and Lord of us all will rest satisfied c. Charles Prince of Lichtenstein But these were general things and common to all we shall now adde some particular examples whereby a thousand of Satans stratagems will perchance more clearly appeare CHAP. XCII SHortly after the taking of Prague the Catholique Citizens were cited by the Kings Judges and examined upon oath to declare if any of them knew that the Evangelists had stubbornely spoke or done any thing which as every one answered for truth or affection-sake were received as Oracles and afterwards became the cause of death to many even alltogether innocent 2. An Act or Decree was published unto the rest of the Citizens who thought themselves received into favour in the year 1624. Febr. 23. That they had forfeited their Estates by their Rebellion neverthelesse Caesar desired not that they should be altogether sequestred but that every one should contribute part of his fortunes to support the warres And here an exact estimate of their possessions was required of every one of them upon oath And according to this confession or also by a suspition or guess which they had from their ready money a ransome of favour was imposed upon each of them for the obtaining of Pardon as they called it but indeed that they might undoe him a hundred two hundred a thousand two three four six c. thousand florences were straightwayes or at certain dayes to be paid 3. Afterwards all Non-Catholiques were April 15. forbid to be enrolled in the City-Catalogue As for those which were inscribed since the yeare 1618. all trading and negotiation was prohibited them By which Thunderbolt some were brought to faint heartednesse and others to poverty 4. Shortly after to wit May 29. Letters were hung upon the doores of the Common Halls in all Cities the tenour whereof was thus The most illustrious Prince Lord Charles of Lichtenstein c. hath understood by credible persons that certain of the late exiled Preachers do not onely lurk privily in the Cities belonging to the people of Prague but also exercise divine service about the Houses Gardens and Vineyards and thereby do draw away the People from their lawful obedience unto the Magistrate Which thing since it can be no way agreeable to his illustrious Highnesse for the dangerous example of Rebellion lately raised he therefore strictly chargeth the Judges of his sacred Majesty that they be most diligently watchfull and whensoever they find any Conventicles straightwaies taking with them publicke officers to breake into those houses without respect of persons and having apprehended the persons to arrest them whether Predicants Readers or Singers Hee hath also understood that Piccardy Songs and Rimes composed under the name of Psalmes are sung up and down not onely privatly but even publickly in Villages and streets They are therefore diligently to observe that it be amended and that nothing but what is allowed by the Catholicke church bee said or sung by any man And as great circumspection is to be used that all Schoole-masters not Catholick be expelled out of the houses in all Cities and if they shall be taught for the future that they be hailed to prison and punishment c. 5. Another Edict succeeded Sept. 13. yet somwhat more moderate whereby the Kings benevolence and all their priviledges were declared to be performed unto the people of Prague after payment of the Tax with both of which notwithstanding they rejoiced not long for that I speake not of continuall vexations for Religion sake there issued forth in the year following from the Officers of the Kingdom unto the Counsells at Prague this same Decree The supreame Officers and Judges of the Kingdome in the name and place of his Sacred Majesty doe command by their Commissioners chosen for this purpose the Consul and Senate of Prague the lesse and also of old and new c. that they perfectly instruct all Non-catholick Citizens called into the Court of the finall will and pleasure of the Kings Majesty which is no other than that all men renouncing their heresie doe betake themselves unto the Church But if any shal be found refractorily obstinate they shall signifie unto them that they are to be not onely cashiered the City but also deprived of all means of getting their livelihood Decreed in the Chancellors Court in Bohemia in the yeare 1626. Feb. 13. 