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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80219	The history of the Bohemian persecution, from the begining of their conversion to Christianity in the year 894. to the year 1632. Ferdinand the 2. of Austria. Reigning. In which the unheard of secrets of policy, consells, arts, and dreadfull judgements are exhibited.	Comenius, Johann Amos, 1592-1670.	1650 (1650)	Wing C5508; Thomason E1282_1; ESTC R208946	168,002	391

beloved people pray for your King that God would give him the knowledge of truth for he is misled by the Bishops and Clergy And having ended this most Godly exhortation they with it ended their lives August 29. CHAP XXXIII The judgement of God upon Zaheram and his complices I. DVchoslaw a citizen of Prague and a chiefe pickthanke of Zahera so violently hated those of the true faith that he wished all the Piccardines either to be hanged beheaded or burned by his own hands all which by the just judgement of God befell him For being greatly in debt in the yeare 1525 on St. Andrew's day he hanged himself at his own house whom his kinsmen privily conveyed away buried obscurely near unto a certain Village but when the country people had notice thereof they digged up the carkase and cast it way which by the commandement of the Magistrate was delivered to the executioner to bee burned but when the great Wood-stack was consumed and he notwithstanding was not burned his head was taken off from the can case being very much scorched and so at length were buried 2. Zahera himselfe when under a colour of inquisition against the Piccardins he had raised up civill commotions by King Ferdinand his command in the year 1529. on the ninth of August hee was proscribed and presently on the self same day instead of the procession which the day before he solemnized in the commemoration of St. Lawrence is forced to leave his own country from whence hee went into Misnia but notice being taken by the Electour what kind of man he was he was again banished and died miserably in Frantonia 3. The same likewise happened to that cruell Paschus the chief Consull in the year 1530. who in vaine cast him down at the Kings feet and sued for pardon CHAP. XXXIIII Perpetuall oppressions under Ferdinand the first I. ALL the Hussites for denying the absolute obedience to the Pope were hated but the Brethren for quite casting him off were utterly detested Neither for any other end did the Papists dissemble the observance of the Confederats then that they might especially make use of the Calixtines in suppressing the Brethren they therefore presse the Ordinance of Wladislaus neither did omit doing what mischiefe they could to the Brethren 2. The Brethren therefore through the whole Kingdome suffering many things send againe unto Ferdinand by the Baron William Krzinezium and Mr. Henry Domausitius to Vienna an Apologie or a Confession of Faith more copious than before to which twelve Barons thirty three Knights had subscribed in the yeare 1535 complaining and declaring how unjustly they were accused of the errous of the Piccardines and how neverthelesse certaine parish Priests boldly and bloudily cry out that the Piccardines may be slaine scot-free and that a lesse sinne is committed than if a man had killed a dog against all which injuries they with teares desire the justice of God and the pitty and protection of the King 3. Ferdinand did not approve of their stubborne perseverance and denied that the booke could be read at that time so exactly as necessity required in regard of many incombrances but promised that nothing should bee permitted to bee done either against Law or Equity untill he had a fuller knowledge of the cause 4. While this controversy was depending the Brethren were very much urged at home and encouraged from abroad letters passing very frequently from Luther Bucer and Capitone But God maugre the enemies added great increase to the Church and to the Churches where the Gospell was preached through all Germany even unto that lamentable yeare 1547 5. For Caesar Carolus putting into execution the Decrees of the Tridentall Councells with his brother Ferdinand and the Pope taking counsell together raise warre against the Protestant Princes of Germany and Ferdinand soliciteth the Bohemians for aid but they pretending their ancient leagues with the house of Saxonie and their mutuall affection and fidelity aswell the chief Magistrates of the Kingdome as the free Denisons as it were with unanimous consent for most of them began to encline to Lutheranisme and decline Hussitisme excuse themselves 6. Ferdinand therefore having in warre overcome the protestants in Germany in the yeare 1547. entreth into Bohemia with an army of Germanes and Hungarians seizeth upon Prague calls forth the chief Magistrates and casteth into prison the principall Barons Noblemen and Citizens some he scourgeth some he beheadeth on some he layeth a large fine and some he despoileth of all their goods for ever He takes all their arms out of their armories as also their priviledges some he banisheth others of their owne accord exiled themselves CHAP. XXXV The Churches of the Brethren every where shut up and some of their Churches publiquely sold I. IN so sad a condition of things Satan hath his incensors who lay all this blame upon the Brethren and for that cause were very diligent to bring them into hatred with the King the Peers and the people the King therefore giving credit to these malicious surmizes first by open proclamation commanded all the Churches of the Brethren to be shut up and then