to a dungeon. After remaining there sev-maintained were not erroneous, being purely eral days, he was brought to a second exami- the same as those which Christ and his nation, when he charged the pope's legate, apostles had taught, and which were handed and the inquisitors, with being merciless down to us in the sacred scriptures. The barbarians, and represented the superstition inquisitors then sentenced him to be drownand idolatry of the church of Rome in so ed, which was executed in the manner alstrong a light, that, unable to refute his ar-ready described. He went to death with guments, they recommitted him to his dun- joy, thinking it a happiness to be so soon geon. Being brought up a third time, they ushered to the world of glory, to dwell with asked him if he would recant his errors, to God and the spirits of just men made perwhich he answered, that the doctrines he fect.

SECTION V.

Martyrdoms in various parts of Italy.

JOHN MOLLIUS was born at Rome of a re- Francis Gamba, a Lombard and a Protestspectable family. At twelve years old his ant, was apprehended, and condemned to parents placed him in a monastery of gray death by the senate of Milan, in the year friars, where he made so rapid a progress 1554. At the place of execution, he was in his studies, that he was admitted to priest's presented by a monk with a cross. My orders at the early age of eighteen years. mind," said Gamba, "is so full of the real He was then sent to Ferrara, where, after merits and goodness of Christ, that I want six years' further study, he was appointed not a piece of senseless stick to put me in theological reader in the university of that mind of him." For this expression his tongue city. Here he began to exert his great tal- was bored through, after which he was coments to disguise the gospel truths, and to var-mitted to the flames.

"DEAR FRIENDS,

nish over the errors of the church of Rome. About the same period Algerius, a learned Having passed some years here, he removed and accomplished student in the university to the university of Bononia, where he be- of Padua, embraced the reformed religion, came a professor. At length, happily read- and was zealous in the conversion of others. ing some treatises written by ministers of For these proceedings he was accused of the reformed religion, he was suddenly heresy to the pope, and being apprehended, struck with the errors of popery, and became was committed to the prison at Venice, in his heart a zealous Protestant. He now whence he wrote to his converts at Padua determined to expound, in truth and sim- the following celebrated and beautiful epis plicity, St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, in tle:regular course of sermons; at each of which be was attended by a vast concourse of peoe. But when the priests learned his doc- "I CANNOT omit this opportunity of letting trines, they dispatched an account thereof you know the sincere pleasure I feel in my Rome; upon which the pope sent Corne- confinement; to suffer for Christ is delectams, a monk, to Bononia, to expound the same ble indeed; to undergo a little transitory pistle, according to his own tenets, and to pain in this world, for his sake, is cheaply introvert the doctrine of Mollius. The purchasing a reversion of eternal glory, in a people, however, found such a disparity be- life that is everlasting. Hence I have found tween the two preachers, that the audience honey in the entrails of a lion; paradise in a of Mollius increased, while Cornelius preach- prison; tranquillity in the house of sorrow: ed to empty benches. The latter on this where others weep, I rejoice; where others wrote of his bad success to the pope, who tremble and faint, I find strength and courmediately ordered Mollius to be appre- age. The Almighty alone confers these faended. He was seized accordingly, and vors on me; be his the glory and the praise. kept in close confinement. The bishop of "How different do I find myself from nonia sent him word that he must recant what I was before I embraced the truth in or be burnt; but he appealed to Rome, and its purity! I was then dark, doubtful, and in * in consequence removed thither. Here dread; I am now enlightened, certain, and begged to have a public trial; but this the full of joy. He that was far from me is oresape absolutely denied him, and commanded ent with me; he comforts my spirit, heals to explain his opinions in writing, which my grief, strengthens my mind, refreshes dingly he did on scripture authority. my heart, and fortifies my soul. Learn, pope, for reasons of policy, spared him therefore, how merciful and amiable the the present; but, in 1553, had him Lord is, who supports his servants under ed, and his body afterwards burnt to temptations, expels their sorrows, lightens their afflictions, and even visits them with

The

his glorious presence in the gloom of a dis- slaughter of calves and sheep, than the exe

mal dungeon.

