[199] The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up. Matt. 4:16.
Of the sacrifice of these friends, mention is also made in the second book of the _History of the Persecutions, p. 577, col. 4_, where it says: “At Donau, in Flanders, A. D. 1421, a great number was discovered, who professed the doctrine of the Waldenses, many of whom, remaining steadfast, were burnt alive.” Also, _Vignier, Hist. Eccl., in the year 1421, ex Monstrelets_.
NOTE.--Whether those of Dort, in Holland, were also guilty at this time, of the blood of the saints, we have not been able to ascertain; nevertheless, the Lord severely chastised them in this year, 1421, so that, through heavy floods, the city became an island, and was deprived of seventy-two villages that lay round about, and were all swallowed up in the water.
Hence, the following inscription is found carved on the outside of the Speuy Gate of said city, over the arch, in blue stone:
“_All land and water which here you see, were Seventy-two parishes, chronicles state, Swallowed by water’s resistless power; Thousand four hundred seventy-one by date._”
This event is so generally known, and has been described by so many authors, that I deem it unnecessary to add anything by way of confirmation. A sad thing for the place of our birth. NOTE.--_A. D. 1423._--At this time, writes P. J. Twisck, Henry Gruenfelder was burnt for the truth, in the city of Regensburg, in Germany; and shortly after, in the same city, Henry Rathgeber. _Chron., p. 787, col. 1_, compared with _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.
_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.