THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN BOHEMIA, Which began in the year 894.

 

 

 

 THE Bohemians were heathens and idolaters, till their captain Borivoius, going into Moravia, in 894, was converted to the faith of CHRIST; whereupon, he, together with thirty others, was baptized. At his return into Bohemia, he took along with him Methudius, bishop of Moravia, by whose ministry, Ludomilla, the duke's wife, was converted.

 

 Borivoius employing himself in erecting schools and churches, it pleased GOD,, that in a short time, a great harvest was gathered, many of the nobility and commons being daily converted; but SATAN envying the progress of the gospel, presently raised a persecution against the professors of it. For first, Borivoius was banished by the faction of the idolaters, and then compelled to resign his dominions \o his eldest son; who dying soon after, his younger son succeeded, who was a very holy man; yet, was drawn to marry-Drahomira, famous for nobility and beauty, but a heathen; however she promised;, after instruction, to be baptised. During her husband's life, she concealed her hatred against the Christians; but he being dead, the grand-mother (Ludomiua) educated the eldest son, (Wenceslaus,) and Drahomira took the youngest, (Bolislaus,) and usurped the government; commanding the Christian churches to be shut up, the exercise of their worship to cease, prohibiting ministers from instructing the people, and school-masters from teaching youth. Such as disobeyed were imprisoned, banished, and put to death.

 

 At Prague, the magistrates were changed, and idolaters were substituted in the room of Christians, by whose incitements the Christians were openly and unworthily abused and murdered, whilst the murderers went away with impunity. But if any Christian killed a heathen, though in his own defense, ten Christians were massacred for that one. Yet the cruelty of Drahomira was not satisfied herewith; but that she might destroy all the Christians, she dealt with one Balloius, a cruel wretch, whom she had set over the city of Prague, earnestly intreating him, by fraud or force to effect it, promising him a great reward if he did it. He thereupon armed many conspirators at his house, with whom he hastened to those that were designed for slaughter. But the plot, through God's mercy, being discovered to the Christians, 4OO of them met to defend their lives. The issue of the fight was victory to the Christians; the streets being polluted with the blood of 8OO that were slain. Then Drahomira pretended, that she was much displeased with the tumult, commanding, that the arms of both parties should be brought 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. This being done, Drahomira employed her cut-throats, in the night, to set upon the unarmed Christians, whereby above 3OO of them were slain in one night. At this Drahomira much rejoiced j but yet not satisfied, she commanded the mayor of Prague to destroy all the Christians. Whereupon he beset all the streets and passages, and slew all that he met withal; till the Christians, gathering themselves together, encountered with him, put him to flight, and in the pursuit, slew this wicked person. This so enraged Drahomira, that she commanded the two churches to be burnt down, in one of which her husband was interred. Whilst she thus raged against the Christians, Wenceslaus, now grown to years, by the advice of his grand-mother, and the Christian nobility, 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.

 

 Yet Drahomira laid not aside her bloody designs against the Christians, which she first showed against Ludomiua, substituting two villains, in the night, to murder her. These fellows, finding her at her prayers, strangled her. Some there were that provoked Wenceslaus to revenge that wicked act, 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 unnatural monster; who, by treachery, slew him also.

 

 Bolislaus, having obtained the government, threatened imprisonment and death to all ministers and Christians, if they did not immediately leave Bohemia. Hereupon many fled, others were seized on, and tormented to death divers ways; but God suffered not Drahomira to escape his revenging hand; for in that place, where the ministers' bones lay unburied, the earth opened of itself, and swallowed her up alive with her chariot; which place is to be seen before the castle of Prague, to this day.

 

In 97O, Woytich, the second bishop of Prague, laboring seriously in converting the relics of the Gentiles, they raised so great a sedition against him, as forced Woytich to a voluntary banishment. Then the pagans rose up against his brethren, and murdered five of them, and then conspired against their prince; but were overcome in battle.

 

 Not long after, the pope, having usurped dominion 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 Latin tongue, and that they should not have the cup in the sacrament. The Bohemians sent two ministers, and four others to Rome, in 977 to the pope, desiring to be eased of these grievances; and at last obtained their request.

 

 In 1197, pope Celestine sent a cardinal into Bohemia, to inhibit ministers' marriage, and to divorce such as were married; but the bishops and ministers almost stoned him to death. Afterwards the cup was taken away in the sacrament; but there were many that opposed that sacrilege also; and among the rest, John Melicius, of a noble family, and fervent spirit, much honored for his rare learning and holiness of life, in his ministry earnestly exhorted his auditors to a frequent communicating in both kinds.

 

 Mr. Matthias, of Prague, was also a zealous defender of the communion in both kinds. In 1375, he, with some other learned men, went to king Charles, that then reigned, and requested him to call an oecumenical council, 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 heretical men. Upon this, Matthias was banished the kingdom, and the use of the sacrament in both kinds prohibited through all Bohemia; so that the godly could not administer and receive it, but in private houses, in woods, and caves; and not so, but with the hazard of their lives: for they were set upon in the highways, plundered, beaten, and drowned in rivers; so that at last they were necessitated to go together in companies and armed. This continued to the days of John Hus, and Jerome of Prague. When these holy men were burned at Constance, the adversaries were not satisfied with their blood, but took further counsel, for the destruction of the whole nation: for when fifty-eight of the chief nobles of Bohemia, in the name of the commons, in 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 letters to some violent papists who were in authority, to assist their legate in oppressing the heretics. Thereupon the papists persecuted them all manner of ways, and used such violence, as raised a tumult at Prague, in 1419, wherein the enraged multitude threw twelve senators of Prague, with the mayor, out of the windows of the senate-house, who fell upon the points of spears.

 

 After this, the pope publicly excommunicated the Bohemians, at Florence, exciting the emperor, 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, and utterly to extirpate that ursed generation j 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. Yet when the popish party prevailed at any time, they exercised all manner of cruelty upon the poor servants of CHRIST, insomuch, that at Cuttenburgh, where were deep metal mines, in 142O, they threw into one of them 17OO persons, and into another 1334, and into a third 1O38 persons.

 

 The same year, a merchant of Prague came to Breslaw, in Silesia, when the emperor and pope's legate were there. Being at his inn, he was drawn into discourse, wherein he pleaded for Hus, and the sacrament in both kinds, for which he was cast into prison. The next day a student of Prague was cast into the same prison. The merchant exceedingly encouraged him, saying, " O my brother! what an honor is it, that we are called thus to bear witness to the Lord JESUS. Let us undergo the trouble with cheerfulness. The fight is but short, the reward is eternal. Let us remember the Lord, what a cruel death he underwent for us, and with what guiltless blood we are redeemed, and what torments the martyrs have patiently endured." When they Avere 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, 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 in vain. " I am ready to die (says he) for the gospel of the Lord JESUS." And so being drawn slowly through the streets, he was brought to the place of execution, and there burnt.

 

 In 1421, Pichel, the chief magistrate of the city of Litomeritia, having taken twenty-four of the chief citizens, and amongst them his s>on-in-law, put them in an high tower, and at last 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 made great mourning. The mayor's own daughter also came wringing her hands, and falling at her father's feet, besought him to save her husband's life: but he, harder than a rock, bade her give over, saying, " What can you not have a worthier husband than this" To whom she answered, seeing his inexorableness, " You shall never more espouse me to any:" and so beating her breasts, and tearing her hair, she followed among the rest. When the martyrs came to the river, whilst ferries were preparing, they with loud voices called heaven and earth to witness their innocency; and so taking leave of their wives, children, and friends, exhorting them to constancy and zeal for the truth, they were carried and cast into the midst 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 mayor's daughter, seeing her husband thrown mto the river, leaped in after him, and caught him about the middle, but being unable to draw him forth, they were both drowned. The next day they were found arm in arm, and were both buried in one grave.

 

 About the same time, a company of soldiers going towards Prague, seized upon a godly minister, with four other men, and four boys, the eldest of whom was not above eleven years old, for administering and receiving the sacrament in both kinds, 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, " 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 in the face, that the blood ran out of his mouth and nose. The bishop made this minister the subject of his mirth all that night, and the next day burned them all in one fire. Another captain, violently entering into a church, where many people were met together, killed some, and took others prisoners; and going to the communion-table, he took the cup, being full of wine, and drinking to his horse, he gave him thereof, saying, " His horse was now one of the communicants in both kinds."

