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 Jodâ—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 Chriâ—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 Châ—â—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 oughâ— 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
lay hold on that most wicked knave the Piccardine At the first all were amazed no man would lay his hand on him at the last some were found who falling on him did buffet him with their fists and beating his head against the pillar did draw him almost covered with bloud unto the prison 2. The next day he was brought into the Court the Senate and the Parson being present and being demanded whether he would speak those words again which he spake yesterday he affirmed that he would Being asked again By what Instinct he durst doe it He answered by what Instinct did Abraham depart from the Idolaters and worship the euerliving God They pressing on him to tell them precisely by whose perswasion hee durst commit so hainous a fact hee answered By whose perswasion did David oppose himselfe against the worshipping of Idolls 3. On this they cried out Hold thy peace we know these things better than thou wee need not be taught by thee Wee know that thou hast here some accomplices whom since by thy owne accord thou wilt not discover thou shalt do it by force whereupon they commanded him to be carried back to the prison and by and by to be put on the Racke but not able by torment to rack any thing from him they condemne him to the fire as an obstinate Heretick the chief Officer being desired by the Priests not to suffer him to speake as hee was going to the execution least he should infect the people with his words The Officer agreed with him to forbear speaking or otherwise he would stop his mouth Andrew promised silence and performed what he promised speaking nothing all the way but praying softly to himselfe At the last when the fire began to sindge his head he cried out Iesus the son of the everliving God be mercifull be mercifull be mercifull to me a sinner which were all the words he spake The Priests turning to the people said Behold at last he calleth on Iesus in whom he living would not believe nor reverence his Sacraments CHAP. XXVII The persecutions which the more reformed of the Calixtines did endure I. IN all these times the condition of the church of the Brothers was most heavy but neither were the Calixtines free from affliction especially the purer sort of them being those who were most zealous against the Papists for in the year 1408. Mr. Michael Polach pastor of St. Ades in old Prague a man of unblemished life and an excellent preacher with three other Parsons Mr. Wenceslaus Slane Iohn Miezta and Mr. Wenceslaus Piscene were apprehended by the command of King Wladislaus because they affirmed the Pope to be Antichrist They were carried into the Castle of Calreisteine where the first of them perished by hunger and the nastinesse of the prison the other with much adoe were dismissed by the order of the States At which time many other who were more reformed in their judgements were either driven from Prague as Mr. Mathias Macheeke professor of the University or willingly departed as Lucas Pragene Batchelour of Art an excellent man who afterwards as before I have recited was a Bishop amongst the Brothers there also forsooke the Vniversity of their own accord Mr. Iohn Snow a Physitian and others 2. On the same year the King forbad the singing of the ballads made against the abominations of the Church of Rome and because they would not refrain many of the best rank of the Citizens were apprehended and a long time detained in prison One or two of them were stead alive as Matthew Serling Martin of the golden wheele Scheynohin who was also a Citizen of Prague through the violence of the torment did break asunder 3. On this the Monks having taken new courage began more freely to inveigh against those that tooke the Sacrament in both kinds and condemned the Hussites the people variously but vainly murmuring at it The Senators also of Prague and many Papists and Germanes abusing the clemency of the King did grow so intollerably bold that some noble men who were adversaries to the Religion conspired together and on the 24 of December at night intended to put to death the chiefest of the Citizens who received the Sacrament under both kinds But they were deceived of their expectation and hope God so ordaining it that the evill returned vpon the heads of the contrivers of it For their treachery being betrayed their was a mighty Tumult in which the places of â—ustice of the three Cities and all the Monasteries were pulled downe and many of the Senators and Monks were slain This was done in the year 1413. at which though Wladislaus was much afflicted yet inquiry being made and it being found that the Papists gave the cause thereof he pardoned the inhabitants of Prague And in the year 1485 he established by Parliament an agreement betwixt the communicants under one and both kinds howsoever the hatred betwixt them and the reproachfull words did still continue 4. In the yeare 1491 on the 28 of Ianuary at Laeta Curia a chiefe Temple of the Hussites The Eucharist being administred under both kinds a German comming behind a Gentlewoman as she was drinking of the cup hee strooke her head so violently that her mouth being cleaved bloud issued forth abundantly for which notorious offence hee was apprehended and thrown into prison but not long after dismissed 5. But in the Vacation of the Arch-Bishopprick the