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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

the King and Consistory that these pernitious men should no where be suffered either in Bohemia or Moravia some were not wanting who gave advice to have them all apprehended and put to death but Jod●cus Rosenburgh Bishop of Wratislove did disswade from it gave this reason that Martyrdom was but a kind of boyling which was halfe raw from whence Magots would easily proceed intimating thereby that the Faithfull did increase by Martyrdome he sayd that more easily they might be recalled if they were every where proscribed For if they knew not where to turne themselves they would soone returne to a better minde 6. This so severe an inquisition against the Brothers being instituted It came to passe that many especially the chiefest of them being dispersed amongst the woods and mountains did dwell in Caves where they were scarce secure enough wherefore they dressed not their meat nor made any fire but in the night time only for fear the smoak ascending should betray them and in the extreamity of the cold in winter nights sitting neare the fire they gave themselves to the reading of the Bible and to holy discourses When in the depth of the snow they went forth to provide them necessaries they went close together least they should be discovered by their footsteps and the hindermost of them did draw behinde him a great bough of Beech to cover the print which their feet had made in the snow that nothing might be seen but the impression of some Country lad drawing a bush behind him From which their dwelling in Caves they were afterward in scorn called by their enemies Jamnices that is to say livers in the holes of the earth CHAP. XX. The Brothers erect to themselves a peculiar Ministery 1. THose brethren had constituted amongst themselves a certain order elders by suffrages being chosen who having the Government and direction of things obedience was promised to him By the counsel of these men the chiefest of the disperced through Bohemia and Moravia being called together they had Synods in chose mountaines and ordained statutes how they should behave themselves amongst themselves and others how they should carry themselves to their friends and Enemies as also toward the King and all Magistrates oftentimes appointing solemn dayes of prayer and fasting for themselves and the dispersed and taking councell out of the Word of God concerning those things which are required to the fuller Reformation both of life and Doctrine 2. The deepest care that did afflict them was for Pastors of soules where they should find new after those were dead who then lived with them To expect that some of the Ordination of Rome should come unto them for the love of the Truth was an uncertain hope And they remembred that Rokizane did often protest that all things were to be restored from the foundation again Therefore that there was an Ordination at Rome to be erected by that authority which Christ gave unto the Church that whiles they had yet amongst them ordained men they might ordaine others who againe should have power to ordain others to succeed them To this as their desires so their judgements did incline but a fear invaded them whether this Ordination were lawfull or no because not a Bishop but a Presbiter here did create a Presbiter and how if any controversie should be they should defend such an Ordination either among others or themselves 3. At length after certain yeares most serious deliberations the most eminent of them in all Bohemia and Moravia about seventy in number convened at a village not farre from Rich-nove and many teares and prayers being poured forth to God that he would vouchsafe to manifest if their purpose were acceptable to him and whether this were the time of it they appointed to try by lots the pleasure of the Almighty They therefore by the suffrages chose from the middest of them nine men whom above others they thought most fit for the taking of the Ministery and twelve little Papers closely folded up being put into the hand of a little boy sent for on purpose and not knowing what was to be done he was commanded to distribute those twelve lots unto the nine men Nine of these lots were blankes on the other three were inscribed the word I S to wit the Will of God which they desired might be revealed to them It might therefore come to passe that these nine men every one might have a blank which would be a token to them that God was not at that present pleased at what they went about But so it was that the three lots were given into the hands of three of them Matthew Kunwald a most Godly man Thomas Przelauce a learned man and Elias Krzenove a man indued with singular abilities of understanding 4. These being with great joy embraced as men sent from Heaven unto them they took new counsels for the Confirmation and the Ordination of them And having understood that there were some of the Waldenses in the confines of Moravia and of Austria that they might provide for the present and for the time to come for the scruples of theirs and other mens consciences they sent unto them Michael Zamberge their Pastor who received his Ordination from a Romane Bishop with two others who should relate what had beene done and desire their judgement in this business They find there Stephanus the Bishop who another Bishop and some of the Ministers