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> arrival <strong>of</strong> these troops turned the scale in favour <strong>of</strong> the Protestants: and the papist forces,<br />
though they fought with the most obstinate intrepidity, were totally defeated. A great number<br />
were killed and wounded, on both sides, and the baggage, military stores, etc., taken by the<br />
Protestants were very considerable.<br />
Captain Gianavel, having information that three hundred <strong>of</strong> the enemy were to convoy<br />
a great quantity <strong>of</strong> stores, provisions, etc., from La Torre to the castle <strong>of</strong> Mirabac, determined<br />
to attack them on the way. He, accordingly, began the assault at Malbec, though with a very<br />
inadequate force. <strong>The</strong> contest was long and bloody, but the Protestants at length were obliged<br />
to yield to the superiority <strong>of</strong> numbers, and compelled to make a retreat, which they did with<br />
great regularity, and but little loss.<br />
Captain Gianavel advanced to an advantageous post, situated near the town <strong>of</strong> Vilario,<br />
and then sent the following information and commands to the inhabitants.<br />
1. That he should attack the town in twenty-four hours.<br />
2. That with respect to the Roman Catholics who had borne arms, whether they<br />
belonged to the army or not, he should act by the law <strong>of</strong> retaliation, and put them to<br />
death, for the numerous depredations and many cruel murders they had committed.<br />
3. That all women and children, whatever their religion might be, should be safe.<br />
4. That he commanded all male Protestants to leave the town and join him.<br />
5. That all apostates, who had, through weakness, abjured their religion, should be<br />
deemed enemies, unless they renounced their abjuration.<br />
6. That all who returned to their duty to God, and themselves, should be received<br />
as friends.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Protestants, in general immediately left the town, and joined Captain Gianavel with<br />
great satisfaction, and the few, who through weakness or fear, had abjured their faith,<br />
recanted their abjuration and were received into the bosom <strong>of</strong> the Church. As the marquis <strong>of</strong><br />
Pianessa had removed the army, and encamped in quite a different part <strong>of</strong> the country, the<br />
Roman Catholics <strong>of</strong> Vilario thought it would be folly to attempt to defend the place with the<br />
small force they had. <strong>The</strong>y, therefore, fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving the town<br />
and most <strong>of</strong> their property to the discretion <strong>of</strong> the Protestants.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Protestant commanders having called a council <strong>of</strong> war, resolved to make an attempt<br />
upon the town <strong>of</strong> La Torre.<br />
<strong>The</strong> papists being apprised <strong>of</strong> the design, detached some troops to defend a defile,<br />
through which the Protestants must make their approach; but these were defeated, compelled<br />
to abandon the pass, and forced to retreat to La Torre.<br />
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