Calixtine Priests could not receive their Ordinations but in Italy where most of them were bound to renounce the articles under both kinds and to performe obedience unto the sea of Rome which was very grievous to the Bohemians therefore in the yeare 1482. there Sanctuarensis a Bishop came into Bohemia from Italy for the love as hee said of the pure Religion whom when Augustinus Lucian and others had received with much joy and honour he died iâ— the yeare of our Lord 1493 whom whom after eleven yeares Philip Bishop of Sidon and Mutina did succeed Hee being resident sometimes at Prague sometimes at Cuttenburge did for three yeares space ordaine Calixtine Ministers which being passed they were againe enforced to flatter the Pope and Bishops of Rome so miserable was their slavery that willing to seem to have forsaken Antichrist yet they did not stick to fight under his standards 6. But some of the schollers amongst whom was Iohn Bezhink so truly hated the Pope that having received letters of commendation from the University they went as farre as Armenia to be ordained Ministers And because that there the fame had arrived of the Heresie of the Bohemians they were the more strictly examined and it being found that they agreed with them in the chiefest Articles of Religion and also in the language they were ordained Ministers in the yeare 1499. Two of those did afterwards suffer the flames of Martyrdome by the Romanes to wit Martin a Taborite with his Deacon who were both burned at Radnice CHAP. XXVIII The Persecution of the
another town by name Soldavia Guidzina c. were shewed to them wherein they might live quietly and one Paulus Speratus Bishop of Pomesania being very courteous and charitable unto them who in former time passing through Bohemia honoured the Church of Lytomislena and well knew the manners and doctrine of the brethren He rejoyced for that he had such guests at Borusia and recommended us to the Prince who was also very friendly to us CMAP XXXVI John Augusta James Bileck and George Israel taken I. THe third Edict that Ferdinand set forth against the brethren was concerning the taking of the Ministers of the brethren prisoners wherefore they are dispersed part into Morauia which at that time was free from troubles part that they might not forsake their auditors in private places from whence comming forth but for the most part in the night they visited the faithfull and where need required administred in houses which continued for some years 2. Three of them fel into their enemies clutches Iohn Augusta the elder with Iames Bilke his colleague George Israel pastor of the Church of Turnovia but he by the admirable help of God was freed from the deep dungeon of the Castle of Prague and followed his friends into Borussia being from above made an Apostle of the Polonians For when he had once or twice travelled from Borussia into Moravia where the Ministers forced from Bohemia did lurk had gone through Polonia the greater in some places as occasion offered it selfe hee preached the Gospell with such success that he gained many of the nobility and in these the Pallatines and Castellanes and within fewe years erected about twenty Churches in Polonia the greater and this was the first originall of Churches in Polonia which as yet retaine the Cerimonies of the Bohemian Confession 3. The enemies so rejoyced for the imprisonment of John Augusta as the Philistims did when they had taken Sampson for he was a man renowned through the whole Country not so much for that he was the chief bishop among the brethren but for his disputations both by words and writings with his adversaries the Calixtines who as Luther the Pope in Germany so he confounded his adversaries in Bohemia For he was sometimes Luther's auditor and did often afterwards receive Letters from him By which meanes the enemies laid all the blame of the disobedience of the Orders towards Ferdinand upon Augusta alone as if he with his had caused the rest of the Order cunningly being drawn into the faction that Ferdinand being driven out they might advance Iohn Frederick the Elector of Saxony unto the Kingdome which had assuredly been brought about if Caesar had been overthrown in war 4. That this cruell conspiracy might be disclosed Augusta being called forth by a feigned friend to discourse as if to advise with them concerning the allaying of that mischief he is taken carried back to Prague was by order three times miserably tortured by the hand of the hangman his colleague John Billek fared no better But no unlawfull act being known or any signe thereof appearing they are left in prison for the space of 17 years at the length after the death of Ferdinand they are dismissed in the year 1564. CHAP. XXXVII Veey many of the Ministers of the Gospell banished I. WHen it was evidently knowne that the brethren were not the authors of any conspiracy but that the Orders in regard of the ancient league with the Saxons and a new desire against the protestants had acted this Ferdinand bent all his endeavour to persecute the Lutheranes also having called a meeting in the year 1549 he caused those things which were formerly agreed upon to be confirmed and the decree for the abolishing all other sects to wit the brethren and Lutheranes to be published 2. The effect whereof was that aswell the Calixtines as Papists might have the more liberty to vexe the Gospellers with malice calumnies and injuries and untill the yeare 1555 by the Kings command the Ministers that had received orders in Germany and those that were married in Cities and