in Hajec fol. 349. throughout proclaimed the 18. of September in the year 1376. where of this was the chief effect that diligent care was afterwards had that none but the Popes-creatures might beadmitted unto places of Magistracy publick Offices which might be a bridle to restraine the Commonalty And therefore Wenceslaus the King son to Charles chose 16 Germans and only 2 Bohemians in reforming of the Senates of Prague supposing that the Germans were more constant in the Pontificiall Religion as they were than the Bohemians 5. We find it also recorded that this Parisian his death approaching amongst others gave this comfort to his friends The rage of the enemies of truth hath now prevailed against us but this shall not be alwaies for an ignoble people shall arise without sword or power over whom they shall not be able to prevaile Which Prophesie where and when it hath bin fulfilled we shall hereafter acquaint you CHAP. VIII John Husse and Ierom of Prague with some other Martyrs 1. IN the year 1392. Mulhaymia called the Temple of Bethlehem was founded by a Citizen of Prague and was to be dedicated unto the Academy by the name of a Chappell whereunto Mr. Stephanus of Colon was first admitted Preacher but he dying in the year 1400. Mr. John Husse was constituted his Successour Professor in the Academy a man of an unblameable life and famous for his zeale 2. And forasmuch as he had long before that all orders were dissolute and none did his office the King Bishop Citizen Clergy Nobles onely pursuing covetousnes pride drunkennesse luxury and all manner of wickednesse having an occasion put into his hands as from above he set upon the worke publickly to oppose those publicke sins And indeed so long as he shot his darts against secular men he was highly esteemed off amongst the Divines as one out of whose mouth the Holy Ghost spake but as soone as he began to thunder against them also their minds being altered they cryed out that he was mad and the Devils Agent 3. Those that write of him tell us that the first complaints against him were put up by certain of the Nobles unto the King to wit Wenceslaus whom the Pope presented unto the German Princes as a sluggish person unprofitable unto the Empire hateful yet not infamous in Historyes because of his unwillingness to execute his Buls and his indulging the Hereticks against his will and required him to forbid Husse of his turbulent preaching But the Arch-Bishop Wolbrom denyed that it could be done because Husse had bound himself by Oath at his Ordination to speak the truth without respect of persons 4. But when in the year following this same Husse much more sharply reproved the Coveteousness Luxury and Sacriledges of Spirituall persons the Arch-bishop requested of the King the same which the Nobles did before The King answered that it could not possibly be done because Husse was obliged by oath to speak the truth without respect of persons the Lord himself thus frustrating the wicked plots contrived against this holy man as his own Instrument 5. There returned out of England the same year 1400 Ierom of Prage bringing with him the writings of Wickliffe which came into the hands of many and was received by many with good approbation some indeed approving of them among whom this Husse was chief others disliking and damning them especially the Academians who as we have formerly said did flock from divers Countries 6. In the year 1404 two English men Batchelours of Divinity one Iames and Conrade Caddelaurgh came to Prague and being entred in the Vniversity they began to move disputes concerning the Popes Supremacy and the like but shortly after were prohibited by publick command They therefore because that which was forbidden unto men was lawfull for the walls to receive caused to be painted in the Parlor where they Lodged with the consent of their Land-lord the history of Christs Passion on the one side and the pomp of the Pope and Cardinals Court on the other opposit and of this picture when Iohn Husse made mention in his preaching as of a true Antithesis betweene Christ and Antichrist great numbers of people came thither to view it 7. In the year 1408. May 24. the Articles of Wickliffe were again examined and condemned by forty Masters and an infinite number of Batchelors and it was forbid that any should teach them upon pain of banishment 8. Iohn Husse when he saw the Vniversity-men of Germany so strongly to side with the Pope deeming that something was to be done to restrain their insolency he made an Oration in a great concourse of people in Carolin Colledge asserting that the plurallity of voices belonged to the Bohemians who were natives and not to the Germans who were strangers for although Charles from the first institution granted three voices unto strangers the fourth unto the Bohemians in respect of their forcity who then studied learning in his last pattin he explicated his minde that the custome