A General Martyrology, Chapter 25 · History 1
THe Bohemians were Heathens and Idolaters, till their Duke or Captain Borivoius going into Moravia, Anno Cristi 894. by a strange providence of God was converted to the knowledge and faith of Christ, whereupon he together with thirty other Palatines was baptized; At his return into Bohemia, he took along with him Methudius Bishop of Moravia, by whose Ministry,Christianity brought into Bohemia. Ludomilla the Dukes wife was converted and baptized.
Borivoius, busying himself in erecting divers Schooles and Churches, it pleased God that in a short time a great harvest was gathered, many of the Nobility and Commons being daily converted and baptized: but Satan envying the progresse of the Gospel, presently raised up persecution against the Professors of it: For first of all Borivoius was banished by the wicked faction of the Idolaters, and then compelled to resign his Dominion to his Eldest Son, who being dead, his younger son Boratislaus succeeded,Persecution begun. who was a very holy man yet was drawn to marry Drahomira, famous for nobility and beauty, but a Heathen: yet she promised, after instruction, to be baptized, and during her husbands life she cunningly concealed her hatred against Christians, but he being dead, the grandmother Ludomilla educated the elder son Wenceslaus, and Drahomira took the younger, Bolislaus, and usurped the government, commanding the Christian Churches to be shut up,Tyranny. the exercises of their worship to cease, prohibiting Ministers from instructing the people, and Schoolemasters from teaching youth: such as disobeyed were imprisoned, banished, and put to death.
At Prague, the Magistrates were changed,Persecution in Prague. and cruell Idolaters substituted in the rooms of Christians, by whose incitements the poor Christians were secretly, openly, and unworthily murthered and abused: whilest the murtherers went away with impunity: but if any Christian killed a Heathen though in his own defence, ten Christians were massacred for that one. Yet the insatiable cruelty of Drahomira was not satisfied herewith, but that she might destroy all the Christians, she dealt with one Balloius, a cruell wretch, whom she had set over the City of Prague, earnestly entreating him by fraud or force to effect it, promising him a great reward if he did it. He thereupon arms six hundred Conspirators at his own house,A speciall providence. with whom he hastens to those that were designed for slaughter: but the plot, through Gods mercy,The Christians prevaile. being discovered to the Christians, four hundred of them met to defend their own lives: the issue of the fight was victory to the Christians,Subtilty. the streets being polluted with the bloud of eight hundred that were slain. Then did Drahomira pretend that she was much displeased with the tumult, commanding that the Arms of both parties should be brought in to the City magazine, severely forbidding any man to walk with dart or sword: the Christians, though suspecting her fraud, yet that they might not seem disobedient, brought their arms to the Magazine, the enemies pretending also to do the like.300. Christians slain. This being done, Drahomira imploies her cut-throats in the night to set upon the unarmed Christians, whereby above three hundred of them were slain in one night; This Drahomira much rejoyceth at, but yet not satisfied, she commands the Major of Prague to destroy all the Christians: whereupon he besets all the streets, and passages, and slaies all that he meets withall: till the Christians gathering themselves together, encounter with him, put him to flight, and in the pursuit slew this wicked person.Gods judgement on persecutors. This so enraged Drahomira, that she commanded the two Churches to be burnt down, in one of which her husband was interred. Whilest she thus raged against the Christians, Wenceslaus now grown to years, by the advice of his grand-mother, and the Christian Nobility,Wenceslaus reigns took upon him the government, and the better to establish peace, he assigned the City of Bolislavia, and the adjacent parts to his mother, and younger brother.
Drahomira yet laid not aside her hatred and bloudy designs against the Christians, which she first shewed against holy Ludumella, substituting two wicked villains in the night to murther her, these fellows finding her at her prayers in her Oratory, strangled her: Some there were that much provoked Wenceslaus to revenge that wicked act,Ludomilla murthered. which he refused, because he judged it contrary to that duty which he owed to a mother, and to the modesty and patience of a Christian. But he was shortly after ill requited by this unnaturall monster, who affecting domination, began to defame Wenceslaus as sluggish and unfit for government, but when she perceived that his subjects loved him exceedingly, she waited a fitter opportunity, which thus fell out.
