MARTIN LUTHER
He encouraged the German Princes to seize church property in return for protection for the Reformation. Along with others, he issued a licence permitting the Landgrave of Hesse to keep 2 wives simultaneously. However worse was to come.
He urged the slaughter of the German peasants:
"Let all who are able, cut them down, slaughter and stab them, openly or in secret, and remember that there is nothing more poisonous, noxious and utterly devilish than a rebel... For we are come upon such strange times that a prince may more easily win heaven by the shedding of blood than others by prayers."
This call by Luther for the slaying of the peasants in the Peasant Revolt, we have
100,000masequered right there alone.
Luther was no less inflamatory with regard to the Jews, as seen in the following excerpts from his pamphlet: The Jews and Their Lies, (1543):
"First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honour of our Lord and of Christendom,
ULRICH ZWINGLI
Was a serial adulterer, killed those who disagreed with him, and promoted war against Catholic areas that refused to follow his doctrines. he also approved the drowning of Anabaptists.
JOHN CALVIN
Had 58 people executed in Geneva in just a few years of establishing his trule which many describe as tyrannical. This included the burning of Servetus, Gruet and others for criticising Calvin. The modern-day Congregational, Prebyterian, Reformed, Baptist and many of the Charismatic churches, all look to this same Calvin as their founding spiritual authority
Calvin himself writes about 23 such victims, executed for
spreading the plague by witchcraft in a letter to Myconius of Basel (March 27, 1545):
"A conspiracy of men and women has lately been discovered, who, for the space of three years, had spread the plague through the city by what mischievous device I know not. After fifteen women have been burnt, some men have even been punished more severely, some have committed suicide in prison, and while twenty-five are still kept prisoners,—the conspirators do not cease, notwithstanding, to smear the door-locks of the dwelling-houses with their poisonous ointment.
THOMAS CRANMER and THOMAS CROMWELL
Founders of the Church of England, and through that the Baptists and the Methodists, helped directly to organise the plunder of the monasteries. Systematic torture and execution were used to gain the compliance of the population with the new protestant Church. This included the deaths of:
Queen Anne Boleyn
Queen Katherine Howard
St Thomas More
The Maid of Kent and her followers
Cardinal Fisher
Burning of Friar forrest
Disembowelling of Carthusian Monks
Execution and disembowelling of dozens monks and abbots who resisted the disollution of their monasteries.
After Catholics rose up in protest at the closing of the Monasteries in 1536, King Henry wrote:
"Our pleasure is that . . . you shall cause such dreadful execution to be done upon a good number of the inhabitants of every town, village, and hamlet that have offended, as they may be a fearful spectacle to all others hereafter that would practice any like matter."
Hundreds were massacred at random in the Catholic areas.
Others disembowelled or burnt within months included:
1534: Elizabeth Barton, q.v. (The Holy Maid of Kent), with five companions;John Dering, O.S.B., Edward Bocking, O.S.B., Hugh Rich, O.S.F., Richard Masters p., Henry Gold p.,
1537. Monks, 28. - After the pilgrimage of grace and the rising of Lincolnshire many, probably several hundred, were executed, of whom no record remains. The following names, which do survive, are grouped under their respective abbeys or priories. - Barling: Matthew Mackerel, abbot and Bishop of Chalcedon, Ord. Præm. Bardney: John Tenent, William Cole, John Francis, William Cowper, Richard Laynton, Hugh Londale, monks. Bridlington: William Wood, Prior. Fountains: William Thyrsk, O. Cist. Guisborough: James Cockerel, Prior.Jervaulx: Adam Sedbar, Abbot; George Asleby, monk. Kirkstead: Richard Harrison, Abbott, Richard Wade, William Swale, Henry Jenkinson, monks. Lenten: Nicholas Heath, Prior; William Gylham, monk. Sawlet: William Trafford, Abbott; Richard Eastgate, monk. Whalley: John Paslew, Abbott; John Eastgate, William Haydock, monks. Woburn: Robert Hobbes, Abbott; Ralph Barnes, sub-prior; Laurence Blonham, monk. York: John Pickering, O.S.D., Prior. Place unknown: George ab Alba Rose, O.S.A. Priests: William Burraby, Thomas Kendale, John Henmarsh, James Mallet, John Pickering, Thomas Redforth. Lords: Darcy and Hussey. Knights: Francis Bigod, Stephen Hammerton, Thomas Percy. Laymen (11): Robert Aske, Robert Constable, Bernard Fletcher, George Hudswell, Robert Lecche, Roger Neeve, George Lomley, Thomas Moyne, Robert Sotheby, Nicholas Tempest, Philip Trotter.
1538 (7): Henry Courtney, the Marquess of Exeter; Henry Pole, Lord Montague; Sir Edward Nevell and Sir Nicholas Carew; George Croft p., and John Collins p.; Hugh Holland l.. Their cause was "adhering to the Pope, and his Legate, Cardinal Pole".
1540 (6): Lawrence Cook O. Carm., Prior of Doncaster; Thomas Empson, O.S.B.; Robert Bird p.; William Peterson p.; William Richardson p.; Giles Heron l. 1544 (3): Martin de Courdres, O.S.A., and Paul of St. William, O.S.A.; Darby Genning
Over the next few reigns around
600 Catholic priests alone, and
thousands of ordinary Catholics were disembowelled or otherwise murdered by Protestants because of their faith. Topcliffe, Elizabeth's chief torturer, had a special house full of torture equipment to be used on Catholic priests. One elderly priest was tortured 12 separate times to gain information on other priests and believers.
JOHN KNOX
Founder of Presbyterian Church
Participated in the murder of Cardinal Beaton.
Advocated the killing of Queen Mary of Scotland
Praised the stabbing of Rizzio
Advocated the slaying of Catholics.
At 51 married a 15 year-0ld girl.
We could go on. The Protestant Inquisition in Ireland was even more vicious than most. A simple list just of