of the Parisian Vniversity should be observed Now it doth abundantly appear in France strangers have but one Suffrage but the home-bred have three the Germans being angry for this Appealed to King VVenceslaus the Bohemians do the same but the King after a yeares protraction decides the Cause for the Bohemians in the year 1409. the 27. of Sept. the Germans interpreting this a disgrace leave Prague and going into Misina a neighbouring place and there give occasion to the founding of Lipsick Erphord Schools in the mean time the Bohemians created by voices Iohn Husse their Rector 9. The Monks being thus deserted of the King Vniversity instigate the Arch-bishop Shico of Hasenburgh an unlearned man obtained in the year 1410 the 16. of Iuly that the books of Iohn Husse should be condemned and burned there were therefore burned as Eneas Silvius testifies above 200 volums fairly written adorned with golden Bosses and precious covers There are extant some Bohemian Rimes composed by one of the common people in which that unlearned censor of books was wittily jerkt for being made an Arch-bishop then he studied letters but Husse in that time wrote a tract concerning the reading of Hereticall books and instituted a particular dispute for the defence of Iohn Wickliff concerning the holy Trinity which they also burnt 10. In the year 1411. when Pope Iohn the 23. sounded an alarum against the King of Naples he gave Indulgencies to those that would take up arms for the Church One that sold those toys came to Prague and publickly in the pulpit divulged those vanities It so hapned that in three Churches some opposed them asserting the Pope of Rome must bee Antichrist who brought misery upon the Christians and stirred them up to mutuall wars Those three were taken Martia Krzidelko Iohn Hudek and Stainis Lapolek a Taylor and are carried to prison although the vniversity and towne interceded for them yet they were brought forth into the market
him a booke concerning the Sacraments penned by a man of a sincere opinion was whipped openly in the market place and banished The like hapned to John Kelenetz but hee was branded in the forehead because he being a Lay-man was said to administer the Eucharist to himself and his family George Lopatski being one of those that was banished when as the King had wrote that hee liked not such proceedings and had commanded the banished to be restored supposing that it had beene confirmed returned home to his house at Prague but being apprehended he was thrust into prison there murthered 4. In the meane time the Assemblies of the Kingdome being held and those wicked pragmatical men urging it it was agreed upon that the communicants under one and both kinds by the violence of those that were joyned together should bee one body but the commands of Wladislaus should bee put in execution against the Piccardins From whence arose a new persecution to the brethren their Church doores being shut up and their exercise forbidden 5. Seeing these things were so way wardly done one Matthias an Eremite a plaine man but of an holy conversation of life who came to Prague in the year 1419. and hitherto was wont to exhort the people in the streets and market places flocking unto him in great companies in the fear of God and repentance the Clergy in vaine striving to inhibit him felt the severe hand of Zahera For when he had admonished Zahera the chiefe Magistrate by letters which he wrote unto him in the year 1525 of Theologicall moderation that men should bee converted to the faith by Scripture not by imprisonments scourgings tortures and wrackings c. being invited by him to a communication was delivered to the Praetor and was kept in prison until that day Ferdinand was chosen King but afterwards he was banished the city Very Godly letters of that man dated out of the prison are yet extant CHAA. XXX Nicholas Wrzetenarz with his Hostesse Clara burned I. IN the year 1526 on the 9 day of December Nicholas Wrzetenar being well stricken in yeares and withall a learned man is accused of Piccardisme before the Senat by Jacobus Parochus and appearing according to his citation he was demanded by Zahera what he did beleeve concerning the Sacrament of the Altar answered That which the Evangelists and St. Paul taught mee to believe He that at that time sate as chiefe asked him beleevest thou that Christ is there present having flesh and bloud but he answered I beleeve that when the Ministers of Gods word doth declare to the faithful congregation the benefits which are received by the death of Christ the bread and wine are then made the supper of the Lord wherein they are made partakers of the body and bloud of Christ and the benefits received by the death of Christ What needes many words after the discussing of some questions concerning the Masse and intercession of Saints c. they do condemn him to the fire together with his Hostesse Clara being a widow of threescore