"Your sincere friend,

"ALGERIUS."

cution of human beings. I will relate to your lordship a dreadful scene, of which I was myself an eye-witness: seventy Protestants were cooped up in one filthy dun The pope being informed of Algerius's geon together; the executioner went in great learning and abilities, sent for him to among them, picked out one from among the Rome, and tried, by every means, to win him rest, blindfolded him, led him out to an open to his purpose. But finding his endeavors place before the prison, and cut his throat hopeless, he ordered him to be burnt. with the greatest composure. He then calm,

In 1559, John Alloisius, a Protestant ly walked into the prison again, bloody as he teacher, having come from Geneva to preach was, and, with the knife in his hand, selectin Calabria, was there apprehended, carried ed another, and dispatched him in the same to Rome, and burnt, by order of the pope; manner; and this, my lord, he repeated til and at Messina, James Bovellus was burnt the whole number were put to death. I for the same offence. leave it to your lordship's feelings to judge

In the year 1560, pope Pius the Fourth of my sensations upon the occasion; my commenced a general persecution of the tears now wash the paper upon which I give Protestants throughout the Italian states, you the recital. Another thing I must menwhen great numbers of every age, sex, and tion, the patience with which they met condition, suffered martyrdom. Concerning death: they seemed all resignation and piety. the cruelties practised upon this occasion, a fervently praying to God, and cheerfully enlearned and humane Roman Catholic thus countering their fate. I cannot reflect withspeaks in a letter to a nobleman: out shuddering, how the executioner held

"I cannot, my lord, forbear disclosing my the bloody knife between his teeth; what a sentiments with respect to the persecution dreadful figure he appeared, all covered with now carrying on. I think it cruel and un-blood, and with what unconcern he executed necessary; I tremble at the manner of put- his barbarous office!" ting to death, as it resembles more the

SECTION VI.

Persecutions in the Marquisate of Saluces.

THE marquisate of Saluces, or Saluzzo, is the duke, but, at length, he sent them wor situated on the south side of the valleys of that they must either conform to his forme Piedmont, and in the year 1561 was princi- commands, or leave his dominions in fifte pally inhabited by Protestants; when the days. The Protestants, upon this unexpecte marquis began a persecution against them edict, sent a deputy to the duke to obtain h at the instigation of the pope. He com- revocation, or at least to have it moderate menced by banishing the ministers; if any Their petitions, however, were vain, an of whom refused to leave their flocks they they were given to understand that the ed were imprisoned and severely tortured: he was peremptory. did not, however, put any to death.

Some, under the impulse of fear or wor A little time after, the marquisate fell into ly interest, were weak enough to go to ma the possession of the duke of Savoy, who sent in order to avoid banishment, and preser circular letters to all the towns and villages, their property; others removed, with that he expected the people should all go to their effects, to different countries; ma mass. Upon this the inhabitants of Saluces neglected the time so long, that they we returned a submissive yet man.y answer, en- obliged to abandon all they were worth, a treating permission to continue in the prac- leave the marquisate in haste; while sou tice of the religion of their forefathers. who unhappily staid behind, were seiz This letter for a time seemed to pacify plundered, and put to death.

а

SECTION VII.

Persecutions in Piedmont, in the Seventeenth Century.

POPE CLEMENT the Eighth sent missiona-ed, to whom the monasteries appeared ries into the valleys of Piedmont, with a view only as fortresses to curb, but as sanctua to induce the Protestants to renounce their for all such to fly to as had injured then religion. These missionaries erected monas- any degree.

teries in several parts of the valleys, and The insolence and tyranny of these soon became very troublesome to the reform- sionaries increasing, the Protestants

tioned the duke of Savoy for protection. But | St. Giovanni, Bibiana, Campiglione, St. Seinstead of granting any redress, the duke condo, Lucernetta, La Torre, Fenile, or published a decree, in which he declared Bricherassio, should, within three days after that one witness should be sufficient in a the publication thereof, depart from their court of law against a Protestant; and that habitations to such places as were appointed any witness who convicted a Protestant of by the duke, on pain of death and confiscaany crime whatever, should be entitled to a tion.

hundred crowns as a reward.

oaths.