Bolislaus having a son, she invited Wenceslaus to the baptising of this his Nephew at Bolislavia, he going thither, she entertained him with much dissembled love: but in the night as he was making his prayers to God: His brother Bolislaus assaults him, and beeing assisted with some other cut-throats slew him,Wenceslaus murthered. Anno 929. Bolislaus having by this fratricide obtained the government, threatned imprisonment and death to all the Ministers and Christians if they did not presently depart Bohemia: his mother added, that their dead bodies should not be buried: Hereupon many fled, others were seized on, and tormented to death diverse waies▪ but God suffered not Drahomira to escape his revenging hand,Gods judgement on persecutors. for in that place, where the ministers bones lay unburied, the earth opened of it self, and swallowed her up alive with her Chariot, and all that were in it, which place is to be seen before the Castle of Prague to this day.
Others also who were her instruments in massacring the innocent Christians, some of them ran mad, and threw themselves down from high places, others slew themselves with their own swords, wherewith they had murthered the innocent men, and the place where Wenceslaus blood was shed, could never be washed off, but remained as a perpetuall witnesse of that villany.
These things so affrighted Bolislaus, that he became more milde to the Chistians.
Anno. 970. Woytich the second Bishop of Prague, labouring seriously in converting the reliques of the Gentiles, Woytich banished.and reforming their wicked lives: they raised so great a sedition against him, as enforced Woytich to a voluntary banishment: Then did the Pagans rise up against his brethren, and murthered five of them, and then conspired against their prince, but were overcome in battel, &c.
Not long after the Pope having usurped domination over other Churches, sought to obtrude his superstitions upon the Bohemians also: but especially he commanded that all their sacred service should be in the Latine tongue and that they should not have the cup in the Sacrament: the Bohemians sent two Ministers, and four others to Rome, The Pope usurps over the Bohemians.Anno 977. to the Pope, desiring to be eased of these grievances, and at last obtained their request.
Yet afterwards they were againe inhibited the use of their own language in holy services, whereupon Urateslaus Duke of Bohemia (who shortly after for his valiant service to the Roman Empire, was created King) sent Embassadors to Rome, requesting a confirmation of the Liberties formerly granted to them; but the Pope [Hildebrand] absolutely refused it.
Anno 1197. Pope Celestine sent a Cardinall into Bohemia, to inhibit Ministers marriage, and to divorce such as were married, but the Bishop and Ministers almost stoned him to death.
Also when afterwards the cup was taken away in the Sacrament, there were many that opposed that sacriledg, and amongst the rest John Melicius of a noble family and fervent spirit, much honoured for his rare learning and holinesse of life;John Melicius. in his ministry he earnestly exhorted his auditors to a frequent communicating in both kindes: at last he was much moved in spirit to go to Rome, and there to testifie that the great Antichrist was come, and did then reign.
He prayed unto God, with fasting and teares,The Pope Antichrist. desiring that unlesse these thoughts came from Gods Spirit, he might be delivered from them: but when yet he could finde no inward quiet, he went to Rome, and wrote upon the Cardinals doors, Antichrist is come, and sitteth in the Church. He also in his conferences with many, asserted the same: For this the Pope imprisoned him, and excommunicated both him, and his auditors.Melicius imprisoned.
Mr. Mathias of Prague also, was a zealous defender of the Communion in both kindes. Anno 1375.M. Mathias He with some other learned men went to King Charles that then raigned, requested him to call a Oecumenicall Counsel, for the reformation of the Church. Charles sending to the Pope about it, he was so incensed at the message, that he commanded the King to punish those rash and Hereticall men: Whereupon Mathias was banished the Kingdom;Mathias banished. and then was the use of the Sacrament in both kindes prohibited through all Bohemia: so that the godly could not administer and receive it but in private houses, in woods and caves, and yet neither so, but with the hazard of their lives: for they were set upon in the high-waies, plundred, beaten, and drowned in rivers, so that at last they were necessitated to go together in companies, and armed: and this continued to the daies of John Husse. Concerning the persecution of John Husse, John Husse, Jerome … Prague.and Jerome of Prague, See in my first part their lives: But when these holy men of God were so unjustly burned at Constance: the adversaries were not satisfied with their bloud, but took further counsell for the destruction of the whole Nation: for when fifty eight of the chief Nobles of Bohemia, in the name of all the Commons, Anno 1416. had sent Letters from Prague to the Council, complaining that their Pastor, an innocent and holy man, and faithful teacher of the truth was unjustly condemned: the Council instead of answering them, wrote their Letters to some violent Papists who were in authority, to assist their Legate in oppressing the Hereticks.
