Fox's Book of Martyrs: Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant; Deaths of the Primitive Protestant MartyrsFoxe, John
HistoryHistory
Fox's Book of Martyrs: Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant; Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs
Foxe, John
Church history; Martyrs; Persecution
The first effects Mr. Lithgow felt of the determination of this bloody
tribunal was, a sentence to receive that night eleven different
tortures, and if he did not die in the execution of them, (which might
be reasonably expected from the maimed and disjointed condition he was
in) he was, after Easter holy-days, to be carried to Grenada, and there
burnt to ashes. The first part of this sentence was executed with great
barbarity that night; and it pleased God to give him strength both of
body and mind, to stand fast to the truth, and to survive the horrid
punishments inflicted on him.
After these barbarians had glutted themselves for the present, with
exercising on the unhappy prisoner the most distinguished cruelties,
they again put irons on, and conveyed him to his former dungeon. The
next morning he received some little comfort from the Turkish slave
before mentioned, who secretly brought him, in his shirt sleeve, some
raisins and figs, which he licked up in the best manner his strength
would permit with his tongue. It was to this slave Mr. Lithgow
attributed his surviving so long in such a wretched situation; for he
found means to convey some of these fruits to him twice every week. It
is very extraordinary, and worthy of note, that this poor slave, bred up
from his infancy, according to the maxims of his prophet and parents, in
the greatest detestation of christians, should be so affected at the
miserable situation of Mr. Lithgow, that he fell ill, and continued so
for upwards of forty days. During this period Mr. Lithgow was attended
by a negro woman, a slave, who found means to furnish him with
refreshments still more amply than the Turk, being conversant in the
house and family. She brought him every day some victuals, and with it
some wine in a bottle.
The time was now so far elapsed, and the horrid situation so truly
loathsome, that Mr. Lithgow waited with anxious expectation for the day,
which, by putting an end to his life, would also end his torments. But
his melancholy expectations were, by the interposition of Providence,
happily rendered abortive, and his deliverance obtained from the
following circumstances.
It happened that a Spanish gentleman of quality came from Grenada to
Malaga, who being invited to an entertainment by the governor, he
informed him of what had befallen Mr. Lithgow from the time of his being
apprehended as a spy, and described the various sufferings he had
endured. He likewise told him, that after it was known the prisoner was
innocent, it gave him great concern. That on this account he would
gladly have released him, restored his money and papers, and made some
atonement for the injuries he had received but that, upon an inspection
into his writings, several were found of a very blasphemous nature,
highly reflecting on their religion. That on his refusing to abjure
these heretical opinions, he was turned over to the inquisition, by whom
he was finally condemned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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