he would put whom he pleased into their places And thus his will stood for his deed and the Ministers of the Gospell were expelled the Cities CHAP. LIIII Vngodly men are put into the places of the Ministers of the Gospell I Am sorry to tell you who or what sort of men they bee that are placed in the roomes of the Preachers of the Gospell to wit uncleane men wicked blasphemers foolish men in a word men of no account It was impossible that so many hirelings could be had for the present as there were churches in Bohemia they did therefore appoint one Parish Priest for two three foure nay ten or twelve Parishes who knew how so well to play his game that hee abounded in covetuousnesse and luxury Some Churches being deprived of their Ministers the flock did wander without a shepheard for the space of two or three years but it was more tollerable to want wholesome food as they did than to be droven to the Pastures aad there become a prey to the Wolves 2. They therefore brought Monkes out of Polonia for neerenesse and affinity of their language slow bellies and unprofitable members of the earth although they were brought unto it as the scourges of God very fit without all doubt to punish the ingratitude of the Gospellers so commonly called 3. Concerning the lewd life of very many of them I am ashamed to speak We see the Whore of Babylon who was formerly wont to be half ashamed hath now at the last slung of all modesty and discovered her nakednesse It was usuall sometime for a man to have his Concubine Adulteries Incests Sodomies sins never heard of by our Nation are now almost publikely practised Davia Sissius Chaplaine of Hadrianus Hradicensis of Caelestine but more truly Scelestine that is ungratious a most unsatiable reveller an impudent Sodomite a most obscene scoffer in one word I shall term him an Atheist comming unto his lodging upon a time drunk exposed himself to the view of al men naked at his window falling from thence he wallowed in the dirt of the street although Scelestinus with whom he had continuall War said that the rascall was thrown out of the window by the Devill and carried away 4. Bohemo Brodensis a Deacon and a Polonian by nation after the committing of many horrid acts carried away with him the wife of a certain Citizen being a beautifull woman in mans apparell her husbands name was Iohn Paupessek and fled with her into Polonia 5. The Parish Priest of Pakovia being reprehended by a worthy and eminent Gospeller by namâ— Knauponus for his lewd and dissolute life with hâ— Comrades as good as himself broke in upon hiâ— and beat him shrewdly and in the night time breaking the windows of the Citizens left the Town 6. I recount not many things more abhominable being willing not to offend chast eares let their memory perish whose names the Apostle thinks not worthy to be reckoned among the Christians I return to the Ministers that are Martyrs of Christ CHAP. LV. The Ministers in Cuttenburgh removed I. VVIlliam Vrzesowetz entring into Cuttenburgh with some troops of horse the the 22 day of December in the year 1622 being famous for these many years for maintaining the Orthodox faith and also for his peculiar place of being Deacon there besides that of the chief Treasurers place he bestowed the Churches on the Jesuites and not onely the Ministers thre but also he calls unto him the neighbouring Ministers there upbraiding them of Heresie and rebellion and I know not what demands of them whither they would be received into the lap of the Church if they refused he resolved to debar them the Communion and if they did not abstain from receiving thereof he did threaten to punish them severely 2. In the yeare following on the 27 of July the Iesuites urging it very hard they are commanded to depart out of the gates of the City before the break of day and to depart the Kingdome within eight days Upon this command one and twenty went away by name Georgius Paul Cyprian Pelchinus Vitrs Iakessius Wenceslaus Kerion Gregorius Viti Iohannes Kubinius Nicholas Debastus Johannes Claudianus Sigismundus Tassicius Iohannes Ioramus Iohannes Neustupius Thomas Dentulinus Iohannes Pristracus Iohannes Martis Iohannes Podaski Sigismundus Piscis Iohannes Luxinus Nicholaus Nowokolinus Georgius Siskarz these being accompanied with some hundreds of Citizens to whom Iohannes Matthiades expounded those words of Christ Thâ—y shall cast you out of the Sinagogues This farewell Sermon did exhort to constancy the whole Congregation much bewailing their losse at the lenghth the Heavens ringing againe with their songs and their lamentations with mutuall imbracings and kissing each other they did recommend themselves to the divine protection and favour 3. It was no where else permitted but that either the Ministers are cast out of their livings or cast into prisons some whereof after some few dayes or moneths are dismissed and commanded to depart the Kingdome under pain of death others as it then happened to Bohuslaus Bolvinus are stifled with th stench of the prison CHAP. LVI An Edict for the expulsion of all the Ministers out of the Kingdome I. AT the length in the year 1624 in August the Kings decree went out whereby all and every the Ministers of the Gospell not omitting their crimes to wit because they were seditious men and seducers of the common people should be banished the Kingdome a peremptory day of six weekes being prefixt for their abode there But herein they used some deceit for they did suppresse it for the space of one whole moneth so that it could not come unto many of their hands untill the date therein mentioned was expired and to some it came after the date Hence it is that there is so generall a dispersion of them some being scattered and dispersed into the neighbour Provinces and some concealed themselves in caves and dens 2. But many of them not unmindfull of their duties either returned privately and gave a visit to their auditors or comforted such as came to them unto the mountaines and the woods with spirituall consolations exhortations and the administration of the Sacraments 3. Which as soon as the enemies perceived they produced a new Decree of Caesars in the yeare 1625 in July wherein a punishment was to be inflicted on such as did conceale the Ministers and a reward to such as would betray them These things were arbitrary and not fully determined yet it pleased some to put this in practise and to make it a capitall fault and proportioned to the Traytors fifty pieces of silver and for the betraying of a Minister they would increase it to such a summe as Judas could not reach unto for the betraying of his Master CHAP. LVII The imprisonment of many of the Ministers of the Gospell and the Martyrdome of one by name Mattheus Ulicius I. SOme of the Ministers were taken and thrust into prison with whom this was the common way
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 trâ—nsaction of the Bohemian brothers with the Waldenses it appeaâ—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 thâ— 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 Oaâ—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
and were beheaded When this was noysed abroad the vniversity running took away the bodys and in a sollemn Procession sung These are the saints who gave up their bodys for the testament of God They carry them to the Church of Bethlehem and there bury them 11. The day after Husse did propound certain theses to dispute against those superstitious indulgences and publickly with Mr. Ierom who did as strongly impugne there errors in the Schoole as Husse did in the Church shewed their vanity but when notwithstanding al this he impudently proceeded the company of Studients did violently snatch from him his Bulls they do cloth one of their own company in a whorish habit put him into a cart adorne his brest with Bulls carry him about and acclaime unto him the whore in the mean time with sweet words gesture alluring the company and distributing blessings at the length they burne all the Bulls with many of the Popes in the midst of the market 12 In the meane time the Pope cites Husse to appeare at Rome who in regard of the disswasion of the Vniversity and nobility did not appeare Pope Iohn 23 in the yeare 1413 in Iune did interdict their celebrating of Masse in regard of the presence of Huss a contumacious offender upon this when hee saw the Magistrates rage and the common people divided into contrary factions and all things to be disturbed he of his own accord leaves Prague and from towne to towne teaches the word of God untill the time that he was called to Constance to give an account of Doctrine receiving letters of safety from the Emperour Histories report how he was there handled by the Romish Councell to witte in the yeare 1415. The 6 of Iuly Husse in the yeare 1416 the 30 of May Ierom were burnt Consult the book of Martyrs CHAP. IX All Bohemia condemned 1. THe adversaries were not satisfied with their blood but suddainly took bloody Councell for the destruction of the whole nation for when the chiefe nobles of Bohemia 58 in number in the name of the whole Comonalty in the yeare 1416 the 2 of September sent letters from Prague subscribed with their own hands and signed with their own seals to the Councel complaining expostulating that their Pastor an innocent and holy man a faithfull teacher of the truth was unjustly condemned the Synod did not answer them neither did they answer the Nobility of Moravia which complained of like matters in letters of their own but the Councell writ to the persons who were besotted with the Romish superstition men in eminency namely Iohn of Mecklesburg Alsiscopeck of Dubba Alburt of Colditz intreating and obtesting them that they would regard the Romish-Catholick Church and that they would helpe the Legate of that councell Iohn Lotmislenia Bishop in oppressing Heresie and Hereticks these letters were dated at Constance in the yeare 1417 the 22 of March 2 Thus the Bohemians being incited to mutuall dissentions by the Councell contensious brawlings and hatred were exasperated every day more and more The Pristes did divulge from the Pulpit excommunications against the Husites and devoted them with direfull execrations and that they might render them the more hated used certaine lying signes amongst the rest they cast some dirt into the lamps of the wax candles and when the flame had burnt the waxe candle to the moistnesse of the dirt it was extinguished then cryed they out that God did by miracles declare that the wicked Hereticks were unworthy to enjoy the light they drove them therefore out of their society and persecuting them all manner of wayes breaking open their churches wheresoever they could which businesse in the yeare 1419 the 13 of Iuly raised such a tumult at Prague that the common people inraged threw 12 Senators of old Prague with the City Magistrate out of the windows of the Senate house who fell upon the points of speares 3 There was a new Pope elected of the Synod who was named Martine the 5 who with kind letters dated at Constance in the yeare 1418 invited the Bohemians to renounce the errors of Wicklif Husse But afterward in the year 1420 he publickly excommunicated them at Florence and excited the Emperor Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Governours Cityes Common-wealths to take up armes against them and did intreat them by the wounds of Christ and their owne salvation unanimously fall upon them and quite extirpate that sacrilegious and cursed nation and promised a vniversall remission of sinnes to the most wicked person that should kill but one Bohemian 4 Sygismund the Emperour being inflamed by this incentive with all Germany and the neighbouring Kingdomes yeelded himselfe a servant to Antichristian Tyrany and in the same yeare he enters Bohemia with a strong army and wearies them with 13 years continued warre and this was called the Husite warre concerning which Eneas Sylvius writes they would rather be admired than believed of posterity in regard Siska the Bohemian Captaine and his successours did alwaies vanquish the contrary party 5 But the state of the Bohemian affaires were very confused at home when some of them stood for the Emperor and Pope others defended the use of the cup from whence they were called Calikstiles upon this ground with horrible cruelty they were inflamed to destroy each other CHAP. X. The Martyrs of Tabor 1 BUt some things are to be dâ—â—coursed of more briefly in respect of places and persons and distinctly it must be opened how the Roman faction being incited by the Antichristian alarum of Martine did persecute the faithfull 2 When after the death of Wensislaus in the yeare 1419 Sygismund took the Kingdom and by his Deâ—egates he not being present there till he came afâ—er with an army ordered severall things which dâ—d streighten the liberty of their consciences some thousands of those that imbraced the pure Religion gathered together to a stony mountaine ten miles from Prague which they named Tabor that mountaine they compassed about with a wall and constituted a common-wealth determining to defend it by armes if need were 3. The Papists and those that were called Calikstins being enraged against them persecuted them all manner of ways first when they sent their Embassadors Gallus Perstenus and Mathias Blacils for peace sake to Cuttenburg these men were cast headlong into the most deepe mines of mettall but the Cuttenburghians who were devoted to the Emperor and for the most part the Germaine nation because of the working in the mines not long after John Codeck Minister of Gurim which had admitted the Emperors party and many others both Priests and Lay people were thus served for they bought those of Tabor giving five florence for a Priest and one for a Laick which was the cause of horrid butchery 4. Thurmenus does witnesse that which followes to be found in a certaine manuscript in the year 14â—0 ther were cast in at Cuttenburg in the first mine about 1700. in the second 1038. in