of five Signiories Litomislena Brundusina Chlumecensi Bydzoviensi and Turnoviensi which for that they were suspected of Rebellion among other things of note he tooke away their Peers all the auditors of the brethren unlesse they had revolted to the faction under one or both kinds hee banished out of his confines 2. By which thunderbolt no small part of them being cast downe they agreed that they would bee more constant to God and faithfull to their Consciences by common consent they went into Polonia in three companies The first gathered out of Lytomislenians Bydzovinians and Clumecensians to the numbtr of 500 soules there went with them 60 Waggons by the County Clacensis and the upper Silesia Another company having Turnovians and some Brundusians about 300 soules they went with 50 Waggons by the mountains of Giants and Silesia the lower The third the same way containing the rest of the Brundusians Yet all of them had experience of an admirable divine protection in their journey for both in one and an other place they met with such as would have robbed the● and also in most places the Christian commiseration and liberality of men yea even in Polonia though they stood for the Pope for at Posuania where they all met they were courteously admitted and entertained before the Bishop had obtained a Maudate from the King concerning the driving them out 3. Which assoone as it came they are forced to depart from thence and to goe into the farthest parts of Prussia by the leave of Duke Albert Brandenburgh unto whom they had sent before some to solicite concerning a place of abode for banished men and there they that were knowne for brethren being examined of the Lutheran Divines of Regiomontum for they had with them Ministers of their owne the chief of whom was Mathias Sionius the Elder one and

but in regard it was found that many evills even heresies have had their rise from thence Christian order being now established it is not convenient to connive at it And therefore it cannot be granted what your people doth so earnestly but inconsiderately desire and this we forbid in the power of God and most blessed Peter exhorting thee also by the honor of the omnipotent God to withstand by all means such like vain rashnesse yea we command thee Dated at Rome anno 1079. 4. Loe here a Cover worthy the Dish for Histories do term this Gregory alias Hildebrand an ungodly man a Magician a vehement firebrand of the warres in Europe Could therefore any thing of truth or holiness be expected from him But time it was to punish the worlds ingratitude wherein the seducing power of errours should be sent into the world as the Apostle foretold 2 Thes 2. and so necessary it was that Bohemia it self but lately converted to the Faith should participate of the dimnesse which preceded the approaching darknesse and more and more be fettered with Antichristian bands Neverthelesse Bohemi● never committed any abominations which were visible to her through the darknesse without reluctancy and compulsion From whence it was that Rome fro● Antiquity did often in large expressions bestow the title of Heretiques before all others upon the Bohemians 5. When in the year 1197. Peter Cardinal of Brode way being sent to Prague by Pope Celestine urge● the necessity of single life and enjoyned Divorces unto those who were ordained for the Ministerie he was even upon the point of being stoned by the Priests and and Prelates Haiec. fol. 212. 6. About the year 1350. in the Reigne of Charles the fourth likewise Emperour of Rome the sacriledgious administration of the Lords Supper under one kind was first heard and seen in Bohemia under the first Arch-Bishop Ernestus of Eardubitz the Italian French and Germane Divines and Magistrates whom Charles had chosen Professors for the newly founded University of Prague very much perswading him to it Forreigners also well learned in the Arts who came thither in great troops drawing away very many by their Example 7. Certain of the Bohemians distracted by these factions apostatized and began to assert That the Custome in other places received ought not to be rejected there that the Sacrament ought not to be easily granted much lesse dailie disttibuted in both kinds and that not without the peculiar indulgence of the Arch-Bishop CHAP. VI. John Melice and Conrade Stickna 1. THese clamours increasing Mr. John Melice _____ of Prague a man descen●ed of a noble family and of a fervent spirit of whom ●lso men●ion is made in the catalogue of witnesses un●o the Truth whether by word or writing was the● first that stood out in opposition For when for his are Learning and Holinesse of life he was made Pre●ect of the Clergy in the Cathedrall Church of _____ ●nd had a great Auditory he began to exhort the people unto a frequent communion in both kinds to com●lain much of spirituall desolation to rebuke divers a●uses abominations being much helped with the god●y endeavors of his faithful colleague Conrade Stickna a man eminent for Learning and Eloquence 2. These two by their zealous preaching effected amongst other things that the notorious Brothell house at Prague called Venice was throwne downe and in ●ts place Mary Magdalen church erected which per●dventure was a praeludium of the speedy destruction of the spirituall common Stewes 3. Neverthelesse Melicius himself hath left a writing concerning himself for some of his writings are preserved that he was pricked in conscience that he should go to Rome and there testifie that the great Antichrist was come and did then reign He prayed unto God with fasting and tears that unlesse these