THE
Loyal Martyrs; or, Bloody Inquisiror.
BEING
A just Account of the Mercenary and Inhuman Barbarities transacted in the Inquisition of Spain.
Shewing, How a Gentleman having married, a young Lady in St Jamess Street, they agreed to travel togteher for the Space of five Years, to see foreign Parts. How
as soon as they came to Spain, intending to take a View of the Place, they were both seizd by Order of the Inquisitor. Also how they were separately examined
and charged with Crimes that they were innocent of. How they underwent their Punishments inflicted on them, in order to exhort a Confession from them. Like-
wise, how they were tried by their Court of Justice, and condemnd to be burnt alive. The Manner of their Behaviour at the Place of Execution, where they were
tormented near two Hours before they expired, during which Time there continued a dreadful [s]torm of Thunder and Lightning nthose cruel Wretches that
came to see them suffer.
|
How a Gentleman and his Lady tra-
|
velled to Spain, and what Misfor-
|
tune happened them.
|
OF all the Nations in the Universe,
|
Theres none sure can compare
|
With Spain, for bloody Sentences,
|
As Ill to you declare:
|
The Manner of their Inquisition,
|
Is what I shall relate:
|
A beauteous Couple, as we hear,
|
Fell in their Hands of late.
|
first will let you understand,
|
This Squires Name and Place
|
Of dwelling, when he left this Land,
|
Which provd unfortunate.
|
He livd in St. Jamess Street,
|
Arrow Smith was his Name;
|
He had four hundred Pounds a Year
|
With his Lady of Fame.
|
For Beauty none could her exc[e]e[d]
|
She was so lovely fair;
|
Her Cheeks were like the fragrant Rose
|
Few could with her compare.
|
She was the Beauty of the Age,
|
And he as fine a Youth;
|
Which did each others Love engage,
|
As we hear for a Truth.
|
He says to his Lady one Day,
|
My Dear, will you agree
|
To go with me to foreign Parts,
|
Their Customs for to see:
|
And about the Space of five Years Time
|
We will return again,
|
Here back into our native Place,
|
Where we will then remain.
|
She answerd Love, Im ready to
|
Obey all you[r] Commands;
|
And with you thro the World will go
|
Freely with Heart and Hand.
|
I am not in the least afraid
|
To travel where you please;
|
For you are all I value here,
|
My whole Support and Ease.
|
Then Preparations soon were made,
|
They having both agreed, s
|
That first of all to Spain theyd go,
|
So they set out with Speed.
|
They took with them two serving Men
|
Upon then for to wait;
|
But now their Scene of Misery,
|
To you I will relate.
|
A spacious Lodging there they took,
|
Some Days in Pleasure spent,
|
In viewing of the Country round,
|
Which was their sole Intent:
|
At last a wicked Jesuit,
|
Upon her cast an Eye,
|
Saying, If I do not her enjoy,
|
They surely both shall die.
|
This Villain usd all Means he could,
|
To gain her Company,
|
But never could obtain his Ends,
|
To stain her Chastity:
|
At last he being swelld with Rage,
|
And wicked Lust did burn,
|
He gave an Information there
|
Were two that would not turn.
|
The Inquisitor said, then let them
|
Be brought then before me,
|
To answer for their Insolence,
|
Ill soon make them agree:
|
How dare they to withstand our Laws,
|
That are so good and just.
|
If they be stubborn in their Ways,
|
They shall burn to Dust.
|
This beauteous Couple then were seizd
|
Not knowing what they meant,
|
The Lady frightned to them said,
|
Pray what is your Intent?
|
I know no Harm that we have done,
|
What means this sudden Strife?
|
They said to join in our just Cause,
|
Or else youll lose your Life.
|
The Squire before the Inquisitor,
|
He was examined first,
|
To know the Reason why he did
|
Withstand their Laws so just.
|
He answerd very boldly then,
|
Before that I will turn,
|
From the Religion I profess,
|
Ill sooner chuse to burn.
|
The Squire and his Lady at the Inqui-
|
sition House examining before the
|
Inquisitor.
|
THE Inquisitor was then enragd,
|
Saying, Tortures, Hell, and Fire,
|
You surely, Sir, shall have,
|
Since it is your Desire:
|
You guilty are of many Crimes,
|
Though you do them deny;
|
But if that youll confess and turn,
|
Ill use you handsomely.
|
Your Superstition I defy,
|
Ive nothing more to say:
|
The Inquisitor gave Orders then
|
For to take him away.
|
And punish him as Ill describe,
|
Because he would not plead;
|
Which when I do relate the same,
|
Twill make your Hearts to bleed.
|
Then in a Dungeon dismal dark,
|
They seperate were confind.
|
Poor Souls they little thought what Death
|
They had for them designd.
|
The Lady she was frightened much,
|
And seemd to grieve full sore;
|
And for to see each others Face,
|
They did the Lord implore.