his Gantlet and so violently that the blood did plentifully issue from his mouth and nostrills Whereupon the Bishop returned him to the Collonel who again sent him back to the Bishop who after he had made him his subject of mirth scorn for all that night on the day following being Sunday they were all brought unto the stake and fastned with such a method that these poor champions of the Truth as near as the invention of their malice could dispose of them were placed in the lap of Wenceslaus And when the Bishop did admonish them to abjure that part of the Sacrament in which the Cup is used the faithfull Curat made answer for him and his God forbid we had rather suffer under a hundred deaths than deny a truth so clearly revealed in the Gospell On this the executioner was commanded to give fire unto the faggot who immediately with the flame did send them up a gratefull sacrifice to the Almighty Wenceslaus being the last that gave up the Ghost This was done in the year 1420. on the 8 day of July 2. On which very day Conrade the Arch-Bishop of Prague being offended at such horrible cruelty having first expressed himself against the unrighteousnesse of the Papall cause and declared himself for the Sacrament under both kinds he put off his Miter to put on his Helmet and was commander in chief in the Militia of Prague against the Church of Rome having chosen four Divines of that City to be Administrators for him in the Consistory who were by name Mr. Iohn Przâ—bram Mr. Procope Pelsen Mr. Iacobell and Iohn Zeline this was the beginning of the administration of the Sacrament under both kinds which Sigismund afterwards restoring did permit unto the States and confirm by Oath 3. Howsoever the enemies of the truth did murmur themselves into tumults raged with petulant fury In this place I shal give you an heroick exploit of one of them which on this year was performed on the 26. day of December Hinck Czerwenohorsky a captain of Jarom having violently entred the Church at Kerchzim in the time of divine service he killed some and took others captive Amongst other acts of prophanenesse this was not the least that from the Communion Table he took the cup being full of wine and dranke unto his horse who having pledged him he said his horse was now one of the Reformadoes and a communicant under both kinds CHAP. XIIII Wenceslaus Swets Martin Loquis Procopius Jednooky and others 1. IN the year of our Lord 1421. on the 23 of July there was burned at Prague one Wenceslaus a Taylor by his trade who was shut up in a tub It was objected against him that at Monstrance he dishonoured the Sacrament not onely by refusing to rise but afterwards by turning his back against it 2. In the same yeare on the 26. of February Martin Loquis was apprehended being accused for renewing the error of the Waldenses in the solemnity of the Sacrament and forasfirming by a horrible prophanenes that both the bread the cup were to be given into the hands of the communicants but by the intercession of the Taborenes he was delivered from his bondage and the better to give way to the envy the madnes of the times he removed into Moravia having taken with him Procopius Iednook for his associat but being discovered as they travelled through Chrudim they were taken by Captain Denis being both manacled and fettered with Irons they were examined what their Judgement was concerning the Sacrament Martin made answer The body of Christ is in heaven for he hath but one body not many The Captain not enduring forsooth so great a Blasphemy out of the liberallity of his choller did give him a boxe on the ear and called for the hangman to devour the Hereticks with fire but Ambrose the Pastor of Hrada being happily present he desired that these two men might be bestowed on him who for fifteen dayes kept them prisoners at Hrâ—da indeavouring to make them acknowledge and râ—â—cant their errors but when he found them more resolute in their opinion he sent them to Raudnice where being thrust into a dark Dungeon he detained them for two moneths none of the people being suffered to come unto them They were elabourately tormented with variety of executions for they were consumed with fire untill their bowells came forth to confesse from whence they derived their errours and who were their accomplices at Prague insomuch that by the unadvisednesse of the pain they were inforced to discover the names of some of their friends Howsoever being advised to return from the maze of their errors into the path of truth they smiling answered not we but you must think of returning for you are drawn aside from the Word of God to the impostures of Antichrist and you do worship the creature for the Creator 3. Being therefore brought to the punishment of the fire when they were admonished by the shavelings that they would desire the peoples prayers they replied We do not need their prayers pray for your selves O Christians and for those who do seduce you that the everliving Father of Light may bring you out of darknesse Being brought to the place of punishment they were shut up in a tub both together and so committed to the fire This was done on the 21 day of August in the year of our Lord 1441. 4. Not long after there were taken at Prague some other men addicted to the same opinion amongst whom were three Divines with one Casca a Citizen and George de Clatowe and a certaine man called Abraham it was laid to their charge that they forbad the torches to be lighted at the Altar before the taking of the Sacrament CHAP. XV. Iohn Zeline 1. A Monk of the Order of Premonstrates or Exemplars was Pastor in New Prague and a Teacher in White Maryes Church one of the designed Administrators of the consistory a man more famous for his eloquence than his learning He having alwayes a most frequent audience did advance in his Pulpit the purer Doctrine of the Thaborites and was author to the inhabitants of Prague for the reformation of their Senate But Haschek de Weltsch a Captaine of old Prague whom the said Monk had often rebuked having conspired with the Senate who were half Romanists betrayed this Monk with twelve more into the Common hall at Prague and making a heady processe did suddenly behead them 2. This was done on the 9 of March in the year of our Lord 1422. which being discovered by the bloud was the occasion of a mighty Tumult For the flowing of the bloud did cause such a confluence of people that they did breake open the doores and beholding the lamentable spectable one of them brought forth the head of the Monk and shewed it to the multitude standing round about him on which so generall was the out-cry and so loud the lamentation that no pen is able to expresse it
him a booke concerning the Sacraments penned by a man of a sincere opinion was whipped openly in the market place and banished The like hapned to John Kelenetz but hee was branded in the forehead because he being a Lay-man was said to administer the Eucharist to himself and his family George Lopatski being one of those that was banished when as the King had wrote that hee liked not such proceedings and had commanded the banished to be restored supposing that it had beene confirmed returned home to his house at Prague but being apprehended he was thrust into prison there murthered 4. In the meane time the Assemblies of the Kingdome being held and those wicked pragmatical men urging it it was agreed upon that the communicants under one and both kinds by the violence of those that were joyned together should bee one body but the commands of Wladislaus should bee put in execution against the Piccardins From whence arose a new persecution to the brethren their Church doores being shut up and their exercise forbidden 5. Seeing these things were so way wardly done one Matthias an Eremite a plaine man but of an holy conversation of life who came to Prague in the year 1419. and hitherto was wont to exhort the people in the streets and market places flocking unto him in great companies in the fear of God and repentance the Clergy in vaine striving to inhibit him felt the severe hand of Zahera For when he had admonished Zahera the chiefe Magistrate by letters which he wrote unto him in the year 1525 of Theologicall moderation that men should bee converted to the faith by Scripture not by imprisonments scourgings tortures and wrackings c. being invited by him to a communication was delivered to the Praetor and was kept in prison until that day Ferdinand was chosen King but afterwards he was banished the city Very Godly letters of that man dated out of the prison are yet extant CHAA. XXX Nicholas Wrzetenarz with his Hostesse Clara burned I. IN the year 1526 on the 9 day of December Nicholas Wrzetenar being well stricken in yeares and withall a learned man is accused of Piccardisme before the Senat by Jacobus Parochus and appearing according to his citation he was demanded by Zahera what he did beleeve concerning the Sacrament of the Altar answered That which the Evangelists and St. Paul taught mee to believe He that at that time sate as chiefe asked him beleevest thou that Christ is there present having flesh and bloud but he answered I beleeve that when the Ministers of Gods word doth declare to the faithful congregation the benefits which are received by the death of Christ the bread and wine are then made the supper of the Lord wherein they are made partakers of the body and bloud of Christ and the benefits received by the death of Christ What needes many words after the discussing of some questions concerning the Masse and intercession of Saints c. they do condemn him to the fire together with his Hostesse Clara being a widow of threescore yeares of age who would not deny that faith whereof she was instructed by her inmate 2. Being brought to the place of torment and being comanded to pray to the sign of the cross lifted up toward the east they utterly refused saying The law of God permitteth us not to worship the likeness of any thing either in heaven or earth we wil worship the living God of heaven who alike inhabiteth the South the West the North the East turning their backs therefore unto the image and prostrating themselves towards the West with their hands and eyes lifted up unto heaven with great ardencie of spirit they called on Christ then they tooke leave of their children and Nicholas with much cheerfulnes ascended the heap of wood there stood and did repeat the Articles of the Creed which when he had finished he looked up to heaven praied and with a loud voice said Lord Jesus Christ thou son of the living God who was born of a pure virgin and didst vouchasfe to undergo the shamefull death of the Cross e for me a wretched sinner thee alone do I worship to thee I recommend my soul be merciful unto me and forgive me all my sins Then he repeated this Psalm in latine In thee O Lord have I put my trust In the mean time the executioner had laid Clara on the pile of wood and then bound them both and casting the books which were found about them on the heap he set fire thereto CHAP. XXXI Martha Porzizia burned I. IN the next year after Martha de Porzizia a woman even beyond her sexe of an heroicke spirit being examined as well by the Masters in Colledges as by the Judges in the Common-Hall with much boldnesse gave an account of her faith and upbraideth the Hussites of folly for that they flattered the Papists the chief Magistrate admonishing her that she should prepare her