 

 This year, a godly and eloquent preacher in Prague, together with twelve more men, was apprehended by a captain, carried into the common-hall, and there privately beheaded; but their blood running out, caused a tumult in the city, wherein some of the senators were slain, and others saved themselves by flight.

 

 In 1459, there were divers godly people in Bohemia, ministers, nobles, and commons, who being much burdened in conscience about the superstitions in the church of Rome, obtained of George Pogiebracius, their king, a place in the hilly country, near to Silesia, to inhabit; where throwing off all superstitious 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 for the fame 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."

 

 In 1461, one of their ministers, with some others of them, coming to Prague, to visit their friends, were betrayed. Upon the coming of some officers to apprehend them, the minister said to them all, " 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 sedition, &c. commanded the aged minister to be tortured; but he falling into an ecstacy, 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 himself, and by the intercession of a friend, was dismissed.

 

 Presently after there came forth from the king an edict, forbidding all pastors to administer holy services without ceremonies; and withal, threatening 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. 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: where yet they were scarce safe, so that they were forced to make no fire, nor dress any meat, but in the night-time, lest the smoke should betray them. In the cold winter nights, sitting by the fire, they applied themselves to reading the Bible and holy discourses. When they went abroad in the snow to provide them with necessaries, they went close together and lest their foot-steps should betray them, the hindermost of them drew a great bough after him, to cover the prints of their feet.

 

 These brethren chose certain elders by suffrage, to whom they promised obedience; and by the advice of these elders, the chief of the brethren in Bohemia and Moravia were called together in a synod, in the mountains, to ordain ecclesiastical laws, whereby they should he governed. They appointed also sundry days for fasting and prayer for themselves, and their dispersed friends; taking counsel from God's Word, concerning those things which were required to the fuller reformation, both of life and doctrine. That which most afflicted them was, want of pastors, not knowing where they should have new ones, after those were dead who then lived with them. After some debate, they resolved, that CHRIST had given this authority to his church, that such as were ordained themselves might ordain others. But yet some scruple arose, whether such as were but presbyters, might ordain without a bishop Wherefore they met together, and with fasting^ prayers, and tears, they sought unto God to reveal his will unto them in this difficulty; and afterwards making a scrutiny by lot, the Lord answered them, That it was lawful for presbyters to ordain presbyters, which occasioned great joy unto them.

 

 These brethren then deliberated among themselves, whether they should join with the Waldenses in Moravia and Austria, and so be one people and one church with them. The purity of their doctrine and Christian conversation much pleased them; 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. At last they concluded to admonish them of this evil; and for this end, they sent some able men to them. The Waldenses answered, That to be in unity with them was very grateful; and for the evils objected against them, they were not ignorant of them, nor would defend them, but rather would labor to amende them; concluding, that they desired to have a fixed day of meeting with the brethren, in which they would take further order about their business. But before the time came, the papists, having some intelligence of it, raged so violently against the Waldenses, that they burnt the chief of them at Vienna, and so persecuted the rest, that they were fain to provide for their own safety by flight.

 

 In 1468, there came out a new decree against these Brethren, requiring all the nobles of Bohemia to apprehend as many as they could, within their several jurisdictions, and to proceed against them. Many therefore were apprehended and put into prison, where they were kept for a long time: but, through the wonderful working of GOD, the more the enemies labored to put out this spark, the more it broke forth into a flame: for many of their peers submitted to the discipline of the Brethren, building churches for them in their towns and villages, so that in the year 15OO, they had in Bohemia and Moravia, about 2OO 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 endeavored, by a most impudent invention, to stir up the hatred of all men against them. The way they used, was this: 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 mingle themselves incestuously, after the manner of the Adamites, to commit murder, and practice witchcraft, &c. They led this man through the towns and cities, as a spectacle. Then they brought him to the church, where they made him abjure his pretended errors, and beseech the people to pray for him, a most miserable sinner; and warned them to take heed, by his example, of the Piccards. They also published his confession in writing, being confirmed with the seals and subscriptions of some deans and priests, causing them to be read in the churches. But the devil was fooled herein; for the Brethren, by public writings, did confute these lies, 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. And thus far it made for good, that some, to make experience of so great vil-lanies, began privately and disguised, to frequent the assemblies of the Brethren; and finding it to be far otherwise than it was reported, associated themselves with’them, as with true Christians.

 

In 1488, Matthias, king of Hungary, 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.

 

 Shortly after the restless enemies of God and his church raised another persecution against the Brethren of Bohemia. For some bishops consulting together, suborned the queen, great with child, (so that they conceived the king would deny her nothing,) to request of him, that he would severely punish the Piccards. The king being 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. The king going into his chamber, fell down on his knees, and with tears besought God to forgive the guilt of those bloody counsels, and to grant no success to them; and God heard his prayer, and showed some examples of his severe judgments on the authors of this conspiracy.

 

 Two years after, the bishops by their importunity prevailed with the king, that sharp remedies should be used against those growing evils, as they pleased to call them; 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 the states at Prague, by two bishops. Divers of the chief nobles opposed it, so that eighteen months were spent in debate, before any thing was done; but at last, by the cunning artifice of the chancellor and his bloody associates, it was confirmed by the greatest part of the nobility, in the presence of the king; and a mutual confederacy was entered into, that it should be prosecuted with an armed power: but God following some of the chief contrivers of it with sundry judgments, it almost came to nothing.

 

 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 certain nobleman, having apprehended six of the Brethren, cast them into prison. When they were brought forth to be burnt, they went cheerfully to the fire. And when the chief officer, taking affection to one of them, offered him his life, if he would recant his error, proffering him a year's time to consider of it; he paused awhile, but quickly answered, " It is too much, by such a delay, to lose my brethren's company;" and so going along with them, they were burnt together. Shortly after, the chancellor, that had procured the passing of the edict against the Brethren, as he returned from the parliament, visiting a certain nobleman by the way, with great pleasure reported to him what was agreed upon against the Brethren. The nobleman, having a servant by, that was much addicted to the Brethren, asked him how he liked it The servant answered, " All are not agreed." The chancellor asked him, " Who durst oppose the states of the kingdom" The servant said, " There is one in heaver', who, if he were not present at your counsels, you have consulted in vain." The chancellor replied, " You knave, you shall find that as well as the rest." And rising up in a great fury, a carbuncle immediately rose upon his foot, which turned to a sore disease, whereof he died miserably. Another nobleman of these persecutors, as he was hunting, his horse threw him, and his arrow ran into his thigh, and came out of his loins, whereby he died a most painful death. Many others of them felt the like judgments of GOD, so that it grew into a proverb amongst them, " If you are weary of your life, attempt something: against the Piccards."

 

 In the mean time the Brethren being much encouraged by letters from Luther, Bucer, and Capito, went on constantly; and through God's mercy, a great number were added to the church, till the fatal year 1547- At which time Charles 5: putting the decrees of the council of Trent in execution, raised wars against the Protestant princes in Germany. His brother Ferdinand then solicited the Bohemians for aid j but they refused it, in regard of their ancient league with the house of Saxony. But the German Protestants being overcome in war, Ferdinand entered Bohemia with an army, seized on Prague, imprisoned the principal nobles, barons, and citizens; some he scourged, some he beheaded, and upon others he laid grievous fines, and of others he sequestered all their estates. Also he disarmed the city of Prague, took away their privileges, banishing some, whilst others went into voluntary exile.

 

 Then the devil raised up some to lay all the blame upon the Brethren; to which malicious suggestions the king giving heed, he first, by an open proclamation, commanded all their churches to be shut up, and then 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 faithful to God and their consciences, than they had been; 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. Also in most places where they came, they found Christian commiseration and liberality of men, 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 they were forced to go into the farthest parts of Prussia, where they had a place of habitation alloted to them, by duke Albert of Brandenburg; 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; whereupon some of them retired into Moravia; others, that they might be near their flocks, hid themselves in private places, and in the night-time visited the faithful. This continued for some years, 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 Prussia. As he passed through Poland, he preached the gospel, and through God's mercy, many of the nobility and others were converted by his ministry; so that in a few years he erected twenty churches in Poland.

 

 In 1549, Ferdinand published another decree for the extirpating both of the Brethren and Lutherans. About 2OO ministers that had received ordination in Germany, or that were married, were banished out of the kingdom. The baron of Schanow, a man of much experience and learning, being apprehended under pretence of some conspiracy against Ferdinand, was imprisoned, examined, and laid on the rack. He, with an heroic indignation, bit 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 false against myself or others." He also in writing taxed the tyrannical proceedings against himself and other innocents, citing the king and his counsellors to appear and answer it before the tribunal of GOD, and so shortly after died.