Townes were removed one after another and banished the Kingdome to the number as some have affirmed of neer upon 200. These men being dispersed through Misnia and the Palatine Philip Malancthon greatly comforted with his letters For the King had promised that some of the chief of the Gospellers upon any pretence whatsoever should bee proscribed and hurried to prison among whom was Iohn Prostiborskt Baron of Schanow an eminent man not so much for his wealth as his learning and good experience Hee for a suspition of a certaine plot against Ferdinand and for that he had consulted with the Saxons after an itterated verball diligent examination being laid on the rack with an heroicall indignation cut out his tongue and cast it away being demanded why hee did so what hee could not with his tongue in those tortures very humbly with a quill set it downe on the wall for that end said hee I did it because I would not bee brought to it by any tortures to say any thing that is false against himselfe or others And here by a written parchment upbraiding the Tyrannicall proceedings against them and other innocents he cited the King and his councellors to appeare before the tribunall of God and a little after died in the same prison notwithstanding the King had taken order that a Chyrurgion and a Physitian should take care of his health CHAP. XXXVIII Jesuites brought into Bohemia FErdinand strove with might and main to suppress all those whom hee accounted heretickes hee brought Iesuites into Prague and founded a very sumptuous and rich Colledge for them as hee did a little after at Chonotowa Crolowre Hradecij which is called Henries Colledge and these pretending the education of youth after their accustomed manner sought by all means to overthrow the Churches and added fewell to that fire which had now almost inflamed the whole country CHAP. XXXIX The state of the Churches under Maximillian under one common confession are reconciled I. NEvertheles under Maximilian as afterward under Rodolphus thier sleights plots succeeded not so prosperously for Maxamilian in the year 1562 being crowned King a Prince of a peaceable disposition wel instructed in the knowledge of the truth would by no means be induced that any should suffer for their faith insomuch that the churches not only gathered breath but flourished under him 2. For he had John Fauser preacher of his court his father Ferdinand being yet alive a very Godly man wel skilled in the Evangelical doctrin who did not cease to infuse good principles into the young Prince for which he incurred very great displeasure but did not suffer martyrdome For upon a time Caesar Ferdinand alone going into his chamber sharply rebuked him for that hee had seduced his son by his erroneous so conceived by him opinions hee mildly notwithstanding answered him which no waâ—y allayed his fury which was so
wherewith he should bind himselfe that Mathew being alive he should meddle with none of the affarres of Bohemia much lesse Religion He is therefore crowned and presently went into Moravia and then into Silesia and Lusitania and there requested that he might be received 3 And after this time the enemies being made more confident boast themselves outragiously and began to wish ill luck to the Evangelists as also to threaten them openly And Ferdinand going into Moravia to receive homage the Jesuites erect at Olumatium a Triumphall Arche and paint upon it among the Armes of Austria with the Lion of Bohemia tied to it with a chaine and the Eagle of Moravia with a sleeping hare lying with open eyes and this Emblem written under I have practised casting a jeere upon the Orders for suffering themselves so to be bound and tied to drowsinesse but the year following a booke of Moltzarmius Alsatia from the new erected Academie of the Jesuites came forth in the dedication whereof encouraging Leopaldus to zeale they urge the example of his most peaceable Brother the founder of the Vniversitie that howsoever at his coronation in Bohemia after the usuall manner he performed his oath to the Heriticks yet first he left it in the Vestrie of the Church that he would not give way to the Heriticks whereby the Church might be defrauded 4. And it appeared most sufficiently that Ferdinand sware to the Orders with his mouth in his heart to the Pope truly from that time something hath bin attempted whereby it might not be well with the Gospelers either by passing from them their right by cosening or by overcoming their patience that by open injuries they might give them occasion to oppose them Presently after Ferdinand was gone they went about not only the Bishop and the Clergie but the Laity with those that did belong to the Pope Slawata Smeczanski and others in Moravia Olomucensis the Bishop and also the chiefe Duke Ladislaus de Lobkowitz the Lord of Holdsâ—orvia to vexe his subjects for Religion contrary to the expresse assurance of the obligation of his Majesty and then they attempt the like also even in Prague and other free cities of the King From the Chaires of the Jesuites not only the Gospellers but also that bountifull Rodolphus now dead and the Liberty of Religion granted to the Kingdome by him shamefully defamed and taunted at and threatned that their Liberty should not last long 5 They did likewise inhibite by a speciall command that they should print nothing unless perused and approved of by the Chancelour of the Kingdome divulging in the meane while their owne slanderous Pamphlets and dangerous writings against the Gospellers Also instruction was given from the same Chancery