garments against the time she was to be laid on the pile of wood answered I have both my petticoate and mantle command me to be led away when ye please the crier declaring openly that she had blasphemed she with a loud voice denied saying it is not so but I am condemned for that I would not confess to please the Papists that Christ was contained in the Sacrament with bones haire sinews and veins and speaking aloud to the people she said Give no credit to these Priests they are dissembling Hypo-crites Gormandizers Adulterers Sodomites Being brought forth comanded to pray unto the image of the crucifix she turned her back to it and having lift up her eyes unto heaven she said there is our God thither wee must looke and then shee hastned to mount the pile and endured the paines of the fire with a strong courage the 4 of December 1527. CHAP. XXXII A potter and a girdler burned IN the year 1528. in the reign of Ferdinand the 1. two German artificers the one a potter the other a girdler accused of Lutheranisme by the Monkes were condemned by those of Prague to the fire As they went unto the place of execution they argued so religiously out of the Scriptures that they caused teares to flow from the eyes of many being laid on the pile they exceedingly encouraged one another the girdler saying Since our Lord Iesus hath suffered very grievous things for us let us also suffer this death and rejoice that we have found so much grace and favour with him that we are accounted worthy to dy for the law of God to whom the Potter answered but I at the day of my marriage found not such rejoicing of mind as now I do And when fire was put to the wood they prayed with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ thou in thy sufferings prayedst for thine enemies threefore wee also pray forgive the King the men of Prague and the clergy for they know not what they do and their hands are full of blood Well
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-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
on his backe they filled his mouth with Gunpowder set fire to it and tore all his jawes and there devillish dispositions taking pleasure in so barberous spectacles miserably killed him 12. Adam Pisecius was Pastor of Byreschrum in Moravia in the Dominion of Charles of Zerotina who because his Patron had kept faith with Caesar feared no hurt and entertaining curteously both in language and gesture the Souldiers that came unto him being wanting in nothing that might speake their welcome but they assoone as they began to have knowledge of the Minister were mad and first of all beat him shrewdly and then kill him as he was flying to the porch of the Temple and stript him of his clothes and robd the house And when some godly people intending to bury him had cast a cloake over him the Souldiers running thither not onely do take it away but tore it in a great rage neither content with this they burnt his library which he had disposed of in three places and because no man durst come so long as this company of vile and naughty men remained there this Martyr lay seven weekes unburied and then was buried by some certaine Scholars 13. In the same year 1621. on the 17. of Ianuarie Laurentius Curtius Pastor of Netimense a man of threescore yeares of age and his wife were cruelly burnt by a Souldier that demanded money of them insomuch that both presently died 14. Paulus Pssenizzka Pastor of Bochdalovia very neere seaventy yeares of age was hanged by the privie parts by an impious souldier and his owne bookes burnt under him in the middest of these torments crying out for mercy by one of the company of souldiers he was periced through with a bullet and by his mercifull pitty ended his paines with his life 15. Bartholemew Jaworski of the parish of Kerkovia a godly man and a good pattern for other men to follow about the same time was assessed by certaine robbers to pay seaven hundred Florences after that they plundred him of all his houshold stuffe and then attempting to murther him he fled forth of the doores from them and flying from them pursuing him his bowells burst out c. 16. Elias Severinus Pastor of Pribicen did not escape their wicked hands whom they left for dead after they had very much wounded and had cut him more then halfe through his neck yet he by the commiseration that some tooke of him was carried to a Chirurgion that was an Anabaptist he lived after that obout two yeares but in extreame pain and torment 17. John Beraeck an old man above seaventy yeares of age a godly minister of Zdanicense in Moravia when he had fallen into the hands of these Harpys was first beaten and after that layd upon a fire which they had made in the middest of the market place of the Towne and was there burnt in the yeare 1622. on the 17. day of March. 18. About the same time Gallus Celech Minister of Chetochovia in Moravia was most cruelly beaten to death by souldiers and about three dayes after died 19. The Jesuites daily layd waite for Cyprianus Peschinus an eminent man for learning and a man in great authority among the Kuttebergensians at last they suborned Burganis Cuchelius a notable Apostate who should betray him to the souldiers and give him up to their mercy Peschinus therefore going in a Coach with Gasparus of Zirotina a Baron forty horsemen suddenly comming upon him he is taken from the Baron and carried to Choltitium But the same Baron and many more sue for his enlargement and he is given to them provided that he pay for his ransome the summe of foure thousand Florences at the length he ended his life in banishment at Hirschberga 20. Iohn Buflerus Minister of Wyprachticense being brought forth by the souldiers was bound to a tree was made a mark for the musqueteers to shoot at not that they did intend to hit him but onely to terrifie him but he dismayed by these affrightments died within three dayes after 21. Wenceslaus Kutzeram at the Village Libkon was met with by William Lukawsky a notable Papist who said do I find thee here thou beast run him through with a spear But these and the like may be said to bee done by the untamed liberty of Souldiers We will therefore come to them which were acted by Process of Law CHAP. LI. The first compelling the Ministers of Prague to to Apostacy I. ABout the beginning of the year 1627. George Dicastus Administrator of the Consistory of the Gospellers being called forth to a certaine place sixe Articles are exhibited which hee should exhibite to the Parishes of Prague Germans and Bohemians to consider upon take them from the Crowner being lately made the Kings Mr. of Requests 1. That by course money being gathered they should lend unto Caesar some certain thousands of pounds for the Souldiers pay 2. That they should revoke publikely the comming of Frederick 3. That they should bring into the Church the ancient Rites and Ceremonies 4. That they should reiterate the Ordination of Ministers by their Arch-Bishops 5. They should depart from wedlocke or else should require a tolleration of wedlock from the Arch-Bishop 6. If any leaving Ecclesiastick functions would turne to politicke functions that they should have publicke promotions and the favour of Caesar 2. But they unanimously answered that they would do nothing against their conscience and as this first assault of Sathan was in vain he went afterwards another way to work working by force and violence that which he could not effect by craft and subtilty CHAP. LII The first publâ—ck edict against the Ministers of Prague I. CIvill affaires in what manner soever setled and the thirst of the whore of Babylon either being slaked or more inflamed by the bloud of the Peeres of whom on the 21 of June in the yeare 1621 they had slaine 27. With more violence now they set upon the Churches For about the time of the birth of Christ an Edict came forth in the name of Prince Lichtenstine Governour of Bohemia wherein all the blame of the fore-past rebellion was laid upon the Parishes of Prague because they had stirred up by their seditious and lying sermons and writings as well the common people as the Peeres and Nobility against Caesar because they were the Authors of new and pernitious confederacies and of creating a new King and neither as yet do cease like turbulent rash and seditious men openly to disturb all things and by degrees to possesse the people of Caesars new and fresh hatred Publickly therefore for the accommodation of quietnesse that all those in Prague within three dayes others throughout the whole Kingdome and united Provinces within eight dayes should be banished and that for ever And that if any under pretence whatsoever shall stay within the confines of the Kingdome or should ever returne againe or if any one should presume to harbour or conceale them by the same law both
upon the Godly that they might put a fairer glosse upon their tyranny We will hereafter acquaint you how the Father of this Martyr a man of eighty yeares of age laid his life downe for Religion in the same yeare at Prostanna in Moravia CHAP. LVIII Ministers cast out of Moravia THe same year 16â—4 as in Bohemia so in Moravia the Edict was published against the Ministers and Commissaries were appointed who should see the execution done These going through all the Provinces remove the Ministers of the Gospell and at the last banish them 2. But John Jacob the greater an Italian and a man that was very rich and Iohn Ernestas Platesius a Canon of Colmucensis came unto that illustrious Baron Charles of Zerotina a man for his wisedome and other Heroieall Virtues famous through all Europe And under Matthias for the space of eight yeares pro-Mazchio and being in great favour with the house of Austria for his fidelity to them onely envied for his constancie in Religion for even at that time he maintained 24 of the fraternity in his jurisdiction for which they required that he should give satisfaction to Caesar neither could Caesar loose any priviledge thereby They say they have an express command from Ditrichsteinus the Cardinall the governour of Moravia he tells them againe that in matters of Religion he ought not to be subject to the Cardinall and therefore from the Cardinall he appeales to Caesar 3. Very willingly they agree to this and therefore doe grant him but fourteene dayes which being past and the Baron in regard of the ill disposition of his body could not goe unto Caesar the next day after the Epiphanie they returne and press hard for the execution of Caesars will yet it was left to the Barons choise whether he would promise to send the Ministers away or whether he would leave this thing for them to doe The Baron sayd that neither of these was convenient that either he should banish those whom he knew to bee the servants of Christ or that the Commissioners should prescribe it to him but that he would appeal to Caesar They protested that they ought to put in execution the commands of Caesar and therefore immediately goe into the town and make ready the citation and having called the the Burrouhg Master of the Towne require him to provide them a messenger and presently even that night that they may declare themselves to be of the number of those whom the Scripture sayth cannot take their rest unless they may doe some mischiefe or those whose sleep departeth from them except they may destroy Proverbs 4 16. commanding all that inhabite that village that they appeare next morning very early 4. The Ministers and they appeare they read Caesars Edict and aske them whether they would submit thereto to which they answer That they rely wholly upon the will of God whom in the Gospell ef Jesus Christ they serve relying therefore on Gods will and pleasure they did resolve to undergoe what punishment they would inflict since they suffered onely for the name of Jesus Christ not for any ill deeds Againe they demanded whether they will repent and returne to the Catholicke Church from which through schisme and haeresie they had departed Vnanimously they doe deny it The Commissaries dismiss them having given them some time to consider of it and that every one particularly might come in and speake for himselfe but they repeat againe their common answer that in so religious a cause as this there needed no deliberation Therefore the Commissioners in Caesars name banish them and command them to depart out of the City within eight dayes under the paine of death These godly men did obey and went into banishment for whom the Baron at his owne charge tooke care that they should be carried into Hungary 5. Going afterwards into Wienna the Baron complaines unto Caesar of the injurie done unto him by the Cardinall in Moravia and the Prince of Litchtensteine in Bohemia for there he had a town