being sent for they declare unto them their Originall from the time of Constantine they repeat unto them the Articles of their faith and what a horrible persecution they suffered for it both in Italy and in France Then they hear our men make a report unto them of their departure from the Pope and the Calixtines which they approve of and congratulate Moreover giving power to those three to create Ministers they create them Bishops with the imposition of hands and return them to those that sent them 5. Our men receive these things with joy and being desirous of the Chri●tian Unity they deliberate whether they should join with the Waldenses and so be one people and one Church The purity of their Doctrine and Ch●●stian conversation of life did much please them But it again displeased them that they concealed the truth neither did openly professe it as they ough● but under a desire to avoide persecutions they frequented the Churches of the Papists and communicated with Idolaters It was concluded that they should be admonished concerning this other particulars Therefore some able men being sent againe to them they acquaint the Waldenses withit who affirm that the Proposition for being in an Vnity with them is very gratefull to them As for the Vices objected against them they said they were not so ignorant of them neither would defend them but would rather confesse that they had departed from the ancient purity of their Forefathers and would therefore labour an amendment They concluded to have a meeting on a prefixed

day about it in which they would take some further order concerning this businesse But before that time this being discovered the Papists began to rage very violently against the Waldenses Stephanus one of the chiefest of them is consumed with fire at Vienna The rest of them some scattered into Marchia and others into Moravia and most of them brought unto Fulnerha did provide for their safety by flight 6. From this tr●nsaction of the Bohemian brothers with the Waldenses it appea●es it did arise that they were called also by the title of the Waldenses Howsoever they would never admit of it and have often complained in their printed papers that by errour that title was given to them And this they did for th● cause of truth and necessity for the cause of truth because they took not their Doctrine from them neither did they on their perswasion establish the unity neither were they reformed by them but desired rather in some defects to bee reformed of them For the cause of necessity because they wisely judged that the decrees published by the Magistrates against the Waldenses were no way to be derived to them but rather to be avoided Howsoever they never denied that they received the power of ordaining Ministers and by that the externall succession of them from the Waldenses although and this also oftentimes accordingly as they saw occasion they wisely did passe by in silence 7. Neverthelesse God would have the Brothers in Bohemia to be partakers of the persecution of the Waldenses in Austria against whom in the year following viz. 1468. George the King the States being solemnly called to councell did publish a bloudy Decree Which was that every one of the Peeres within the Territory of his Jurisdiction should endeavour to apprehend as many of the Piccardines as he could and having apprehended them to prosecute against them accordingly as he saw occasion by this meanes of cruelty attempting to hinder the separation 8. Many therefore were apprehended and for a long time kept in prison untill the Death of the King among whom was one of the chiefest of them by name Michael Zambergh with which unjust and cruell proceedings the Brothers being moved did write an Apology to Rokizane and to the Consistory and afterwards to the King and at last to them All altogether And it came to passe by the wonderfull Counsell of God that by the greater indeavour as they laboured to put out this sparke by so much it brake forth into a greater flame many of the Peeres to wit the Barons of Kragir Kostkie Zerotine and others submitting themselves to the Discipline of the Brothers and building Oratories for them in their Townes and Villages there being Churches by the publick Authority of the Kingdome allowed to the Calixtines insomuch that about the year 1500. they had in Bohemia and Moravia about 200. Churches and so was the Prophesie fulfilled of Mathew of Paris that an ignoble people should arise without sword or outward power over whom the Enemies of the Truth should never prevaile CHAP. XXI Abominable Lyes cast upon the Brothers I. BUt to returne back a little in the year 1471. Rokizane dyed having wrastled with dispaire and citing King George who came to visite him to appeare with him before the Tribunall of God who one moneth after followed him and Wladislaus a Polonian did succeed him a milde and a gentle Prince To whom the Brothers being againe overwhelmed with many false Accusations did write an Apology desiring him that he would suffer nothing by force to be acted on them 2. Which did so exasperate some wicked men that in the year 1476. they indeavoured by a most impudent invention to stirre up against them the hatred of all men They had suborned a most light man by art a Polender by name Lezka which if you interpret it signifies a lyar the sound agreeing with the thing who upholding that he came from the Piccardins and was an