This order produced the greatest distress In consequence of this, as may be imagin- among the unhappy objects of it, as it was ed, many Protestants fell martyrs to the enforced with the greatest severity in the perjury and avarice of the Papists, who depth of a very severe winter, and the peowould swear any thing against them for the ple were driven from their habitations at sake of the reward, and then fly to their the time appointed, without even sufficient own priests for absolution from their false clothes to cover them; by which many perished in the mountains through the seThese missionaries endeavored to get the verity of the weather, or for want of food. books of the Protestants into their power, in Those who remained behind after the publiorder to burn them; and on the owners con- cation of the decree, were murdered by the cealing them, wrote to the duke of Savoy, popish inhabitants, or shot by the troops, and who, for the heinous crime of not surrender- the most horrible barbarities were perpeing their bibles, prayer-books, and religious trated by these ruffians, encouraged by the treatises, sent a number of troops to be quar-Roman Catholic priests and monks, of which tered on them, which occasioned the ruin of the following may serve as a specimen. many families. Martha Constantine, a beautiful young To encourage, as much as possible, the woman, was first ravished, and then killed, apostasy of the Protestants, the duke pub- by cutting off her breasts. These some of shed a proclamation, granting an exemp- the soldiers fried, and set before their comtion for five years from all taxes to every rades, who eat them without knowing what Protestant who should become a Catholic. they were. When they had done eating, the He likewise established a court called the others told them what they had made a meal Council for extirpating the heretics; the ob- of, in consequence of which a quarrel ensued, ject and nature of which are sufficiently evi- and a battle took place. Several were killed cent from its name. in the fray, the greater part of whom were those concerned in the horrid massacre of the woman, and the inhuman deception on their comrades.

ligion, the soiliers cut him into small pieces, saying, in rule, they had minced him. A woman, named Armand, was torn limb from limb, and then the respective parts were hung upon a hedge.

After this, the duke published several ediets, prohibiting the Protestants from actmg as schoolmasters or tutors; from teachng any art, science, or language; from hold- Peter Simonds, a Protestant, of about ng any places of profit, trust, or honor; and, eighty years of age, was tied neck and heels, finally, commanding them to attend mass. and then thrown down a precipice. In his This last was the signal for a persecution, fall the branch of a tree caught hold of the which, of course, soon followed. ropes that fastened him, and suspended him Before the persecution commenced, the in the mid-way, so that he languished for missionaries employed kidnappers to steal several days, till he perished of hunger. away the children of the Protestants, that Esay Garcino, refusing to renounce his rethey might privately be brought up Roman Catholics; but now they took away the children by open force, and if the wretched parents resisted, they were immediately murdered. The duke of Savoy, in order to give force Several men, women, and children, were the persecution, called a general assem-flung from the rocks, and dashed to pieces. My of the Roman Catholic nobility and gen- Among others, Magdalen Bertino, a Protest, whence issued a solemn edict against ant woman of La Torre, was stripped naked, the reformed, containing many heads, and her head tied between her legs, and she was including several reasons for extirpating then thrown down a precipice. Mary Raythem, among which the following were the mondet, of the same town, had her flesh encipal: the preservation of the papal au- sliced from her bones till she expired; Magthority; that the church livings might be all dalen Pilot, of Villaro, was cut to pieces in vader one mode of government; to make a the cave of Castolus: Ann Charboniere bad/ tion among all parties; in honor of all the one end of a stake thrust up her body, and ints, and of the ceremonies of the church Rome.

This was followed by a most cruel order, shed on January 25, 1655, which deed that every family of the reformed revan, of whatever rank, residing in Lucerne,

the other end being fixed in the ground, she was left in that manner to perish; and Jacob Perrin the elder, of the church of Villaro, with David, his brother, was flayed alive.

Giovanni Andrea Michialin, an inhabitant of La Torre, with four of his children, was