with some villages and the Ministers were there also casâ— out but all to no purpose as shall be shewed heareafter under the title of the proceedings against even the Peers and Noblemen 6. And thus the Ministers of the Gospell throughout all Moravia and Bohemia the slaves and vassalls of Antichrist are given to the Churches for Doctors blind guides to seeing men It is high time to see how they dealt with the other Orders CHAP. LIX Proceedings against Peeres Noblemen how many eminent chiâ—fmen were taken some condemned to death others to perpetual imprisonment I. THe enemies of the Gospell trained up in Phalaris and Machiavellâ— schoole aimed at topping the chiefe and principall heads of the Poppy for which thing they had a faire pretence which formerly they sought viz. The accusation of taking up armes against them for though after the fight a certaine hope of pardon was granted if laying downe their armes they would submit themselves to Caesars mercy by which slight they are caught who otherwise might have escaped but afterwards whom they had appointed for slaughter they apprehended saying that the publicke liberty without the ransome of some heads could not be redeemed 2. First of all therefore they took all such whom they could have out of the ranck of the Defenders and and Directors and then all those whom they knew had done any thing for the common good of the country and religion or feared that they might be able to do those excepted who adhered not to Ferdinand or that feared to break their faith to Frederick these they accompany going unto banishment About fifty men farre excelling others in godlinesse wisdome and courage who had passed over their younger yeares in learning in millitary affaires and in travelling the rest of their age sety apart for the Church and Common-wealth to wit by watching by shewing dangers to the imprudent adding courage to the prudent by exhorting unto concord and advising in common what they could for the best in a word the very flower of our nation the lights delights and safeguard of our Country How therefore those were examined condemned and after what manner they were punished how cheerfully they did suffer Martyrdome for the truth of the faith and liberty of the Country with my most accustomed plainness and brevity I shal declare 3. The Pipe maketh sweet musick while the fowler catcheth the birds more than three moneths nothing is heard but fair promises of favour and hope of impunity for all by gone trespasses insomuch that some came out of their lurking holes and some returned home that were exiled but when many had despaired of hoping suddenly and in one hour which was the first houre of the night even about supper time on the 20 of February in the year 1621 they laid hold on and captivated as many as they could come at for every one being in their houses unlooked for were visited by the Captaines of the City of
Prague and Caesars Judges even as they had cast their businesse before hand and were commanded to get up into the Waggon wherein some were carried to the Castle of Prague others were carried to the Praetors lodgings 4. The next day after Writs were issued out whereby aswell the absent as those that departed the Kingdome allowing them six weeks to appeare in Therefore on the second of Aprill being comanded by the Herald to appear not one did appear On the 5 day of Aprill the same common crier pronounceth sentence against them that all such as were guilty of Treason should forfeit goods honours and lives The 25 of Aprill was the day perfixed for the execution of this Writ And their names set on the Gallowes And the next day after the sentence is pronounced against the Heires of such who lost their lives in the Rebellion that all their goods be confiscate to the King 5. In the moneth of May they proceeded to the tryall of the Noblemen they had taken and Otton Melander and Daniel Capper civill Lawyers and wavering Apostates are appointed examiners with some of the Nobility who tire out the accused persons with a thousand unnecessary questions desiring to extort that from them that never was which importunate inquisition Count Schlikius was not able to endure insomuch that rending asunder his garments and opening his breast he said Teare into a thousand pieces this body and search into the innermost part of my intraills you shall fiâ—d nothing there but what I have expressed in my Apologie The love of Liberty and Religion hath made us sheath our swordâ— and because God would have that Caesars sword should prevaile and deliver us into your hands Gods Will be done In like manner Budowecius and Otto de Loss vsing much vehemency maintained stoutly that the cause of the Orders was not made a whit the worse in regard of the success 6. And thus a Moneth or two is spent in inquisitions when none would yeeld none would acknowledge himselfe in an errour none would sue unto them they do therefore proceed to execution The judgement is committed to some of the Nobility under one kind who were sworn enemies of the Gospellers And that their cruelty may have some shew of clemency Caesar commanded the sentences as they were delivered to be brought to him to Vienna which after he had mittigated he sent back againe It is reported by some of credit that Caesar slept not all that night for considering on the businesse and in the morning calling his confessor to him P. Lainormaini said I adjure thee upon thy conscience to tell me whether I may with a safe conscience pardon those that are condemned or suffer execution to passe upon them To whom the Confessor made this answer O Caesar both are in thy power Caesar therefore setting pen to paper wrote therein a pardon for some but for others left them to the execution of the sentence with a great addition of shame and ignominy as doth follow 7. June the 19. which was Saturday I know not whether on set purpose or by chance it was appointed for this days actions the Judges being gathered together in the Palace of the Tower gave order they should be brought forth singly and that the sentence of condemnation some ceremonies of terror being added for affrightment should be proclaimed to some death to some perpetuall imprisonment to others banishment and some are reserved to the further pleasure of Caesar after this manner 8. Willielmus Popeliu of Lobkowitz and Paulus of Rziczan were condemned to be beheaded yet by the clemency of Ferdinand Caesar who was alwayes inclinable that way he was adjudged to perpetuall imprisonment and his goods confiscated to the King 9. Joachimus Andrea Scehlikio Count of Passaun was adjudged to have his right hand cut off and his body to be cut into foure parts and to be hanged up in high waies but by the speciall favour of Caesar he was onely to be beheaded and his head and hands to be fastned to the Lattice-windows of the Tower of the Bridge of Prague on the top of a speare 10. Wenceslaus de Budowâ— in like manner to have his hand and head cut off and his members to be fastned in a certaine place and his four quarters in a publicke place that lookes four wayes to be fastned to a stake yet by the indulgence of Caesar onely his head was cut off and to be fastned to the Tower of the Bridge 11. Christopher Hazan of Polcitz to have his head cut off 12. Casparus Kaplirius of Sulewitz although he had very much offended yet having regard to his age for he was very near ninty yeares of age he had the favour to have his head cut off and his head to stand with the rest for a spectacle 13. Procopius Dworzetskz Bohuslaus of Miâ—chalowitz Frederick Bile and Henry Otton oâ— Loss had the same punishment denounced against them yet they said for a greater severity of justice they were to be cut into four parts 14. Iohannes Westrowecius was to have his head cut off yet he was reserved to perpetuall imprisonment 15. The same sentence was pronounced against Weneâ—slaus Felix Petipeski but that unfortunate man a little after redeemed his shameful liberty with shameful Apostacy 16. Dionysius Czerninus was adjudged to have two of his fingers cut off and after that his head yet his fingers were not cut off 17. Woolfgangius Hoslarus his doome was to have been banished for ever yet the mercy of Caesar did so far extend to him that he was confined onely for one whole year to Raab a garrison Town in Hungary 18. William Konec Chlumski was onely beheaded Hitherto of the mittigation of the sentences that were passed against Barons and Nobility The Citizens follow 19. Iohannes Theodorus Sixtus M. Valentinus Cochanus Tobias Seeoffeck and Christopher all of them chiefe men of Prague lost their lives 20. Iohn Scultesiâ—s a Ruitenburgian and Maximilianus of Zatemen being eminent Citizens had their heads cut off and fastned in the market-place to a paire of stocks in their respective Cities 21 Iohannes Jessenius a Phisitian and governor of the Vniversity of Prague who formerly had been sent on an embassie to Hungary for which cause he was condemned to have his tonge first cut out while he was alive and to be quartred alive lastly his quarters and head to be disposed of to severall places which had two pathes yet through Caesars clemency the execution was not according to that sentence but he was first killed then his tongue was cut out and then he was beheaded and quartred 22r Iohn Kutnave Simeon Sussicius and Nathaniel Woodmanius were sentenced to be hanged 23. Melchior Triprechius Advocate George Zawjetam Secretary of the Chancery and Paul Perczkam Auditor are condemned to perpetuall imprisonmenu 24. Wenceslaus of Gisbite a citizen of Prague was beheaded 25. George Hunschlidius and Leander Rippelius Germans both and Lawyers Agents for some Princes of Germanie
having appealed from an inferiour to a higher Court were condemned to have their hands and heads cut off 26. Nicolaus Dionysius of the Senate of the greatter Prague was to be burnt his tongue being first cut out yet his punishment was so mitigated that he was onely to be nailed to a gallowes for the space of an houre and to depart from that place 27. Wenceslaus Bozesius was to be burnt Iohn Swelham and Joseph Kubinu to be whipt and then banished 28. Mathew Bozbonius a Phisitian should have been beheaded but Caesar taking commiseration on him onely kept him in prison 26. Casparus Vslar and Henry Kozell Senators of new Prague were to be hanged out of the window of the Court of that City but Caesar out of mercifull clemency assigned the former to perpetual imprisonment and the latter died by the sword 30. Elias Rosinu an Elder and Lucas Karbanus should have died by the sword but Caesar gave them their lives but the former was imprisoned and the other banished 31. Andrew Kacaur George Rzecitius Mich-Witman Simeon Wockez to loose their lives by the sword but Iohn Kamaritus tasted the favour of Caesar and was onely banished for the space of one whole year 32. Some other citizens Abraham Angelus Iohannes Pelzâ—zinowski c. were reserved untill Caesar were certified concerning them CHAP. LX. Twenty seven glorious Martyrs I. THe judiciall proceeding being over which lasted for the space almost of three days each sort of prisoners were carried to their severall prisons the Noblemen into the inner prison of the Castle the Citizens into the Praetors houses Some rakeshames were suborned to insult over them saying why do they not now sing The Lord reigneth The ninety ninth Psalm as it should seem being used to be sung amongst other Psalms in the time of Frederick 2. The Prince Lichstenstein going out of his Pallace and going to Mass that day as well as the next day following the wives children and the kinsfolk of each sex of the condemned persons humbly suing for their lives but answer was made that all the favour that they could now expect was that they should have leave to bury the corps of their friends And yet there were some insinuating fellowes such as would swallow bribes who tooke monies both of widdowes and orphans making faire promises to them 3. In the evening the condemned men had notice given to them that the time of their execution drew neare and that the one and twentieth day of Iune was the appointed day And therefore they did advice that each of them would have a care of his owne soule and therefore that they should send for a Jesuite or Capuchin or Minister of the Augustine Confession and so fit himselfe for death but that none of them must have any thought to have any Minister of the Order because that would not be granted unto them Which was sad newes to them because the greater part of the Martyres had beene auditors of the Brethren neither could this inhibition otherwise be taken than either from some exact or some ancient rooted malice against them or to cast a mist before the