of the Citizens of Prague to the Captaines and Judges of Caesar who were Popelings to require earnestly of the parishoners the foundations of the Churches from the Originall And that they no way give nor consent to any meetings unlesse they themselves were present and to joyne with the chiefe overseeres and Parson of the said Parish vnder one kind which after was done in some Churches and at length to deny unto the defendors and those of the Consistorie any executing process of Law 6. And they dealt under hand with the Pastors whom they did believe they might reduce to Psudo-Hussitisme that they should require by presenting to the King an humble declaration that the new Consistory under both kinds after the forme of the former under the obedience of the Archbishop might be granted and about twelve of them being drawne into the net subscribed the chiefe of them being Matthew Praczuda whom they fed on with hopes that he should be promoted to the dignity of Administrator When he perceived himselfe to be very sick so that he was ready to die and calling to mind his former act detesting his perfidiousnes and dehorting his confederates from that fact their Stratagems are brought to nothing 7. Since this exploit of theirs tooke no effect they went another way to work The Church of Bethleem which from its first foundation was dedicated to the University was lately by the Reformation of the Consistory disposed of to the use of the brethren in the year 1609 after the death of the Senior of these Matthew Cirus in the year 1607. the Papists threaten to sue them at the law endeavor to deprive them of the Church but the Professor of the University making use of their own right they bring in John Cyrillus for Senior according to their solemn form these and the like they made triall of in other places but still without successe 8. The Burgrave Carelsteinensis that is to say the safeguard of the Crown and priviledges of the Kingdome is also taken away by the Count Turnensis a President never before heard of and against all the Lawes of the Kingdome not for any crime unlesse it were that in the late Parliament hee had more freely stood for the free election of a King and is delivered to Smeczanius the bitterest enemies of the Gospellers perchance that hee because lately hee could not inhibite the priviledge of Religion might by cunning now begin to do it He therefore began to disturb them by inhibiting the subjects of that dominion baptism and buriall 9. The same enemies go forward elsewhere and destroy the Churches of the Gospellers in the arch-Arch-Bishops Town Grob and by vertue of the Kings Patents the new built Church Braumow of the Abbot Braumow Also in Krumloviana they beginn the persecution of the Gospellers being Subjects the government belonging to the King CHAA. XLIII The Bohemians being often provoked take up armes I. THe Governors of the University and consistory in communion under both kinds being warned of these and other matters which were published in the States Remonstrance were assembled together at Prague about the beginning of the yeare 1618 and having power formerly given them by the States and confirmed by Rodolphus his letters Patents they chose sixe persons out of severall Lordships two Barons with as many Knights and Citizens to consult jointly what was best to be done in this tiâ—e of their enemies insolence But presently there arrived an injunction in Caesars name that neither the Governours should attempt to call any together neither should any man who was called dare to appear and if any did contrary to this command they should bee guilty of high treason and that Caesar would not acknowledge any man the Governour of his Kingdome but himself 2. Notwithstanding the Major part of the States met and when as new prohibitions and threatnings were spread abroad and those States were certified by sufficient proofs that the thunderbolts were not brought from Vienna where Caesar had his residence but forg'd in and shot from the Castle of Prague by the Deputies Their wronged patience was suddenly changed into severity and being guarded with a great troup they go up to the Castle and apprehending Smeczanius and Slawata the chiefe authours
can nor will any longer tollerate any one of the inferiour much lesse superiour States among all the subjects of our hereditary Kingdome of Bohemia of either sex who is infected with hereticall Errors And therefore we do grant unto the same superiour States the term of one six moneths to learn the holy and only saving Roman-catholick faith And that there may not want some from whom they may sufficiently draw saving instructions and informations we do upon our religious counsell appoint certaine Commissioners of Reformation as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall men It was our pleasure therefore by this publick act to assure all men of our Fatherly care for the salvation of this Kingdome as likewise to warn that all and every person making account both of his temporary and eternall salvation would not fail to yield themselves obedient to our will and to be diligently instructed by the afore-named Commissioners of Reformation and unlesse any man shall obey our will and agree with us in the same faith hee shall not be licenced to tarry in our Kingdome much lesse to possesse his Goods For wee Will that all those who are obstinately stubborne shall selling their Goods among the Catholicks depart out of the Kingdome of Bohemia at the end of the terme and never promise themselves any return unlesse they turn Catholicks c. 