|
A Fire quickly was prepard,
|
Before it he was brought.
|
And movd Feet foremost by Degrees,
|
Till they his Feet had scorchd.
|
He never seemd to winch or cry,
|
But still endure the Pain;
|
And when his Life was almost spent,
|
They brought him back again.
|
The Lady next examind was.
|
Of Crimes she did not know:
|
The Judge said, Child if youll confess
|
I will you Mercy show.
|
Confess what! O Sir, she did say,
|
I know not what you mean;
|
To my dear God I will be just,
|
I value not your Spleen.
|
He said, Child if youll but understand,
|
You are in a wrong Cause:
|
Id have you know youre in this Land
|
Submit to our just Laws;
|
Or else you and your Husband both,
|
Your Trial soon shall take:
|
For Heretics you shall be burnd,
|
If you dont it forsake.
|
As for your Punishments she said,
|
I value not a Pin.
|
One Thing of you I have to crave,
|
To see my Dear again;
|
And grant we both in one Urn,
|
Together may expire;
|
For this our good and glorious Cause,
|
Is all here I desire.
|
The Inquisitor said, Lady fair,
|
Pray dont so stubborn be,
|
Ill save you if you confess,
|
The Crimes you have done to me.
|
To our good Religion turn,
|
Then happy you may dwell;
|
But if you dont, youll surely burn,
|
And both will go to Hell.
|
Undauntedly she Answer made,
|
Your Subtile I defy,
|
All the Torments you can invent,
|
Shall neer make me deny
|
The blessed Tracks of my dear Christ
|
That will my Guardian be,
|
Preserve me from tormenting Pains,
|
To all Eternity.
|
To the Secretary then he said,
|
Now I am fully bent,
|
Since my Commands she wont bey,
|
A severe Punishment.
|
She speedily shall undergo,
|
And I will see it done;
|
She shall severely torturd be,
|
Because she will not turn.
|
The Squire and his Lady undergoing
|
the Torture the Inquisitor put them
|
to, because they would not turn to
|
be Roman Catholics.
|
THEY tied her down upon her Back
|
Likewise her Hands and Feet,
|
Poor Soul the Cords they tied so tight
|
On her made her sweat:
|
Then Water through a fine Lawn Cloth,
|
They pourd down her Throat;
|
But still to them shed not comply,
|
Though she was almost choakd.
|
The Inquisitor gave Orders then,
|
That she should be untied,
|
And for their stubborn Insolence,
|
They both should soon be tried.
|
Poor Lady she was almost spent,
|
With their curst Cruelty;
|
But the first Word she spoke was this,
|
Before Ill turn, Ill die.
|
You may torment my Body here,
|
But cannot hurt my Soul;
|
With Patience Ill your Torments bear,
|
You neer shall me controul:
|
My blessed God is good and just,
|
And will stand by me still;
|
So Im resolvd still to observe
|
His blessed holy Will.
|
Sure such undaunted Courage in
|
Womans seldom found;
|
She was sent back unto the Place,
|
Till she receivd her Doom.
|
Twas in a dismal Dungeon where
|
No Light was to be seen;
|
She valued not what she endured,
|
For the blest Cause she stood in.
|
Six Months this Squire and his Love,
|
Confind was in this Place;
|
He said, O God, grant that I
|
Once more may see her Face:
|
I value not these Wertches Spleen,
|
Could I preserve my Wife:
|
I all the Torments do defy,
|
I value not my Life.
|
Poor Souls they had a great Desire,
|
Each other for to see;
|
The Jailor that attended them,
|
Said, Sir, that cannot be:
|
You will not see your Lady fair,
|
Till youre to Justice brought;
|
And if you dont turn to our Faith,
|
Your Deaths are surely wrought.
|
In about six Weeks after this,
|
There did an Order come,
|
To bring them both to Justice Hall,
|
For to receive their Doom.
|
But when they did each other see,
|
With Extasy of Joy,
|
The Lady she fainted away,
|
Who could such Love annoy.
|
Soon as they brought her to herself,
|
Then came on their Trials,
|
And in the Cages they were put,
|
Places for Criminals:
|
Their Accusation being read,
|
The Judge to them did say,
|
You hear Prisoners what is alledgd,
|
Against you here this Day.
|
The Squire and his Lady brought be-
|
fore the Inquisitor and Judge, to
|
take their Trial.
|
THE Squire then he askd the Judge,
|
Where was his Accuser;
|
Sir, that is not the Custom here,
|
Says the Inquisitor:
|
One horrid Crimes laid to your Charge,
|
We well assured be,
|
That you are both guilty of it,
|
Which is damnd Heresy.
|
And if its so you will not turn,
|
Unto our heavenly Cause.
|
You and your Wife shall surely burn,
|
According to our Laws:
|
The Judge said to the Lady then,
|
If you will not comply,
|
You may be sure your Souls are damnd,
|
To all Eternity.