 

 After the death of Ferdinand, Maximilian succeeded, in 1564, who being of a peaceable disposition, could by no means be induced to decree that any should suffer for their faith. After him Rodulphus succeeded, in 16O7, who treading in his father's steps, the church of CHRIST enjoyed peace under him, and pure religion so flourished through the whole kingdom, that there was scarce one in a hundred, that did not profess the reformed religion. But alas! with liberty of religion, by little and little, men began to be licentious in their lives; and security so increased, that some began to presage, that an horrible tempest would again overwhelm them. After the death of Rodulphus, succeeded Matthias, who coming into Bohemia, called an assembly of the states, in 1617> but it being harvest time, few appeared. To those that appeared, Matthias said, that since he had no issue, he would adopt Ferdinand for his son, and desired he might tre 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, and that it could not be deferred till another time. In brief, the orders 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, departed; others, partly allured by promises, and partly deterred by threats, stayed, and were present at the coronation of Ferdinand; after which he presently went into Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia, requesting to be received for their king.

 

 Ferdinand the second, emperor of Germany, being thus obtruded upon the Bohemians, contrary to the ancient constitutions and customs of the kingdom, retired presently into Germany. Thereupon the enemies of the truth began openly to threaten the Protestants; and it appeared sufficiently that Ferdinand sware to the orders with his mouth, but in his heart to the pope. Presently after his departure, the popish bishops, clergy, and nobles, began to vex his subjects for religion, contrary to that assurance which the king had given them. They attempted the like in Prague; the Jesuits daily threatening that their liberty in religion should not last long. Then they strictly prohibited the Protestants from printing any thing, unless licensed by the chancellor of the kingdom, while they themselves in the mean time divulged their own slanderous pamphlets and writings against the Protestants.

 

 In the beginning of the year 1618, the governors of the university and consistory met together, having formerly had power so to do, and chose six persons, two barons, two knights, and two citizens, to consult what was best to be done in the time of their enemies' inso-lency. There presently cazne an injunction in Caesar's name to inhibit them to call any together, and that if any man was railed, he should not dare to appear upon the pain of high treason. Notwithstanding this, the greater part of the states met. Then new prohibitions and threats were spread abroad; but the states being informed that those thunder-bolts came not from the king, but from the castle of Prague, their abused patience was turned into severity, and being guarded with a great troop, they went to the castle, and apprehended two of the chief authors of these troubles, and threw them headlong out of the castle windows, together with their secretary that was privy to all their designs. But God intending to preserve them to be the Bohemians' scourges, they, falling upon the grass, and great store of papers, caught no hurt in the fall. Hereupon a great tumult was raised in Prague, but the states appeased it. The first thing they did was to banish the Jesuit" out of Bohemia, as the chief contrivers of the mischiefs. Then they wrote to Caesar, that they had no intention against his royal majesty, but only to bring the disturbers of the public peace to punishment, being authorised thereto by his majesty's letter, and bound by their protestation. Yet he resolved to revenge this treason (as he called it) by force of arms. The Bohemians, on the other side, resolved to defend themselves; and for that end they chose thirty directors, and the Moravians and Silesians resolved to join with them, when they perceived religion to be the cause of the quarrel. This indeed was that which the enemies aimed at, and therefore they provoked the Bohemians by all ways, that so they might make a conquest of Bohemia. For this end an imperial army presently entered the kingdom under Dampier, and a Spanish army under Bucquoy.

 

 In the mean time the states resolved not to admit Ferdinand to be their king, for he was an open enemy both to their religion and liberties, and obtruded upon them without a due election. They also sent ambassadors to Francfort, (where the electors were met together to choose a new emperor,) desiring that Ferdinand might not be admitted amongst them as king of Bohemia. But notwithstanding all this, he was admitted and chosen emperor. The Bohemians, in the mean time chose Frederick, elector palatine, for their king. This more enraged their enemies, so that they sent another army under Maximilian of Bavaria, which took two Protestant towns by storm, and put all to the sword, and every where made a great slaughter among the Protestants. Then the imperial armies came to Prague, which was thereupon struck with a panic fear; and the Protestant army being overthrown in a set battle under the walls, and their new king fled, they delivered up the city to them; the conqueror promising to keep articles agreed upon, but he performed nothing less. By the subtle and slow proceedings, they did more mischief to the church of CHRIST than they had done lately by their outrageous fury.

 

 A little before this, (when it was debated at Rome how they should deal with the Bohemians and Germans after the conquest,) it was resolved, that, seeing their former strong purges, which they had used to expel heretical humors, had not proved effectual, they should not proceed to put them to death, wherein they gloried as in martyrdom; but rather to weary them, and to change the hateful name of inquisition into the milder name of reformation. And, whereas ihere was a debate amongst the imperialists at Prague, whether all the Protestants should be presently banished; the negative was resolved on, because they would then carry much away with them, and so spoil the province, and endure their banishment with greater ease; therefore they concluded that they must first be squeezed, and deprived of their goods. For this end the soldiers at Prague were authorised to plunder the houses of the noblemen and citizens; yet this was done at several seasons, and mostly in the night; by which means, as the enemies boasted, they took from the Protestants some millions of gold. For indeed hither were all their riches brought in the time of war, as to a place of the greatest security. As this fell to the commanders' share, so the neighboring places were exposed to the fury of the rest, the common soldiers robbing and spoiling villages, towns, and churches, burning and killing without any restraint.

 

 Then commissioners were sent abroad, promising security to those noblemen, knights, corporations, and ministers, that would bring in a good sum of money to pay the army, which yet they would not receh e as a free gift, but only desired to borrow it. Caesar's protection was also promised to those that were liberal, the rest were threatened to be plundered by the soldiers. They set down also, what sums they expected from every one within such a time; and promised, that when that was paid, the soldiers should be removed; which made eveiy one bring in their plate, money, and jewels, the more willingly. Commissioners were then sent to require certain cities, that belonged to the Protestant noblemen, to maintain the standing forces of the kingdom, and to contribute corn for their public granaries. But whilst they were fed with a vain hope of lessening or removing the soldiers, there were more enlisted, which raised the taxes so high as was impossible for the people to pay. And there were some that were allured to deny the truth, in order to be eased of taxes and quartering of soldiers; but this not being performed, they complained, that promise was broken with them. The Jesuits answered them, " You have no cause to complain, for we have provided for your souls, you ought therefore cheerfully to help the king by contributions, and quartering of soldiers. Heretics must be dealt with as madmen and children; from whom if you desire to get a knife, you must show them something else, though you never intend to give it them."

 

 Thus the kingdom being emptied of gold and silver, counterfeit and adulterate money was coined in great abundance, that so the common people might rejoice in their plenty. But in the mean time, the soldiers would receive none but good money. Gold and silver also was raised to ten times the price of it, and on a sudden, the emperor diminished the value, making every piece of money to be worth but the tenth part; whereby the Bohemians were more impoverished suddenly, than if they had lain under the burden of an army ten years. Then they sent abroad their commissioners of reformation, who in every town and village, endeavored to bring Protestantism into disgrace, and highly to magnify and promote their own cause. The most eminent men for honor and estates were invited to apostasy. The inferior sort were either misled by their examples, or compelled by threatenings.

 

 In the next place, the soldiers exercised barbarous tyranny against the ministers of JESUS CHRIST. One aged minister lying sick in his bed, they shot to death as he lay; the next day, they robbed and murdered another; as another was preaching to his people, they came into the church, and shot him dead. 4. Nobleman and a minister, hearing of soldiers that were coming that way, conveyed themselves into a place of safety. The soldiers when they came, caught a schoolmaster, and binding him. with cords, examined him, where the lord of that place and the minister were, and where they had hid their treasure He professed, that he knew neither the one nor the other. At this they beat him, first with their fists, then with their cudgels; then stripping him naked, they so extremely singed him with fire, that at last he promised to bring them where the treasure was. Having brought them to a ditch full of stones, for greediness of gold, they emptied it, but finding nothing, they beat him afresh. He then professing that he knew of no treasure, though through pain he had said so much; they cudgelled him, and with clods beat him into the ditch, and buried him under the stones. Presently after they lighted on another minister, whom they so miserably tortured, that he died within five days. They likewise shamefully abused his daughters, whom they led away with them. After this, they met with another pastor, and because he had a better estate than the former, they tormented him the more. Sometimes they covered him over with hot burning coals, sometimes with ice, till they forced him to pay 15OO florins for his ransom. He died shortly after, through extremity of pain. They fetched another minister from his house, and miserably tortured him by twisting a cord about his head; then they tied his hands behind him, and his legs with a small cord, intending the next morning to torture him with fire; but in the night time, as he was earnest at his prayers, repeating these words, " In thee, O Lord, is my trust," he perceived his hands and feet to be miraculously loosed. Hereupon he got up, and went to the gate, where were three watchmen; one of whom was standing with his hand on his sword, yet he passed by them undiscovered. When he came to the town gate, he was known by the soldier that stood cen-tinel; but he, being a Bohemian, was overcome Jjy entreaty, and let him pass over the bridge, whereby he escaped.

