BOOK VIII.

PERSECUTIONS OF THE PROTESTANTS, IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. NOT

BEFORE DESCRIBED.

SECTION I.

Persecutions in Abyssinia.

ABOUT the end of the fifteenth century, his limbs shall be supplied with the wings some Portuguese missionaries made a voy- of angels." He allowed that Christ was a age to Abyssinia, and began to propagate great prophet and a holy man; that he was the Roman Catholic doctrines among the born of a virgin, received up into glory, and Abyssinians, who professed Christianity be- shall come again to destroy Antichrist. fore the arrival of the missionaries. He, therefore, in his early career, affectThe priests gained such an influence at ed to respect the Christians. But no sooner court, that the emperor consented to abolish was his power established, than he displayed the established rites of the Ethiopian church, himself in his true colors, as their determinand to admit those of Rome; and, soon after, ed and sanguinary enemy. This he proved consented to receive a patriarch from the by his persecutions of them in his lifetime, pope, and to acknowledge the supremacy of and by commanding those persecutions to be the latter. This innovation, however, did continued by his deluded followers, in his not take place without great opposition. Sev- Alcoran, particularly in that part entitled eral of the most powerful lords, and a major-"The Chapter of the Sword." From him the ty of the people, who professed the primitive Turks received their religion, which they Christianity established in Abyssinia, took still maintain. Mahomet and his descendup arms, in their defence, against the em-ants, in the space of thirty years, subdued peror. Thus, by the artifices of the court of Arabia, Palestine, Phoenicia, Syria, Egypt, Rome and its emissaries, the whole empire and Persia. They soon, however, broke into was thrown into commotion, and a war com- divisions and wars amongst themselves. But menced, which was carried on through the the princes of the Saracens, assuming the reigns of many emperors, and which ceased title of sultan, continued their rule over Sy-. pot for above a century. All this time the ria, Egypt, and Africa, for the space of about Roman Catholics were strengthened by the 400 years, when the Saracen king of Persia, power of the court, by means of which con- commencing war against the Saracen sultan action, the primitive Christians of Abyssi- of Babylon, the latter brought to his aid the. were severely persecuted, and multitudes Turks. These Turks, feeling their own perished by the hands of their inhuman ene

nies.

MAHOMET.

strength, in time turned their arms against their masters, and by the valor of Othman, from whom the family who now fill the TurkPERSECUTIONS. IN TURKEY.--ACCOUNT OF ish throne are descended, they soon subdued them, and established their empire. Mahomet was born at Mecca, in Arabia, Constantinople, after having been for A. D. 571. His parents were poor, and his many ages an imperial Christian city, was education mean; but by the force of his invested, in 1453, by the Turks, under Ma, and an uncommon subtlety, he raised homet the Second, whose army consisted self to be the founder of a widely-spread of 300,000 men, and, after a siege of six region, and the sovereign of kingdoms. His weeks, it fell into the hands of the infidels, Alcoran is a jumble of Paganism, Judaism, and the Turks have, to this day, retained and Christianity. In composing it, he is said possession of it. They no sooner found to have been assisted by a Jew and a Roman

ge

* He was the ninth of the Ottoman race, and sub

Catholic priest. It is adapted entirely to dued all Greece. the sensual appetites and passions; and + About fifteen years before this fatal event took the chief promises held out by it to its be- place, the city had yielded the liberties of its church avers of the joys of paradise, are women was evidenced in the inhabitants, who, instead of to the pope of Rome. A manifest want of patriotism and wine. Mahomet established his doctrine bringing forth their treasures to the public service. by the power of the sword. "The sword," and defence of the place, buried them in vast heaps; she, is the key of heaven and of hell. insomuch, that when Mahomet, suspecting the case, Tever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven commanded the earth to be dug up, and found im mense hoards, he exclaimed, “How was it that this i: his wounds shall be resplendent as ver- place lacked ammunition and fortification, amidst on, and odoriferous as musk: the loss of such abundance of. riches?" The Turks found a