6. In the yeare beginning 1627. There were supream Commissaries for Religion chosen by the Emperour whose names wee have before recited These therefore entring upon their Commission from those at Prague do send a decree to the Chieftaines of the Cities of Prague wherein after a large commendation of the Kings fatherly care for the good of his subjects as also of the Learning Godlinesse zeale and watchfulnesse of the Spirituall Pastors whereof there was such abundance at Prague and throughout the whole Kingdome and lastly of his wonderfull clemency and forbearance heretofore used toward hereticks and on the contrary lamenting the hereticks great obstinacy do now seriously protest to act for the Kings sacred Majesty and for him onely They do therefore command that each of them do cause the citizens in the Cities committed to them to be catalogued and carefully sent unto them and distributed into four rancks In the first order the native Catholicks are to be inscribed in the second those that were lately converted in the third those that have given good hopes of their conversion and in the last the obstinate c. Given as above said 7. These chief Officers give the commands unto the Kings Judges they to the Tribuns of the people and Senators and these walking from doore to doore examin the father and mother of the family the man and maide-servants and all other the Inhabitants in every house and aske them in what order they would be placed and so did accordingly These Catalogues thus made are brought to the Commissaries who when they find but few of the first second or third Order they consult with great anxiety what is necessary to be done to such a troupe of Heretickes that all tumults may be prevented At length they conclude that the heads should bee removed viz. That those men which were of any rule and authority with the people should be expelled 8. The beginning was effected upon four venerable grave Citizens of Old Prague the thundering Edict against them ommitting Court complements runs thus VVHereas with grief of heart we have observed certaine persons of Prague to be of such incorrigible obstinacy as that the Kings Majesties most indulgent care and all his fatherly admonitions for their good being nothing set by they proudly refuse good and wholsom instruction and as men incurable admit of no counsell thereby giving a dangerous example unto others which would suffer themselves more willingly to be amended In which number since these are noted Iohn Theodore Sixtus Iohn Peldrzimowsky Abraham Angel and Iohn Iacob Heydon We give command to the worthy Ioachim Salwate
THE HISTORY Of the Bohemian Persecution From the beginning 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 Counsells Arts and dreadfull Judgements are exhibited LONDON Printed by B. A. for Iohn Walker at the Star in Popes-Head-Ally MDCL To the Godly Reader AFter that some of the banished Bohemians who were in Holland understood that the Edition of Fox's booke of Martyrs was by some learned men and well-wishing to posterity again intended in England and that Additions were every where sought for and that they were admonished to adde unto it the History of our present Persecution and banishment they did not intermit forthwith to write to their exiled friends in Misnia Polonia and Hungaria that so farre as they could they would declare those memorable things which were acted in this unhappy tragedy we thought nothing could be declared by us of which there was not sufficient example whether wee consider the most bitter hâ—tred and rage of Sathan against the Church or the fraudulent machinations of Antichrist or humane fragillity in persecutions or the most wise couâ—sell and help of God in preserving his but because it is neither unpleasant nor unprofitable for Godly spirits to looke upon many examples partly to see upon what various occasions God doth exercise his Church with afflictions partly how craftily the old Serpent doth circumvent the Saints of God likewise how men being exposed to trials do severall wayes fall and lastly how valiantly God doth corroberate some valiantly to undergo disgraces banishments prisons deaths and all things grievous for his Name and how they overcame the World by bearing Therefore wee were willing to communicate our affaires to the Churches of Christ dispersed through the World and Godlinesse it selfe doth command us to declare unto posterity as much as in us lies what waters wee have past through and in what furnaces of fire wee have beene heated that knowing to what vicisitudes the Church millitant is subject as the Moon which sometimes increases and sometimes decreases sometimes with a full countenance she defuseth her light sometimes she suffers a sad Eclipse they may be the lesse troubled in future times that they may seasonably prepare their minds for all hazards and may learn to seek securities and blessings not under the Sun but in Heaven for this reason from the first Originall we have have briefly deliniated all the most famous mutations of the Bohemian Church especially since the story of our Martyrs under Gentilisme Papacy and fained Protestantisme is communicated but to a few for beside Hus Jerom of Prague and Milisius whom the Catologue of the witnesses of truth remembers the book of Martyrs is silent of other sufferers we thought good therefore by this occasion to join