Thus the Bohemians were incited more and more to mutuall contentions: the Priests daily from the Pulpits divulged their excomunications and execrations against the Hussites, and to stir up the greater hatred against them, they used lying signs; for, putting dirt about the wicks of their Tapers, when the flame had burned the wax to the dirt, the Taper went out:Popish malice, and subtilty. Then cried they out, That God by miracles declared his hatred of those wicked Hereticks, who were unworthy to enjoy the light: and thereupon they persecuted them all manner of waies, and they used such violence, as raised a tumult at Prague Anno 1419. wherein the enraged multitude threw twelve Senators of Prague with the Maior, out of the windows of the Senate-house, who fell upon the points of spears.
After this the Pope publikely excommunicated the Bohemians at Florence, The Pope excommunicates the Bohemians.exciting the Emperour, Kings, Princes, Dukes, &c. to take up Arms against them, entreating them by the wounds of Christ, and their own salvation, unanimously to fall upon them, utterly to extirpate that cursed generation, promising universal remission of sins to the most wicked person, if he did but kill one Bohemian: Hereupon great wars were raised against them but it pleased God still to give them the victory under that brave Captain Zisca: Whereof see more in my second Part, in Zisca's Life.
Yet still as the Popish party prevailed at any time, they exercised all manner of cruelty upon the poor servants of Christ, insomuch that at Cuttenburg, where were deep mettall-mines, Anno 1420. they threw into one of them a thousand and seven hundred persons,Multitudes martyred. and into another a thousand thirty eight, and into a third a thousand three hundred thirty four persons.
Also a Merchant of Prague coming to Preslaw in Silesia, the Emperour and Popes Legate being their, was in his Inne drawn into discourse, where pleading for Husse, and the Sacrament in both kindes, he was cast into prison, the next day a Student of Prague was cast into the same prison: The Merchant exceedingly encouraged him, saying, Oh my Brother! What an honour is it, that we are called thus to bear witness to the Lord Jesus? Let us undergo the trouble with cheerfullnesse; Encouragment.the fight is but short, the reward is eternall: Let us remember the Lord, what a cruel death he under went for us, and with what guiltlesse bloud we are redeemed, and what torments the Martyrs have patiently endured, &c. But when they were brought to execution, and the ropes by which the horses were to drag them through the streets, were fastened to their feet; the Student affrighted with the terrors of death,Apostacy. and allured by the fair promises of the Legate, recanted: But the Merchant, like an unshaken rock, told them, that their hopes of any recantation from him were but vain; I am ready to die (saith he) for the Gospell of the Lord Jesus: And so being drawne slowly through the streets,Constancy. he was brought to the place of execution, and there burnt, Anno 2420.
Pichel the chief Magistrate of the City of Litomeritia, having taken twenty four of the chief Citizens, and amongst them his son in law, put them in an high Tower, and at last he brought them out, half dead with hunger and cold, and adjudged them to be drowned. When they came to the river Albis, their wives, children, and friends greatly mourning; the Majors own daughter came wringing her hands, and falling at her fathers feet, beseeched him to save her husbands life; but he, harder then a rock, bad her give over, saying, What? can you not have a worthier husband then this? Unnaturall cruelty.To whom she answered seeing his inexorablenesse, You shall never more espouse me to any; and so beating her breast, and tearing her hair, she followed amongst the rest. When the Martyrs came to the river, whilest Ferries were preparing, they with loude voices call heaven and earth to witnesse their innocency, and so taking their leave of their wives, children and friends, exhorting them to constancy and zeal for the truth:Many drowned they were carried and cast into the middest of the river, with their hands and feet bound together and so drowned; and if any were driven to the banks, they were stabbed with iron forks and pikes. The Majors daughter seeing her husband thrown into the river, leaped in to him, caught him about the middle, but being unable to draw him forth, they were both drowned;A loving wife. the next day they were found embracing one another, and were both buried in one grave, Anno 1421.
About the same time a company of souldiers going towards Prague, seized upon a godly Minister, and four other men, and four boys, the eldest not being aboue eleven years old, for administring, and receiving the Sacarament in both kindes, and carried them to their Colonel, the Colonel sent them to the Bishop who required, them to abjure, or else he would burn them; the Minister stoutly answered, But the Gospel teacheth otherwise, so that you must either approve what we do, or blot it out of your Bible. Hereupon one of the troopers smote him so violently on the face with his gantlet, that the bloud ran out of his mouth and nose.Cruelty. The Bishop made this Minister the subject of his mirth and scorn all that night,A Minister and others burned. and the next day being the Sabbath, he burned them all in one fire; and when the Bishop would have perswaded them to abjure the Cup in the Sacrament, the Minister answered, That he would rather suffer a thousand deaths, then deny a truth so clearly revealed in the Gospel.
