Foxe - The Book of Martyrs
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
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<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> next attempt <strong>of</strong> the Protestant forces was upon St. Secondo, which they attacked<br />
with great vigor, but met with a strong resistance from the Roman Catholic troops, who had<br />
fortified the streets and planted themselves in the houses, from whence they poured musket<br />
balls in prodigious numbers. <strong>The</strong> Protestants, however, advanced, under cover <strong>of</strong> a great<br />
number <strong>of</strong> planks, which some held over their heads, to secure them from the shots <strong>of</strong> the<br />
enemy from the houses, while others kept up a well-directed fire; so that the houses and<br />
entrenchments were soon forced, and the town taken.<br />
In the town they found a prodigious quantity <strong>of</strong> plunder, which had been taken from<br />
Protestants at various times, and different places, and which were stored up in the<br />
warehouses, churches, dwelling houses, etc. This they removed to a place <strong>of</strong> safety, to be<br />
distributed, with as much justice as possible, among the sufferers.<br />
This successful attack was made with such skill and spirit that it cost very little to the<br />
conquering party, the Protestants having only seventeen killed, and twenty-six wounded;<br />
while the papists suffered a loss <strong>of</strong> no less than four hundred and fifty killed, and five<br />
hundred and eleven wounded.<br />
Five Protestant <strong>of</strong>ficers, viz., Gianavel, Jahier, Laurentio, Genolet and Benet, laid a plan<br />
to surprise Biqueras. To this end they marched in five respective bodies, and by agreement<br />
were to make the attack at the same time. <strong>The</strong> captains, Jahier and Laurentio, passed through<br />
two defiles in the woods, and came to the place in safety, under covert; but the other three<br />
bodies made their approaches through an open country, and, consequently, were more<br />
exposed to an attack.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Roman Catholics taking the alarm, a great number <strong>of</strong> troops were sent to relieve<br />
Biqueras from Cavors, Bibiana, Feline, Campiglione, and some other neighboring places.<br />
When these were united, they determined to attack the three Protestant parties, that were<br />
marching through the open country.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Protestant <strong>of</strong>ficers perceiving the intent <strong>of</strong> the enemy, and not being at a great<br />
distance from each other, joined forces with the utmost expedition, and formed themselves<br />
in order <strong>of</strong> battle.<br />
In the meantime, the captains, Jahier and Laurentio, had assaulted the town <strong>of</strong> Biqueras,<br />
and burnt all the out houses, to make their approaches with the greater ease; but not being<br />
supported as they expected by the other three Protestant captains, they sent a messenger, on<br />
a swift horse, towards the open country, to inquire the reason. <strong>The</strong> messenger soon returned<br />
and informed them that it was not in the power <strong>of</strong> the three Protestant captains to support<br />
their proceedings, as they were themselves attacked by a very superior force in the plain, and<br />
could scarce sustain the unequal conflict.<br />
<strong>The</strong> captains, Jahier and Laurentio, on receiving this intelligence, determined to<br />
discontinue the assault on Biqueras, and to proceed, with all possible expedition, to the relief<br />
<strong>of</strong> their friends on the plain. This design proved to be <strong>of</strong> the most essential service, for just<br />
as they arrived at the spot where the two armies were engaged, the papist troops began to<br />
prevail, and were on the point <strong>of</strong> flanking the left wing, commanded by Captain Gianavel.<br />
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