old stories with new comprehending them both with as much brevity as possible and faithfully to declare them in a Historicall stile the former stories we have taken out of our Historians the latter are faithfully collected either out of our own proper observation or from the testimony of eye witnesses and this last persecution of Ferdinand although it may seem to bee raised on politick causes and a great part of those miseries which befell the faithfull to be acted by the licenciousnesse of Souldiers by the course of War yet none will deny but that the constant asserters of the Gospel were Martyrs who will consider those words in the 13 Revel 7. and it was given to the Beast to make Warre with the Saints and overcome Had not Nebucadonozor a politick cause to destroy Jerusalem to wit the rash and obstinate defection of the Jewish people from him yet you may know what account God makes of his destroying them consult with Isaiah 47.6 7. Jer. 50.18 19. Zach. 1.14 18. and in many other places Did not the Jewes give occasion to the persecution of Antioch by their Domestical tumults as may appear in the 2. of Machabees 5.11 there is another intention in God who chastises his Church for their faults and in the enemy who seeks to destroy it therefore we lawfully say with that Martyr mentioned 2. Machabees 7.32 We suffer for our sinnes Yet thou who doth wage war with God in persecuting his servants thou shalt not escape the judgement of the Almighty We could have wished these things more copiously to have been collected and more accurately set down than our present state will suffer us but in regard we have been often admonished to communicate some late transactions done in our Country and Church we had rather give this than not to satisfie the desires of those that are good When God shall bring us home again which we hope other memorable things may be added and these things which are now written declared with more evidence Farewell In our banishment in the year 1632. N. N. N. c. THE HISTORY Of the BOHEMIAN PERSECUTION CHAP. I. The conversion of the Bohemians to Christianity the Persecution that followed THe Bohemians _____ Being Idolaters lived without the knowledge of the true God and of Religion till the year of Christ 894. In that year their Capraine Borivoius being entertained by Swato Plaus King of Moravia by the strange providence of God received the knowledge of Christ and with thirty Palatines were baptized at _____ the 23 of Iune who returned home with joy taking with him Methudius the Bishop of Moravia who was an opposite to the Bohemians amongst whom when the seed of the Gospell was sowne suddenly a great harvest was gathered partly in regard Ludomilla the Captains wife laid aside the Idol Rosina which before she worshipped Likewise a confluence of the Nobility and Commonalty were daily baptized partly by reason of those Churches and Schooles which were in many places erected by Borivoius 2. Thus the Bohemians received the first light of the Gospel but the Crosse was the concomitant of it according to the will of Christ who as he did establish his Church by his own bloud so he sprinkles it with the bloud of Martyrs that it may be fruitfâ—ll this is the counsell of Divine Wisedome that we may hope in Christ not for the things of this life Therefore the Gospell cost the Bohemians some of theâ—â— bloud The chief of those that witnessed the truth were the Princes Ludomilla and Winceslaus and some hundreds of the common People the story of whom we shall briefly relate chiefly out of Duhratius 3. First of aâ—â— Borivoiâ—s was banished by the wicked faction of Infidels Stoinurus was placed in his room who was banished thirteen years in Bavaria but when they knew him to be a Christian they sent him again into exile Borivoius being recalled they compelled him to resign the dominion to his son Spitigneus who was more favorable to the Heathens He being dead Drahomera a heathen made famous for Nobility and Beauty was given in marriage to Worutislaus the younger son of Borivoius who
so many pious men being againe demanded his advice hee said That he now had seriously observed and considered all things and could not yet find what to determine on unless there should be a separation aswell from those that used the cup in the Sacrament as from the Papists themselves for all things did abound with abominations and he found the evill irrecoverable Lupatius also delivered himselfe after the same manner when it was replied to Rokizane Let therefore a separation be made we will acknowledge thee for our Captaine we will worship thee for our Doctor we will follow thee for our Father he made answer You offer mee too great a burden to undergo You are too bold and forward it is a thing full of danger 5. In the meane time in the yeare 1453 Constantinople was taken by the Turks and two of the dispersed