Another Captain violently entring into a Church where many godly people were met together, he killed some, and took others prisoners; and going to the Communion Table, he took the Cup, being full of wine,Profanenesse and blasphemy. and drunk to his horse, who having pledged him, he said, his horse was now one of the communicants in both kindes.
About the same time also a Godly Tayler was burned at Prague. Also one Martin Loquis should have suffered the like death, but his life was begged by the Thaborites. Martin Loquis.Afterwards, taking another associate with him, he was travelling towards Moravia, but by the way, they were taken by a Captain, who manacling them with irons, examined them about the Sacrament: Martin answered, The body of Christ is in heaven, and he hath but one, not many bodies: Hereupon the Captain gave him a box on the ear, as not enduring such blasphemy, and would have had him presently burned. Then did a Priest beg him to see if he could convert him: but when that succeeded not, he thrust them into a dark, stinking dungeon for two moneths: Then did he torment them with fire,Prodigious cruelty. till their bowels came forth, to extort from them who were their companions: Afterwards they were both shut up in a tub, and so burned Anno 1421.
A godly and eloquent Preacher in Prague, was, together with twelve more,Some beheaded. apprehended by a Captain, carried into the common-hall, and there privately beheaded, but their bloud running out, caused a great tumult in the City, wherein some of the Senators were slain, and others saved themselves by flight.
Not long after there sprung up a Schism amongst those that were called Hussites, Schism.for some of them began in other things to comply with the Pope, only they insisted upon the Cup in the Sacrament, whence they were called Calixtines:Calixtines. Others of them stuck close to Husse his doctrine, and cried down all superstition: And this contention was cunningly fomented and increased by some that sought thereby the advancement of the Pope and Emperour: And to make the professors of the pure Doctrine odious,Popish subtilty. they branded them with the hatefull name of Piccards, by which name the Waldenses in Piccardy were called. Yet both these parties, when they were assaulted by the Emperour, joyned together in opposing him, and obtained many great victories against him: Yet Anno 1444. the Thaborites were utterly oppressed by fraud and force.Thaborites destroyed.
Anno 1459. There were divers godly people in Bohemia, Ministers, Nobles and Commons, who being much pressed in conscience about the superstitions in the Church of Rome, Reformation begun.obtained of their King [George Pogiebracius,] a place in the hilly Countrey near to Silesia to inhabit, where throwing off all superstious practices, they applied themselves to the form of the Primitive simplicity, calling themselves Brethren and Sisters.
The beginning of this Church displeased the Devil, and therefore he raised a sudden and violent tempest to overthrow it:Popish malice. For the same of it being spread abroad, the Priests in every pulpit stirred up the hatred of the people against them, crying out, Blow out these sparks, blow them out before they grow into a flame.
Anno 1461. One of their Ministers with some others of them coming to Prague, to visit their friends, were betrayed, and some Officers coming to apprehend them, said to them, All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, therefore come forth, and follow us to prison, which they did. The King believing the slanders that were raised against them, as that they were attempting some sedition, &c. he commanded the aged Minister to be tortured,A Minister racked. but he falling into an extasie, felt no pain at all; the tormentors supposing him to be dead, took him down from the rack, but after some hours, he came to himselfe, and by the intercession of a friend, was dismissed.
Presently after their came forth from the King an Edict,A wicked Edict. forbidding all Pastors to administer holy services without ceremonies: and withall, threatning death to those that should administer to the brethren, called now by the hateful name of Piccards. The brethren hereupon were brought into great extremity, being like sheep destitute of shepherds. Yet presently came forth a new Edict that none of them should be suffered to live either in Bohemia, or Moravia. Hereupon they were dispersed amongst the woods and mountains, dwelling in caves;Popish cruelty. where yet they were scarce safe, so that they were forced to make no fire, nor dresse any meat, but in the night time, least the smoak should betray them. In the cold winter nights, sitting by the fire, they applied themselves to the reading of the Bible, and holy discourses. When in the snow they went ab…ad to provide them necessaries, they went close together, and lest their foot-steps should betray them, the hindermost of them did draw after him a great bough, to cover the prints which their feet had made.