yeares of age who would not deny that faith whereof she was instructed by her inmate 2. Being brought to the place of torment and being comanded to pray to the sign of the cross lifted up toward the east they utterly refused saying The law of God permitteth us not to worship the likeness of any thing either in heaven or earth we wil worship the living God of heaven who alike inhabiteth the South the West the North the East turning their backs therefore unto the image and prostrating themselves towards the West with their hands and eyes lifted up unto heaven with great ardencie of spirit they called on Christ then they tooke leave of their children and Nicholas with much cheerfulnes ascended the heap of wood there stood and did repeat the Articles of the Creed which when he had finished he looked up to heaven praied and with a loud voice said Lord Jesus Christ thou son of the living God who was born of a pure virgin and didst vouchasfe to undergo the shamefull death of the Cross e for me a wretched sinner thee alone do I worship to thee I recommend my soul be merciful unto me and forgive me all my sins Then he repeated this Psalm in latine In thee O Lord have I put my trust In the mean time the executioner had laid Clara on the pile of wood and then bound them both and casting the books which were found about them on the heap he set fire thereto CHAP. XXXI Martha Porzizia burned I. IN the next year after Martha de Porzizia a woman even beyond her sexe of an heroicke spirit being examined as well by the Masters in Colledges as by the Judges in the Common-Hall with much boldnesse gave an account of her faith and upbraideth the Hussites of folly for that they flattered the Papists the chief Magistrate admonishing her that she should prepare her garments against the time she was to be laid on the pile of wood answered I have both my petticoate and mantle command me to be led away when ye please the crier declaring openly that she had blasphemed she with a loud voice denied saying it is not so but I am condemned for that I would not confess to please the Papists that Christ was contained in the Sacrament with bones haire sinews and veins and speaking aloud to the people she said Give no credit to these Priests they are dissembling Hypo-crites Gormandizers Adulterers Sodomites Being brought forth comanded to pray unto the image of the crucifix she turned her back to it and having lift up her eyes unto heaven she said there is our God thither wee must looke and then shee hastned to mount the pile and endured the paines of the fire with a strong courage the 4 of December 1527. CHAP. XXXII A potter and a girdler burned IN the year 1528. in the reign of Ferdinand the 1. two German artificers the one a potter the other a girdler accused of Lutheranisme by the Monkes were condemned by those of Prague to the fire As they went unto the place of execution they argued so religiously out of the Scriptures that they caused teares to flow from the eyes of many being laid on the pile they exceedingly encouraged one another the girdler saying Since our Lord Iesus hath suffered very grievous things for us let us also suffer this death and rejoice that we have found so much grace and favour with him that we are accounted worthy to dy for the law of God to whom the Potter answered but I at the day of my marriage found not such rejoicing of mind as now I do And when fire was put to the wood they prayed with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ thou in thy sufferings prayedst for thine enemies threefore wee also pray forgive the King the men of Prague and the clergy for they know not what they do and their hands are full of blood Well
the one and the other shall suffer death Dated at Prague 13 December 1621. 2. Thus the Ministers of Bohemia for there was care had of the Germans in favour to the Saxons were cast out of Prague their Churches given to the Jesuites what drooping of the Godly what anguish of Consciences what lamentation of them that followed their Ministers was there and what bidding farewell to them even for ever cannot now bee expressed 3. These that follow were the names of the Parishes and Ministers of them George Dicastus was Minister neer to the delectable Pallace and Administrator of the Consistory under both kinds with his two Colleagues Wenâ—eslaus Viccarius and Iohn Lansman Old-Prague M. Victorius Vurbenins of St. Nicholas M. Samuel Martinius of Castuly Jacobus Iacobides of Martins Vitus Iakessius of St. Gallus Iohannes Lunacius of Giles Gallus Zolanius being a little before dead a man very eminent for his Orthodoxe writings with the Deacon John Vurssovius M. James Jacobus of St. Michaels New-Prague Vitus Pagellus of Henries M. Tobias Adelbertus of Clemens Matthias Stecius of Adelbert the greater Matthias Janda of Michaels Nicholas Matzick of Adelbert the lesser John Hartviâ—ins of Stephens Adam Clemens of Wenceslaus John Rasaceus of