eyes of the Saxons as though Caesar did not much dislike their Order 4. Which thing being done the foresaid Jesuites and the Capuchines not staying till they were â—alled for flew thither like so many flies using many perswasions to them even to desparation and deniall of the truth and by putting some in hope of life But God so strengthned them that all those endeavours of Sathan and his Imps were in vaine whatsoever they protested to the contrary calling Heaven and Earth to witness that they shall not be guilty of their eternall damnation since that they so obstinately refused the Grace of God 5. The Ministers of the Gospell are therefore called Iohannes Rosucius from the lesser Prague went to the Castle M. Victorinus Verberius and Vitus Jakessius into the Court in old Prague Adamus Clemens into new Prague And David Lippech was with the Germans whereof three which were at this time condemned were doctors Jessenius Haunschildt and Rippell These Divines spent the remainder of time which was Sunday and Munday even unto the time of execution in religious exercise colloquies prayers and Hymnes lastly they did prepare the holy Martyrs by the administration of the Sacrament for the future agony 6. They which were of the Brethren and reformed did admit those Ministers willingly protesting that they have acknowledged them for brethren and do acknowledge them to be the Embassadors of Christ howsoever they have differed unhappily in some Articles Two onely the Baron of Budovia and Otto of Loss conferred religiously with Rosacius but did not partake of the Sacrament because happily it might give occasion of some false accusation comforting themselves with this saying believe and thou hast eaten 7. It is worthy remembrance how on the Sunday they which were in old Prague prisoners in the Praetors house did suppe For as they were conferring with M. Werbenius and even in his presence the chiefe Goaler had told them that the hour for supper was at hand they looking one upon another protested that they did not want that materiall supper yet for recreation sake they would not scorne to sit down And then one is busie laying the Napkins anâ—ther in setting on the Dishes another pouring out the water for such as would wash another having given thanks to carve to others another puts them in mind that this was their last supper upon earth but to morrow they should feast with Christ in Heaven The Master of the Court being a man of evill disposition and a Papist tooke this saying not very well who going out to some of his friends made a scoffe at it saying doth Christ provide them Cooks in Heaven Which when it was told unto them the Minister Vitus Iakessius discoursed very religiously concerning Christ his last supper here on earth and of Iudas that did trouble Christ and his Disciples One of these D. Haunschildt would eat nothing saying this pouch meaning his panch is sufficiently stuffed with wormes meat 8. In the mean while it is told them that the Barons and Noblemen were led out of the prison of the Castle into the Court of the ancient City near unto which in the market place that direful Theatre for that shambles was appointed which they as if they were going to meet with them hasten to the windows and looking out entertaine their fellow Martyrs with the forty fourth Psalm with a loud voyce while the amazed multitude flock after them in great swarms sighing and lamenting 9. After that the whole night is spent in Psalms and prayers and godly discourse and mutuall exhortations that because it pleased God to call them before others to this glory of Martyrdome they should not doubt by their true constancy to confound the world to glorifie Christ and to leave a godly example to posterity And when amongst others they sung the sixty eight Psalm occasion being
oppression of liberty and Religion and because wee saw our selves circumvented by subtilty wee thought something was to bee done and would rather lose our lives rather than by a dull silence yeeld to the yoke and betray posterity I acknowledg that it was the will of God that we should outwardly fall who hath chosen me and my beloved fellowes in this last age to honour the truth by our bloud and to make it glorious by our constancy And although the flesh began to tremble at the hearing the sentence of death yet now by the goodnesse of God I feel no feare of it 3. When the Minister often interrupted him perswading him not to hang his salvation upon a good Conscience but upon the mercy of God thiough Christ the pious old man continued on his speech Yesterday it was told me from my Aunt Pruakovia that if I would petition â—o Prince Lichtenstein I might have a grant of my life but so as to remain in prison all the days of my life To which I answered that such a grant would be both unprofitable and inconvenient For if I should desire pardon I should give an occasion to some to suspect that I had committed some crime and had deserved death which I have not deserved Tell her therefore that I will desire pardon of him against whom I have committed many sinnes all my life but I never offended the Prince But if they should of their owne accord offer me a prison instead of death such a change would be very troublesome I am a decrepit old man and have lived long enough for when I cannot distinguish the tasts of meats or relish the sweetnesse of drinke when it is tedious to sit long and irkesome to lye when I cannot walk unlesse I lean on a staffe or be moved to and fro in others hands what profit I pray you would such a life be to me And if I can hardly endure it while it is free how shall I be able to suffer imprisonment God forbid that J should be pulled from this holy company of Martyrs 4. The next day being the Lords day having received the Lords Supper he said Behold now being reconciled to my God through Christ I have peace neither doe I feare man J will confidently say with David Let my flesh and my body be consumed but God is the rocke of my heart and my portion for â—ver Now there is nothing that may stay my thoughts on the earth besides my Nephewes for whom O servant of Christ J intreat you that you would as much as you can exhort them without intermission to piety and to imitate that constancy whereof they see an example in me although J know that you who are the fathers and shepheards of our souls are not without danger We go before but you wil follow but God keep you for his own glory and let him not suffer his Church to be wholly trampled on by the Babilonish beast 5. On the day of execution when the Minister of the word came to him hee said J had laid this miserable body upon a bed but what sleep could J have Yet J did sleep and saw two Angels comming to me who wiped my face with fine linnen and exhorted me to be ready to goe along with them But J trust in my God that J have these Angels present with me not by a dream but in truth which minister to me while J live and shall carry my soule from death into Abrahams bosome For although J am a sinner yet I am purged by the bloud of my Redeemer who was made a Propitiation for our sinnes Therefore let the houre of Death come J am prepared 6. Having put on his clothes he comanded that a garment of the finest linnen which hung down to his heels should be put over him and then said to M. Lippuch Behold I put on my wedding garment To which the other answered The garment of Christs righteousnesse adorns more gloriously within He answered again I know it but yet I desire to be adorned without for the honour of my Bride-groom At last hee put on a velvet Cloak and being called out he answered In the name of God for I did even now expect it And then being helped by his servants hee arose and bid farewell to all and went away with a slow pace by reason of the weaknesse of age Being to go down by certain steps to the scaffold he sayd Oh my God strengthen me left I fall down and become a matter of scorn to the enemies 7. When he came to the appointed place he had much ado to kneele downe being half crooked Hee desired that that the Executioner might be advised to strike as soon as ever hee should see him lie down lest hee might happen to fall by faintnesse But the Executioner seeing him so crooked and to hang down his head so much would not strike him Therefore the Minister Rosacius by the appointment of the Sheriffs said to him My Noble Lord as you have commended your soul unto Christ so now offer up your hoary head cheerefully to God and lift up your self towards heaven In the name of God answered hee and so lifting up his head as well as hee could saith Lord Jesus into thy hands J commend my spirit and then his head being cut off hee fell down CHAP. LXV Procopius Dworzecski de Olbramowitz c. I. HAving heard the sentence of death he answered Doth the Emperâ—ur promise himselfe any thing when my hâ—ad is taken off Let him take it thâ—n The next day hee said unto the Minister of the Word I have had a contention all this night with the old Adam even so as it made me sweat But thanks be to my God by whose help my soule hath overcome all temptations He added this also O Almighty God I have commended my soul to thee do thou protect it and cherish it and withall strengthen thy servant that I may not be made a derision to my enemies by any fear of death And as thou wert wont to encourage the holy Martyrs so I strongly beleeve thou wilt comfort me 2. When hee was called out to execution hee readily answered Thanks be to my God who doth now call me to himself for him I have lived and for him will I die For because my Saviour hath therefore died and risen againe that he might bee Lord both of the living and the dead I know that this soule of mine shall live and my body shall bee raised like to his glorious body 3. Comming upon the scaffold he turned himself to the Imperiall Judges and said Tell Caesar that we now undergo his just judgement but that hee shall undergo the more grievous but yet just judgement of God And while he put off his cloathes hee gave his purse with an Hungarian Ducket to the Minister of the word Behold here my last riches and these which are unprofitable for mee I resigne to you 4. And when hee saw a piece
of Apostacy I pray you be mindfull of keeping your faith to Christ He answersd It is very acceptable to me my sonne to be exhorted to constancy by you but what hath come into your mind that you should suspect such a thing of me I rather advise and exhort you that you would follow your fathers steps and exhort your brethren sisters and children to that constancy whereof I leave them an example 3. He was condemned to be hang'd but he knew not that a peculiar gibebt was set up for him in the midle of the Market-place When he was cōmanded to go from the Stage he turning himself to Kutnaur Sussickg hanging out of the window he said O my dear fellow-Souldiers how do I grieve that I am separated from you and carried to a place more abominable But when the Minister of the word said The greater the disgrace is for Christ the greater should be the glory with Christ he tooke courage and patiently under-went the disgrace of the Gallowes CHAP. 81. Wenceslaw Gisbitsky alias Masterooussky HE being a Kinsman of Playteysuy first Canon of Olmitz afterward Bishop he was nourish'd with a great hope of life therefore the rest at their farewells congratulating his life commended to him their Wives and Children But the Minister of the word fearing Satans stratagems advised him to take heed of security and notwithstanding to prepare himself for the encounter He coming on the Scaffold looked about to receive the Newes of his life And when a youth came to take his cloake he prick'd up his care to him hoping that some joyfull newes was brought him 2. When he saw there was no hope left he desired a Cantionall and having found a certain song he fell on his knees and sung the foure last verses with a loud voice in this sence Therefore we are prostrate before thee O eternall Father Do not forsake us have pitty on us through Jesus Christ We would say more but we are not able to expresse it Into thy hands we commend our selve do thou perfect that which thou hast begun to work in us Render to us our inheritance that we may sing Holy holy holy c. Laying aside his Cantionall he arose and put off his doublet he fell down again and in the midst of his prayers offer'd himself up a Sacrifice to God CHAP. 82. Henry Kozel with others AFterwards the Citizens of new Prague were called out in their order Henry Kozel Andrew Kaeaur George Rzetschius Michaell Wittman Simon Wockacz which were all beheaded Of whom we canot write any thing in particular because Mr. Adam Clemens Pastor of Wenceslaus his Church was their companion at their deaths and nothing of his observation