|
Then with a smiling Countenance,
|
The Lady did reply,
|
Your Idol Worships what I hate;
|
I do your Spleen defy:
|
You are a Pack of Hypocrites,
|
I value not your Laws:
|
Id lay ten thousand Lives at Stake,
|
For such a glorious Cause.
|
There is a blest Redeemer dear,
|
That will support us still;
|
And all the Tortures you invene,
|
Can do our Souls no ill;
|
Since you have doomd us both ot die,
|
I value not my Breath;
|
With Crowns of Gold we both shall meet
|
In Heaven, after Death.
|
The Inquisitor said to the Judge,
|
I pray the Sentence give,
|
For eight and forty Hours longer
|
They ought not for to live:
|
If we take all this Insolence,
|
And they not punishd be,
|
To Christ we shall give great Offence,
|
For such Indulgency.
|
The horrid Sentence then was passd,
|
that they should burn Talive;
|
The Executioner was calld,
|
On Purpose to contrive,
|
How he might die a lingring Death;
|
They answer soon did make,
|
Leave that to us for Punishment,
|
When they are at the Stake.
|
Unto the Judge with Courage bold,
|
The Lady she did say,
|
I have but one Thing more to crave,
|
The Time we here shall stay:
|
That we may in one Dungeon be.
|
Our Prayers to make to Christ
|
Who for us is preparing now
|
A blest and happy Feast.
|
The Squire and his Lady at Prayers.
|
THIS Favour then granted was,
|
At last, with much Debate,
|
Her Beauty was admired much,
|
By most that round her sat:
|
She was not daunted in the least,
|
At whhich she must go through;
|
Such Courage in a Woman sure,
|
Before I never knew.
|
Then in a Dungeon they were put,
|
Where they could see no Light;
|
In offerring Prayers, and singing Hymns,
|
They passd away the Night:
|
The fatal Morning being come,
|
That they must martyd be,
|
The Jailor said, now Orders brought,
|
That you must go with me.
|
Says the Squire, with all my Heart:
|
I long to enjoy the Bliss:
|
Poor Souls they eagerly did meet,
|
To take a parting Kiss:
|
Their Lips, O then were loath to part
|
At last he burst in Tears:
|
Saying I value nothing but
|
This Life of you, my Dear
|
The Manner of the Procession of all the
|
holy Fathers, Monks, Jesuits, and
|
Priests, from the Inquisition house to
|
the Place of Execution; and their
|
horrid Barbarity is called an holy
|
Act of Faith..
|
YOU need not value that my Love.
|
We soon shall meet again:
|
Whod grudge to die, when such a glorious
|
Cause we now maintain?
|
What are those Tortures we endure,
|
To those blest Joys above,
|
Which we shall soon in Heaven enjoy,
|
My Dear and only Love?
|
The trickling Tears bedewd their Cheek,
|
And loath they were to part:
|
The Jailor said, we must away,
|
Which touchd them most at Heart
|
Then to the Place of Execution,
|
Hand in Hand they went;
|
While they were ying to the Stake,
|
There was an Order sent,
|
That the Lady should strangled be,
|
Before that she was burnt.
|
Hearing, to the Messenger
|
She hastily then turnd:
|
Go tell your Master now from me,
|
His Favour scorn I shall;
|
In all that he can me torment,
|
I value not at all.
|
The Squire and his Lady at the Place
|
of Execution.
|
THE Inquisitor hearing of this,
|
Again his Order sent,
|
That they should die the hardest Death
|
That ever could invent:
|
When both their Hands with Cords were tied,
|
Up to the fatal Stake,
|
They then did put unto their Feet,
|
A great and mighty Weight.
|
And them they drawed up and down,
|
Near an Hour and more;
|
Yet notwithstanding all this While,
|
This Pain with Patience bore.
|
They were not seen to shed a Tear,
|
In the Torments they went through,
|
But loud continued singing Psalms,
|
And Hallelujahs too.
|
The Fire and the Fuizes then
|
They did begin to light.
|
And thrust the Fuizes in their Face,
|
Which was a dreadful Sight.
|
A frightful Storm of Thunder, Hail,
|
And Lightning did descend
|
Upon these wicked Wretches, that
|
Did come to see their End.
|
Soon as these blessed Souls expird,
|
The dreadful Storm did cease,
|
And then the Sun his glorious Lustre
|
Greatly did increase,
|
These Wretches seizd upon their Wealth
|
And then in Scorn did say
|
Unto their Servants, you to England
|
Now may go away,
|
And tell how we your Heretic
|
Master and Mistress used,
|
Because they remained obstinate,
|
And did our Laws abuse:
|
They thought to do just as they pleasd
|
But they mistaken were,
|
And all such Heretics as they,
|
That will our Power dare.
|
|
|
|
|
|