Part 78

_A. D. 1425._--About this time Peter Torea was executed at Speyer, in Germany, and others in Roman countries; because they confessed the truth and opposed the Roman superstitions. Compare the last mentioned _Chron., p. 788, col. 2_, with _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.

_A. D. 1427._--At this time, Jerome Savonarolo, of Ferrara, preached throughout Italy that the Pope was the antichrist; for which he was burnt at Florence. He wrote some meditations on the 51st and 80th psalms, in which he reproves the tyranny of the Pope and his clergy, saying that they are the boars and wild beasts of the field, which, according to the words of David, have devoured and utterly destroyed the Lord’s vineyard, and wholly subverted the church of God. In the last mentioned _Chron., p. 762, col. 2_, compared with _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.

WILLIAM WHITE, FATHER ABRAHAM OF CHOLCHESTER, AND JOHN WADDON, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT NORWICH, IN ENGLAND, A. D. 1428.

When the light of the Gospel began to break forth with power also in England, so that some persons not only believed and adhered to, but also taught and propagated the truth of Christ, the Romanists, proving themselves children of darkness, evinced their old nature towards these people, inasmuch as they informed the King of England, then only a child of six years, of this matter, aiming to provide against it.

Thus it happened A. D. 1428, that this child-king, induced by the fathers and heads of the Roman church, immediately resolved to give orders to the officers appointed thereto, to apprehend these persons and all who were of their persuasion, in order that they might be punished according to the laws of England.

COPY OF THE LETTER OF KING HENRY VI., TO JOHN EXTOR, AND JACOLET GERMAINE, GOVERNORS OF CHOLCHESTER, TO APPREHEND WILLIAM WHITE AND HIS ADHERENTS.

“Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, to his beloved friends, John Extor, and Jacolet Germaine, Governors of the Castle at Cholchester, greeting:

“Be it known unto you, that, perfectly relying on your fidelity and prudence, we have charged you, both together and each separately, to arrest and apprehend William White, priest, and Thomas, chaplain, formerly at Settling, in the county of Norfolk, and William Northampton, priest, and all others that are suspected of heresy, whoever they may be, and wherever they may be found, whether in free cities or without; and to send them, as soon as you have apprehended them, to our nearest jails or prisons, until we shall have given orders for their release.

“And, therefore, we charge you strictly to keep a close surveillance on the aforesaid persons, and to faithfully observe the above in the manner stated before.

“We likewise command and charge each and all of our justiciaries, who have the care of the common peace, as mayors, margraves, bailiffs, constables, and all our other faithful officers, by the contents of these presents, that they render you, both together and each separately, good assistance, and help and advise you to execute the preceding command, as becometh them.

“In witness of this, we have ourselves caused our letters patent to be executed, and have signed them at Westminster, the sixth day of July, in the sixth year of our reign, coinciding with A. D. 1428.” See _John Fox, Angl., p. 607_.

In old records we find that by virtue of this commission of the King, John Extor, who was one of these commissaries, shortly afterwards apprehended six persons at Bungay, in the bishopric of Norwich, and delivered them into the custody of William Day and William Rowe, constables of the city of Bungay, to be brought within ten days to the castle of Norwich.

“The names, however, of these six persons,” writes John Fox, “owing to the age of the writing, had almost entirely faded out, so that they could not well be read, except three or four.” But what further transpired with them, and what sufferings or death befell them, we do not find clearly expressed.

In the meantime there were also apprehended and brought to Norwich, three eminent and virtuous men, namely, William White, formerly a priest, Father Abraham of Cholchester, and John Waddon, who, after preceding examination, made confession of the following articles:

CONFESSION OF FAITH OF SAID THREE MARTYRS, TOUCHING THEIR BELIEF AGAINST THE ROMAN CHURCH.

1. “That the children of Christians are sufficiently baptized in the blood of Christ, and, hence, need not be baptized with water.

2. “That no tithes need be given to the pastors of the Roman church.

3. “That marriage properly consists in the consent or agreement of union between man and woman (with rejection, as it seems, of the superstitions which the Romanists are wont to observe in connection with it).