hath come to our hands 2. The execution continued from 5 of the clocke in the morning to ten Their bodies except Jessenius his were delivered to their friends to be buried Twelve heads were put in two Coffins by the Executioners and carried to the Bridge-tower and exposed to publick view through Iron-grates only the head of Ripelius a Citizen of old Prague was set up with his right hand on the Court-wal Those that were hang'd were buried by night privately 3. The following day Nicholas Dyonisius town-Clerk of old Prague who had welcomed Frederick at his entrance into Prague in the peoples name and had wish'd well to him upon his departure from the City had his tongue fasten'd with an awle to the Gallowes while three other Lawyers Joseph Kubin John Swehla and Wenceslaus Bezjeaus being whipt were brought out of the Gates and kept there for two houres afterwards imprisoned and 4 yeares after sent into banishment 4. Upon this sad tragedy followed the lamentations of the godly many being grieved that it had not been their priviledge to die with the rest In the mean time the enemies insulted over the poor oppressed Protestants But Martin Fruweyn de Podoli is not to be passed over in silence CHAP. 83. Martin Fruweyn de Podoli AN eminent Citizen of Prague and famous for pleading in the Courts of the Kingdom whose Councell the States had used for many yeares He upon the taking of Prague was taken at his own house and scoffed at by the Souldiers who had the possession of the whole house beaten with their fists and at length by an unheard of and exquisite kind of torture he was so cruelly burnt even to the privy parts that for six moneths being troubled with most grievous pains he could neither live nor die When the rest were imprisoned the 21. of February he was brought from his own house first into the Court of the old City and from thence carried into a Tower of the Castle which they call the White-Tower and there shut up from all company Lastly the 7. of June he was found dead in the Castle-Ditch under that Tower 2. The enemies reported that being driven into despaire by the remembrance of his wickedness he had thrown himself down headlong therefore they commanded that he should be taken by the Executioner carried into the White-mountain and there beheaded and quartered his entrailes to be buried and the other parts to be set upon staves in the four quarters of the world before the City and his head to be fastned to a Gibbet in the Horse-market But it seemed doubtfull to many how he could throw himself down being always guarded by Souldiers It is most likely that he was cast down by some privily design'd to that purpose which God knowes 3. This one thing is not unknown to us that he was troubled with great temptations all that time For when being confin'd to his house the Minister of the word Adam Hartman with Dr. Erasmus a Physician then with him did visit him he heard these words proceed from him O my brother Adam I hoped that in these late transactions I was serviceable to God and the Church Now seeing the event contrary and considering how great a slaughter of many thousand men there hath been I think that we have done something erroneously which hath displeased God The coming of the Souldiers interrupted him being about to speak more and he desiring them to visit him againe before that could be done he was removed into the aforesaid Tower of the Castle none being afterwards admitted to him but his Wife sometimes Who visiting him the day before his death being the 6. of June which she often afterwards related found him very sad and troubled by the Monkes which did infest him as he complain'd and desiring comfort there lay by chance upon the Table a great Cantionall of the Brethrens to which reaching out his hand Seeke saith he comforts for my soul She not being able presently to satisfie his desire he opened it himself and sung these verses with weeping out of the penitentiall song which is under the letter G. XVIII where God is brought in speaking to the contrite soule out of 30. Jer. 15. Why cryest thou for thine affliction Thy sorrow is incurable there
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
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
were far more in number then the other he began to devote them to all cruelties pronouncing them worthy of the Crosse the wheele yea of hell it self 3. The day following being Thomas day he compells all to appear in the Temple and he as an example to the rest going before them receives the Sacrament under one kind after dinner again he commands that notice should be given by the Bells and entring the Temple when he saw no body present for even the Monkes themselves were not as yet come he runnes out and going through the Market the streetes yea into the very houses drives all that he meetes with his stick to the Temple being entred again and there seeing M. John Felixtessius a chief Citizen and most odious unto him because a Calvinest sets upon him beating him with his knobby Club which he had taken from a certain Countrey-man standing by and followes him even to the Altar saying Thou wicked fellow who hast set thy name in the Register-book of the damned and refusest to confesse He thereupon desires the Earle that he would consider the holinesse of the place and he would deal more mildly with him but the Earle beats him still more and more about the head shoulders and hands Felix thereupon bending his knees desired help of God but the Tyrant seeing his blood in a great measure flowing out at last sayes thus to him Get thee hence O thou beast with thy cursed Calvin-blood he rising up goes out of the Temple and severall asking what had happened answers them thus My blood hath dropt from me between the Temple and the Altar but it was for his name who did abundantly powre out his blood for us 4. He being gone out of the Temple the Earl compelling the Citizens that were gathered together to confesse did furiously rage against them belching out his curses against all but beating some with his staffe and spitting in the faces of others but his cruelty did most appear in pulling of the grave beard of that most honest Citizen Wenceslaus Crosinus and strowing it about the Temple 5. Being returned home he Commands that Felix should be again called and threatens that he would act another Trajedy with him unlesse he did discover himself to be of another mind on the day following but he thinking that the morrow was not to be expected saying that nothing was done by reason but all by splene and fury withdrew himself by night leaving behind him his Mother of foure score years of age his wife and most dear Children 6. The Earl seeing his hopes and expectation failed him commands his goods to be confiscated his wife to be imprisoned and those that he had before forced to an Apostasie he now compells to subscribe to a certain paper wherein the Citizens of Rokizan did testifie that they did owe their safety to God to the Virgin Mary to the Lord Deacon of Collerate and that they did imbrace the Catholique Religion freely and with all readinesse of mind onely the cowle being the occasion of it and this they did testifie by the subscription of their hands and the Seale of the City and so that miserable Earle being so _____ as to attempt the deceiving of God Caesar and himselfe within a short time was commanded to appear at Vienna and for some facts was there imprisoned CHAP. 101. The Slanenseon Reformation SLana otherwise a City for the King yet yielded to Phalaris Martinitâ— and by him cruelly handled over whom Nicholas Hansbursky was made Captain by the same Martinitz who a little before for some fact was delivered to the Hangman of Prague and had redeemed his life by Apostasie This man that he might ingratiate himself with the Jesuits did strongly promote the persecution of the faithfull In the year 1624. he appointed a solemn procession at Slana in that pompeous feast of the Body most of the Citizens being brought to it either by deceit or force John Bleyssa being cited by him solicited to be a companion of his Idolatry refused When he asked the Reason he said As often as I have received the Lords supper so often have I obliged my self to God to shun these abominations The other telling him thou shalt not resit the Emperours pleasure he answered In these things which belong to Caesar it is otherwise but here Gods businesse is acted He inferring that there should not be meanes wanting whereby thou mayst be forced he answered God seekes willing and not forced Worshippers The end of this disputation was a publick prison where Bleyssa suffered punishment for his disobedience as they called it nine weeks 2. But John Jahoda was fined a summe of money For when he would not be present at an Idolatrous procession neither would erect an Altar before his house he being called into the Court was accused of blasphemy against God and Rebellion against the Magistrate The punishment pronounced to him was imprisonment for 9. weeks and the payment of 50. dollars to help to get a new hoast when the time of his imprisonment was run out he laid down his money protesting That he gave nothing to the Hoast for he knew no other to wash away the sinnes of the world then that which was lifted up on the Crosse but in obedience to the Magistrate who might convert this money to what use he pleased For which words being sent back to prison he was not dismissed till after a moneth and with the payment of 50. shillings But instantly driven out of the City with his wife He was a very zealous man who a little after dying of the plague at Prague he piously slept 3. John Bleyssa when he had again offended having offered his Daughter privately to a Protestant Minister to be baptized was first put into a stinking prison and after with his wife lately delivered punished with banishment The third part of his goods was onely granted unto him the other two parts being brought into the Lords Coffer But when he saw this taken away and getting nothing of the whole he committed himself to divine providence with a full confidence and indured the miseries of banishment even to death dying at Pern in Misnia 4. In the year 1626. The same Captain that he might bring a universall deluge of Apostasie brought in Souldiers and compelled some by divers tortures to a desperate obedience Among the rest he forced 50. men into a narrow place of the Court where they could not stand much lesse sit or lie While they were kept in this place three whole dayes and there having all passage out denied them they performed the work of nature Sr. Reverence it could not be but that they being troubled with the stink and likewise sad and angry should faint Therefore promising to learn they are dismissed In the same manner the wicked man handled women in his Chamber But those that loved Christ went afterward into banishment CHAP. 102. The Reformation of Prachatice THe Reformation of the Inhabitants of Prachatice