cogitations did proceed from his spirit he would deliver him from them but because he could find no inward quiet he went to Rome and writ upon some o● the cardinalls doors Antichrist is come and sittet● in the Church and in his conferences with many he averred the same 4. There is a Bull of Greg. the 11. now extant whereby Melice with his auditors were anathematized Hee therefore imprisoneth him but afterward perhaps for fear of the people he releaseth him i● the year 1366. Melice continued eight years in th● hatred of Antichrist and in the year 1374 and fourt● Nones of February he Swan like ended his life five years after the happy dissolution of his colleagu● Stickna CHAP. VII Mathias Janovius or the Parisian 1. MAtthias Janovius of Prague commonly called the Parisian because he continued Student in Paris nine years succeeded him he wa● confessor unto Charles the fourth and more ferve●● and zealous then his Predecessors in defending communion in both kinds He wrote many things as O● the life of a Christian Of Hypocrisie Of Antichrist Of the frequent receiving of the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ In which booke at the end it is thus written It expresseth the work of Mr. Matthias of Paris a man famous for his admirable devotion who for his constant preaching suffered great persecution and this for the truth of the Gospell 2. Histories tell us that this Parisian together with some other learned men went to Charles promoted unto Kingly Dignity and requested him to call an Oecumenicall Councell for the churches reformation But the King returned unto them this answer That it was not in his power but belonged unto the Ghostly Father the Pope of Rome and therefore he would write in their behalfe and intreat a councell from him which after he had done the Pope was provoked and did so importune him for the punishing of those rash and hereticall men that Charles being madded with the authority of the Pope although he loved this Parisian yet commanded him to depart out of his Kingdome who though indeed he returned afterwards yet lead he the remainder of his life in private deceasing in the yeare 1394. Novemb. 30. See mention made of him in catalogo Test. Verit 3 Now Ianovius being banished the adversaries forbad and abol shed communion in both kinds not only in the Church of Aix but every where at Prague and through the whole Kingdome so that the more constant among them could not celebrate and receive the Sacrament after their accustomed manner except in private houses and after that in Woods and Caves and there not without hazzard of their lives and persecutions for they were set upon in the ways plundered beaten and drown'd in rivers so that at length they were necessitated to go together armed and in strong companies Which from that time continued untill the days of Husse 4. Letters Patents also were extorted from Charles although Hajec sayth it was sent to the Prelats of his own accord wherein an inquisition is ordained and punishment by fire determined to bee inflicted upon those who departed from the faith and ceremonies of the Church of Rome It is extant

great that having in his left hand his sword drawn and with his right hand seizing on the throat of Fausereus threatned a blow yet hee refrained and went out unto his sonne and charged him to put him from him this John Blosislaus minister of the bre●hren in Moravia afterwards an elder and then an inhabitant of Vienna tooke from the mouth of Fauserus and sealed it in writing Neither did Maximilianus after that as long as he lived admit of any but such as should be well ordered governours of his conscience and was wont to say and moreover wrote to Lazarus Swendius a Baron that those men would invade Gods throne who did Lord it over mens consciences 3. Among others who if need were did instill into this good Prince peaceable principles was that discreet man John Cratis a physitian him he made choise of for his chief Doctor and esteemed of him as his speciall friend and acquaintance This man alone with Caesar going into the field for the recreation of himself was taken up into his Chariot and recounting unto Caesar with much grief the many differences in Christianity demanded of Crato among all sects that of late sprung up in the Church which he thought came neerest the Apostolicall purity answered I know not whether I may say to the brethren which are called Piccardines Caesar replied I am of that opinion Crato tooke that boldnesse to perswade the brethren whom he knew had set forth a new edition of a Germane Hymne that they should dedicate it unto the Emperour which was done in the year 1566 where the Dedicatorie epistles mentioned that al their hope was in him both for the preservation of them and their goods that his Majesty would promote the universal Reformation of the Church and encouraged him by the example of David Jehosaphat Josiah Constantine Theodosius and at length did not doubt but that he would imploy that talent which God had given him for the advancing of so good a cause even as the preface shewes which all the bookes of those Songs do prefer And it is probable that the Prince did not want a will if in regard of the policy of those men who had the Scepters of Kings in their possessions and had bound up their hands it might have been lawfull 4. In the third yeare of his reigne 1565. the haters of the truth forged a new processe against the Brethren abusing the authority of Ioachim de Nova Domo Chancellour of Bohemia who going to Vienna wrought so by continuall diligence with Caesar that hee should urge Wladislaus to subscribe