These brethren chose by suffrage, certain Elders,Elders chosen. to whom they promised obedience: and by the advice of these Elders, the chiefest of the brethen in Bohemia and Moravia, were called together in a Synod, in the mountaines to ordain Ecclesiastical Laws, whereby they should be governed;A Synod. they appointed also sundry daies of Fasting and Prayer for themselves, and their dispersed friends; taking counsell from Gods Word, concerning those things which were required to the fuller Reformation, both of life and doctrine. That which most afflicted them was for want of Pastors, not knowing where they should have new ones, after those were dead, who then lived with them; but after debate, they resolved, that Christ had given this authority to his Church, that such as were ordained themselves, might ordain others: Yet some scruple arose, whether such as were but Presbyters, might ordaine without a Bishop: For which cause they met together, and with fasting, prayers and teares, they sought unto God to reveal his will to them in this difficulty; and afterwards making a scrutiny by lot,Ordination of Ministers. the Lord answered them, that it was lawfull for Presbyters to ordain Presbyters, which occasioned great joy unto them.
Then did these Brethren deliberate among themselves, whether they should joyn with the Waldenses in Moravia and Austria;The Waldenses· and so be one people with them, and one Church: The purity of their Doctrine and Christian Conversation did much please; but again, it much displeased them, that they concealed the truth, not openly professing it as they ought, but to avoid persecution, they frequented the Churches of the Papists, and so communicated with Idolaters. Therefore they concluded to admonish them of this evil; and for this end they sent some able men to them,Admonition. to acquaint them with it: The Waldenses answered, that to be in unity with them was very gratefull, and for the evils objected against them, they were not ignorant of them, nor would defend them, but rather would labour to amend them: Concluding that they desired to have a sixt day of meeting with the Brethren, in which they would take some further order about this businesse.
The Waldenses persecuted.But before the time came, the Papists having some intelligence of it, raged so violently against the Waldenses, that they burnt one of the chiefest of them at Vienna, and so persecuted the rest, that they were fain to provide for their own safety by flight.
Anno 1468. There came out a new Decree against these Brethren, requiring all the Nobles of Bohemia, within their severall jurisdictions, to apprehend as many as they could, and to proceed against them.
Many therefore were apprehended and put into prison, where they were kept for a long time:The Church increaseth. But thr…gh the wonderfull working of God, the more the enemies laboured to put out this spark, the more it brake forth into a great flame, for many of their Peers submitted to the Discipline of the Brethren, building Churches for them in their Towns and Villages, so that Anno 1500. they had in Bohemia, and Moravia about two hundred Churches.
After the death of Pogiebracius, Uladislaus, a Polonian succeeded in the Kingdom, to whom the Brethren wrote an Apology, by reason of many foul accusations that were carried to him against them: This so exasperated their enemies, that they endeavoured by a most impudent invention, to stir up the hatred of all men against them. The way they used was this.Popish subtilty. They suborned a wicked villain, to say that he came from amongst them, and that he had been an Elder, but had therefore forsaken them, because in their meetings they used to blaspheme God, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints, to traduce the Sacraments,Slanders. to mingle themselves incestuously, after the manner of the Adamites, to commit murther▪ and practise witchcraft, &c. This man they led through the Townes and Cities as a spectacle; they brought him to their Church, where he must abjure his errors, and beseech the people to pray for him, a most miserable sinner, and to take heed, by his example, of the wicked Piccards. They also published his confession in writing, being confirmed with the seals and subscrip…ons of some Deans and Priests, causing them to be read in the Churches to the people.
But the devil was befooled herein, for the Brethren, by publick writings did confute these lies;Confession. and the villain trembling so often to forswear himself in the sight of the people, confessed at last that he was suborned to do what he did, and that he knew not any of the Piccards: Yet thus far it made for good, that some to make experience of so great villanies, began privately and disguised, to frequent the Assemblies of the Brethren, and finding it to be farre other wise then it was reported, did associate themselves with them, as with true Christians.
Anno 1488. Mathias King of Hungary, The Brethren banished.banished the Brethren from Moravia, which caused some hundreds of them, taking a Minister along with them, to go into Moldavia; Whereupon the Brethren in Bohemia sent one of their Elders to them, to exhort them unto patience under this persecution, which was for the truth.