Grecians being come unto Prague were courteously entertained by Rokizane and suffered to celebrate the Mass after many disputations in religion Where when it jointly appeared to them that the sincerity of the faith was overwhelmed with superstition The good zealous people were more inflamed in spirit finding what they were to avoid but having none whom they might follow 6. They therefore address themselves to Rokizane again and besought him for the Glory of God to take compassion on their soules and on the seduced people and not to abandon them in so great a hazard of their salvation But he good man when forsooth hee had not so much power to preferre the Cross and â—gnominy of the people of God to the but vain hopes of an Arch-episcopall Glory in a great rage did upbraide thâ—m with their importunity and at last intreated them to let him alone and begin the separation without him and promised them that he would so prevail with the King who was George Podebrade and to enjoy the Crown did swear obedience unto the Pope to allow them a place where they might live securely and serve God with an undefiled conscience 7. He obtained for them the Territory of Liticitz one of the hilly countries neer unto Silesia whither immediately after those citizens of Prague Batchelors and Masters did address themselves and from other places not a few as well Plebeians as Nobles learned and unlearned their greatest confluence was to a Towne called Kunwald devoting themselves altogether to the reading of the Scripture to prayers and to workes of piety This was in the yeare 1459. They chose them teachers that is to â—ay from the Calixtines who used the cup in the Sacrament who throwing off superstition did compose themselves to the form of the primitive simplicity the chiefest of them was a devout pious old man by name Michael Zamburgh Aâ—l of them by the name comon to Christians and acceptable to good men did call themselves brothers and sisters which was the reason that by a remarkable distinction the Titleâ— of the Bohemian Brothers was attributed to them and so much of this CHAP. XIX The first persecution of the sayd Brothers I. THe beginning of this new Church displeased the Divell he therefore raised a sudden and a violent Tempest to overwhelme it for the fame thereof being spread abroad the Priests in every Pulpit did stirre up the hatred of the peopâ—e agâ—inst them crying out Blow out their sparkes blow them out before they grow into a flame Rokizane himself who would belive it did put on again the mind of an Enemy and did accuse them of wicked rashnesse for there were not wanting who informed the King and Consistory against them in divers accusations 2. It came to passe therefore in the year 1461. when Father Gregory with some others did come to Prague to give a visite to his friends that they were betrayed and taken in a house to which they came to supper At which time this was observeable The Officers stood on the threshold and speaking to them in the scripture phrase said all who will live godly in Jesus Christ must suffer persecution You therefore that are here come forth and follow me to Prison He was himselfe an honest man and thought not evill of the Brotherhood but being commanded by his superiors he could not but put his charge in execution 3. The King believing the slanderous accusations of these evill men that the Brothers attempted some sedition as the Thaborites before them he commanded the holy man Gregory to be tortured who being transported into an extasie did feele no sence of paine at all and being believed by the Tormentors to be dead he was taken downe from the Rack His Vnckle Rokizane comming to him for he heard he dyed on the Rack did with many teares lament him repeating againe and againe O my Gregory would I had bin in thy place but he after some houres comming againe to himselfe revealed the Vision which he had seene which was that he was brought into a most pleasant field in the middle whereof there stood a tree loaden with fruit on which divers Birds of severall kinds sitting on the branches did feed and in the middest of them there stood a young man who did so rule them with his rod that not one of them did move or stirre out of order No doubt but by this Revelation God shewed him the Image of that little Church of which he was as Patriarck He saw also three other men who seemed to be keepers of the said tree whom sixe yeares afterward when by suffrages they were chosen to be over-seers in his Church he witnessed that in this Vision he had seene and knew them to be the same by their Physiognomy and the linaments of their Countenance 4. Gregory by the intercession of Rokizane being dismissed there came forth by the Kings command Edicts from the Consistory forbidding all Pastors to administer holy things without Ceremonies and whosoever should administer to