A General Martyrology, Chapter 25 · History 3
HAving thus given you a brief Narrative of the Persecutions of the Church in Bohemia, from the first planting of the Gospel amongst them, to our present times: Before I proceed any further, let us a little look back to see how God fought for them, against their Popish adversaries, and thereby after a wonderfull manner plagued their persecutors. Much may be read hereof in my second Part, in the Life of Zisca; but after his death, there was a great fear, and sorrow seized on his Army, and the souldiers being divided amongst themselves, one part of them chose for their Captain Procopius Magnus, who still retained the name of Thaborites. The other part, thinking none worthy to succeed Zisca, named themselves the Orphanes, by reason of the losse of their Captain; yet whensoever their Popish adversaries came against them, they both joyned together to defend themselves, and the liberty of the Gospel in Bohemia.
About this time Pope Martin perceiving the Gospel and the Professors of it to increase daily in Bohemia, The Pope stirs up persecution.he sent the Cardinall of Winchester an English man, into Germany, to stirre up the Emperour and German Princes to make war against the Bohemians. Hereupon three Armies were levied, one under the Duke of Saxony; the second under the Marquesse of Brandenburg, the third under Otho Archbishop of Trevers: These three Armies entred Bohemia three waies, and at last joyning all into one, besieged the City of Misna, which but the night before was won from the Papists by one Prichicho, a learned and zealous Protestant, and therefore the Popish Armies resolved to take that place before they marched any further:Gods judgements on persecutors. The Popish Army flies. But so soon as news came that the Protestants had raised an Army, and were hasting to the relief of Misna, they speedily fled before they ever saw an enemy, leaving all their Engines of warre, and a great booty behinde them.
The Cardinall meeting them in their flight, used all the arguments that possibly he could to the Nobles and Captains, to turn them back again, magnifying their number and prowesse, and vilifying their enemies, but when nothing would prevail, himselfe was fain to accompany them in the flight. Presently the Bohemians pursuing, fell upon their rereward, which made their flight much more fearfull and disordered then it was before, neither did they leave flying till the Bohemians left pursuing of them.
The Emperour hearing of this shamefull flight, went to Noremberg and by the assistance of the Cardinall, a new Army was raised under the Command of Frederick Marquesse of Brandenburg, which entred Bohemia one way,A new Army raised. and another great Army under Albert Arch-Duke of Austria, which entred another way. In these two Armies were all the chiefest Nobles and Bishops in Germany, being above fourty thousand horsemen, besides foot.
The Bohemians as soon as they heard of their enemies approach, gathered their Host with all speed to encounter them: But God marvellously fought for them, for before the Bohemians came near them, the Popish Army was struck with such a marvellous sudden fear, that they began most shamefully to run away;They fly when none pursues. the Cardinall wondering at it, went up and down to the Captains, exhorting and encouraging of them, telling them that they were to fight for their Lives, Honour, Religion, and the salvation of souls, &c. but notwithstanding all that he could say and do, the Ensignes were suddenly snatched up, and every man ran headlong away, so that the Cardinall was forced to do the like: The Protestants encouraged hereby, speedily pursued them, and obtained a very great booty. This so astonished both the Pope and Emperour, that afterwards they sought rather by subtilty to entrap them, then by force to compell them to forsake their religion, as we have seen in the foregoing story.