St. Nicholas of the lesser Prague 4. The Ministers of the Brethren John Cyrillus Senior of the Consistory and John Corvinus and Paul Fabricius partly departed and partly hid themselves for since their Auditours were not limited to one Parish but were dispersed throughout Prague for they fearing that the Church of Bethlehem might not be taken from them or not alwaies lawfull for them to make use of it began to build them a Church and had for a while to their use the Jesuites Church being at that time void of which when Prague was taken they possessed themselves In the mean while all places were full of Souldiers and affrightments they desired that they might not be called together in the Church of Bethlehem for none would appeare untill this hurly burly were over But these multitudes ceased not but rather were encreased dayly a publicke army once leaving off will not easily bee brought together again 5. And because the people of Bohemia were deprived of their Ministers they flocked to the German Churches as many as understood the German language for they had free exercise in their own Temples built in the time of Rodolphus the one at old Prague dedicated to our Saviour the other at the lesser Prague dedicated to the Trinity The Jesuites thought it better to move the Elector than to suffer this presse hard and obtaine that not a proscription but a gracious dismission should be given notice of to the Ministers of Germany to bee packing on the 29 of October of the year following M. How and the Elector protesting against it Therefore the Ministers of the Germans went from Prague M. Gasparus Wagner Mr. David Lippuck Mr. Fabinus Natus great company of people of both sorts follwing them Of whom in the middst of the field with great lamentation and howling they heard their farwell Sermon CHAP. LIII The Ministers are removed out of other Cities I. THe next thing that was in agitation was to remove the Ministers out of other free Cities which immediately in the same year they attempted and with severall insolencies put it in execution By Commissaries whereof I will give you one or two instances 2. Amongst those Commissaries of Reformation that were named in the Country of the Slanensians and Litomeritians George Michâ—a was one who having a troope of horse went about the Cities Assoone as he came to Slana on Saint Katharines day with his Guard he enters into the Church and there he beheld their Minister and Deacon Mr. John Kapillius a learned man and a man of a fervent spirit reading the Gospell and sendeth one of his Souldiers to bid him desist but he notwithstanding persisting he himselfe goes to him and having his sword drawn cries out aloud to him Thou foolish Preacher leave off your babling and withall dasheth the Bible out of his hands with his sword The Minister with eyes hands and voyce lift unto Heaven repeatteth often Woe woe unto you who neither enter into heaven your selves and forbid those that would enter woe woe woe be to you but those words were made a mock off and presently they layd hands on him and he was taken and thrust this way and that way When againe he said But I for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ am ready to suffer all this and whatsoever else Some of those caitiffes repeated those words of my Lord Jesu my Lord Jesu in scorn and derision cast the words back againe and we have a Lord even Caesar In the meane while the people being affrighted and lamenting their sad condition The chiefe men of the Senate came and undertooke before the Commissarie for the Minister that he should appeare wheresoever they should command him so that he would not suffer them to lay violent hands on him He threatens him now being under arrest that he will send him to Prague but importuned by the intercession of good women was the next day moved to let him goe provided that within three dayes he should depart the City and thus the good faithful shepheard not without great lamentations banished about 3 years after dyes of the plague lying on his death-bed he told his dreame to his friends He thought he saw himselfe placed in a very large Library which when he had surveyed round about he found a booke which had this Title in Latine in golden letters It is Just that the Just should be slaine and then crowned Which booke he having an earnest desire to peruse cunningly placed it under his left arme-pit that he might read it over at a more convenient season But as he awaked in stead of the booke he found in that place a Pestilentiall swelling whereof within foure dayes he dyed He wrote in the time of his banishment a booke concerning Apostacy in his owne mother tongue Also another calling it the Idol of the world and of the true knowledge of the Crucifix which being printed have benefited very many not onely teaching them perseverance but also stirring up their zeale in the known truth 3. And in the neighbouring City Laimensis when the Minister for feare of such barbarous proceedings went away yet notwithstanding the Commissaries in the place of punishment extort a great summe of money from the Church and banish him though absent 4. And they entring into Zatreum Zaza commanded the Deacon Iohn Regius to appeare in the Consulls House and immediately to forbeare going to the Church and to depart from his parish within three dayes the City within eight dayes Who when he had modestly required the cause of their so sudden proceeding was answered that Caesar by victorie had made all the parishes of the Kingdome subject to his power and that Preachers hitherto were tollerated but now they must be packing and