the Brothers being now notorious by the infamous Name of Piccardins the losse of life was denounced to him The Brothers therefore being brought into great extreamities and like sheepe forsaken by their shepheards wandering up and downe they at last againe and againe came to Rokizane beseeching him if he doth respect the glory of God or his owne salvation that he would not desert that cause in which the cause of God was interested and that by his owne example he would not hinder the conversion of so many men to which they were so happily prepared nor for any cause whatsoever detaine the acknowledged Truth in unrighteousnesse They told him that he was the head of all the Clergy in the Kingdome and was to give an account of them all to God and other words were used to this purpose But when they found him obstinate they bad him farewell those words being inserted to the latter end of the Epistle Thou art of the world and shalt perish with it 5. With which being much provoked he againe exasperated the King against them and new Edicts were published in the Name of
separate themselves and had by themselves a peculiar meeting at Prague accusing the other that they did admit of the sword propounded to defend themselves by outward force This Calumny being greedily received and brought to the Kings cars was the reason that the King said What do they think to bring back Ziscâ— again to us We shall take a speedy course to suppresse this insolence The brothers hearing of it did write a new Apology to the King giving him an account of their faith and removing from themselves the late accusations and the blasphemies attributed to the Piccardins which occasioned the King by one edict to mitigate another and commanded that those of the Vniversity and the consistory should have a friendly Colloquy with the Piccardins in which the chiefest of them should endeavour by the strength of reason to recall them from their errors 2. Therefore in the Calends of January in the year 1504. The Patrons of the Brothers the Barons were commanded to bring their greatest Doctor to this Colloquie with the Academians and these of the Consistory The businesse of the Edict being deliberately canvassed although they feared treachery yet because it was held inconvenient to forsake so good a cause and to exasperate the King it was resolved that there should be a meeting they sent therefore but as Sacrifices to the slaughter Francis Lucas of Prague and Laurence Krasonice two Pâ—llars of their Church with some others who were comended to the prayers of all the Brethren There is extant an Epistle of Bohusza Kostka Baron of Postupitz Lord of Litomissa which he sent to Francis Krasoâ—ice not long after he had taken his farewell of him I conceive it to be no lost labour to insert in this place some part thereof To love life said the Baron is naturall but thou my Brother having learned better things must remember that thy life is buried in Christ which that thou mayest injoy thou must dye in Christ Thou knowest whom thou hast believed how able he is to keep thy pledge unto that day c. Be strong therefore in the Lord and in the power of his might that thou mayst fight the good fight and mayst receive a Crowne of life What is the manner of this fight thou needest not to be taught though peradventure thou mayst be admonished But that I may no longer detain thee stand fast beloved brother As far as humane providence can direct us we have provided for your safety neither will we be wanting to you But if the fury of the enemy shall prevaile and it shal please God by your death to glorifie the cause of Christ be you prepared to say with Job God hath given and let God take this life as it pleaseth him so let it be Farewell my brother Dated at Litomissa on the day of the first Martyr Stephen 1503. There is also extant the farewell of Francis Lucas to the Brethren at Bolislave a most comfortable letter 3. But God who would preserve these instruments from the jawes of the Lions Mr. Martin Poczatece not the least of the Enemies of the truth dying suddenly that morning about the break of day in which they should appear at the consistory By which example the rest were feared and the whole City meeting together they desired that the colloquy might not be in private but in publick but they pretending I know not what new businesses adjourned the disputation to another time the brothers being lovingly dismissed CHAP. XXIIII The Proclamation of King Wladislaus for the banishing of the Brothers made frustrate by the intervention of some wonderfull Iudgements The Martyrs at Bora. I. THe enemies of the truth could not bee quiet but a new destruction was againe designed to this small flocke of the brothers for Iohn Bozake Bishop of Warade in Hungary a Moravian by his birth a subtile man and burning with an implacable hatred against the enemies of