Elder amongst them would seem to discover wonderfull secrets as how in their conventicles they would blaspheme God the Virgin Mary and the Saints traduce the Sacraments with their scoffings mingle them selves incestuously after the manner of the Adamites commit murthers practise witch-craft heape up most vaste summes of money c. This man they did leade through Townes and Cities as a spectacle they brought him into their Temples where he should abjure his errours and most hainous crimes and beseeched the people to pray for him most wretched sinner and to take heed by his example of the most wicked Piccardins They tooke also his confession in writing and published it being confirmed with the seales and subscriptions of some Deanes and Priests that where Lezka himselfe could not come in person his confession might be read in the Churches to the people 3. But this indeavour of the Devill did come to nothing for the Brothers by publick writings did confute their Lyes and Lezka trembling so often to forswear himselfe in the sight of the people and to speak lies in the stead of truth refused any longer to obey them and confessed that hee was suborned to do what he did and that hee knew not any of the Piccardines 4. Howsoever this impudence and these obloquies of the Devill by the accustomed goodnesse of God did prove good for some who making experience of so great a Villany began privately and in disguises to frequent the Assemblies of the Brethren and finding it to bee farre otherwise than was reported they did associate themselves with the brothers as ' with true Christians CHAP. XXII The Brothers prescribed from Moravia into Moldavia IN the yeare 1488. Matthias King of Hungary proscribed the brothers from Moravia some hundreds of them having taken a Minister with them by name Nicholas Slansky came through Hungary and Transilvania into Moldavia unto whom some two years afterwards the Brothers sent one of their Elders Elias Krenowski with letters desiring them with patience to endure their banishment for the Truth but Moravia being not long after restored to the King of Bohemia Wladislaus being made King of Hungary after the death of Matthias the brothers were restored CHAP. XXIII The Brethren in Bohemia cited to a colloquy IN the year 1503. the most gentle King Wladislaus did again suffer himself to be transported against the brothers insomuch that he gave order that they should be delivered to the Magistrates imprisoned and at pleasure afflicted The causes of this were not only the open enemies raging against the little flocke according to their manner but certain false-brothers For a question being propounded concerning the secular power whither it were lawfull for a Christian with a safe conscience to governe as a Magistrate or to use the sword or to give or to exact Oa●hs many were of the negative opinion as they are now in this Anabaptist age but the greater part affirmed that it was lawfull The discent did so greatly increase that those of the negative opinion did

fell upon a cloth that was spread there for that purpose and so received the blow of the sword After that his right hand was cut off and was hung up with his head on an iron speare upon the high Tower of the Bridge but his carcase was wrapt in a cloth and conveyed away by some in mourning habits to a cave and a fresh cloth is spread which is observed to be done for all of them that none of those that suffered might see the Corps or bloud of those that suffered before them CHAP. LXII Wenceslaus Baron of Budowa a Monke of Graetium Lord of Klastericke and Zazadka I. THis man had an incomparable wit famous for his learning as appeareth by his writings renouned for his travels through Germany Italie France England and Turkie where he lived seven years he was very zealous deserving reverence even for his age for he was seventy years old eminent also in regard of his places of preferment For under Rodolphus he was a Counsellor and was called to the place of one of the Directors of the reformed Consistory and Academie By Matthias he was made a Counsellor and by the Order Director of the Kingdome in the vacancy until a King was elected Lastly he was President of the Court of Appeales the glory of his Country and the bright shining starre of the Church he was none that Lorded it over his inferiors but was rather a Father to them In a word he was right deare both to God and man 2. After the Victory of Ferdinand he accompanied his family out of Prague his Wife his Sonne Nurse Nephews and least he should seeme to have forsaken the Crowne whereof with one Otto he was appointed keeper he returned His house not long after was plundred even to his wearing apparell he onely saying that the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken 3. Paulus Aretinus being Secretary of the Tribunalls talking with him for he was now kept under arrest in his owne house and being demanded that since he had b n once in the deeps why he would trust hims●lfe to those tempestuous storms he did answer his conscience pressed him to what he did It was Religion that perswaded him to forsake his Countrey and a good cause But I know not Gods pleasures whether he will that I should seale it with my bloud And rising up he said I am here my God dispose of me thy servant as it seemeth good in thine eyes I am full of years take from me my life that I may not see those evils which I see are now