apprehended; three of them were hacked to Paul Garnier, a Protestant beloved for hi pieces before him, the soldiers asking him, at piety, had his eyes put out, was then flaye the death of every child, if he would recant, alive, and being divided into four parts, hi which he constantly refused. One of the quarters were placed on four of the principa soldiers then took up the last and youngest houses of Lucerne. He bore all his suffer by the legs, and putting the same question to ings with the most exemplary patienc the father, he replied as before, when the praised God as long as he could speak, an inhuman brute dashed out the child's brains. plainly evinced the courage arising from The father, however, at the same moment confidence in God. started from them, and fled: the soldiers fired Daniel Cardon, of Rocappiata, being a after him, but missed him; and he escaped prehended by some soldiers, they cut off h to the Alps, and there remained concealed. head. Two poor old blind women, of S Giovanni Pelanchion, on refusing to ab- Giovanni, were burnt alive; and a widow jure his faith, was tied by one leg to the tail La Torre, with her daughter, was driv of a mule, and dragged through the streets into the river, and stoned to death there. of Lucerne, amidst the acclamations of an A man named Paul Giles attempting inhuman mob, who kept stoning him, and run away from some soldiers, was shot crying out, "He is possessed of the devil." the neck; they then slit his nose, sliced They then took him to the river side, chopped chin, stabbed him, and gave his carcass off his head, and left that and his body unburi- the dogs. ed, upon the bank of the river.

Some of the Irish troops having tak A beautiful child, ten years of age, named eleven men of Garcigliana prisoners, th Magdalene Fontaine, was ravished and mur- heated a furnace red-hot, and forced them dered by the soldiers. Another girl, of about push each other in till they came to the 1 the same age, they roasted alive at Villa No- man, whom they themselves pushed in. va; and a poor woman, hearing the soldiers Michael Gonot, a man about 90 years were coming towards her house, snatched was burnt to death; Baptista Oudri, anot up the cradle in which her infant son was old man, was stabbed; and Bartholom asleep, and fled towards the woods. The Frasche had his heels pierced, through wh soldiers, however, saw and pursued her, ropes being put, he was dragged by th when she lightened herself by putting down to the gaol, where, in consequence of the cradle and child, which the soldiers no wounds mortifying, he soon died. sooner came to, than they murdered the infant, and continuing the pursuit, found the mother in a cave, where they first ravished and then cut her to atoms.

Magdalene de la Peire being pursued some of the soldiers, and taken, was down a precipice, and dashed to pie Margaret Revella and Mary Pravillerin, very old women, were burnt alive; Mich Bellino, with Ann Bochardno, were headed; Joseph Chairet, and Paul Carni were flayed alive.

Jacobo Michelino, chief elder of the church of Bobbio, and several other Protestants, were hung up by hooks fixed in their flesh, and left so to expire. Giovanni Rostagnal, a venerable Protestant, upwards of fourscore Cipriana Bustia being asked if he we years of age, had his nose and ears cut off, renounce his religion, and turn Ro and the flesh cut from his body, till he bled Catholic, replied, "I would rather renou to death. life, or turn dog :" to which a priest ans Daniel Saleago and his wife, Giovanni Du-ed, "For that expression you shall both rant, Lodwich Durant, Bartholomew Durant, nounce life, and be given to the dogs." T Daniel Revel, and Paul Reynaud, had their accordingly, dragged him to prison, w mouths stuffed with gunpowder, which being they confined him till he perished of set fire to, their heads were blown to pieces.ger, after which they threw his corpse Jacob Birone, a schoolmaster of Rorata, the street before the prison, and it was was stripped naked; and after having been voured by dogs.

so exposed, had the nails of his toes and Joseph Pont was severed in two; Ma fingers torn off with red-hot pincers, and ret Soretta was stoned to death; and holes bored through his hands with the point nio Bertina had his head cleft asunder. of a dagger. He next had a cord tied round Daniel Maria, and all his family, bein his middle, and was led through the streets of a fever, several Papist ruffians broke with a soldier on each side of him. At every his house, telling him they were prac turning the soldier on his right-hand side physicians, and would give them all pr cut a gash in his flesh, and the soldier on his ease; which they did, by murdering left-hand side struck him with a bludgeon, whole family.

both saying, at the same instant, "Will you Lucy, the wife of Peter Besson, bea go to mass? Will you go to mass?" He still an advanced state of pregnancy, determ replied in the negative, and being at length if possible to escape from such dre taken to the bridge, they cut off his head on scenes as everywhere surrounded her the balustrades, and threw both that and his accordingly took two young children, body into the river. each hand, and set off towards the

But on the third day of the journey she a numerous family, was seized, and, with was taken in labor among the mountains, several others, committed to the jail of Payand delivered of an infant, who perished sana. Here he was visited by several priests, through the inclemency of the weather, as who, with continual importunities, strove to did the other two children; for all three were persuade him to turn Papist; but this he pefound dead by her side, and herself just ex- remptorily refused, and the priests finding piring, by the person to whom she related his resolution, and enraged at his answers, the above circumstances.