and I will submit my judgment to him." martyr with an air of unconcern, which ap This pious answer had no effect, because he peared to give him dignity rather than de would not take the authority of the council grace. A serenity appeared in his looks upon. trust, without the least shadow of an which indicated that his soul had cut of argument offered. The deputies, therefore, many stages of a tedious journey in her way finding they could make no impression on to the realms of everlasting happiness. him, departed, greatly astonished at the The ceremony of degradation being over strength of his resolution. the bishops delivered him to the emperor On the 4th of July, he was, for the last who committed him to the care of the duk time; brought before the council, After a of Bavaria. His books were burnt at the long examination, he was desired to abjure, gate of the church; and on the 6th of Jul which he refused, without the least hesita- he was led to the suburbs of Constance, tion. The bishop of Lodi then preached a be burnt alive.

sermon, the text of which was, Let the When he had reached the place of exe body of sin be destroyed," (concerning the cution, he fell on his knees, sung severa destruction of heretics) the prologue to his portions of the Psalms, looked stedfast intended punishment. After the close of the towards heaven, and repeated, “Into th sermon his fate was determined, his vindi- hands, O Lord! do I commit my spirit: the cation rejected, and judgment pronounced. hast redeemed me, O most good and faithf The council censured him for being obsti-God."

nate and incorrigible, and ordained, "That As soon as the chain was put about hi he should be degraded from the priesthood, at the stake, he said, with a smiling con his books publicly burnt, and himself deliv- tenance, "My Lord Jesus Christ was boun ered to the secular power." with a harder chain than this, for my sak He received the sentence without the least why, then should I be ashamed of this o emotion; and at the close of it, he kneeled rusty one?" down with his eyes lifted towards heaven, When the fagots were, piled around hin and, with all the magnanimity of a primi- the duke of Bavaria desired him to abjur tive martyr, thus exclaimed: "May thy in-"No," said he, “I never preached any do finite mercy, O my God pardon this injus- trine of an evil tendency; and what I taug tice of mine enemies. Thou knowest the with my lips, I now seal with my blood." H injustice of my accusations: how deformed then said to the executioner, “You are no with crimes I have been represented; how going to burn a goose, (Huss signifyin I have been oppressed with worthless wit-goose in the Bohemian language) but in nesses, and a false condemnation; yet, O my century you will have a swan, whom yo God! let that mercy of thine, which no can neither roast nor broil." If this we tongue can express, prevail with thee, not to spoken in prophecy, he must have mes avenge my wrongs.' These excellent sen- Martin Luther, who flourished about a ce tences were received as so many expres-tury after, and who had a swan for his arm sions of heresy, and only tended to inflame As soon as the fagots were lighted, t his adversaries. Accordingly, the bishops heroic martyr sung a hymn, with so lo appointed by the council, stripped him of his and cheerful a voice, that he was hes priestly garments, degraded him, and put a through all the cracklings of the combus paper mitre on his head, on which were bles, and the noise of the multitude. painted devils, with this inscription: "A length his voice was interrupted by t ringleader of heretics." flames, which soon put a period to his lite

This mockery was received by the heroic

SECTION III:

Life, Sufferings, and Martyrdom, of Jerome of Prague.

THIS hero in the cause of truth, was born | fessed the doctrines of Wickliffe, and fir at Prague, and educated in its university, ing that they had made a considerable p where he soon became distinguished for his gress in Bohemia, from the industry and z learning and eloquence. Having completed of Huss, he became an assistant to him his studies, he travelled over great part of the great work of reformation, Europe, and visited many of the seats of On the 4th of April, 1415, Jerome w learning, particularly the universities of Paris, Heidelburg, Cologne, and Oxford. At the latter he became acquainted with the works of Wickliffe, and translated many of them into his own language.

On his return to Prague, he openly pro

to Constance. This was about three mon before the death of Huss. He entered town privately, and consulting with some the leaders of his party, was easily convin that he could render his friend no service Finding that his arrival at Constance

publicly known, and that the council intend-swer, except in public, and was, accordingly. ed to seize him, he retired, and went to brought before the council, when, to the asIberling, an imperial town, a short distance tonishment of his auditors, and to the glory from Constance. While here, he wrote to of truth, he renounced his recantation, and the emperor, and declared his readiness to requested permission to plead his own cause, appear before the council, if a safe-conduct which was refused; and the charges against were granted to him; this, however, was him were read, in which he was accused of refused. being a derider of the papal dignity, an opposer of the pope, an enemy to the cardinals, a persecutor of the prelates, and a hater of the Christian religion.