comming on my Country Being another day visited by the same party and being before acquainted of the report that went on him that for very griefe he died smiling he answered What me I had never had he happinesse to injoy so much pleasure as now b●hold my Paradise shewing his Bible it never yeelded me so much Nectar and Ambrosia as now I live and will live as long as God please neither I hope shal any man see that day wherein good old Budowecius was said to die with greif Being examined of the Inquisitors often he stifly maintained the equity of the cause and being condemned he said to the Judges Yee have long time thirsted after my bloud but know withall ye will find God a revenger of innocent bloud for whose cause we suffer 4. The third day before the execution hee told his dreame to his servant Zidnowskie He dreamed that he thought he saw himselfe walking in a pleasant field and thinking of the event of these things with a heavie heart when behold one comming to me offered me a booke which when I looked into I saw silken white leaves and nothing therein written but the fift verse of the thirty seven Psalme Commit thy way unto the Lord and put thy trust in him and he shall bring it to passe when he began againe to thinke what that meant another came and brought a white Robe which he cast upon him The old man awaking told it presently to his servant and as hee went on the Scaffold hee said to him Now I goe covered with the cloth of Righteousnesse that I may appeare before God in whom I hope 5. After the pronunciation of the sentence as he was going into the Crosse two Capuchins met him and told him the cause of their comming which was to afford him mercy in these straits he demanded of them what that mercy was They did answer that they might shew him the way of the Lord. He replied again I know that by the mercy of my God They again said Sir you are deceived in your opinion Unto whom hee answered I rely not on opinion on but the infallible truth for I have no other way but him who said I am the way the truth and life But they replied there is no salvation out of the Church and here they fall into discourse of the authority of the Church to trifle away the time and would gladly confine it to the Pope and Cardinals in which discourse they use vaine repetition in desiring their principles to be granted whereat the Martyr incensed said but I think your Pope is a Divel and Antichrist and the son of perdition and that Beast that was made red with the bloud of Saints depart with him to the place ye have deserved and let me alone yet if ye will learn from me the way of truth stay ye it will not be tedious to me to spend some time and pains to save your soules Here they beating their breasts and signing themselves with the sign of the Crosse they departed complaining that they never met with such a blasphemous Heretick 6. In like manner on the day of Martyrdome very early in the morning two Jesuites came into the Court and began again to trouble these holy men and when some slighted them they came to the Baron and said We perceive that this Baron is very learned we doe desire to gaine his soule and afford unto him the worke of mercy to whom he said What! would ye gaine my soule Would ye were assertained of your salvation as I am of mine the Lord be praised who by his holy spirit hath assured me of my salvation by the bloud of the Lambe The Jesuite replyed Good sir do not presume too much and assume that to your selfe whereof no man can promise to himselfe any certainty For doth not the Scripture say No man knowes whether hee have deserved grace To whom the Baron answered Is it therefore that I have need of your mercy Yee unhappy gainers of soules yee rather infuse desparation into me but ye erre not knowing the Scriptures And here hee expounded and gave them the sense of this place and brought other portions of Scripture which prove the infallibility of the salvation of beleevers Amongst others that of Saint Paul I know in whom I have believed also I know that a crown is laid up for me The Jesuit interrupting him said This Paul

him with their suggestions and his wife and children with their lamentation he yielded and was taken off the wooden-horse halfe dead for he could neither go nor make use of any member so he was carried by other men to a Confessor 13. When some desired rather to die then to be forced to Apostasie it was answered That the Emperour did not thirst after their blood but onely the welfare of their soule some others put questions and they were thus answered in a scoffing manner O you affect the glory of Martyrdome but ye are base knaves and are unworthy to have any thing to glory in this Answer had John Polacicus of Franisium in Moravia who being solicited by the Souldiers and Jesuites severally to Apostasie he fell down upon his knees held up his hands and intreated That they would cut off his head rather then force his Conscience And this Answer had John Elius of Stubnecimus and others in other places and this was the true cause why in all these daily persecutions of Ferdinand Bohemia as also all Germany did not produce more Martyrs there were not wanting who would have died in maintenance of the Christian faith but there were none who would inflict death upon bare account for it was determined by these cruel Tyrants brought up in the Devills Schoole not to kill the body but the soule and therefore they had rather