 

 In the year 1621, there came forth an edict, wherein the blame of all the former rebellion, (as they called it,) was laid upon the ministers of Prague, because they had stirred up, by their seditious and lying sermons, (as they were pleased to style them,) and by their writings, not only the common people, but the nobles also against Caesar. Thereupon all the ministers within Prague were required within three days to depart out of Prague, and within eight days to depart out of the kingdom, and the provinces belonging thereto, and never to return again: And if any, under what pretence soever, should stay or return, or if any should presume to harbour or conceal any of them, that both the one and the other should suffer death. Then the churches in Prague were given to the Jesuits. It cannot be expressed what lamentations there were amongst the people, because they were now forced to leave their pastors, and that for ever. Yet the German ministers, whereof there were two, were suffered to continue, in favor to the duke of Saxony. Then, as many as understood Dutch, flocked to their congregations; which so vexed the Jesuits, that they obtained, not a banishment, but a gracious dismission of them, as they would have it called. Multitudes of people followed them, with great lamentations and tears, and heard their farewell sermon in the field.

 

 The next design was to remove the ministers out of other free cities, and the commissioners of reformation were employed herein. One of them coming to Slana with a troop of horse, went to church, where the minister (a godly and learned man,) was reading the gospel. The commissioner sent a soldier to him to bid him give over; but the minister still going on, he himself went to him with bis sword drawn, crying out, "You foolish preacher, leave off thy babbling;" and withal, he dashed the Bible out of his hand with his sword. At this the minister, lifting up his eyes, hands, and voire to heaven, often repeated, " Wo, wo, unto you; you enter not into heaven yourselves, and forbid them that would. Wo, wo, wo unto you." But they, mocking at these words, presently laid hands on him, jostling him to and fro; whereupon he said, " I am ready to suffer all this, and what else you shall impose, for the name of my Lord JESUS CHRIST." The people were much affrighted, but the chief magistrates, and many good women interceding for him, he was at last dismissed, upon condition that he should depart the city within three days.

 

 In 1624, another decree came forth from the king, whereby all the ministers of the gospel were commanded to depart the kingdom by a peremptory day prefixed; because, as was alleged, they were seditious men, and seducers of the people. Herein they used this artifice; in most places, the edict was concealed till the time was almost or altogether elapsed; so that by this means, the ministers, not having time to communicate their counsels together, went into several provinces; and some were fain to hide themselves in caves and dens; but they either returned privately, and visited their auditors, or comforted such as came to them in the mountains and woods, preaching and administering the sacraments to them. As soon as the enemies understood this, they presently published a new decree, wherein a punishment was proposed to those that should conceal the ministers, and a reward to such as should betray them. Hereupon some of them were taken and cast into prison. Then the Jesuits, by all ways, solicited them to apostasy; and some, through fear of death, hunger, cold, the offensive smell of the prison, &c. were prevailed with to renounce their ministry. But most bore up courageously against all storms. Some again, by paying great fines, others by giving it under their hands that they would never return into Bohemia, were dismissed.

 

 One godly minister was examined by tortures, when, where, and to whom he had administered the sacraments of baptism, or the Lord's supper He answered, "He had neither laid down, nor slacked his ministry, which he received of CHRIST, and not from Caesar. Being proffered life, if he would change his religion, he answered, "This body of mine is subject to corruption, and now it begins to decay already: why would you have me hinder it" Being brought forth to execution, the crier proclaimed, with a loud voice, " That he was guilty of sedition." But he, with a loud voice, said, " I suffer for the truth of CHRIST." None of the citizens were suffered to accompany him; yea, they were threatened to be shot, if they did but look out at their windows: and that his voice might not be heard, the drums and trumpets sounded continually. As he was passing on, he cheerfully said, "This day shall my soul be with CHRIST." The captain said, "With the devil in hell." The martyr replied, "No; but you, with your impious crew, will run headlong thither, except ye repent." Then his right hand, wherewith he gave the cup in the sacrament, was cut off; after that his head was cut off, his bowels taken forth, and wrapped in his shirt, his quarters set upon four stakes, and his head upon a fifth.

 

 The next design of the enemies was against the nobles. And first they seized upon some that were of the rank of defenders of the kingdom's liberties; and then all those whom they knew to have done any thing for the common good of religion and liberty. These were about the number of fifty men, famous for learning, skill in military affairs, and prudence in government. All these were apprehended in their houses, in one night, and at one hour, when they suspected no danger, and were commanded by the captains to get up into the waggons. Some of them were carried to the castle of Prague, others to the mayor's house. The next day proclamations were issued out, requiring all those that had hid themselves, or departed the kingdom, to appear within six weeks. Upon their non-appearance, sentence was pronounced, " That all'such as were guilty of treason, should forfeit goods, honors, and lives;" and then their names were set upon the gallows. The next day, sentence was pronounced against their heirs, "That all their goods should be confiscate to the king." Then he proceeded to the trial of the noblemen whom they had taken. Two apostate civilians were appointed to examine them, with some of the nobility, who tired them with a thousand impertinent questions, laboring to extort that from them whereof they were never guilty. One of them, not able to endure this, rending his garments, and opening his breast, said, "Tear this body into a thousand pieces, and search into my heart, and you shall find nothing there but what is in my apology. The love of religion and liberty, made us unsheath our swords; but seeing God would have Caesar prevail, and has delivered us into your hands, his will be done."

 

 After some time, when none of the noblemen would yield, or acknowledge themselves in an error, or sue unto them for mercy, they proceeded to sentence, which being passed, it was sent to Caesar to consider of it. Caesar was so troubled, that he slept not that night; and the next morning calling his confessor, he said to him, " I adjure thee upon thy conscience to tell me, whether 1 may with a safe conscience pardon these that are condemned Or whether I should suffer execution to pass on them" The confessor answered, " O, Caesar, both are in thy power." Then he pardoned some, and left others for execution. Presently after they were brought out singly to hear their sentence, wherein some were condemned to death, others to perpetual imprisonment, others to banishment, and some were reserved to Caesar's further pleasure. Then each sort of prisoners were carried to their several prisons; the noblemen into the inward prison of the castle; and the citizens to the mayor's house. As they went, some villains were suborned to insult over them, saying, "Why do they not now sing,’ The Lord reigneth'" The wives, children, and kinsfolk of the condemned persons humbly petitioned for their lives; but answer was made, that all the favor which could be granted to them was,, That they should have leave to bury their dead. In the evening, the condemned men, which were twenty-seven, had notice given them of the day wherein they were to suffer; and were advised to send for Jesuits and Capuchins, or a minister of the Augustine confession, for the good of their souls: but that they must expect no minister of the brethren, for that would not he granted them. The Jesuits and Capuchins, not staying till they were called for, flocked to them, using many persuasions, if they would turn. But God so strengthened them, that all those endeavors were in vain. Then some ministers of the Augustine confession were sent for, who spent that time which remained in religious exercises, conferences, prayer, and singing of psalms; and lastly, in administering the sacrament to them. They which were prisoners in the mayor's house, being called to supper the night before they were to suffer, comforted themselves, saying, " This is the last supper we shall eat on earth; but to-morrow we shall feast with CHRIST in his kingdom." Whereupon a papist flouted, saying, " has CHRIST cooks for you in heaven."