To these charges Jerome answered with an amazing force of elocution, and strength of argument. After which he was remanded

The third day from this, his trial was

After this, he caused papers to be put up in all the public places in Constance, particularly on the doors of the cardinals' houses. In these he professed his willingness to appear at Constance in the defence of his character and doctrine, both which, he said, had been greatly falsified. He farther declared, to his prison. that if any error should be proved against bim, he would retract it; desiring only that brought on, and witnesses were examined. the faith of the council might be given for He was prepared for his defence, although his security. he had been nearly a year shut up in lotheReceiving no answer to these papers, he some prisons, deprived of the light of day, set out on his return to Bohemia, taking the and almost starved for want of common neprecaution to carry with him a certificate, cessaries. But his spirit soared above these signed by several of the Bohemian nobility disadvantages. then at Constance, testifying that he had The most bigoted of the assembly were used every prudent means, in his power to unwilling he should be heard, dreading the procure an audience. effect of eloquence in the cause of truth, on He was, however, notwithstanding this, the minds of the most prejudiced. At length, seized on his way, without any authority, at however, it was carried by the majority, that Hirsaw, by an officer belonging to the duke he should have liberty to proceed in his deof Sultzbach, who hoped thereby to receive fence; which he began in such an exalted ⚫commendations from the council for so ac- strain, and continued in such a torrent of ceptable a service. elocution, that the most obdurate heart was The duke of Sultzbach immediately wrote melted, and the mind of superstition seemed to the council, informing them what he had to admit a ray of conviction. done, and asking directions how to proceed Bigotry, however, prevailed, and his trial with Jerome. The council, after expressing being ended, he received the same sentence their obligations to the duke, desired him to as had been passed upon his martyred counsend the prisoner immediately to Constance. tryman, and was, in the usual style of popish He was, accordingly, conveyed thither in duplicity, delivered over to the civil power; irons, and, on his way, was met by the elector but, being a layman, he had not to undergo palatine, who caused a long chain to be fast- the ceremony of degradation. ened to him, by which he was dragged, like Two days his execution was delayed, in wild beast, to the cloister, whence, after hopes that he would recant; in which time an examination, he was conveyed to a tower, the cardinal of Florence used his utmost enand fastened to a block, with his legs in deavors to bring him over. But they all stocks. In this manner he remained eleven proved ineffectual: Jerome was resolved to days and nights, till becoming dangerously seal his doctrine with his blood.

il in consequence, his persecutors, in order On his way to the place of execution he to gratify their malice still farther, relieved sung several hymns; and on arriving there, him from that painful state. he knelt down, and prayed fervently. He

He remained confined till the martyrdom embraced the stake with great cheerfulness of his friend Huss; after which he was and resolution; and when the executioner brought forth, and threatened with imme- went behind him to set fire to the fagots, he date torments and death if he remained ob- said, "Come here, and kindle it before my Metinate. Terrified at the preparations which eyes; for had I been afraid of it, I had not he beheld, he, in a moment of weakness, for- come here, having had so many opportunities got his resolution, abjured his doctrines, and to escape.'

99

confessed that Huss merited his fate, and When the flames enveloped him, he sung that both he and Wickliffe were heretics. a hymn; and the last words he was heard In consequence of this, his chains were ta- to say were,

ken off, and he was treated more kindly; "This soul in flames I offer, Christ, to thee !"* be was, however, still confined, but in hopes

*Jerome was of a fine and manly form, and possess

of liberation. But his enemies, suspecting ed a strong and healthy constitution, which rendered his sincerity, proposed another form of re- his death extremely lingering and painful. He, how cantation to be drawn up and proposed to ever, sung till his aspiring soul took its flight from him. To this, however, he refused to an- its mortal habitation.

SECTION IV.