by lingring and continued punishments render men unstable and wavering in the truth then by their patiently maintaining the faith make them victorious they onely put them to death upon whom they had any colour of a civil crime as is manifest in these Martyrs of Prague Andreas Chebdovius a sweet and hopefull young man was thus dealt with whom they apprehended at Dorbusta as he was in his journey from Podebradium his native Countrey going to the Court of Inowen into his service he had ingaged himself at Faradissium they fastened him to a sharpe stake because he was a Messenger to carry about severall treasonable designes when neverthelesse they found nothing about him but a few Letters written from friends to friends nor by any tortures could they force him to confesse any thing and this was done in the year 1622. 14. They likewise took another course which was both tyrannical over the Consciences of men and dishonourable to God that because they see they could neither convince nor convert any one by the word of God therefore they resolved with themselves to make no use of any argument from Scripture especially to the vulgar multitude but by Authority of their Church and by force compell'd them to obedience wherefore if any man did appeal unto the Scriptures they were answered with scoffes and jeeres and taunts they accused the Scripture of imperfection of obscurity of ambiguity that it was the fountain of heresie the sanctuary of Hereticks and that Lay-men had nothing to do with it this was nothing with them nay these blasphemous wretches were not afraid with their foule mouthes to nick-name the Bible Wiblia that is in our Language vomit and so they spit in the very face of God himself wherefore they took away all religious bookes from the people that so the blind leading the blind they might over-spread the Kingdom with darknes also they perceived that the people by this meanes being deprived of all light from the word of God might more easily be overspread with the darknesse of error 15. Some of the Nobles after they had forced their Tenants into their Church and shut the doores compell them to receive the Eucharist in one kind as Severinus Talho in the village of Andercze in the County of Pilsnen in the year 1628. with his sword drawn went about in the Church and solicited those that refused to fall down and worship John Adams Czeyka in Newcitz a Town of the same County did beat the joynts of their leggs with Clubs and so forced them to fall down which was also done by William of Klenow Lord of Rupovia John Stepkenick being sent for by his Lord George Metrowsky at Mautina when he perceived that he was to be fettered and chained leapt through the window into the trench of the Castle indeavouring to scape Apostasie by his flight but he being pursued by the Guard was brought back again wounded and was therefore sent to prison at Pilsna not to be released before he had abjured his Religion the same Metrowksy kept another man of his own Ambrose Sterpothus a skinner by trade in prison a whole yeare because he continued firm in his Religion and thrice he sent the Hangman to him and commanded him to be racked and by the torments of his rack forced him to confession at length he was let go and was fined 100. Imperials the Townsmen of Knesovesia upon Slana pursued with drawn Swords the poor Countrey people that fled into the fields and brought them back again some of them wounded some they brought from the Victualling houses and forced them to confession and received the Sacrament in one kind Baron Kolowrat set Muskets to the mouthes of those that refused to receive the Sacrament after the same manner or else by gags forced their mouths open and commanded the Hoast to be thrust down perhaps in imitation of Smeczanius who was used to do so before At Ronspurg in Tosta and in certain other places these wicked reformers are reported to have gone so farre in their wickednesse as to force some of the people not only meerly to abjure the Cup but also to throwe it upon the ground and spit upon it and tread it under their feete and this was the usuall forme of abjuring the Cup and swearing to the Catholique Religion I sweare before God Almighty and the Virgin Mary and all the Saints that I am not forced but do voluntarily return to the holy Roman Catholique faith and I do professe that it alone is true ancient saving faith I do abjure the Cup neither will I partake of the Cup for ever Yea moreover I will by all possible meanes diswade my Children and those that are committed to my trust from partaking of the Cup I do also promise that I will constantly persevere in this Religion and that I will oppose men of contrary Religion so God help and the Virgin his Mother and all the Saints 17. It is not alike provided how those that were now made Catholiques should for the future behave themselves some being content that they had not once filled their lusts upon these heriticall Subjects let them alone and molested them no more yet these poor miserable Creatures when ever they had opportunity to see an Evangelicall Minister did bewaile their Apostasie and did again communicate in both kindes but others were a second time compelled especially when it was suspected that they did not in their hearts return to the Popish Church concerning which certain Edicts of the Emperour and Commissioners came forth to compell them again and again a certain