4. “That auricular confession is not necessary, and that one need not go and confess to the priests, but to God alone; since no priest has power to forgive a sinner his sins.

5. “That no priest has power to make the body of Christ, or to consecrate it in the sacrament of the altar; but that after the words are pronounced, there still remains purely material bread, just as it was before.

6. “That each and every Christian believer is a priest before God.

7. “That no one is bound on pain of damnation to observe lent or any other fast days commanded by the Roman church.

8. “That the Pope is the antichrist, and his prelates disciples of antichrist; and that the Pope has no authority to bind or loose on earth.

9. “That it is lawful for all Christians to perform bodily works on holidays, except sins.

10. “That it is lawful for priests to marry.

11. “That the excommunications and ecclesiastical punishments decreed by the prelates are not to be regarded.

12. “That in particular cases it is not lawful to swear.

(NOTE.--This article seems not to have been recorded correctly by the notary; for it appears that these people prohibited the oath not only in particular cases, but in any wise, seeing the following martyress, Margaret Backster, pronounces these men faithful preachers of the word of God, and confessed herself, that one might not swear at all, neither by God, nor by, etc.)

13. “One ought not to go on pilgrimages.

14. “That no worship at all is to be bestowed upon images, the crucifix, Our Lady, or any other saint or saintess.

15. “That the holy water consecrated by the priest in the church, is not holier or more efficacious than any other river or spring water; because the Lord blessed all waters together after their creation.

16. “That the death of Thomas Becket (archbishop of Canterbury), was neither meritorious nor holy.

17. “That relics consisting in bones of the dead may not be worshiped, exhumed, placed on altars in the church, or inclosed in chests.

18. “That prayers made in every place are equally acceptable to God.

19. “Saints should not be worshiped, but God alone.

20. “That bells and hand-bells in church, are instituted for no other purpose than to fill the purses of the priests.

21. “It is no sin to oppose the commands of the (Roman) church.

22. “That the (true) Catholic church is only the congregation of the beloved children of God.”

These are briefly the principal articles which they together unanimously maintained, and whereupon they also suffered death, inasmuch as they, after severe examination and manifold torments, refusing to apostatize, were condemned to be burnt alive; which also took place with them, namely, first with William White, in September, 1428, in the city of Norwich, and then with father Abraham, and John Waddon, who, having commended their souls into the hands of God, offered up a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable unto God.

ACCOUNT OF THE IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH OF SAID MARTYRS.

Concerning the imprisonment and death of William White, as also of father Abraham and John Waddon, we find the following account in the writings of John Fox: “William White, who instructed these people in the light of the Gospel, in the county of Norfolk, for the space of about four years, until he, as already stated, was apprehended by virtue of the aforesaid letter of the King, and brought before William, bishop of Norwich, by whom he was convicted and condemned on these and other articles, thirty in number, was burnt alive in the city of Norwich, in the month of September, A. D. 1428, under King Henry VI., then but a child of six years.

“Having arrived at the stake, and about to open his mouth to address and admonish the people, and to confirm them in the truth, one of the bishop’s servants struck him on the mouth, thus compelling him to remain silent.”

Thus did this godly man receive the crown of martyrdom, and ended this temporal life, to the great sorrow of all pious Christians in the county of Norfolk. His aforesaid wife, Johanna, who, according to her feeble ability, followed in the footsteps of her husband by scattering said doctrine everywhere, and confirming many in the truth of God, had to suffer much on this account, in the same year and from the same bishop, as Thomas Walden himself confesses, who, besides others, was present at the examination and condemnation of said William White.

About the same time there were also burnt the aforesaid father Abraham of Cholchester, and John Waddon, priest, on account of the same articles mentioned above. Besides these, very many other godly men were most cruelly put to death. Second book of the _History of the Persecutions, fol. 582, col. 4_, and _fol. 583, col. 1_, from _John Fox, in Actis Guil. White_. Also from _Bal., in Guil. White, in Append_.

SPECIAL ACCOUNT OF WILLIAM WHITE, TOUCHING HIS DOCTRINE, SUFFERING AND DEATH.

