persuade with her. Among whom there was a noble matron, who loved and favoured dearly the widow in prison. This matron coming, and communing with her, said, "My Wendelmuta, why dost thou not keep silence, and think secretly in thine heart these things which thou believest, that thou mayest prolong here thy days and life?" She answered, Ah, you know not what you say. It is written,' With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' " (Rom. x. 10.) And thus remaining firm and steadfast in her belief and confession, the twentieth day of November she was con demned by sentence as an heretic, to be burned to ashes, and her goods to be confiscated, she taking the sentence of her condemnation mildly and quietly.

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After she came to the place where she was to be executed, a monk had brought out a cross, desiring her to kiss and worship her God. "I worship," said she, "no wooden god, but only that God who is in heaven :" and so with a joyful countenance she went to the stake. Then taking the powder, and laying it to her breast, she gave her neck willingly to be bound, and with an ardent prayer commending herself to the hands of God. When the time came that she should be strangled, she modestly closed her eyes, and bowed down her head as one that would take a sleep. The fire then was put to the wood, and she, being strangled, was burned afterwards to ashes, instead of this life, to get the immortal crown in heaven, (A.D. 1527.)

Peter Flistedin, and Adolphus Clareback. In the number of these German martyrs, are also Peter Flistedin and Adolphus Clarebach, two men of singular

learning, and knowledge of God's holy word. In the year 1529, because they dissented from the papists in divers points, and especially on the supper of the Lord, and the pope's other traditions and ceremonies, after they had endured imprisonment a year and a half by the command of the archbishop and senate, they were put to death and burned in Cologne, not without the great

grief and lamentation of many good christians; all the fault being put upon certain divines, who at that time preached that the punishment and death of certain wicked persons should pacify the wrath of God, which then plagued Germany with a strange disease, for at that season the sweating sickness mortally raged throughout all Germany.

THE MARTYRS OF GERMANY.

One Nicholas of Antwerp.

The curate of Melza, by Antwerp, used to preach to a great number of people without that town; and the emperor hearing of it, gave leave to take the uppermost garment of all who came to hear, and offered thirty guilders to whoever would take the priest. Afterwards, when the people were gathered, and the curate not there, this Nicholas stepped up in his place and preached. Wherefore he, being apprehended, was put in a sack, and drowned at Antwerp, 1524.

Joan Pistorius, a learned man of Holland. Pistorius was a priest; then he married, and after that he preached against the mass and pardons, and against the subtle abuses of priests. He was committed to prison with ten malefactors, whom he comforted; and to one, being half naked, and in danger of cold, he gave his gown. His father visiting him in prison, did not dissuade him, but bade him be constant. At last he was condemned, and degraded, having a fool's coat put upon him. His fellow-prisoners at his death sung, "We praise thee," &c. Coming to the stake, he was first strangled, and then burned, saying at his death, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. xv. 55.)

Matthias Weibell, Schoolmaster.

For saying somewhat against the abbott's first mass, and against the carrying about relics, he was hanged in Suevia.

A certain godly Priest.

This priest being commanded to come and give good advice to sixteen countrymen that were about to be beheaded, was afterwards bid himself to kneel down to have his head cut off, no cause nor condemnation further being laid against him, but only of mere hatred against the gospel.

George Scherter.

After this George had instructed the people in knowledge of the gospel in Rastadt, he was accused and put in prison, where he wrote a confession of his faith. He was condemned to be burned alive; but means were made that first his head should be cut off, and his body afterwards cast into the fire.

Henry Fleming, A.D. 1535.

This Henry, a friar, of Flanders, forsook his habit, and married a wife. Being offered life if he would confess his wife to be a harlot, refused to do so, and was burnt at Tournay.

Twenty-eight Christian Men and Women of Louvaine; Paul a Priest; two aged Women, at Antonia. Two Men at Louvaine. A. D. 1543.

When some of the city of Louvaine were suspected of Lutheranism, the emperor's procurator came from Brus

sels to make inquisition. After inquisition, bands of armed men came and beset their houses in the night, many were taken in their beds, plucked from their wives and children, and divided into different prisons. Through terror many citizens returned again to idolatry. But there were twenty-eight who remained constant in that persecution. The doctors of Louvaine, especially the inquisitor, came and disputed with them, thinking either to confound them, or to convert them. But the Spirit of the Lord wrought so strongly with his saints, that they went away rather confounded themselves.

Among them there was one Paul, a priest, about the age of sixty years; the rectors, with their colleagues, brought him out of prison to the Austin friars, where he was degraded. But at length for fear of death he began to stagger in his confession, and so was condemned to perpetual prison, in a dark and stinking dungeon, where he was suffered neither to read nor write, nor any man to come to him, and only to be fed with bread and water. There were two others who were put to the fire and burnt.

Then was an old man and two aged women condemned, the man to be beheaded, the two women to be buried alive, which death they suffered very cheerfully. Other prisoners, who were not condemned to death, were deprived of their goods, and commanded to come to the church in a white sheet, and there kneeling with a taper in their hand, to ask forgiveness; and they who refused to do so, and to abjure the doctrine of Luther, were put to the fire.

Master Perseval at Louvaine, A.D. 1544. Not long after this, one Master Perseval of the univer sity of Louvaine, was thrown into prison for condemning certain popish superstitions, and speaking in commendation of the gospel. Then being accused of Lutheranism, he was adjudged to perpetual prison, there to be fed only with bread and water, which punishment he took patiently for Christ's sake. But what became of him no man could learn nor understand. Some think that he was starved to death, or that he was secretly drowned.

Justus Jusburg, at Brussels, A.D. 1544. Justus Jusburg, a skinner of Louvaine, being suspected of Lutheranism, was found to have the New Testament in his house, and certain sermons of Luther, for which he was committed. There were at the same time in the prison, Egidius, and Francis Encenas, a Spaniard, who secretly came to him, and confirmed him in the cause of righteousness. Thus is the providence of the Lord never wanting to his saints in time of necessity. Shortly after the doctors and masters of Louvaine came to examine him touching religion, on the pope's supremacy, sacrifice of the mass, purgatory, and the sacrament. When he had answered plainly and boldly according to the scriptures, he was condemned to the fire; but through intercession made to the queen, his burning was pardoned, and he was only beheaded.