 

 It being told them that the noblemen were coming to the scaffold, in the market-place, where they were to suffer, they hastened to the windows, and entertained their fellow martyrs with singing the 44th psalm. The night after, they spent in psalms, prayer, and godly discourse, and mutual exhortations, saying, " Since it has pleased God to call us, before others, to this honor of martyrdom, we hope by our constancy we shall confound the world, glorify CHRIST, and leave a good example to others." As they were singing the 68th psalm, wherein David prays to God to show some token of good upon him; one of them said, " show some token of good upon us, O GOD, whereby we thy servants, may be strengthened by thy goodness, and our enemies confounded." And being full of faith, he said further, "Be of good cheer, for even in this God has heard your voice; and to-morrow he will show some wonderful sign whereby he will witness that we suffer for his cause." Early in the morning they washed their faces, and put on clean clothes, as if they had been going to a wedding, and cut off the collars of their doublets, that when they came to the scaffold there should be need of no new making ready. Then they earnestly prayed to GOD, That he would be pleased to confirm and strengthen both themselves and the people, concerning their innocency.

 

 Presently after sun-rising a beautiful bow appeared, and compassed the heavens; the ministers, soldiers, and many others, looking upon it. The martyrs, looking out of the window, saw a rainbow of an unusual color, the religion, and therefore I desire you to exhort her to constancy, and not to suffer herself to be drawn away from her religion by any allurements; for I assure her, that it is the infallible way to salvation." He withal bade him exhort her to use more clemency to his subjects, rather easing than overcharging them with burdens; and likewise " to have a care of his children, and to bring them up in the pure religion." Being called to execution, he said, "\ have traveled through many countries, through many barbarous nations, escaped many perils, by sea and land, and now suffer innocently in my own country; and by them for whose sake I and my forefathers have spent our estates and lives. Father, forgive them!" Then he said, "Tn thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be confounded." On the scaffold he said, "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. In thee, O Lord, have I trusted from my youth. I am confident I shall be accepted through that ignominious death of my Savior." Then kneeling down, he said, " To thee, O Lord, I commend my spirit; for You, O GOD, just and true, have redeemed me." And thus saying, he received the fatal stroke.

 

 The next was Casper Kaplitz, a knight, aged 86. When the minister came to him, after his condemnation, he said, " See me, a miserable man f who have often entreated my God that he would have mercy on me, and take me out of this miserable life; but have not obtained it; for God has reserved me to be a spectacle to the world, and a sacrifice to himself. God's will be done! My death indeed is disgraceful in the eyes of men, but glorious in the sight of God. For God will account that death precious in his sight, which I suffer for his glory and truth," When it was told him, that he might have his life, if he would ask pardon, he answered, " That he would ask pardon of him against whom he had committed many sins all his life, but he never offended the prince; and therefore would not give occasion to suspect that he had committed some crime, for which he had deserved death. God forbid, therefore, (said he,) that I should be separated from this holy company of martyrs." As he was going to the scaffold, being feeble with age, he said, " O my GOD, strengthen me, lest I fall down, and become matter of scorn to the enemies." Being crooked with age, his head hung down, so that the executioner could not come at his neck, whereupon the minister said to him, " My noble lord, as you have commended your soul to CHRIST, so now offer up your heavy head cheerfully to GOD, and lift up yourself towards heaven." Then, lifting up his head as well as he could, he said, "Lord JESUS, into thy hands, I commend my spirit. And so his head was cut off.

 

 The next was Pr6copius Dorzecki. After his condemnation, he said to the minister, " I have had a great contention all night with old Adam, so that it made me sweat again; but thanks be to my GOD, by whom my soul has overcome all temptations." He said further, "O Almighty GOD, strengthen thy servant, that I may not be made a derision of mine enemies by any fear of death; and as you wast wont to encourage the holy martyrs, so I strongly believe you wilt comfort me." When he was called forth to execution, be said, " Thanks be to GOD, who does now call me to himself. To him I have lived, and for him I will die: for my Savior has therefore died and risen again, that he might be Lord both of the living and the dead. I know that my soul shall live, and my body shall be raised like to his glorious body." Upon the scaffold, he said to the imperial judges, "Tell Caesar, that we are now under his judgment, but he shall undergo more grievous, yet just, judgment of God." And seeing a gold medal hanging about his neck, wherein was engraven the coronation of Frederic, he delivered it to one that stood by, saying, " I require thee, that when my dear king Frederic shall recover the throne of this kingdom, you deliver him this, and tell him, that for his sake I wore it till my death; and that now I lay down my life willingly for God and my country."

 

 The next was the lord Frederic de Bile. The next was the lord Henry Otto, a man of great judgment. Having received the sentence of condemnation, he said, "O Caesar, do you indeed establish your’ throne by our blood What account will you make to God of it in the day of judgment Kill my body, disperse my members whither you please; yet do I believe that my Savior will gather them together again, and clothe them with skin; so that with these eyes I shall see him, with these ears I shall hear him, with this tongue I shall praise him, and rejoice with this heart for ever." Afterwards, when the minister came to him, amongst other things, he said, " I was troubled, but now I feel a wonderful refreshing in my heart;" adding, with his hands lifted up to heaven, " I give thee thanks, O most merciful Savior, who have been pleased to fill me with so much comfort. Oh! now I fear death no longer. I will die with joy." As he was going to the scaffold, he said to the minister, " I am sure JESUS CHRIST will meet my soul with his angels, that he may bring it to an everlasting marriage, where I shall drink of a new cup, a cup of joy, for ever. This death, I know, shall not separate me from him." Upon the scaffold, lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Behold, I see the heavens open," pointing with his hand to the place; where others also observed a certain brightness, which dazzled their eyes. After he had prayed silently, he said, " Into thy hands, O Lord GOD, I commend my spirit, have pity on me, through JESUS CHRIST, and receive me, that I may see thy glory."

 

 The next was Dionysius Zervius, formerly a papist. Being told of the promises made to the people of GOD, concerning the pardon of sins, and assurance of salvation to those that believe in CHRIST, he struck his breast, and with tears in his eyes, cried out, " This is my faith, and in this I die. I rest in the grace of CHRIST, and I trust in my GOD, that he will graciously accept my contrite spirit." Upon the scaffold, the Jesuits exhorted him j but he listened not to them, but turned from the crucifix, and falling down on his knees, he prayed softly. Then looking up towards heaven, he cried, " They can take away the. body, but they cannot take away the soul. O Lord JESUS, I commend that unto thee:" and so he ended his life, in the 56th year of his age.

 

 The next was an aged man, about 7O years old, that tad been Jong lame. At the time of his death he said, "O Lord JESUS, who being innocent, didst undergo death, grant that I may die the death of the righteous, and receive my soul into thy hands."

 

 The next was the lord of Ruginia, a man of excellent parts, and full of zeal for God. When he was adjudged to die, he said, " That it was more welcome to him, than if the emperor had given him his life, and restored him to his estate, with addition of more." Afterwards he said to the minister, " God is our witness, that we fought for nothing but the liberty of religion; and in that we are overcome and condemned to die, we acknowledge and find that God will not have his truth defended by our swords, but by our blood." When he saw divers called out before him he said, " What is the matter, my God You knows that I resign myself wholly unto thee. *Ah, do not despise thy servant, but make haste to take me away." And when the sheriff came for him, he rejoiced, and said, " Praised be my GOD, that I shall now be taken out of the world, that I may be with CHRIST;" and so he went to meet him. On the scaffold he comforted himself with that promise “Father, I will, that where I am, there my servants be also, to behold that glory which you gavest me.' "Therefore, (said he,) I make haste to die, that I may be with CHRIST, and see his glory."

 

 The next was Valentine Cockan, about 6O years old. During his imprisonment, he was full of heavenly discourse, and at the scaffold, said, " Grant me, O GOD, to pass through this valley of death, that I may presently see thee; for you -knows, my GOD, that I have loved thy word. Bring me, O GOD, through the paths of life, that I may seefulness of joy in thy presence." Kneeling down, he said, " Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."

 

 The next was Toby Steffick. He spent most of the time of his imprisonment in silent sighs and tears. Before his execution, he said, "I have received many good things of the Lord, all my life long; shall I not receive this cup of affliction I embrace the will of GOD, who, by this ignominious death, makes me conformable to his Son, and by a narrow way brings me to his heavenly kingdom. I praise GOD, who has joined me undeservedly to these excellent men, that I might receive with them the crown of martyrdom." When he was called to die, he said, " My Savior being about to die, said,’ Father, not as I will, but as you wilt: thy will be done:' shall I, therefore, who am but a worm, yea, dust, and a shadow, contradict his will Far be it from me. Yea, I come willingly, my God. Only have mercy on me, and cleanse me from my sins, that no spot or wrinkle may appear in me; but that I may be pure in thy sight." And so he lifted up himself full of sighs, yet full of hope, and as he was praying, rendered up his spirit unto GOD, Then was Jessenius, a doctor of physic, called forth, a man famous for piety and learning all over Europe. Having heard his sentence^ he said, " You use us cruelly and disgracefully: but know, that our heads shall be buried, which you ignominiously expose for a spectacle." This afterwards came to pass, in 1631, when the king of Sweden with his army took Prague, and caused the •martyrs' heads to be taken from the tower, and solemnly and honorably buried. When the hangman required his tongue to cut it off, he willingly put it out, and falling upon his knees, as he was praying, his head was cut off, and his body afterwards quartered, and set upon four stakes.