General Persecutions in Germany.

Wolfgang, Scuch and John Huglin, two worthy ministers, were burned; likewise Leonard Keyser, a student of the university of Wirtemburg: and George Carpenter, a Bavarian, was hanged.

MARTIN LUTHER, by unmasking popery, testants were put to the sword. Great numand by the vigor with which he prosecuted bers were also burned at Vienna. his doctrines, caused the papal throne to Peter Sprengler, a divine, of the town of shake to its foundation. So terrified was the Schalet, was thrown into the river, and pope at his rapid success, that he determin- drowned. ed, in order to stop his career, to engage the emperor, Charles V. in his scheme of utterly extirpating all who had embraced the reformation. To accomplish which, he gave the emperor 200,000 crowns; promised to maintain 12,000 foot, and 5000 horse, for six The persecutions in Germany having been months, or during a campaign; allowed the suspended many years, again broke out in emperor to receive one-half of the revenues 1630, on account of a war between the empe of the clergy in Germany during the war; ror and the king of Sweden; the latter being and permitted him to pledge the abbey-lands a Protestant prince, the Protestants of Gerfor 500,000 crowns, to assist in carrying on many, in consequence, espoused his cause, hostilities. Thus prompted and supported, which greatly exasperated the emperor the emperor, with a heart eager, both from against them. interest and prejudice, for the cause, under- The imperial army having laid siege to took the extirpation of the Protestants; and, the town of Passewalk, (then defended by for this purpose, raised a formidable army in the Swedes) took it by storm, and committed Germany, Spain, and Italy. the most monstrous outrages on the occasion. The Protestant princes, in the mean time, They pulled down the churches, pillaged were not idle; but formed a powerful con- and burnt the houses, massacred the minisfederacy, in order to repel the impending ters, put the garrison to the sword, hanged blow. A great army was raised, and the the townsmen, ravished the women, smothercommand given to the elector of Saxony, ed the children, &c. &c.

and the landgrave of Hesse. The imperial In 1631, a most bloody scene took place at forces were commanded by the emperor in the Protestant city of Magdeburg. The genperson, and all Europe waited in anxious erals Tilly and Pappenheim, having taken it suspense the event of the war. by storm, upwards of 20,000 persons, with

At length the armies met, and a desperate out distinction of rank, sex, or age, were engagement ensued, in which the Protest- slain during the carnage, and 6000 drowned ants were defeated, and the elector of Saxo- in attempting to escape over the river Elbe ny, and landgrave of Hesse, both taken pris- After which, the remaining inhabitants were oners. This calamitous stroke was suc-stripped naked, severely scourged, had then ceeded by a persecution, in which the most ears cropped, and being yoked together like horrible cruelties were inflicted on the Pro-oxen, were turned adrift. testants, and suffered by them with a forti- On the popish army's taking the town of tude which only religion can impart. Hoxter, all the inhabitants, with the garri son, were put to the sword.

Among others, Henry Voes, and John Esch, were apprehended and brought to examination; when, confessing and defending their adoption of the tenets of Luther, they were both condemned to the flames, and, soon after, suffered with the fortitude of real Christians.

When the imperial forces prevailed a Griphenburgh, they shut up the senators i the senate-chamber, and surrounding it b lighted straw, suffocated them.

Franhendal, notwithstanding it surrende ed upon articles of capitulation, suffered An eloquent and pious preacher named cruelly as other places, and at Heidelbur Henry Stutphen, was taken out of his bed at many were shut up in prison and starved. night, and compelled to walk barefoot a con- To enumerate the various species of er siderable way, so that his feet were terribly elty practised by the imperial troops, und cut. On desiring a horse, his conductors count Tilly, would excite disgust and horro said, in derision, "A horse for a heretic! That sanguinary monster, in his progre no, no, heretics may go barefoot." On arriv- through Saxony, not only permitted eve ing at the place of his destination, he was excess in his soldiers, but actually comman condemned to be burnt; and while suffering ed them to put all their enormities in pra in the flames, he was cut and slashed in a tice. Some of these are so unparalleled, th terrible manner. we feel ourselves obliged to mention them Many were murdered at Halle. Middle- In Hesse-Cassel some of the troops enter burgh being taken by assault, all the Pro-Jan hospital, in which were principally m

women, when stripping all the poor wretches murdered them, saying, "You must die benaked, they made them run about the streets cause you are heretics, and have got no for their diversion, and then put them to money."

death.