and were beheaded When this was noysed abroad the vniversity running took away the bodys and in a sollemn Procession sung These are the saints who gave up their bodys for the testament of God They carry them to the Church of Bethlehem and there bury them 11. The day after Husse did propound certain theses to dispute against those superstitious indulgences and publickly with Mr. Ierom who did as strongly impugne there errors in the Schoole as Husse did in the Church shewed their vanity but when notwithstanding al this he impudently proceeded the company of Studients did violently snatch from him his Bulls they do cloth one of their own company in a whorish habit put him into a cart adorne his brest with Bulls carry him about and acclaime unto him the whore in the mean time with sweet words gesture alluring the company and distributing blessings at the length they burne all the Bulls with many of the Popes in the midst of the market 12 In the meane time the Pope cites Husse to appeare at Rome who in regard of the disswasion of the Vniversity and nobility did not appeare Pope Iohn 23 in the yeare 1413 in Iune did interdict their celebrating of Masse in regard of the presence of Huss a contumacious offender upon this when hee saw the Magistrates rage and the common people divided into contrary factions and all things to be disturbed he of his own accord leaves Prague and from towne to towne teaches the word of God untill the time that he was called to Constance to give an account of Doctrine receiving letters of safety from the Emperour Histories report how he was there handled by the Romish Councell to witte in the yeare 1415. The 6 of Iuly Husse in the yeare 1416 the 30 of May Ierom were burnt Consult the book of Martyrs CHAP. IX All Bohemia condemned 1. THe adversaries were not satisfied with their blood but suddainly took bloody Councell for the destruction of the whole nation for when the chiefe nobles of Bohemia 58 in number in the name of the whole Comonalty in the yeare 1416 the 2 of September sent letters from Prague subscribed with their own hands and signed with their own seals to the Councel complaining expostulating that their Pastor an innocent and holy man a faithfull teacher of the truth was unjustly condemned the Synod did not answer them neither did they answer the Nobility of Moravia which complained of like matters in letters of their own but the Councell writ to the persons who were besotted with the Romish superstition men in eminency namely Iohn of Mecklesburg Alsiscopeck of Dubba Alburt of Colditz intreating and obtesting them that they would regard the Romish-Catholick Church and that they would helpe the Legate of that councell Iohn Lotmislenia Bishop in oppressing Heresie and Hereticks these letters were dated at Constance in the yeare 1417 the 22 of March 2 Thus the Bohemians being incited to mutuall dissentions by the Councell contensious brawlings and hatred were exasperated every day more and more The Pristes did divulge from the Pulpit excommunications against the Husites and devoted them with direfull execrations and that they might render them the more hated used certaine lying signes amongst the rest they cast some dirt into the lamps of the wax candles and when the flame had burnt the waxe candle to the moistnesse of the dirt it was extinguished then cryed they out that God did by miracles declare that the wicked Hereticks were unworthy to enjoy the light they drove them therefore out of their society and persecuting them all manner of wayes breaking open their churches wheresoever they could which businesse in the yeare 1419 the 13 of Iuly raised such a tumult at Prague that the common people inraged threw 12 Senators of old Prague with the City Magistrate out of the windows of the Senate house who fell upon the points of speares 3 There was a new Pope elected of the Synod who was named Martine the 5 who with kind letters dated at Constance in the yeare 1418 invited the Bohemians to renounce the errors of Wicklif Husse But afterward in the year 1420 he publickly excommunicated them at Florence and excited the Emperor Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Governours Cityes Common-wealths to take up armes against them and did intreat them