 

 The next was CHRISTopher Chober, who much encouraged his fellow-martyrs, and then cited the words of Ignatius. " I am God's corn, and shall be ground with the teeth of wild beasts. So we, (says he,) arc God's scorn, sown in the field of the ehuYch; and that we may be for our Master's use, we are now to be torn by beast3. But be of good cheer, the church is founded in blood, and has ever increased by blood. God is able to raise up a thousand worshippers of himself out of every drop •of our blood. For though truth suffers now violence, yet CHRIST reigns, and no man shall throw him from his throne." Being called to execution, he said, " I come in the name /)f my God; neither am I ashamed to suffer these things for his glory, for I know in whom I have believed. I have fought the good fight of faith, and finished my course." Then praying, " Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit," he received the crown of martyrdom.

 

 John Shultis was next, who said on the scaffold, " Why art you so sad, O my soul Hope you in GOD, for you shall yet praise him. The righteous seem to die in the eyes of fools, but indeed they go to their i-cst. Lord JESUS, you have promised that whoso comes to thee, you wilt not cast off. Behold I now come! look on me J pity me! pardon my sins, and receive my soul to thyself!" Then kneeling down, he said, " Come! Come, Lord JESUS! and do not tarry!" and so he was beheaded.

 

 The next was Maximilian Hostialic, a learned and pious man. After his condemnation he was sadder than the rest; and being asked by the minister the reason of it, he said, " The sins of my youth now come into my mind. For though I know, that nothing remains to condemn me, who am in CHRIST JESUS; yet I know that God exerciseth justice, as well as mercy, towards his own." Being called to death, he said, " Look upon me, O Lord, my GOD, and enlighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death 5 and lest mine enemies say, we have prevailed." Afterward repeating the words of Simeon, " Now let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation," he was beheaded.

 

 The next was John Kutnaur, who, when the Jesuits began to speak to them, said, "Pray you, trouble not our consciences; we are sufficiently furnished against the fear of death; we need none of your help." And when they would have proceeded, he said, " Why do you create unprofitable labor to yourselves, and trouble to us" Upon their saying one to another, " They are hard rocks, and will not suffer themselves to be removed;" he answered, "You say true. CHRIST is an hard rock, and we are firmly fixed on him." Afterwards he said to his fellow-martyrs, c( I understand that I must be hanged; but whether by the neck, middle, or feet, I neither know nor care. This only is my grief, that my blood may not be mingled with your's, that we might be made one sacrifice to God." When he was called forth to execution, he was besprinkled with the tears of his friends, to whom he said, " Play the men, brethren, and refrain from weeping, I go before, but it is but a short time and we shall meet in heavenly glory," When he was upon the ladder, he said, " I have plotted no treason committed no murder, I have done nothing worthy of death; but I die because I have been faithful to the gospel, and my country. O GOD, pardon mine enemies, for they know not what they do. But You, O CHRIST, have pity on me, for I commit my soul unto thee."

 

 The next was Simeon Sussickey, who, when he saw the Jesuits coming, said to his companions, " These birds of prey are flying hither, but they shall not feed on these carcasses, but return hungry; for God has promised to preserve his own as the apple of his eye, and therefore he will not suffer us to be seduced." The last night he had a great conflict with the flesh, because the Scripture says, * Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' But when the minister told him, that that curse was taken away by the death of CHRIST, he was well satisfied.

 

 The next was Nathaniel Wodnianskey, who, when the Jesuits solicited him to apostasy, said to them, " You take away our lives under pretence of rebellion, and not content with that, you seek to destroy our souls. Glut yourselves with the sight of our blood, and be satisfied with that; but we shall leave a sting in your consciences." Afterwards his own son saying to him, " My father, if hope of life should be proffered to you, upon condition of apostasy, I pray you be mindful of keeping your faith to CHRIST;" he answered, " It is very acceptable to me, my son, to be exhorted to constancy by you; but what makes you suspect me I rather advise and exhort you to follow your father's steps, and to exhort your brethren, sisters, and children, to that constancy whereof I shall leave you an example;" and so he patiently ended his life. The next was Wenceslaus Gisbitzky, to whom were given great hopes of his life. The minister fearing SATAN's stratagems, advised him to take heed of security and prepare himself for death. Upon the scaffold he fell on his knees, and said, " We prostrate ourselves before thee, O eternal Father, do not forsake us. Have pity on us, through JESUS CHRIST. We would say more, but we are not able to express it. Into thy hands do we commend our souls; perfect that which you have begun to work in us. 

 

 Render to us our inheritance, that we may sing,’ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.'" And so in the midst of his prayers he ended his life. After the execution of these holy martyrs, all their goods were confiscated, as also of those that were driven into banishment. Then was a proclamation published, wherein a general pardon of all crimes was offered to all the inhabitants of the kingdom; only their goods were confiscated, either in whole or in part, which must be brought into his majesty's treasury, to pay his debts contracted in this necessary war. Besides which they were to make a confession of their faults in a form, prescribed before cardinal Lichtenstein, who was Caesar's viceroy j and if any did not appear he should lose this favor. Hence it was that the enemies publicly boasted, that none were punished, but such as were convicted by their own confession. Then by an edict all were forbidden to diminish, or waste their goods, by selling them, or conveying them over to others; and if any man should send away his goods to another place, all should be lost; and whosoever received such goods, should pay &o much of his own to the emperor. Then they proceeded to take from the Protestants all their castles, towns, and villages, whereby they were deprived of their livelihoods, and driven into strange places. Some were forced to cast themselves upon their popish friends; others to become servants to their destroyers. Afterwards all their personal estates were sequestered; scarce so much as a garment being left them, wherewith to cover their nakedness. And lest any man should have money at use, they commanded all to bring in all their bonds, without concealing the least, upon pain of losing all their debts.

 

 And when any considerable sum was brought in, the king's treasurers were at hand, who, protesting that the emperor had need of it to defray the charges of the war, took it away, giving the party a note, that so much was due to him from the emperor, which yet was never repayed.

 

 Thus the Protestants being commanded to depart the kingdom, the popish party divided their goods and lands amongst themselves; and as it lay commodious for any of them, they added this or that village, town, castle, or lordship to their own; but the greatest part fell to strangers' shares, Spaniards, Italians, or Germans, who were commanders in the imperial army, instead of their pay. If any widows or orphans had lands or goods not taken from them, their popish neighbors would either circumvent them by craft, or weary them out by quartering soldiers upon them, and so forced them to sell their lands, at what prices themselves listed, neither did they pay that. Then the emperor called for the ancient charters of the kingdom, which he immediately rent, and threw into the fire.

 

 Most of the ministers were banished; yet the noble lord Charles de Zerotine did not only retain his household chaplain, but also sustained many others privately in their caves with bread and water; and fearing no man, he not only gave liberty to his own subjects, but to divers ethers in neighboring places, to resort to the holy exercises performed in his castle. Hereupon the enemies, by a new edict, published, that all such barons, noblemen, and citizens, as kept any Protestant tutor for their children, should presently dismiss him; otherwise he should be taken and punished. Also by another edict all the Protestants were cast out of the protection of the laws, and were to have no benefit by them.