3. Here one might see strange alterations of minds and diversities of Counsell Those that loved Religion and constancy at their hearts did instantly separate themselves by banishment others were troubled and wavered seeking holes and hiding places soliciting Caesar by Petitions either to change the decree or grant them a longer time or else indeavouring by words to obtaine it as much as was in any mans power There were not some wanting who pretending the discomodities of banishment poverty age sicknesse duties and every thing else thought it best to satisfie the Emperours will Others were found who thinking to deceive the Emperour and Pope did buy with their gold false testimonies of the Priests that they had performed confession and communicated in one kind And it was so that some did by those bought bills make a shew of dissembled Apostacy and by that means avoided banishment 4. But such a Marchandize of soules did not prosper well with some For Lawrence Niezburski Pastor of Alberts in New-Prague who did too freely use that imposture and for such bills had scraped together a great summe of mony from the Citizens Noblemen and Barons being betrayed was taken and with him above a hundred Citizens of Prague who being all accused of Treason both to God and the Emperour were adjudged to death The Lay-men redeemed their lives with a pecuniary fine and a true Apostacy the false Priest was degraded and put to death in the market-place in old Prague in the yeare 1631. the seventh of Aprill But we must returne to those feares which did arise upon the first publication of the Act for banishment 5. The enemies having understood so great wavering of minds and conceiving some hope that more in tract of time would either be dashed against the rock of dispaire or throwne downe headlong into the bottome of doubts obtaine of the Emperour that another six moneths may be added to the end of that terme A new decree is thereupon published Decemb. the 6. of the same yeare 1627. whereby a longer time of staying within the bounds of their country is granted but yet sharper than before for all were forced to imbrace the Romish religion partly by promises and partly by threats Besides the said act of banishment is extended to Widows Children onely are excepted whether their mothers were alive or no and commanded to be delivered to the care and instructions of Catholicks or else to be shut up in Monasteries And this was a cause of many groanes and teares to the godly when their Noblemens Sonnes and Daughters even marriageable mayds we pulled from the lapp of their Mothers Aunts and Uncles and thrust into the Jesuites Colledges or the Monkes cells Their goods were taken out of the hands of their lawful tutors and managed by Papists 6. The fawning craftinesse of these seducers whereby they deceived unwary persons and did more hurt then by their rigour and terrours As often as any one that did well know the foundations of religion came before these reformers to be examined they granted many things and permitted most of the foundations to be believed yea even the Article concerning justification by faith saying that this one thing was required of them to give obedience to the Church and to acknowledge the Roman Bishop to be a visible Head of the Church seeing it was necessary for good orders sake so the simpler sort supposing that they were not constrained to any other faith then that which they had learnt thought they might with a safe conscience promise that outward obedience If they saw any one sprung from a more noble family or to be either the sole or with a few others remainder of the race or in any otherwise delicate and they suggested to them how much it grieved his Imperiall Majesty that those ancient families which formerly were the ornaments and props of their Countrey should run themselves into the danger of banishment through meer unadvisednesse that it would be better for them to remain and flourish under the favour both of God and Caesar By these and the like Stratagems of Satan there was a great ruine of the Protestant Nobility all of them who thought their earthly Countrey better then the heavenly or whose consciences were stupified by their subtilties sliding into apostasie or hypocrisie 7. Notwithstanding about a hundred families of both Sexes that lov'd heavenly things above earthly and who did reverence that command of the heavenly Emperour Come out of Babylon my people leaving their inheritances and all their possessions went away Some were dispersed through the neighbouring Provinces Votland Misaia Lusatia Silesia Poland Hungary some who were more easily able to endure the troubles of banishment went as farre as Prussia Russia and Transylvania Among these was the goodly old man Charles de Zerotine who only could obtain leave to stay in his Countrey all the dayes of his life if he would deprive himselfe of the holy worship of God or covertly use it yet he would rather be afflicted with the people of God then enjoy temporary profits Having sold his possessions but for halfe the price a part of which also they extorted from him under colour of a certain Sute and Judgement and other devices he departed with Caesars knowledge and leave to Presland in Silesia but a little after a Declaration was annexed to the Imperiall letters that if the Baron would depart from that City it should be lawfull for him to go whither he would so that he came not back into the Emperours Provinces or went not to the Emperours enemies 8. The Enemies in the mean time not vouchsafing such as had departed out