Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

James de Clerk. Nicholas of Fernague. M. Hermes of Wingless, one of the council for the said Bailiwick. | Bertrand le Blas. At Dornic. An. 1555. | The Story of Bertrand is lamentable, his torments uncredible, the tyranny showed unto him horrible, the constancy of the Martyr admirable. This Bertrand being a Sylkeweaver, went to Wesell for the cause of religion. Who being desirous to draw his Wife and Children from Dornic to Wesell, came thrice from thence to persuade with her to go with him thither. When she in no wise could be entreated, he remaining a few days at home, set his house in order, and desired his Wife and his Brother to pray that God would stablish him in his enterprise, that he went about. That done, he went upon Christmas day to the high Church of Dornic, where he took the cake out of the Priests hands, as he would have lift it over his head at Mass, and stamped it under his feet, saying that he did it to show the glory of that God, and what little power he hath: with other words moe to the people, to persuade them that the cake or fragment of bread was not Jesus their Saviour. At the sight hereof the people being stricken with a marvellous damp stood all amazed. At length such a stir thereupon followed, that Bertrand could hardly escape with life. It was not long but the noise of this was carried to the Bailiff of Henegow, and governor of the Castle of Dornic, which lay sick the same time, of the gout, at Biesy. Who like a mad man cried out, that ever God would or could be so patient, to suffer that contumely, so to be trodden under the foot of such a miser: adding moreover, that he would revenge his cause in such sort, as it should be an example for ever to all posterity, and forthwith the furious tyrant commanded himself to be carried to the Castle of Dornic. Bertrand being brought before him, was asked whether he repented of his fact, or whether he would so do, if it were to be done again. Who answered, that if he were an hundred times to be done, he would do it: and if he had an hundred lives, he would give them in that quarrel. Then was he thrice put to the pinebank,¹ tormented most miserably, to utter his setters on, which he would never do. Then proceeded they to the sentence, more like tyrants then Christen men. By the tenor of which sentence, this was his punishment:

Iames de Clerke. Nicholas of Fernague. M. Hermes of Wingles, one of the counsell for the sayd Baliwicke. | Bertrand le Blas. At Dornic. An. 1555. | The Story of Bertrand is lamentable, his tormentes vncredible, the tyrannye shewed vnto him horrible, the constancye of the Martyr admyrable. This Bertrand beyng a Sylkeweauer, went to Wesell for the cause of religion. Who being desirous to drawe hys Wyfe and Chyldren from Dornic to Wesell, came thryse from thence to perswade with her to goe with hym thither. When shee in no wise coulde be entreated, hee remaynyng a few dayes at home, set hys house in order, and desyred his Wife and his Brother to pray that God woulde stablishe him in hys enterprise, that he went aboute. That done, he went vpon Christenmas daye to the hygh Churche of Dornic, where hee tooke the cake out of the Priestes handes, as he would haue lyft it ouer hys heade at Masse, and stampt it vnder his feet, saying that he did it to shew the glory of that God, and what litle power he hath: with other wordes moe to the people, to perswade them that the cake or fragment of breade was not Iesus theyr Sauiour. At the sight hereof the people beyng stroken with a maruelous damp stood all amazed. At length such a styrre therupon folowed, that Bertrand could hardely escape with life. It was not long but the noyse of this was caryed to the Baylife of Henegow, and gouernour of the Castle of Dornic, which lay sicke the same time, of the gowte, at Biesy. Who like a madde man cried out, that euer God would or could be so pacient, to suffer that contumely, so to be troden vnder the foote of such a myser: adding moreouer, that he would reuenge his cause in such sorte, as it shoulde be an example for euer to all posterity, and forthwith the furyous tyraunt commaunded himselfe to be caried to ye Castle of Dornic. Bertrand being brought before him, was asked whether hee repented of hys fact, or whether he would so doe, if it were to be done agayne. Who aunswered, that if he were an hundreth tymes to be done, he woulde doe it: and if he had an hundreth liues, he would geue them in that quarrell. Then was he thrise put to the pynebanke,