 

 The enemies, being every day puffed up with their successes and victories, made a decree, that all Protestant noblemen should depart out of the kingdom; and the emperor published a proclamation, that, to prevent all divisions which were dangerous to the kingdom and magistrates, he was resolved no longer to tolerate any of the inferior, much less of the superior estates of either sex, who was infected with heretical errors.; and withaJ, he granted to the superior states the term of six months, wherein to learn the Roman Catholic faith. For that end he appointed commissioners of reformation to instruct them, requiring them to be obedient to his will, and to be diligently instructed by them; otherwise they should not be suffered to stay in the kingdom, much less to possess their goods -f and therefore he required all those which, at the end of the term of six months, did not turn catholics, immediately to depart the kingdom, and never to return. Hereupon they who heartily loved religion presently separated themselves by banishment. Others solicited Caesar by petitions, either to change the decree, or to grant them a longer time. Others there were, who, thinking to deceive the emperor and pope, bought false testimonies of the priests, that they had made a confession, and communicated in one kind, and so made show of a dissembled apostasy, thereby to avoid banishment. Then was the forenamed act extended to widows, and the Protestants' children were commanded to be delivered to the care and instructions of Catholics, or else to be shut up in monasteries. This caused extreme grief and groans, when noblemen's sons and daughters, even maids that were marriageable, were pulled from their parents and friends, and thrust into Jesuits' colleges, or monks' cells; their goods being also taken from them, and committed to papists.

 

 By the cunning craftiness of those seducing reformers, many unwary persons were deceived, being told by them, that they might hold their former opinions; only for order's sake they must acknowledge the Roman bishops to be the visible head of the church. Hereby the simpler sort, thinking that they were not constrained to any other faith, but what they had formerly learned, thought they might with a safe conscience, promise that outward Obedience. And if these seducers saw any one of more nobility than ordinary, they presently suggested to them, how much it grieved Caesar, that those ancient families, which had formerly been the ornaments and props of the kingdom, should cast themselves out into banishment through their unadvisedness, when they might remain and flourish under the favor both of God and Csesar. This ruined many of the Protestant nobility, who preferred their earthly, before the heavenly country. Yet about a hundred families, leaving inheritances, and all their possessions, went away. Amongst these was the lord de Zerotine, who rather chose to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy his earthly possessions.

 

 Many of these Protestants being gone into Silesia, and Lusatia, the emperor sent forth a proclamation, that they should depart from thence, or be brought to punishment; requiring them likewise to send back their children, which they had carried with them, upon penalty of losing all the goods which any of them could demand in his country. Soon after he published another edict, wherein he required all the Protestant wives of the Catholics, either to reform, or go into banishment. But as many of the chief officers of the kingdom had Protestant wives, and would not endure that they should be thus divorced from them, he set forth another edict, whereby they were tolerated till the death of their husbands, and then they should be excluded their inheritances, and sent into banishment. And he required in the mean time that they should absent themselves from all festival and nuptial solemnities, or else should take the lowest places after the Catholics.

 

 Some of the Protestants who had fled, privately returned, and others stayed to make the best of that little substance they had left. Proclamation was therefore sent out that all such should be apprehended and imprisoned. And all such as had harboured any of them, were warned upon allegiance, to appear before the chief officers in the castle of Prague; and it was required that if any knew where any of them lay hid, they should secretly and suddenly attack them, and bring them to prison.

 

 Then the emperor repealed and disannulled divers of the ancient statutes of the kingdom, that made most for the people's liberties; as concerning their free election of a king, and the like, that he might the better oppress them. Then all the free citizens of mean quality were appointed to determine all businesses, and to be the chief officers; and to those were added some of the chief of the soldiery, the better to procure subjection. They also impoverished these cities by taxes and contributions; which continued divers years, and were extorted by the soldiers' power.

 

 After the taking of the city of Prague, Papists were examined upon oath to declare what they knew or heard that the Protestants had spoken or done against Caesar. Then an act was published to the rest of the citizens, that though they had forfeited their whole estates, yet they should not be wholly sequestered, but every one should contribute part of his estate to support the army. All men also were required upon oath to discover what their estates were; according to which they were enjoined to pay a ransom. Yea, all trading was inhibited to such as were not Catholics.

 

 In the city of Kuttenburg were abundance of silver mines, and the inhabitants generally were zealous professors. Hereupon, as soon as they began to be molested for religion, the king's revenue began to diminish, most of the workmen giving over the work. The king seeing this, farmed his revenues to the citizens for ten years, promising under his hand and seal, that in the interim they should not be troubled with soldiers, nor for their religion. But SATAN envying their place and liberties, stirred up the Jesuits, to move the king to break his covenant within four months after. Then the soldiers were sent thither again, and they began again to be questioned about their religion. The citizens, astonished at this manifest breach of covenant, humbly petitioned that no violence might be offered them, which would dverthrow the metal-works. Instead of an answer, the mayor and chief aldermen had twenty musqueteers apiece put into their houses upon free quarter. The soldiers domineered exceedingly, wasting these men's estates by their profuseness, and abusing them divers other ways at their pleasure; yet the patience of the one overcame the tyrannical behavior of the other. These godly men provided for the soldiers as long as they could; but when all was gone, some of them withdrew themselves from danger by flight; others resigned their houses and good, and delivering the keys to them, departed. When this prevailed not, the task of reforming that city was committed to Don Martin, who, accompanied with a troop of cuirassers, and himself brandishing a naked 1 sword, entered into the city. The citizens trembled at his coming, having heard of his cruelty at other places; whereupon, that very night, multitudes of them betook themselves to flight, thinking to hide themselves in neighboring villages. This caused Don Martin to get an edict, that none should harbour exiles upon a great penalty. The year after, a senate at Kuttenburg was elected out of the apostates. The mayor being a base’ and illiterate person, all the citizens were still oppressed with soldiers, so that they either fled with their wives and children, leaving all behind them; or else were obliged to submit their necks to the antichristian yoke.

 

 The next city whither these reformers went was Boli-slavia, where the orthodox religion had continued for 2OO years, and it was the principal seat of The Brethren. There they ejected their ministers, and placed in their rooms two crafty friars, who by all means sought to pervert the people; but when this prevailed not, they brought in three companies of soldiers to quarter upon them. Then some of the citizens were banished; others cast into prison; and three of the principal were sequestered, to strike a terror to the rest. When the citizens still remained constant, they were all warned to appeal in the court. Being come thither, they were all shut up in rooms, and called out one by one. The first was the town-clerk, a weak and timorous man. They had set a ruffian in a corner, with a sword in his hand to meet him, whom the fearful man seeing, he was so terrified, that he promised to turn Catholic. They so rejoiced at this beginning, that they dismissed all the rest, only bidding them consider of it, and do after the town-clerk's example. Among these there were two burgo-masters, learned men, who exhorted their fellow-citizens not to be affrighted with these terrors. Afterwards one of them being called for, was partly with threats, and partly with flatteries so wearied out, that at last he took some time’ to consider of it. The other being called for, and an old man proposing the other's example to him, he spit in his face, saying, "Traitor, is this your constancy" And so both he, and the rest of the citizens remained un-movable as a rock. The first burgo-master, considering what he had done, and being ashamed of it, came and gave them such a positive answer, that he was sent to prison with the rest.

 

 In the city of Litomericia, in 1517, there was an unanimous agreement amongst the citizens, that none should be made free amongst them, but such as professed the reformed religion. This continued inviolate for a hundred years j when two Jesuits, suing to be made freemen of the city, and being denied, entered their complaint in the Chancery. Then some of the principal aldermen were summoned to the court, and kept for nine weeks, till by threats they had forced them to make these two men free. Five months after, one of them was made an alderman, that so they might have their spies in every place. There were also cunning seducers sent thither to withdraw the people from their religion. When this prevailed not, in 1525 they took the names of every citizen, commanding them constantly to go to mass; or else for every omission they should forfeit five pounds. Then bringing in more soldiers, they commanded all the inhabitants to be present at the idolatrous procession; and because the recorder came not, they sent a whole company of soldiers to plunder his house, who also abused and threatened his wife. The year after they brought in more soldiers, quartering them in the principal men's houses, in some ten, in some twenty, and in others thirty, who abused them exceedingly; but, through God's assistance, they bore it with such admirable patience that the enemies were weary of plaguing them, and began to be more moderate. However, they published an order, that whosoever would not turn Catholic, should, with their wives and children, depart the city and kingdom by a certain dayj whereupon many of them removed to Misnia.

 

 Don Martin went also to Bidsove, ten miles from Prague, attended with his soldiers, and assembling the citizens, he made an oration to them to turn Catholics. They answered, " That they could not unlearn that in an hour, which they had been learning all their life." This so enraged Martin, that he assaulted the man that answered for all the rest with a club, beating him extremely, and then commanded the officer to carry him out of the city, not suffering him so much as to visit his house before his departure. This so terrified the rest, that they promised to be taught within a certain time. There were some who thought to save themselves by flight. These sent their wives and some of their goods privately before, with whom went also some godly widows. Martin having intelligence of it, sent some soldiers after them, that stripped them of their goods, and brought the women back and cast them into fetters, refusing to release them, till both they and their husbands turned Catholics.