the truth entring into crafty counsell with other Bishops of Hungaria and Bohemia the Queen her selfe was suborned who great with child and so neere unto her delivery that it was believed the King would deny her nothing in that estate she sollicited him for a new edict against the Piccardins and comming to his Chamber as it was afterwards known by some Gentlemen of his Bedchamber and most worthy of beliefe she desired that favour that the King would give way to so many Petitions and severely prosecute against that so much hated fraternity The King being sad to heare that request only nodded with his head but gave no answer at all 2. Presently upon this the Bishops in the presence of the King did begin to write the Coppy of the Mandate The King going into his chamber did fall on his knees and with teares besought God to forgive the guilt of those bloudy Councels and grant no successe unto them God heard his voyce and shewed some Examples of horrid Judgment on the authors of this conspiracy The first example was the Queene her selfe who before hand delighting her selfe with the immagination of it did propose unto her fancy what gratefull spectacles she should behold at Prague when being delivered of her Child she should come to that City and see the Piccardines some burned some beheaded and some stifled in the water But Oh the Judgments of God for before the time of her delivery being prevented with the pangs thereof and not able to bring forth The Physitians that they might preserve one were of opinion that the Child should be cut out of the mothers womb and the Chyrurgions being come tooke out the child alive but because it was brought into the world before its time as yet unable to see This was Ludonick who afterward succeded his father in both Kingdomes but the Mother no longer able to indure the torment did expire and with her dyed the wicked contriveances of the enemyes of the Truth for that time This was at Buda in the year 1506. on the beginning of July 3. Two yeares after this the Bishops obtained what before they attempted and the King overcome by their importunity who cryed out that sharp remedies must be used to take away such a growing Evill he commanded that all the Piccardins whatsoever without difference either of sexe or Age should be punished with the losse of life This was in the year 1508. on the tenth of August 4. Ionh Bishop of Warade and Stanislaus Sturzo Bishop of Olumitz brought this Edict unto Bohemia and a full house of the states being called gave it to them But because many of the chiefe of the Nobility complained that this Decree was made without the knowledge of the Parliament they could not consent that it should carry any force with it The execution of it therefore went on but slowly and almost eighteene moneths were spent in disputations only and debates about it 5. At the last by the cunning Artifice and proceedings of Albert Chancellor of Kolowratte and his Accomplices this bloudy Edict
is none to help out of the 2 Kings 14 26. I will bind up thy wound and heale thy stripes and will not take away my chastisement till I have healed thee Then he continued in the Apostrophe which was in the same song Lift up thy self thou beleeving soul who art cast down with a sence of thy sinne and misery He is faithfull that hath promised who hath partly fulfilled his promise having sent a Physitian to thee viz. his sonne who hath by his own bloud provided a plaister for thy sore He will restore thee to the full when he shall raise thee up and glorifie thee c. Which are all signes of a soul wrestling with despaire though not as yet despairing 4. But although he had perhaps cast himself down for a fear of greater evills or with a hope to escape a resolution to dye yet the glory of Martyrdom doth not perish with them who as long as it is Christs cause fearing the enemies fury do themselves anticipate death which may be made probable to the Papists themselves by the authority of the Fathers to whom they in other cases attribute much Let them look upon Ambrose in his third book of Virgins relating such a thing of the Virgin Pelagia also praysing the deed Let them resort to Augustin although he answers more doubtfully of the like businesse But something may be had out of Eusebius to cause a milder opinion who in the 8. Book 12. ch writes thus What need we revive the memory of those who were burnt at Antioch with hot coals not to death but to lengthen out the punishmet which also happened to Freweynius And of others who would sooner put their right hands into the fire then touch the prophane sacrifice The tryall of which some avoiding throwes themselves headlong from the house-tops before they would be taken and fall into the enemies hands and thought rather to hasten their death then to undergo the malice of wicked men More may be there seene CHAP. 84. Matthias