and all At the lintell of the doore they writ this sentance in golden letters My house is a house of prayer but not thy house O most cursed Calvin They carried out of the Church the most ancient Pictures of Litomeritius Hus and Ierom and so burned them afterwards they shewed their rage against the holy Martyrs 4. How they set upon the books every one perhaps have already heard a thousand bibles that I might not mention other good books were taken away by these Furies that Antichrist might shew himself nothing inferiour to Antiochus 1 Macabees 1.5 9. commonly they burned them onely the Count of Nahud that most perverse Apostate having covered his holy books with silk and Gold for hee was sumptuous proud having taken off onely the gold and the silver commands that they should bee buried in the sink himself being present but the manner was diverse some having taken them away from the Christians did burne them privately at home simulating the modesty of Joochim 6. Jer. 23. others brought them in baskets to the market-place as was done at Fulneck others brought them in carts without the walls as was done at Zalicum and Frutnovia others brought them in heaps to the Gallows and other places destined for the punishment of mallefactors as at Hraditium so in great heaps burned them but you shall see O good men that the innocent ashes of these livelesse Martyrs being scattered through heaven and earth will spread further the doctrine which you would have abolished 5. The adversary being unmindfull of Ovid Lions vent not their rage upon the dead And the fight ends when foes are vanquished But savage Wolves and Bears not onely prey Upon the living but the dead assay imitating the cruelty of Wolves and Beares counted a part of their glory thus to expresse their rage and madnesse upon the dead continually It is a wonderfull beastiallity not to be able to endure the living above ground nor the dead under ground there are many examples of those who were by these pulled out of their graves and had their members burned at Horasdovisius in the year 1621. The monastery which the Bohemian Brethren for a long time possessed was restored to the Monkes who opened the graves of the Ministers of the word first of all the bones of Iacob Welchi both in name and in truth two worthy men buried in the year 1600. were taken up which Severinus Budetius the Warden did with an iron barre beat in pieces using with all cursing words and commanded that they should be burned in the Church-yard with the bones of Iohn Popelius Iohn Iaphet and Matthias Cobar who were buried in the year 1599. 1614. 1616. and because the Barons of Squilâ—ve the Lord of the place were buried in the same Church the wicked warden visiting their sepulchres tooke off from their bodies their rings and gold chaines and whatsoever was pretious lastly the body of Theobold Squiovius being taken out of the vault and out of the leaden chest wherein he lay he commanded it being put into a woodden coffin that it should be cast into some ditch about the Church-yard and covered over with dung 6. In the year 1623. the Church Czaslavia being taken from the Christians when they had found an Epitaph with this inscription In the year 1424 upon Thursday Iohn Lyski of Callis departed this life Governour of the Common-wealth labouring in the name and for the name of God is buried in this place Presently they put to their hands that they might remove him from thence that had rested there for the space of two hundred years within one but having digged very deep they found nothing besides dust their rage therefore being turned against the Tombstone upon which his effigies were formerly ingraven but now worne out they beat this to powder and with the dust of the grave they sprinkled it upon the ground without the church so forsooth taking revenge upon him being dead who whilest he was alive troubled them living 7. In the same yeare when that they were a purging the Church of Prague of the buried hereticks they brought out a marble-stone laid upon the grave of Rokizane and beate that to powder but they could not find the grave Lastly in the yeare 1630. when P. Lucas the Jesuite the twenty fourth of December died and there was in that place a most deep grave prepared for him there was found at the bottome a certaine bedde of brick which being plucked out there appeared putrified bones with two cups one of brasse and the other of Waxe uncorrupted and a piece of Damaske cloth the Reliques of his Priestly covering long red hairs stuck still to his skull These bones being gathered together they brought them in a basket into the Vestry untill they did know what their Superiour would command concerning them but what was afterwards done with them we doe not know but what we do declare was related to us by an eye-witnesse So Rokizane having laine in his Sepulcher about 159 years and 7 moneth for he died â—n the year 1471 the 21 of February gave place to another 8. At Trebovea there were extant some stony Statues of some dead Pastors in the Church-yard the eyes of which a Iesuite beat out with his mallet hee being himselfe blind blinded those that were before blind 9. But yet their fury did not onely express it selfe against those that were already buried I will not mention how they did deny them an honest buriall in the Church-yards and forced them to bee buried in fields gardens high-wayes and in those places that were set apart for the punishment of rogues Certainly this was too barbarous that they did altogether deny that some should bee brought out of their houses and restored to our common mother the earth for this onely end that they might vomit out their hatred against those that slept in Christ and that they might deterre the living almost killed with the stink of their carkases from the imitation of their constancy this happened to a most holy man John Mathrada Muslen preacher at Kutiberg at Saint Barbera who dying at his own house in the yeare 1625 the 4. of October who being privily returned from banishment departed the Arch-Deacon Apian denied altogether that he should be buried not suffering himself to be wrought upon either by intreaties or by offers of money at length after eight days some good men by stealth taking away his carkasse in the night time buried it in a certaine place That Belial in vain inquiring after the authors of so great wickednesse and threatning death unto them for a little while after the thirty of October the like example oâ— charity was shewed to one whom the Pastor did use with the like cruelty for a little sonne of his baptized else-where 10. Why should I produce more examples of their cruelty O that it were lawfull to write upon the fore-heads of these men that which Semirames is reported to have commanded should
the one and the other shall suffer death Dated at Prague 13 December 1621. 2. Thus the Ministers of Bohemia for there was care had of the Germans in favour to the Saxons were cast out of Prague their Churches given to the Jesuites what drooping of the Godly what anguish of Consciences what lamentation of them that followed their Ministers was there and what bidding farewell to them even for ever cannot now bee expressed 3. These that follow were the names of the Parishes and Ministers of them George Dicastus was Minister neer to the delectable Pallace and Administrator of the Consistory under both kinds with his two Colleagues Wenâ—eslaus Viccarius and Iohn Lansman Old-Prague M. Victorius Vurbenins of St. Nicholas M. Samuel Martinius of Castuly Jacobus Iacobides of Martins Vitus Iakessius of St. Gallus Iohannes Lunacius of Giles Gallus Zolanius being a little before dead a man very eminent for his Orthodoxe writings with the Deacon John Vurssovius M. James Jacobus of St. Michaels New-Prague Vitus Pagellus of Henries M. Tobias Adelbertus of Clemens Matthias Stecius of Adelbert the greater Matthias Janda of Michaels Nicholas Matzick of Adelbert the lesser John Hartviâ—ins of Stephens Adam Clemens of Wenceslaus John Rasaceus of St. Nicholas of the lesser Prague 4. The Ministers of the Brethren John Cyrillus Senior of the Consistory and John Corvinus and Paul Fabricius partly departed and partly hid themselves for since their Auditours were not limited to one Parish but were dispersed throughout Prague for they fearing that the Church of Bethlehem might not be taken from them or not alwaies lawfull for them to make use of it began to build them a Church and had for a while to their use the Jesuites Church being at that time void of which when Prague was taken they possessed themselves In the mean while all places were full of Souldiers and affrightments they desired that they might not be called together in the Church of Bethlehem for none would appeare untill this hurly burly were over But these multitudes ceased not but rather were encreased dayly a publicke army once leaving off will not easily bee brought together again 5. And because the people of Bohemia were deprived of their Ministers they flocked to the German Churches as many as understood the German language for they had free exercise in their own Temples built in the time of Rodolphus the one at old Prague dedicated to our Saviour the other at the lesser Prague dedicated to the Trinity The Jesuites thought it better to move the Elector than to suffer this presse hard and obtaine that not a proscription but a gracious dismission should be given notice of to the Ministers of Germany to bee packing on the 29 of October of the year following M. How and the Elector protesting against it Therefore the Ministers of the Germans went from Prague M. Gasparus Wagner Mr. David Lippuck Mr. Fabinus Natus great company of people of both sorts follwing them Of whom in the middst of the field with great lamentation and howling they heard their farwell Sermon CHAP. LIII The Ministers are removed out of other Cities I. THe next thing that was in agitation was to remove the Ministers out of other free Cities which immediately in the same year they attempted and with severall insolencies put it in execution By Commissaries whereof I will give you one or two instances 2. Amongst those Commissaries of Reformation that were named in the Country of the Slanensians and Litomeritians George Michâ—a was one who having a troope of horse went about the Cities Assoone as he came to Slana on Saint Katharines day with his Guard he enters into the Church and there he beheld their Minister and Deacon Mr. John Kapillius a learned man and a man of a fervent spirit reading the Gospell and sendeth one of his Souldiers to bid him desist but he notwithstanding persisting he himselfe goes to him and having his sword drawn cries out aloud to him Thou foolish Preacher leave off your babling and withall dasheth the Bible out of his hands with his sword The Minister with eyes hands and voyce lift unto Heaven repeatteth often Woe woe unto you who neither enter into heaven your selves and forbid those that would enter woe woe woe be to you but those words were made a mock off and presently they layd hands on him and he was taken and thrust this way and that way When againe he said But I for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ am ready to suffer all this and whatsoever else Some of those caitiffes repeated those words of my Lord Jesu my Lord Jesu in scorn and derision cast the words back againe and we have a Lord even Caesar In the meane while the people being affrighted and lamenting their sad condition The chiefe men of the Senate came and undertooke before the Commissarie for the Minister that he should appeare wheresoever they should command him so that he would not suffer them to lay violent hands on him He threatens him now being under arrest that he will send him to Prague but importuned by the intercession of good women was the next day moved to let him goe provided that within three dayes he should depart the City and thus the good faithful shepheard not without great lamentations banished about 3 years after dyes of the plague lying on his death-bed he told his dreame to his friends He thought he saw himselfe placed in a very large Library which when he had surveyed round about he found a booke which had this Title in Latine in golden letters It is Just that the Just should be slaine and then crowned Which booke he having an earnest desire to peruse cunningly placed it under his left arme-pit that he might read it over at a more convenient season But as he awaked in stead of the booke he found in that place a Pestilentiall swelling whereof within foure dayes he dyed He wrote in the time of his banishment a booke concerning Apostacy in his owne mother tongue Also another calling it the Idol of the world and of the true knowledge of the Crucifix which being printed have benefited very many not onely teaching them perseverance but also stirring up their zeale in the known truth 3. And in the neighbouring City Laimensis when the Minister for feare of such barbarous proceedings went away yet notwithstanding the Commissaries in the place of punishment extort a great summe of money from the Church and banish him though absent 4. And they entring into Zatreum Zaza commanded the Deacon Iohn Regius to appeare in the Consulls House and immediately to forbeare going to the Church and to depart from his parish within three dayes the City within eight dayes Who when he had modestly required the cause of their so sudden proceeding was answered that Caesar by victorie had made all the parishes of the Kingdome subject to his power and that Preachers hitherto were tollerated but now they must be packing and