Shortly after the restless enemies of God and his Church,Persecution. raised another persecution against the Brethren in Bohemia; for some Bishops consulting together, suborned the Queen, great with childe, so that they conceived that the King would deny her nothing in that state, to request of him, that he would severely punish the Piccards: The King displeased at her request, only nodded his head, but gave no answer at all: Yet the Bishops, in his presence, began to draw up the Edict.Popish malice. The King going into his chamber, fell down on his knees, and with tears besought God to forgive the guilt of those bloudy counsels, and to grant no successe to them: and God heard his prayers, and shewed some examples of his severe judgements on the Authors of this conspiracy.
The Queen who proposed to her fancy,Gods judgement on persecutors. what gratefull spectacles she should have in seeing the Piccards brought to Prague, and there, some burnt, some beheaded, and others drowned in the water, presently fell in travell, and when she was not able to bring forth, the Physitians advised that the childe should be cut out of the mothers womb, which was accordingly done, whereby the childe lived, but the mother died.
Two years after, the Bishops by their importunity prevailed with the King that sharp remedies should be used against those growing evils, as they were pleased to call them;Anno 1510. A cruel Edict. whereupon an Edict was sent forth that all the Piccards, without distinction of sex, age or quality, should be slain. This Mandate was brought to the Assembly of States at Prague, by two Bishops, but divers of the chiefest Nobles opposed it, so that eighteen moneths were spent in debate, before any thing was done; but at last, by the cunning artifice of the Chancellor, and his bloudy associates, it was confirmed by the greatest part of the Nobility, in the presence of the King; and a mutuall confederacy was entred into,Devillish wickednesse. that it should be prosecuted with an armed power, but God following some of the chiefe contrivers of it with sundry judgements, it almost came to nothing.
Yet in these troubles most of the Ministers were turned out of their places, so that they durst not preach nor pray, but in private. And a certaine Noble man, having apprehended six of the Brethren, cast them into prison, and when they were brought forth to be burnt, they went chearfully to the fire; and when the chief officer, taking affection to one of them, offered him his life, if he would recant his error, profering him withall to give him a years time to consider of it; he pawsed a while,Tentation resisted. but by and by answered, It is too much by such a delay, to lose my Brethrens company, and so going along with them, they were burned together.
Shortly after the Chancellor that had procured the passing of the Edict against the Brethren, as he returned from the Parliament, visiting a certaine Noble man by the way, he with great pleasure reported to him what was agreed upon against the brethren: The Noble man having a servant by, that was much edicted to the discipline of the Brethren, asked him how he liked it; the servant answered, that all were not agreed: The Chancellor suspecting some new conspiracy, asked him who durst oppose the States of the Kingdom, &c? the servant said,Gods judgement on persecu…ors. In heaven there is one, who if he were not present at your counsels, you have consulted in vain: The Chancellor replied, Thou knave, thou shalt finde that as well as the rest: And rising up in fury, immediately a Carbuncle rose upon his foot, which turned to a disease, called Ignis sacer, whereof he died miserably.
Another of the great sticklers in this businesse, returning homewards, as he was a lighting out of his Chariot to make water, he struck his member on a sharp nail that was in the boot, whereby he drew out his entrails with him, and not long after he gave up the ghost.
Also D· Augustine, who by slanderous libels had endeavoured to stirre up the King against the Brethren, died suddenly as he was at supper.
Another Noble man of these persecutors, as he was hunting, his horse threw him, and his arrow ran into his thigh, and came out at his loins, whereby he died a most paineful death.
Many others of them felt the like judgements of God; so that it grew into a proverbe amongst them: If you be weary of your life, attempt something against the Piccards, and you shall not escape a year to an end.
About this time God stirred up in Germany, undaunted Luther, the thunderbolt against the Pope,Anno. 1523. Luther which occasioned many of the Calixtines to resolve to embrace the purer Doctrine of the Gospel, and to seek for the Ordination of their Ministers from Wittenberg, rather then from Rome. But amongst these there was one Zahere, an Apostate,Zahere an Apostate. who to ingratiate himselfe with the King and Pope, would enforce the Pastors and Citizens of Prague to subscribe to sundry Articles, or else they must be proscribed. And first of all six Pastors were banished, then sixty five of the chiefest Citizens: Then to colour greater cruelty, a rumour was spread abroad of a conspiracy made by the Brethren against the Calixtines; and to extort a confession hereof, three Citizens were brought to the rack, who rather chose to suffer all torments, then falsly to accuse the innocent:Popish lies and slanderous. Yet divers were persecuted: Amongst others, a Cutler that had found an Orthodox Book about the Sacraments, was whipped openly in the market-place, and banished: Another was branded in the forehead; a third was thrust into prison, and there murthered.