Borbonius a Physician AMong the condemned persons was Matthias Borbonius a most excellent and succesfull Physitian being chief Physician to three Emperours whom when the Prince Lichtenstein knew to be innocent of the civill broyles he obtained his pardon and entertained him for his chief Physician But that exceedingly vexed his enemies especially the Imperiall Judge John Chrysostome Schrepelius who induced by the hope of gain for he gaped for Borbonius his stately houses had laden him with slanders He therefore no longer able to conceale his dissembled rancour gave command to the Sergeants to set upon Borbonius in the streete of the City as he returned from the Prince and to beat him with their clubs even to his own house Which deed however it seemed to displease the Prince yet it remained unrevenged 2. This Physician is rightly accounted among the Confessors of the truth although he obtained not a Crown of Martyrdom For as often as the Prince or some privatly stirred up dealt with him seriously about changing his Religion which they often did yet it was always in vaine His answer to Smeczanius is remarkable For when he intreated him with most eloquent words and even with imbraces above his ordinary courtesie that he would turn Roman-Catholick saying Ah my Borbonius how much mightest thou promote the Catholick cause and the salvation of many by your example He replyed There is nothing more certaine then that I should disadvantage your Church if I should become a Member When he ask'd the reason he answered him Let your Honour thinke that my Conscience is so tender that it will not by any meanes suffer any violence to be used against it If I should therefore revolt when that speaks to the contrary I can expect nothing from it but gnawings and rendings and torments which will drive me headlong into despair And I departing with roaring and what honor should I be made else but an example for others to take heed of the same precipicies When he saw him so unmoveable he began to hate him and with others in the year 1623. banished him the Kingdome 3. Borbonius then went into Poland and was admitted by the King himself to practice Physick and at length he departed this life being an old man of 70 years of age at Thorun in Prussia in the year 1629 16 of December CHAP. LXXXV Noblemen of Moravia imprisoned I. A Little while after the execution at Prague 4 of June the Protestant Noblemen of Moravia who were thought above others to promote the Bohemians cause being assembled by the Emperours command were carried to prison some to Brune others to Olumitz Without doubt these had beene punished if the Emperour had not solemnly promised indempnity when they yielded themselves after the battell at Prague and the Duke of Carnovia with Bethlehem Gabor being that year Victors in Hungary had procured the liberty of some by exchanging certaine Canons others being kept in prison three yeares obtained their liberty not without the intercessions of divers men But their goods were confiscated as well as theirs who sought their safety by slight to the Emperour and afterward used and abused by the Popish Nobility and Jesuites This was onely the difference that those who were freed from prison were restored to their credit and honour but those that had escaped by flight were commanded to be held as infamous as those whose names had been fixed on the Gallowes CHAP. LXXXVI Wenceslaus de Betow a Knight I. OF their number was Wenceslaus Bitowski de Bitow Lord of Prussiwick one of the Governours of Moravia in the time of the vacancy and when Frederick created him Captaine of the Order of Knight Who when he was taken in the Marquisate of Brandenburgh in the yeare 1627. in the moneth of August and sent back into Moravia he was put to the torture by Cardinall Detrichsteine who hated him deadly and being examined a long time but in vain concerning divers questions at last he was condemned to be beheaded and couragiously underwent it on a scaffold at the Court of Brune 2. If there had been leave given to any to have visited him or accompanied him to his death wee should certainely have had something which might have been an example For he was a stout man and exceeding couragious and although formerly he was given to excesse as the custome is with such natures yet in his banishment hee gave himself wholly to reading the Scripture and meditation and amending his life so that nothing but piety and modesty and zeale for the glory of God and his owne salvation could bee observed in him But because no man was admitted to him all the time of his imprisonment except a foolish boy that was left to serve him and a noise of drummes and Trumpets was made at his execution his speeches could not be noted by any one But his perseverance in the faith worthy of a Martyr and the firmnesse of his hope did sufficiently appeare in his