From Rise of Protestantism in France to Publication of the Institutes - James Aitken Wylie

from his ashes to confess the truth when he could
no longer preach it.
Arrived in Paris, he was brought before the
Parliament. The prisoner meekly yet courageously
confessed the Reformed faith. He was first cruelly
tortured. Putting his limbs in the boot, the
executioners drove in the wedges with such blows
that his left leg was crushed. Alexander groaned
aloud. "O God," he exclaimed, says Crespin, "there
is neither pity nor mercy in these men! Oh, that I
may find both in thee!" "Another blow," said the
head executioner. The martyr seeing Budaeus
among the assessors, and turning on him a look of
supplication, said, "Is there no Gamaliel here to
moderate the cruelty they are practicing on me?"[5]
Budaeus, great in the schools, but irresolute in
the matters of the Gospel, fixing an eye of pity on
Alexander, said, "It is enough: his torture is too
much: forbear." His words took effect. "The
executioners," says Crespin, "lifted up the martyr,
and carried him to his dungeon, a cripple."[6] He
was condemned to be burned alive. In the hope of
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