by the wounds of Christ and their owne salvation unanimously fall upon them and quite extirpate that sacrilegious and cursed nation and promised a vniversall remission of sinnes to the most wicked person that should kill but one Bohemian 4 Sygismund the Emperour being inflamed by this incentive with all Germany and the neighbouring Kingdomes yeelded himselfe a servant to Antichristian Tyrany and in the same yeare he enters Bohemia with a strong army and wearies them with 13 years continued warre and this was called the Husite warre concerning which Eneas Sylvius writes they would rather be admired than believed of posterity in regard Siska the Bohemian Captaine and his successours did alwaies vanquish the contrary party 5 But the state of the Bohemian affaires were very confused at home when some of them stood for the Emperor and Pope others defended the use of the cup from whence they were called Calikstiles upon this ground with horrible cruelty they were inflamed to destroy each other CHAP. X. The Martyrs of Tabor 1 BUt some things are to be dâ—â—coursed of more briefly in respect of places and persons and distinctly it must be opened how the Roman faction being incited by the Antichristian alarum of Martine did persecute the faithfull 2 When after the death of Wensislaus in the yeare 1419 Sygismund took the Kingdom and by his Deâ—egates he not being present there till he came afâ—er with an army ordered severall things which dâ—d streighten the liberty of their consciences some thousands of those that imbraced the pure Religion gathered together to a stony mountaine ten miles from Prague which they named Tabor that mountaine they compassed about with a wall and constituted a common-wealth determining to defend it by armes if need were 3. The Papists and those that were called Calikstins being enraged against them persecuted them all manner of ways first when they sent their Embassadors Gallus Perstenus and Mathias Blacils for peace sake to Cuttenburg these men were cast headlong into the most deepe mines of mettall but the Cuttenburghians who were devoted to the Emperor and for the most part the Germaine nation because of the working in the mines not long after John Codeck Minister of Gurim which had admitted the Emperors party and many others both Priests and Lay people were thus served for they bought those of Tabor giving five florence for a Priest and one for a Laick which was the cause of horrid butchery 4. Thurmenus does witnesse that which followes to be found in a certaine manuscript in the year 14â—0 ther were cast in at Cuttenburg in the first mine about 1700. in the second 1038. in
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 breâ—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 Zaâ—icum called in the German tongue is â—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 heâ—itations among the people there being a great quantity of books brought upon the 22 day of the same moneth into â—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
the Councell of the Kingdom by name and from thence he should expect instructions what to do with their persons and their goods 7. Afterwards Marriages Burials Baptisme were forbidden to those that were Non-Catholicks that which indeed was a thunder-bolt which shook the mindes of many especially those which intended to marry The want of baptisme and disgrace of buriall because they were to be buried by the gardens fields and high-wayes without any ceremony could be endured more easily if any one were privately married or had his infant baptized his punishment was a long imprisonment unlesse that he could procure his liberty either by apostasie or by some great fine 8. In the Towns both those that belonged to the King and to the Nobility workes and trades and all means of getting their living were forbidden at length buying of food was prohibited as at Litomste being opprest therefore with want and hunger there was a necessity either to flie but whether so for ever while the same face of things did appear or despair or apostatize as most of them did 9. They did set the Countrey-men into the Towns they took those who denied to come either by a Troop of Souldiers sent or by their Court-flatterers or else they did apprehend them in the night draw them out of their chambers and drive them by troops like beasts even in the sharpest cold and filled the common-prison the Towers Sellers Stables and Hog-sties with them where they were killed with hunger and thirst and filth and cold and heat Joachim a Chyrurgion with others was cast into a Tower full of snakes at Plumlone At Prostanna were put together into the Castle Stable and the window every where closed up that being almost strangled for want of aire fainted among others James Vlicky an old man of above 80 yeares of age was drawn out for dead being an Inhabitant of Kosteleck a little Town of the said Kelted whose son Matthew Vlicky a