 

 At Tusta, a chief officer of the kingdom solicited the citizens to turn Catholics, which they refusing to do, he complained of it to the Jesuits at Prague. Upon this, Don Martin was sent thither, who entering the city, sent his soldiers into the senators' houses, licensing them to abuse them at their pleasure; so that, in a short time, many were forced to apostasy. Then that other officer set a great fine upon the city, because they turned Catholics for another man's sake, and would not for his. Thus the poor Protestants were abused on every hand to satisfy the lusts of these tyrants.

 

 Then another nobleman, with a band of soldiers, went to the city of Rokizan, and tyrannically abused the people for their religion; forbearing no kind of insolence that they could think of. Amongst other projects, this was one; he caused all the citizens to write their names in three books: in the first, such as were already Catholics, (which were but six apostates;) in the second, such as would become apostates within a fortnight, which were very few: in the third, such as absolutely refused, and so were accounted opposite to God and Caesar; and in this were almost all the names; which so enraged him, that he resolved to use all manner of cruelties, saying, " That they deserved the cross, the wheel, yea, and hell itself." Then he commanded all the citizens to come to the church the next day, to receive the sacrament in one kind. When he came to church he found few or none there. Then he ran through the streets, and into the houses, driving all that he met with to the church with his stick. When he came thither again, he espied one John Felix, a chief citizen, but a Calvinist; he therefore fell upon him with a knotty club, beating him about the head, shoulders, and hands, till he was all in gore blood; and then he said to him, " Get thee hence you beast, with thy cursed Calvin-blood." Then he raged against the other citizens, cursing them, beating some, and spitting in the faces of others. From one of the grave citizens he pulled off his beard, and strewed it on the floor. After this, he again sent word to Felix, that except he changed his mind by the morrow, he would act a new tragedy with him j but that night he escaped, leaving behind him his dear wife and children, and an aged mother, 8O years old. Then the earl imprisoned his wife, and sequestered his estate, and forced the rest of the citizens to subscribe, that they freely, and with all readiness of mind, embraced the Catholic religion.

 

 They entered the city of Prachatice by force, and slew the mayor, who was bringing them the keys, together with 16OO men, women, and children, sparing none but such as fled, or hid themselves in secret places. The carcasses they left unburied for several days, all dirty, and shamefully naked. Afterwards, when the city began again to be inhabited, the commissioners of reformation came thither, promising them, that if they would turn Catholics, they should have their liberties restored to them; but if they refused, they should be restrained from all trading. When this prevailed not, they thrust men and women, young and old, into prisons, where they miserably afflicted them for four months together. They used the like cruelty to all other cities, where they practiced all manner of impostures, deceits, tyrannies, and impudent practices, till they had rooted out the reformed religion, and set up their idolatrous and superstitious worship instead of it.

 

Then came out an edict, that whosoever refused to turn papist, whether men or women, young or old, bond or free, their names should be returned to the council of state, who would give instructions what should be done with their persons and estates. Marriage, burial, and baptism, were forbidden to the Protestants, and if any did it privately, they were imprisoned, and not dismissed without apostasy, or a great fine. Then all trading and means of getting of their living, was inhibited, and at last, buying of food, so that the poor people being oppressed with hunger and want, were either forced to flee, or apostatize. They fetched the countrymen out of their houses, yea, out of their beds, by troops of soldiers, driving them like beasts before them in the sharpest cold, and filled the common prisons, towers, cellars, stables, yea, and hog-styes with them; where they were killed with hunger, cold, and thirst.

 

 In some places they made holes, and knocked them full of iron shaclkes, wherein those that were shut, could neither sit nor stand, but bending and crooked. It was not possible that any man could endure this posture above two or three hours; their sinews all this while trembling, their members quivering, and their hearts ready to faint with anguish, so that some were forced to promise to turn Catholics; others that refused, were brought back to torture. When they desired to die, rather than forsake their religion, it was answered, " That the emperor thirsted not after their blood, but rather after the welfare of their souls." To others they said, " Oh, you affect the glory of martyrdom! but you are base knaves, and arc unworthy to have any thing to glory in." There were many who would have died in the maintenance of the Christian faith, but there were none that would inflict death upon them. For these cruel tyrants, brought up in the devil's school, would not kill the body but the soul, and therefore they sought by lingering and continual punishments to bring them first to stagger, and then to deny the truth.

 

 In some places they shut up the people in the church, and forced them to receive the sacrament in one kind; and if they would not fall down to the host, they used to beat their legs with clubs, till they fell down. Some they imprisoned and racked several times, to force them to a confession. They set open the mouths of others with gags, and thrust the host down their throats. In other places they forced the people, not only to abjure the cup, but to throw it down, and to spit upon it, and to tread it under foot. If any to avoid this tyranny, fled into the woods, and secret places, hunger drove them out again, whereby they became a prey to their adversaries. If they went to neighboring places, some or other would betray them. Edicts were also published, forbidding all to entertain such as fled, upon pain of forfeiting a hundred pieces of silver for every night's entertainment. Yet these miserable people could not go out of the kingdom, not being acquainted with any other language. Besides, they were told that ere long the like tragedy should be acted every where.

 

 Four men of Kossenburg continuing constant after long imprisonment, they were first exposed to the cold, for five weeks together, in the depth of winter. Then for nine days they were pined with hunger, having only a small portion of bread to keep them alive; and being forced to drink their own urine. When they were threatened with harder usage, if they did not turn, they answered, "We willingly embrace all afflictions, famine, hanging, burning, or any thing, rather than we would sin against God." Thereupon, only a mouthful of bread, and a draught of water, were given them twice a week. Then they were parted asunder; and one of them was thrust into the sink of the prison, another into a furnace, and none permitted to visit them; and whea nothing would prevail, they set a fine upon them, and banished them. Some were kept in prison and bonds till they died. One was kept in a filthy prison till his feet rotted off; and yet he passed away the time with singing psalms, as if he enjoyed all manner of delights. A certain man, being tired out with imprisonment, was released, upon his promise of turning Catholic. Immediately after this, (as himself wrote,) God chastened him for his fault, holding his conscience captive for a whole year together, so that he could have no hope in God's mercy. All this while he cried unto God night and day, watering his bed with tears, because he thought himself damned. " At last God (says he,) sent his angel to me, and I saw his glory brighter than the sun, and 1 had God's Spirit bestowed upon me." After this he was apprehended, beheaded, and quartered.

 

 When pope Martin perceived, that notwithstanding all that had been done to quench the light of the gospel, the professors of it increased daily in Bohemia, he sent the cardinal of Winchester,'an Englishman, into Germany, to stir up the emperor and German princes to make war against the Bohemians. Hereupon three armies were levied, one under the duke of Saxony; the second under the marquis of Brandenburg; and the third under Otho, archbishop of Triers. These three armies entered Bohemia three different ways, and at last joining all in 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. But as soon as news came that the Protestants had raised an army, and were hastening to the relief of Misna, they speedily fled, before ever they saw an army, leaving their ensigns of war, and a great booty behind them. The cardinal meeting them in their flight, used all the arguments that possibly he could, with the nobles and captains, to turn them back again, magnifying their number and prowess, and vilifying their enemies 5 but when nothing would prevail, he himself was glad to accompany them in the flight. Presently the Bohemians pursuing, fell upon their rearward, which made their flight much more fearful and disordered than it was before j neither did they cease fleeing, till the Bohemians left pursuing them.

 

 The emperor, hearing of this shameful flight, went to Nuremberg, and by the assistance of the cardinal, a new army was raised, under the command of Frederic, marquis of Brandenburg, which entered Bohemia one way, and another great army under Albert, archduke of Austria, which entered another way. All the chief nobles and bishops in Germany were in these armies, with 4O,OOO horsemen, besides foot. The Bohemians, as soon as they heard of their enemy's approach, gathered their host with all speed to encounter them, but God fought for them. For before the Bohemians came near them, the popish army was struck with such a marvelous fear, that they began most shamefully to run away. The cardinal wondering at it, went up and down to the captains, exhorting and encouraging them, telling them, that they were to fight for their lives, honor, religion, and the salvation of souls. But notwithstanding all he could say and do, the ensigns were suddenly snatched up, and every man ran headlong away, so that the cardinal 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 emperor, that afterwards they sought rather by subtilty to entrap them, than by force to compel them, to forsake their religion.