though unwillingly the old Mandate with a new one against the Piccardines But the goodnesse of God had a watchfull eye ouer his and would not permit so good and innocent a Prince to have a hand in bloud or be burthened with the cries of the oppressed For when the Chancellour returned strengthned with the Princes Letters patents and scarce entring the ports of Vienna comming over the bridge Danubium it so came to passe that the yoake of the oxe being loosened the bridge cleaved asunder and hee with his train was drowned in the water six Knights only swimming out saved their lives and one young Nobleman who at length in his old age died but escaped alive to be a witnes of the daily revenging hand of God but he avouched the Religion of the Brethren for which he had had experience that God was watchfull This man saw his Lord swimming above the waters of Danubium and held him by his golden Chaine untill fishermen who were then comming toward him in a small ship came to help him So the Baron was taken up but dead but the chest wherein he had locked his deadly instruments sunke into the Sea that it was never seen any more neither was there any one that would looke after it Thuanus maketh mention of this Story in his 36 booke and reports this accident to have happened on the fourth of the Ides of December 5. Ten yeares after in the yeare 1575. Maximilianus called a Parliament at Prague and permitted all the Orders in the Kingdome under both kinds to be reconciled by the common signe of the confession of one faith the Jesuites and false Hussits endeavoured with might and main to hinder it Among other things when they had used their best endeavours by petitions and protestations alleadging that the Orders in both kinds doe not agree in their faith but that they have among them Piccardines Calvinists Lutherans c. The Orders that they might evidence their consent consulted together about the registring of a common confession for which purpose they made choise of certaine Divines who with some of the Barons Noblemen and Citizens were overseers The chiefe men of Prague brought forth the books of Hus and the Synodicall and Parliamentary decrees of the ancient Bohemians concerning Religion The greater part of the Order who stood for the Augustine confession produced this their confession as the Brethren brought forth theirs Then they compared the Articles together and the sense and manner of setting down of each part and expressed them in such forms that each part might subscribe unto them not intending to trouble themselves too much with particular and subtile Scholasticall disputations which Christian moderation and wisdome did not only then benefit them but also pleased many eminent men aswell in Germany as elsewhere for Caesar confirmed their confession of faith and did receive such as did subscribe into his Kingly protection but hee gave them not power according to their desires for the appointing of a Consistory or Academy at that time yet promising very faithfully that neither hee nor his sonne whom they had designed his successor would bee wanting in giving full satisfaction to their desires you must observe that this confession of the Orders was written in the Bohemian language and not translated into Latine neither was it printed unlesse in the yeare 1619. when aswell the University as the Consistory at Prague offered it to King Fredericke therefore in the Harmony of Confessions it is not extant and that which the Bohemians now call their Confession is the peculiar Confession of the brethren of Bohemia not the common Confession of the Orders This Mr. Bohuflaus Felix a Lobkowitz and Hassenstein being appointed by the Order to have the sole managery of the businesse tooke care to convey it into Germany and in the year 1575. submitted it to the Censure of the Divines which were assembled at Wittenburgh The Wittenburghian Divines approved of it and among others used these expressions in their answer to the Baron although this Confession be briefe and we easily observe that in the composing them the chiefest care was that they might be concisely elegantly and properly expressed for the avoiding of tediousnesse and contentions about scrupulous questions which peradventure some wrangling Sophisters in our Germany would have taxed if it had beene set forth in their owne native language We therefore cannot

after another and struck with grievous threatenings the fearefuller promise obedience those which deny are thrust into prisons all the corners Sellers and Roomes of the court are filled with arrested persons Presently the Souldiers being licentious enough are scattered to every ones house and rage after a most insolent manner the fearefull Women and children and Families runne to their arrested husband and fathers and weary them with teares and cryes most of their courage began to faile and one after another doe give their hands to the enemy and desire that some time might bee granted them to learn the Romish Religion So one way and one fear drove these miserable wretches into the Nets of Antichrist which had been so long avoided because they did not remember that they must resist to the shedding of their bloud and not only to imprisonment 5. Eight and twenty onely are found of so great a number of citizens who would redeeme the treasures of their consciences with the losse of their earthly wealth And going out with their families to banishment to wit Simon Daniel of Semianina Iohn Iobolecius Iohn Zak Iohn Nigrinus Paul Iacobius c. most of them learned men Amongst whom was Aconsius who not without trouble tooke care