Then in the Assembly of Estates it was decreed,Persecution. that the Mandate of the King should be put in execution against the Piccards: Whereupon a new persecution was raised against the Brethren, their Churches being shut up, and their Exercises forbidden.
Anno 1526. A godly and learned man, together with his Hostesse with whom he lodged, a widow of sixty years old,Two burnt. were both burnt in the fire for Picardism, together with the books that were found about them.
Another godly woman being brought before the Magistrate, made a hold profession of her faith, and then being required to prepare her garments to be burnt in, she answered, They are ready, leade me away when you please. The Crier declaring openly that she had bla…ph…med,A godly woman burnt. she with a loud voice denied it, saying, It is false, I am condemned because I deny the Reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament; give no credit to these Priests, they are dissembling Hyp…crites, Adulterers, Sodomites, Epicures, &c. Being commanded to pray to the Crucifix, she turned her back to it, and lifting up her eyes to heaven she said, There is our God, thither we must look, and so chearfully mounting the pile, she was burned, Anno Christi 1527.
The year after two German tradesmen were caught at Prague, accused by the Monks of Lutheranism, and condemned to be burnt:Two godly men burnt. As they went to execution, such gracious words proceeded out of their mouths, as drew tears from the spectators eyes: When they came to the pile, they exceedingly encouraged one another; on… of them saying, Since our Lord Christ hath suffered such grievous things for us, let us chearfully suffer for him, Comfort in death.and rejoyce that we have found so much favour with him, that we are counted worthy to die for the Law of God: The other said, I in the day of my marriage found not so much inward joy as I do now. When fire was put to them, with a loud voice they said, Lord Jesus, thou in thy sufferings prayedst for thine enemies, therefore we also do the like. Forgive the King, the men of Prague, and the Clergy, for they know not what they do, and their hands are full of bloud; and so they slept in the Lord. But one of their chief persecutors,Gods judgement on persecutors. who wished that all the Piccards were hanged, beheaded or burnt by his own hands, had all these befall himself by Gods just judgement: For being much in debt, he hanged himself, and when his friends had privately buried him; the common people hearing of it, digged up his carcasse, and cast it away, which by the Magistrates command was ordered to be burnt; but when the woodstack was consumed, and the carcasse only scorched, his head was stricken off.
Zahera the Apostate, when under colour of an Inquisition against the Piccards, he raised up civil commotions, was by the King banished, where he died miserably: The like befell another of those cruel persecutors.
Anno 1535. Ferdinand the first succeeding in the Kingdom, the Popish party cunningly stirred up the Calixtines to persecute the Brethren:A new persecution. Whereupon, they suffering many grievous things sent a petition, together with a confession of their Faith to Ferdinand at Vienna, subscribed by twelve Barons and thirty three Knights, complaining how unjustly they were accused by their enemies, and that the Priests ordinarily cried out that the Piccards might be slain without controul, and that a lesse sin was thereby committed,Popish malice. than if one killed a dog, Ferdinand returned answer, that he had not leisure to consider of their Papers, yet promised that nothing should be done either against law or equity, till he had further knowledge of the cause.
In the mean time the Brethren being much encouraged by letters from Luther, Bucer and Capito, went on constantly, and through Gods mercy, a great nummber was added to the Church, till that fatal year 1547.Charles the fifth warres against the Protestants. At which time Charles the fifth putting in execution the decrees of the Counsell of Trent, raised warres against the Protestant Princes in Germany: At which time his brother Ferdinand sollicited the Bohemians for aid, but they refused it in regard of their ancient league with the house of Saxony. But the German Protestants being overcome in warre,A great persecution. Ferdinand entred Bohemia with an Army, seizeth on Prague, imprisoneth the principall Nobles, Barons, and Citizens, some he scourged, some he beheaded, and upon others he laid grievous Fines, and of others he sequestred all their Estates: Also he disarmed the City of Prague, took away their privileges, banishing some, whilst others went into voluntary exile.