Wherever Tilly came, the most horrid

In Pomerania, some of the imperial troops barbarities and cruel depredations ensued: entering a small town, seized upon all the famine and conflagration marked his proyoung women, and girls of upwards of ten gress. He destroyed all the provisions he years, and then placing their parents in a could not take with him, and burnt all the circle, they ordered them to sing psalms, towns before he left them; so that murder, while they ravished their children, or else poverty, and desolation followed him. they swore they would cut them to pieces Peace, at length, chiefly through the meafterwards. They then took all the married diation of England, was restored to Germany, women who had young children, and threat- and the Protestants, for several years, enened, if they did not consent to the gratifica-joyed the free exercise of their religion. tion of their lusts, to burn their children be- Even as late as 1732, above 30,000 Profore their faces, in a large fire which they testants were, contrary to the treaty of Westhad kindled for that purpose. phalia, driven from the archbishopric of A band of Tilly's soldiers met with a com- Saltzburg, in the depth of winter, with scarce pany of merchants belonging to Basil, who clothes to cover them, and without proviwere returning from the great market of sions. These poor people emigrated to variStrasbourg, and attempted to surround them: ous Protestant countries, and settled in places all escaped, however, but ten, leaving their where they could enjoy the free exercise of property behind. The ten who were taken their religion, free from popish superstition, begged hard for their lives; but the soldiers and papal despotism.

SECTION V.

Persecutions in the Netherlands.

THE glorious light of the gospel spreading God, who is in heaven." She was then over every part of the continent, and chasing executed, but at the intercession of the bethence the dark night of ignorance, increased fore-mentioned lady, it was granted, that she the alarm of the pope, who urged the empe- should be strangled before the fagots were For to commence a persecution against the kindled.

Protestants; when many thousands fell mar- At Colen, two Protestant clergymen were tyrs to superstitious malice and barbarous burnt; a tradesman of Antwerp, named bigotry: among whom were the following. Nicholas, was tied up in a sack, thrown into A pious Protestant widow, named Wende- the river, and drowned; and Pistorius, an linuta, was apprehended on account of her accomplished scholar and student, was carreligion, when several monks unsuccessfully ried to the market of a Dutch village, and endeavored to persuade her to recant. Their burnt.

attempts, however, proving ineffectual, a A minister of the reformed church was Roman Catholic lady of her acquaintance de- ordered to attend the execution of sixteen sired to be admitted to the dungeon in which Protestants who were to be beheaded. This she was confined, promising to exert herself gentleman performed the melancholy office towards inducing the prisoner to abjure her with great propriety, exhorted them to rereligion. On being admitted to the dungeon, pentance, and gave them comfort in the he did her utmost to perform the task she mercies of their Redeemer. As soon as they had undertaken; but finding her endeavors were beheaded, the magistrate cried out to fruitless, she said, "Dear Wendelinuta, if the executioner, "There is another remainyou will not embrace our faith, at least keep ing; you must behead the minister he can the things which you profess secret within never die at a better time than with such your own bosom, and strive to prolong your excellent precepts in his mouth, and such life." To which the widow replied, "Madam, laudable examples before him." He was acyou know not what you say; for with the cordingly beheaded, though many of the Roheart we believe to righteousness, but with man Catholics themselves reprobated this the tongue confession is made unto salva- piece of treacherous and unnecessary har"Still holding her faith against every barity.

fort of the powers of darkness, her goods George Scherter, a minister of Saltzburg, were confiscated, and she was condemned to was committed to prison for instructing his burnt. At the place of execution a monk flock in the truth of the gospel. While in sented a cross to her, and bade her kiss confinement he wrote a confession of his worship God. To which she answered, faith; soon after which he was condemned, I worship no wooden god, but the eternal first to be beheaded, and afterwards to be