determined to put him to the most horrible Francis Gross had his flesh slowly cut tortures, in the hope of overcoming his faith; from his body into small pieces, and put into they therefore ordered one joint of his fina dish before him; two of his children were gers to be cut off every day, till all his finminced before his sight, while his wife was gers were gone: they then proceeded in the fastened to a post, to behold these cruelties same manner with his toes; afterwards they practised on her husband and offspring. The alternately cut off, daily, a hand and a foot; tormenters, at length tired of exercising their but finding that he bore his sufferings with cruelties, decapitated both husband and wife. the most unconquerable fortitude, and mainThe Sieur Thomas Margher fled to a cave, tained his faith with stedfast resolution, they where, being discovered, the soldiers shut stabbed him to the heart, and then gave his up the mouth, and he perished with famine. body to be devoured by dogs. Judith Revelin, with seven children, were barbarously murdered in their beds.

Peter Gabriola, a Protestant gentleman, of considerable eminence, being seized by Jacob Roseno was commanded to pray to a troop of soldiers, and refusing to renounce the saints, which he refusing, the soldiers his religion, they hung several bags of gunbeat him violently with bludgeons, to make powder about his body, and then setting fire him comply, but he continuing steady to his to them, blew him up.

faith, they fired at him. While in the ago- Anthony, the son of Samuel Catieris, a -nies of death, they cried to him, "Will you poor dumb lad, and extremely inoffensive, pray to the saints?" To which he answered, was cut to pieces by a party of the troops: "No!" when one of the soldiers, with a and soon after, the same ruffians entered the broadsword, clove his head asunder, and put an end to his sufferings.

house of Peter Moniriat, and cut off the legs of the whole family, leaving them to bleed to death, they being unable to assist each other in that melancholy plight.

A young woman, named Susanna Ciacquin, being attempted to be ravished by a soldier, made stout resistance, and in the Daniel Benech being apprehended, had struggle, pushed him over a precipice, when his nose slit, and his ears cut off; after which, he was dashed to pieces by the fall. His he was divided into quarters, and each quarcomrades immediately fell upon her with ter hung upon a tree. Mary Monino had her their swords, and cut her to atoms. jaw-bones broken, and was then left to languish till she was starved to death.

a

Giovanni Pullius, being apprehended as Protestant by the soldiers, was ordered by the marquis of Pianessa to be executed in a place near the convent. When brought to the gallows, several monks attended, to persuade him to renounce his religion. But finding him inflexible, they commanded the executioner to perform his office, which he did, and so launched the martyr into the world of glory.

Mary Pelanchion, a widow, of the town of Villaro, was seized by a party of the Irish brigades, who, having beat her cruelly, and ravished her, dragged her to a high bridge which crossed the river, and stripping her naked, hung her by the legs to the bridge, with her head downwards towards the wa ter, and then going into boats, they shot her.

Mary Nigrino, and her daughter, a poor Paul Clement, an elder of the church of idiot, were cut to pieces in the woods, and Rossana, being apprehended by the monks their bodies left to be devoured by wild of a neighboring monastery, was carried to beasts; Susanna Bales, a widow of Villaro, the market-place of that town, where some was immured and starved to death; and SuProtestants had just been executed. On be- sanna Calvio, running away from some solholding the dead bodies, he said calmly, diers, and hiding herself in a barn, they set "You may kill the body, but you cannot pre-fire to the straw, by which she was burnt to judice the soul of a true believer: with re-death.

spect to the dreadful spectacles which you Daniel Bertino, a child, was burnt; Paul have here shown me, you may rest assured, Armand was hacked to pieces; Daniel Mithat God's vengeance will overtake the mur-chialino, having his tongue plucked out, was derers of those poor people, and punish them left to perish in that condition; and Andreo for the innocent blood they have spilt." The Bertino, a lame and very old man, was manmonks were so exasperated at this reply, that gled in a most shocking manner, and at they ordered him to be hung up directly: length had his belly ripped open, and his and while he was hanging, the soldiers bowels carried about on the point of a halamused themselves by shooting at the body. bert.

Daniel Rambaut, of Villaro, the father of A Protestant lady, named Constantia Bel