In the fifteenth book of the _Chronijck van den Ondergang, page 788_, are found the following words: “William Wicht, or William White, a learned, upright, honest, and eloquent man, a priest in England, forsook his ministry, and published the Gospel, by writing, preaching, and teaching, saying: ‘that forgiveness of sins must be obtained from God Almighty alone; that the unmarried life of the Pope and his clergy was the very satanic state, and a severe captivity of antichrist; and that the hooded, striped and shaven clergy were the mercenaries and servants of Lucifer.’”

But upon being apprehended, he renounced his doctrine, A. D. ----. Subsequently, however, he became re-established, and pious, and stronger, in the doctrine, and very boldly suffered burning for his confession, at Norwich, in England, A. D. 1428. Compare this with _Hist. Andr. Hondorf, fol. 35. Vincent. Cal., fol. 134. Georg. Pac. cap. 11._

NOTE.--Three years previous to the death of this martyr, A. D. 1425, a miserable persecution was raised by the Romanists against some orthodox Christians; concerning which the following account is found, for the year 1425: “About this time, Peter Torea was executed at Speyer, in Germany, and many others in the Roman countries; because they confessed the truth or opposed the Roman superstitions.” _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_, compared with _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 788_.

MARGARET BACKSTER, IMPRISONED UNTIL DEATH, OR PUT TO DEATH IN PRISON, IN ENGLAND, A. D. 1430.

According to old chronicles, about A. D. 1430, a godfearing woman, named Margaret Backster, was apprehended in England, for the truth of the Gospel of Christ; and as she would not apostatize, it seems, she was imprisoned until death, or put to death in prison; which, though it has remained partly hidden before men, God will make manifest in that last, great and terrible day; so that those who have secretly suffered for the name of Christ, shall then be openly rewarded and crowned; and those who have secretly shed the blood of the saints, shall be banished with open shame from the face of God, to be tormented, as they have tormented others, yet without ceasing, for ever and ever. Rev. 14:11. “Then shall we discern between the righteous and the wicked.” Mal. 3:18; Wis. 5:1,2; Matt. 5:46.

CONCERNING THE ACCUSATIONS BROUGHT AGAINST THIS WOMAN, WE HAVE FOUND THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT IN OLD WRITERS.

Margaret Backster, wife of William Backster, was accused by Johanna (wife of Cleveland), of divers articles, as, of having told her, that she should not swear at all, neither by God, nor by Our Lady, nor by any saints or saintesses.

Again: That she, the deponent, upon being asked by Margaret Backster, what she did every day in church, answered, that she knelt before the crucifix, repeated five Pater-nosters, and read as many Ave Marias in honor of Our Lady. Whereupon Margaret replied: “You do very wrong in kneeling or praying before such images as stand in the church; for God dwells not in such churches, nor will he come down from heaven; neither will he give you any more a reward for such prayers, than a taper which is placed under the cover of the font, can give light at night, to those that are in the church.”

Again: Said deponent, Johanna Cleveland, being asked by Margaret, what she believed respecting the sacrament of the altar, said, that the sacrament of the altar, after the consecration, is the true body of Christ, in the form of bread. Whereupon Margaret said to her: “Your belief is vain; for if this sacrament were God and the true body of Christ, there would be a countless number of gods, since a thousand priests and more, make a thousand such gods every day, and then eat them.”

Again: She said she knew for certain, that the vengeance of God would speedily come upon the Bishop of Norwich, and others, who had caused the death of father Abraham, William White, and John Waddon, faithful preachers of the word of God, and of many other godly men with them.

She also declared, that she had seen how one of those servants of Caiaphas smote William White on the mouth or lips, when he was about to be put to death, and wanted to address the people, and admonish them for the last time; and that he (that servant) stopped his mouth, so that he could not at all declare the will of God. From _John Fox, Hist. Angl._

Then follow various other articles, believed and confessed by her, in opposition to the belief of the Roman church, and militating against images, the power of the priests, the forty days’ fast, pilgrimages, the mendicancy of the monks, too numerous to mention.

These, then, are the principal and most remarkable things extracted by John Fox from the old records concerning Margaret Backster; but since in said records no mention was made as to what befell her after these accusations, or what became of her, he did not venture to state it; however, it is supposed, as some write, that they put her to death secretly in prison, or imprisoned her until death, since no mention is made of her penitence or apostasy. Second book of the _Hist. of the Persecutions, fol. 583_, from _Joh. Fox, Angl., page 610_.