bee writ upon his chests If thou hadst not beene a wicked man thou wouldest not have disturbed the quiet of the dead 11. Yet perhaps it would not bee farre from our purpose to hint out how they did expresse their rage upon the very name of Frederick meerely for the hatred of that most pious Prince who was an Evangelicall King for an Evangelicall people in the year 1622 a Citizen of new-Prague by name Mr. Iohn Libertine because that he had given the name of Frederick to his little sonne was at first without all reason tormented with the numerous souldiery and for a punishment was commanded to pay 500 Dollars it was a most usuall thing for them to pull in pieces the pictures of Frederick to trample them under their feet to digge out their eyes and ignominiously to handle all those withwhom they were found so that it was almost a capitall offence even to think of Frederick CHAP. CVI. Examples of Prodigies and punishments whereby God sometimes affrighted his enemies I. THe Godly indeed at that time were able to deplore this whirle-wind of persecution and Apostacies but onely the Lord to stay and cease it Who although he stirreth up wicked men to chastise his Church yet neverthelesse he useth severely to punish them after his paternall premonitions to reduce them when behaving themselves obstinately exceeding the measure of cruelty they become incorrigible Wee shall touch upon some of this sort 2. The first forewarnings were diverse strange sights which appeared in heaven and earth As for example the miraculous bow seen at Prague by all about the hour of execution yea such amazement seized upon the people looking thereon before execution was ended that they fled by troops from the place of Judicature into the streets no man pursuing them or declaring the cause thereof Fiery torches also were seen in the night environing the Martyrs heads which were set upon the tower and a singing heard Certaine of the Watchmen did confidently averre it but for our parts in regard we were not eye-witnesses we leave it undetermined But this is certaine that many suns were diverse times seen in the year following the sun also was seen by a great multitude of people at Prague to dart out as it were balls of fire 3. In the year 1623. exceeding thick smoak did proceed at set times from the pinacles of the chiefe Church of the Gospellers at Joyfull Court so that men supposing it to have come from fire within ran thither to quench the burning but the Towers being well searched within they found it otherwise The Iesuites because they could not deny the truth of the miracle so often repeated did interpret it to their own advantage saying the reliques of heresies do now smoak and fly up into the air 4. In the same year when upon Corpus Christi day the first solemn circumgestation or carrying about of holy bread was celebrated at Kutterberge with the noise of Trumpets Timbrels Fiddles Gunnes and the like the Heavens the Clouds being compacted on a suddain poured out such a floud of waters that within half an hour the Marchants-shops Carts and other heavy bodies did swimme in the streets which also was mingled with so great a shower of haile that not onely the windowes of Churches and houses were broken but even the sheep in the fields and the wild beasts in the woods were knocked downe some wounded and others slain 5. In the yeare 1624. in Autumn a flying Dragon flaming horribly was seen throughout all Bohemia and Silesia And that this was no whit below a miracle we may gather from hence because in the same day and houre about Sun-setting it was observed in so many and remote places that our faith could scarce elevate it self so high to credit it if it were not confirmed by a thousand witnesses 6. In the same year at Podebrade bloud flowed out for a whole moneth together the spring neare the high-way being broken up Which some have used as a Rubrick and to beget the more credit have writ the story thereof with that very bloud Nor perhaps ought wee to omit that which these eyes have seen in the same year Vpon the City-gate of Chrudim the Armes both of the King and Queene were painted with a distich written in Golden letters These were thrice at least drawne over with Chalk since the Emperors victory and all the rest being quite blotted out onely the name Fredericke at severall times became extant and legible by all 7. In the yeare following 1625. neare Beneslow then in the Dominion of Paul Michna a Fish-pond was wholly turned into bloud for the space of three dayes as also it happened in other places at other times In the confines of Moravia and Silesia great flocks of Crowes and Dawes flutted up and down which at length by a great fight continued for a whole dayes space suffered a great distruction at the village of Bartoschowitz neare Fulnek and indeed with other successe then could bee expected for the weaker part overcame the stronger some thousands of the Crowes being fastened in the Dawes-bills fell and perished without the ruine of scarce any of the Dawes The Country-men also running to behold this spectacle filled their sackes with Crowes 8. In the yeare 1626. at Prague it rained Brimstone and not long after the Image of the Crucifixe set up at Waltave-bridge was smitten and throwne downe by a Thunder-bolt In the same place Kutterberg-gate opened of its owne accord the post being removed for two or three nights to the great astonishment of the Watch-men which they were forced to averre upon oath The like wonder was seene at Prostanne in the City of Lichtensteinium 9. It cannot be deservedly spunged out of the catalogue of miracles that which we know happened to the Bibles at Zatek in that they could not be burned For when in the year 1630 the Books long before carried out of that City by the joint authority of the Magistrates were condemned and sentenced unto the fire by the Commissaries and kindled with wood-stacks piled in order without the walls upon an hill near the water-course the sacred Bibles of Simeon Swoboda all other books being consumed suffered the flames without harm saving onely that their margins were somewhat singed as also an other book of Ecclesiasticall Psalms of an old Edition both whereof are preserved for a memoriall by the Exuls of Zateck at Friburg 10. God also the revenger of wickednesse did sometimes put forth a signe of wrath and indignation against some in the very act of their villanies Many Apostates driven and tormented by the sting of conscience cried out that they were damned others not suffering the torment of conscience did hang or drown themselves And amongst others that exceeding rich Merchant at Prague Hans de White John Campan the famous Poet who after hee had changed his religion thus said to his wife this day salvation is come to our house whereto she answered this day a curse
is brought into our house hee ended his life in despair Daniel Basil professour in the University of Prague was surprized with sudden death Iohn Chytraeus Pastor at Slawkowia in Moravia as hee was ready to recant and abjure the Doctrine of the Gospell in the Church hee was strucke dumbe and from thence was carryed home being possessed with an horrible trembling all over and gnawing his tongue at last he died of unknown griefs 11. Doctor Daniel Knapper a publick professor of injuries against the Gospellers under pretence of justice and right was slain by the suborning of his wife an Adulterer who afterwards was hanged and perished Thomas Hrich was created Consul at Rokysan for his example of Apostacy given to others but within one year after upon Michaelmas-day as the other Dragon the hater and accuser of the Brethren being cast down from off the Throne of pride he vomited up his ungodly soul with bloud 12. Adam Primate of Suffick promoted the businesse of universal Apostacy with such fury in his Country that without all respect unto Consanguinity he gave out with great boasting That if his Father should rise again he would not spare hâ—m this wretch by the just judgement of God fell mad and flying up unto the highest rafters of his house from thence he cast himself down and roaring fearfully he tossed himselfe restlesly When his Step-mother running to him put him in mind of his sin saying O my Adam remember what thou hast done give glory to God speake pray He onely drawing his mouth aside and putting out his tongue in an astonishing manner breathed out his last 13. Florianus Libochovius the Governour of the Horazdovian Dominion a perverse Apostate a betrayer of the Citizens shot himself to death with a pistol bullet Hodina a Citizen of Czaslavia but a man of great unconstancy induced with hope either of reward or dignity did shew himself so eager in slaying Zisca cotinually raging with his virulent and malicious tongue against the deceased Noble-man that within a few dayes after he breathed his last either being broken with the sedulous attempt or else perishing by a peculiar vengeance 13. A certain novice Church-warden very wicked and audacious in defacing the Churches of Litomerzicium digged out the bottome of a stone Chalice above Lawrence-house-gate shortly after hee fell into a sharp disease For accusing himself of wickednesse he tore his cloathes from off his body pulled off his hair not suffering his wife or any other to come near him although for horrour and stink none could come to him At length after that he had belched up an incredible torrent of bloud through his wicked throat he was choaked by his own bloud being an utter enemy to the bloud of Christ When this was known to the whole City there was no man no not the Mason though of the Popes faction being terrified with this fresh example which would so much as touch the marble Chalice all guilded over found in the entrance of the other Church of Al-souls laid up in the wall of the larger Tower in the year 1485. and afterwards trimmed up which also was adorned with this inscription Veritas vincit Truth at last triumphs They therefore brought in a Malefactor whom they called out of prison and gave him promise to set him at liberty and give him his life if he would take the Chalice out of the wall and break it in pieces This he did for the reward of his life but a few dayes after he was re-taken at Austium and racked by a wheele 15. Tobias Konig Consul of Trutnovia a cruell Apostate and tormentor of the faithfull which adhered constantly to their Religion in the year 1629. being taken with a sudden disease and waxing as black as a coal uttered his speech like the barking of a dog and so being made a spectacle for the space of three dayes did vomit up his soul with terrible anguish 16. George Kanasz Prefect of the Dominions of the Prince of Lichtenstein in Moravia when as the day before Christ-â—ide in the year 1627 staying with Jesuites in the Prostan court the whole day he had brought many of the citizens into Apostacy he indeed at that time not professing it but was induced by the promise of a thousand crownes to whip his fellow Brethren and had sent the rest into prison after a most delicate Supper he returned in the middle of the night unto the Tower of Plumlovia being one mile distant from the city and having well drunk he slept soundly But because he had commanded that they should raise him for to celebrate the night service to the end he might triumph for the executing of so â—are an act It came to passe according to his wives after-relation that he often started and awakened himself out of his sleep supposing that he heard the ringing of bells in some other place At length fearing to be prevented he arose and made hast to the walls of the Tower and commanded the Engineer to discharge seven Canons and the eighth he would dispatch himself he therefore took the Pearch and gave fire But oh the terrible judgement of God! the Gun brake asunder and the splinters retorted upon him which tore both his legs both his thighs the one arme the one side and in fine took away the skull of his head This was the reward which this unhappy man received from divine vengeance for his treachery and tyranny But the miracle was the greater for that none of the standers by being fourteene in number were hurt or so much as touched excepting onely a certain old hunter whom he thrust out by force beyond the Bulwark to be received by the Guns if they had fallen into the bottom but his girdle sticking upon a pale which was set in hurdles for a protecting basket filled with earth did preserve him from falling untill shouting out for help he was drawn up and saved by those which were there present This he afterwards related to the Prince and obtained a priviledge that he should not be compelled to forsake his Religion Surely this was an evident example of divine vengeance yet notwithstanding blind men attributed this even as all others not to divine appointment but to blind chance 17. George of Machod Auditor and Patron of the Brethren in Moravia from his youth afterwards from a Noble-man being made a Count he became a most perverse Apostate who buried holy Bibles in stinking channels as we have noted in the chapter immediately preceeding and was punished by God after a miraculous manner with a terrible disease in his throat whereby his tongue putrified and many holes were eaten out below his chin so that whatsoever nourishment or medicines entred into his mouth did either straightway flow forth or distilled out by little and little All remedies therefore being used in vaine after his suffering cruel torments about two moneths space he breathed out his soul which was most unsteadfast and sold to Antichrist for the smoak