Minister of the Word was tormented at Czaslavia as we have related in the 57. Chapter but Kunash the chiefe persecutor often times repeating that they did counterfeit death said that he would raise the knaves and so commanded that good store of water should be poured upon them Some came to themselves but the old man died in his sight whom he commanded to be carried out and buried the rest not being dismist unlesse they would promise confession In some places they proceeded to that degree of Barbarisme that they shut up men in Privies to be poisoned by the stink of excrements which Nicholas Szarowetz among others had experience at Kosenburg also some of Slunen at Letomisle and else-where they thrust men and women together into the same place that there was scarce any room for modesty 10. They invented new prisons to torment more grievously and to ruine more speedily For example sake at Folessovie in Moravia Dracovius a Jesuite being presently reformer upon the reception of Ferdinand for their King in the yeare 1617. there were holes made and spikes put in them wherein those that were shut could neither lie sit nor stand by reason of the narrownesse of the place but bending and crooked they with their knees halfe bent and their backs prest they hung halfe to the ground It was scarce possible that any one should indure this pressure above two or three houres their sinnes in the mean time quivering their Members trembling and their hearts ready to faint with trouble and feare In the mean time some came who asking them whether they would volentarily imbrace the Catholique Religion most seeing to be fed with lies did grant it the simpler sort denyed it and were brought back to torture untill they also did lie in saying they were made voluntary Catholiques 11. The like imprisonment happened to John Rederius a freeborn Subject and Treasurer of Pardubicium an imperial Town who all the rest forsaking faith onely continued constant but when he prepared himself for banishment he was kept in prison because there was no body found who might take the charge of his accounts a delay being alwayes made for some fained reason or other the good man perceiving himself abused and fearing some devilish snares laid in a certain place with letters of Protestations and those bookes of account and in the year 1625. betook himself into a neighbouring Town called Brundus upon Orlisen a Town of Charles Lord of Zeratin where hitherto Religion had been professed but being by craft removed from thence was cast into prison and not suffered to depart before he changes Religion although he did patiently indure his imprisonment for three whole yeares and often desired to be banished yet his adversaries more and more by degrees endeavoured to shake his constancy at length they devised a prison upon the water very narrow and not above a Cubit and a halfe in length that so when he lay down he could by no meanes lay himself at length and they had provided so that if he should turn himself unawares he must then fall into the water underneath and be dipt now it was winter-time and he himself was sick of the Gout and no body was admitted to come to him except some instruments of the Devill who should tempt him to turne he being tormented with this kind of punishment for three dayes and nights at length begun to faint especially when his wife came to him who was newly turned a Papist and opprest him with her clamours therefore halfe doubting he consented and was carried into a Monastery and was received by the Guarden into the number of the Catholicks 12. If Commissioners were sent any where that the businesse might not be delayed they took this policy in hand that they should first assault the men of greatest authority either by cunning or force and make them an example to the rest in the Town Minion when Commissioner Zenkow de Kolowrat demanded a positie answer frō the Subjects of that Countrey convened together whether they would be Catholicks or no and one of them in the name of the rest began to speak boldly concerning Religion That conscience would nor could not be forced he presently commanded him to he apprehended and in the sight of them all to be laid upon the ground and beat withall asking whether he would be a Catholick but he continually denying yea when he could hardly speak the Commissary commanded him to be torn in pieces when he was halfe dead the rest were affrighted at the dreadfulnesse of this spectacle and promised obedience if time would permit them When the Senatours of Fermanno Mestecia a Town hard by Chruda refused to be made examples to others of apostasie they were thrown in a scurvy prison the president of them being forced to ride the wooden horse in the Market-place used formerly to punish mutinous souldiers although he was very ancient yet indured this ignominie and contempt and pain for above six hours but at evening after the Jesuites had continually solicited