NOTE.--_A. D. 1431_, one Paul Craus, in Scotland, was apprehended by Bishop Henry, because he rejected auricular confession, the invocation of the saints, the idolatrous sacrament, etc. And as he would not depart from the truth confessed, he was finally sentenced to the fire, and burnt on the thirtieth of June, of the same year. Compare _Vinc. Cal., fol. 368. Georg. Pac., cap. 11. Herm. Mod., fol. 274_, with the _Chron. van den Ond., page 796_; also, _A. Mell., fol. 584, col. 1, ex Hist. Scoticae, lib. 17_.

_A. D. 1436_, five years after, one Thomas Rhedonensis, a Frenchman, out of Christian zeal, went to Rome, hoping there to preach the pure doctrine of Christ. But when he found the opposite there, and noticed the great abominations, hypocrisy, and pomp, he could not forbear reproving the cardinals and ecclesiastics for their ungodly life, saying, that they ought to live modestly and virtuously like Christ and the apostles. By this he speedily drew upon him the envy and wrath of said persons, so that he was led before Pope Eugenius, and there cast into prison; where he was greatly tormented, yea, ultimately, sentenced to the fire, and burnt. Compare the last mentioned chronicle, _page 800, col. 2_, with _Vinc. Cal., fol. 145. Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.

_A. D. 1439_, there was condemned as a heretic, in the council of Basel (where the feast of the Conception of Mary was instituted and established), a certain upright man, named Augustine de Roma; but as to what happened to him after said condemnation by the council, has not been mentioned by the writers from whom we have quoted this. See the authors cited above. Also, _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 808_.

_A. D. 1450_, Alanus Chartetius wrote a book respecting the fruits reaped by the church from the unmarried life of the priests; by which he greatly reproved and censured the abuses in the church of the Romanists. See further on. In the same year, Peter de Luna opposed the Pope and the ecclesiastical power, and openly wrote against them, and was therefore also condemned as a heretic. From _Joh. Munst., fol. 182_. There were also at this time, many learned men, who discountenanced purgatory, confession, letters of indulgence, the mass, vigils, etc.; which, to all appearance, caused them much misery according to the body; but as we have not found the particulars in regard to it, we will pass them by. Compare the account of _Fortalius Sidæus_ with the last mentioned chronicle, _page 823, col. 2_, at the foot, and _page 824, col. 1_, at the top.

VERY MANY CHRISTIANS CALLED WALDENSES, PUT TO DEATH AT EICHSTÆDT, IN GERMANY, A. D. 1457.

After the church of God in Germany had enjoyed peace for a season, so that she, as it appears, began to grow, flourish, and increase, the thorns of persecution immediately arose over her; inasmuch as in the year 1457, particularly in the bishopric of Eichstædt, through the envy of the Romanists, her meetings were broken up, the believers apprehended, and all who remained steadfast, sentenced to death; who, in great numbers, from love to their Savior, and especially for the salvation of their own souls, gave their bodily life unto death, thus sealing with their blood, the truth which they had confessed at baptism before many witnesses; for which the Lord, hereafter, shall give to them, as triumphant conquerors, palms into their hands, place crowns upon their heads, and put a new song of praise into their mouths, so that for all their suffering they shall rejoice, shout, and be glad forever.

Touching the offering up of these friends of God, we have not been able correctly to ascertain it, namely, whether they perished by water, fire, or the sword; except that they were put to death for the doctrine of the Waldenses. Of their suffering and death, mention is also made in the second book of the _Hist. of the Persecutions, fol. 590, col. 4_, from _Vignier Hist. Eccles., A. D. 1457_.

The abovementioned author, or his printer, has made a chronological error, putting A. D. 1475 instead of A. D. 1457. Then follows: “A. D. ----, a great number of Christians professing the doctrine of the Waldenses, were discovered and apprehended in the bishopric or within the jurisdiction of Eichstædt, in Germany; very many of whom were put to death.”