to be put in a coach and carried to Lesthua in Poland whom a certain Doctor of Divinity of Selesia being his friend when hee dwelt in the Vniversity and now being a companion of his banishment wondered at his constant minde under this most afflicted estate of body received him with these following verses Above the rest of exiles I behold In thee Acontius what may be condol'd And wondered at I wonder how you came From your own soil so footlesse and so lame And that in you which I condole no lesse Is those great mischiefs which you stil oppress The prowesse of the soul illustrious is unspent Though all the bodies vigor be deficient 6. But Acontius did quietly finish his life in Christ after he had patiently undergone a miserable scoffing life for the space of nine yeares in the yeare one thousand sixe hundred and thirty two February the twenty five Simon Semianina was there made a citizen and Consull so the others else-where CHAP. XCVII The Reformation of Bidsove I. THose things which we have hitherto already related may seem very moderate in comparison of those which we shall now adde to wit Don Martin de Henerda played the part of a Commissioner of Reformation and certaine others full of Spanish zeal For example sake at Bidsove a Towne standing three miles from Hradecium and ten from Prague When he arrived here with his souldiers and calling the citizens into the Court hee commanded the Catholick Religion with an oration full of words and John Kolacznik whom they had chosen for themselves answering in the name of the corporation that it was not in the power of man that one should unlearn that in the space of an hour which he had been learning all his life neither was it convenient that any man should forsake that which hee had imbraced for the truth of God unlesse hee were taught better things out of the word of God There Henerda as it were distracted and forgetting all civility rose hastily from the place where hee sate and assaulting the man with a club which he held in his hand gave him many strokes and being full of rage commanded the Officer to come and to carry him out of the City which among us is a note of the greatest disgrace not so much as grantng him time to visit his house The rest being terrified with this example and fearing the fury of the inraged did submit themselves unto his will and promised to be taught within a cettain time 2. And when that some thought to have saved their consciences by flight they sent their wives before privately with their goods with whom some Godly widows joyned themselves the things being betrayed they had those things taken away from them by souldiers sent for that purpose and they were brought back and put in fetters and were not dismissed till they became catholicks with their husbands CHAP. LXXXXVIII The Reformation of Zaticum 1 Za●icum called in the German tongue is ●hat City which Prince Anhaltinus Georgius in his Sermon concerning the Sacrament saith they did never receive the Communion under one kinde but did constantly even from its first conversion to Christian Religion retaine the custome of communicating ' or receiving it under both kinds This lets mee ad that it did even maturely shake off the follies of the Calickstines and followed alwayes more pure and received opinions 2. The Monke's being by the helpe of an Army alwayes lying about the City settled in the place of that Orthodox Pastor Iohn Regius who was banished did severall wayes trouble this City not onely according to their manner in their Sermons rayling against heresie and Hereticks but also beating their heads and other parts of their bodies with canes pulling off their hats and giving them to the souldiers who would not be present at the carrying about of the Host and kneel and uncover their heads In the year 1625. they carried things in a more severe manner upon the day of the body they bear about there breaden diety accompanied with no small number of the common people the consul Bohuslaus Sirialus being absent he was fined fifty royalls the souldiers spent three whole dayes in junketting and using the creatures not onely to saciety but also horribly abusing them in like manner other Senators and whosoever were absent were by them fin'd 3. The same year the twelfth day of August Don Martin de Hewerda caused two Mandates to bee proclaimed both in the church and Court the former concerned the bringing in of Bibles and other Evangelicall bookes into the Court and that upon pain of payment of a hundred Bohemian Florences or five weekes imprisonment in the other was required a constant attendance upon Church and Masse upon the pain of payment of five Florences and three pound of wax whereupon there arose great alterations and he●itations among the people there being a great quantity of books brought upon the 22 day of the same moneth into ●he Court they were forthwith burnt without the walls 4. In the year 1626 the 6 of January the Martinian horse-men having finished their intended deformation in the neighbouring Lunencian Church go with speed to Zaticum and being brought into the houses of those Citizens that did refuse to dissert from the Gospell they did extort from them a great summe of money to be paid day by day Upon the 20 of Jan. Don Martin himself follows these upon whose comming many of the faithfull through fear did forthwith forsake their houses and other enjoyments and yielded themselves up to the hardships of a banished condition He in the mean time proclaimed that none without his consent should goe out of the gates under pain of death Which Proclamation he caused to be set