and I will submit my judgment to him." martyr with an air of unconcern, which apThis pious answer had no effect, because he peared to give him dignity rather than diswould not take the authority of the council grace. A serenity appeared in his looks, npon trust, without the least shadow of an which indicated that his soul had cut off 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, who committed him to the care of the duke of Bavaria. His books were burnt at the gate of the church; and on the 6th of July he was led to the suburbs of Constance, to be burnt alive.

On the 4th of July, he was, for the last time, brought before the council. After a long examination, he was desired to abjure, which he refused, without the least hesitation. The bishop of Lodi then preached a sermon, the text of which was, "Let the When he had reached the place of exebody of sin be destroyed," (concerning the cution, he fell on his knees, sung several destruction of heretics) the prologue to his portions of the Psalms, looked stedfastly intended punishment. After the close of the towards heaven, and repeated, "Into thy sermon his fate was determined, his vindi- hands, O Lord! do I commit my spirit: thou cation rejected, and judgment pronounced. hast redeemed me, O most good and faithful The council censured him for being obsti-God."

nate and incorrigible, and ordained, "That! As soon as the chain was put about him he should be degraded from the priesthood, at the stake, he said, with a smiling counhis books publicly burnt, and himself deliv- tenance, “ My Lord Jesus Christ was bound ered to the secular power." with a harder chain than this, for my sake, why then should I be ashamed of this old rusty one?"

He received the sentence without the least emotion; and at the close of it, he kneeled down with his eyes lifted towards heaven, When the fagots were piled around him, and, with all the magnanimity of a primi- the duke of Bavaria desired him to abjure. tive martyr, thus exclaimed: "May thy in- "No," said he, "I never preached any docfinite mercy, O my God! pardon this injus- trine of an evil tendency; and what I taught tice of mine enemies. Thou knowest the with my lips, I now seal with my blood." He injustice of my accusations: how deformed then said to the exccutioner, "You are now with crimes I have been represented; how going to burn a goose, (Huss signifying I have been oppressed with worthless wit- goose in the Bohemian language) but in a nesses, and a false condemnation; yet, O my century you will have a swan, whom you God! let that mercy of thine, which no can neither roast nor broil." If this were tongue can express, prevail with thee not to spoken in prophecy, he must have meant avenge my wrongs." These excellent sen- Martin Luther, who flourished about a centences were received as so many expres- tury after, and who had a swan for his arms. sions of heresy, and only tended to inflame As soon as the fagots were lighted, the his adversaries. Accordingly, the bishops heroic martyr sung a hymn, with so loud appointed by the council, stripped him of his and cheerful a voice, that he was heard priestly garments, degraded him, and put a through all the cracklings of the combustipaper mitre on his head, on which were bles, and the noise of the multitude. At painted devils, with this inscription: "A length his voice was interrupted by the ringleader of heretics." flames, which soon put a period to his life.

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 findat Prague, and educated in its university, ing that they had made a considerable prowhere he soon became distinguished for his gress in Bohemia, from the industry and zeal learning and eloquence. Having completed of Huss, he became an assistant to him in his studies, he travelled over great part of the great work of reformation. Europe, and visited many of the seats of 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

On the 4th of April, 1415, Jerome went to Constance. This was about three months before the death of Huss. He entered the town privately, and consulting with some of the leaders of his party, was easily convinced that he could render his friend no service.

Finding that his arrival at Constance was

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.

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 ap- To these charges Jerome answered with pear at Constance in the defence of his char- an amazing force of elocution, and strength acter and doctrine, both which, he said, had of argument. After which he was remanded been greatly falsified. He farther declared, to his prison. that if any error should be proved against The third day from this, his trial was him, 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 used every prudent means in his power to procure an audience.

The most bigoted of the assembly were unwilling he should be heard, dreading the 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 a 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. ill in consequence, his persecutors, in order to gratify their malice still farther, relieved him from that painful state.

On his way to the place of execution he sung several hymns; and on arriving there, 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 diate torments and death if he remained ob- said, "Come here, and kindle it before my stinate. 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.' 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;

he was, however, still confined, but in hopes

"This soul in flames I offer, Christ, to thee !"*

*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.

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 Wolfgang, Scuch and John Huglin, two emperor, Charles V. in his scheme of utterly worthy ministers, were burned; likewise extirpating all who had embraced the reform- Leonard Keyser, a student of the university ation. To accomplish which, he gave the of Wirtemburg: and George Carpenter, a emperor 200,000 crowns; promised to main- Bavarian, was hanged.

tain 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 empeof 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 their 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 fortitude which only religion can impart.

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.

On the popish army's taking the town of Hoxter, all the inhabitants, with the garrison, were put to the sword.

When the imperial forces prevailed at Griphenburgh, they shut up the senators in the senate-chamber, and surrounding it by lighted straw, suffocated them.

Franhendal, notwithstanding it surrendered upon articles of capitulation, suffered as cruelly as other places, and at Heidelburg many were shut up in prison and starved.