This year, 1457, P. J. Twisck fixes as the date of this event, though he does not make mention of their death, but only of their severe persecution. _Chron., page 829, col. 2_, calling the scene of their persecution Richstadt, instead of Eichstædt.

NOTE.--_A. D. 1465._ At this time, Laurence Valla, a man of great learning, vigorously attacked the power and supremacy of the Pope, placing his salvation in the eternal merits of Christ. He reproved the vows and the lasciviousness of the monks, yea, declared publicly, that the Pope was the originator of all wars and dissensions; as also, that he had for sale not only worldly, but also spiritual goods, yea, even the (so-called) Holy Ghost. On account of this he was driven into banishment, and resided at Naples, where he died. _Chron. van den Ond., p. 841, col. 1_, from _John Munst., fol. 192, Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.

_A. D. 1470._--John de Wesalia (that is, John of Wesel) now taught at Worms, that all believers are saved by pure grace, through faith in Jesus Christ; and that the supremacy of the Pope is not to be regarded. He defended matrimony, and the dispensation of the Supper (called the Sacrament) under two forms, that is, with bread and wine. Human institutions, as fasts, letters of indulgence, feast-days, pilgrimages, extreme unction, confirmation, auricular confession and satisfaction,[200] he utterly rejected. In short, he was regarded as a heretic, and, in the year 1479, condemned and burnt at Mentz. Compare _Joh. Munst., fol. 196. Chron., Fra., fol. 91_, with the account in the _Chron. van den Ond., page 847, col. 2_. Others, however, make mention only of the burning of his books. See _A. M., fol. 597_; this the intelligent reader can easily distinguish, and, when necessary, reconcile.

[200] Or Penance imposed by the priest.--_Translator._

Again: Same year as above. George Morgenstern wrote and taught at this time against the errors of popery and the manifold attires of the monks. He said that the world was full of monks, but that scarcely in one out of a hundred could a little virtue be found. Whether the monks and other priests received this in good part, we may readily judge, though we have learned nothing in regard to his suffering. Compare _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 847, col. 1, with Catal. Test. Verit., fol. 884_.

STEPHEN, AN ELDER OF THE WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT VIENNA, IN AUSTRIA, ABOUT A. D. 1471.

About the year 1471, an awful persecution arose in and around Bohemia, against the old, orthodox Waldenses, whose orthodox confession we do not deem necessary to relate again. This persecution was excited by Johanna, the widow of King George of Bohemia, who, notwithstanding the death of her husband, earnestly solicited the princes of the realm, everywhere to exterminate not only those who were called Bohemian Brethren, but also the old Waldenses.

For this reason many went and sojourned in Austria; but as it is peculiar to the rose of the church of God to bloom among the thorns, it happened that also there no liberty could be found; so that the servants of antichrist, in the city of Vienna, in Austria, laid their hands, first of all, on Stephen, one of the elders of their church, besides raising a severe persecution over the believers in general.

But since this pious man, as becomes a good shepherd of the flock of Christ, did not wish to give offense to his sheep, and would not flee from the wolf which threatened to tear them, nor would, for any torments, forsake either his office or his faith, sentence of death was finally pronounced upon him, namely, that he should be executed with fire, that is, burnt alive. This severe punishment of death he steadfastly endured, having commended his soul into the hands of God. Of this hero of Christ, mention is also made in the second book of the _Hist. of the Persecutions, fol. 592, col. 4_, thus: “At this time there were not many Waldenses in Bohemia, on account of the violent persecution; but in Austria there still lived some, who were likewise for the most part dispersed, because of the cruelty of the torments, and the terror of persecution, after Stephen, one of their elders, had been burnt alive at Vienna, in Austria.

NOTE.--_A. D. 1471._ Stephen Brulifer, a theologian or divine, now maintained, that the doctrine was false, yea, a doctrine of Satan, which ascribes justification to the works and merits of men (who observe the religion of the priests); as also, that the church has no power to institute new sacraments. On account of these and like doctrines, he had to leave Paris, and come to Mentz, where he is said to have died in the year 1490. See the books cited above; also, _John Munst., fol. 199_; also, the last mentioned chronicle, _p. 851, col. 2_.