Then did the Devil raise up some to lay all the blame upon the Brethren, to which malicious suggestions the King giving heed, first by open Proclamation commanded all their Churches to be shut up, and then he took away their Peers, and banished them all out of his Realms. When this Thunderbolt came abroad, the brethren agreed amongst themselves that they would be more faithfull to God and their consciences then they had been:Persecution causeth reformation. and so by common consent, dividing themselves into three companies, they went into Poland: and all of them had experience of an admirable divine protection in their journey: escaping some that might, and would have robbed them, but that they were restrained by God:A speciall providence. as also in most places where they came, they found Christian commiseration and liberality of men towards them, and courteous entertainment in Poland, though most of them were Papists▪ Yet not long after the Bishop of that part where they were, got a Mandate from the King to drive them away: Then were they forced to goe into the farthest parts of Prusia, Popish malice.whereby D. Albert Brandenburg they had a place of habitation alloted to them, and one Paul Speratus, a Protestant Bishop, having conferred with them about their faith, was very courteous and charitable to them.
The next Edict that Ferdinand set forth against the brethren, was for the apprehending of all their Ministers,Ministers persecuted. whereupon some of them retired into Moravia, others, that they might be near their flocks, hid themselves in private places, & in the night-time they visited the faithfull, which continued for some years,A speciall providence. but at last three of them fell into their enemies hands: yet one of them, through the admirable providence of God, escaped out of a deep dungeon in the Castle of Prague, and fled to his brethren in Borussia, and he sometimes passing through Polonia, and preaching the Gospel, through Gods mercy,Conversion. many of the Nobility, and others were converted by his Ministry: so that in a few years he erected twenty Churches in Poland.John Augusta.
The enemies having imprisoned John Augusta, they much rejoyced at it, because he was a chief Minister amongst the Brethren, and as Luther in Germany against the Pope, so he, both by his Ministry and writings had mightily confuted the Calixtines, and thereupon they laid to his charge his refusall to raise Forces for the assistance of Ferdinand, and intentions of bringing in John Frederick, Popish lies and slanders.Elector of Saxony to be King in Bohemia, and for the discovery of this pretended conspiracy he was cruelly racked three times, but when they could draw nothing from him, they yet kept him in prison seventeen years.
Anno 1549. Ferdinand published another decree for the extirpating both of the brethren, and Lutherans:A wicked Edict. Two hundred Ministers banished. and the Ministers that had received Ordination in Germany, or that were married, were banished out of the Kingdom to the number of about two hundred.
Also the Baron of Schanow, a man of much experience and learning, being apprehended under the pretence of some conspiracy against Ferdinand, was imprisoned, examined, and then laid on the rack:The Baron of Schanow. he with an heroical indignation cut out his tongue, and cast it away, and being asked why he did it, he wrote on the wall, I did it because I would not by any tortures be brought to say any thing falsly against my selfe or others. He also in a writing taxed the Tyrannical proceedings against himselfe and other innocents, citing the King and his Counsellors to appear and answer it before the Tribunall of God, and so shortly after died.
About that time Ferdinand brought Jesuites into Prague, Jesuites first brought into Prague.and built a stately College for them, who sought by all means to overthrow the Church of Christ, and added fuell to the fire of persecution.
After the death of Ferdinand Maximilian succeeded Anno 1562. who being of a peaceable disposition could by no means be induced that any should suffer for their faith.Maximilian Emperour.
Rodulphus Emperour.After him Rodulphus succeeded, Anno 1676. who treading in his Father steps, the Church of Christ enjoyed peace under him, yea, pure religion so flourished through the whole Kingdom, that there was scarce one amongst an hundred that did not professe the Reformed Religion: But alas! with liberty of Religion, by little and little men began to be licentious in their lives,Sin the forerunner of persecution. and carnal security so encreased, that some began to presage that an horrible tempest should again overwhelm them.
After the death of Rodulphus succeeded Mathias, who comming into Bohemia, Anno 1617. he called an Assembly of the States, but it being harvest time,Mathias Emperour. few appeared: To them that did appear, Mathias, complained, that since he had no issue he would adopt Ferdinand for his son, commendeth his vertues, and desires that he may be crowned: The Orders assembled, affirmed, that a matter of that consequence could not be done in the absence of the united Provinces: Caesar urged, that what Bohemia should do would be confirmed by all the rest, that he grew faint, and it could not be deferred till another time. In brief, the Oorders protested, that the Term of Receiving him King, was new, that he ought first to be chosen, and then received: and some perceiving that there was no place for a free voice,Ferdinand forcibly made King of Bohemia. departed: others, partly allured by promises, and partly deterred by threats, staid, and were present at the Cronation of Ferdinand, after which he presently went into Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia, requesting to be received for their King.