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 to the king and kingdom of France, for rooting out of heretics.

At a town called Sansay in France, in the year 1593, one Margaret Pieron was by her maid accused to the Jesuits for not going to Mass, and for keeping a bible in her house, who complaining thereof to the Judges: they sent for her, and said, Margaret, are you not willing to return home to your house, and there enjoy your husband and children? Yes, said she, if it may stand with the good will of God. Then, said they, if thou wilt do but a small matter thou shalt be set at liberty. If, said she, it be not contrary to God's glory, and my own salvation, you shall hear what I will say to it. No such thing, said they, for all that we require is this, that a scaffold being set up in the chief part of the town, you shall there crave pardon for offending the law, and a fire being made you shall burn your bible in it, without speaking a word. I pray you, my masters, said she, tell me is my bible a good book or no? Yes, said they, we confess it is, only to please the Jesuits we would have thee throw it in the fire; imagine it to be but paper, and then you may burn it, and you may buy another at any time, and thereby you may secure your life. They spent two hours in persuading her that she might commit a less evil to do a greater good.—She couragiously answered them, that by the help of God she would never do it. Will not the people say, said she, this is a wretched woman indeed, that burns the bible, wherein all the articles of the Christian religion are contained? I will certainly burn my body rather than I will burn my bible. Upon this she was committed