An eloquent and pious preacher named Henry Stutphen, was taken out of his bed at night, and compelled to walk barefoot a con- To enumerate the various species of crusiderable way, so that his feet were terribly elty practised by the imperial troops, under cut. On desiring a horse, his conductors count Tilly, would excite disgust and horror. said, in derision, "A horse for a heretic! That sanguinary monster, in his progress no, no, heretics may go barefoot." On arriv- through Saxony, not only permitted every ing at the place of his destination, he was excess in his soldiers, but actually commandcondemned to be burnt; and while suffering ed them to put all their enormities in pracin the flames, he was cut and slashed in a tice. Some of these are so unparalleled, that terrible manner. we feel ourselves obliged to mention them. Many were murdered at Halle. Middle- In Hesse-Cassel some of the troops entered burgh being taken by assault, all the Pro-an hospital, in which were principally mad

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 ror 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 she 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 bartion." Still holding her faith against every barity.

effort 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 be burnt. At the place of execution a monk flock in the truth of the gospel. While in presented a cross to her, and bade her kiss confinement he wrote a confession of his and 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

burnt to ashes, which sentence was accord- the jailor not to permit any friar to come ingly put in execution. near him; saying, "They can do me no Percival, a learned man of Louviana, was good, but may greatly disturb me. I hope murdered in prison, and Justus Insparg was my salvation is already sealed in heaven, beheaded, for having Luther's sermons in his and that the blood of Christ, in which I possession. firmly put my trust, hath washed me from

Giles Tolleman, a cutler of Brussels, was my iniquities. I am now going to throw off a man of singular humanity and piety. He this mantle of clay, to be clad in robes of was apprehended as a Protestant, and many eternal glory. I hope I may be the last marattempts were made by the monks to per- tyr of papal tyranny, and that the blood alsuade him to recant. Once, by accident, a ready spilt will be sufficient to quench its fair opportunity of escaping from prison of thirst of cruelty; that the church of Christ fered itself to him, but of which he did not may have rest here, as his servants will avail himself. Being asked the reason, he hereafter." On the day of execution, he replied, “I would not do the keepers so much took a pathetic leave of his fellow-prisoners. injury; as they must have answered for my At the stake he uttered with great fervency absence had I got away." When he was the Lord's prayer, and sung the fortieth sentenced to be burnt, he fervently thanked psalm; then commending his soul to God, God for allowing him, by martyrdom, to the flames soon terminated his mortal exglorify his name. Observing at the place istence.

of execution a great quantity of fagots, he A short time after, Hues died in prison; desired the principal part of them might be upon which occasion Coomans thus vents his given to the poor, saying, "A small quantity mind to his friends; "I am now deprived of will suffice to consume me." The execu- my friends and companions; Scoblant is tioner offered to strangle him before the fire martyred and Hues dead by the visitation of was lighted, but he would not consent, tell- the Lord; yet I am not alone: I have with ing him, that he defied the flames; and, in- me the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of deed, he gave up the ghost with such com- Jacob; he is my comfort, and shall be my posure amidst them, that he hardly seemed reward." When brought to trial, Hues sensible of pain. freely confessed himself of the reformed re

In Flanders, about 1543 and 1544, the ligion, and answered with a manly firmness persecution raged with great violence. Many to every charge brought against him, provwere doomed to perpetual imprisonment, ing his doctrine from the gospel. "But," others to perpetual banishment; but the said the judge, "will you die for the faith you greater number were put to death either by profess?"-"I am not only willing to die," hanging, drowning, burning, the rack, or replied Coomans, "but also to suffer the utburying alive. most stretch of inventive cruelty for it:

John de Boscane, a zealous Protestant, after which my soul shall receive its conwas apprehended in the city of Antwerp. firmation from God himself, in the midst of On his trial, he undauntedly professed him- eternal glory." Being condemned, he went self to be of the reformed religion, on which cheerfully to the place of execution, and he was immediately condemned. The magis- died with Christian fortitude and resignation. trate, however, was afraid to execute the

sentence publicly, as he was popular through ASSASSINATION OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE. his great generosity, and almost universally Baltazar Gerard, a native of Franche revered for his inoffensive life and exem- Comté, a bigoted and furious Roman Cathoplary piety. A private execution was, there- lic, thinking to advance his own fortune and fore, determined on, for which an order was the popish cause by one desperate act, regiven to drown him in prison. The execu- solved upon the assassination of the prince of tioner, accordingly, forced him into a large Orange. Having provided himself with firetub; but Boscane struggling, and getting arms, he watched the prince as he passed his head above the water, the executioner through the great hall of his palace to dinstabbed him in several places with a dagger ner, and demanded a passport. The princess till he expired. of Orange, observing in his tone of voice John de Buisons, on account of his religion, and manner something confused and singuwas, about the same time, secretly appre- lar, asked who he was, saying, she did not hended. In this city the number of Protest- like his countenance. The prince answered, ants being great, and the prisoner much re- it was one that demanded a passport, which spected, the magistrates, fearful of an insur- he should have presently. Nothing farther rection, ordered him to be beheaded in transpired until after dinner, when on the prison. return of the prince and princess through

In 1568 were apprehended at Antwerp, the same hall, the assassin, from behind one Scoblant, Hues, and Coomans. The first of the pillars, fired at the prince; the balls who was brought to trial was Scoblant, who, entering at the left side, and passing through persisting in his faith, received sentence of the right, wounded in their passage the death. On his return to prison, he requested stomach and vital parts. The prince had