and Lord of us all will rest satisfied c. Charles Prince of Lichtenstein But these were general things and common to all we shall now adde some particular examples whereby a thousand of Satans stratagems will perchance more clearly appeare CHAP. XCII SHortly after the taking of Prague the Catholique Citizens were cited by the Kings Judges and examined upon oath to declare if any of them knew that the Evangelists had stubbornely spoke or done any thing which as every one answered for truth or affection-sake were received as Oracles and afterwards became the cause of death to many even alltogether innocent 2. An Act or Decree was published unto the rest of the Citizens who thought themselves received into favour in the year 1624. Febr. 23. That they had forfeited their Estates by their Rebellion neverthelesse Caesar desired not that they should be altogether sequestred but that every one should contribute part of his fortunes to support the warres And here an exact estimate of their possessions was required of every one of them upon oath And according to this confession or also by a suspition or guess which they had from their ready money a ransome of favour was imposed upon each of them for the obtaining of Pardon as they called it but indeed that they might undoe him a hundred two hundred a thousand two three four six c. thousand florences were straightwayes or at certain dayes to be paid 3. Afterwards all Non-Catholiques were April 15. forbid to be enrolled in the City-Catalogue As for those which were inscribed since the yeare 1618. all trading and negotiation was prohibited them By which Thunderbolt some were brought to faint heartednesse and others to poverty 4. Shortly after to wit May 29. Letters were hung upon the doores of the Common Halls in all Cities the tenour whereof was thus The most illustrious Prince Lord Charles of Lichtenstein c. hath understood by credible persons that certain of the late exiled Preachers do not onely lurk privily in the Cities belonging to the people of Prague but also exercise divine service about the Houses Gardens and Vineyards and thereby do draw away the People from their lawful obedience unto the Magistrate Which thing since it can be no way agreeable to his illustrious Highnesse for the dangerous example of Rebellion lately raised he therefore strictly chargeth the Judges of his sacred Majesty that they be most diligently watchfull and whensoever they find any Conventicles straightwaies taking with them publicke officers to breake into those houses without respect of persons and having apprehended the persons to arrest them whether Predicants Readers or Singers Hee hath also understood that Piccardy Songs and Rimes composed under the name of Psalmes are sung up and down not onely privatly but even publickly in Villages and streets They are therefore diligently to observe that it be amended and that nothing but what is allowed by the Catholicke church bee said or sung by any man And as great circumspection is to be used that all Schoole-masters not Catholick be expelled out of the houses in all Cities and if they shall be taught for the future that they be hailed to prison and punishment c. 5. Another Edict succeeded Sept. 13. yet somwhat more moderate whereby the Kings benevolence and all their priviledges were declared to be performed unto the people of Prague after payment of the Tax with both of which notwithstanding they rejoiced not long for that I speake not of continuall vexations for Religion sake there issued forth in the year following from the Officers of the Kingdom unto the Counsells at Prague this same Decree The supreame Officers and Judges of the Kingdome in the name and place of his Sacred Majesty doe command by their Commissioners chosen for this purpose the Consul and Senate of Prague the lesse and also of old and new c. that they perfectly instruct all Non-catholick Citizens called into the Court of the finall will and pleasure of the Kings Majesty which is no other than that all men renouncing their heresie doe betake themselves unto the Church But if any shal be found refractorily obstinate they shall signifie unto them that they are to be not onely cashiered the City but also deprived of all means of getting their livelihood Decreed in the Chancellors Court in Bohemia in the yeare 1626. Feb. 13. 6. In the yeare beginning 1627. There were supream Commissaries for Religion chosen by the Emperour whose names wee have before recited These therefore entring upon their Commission from those at Prague do send a decree to the Chieftaines of the Cities of Prague wherein after a large commendation of the Kings fatherly care for the good of his subjects as also of the Learning Godlinesse zeale and watchfulnesse of the Spirituall Pastors whereof there was such abundance at Prague and throughout the whole Kingdome and lastly of his wonderfull clemency and forbearance heretofore used toward hereticks and on the contrary lamenting the hereticks great obstinacy do now seriously protest to act for the Kings sacred Majesty and for him onely They do therefore command that each of them do cause the citizens in the Cities committed to them to be catalogued and carefully sent unto them and distributed into four rancks In the first order the native Catholicks are to be inscribed in the second those that were lately converted in the third those that have given good hopes of their conversion and in the last the obstinate c. Given as above said 7. These chief Officers give the commands unto the Kings Judges they to the Tribuns of the people and Senators and these walking from doore to doore examin the father and mother of the family the man and maide-servants and all other the Inhabitants in every house and aske them in what order they would be placed and so did accordingly These Catalogues thus made are brought to the Commissaries who when they find but few of the first second or third Order they consult with great anxiety what is necessary to be done to such a troupe of Heretickes that all tumults may be prevented At length they conclude that the heads should bee removed viz. That those men which were of any rule and authority with the people should be expelled 8. The beginning was effected upon four venerable grave Citizens of Old Prague the thundering Edict against them ommitting Court complements runs thus VVHereas with grief of heart we have observed certaine persons of Prague to be of such incorrigible obstinacy as that the Kings Majesties most indulgent care and all his fatherly admonitions for their good being nothing set by they proudly refuse good and wholsom instruction and as men incurable admit of no counsell thereby giving a dangerous example unto others which would suffer themselves more willingly to be amended In which number since these are noted Iohn Theodore Sixtus Iohn Peldrzimowsky Abraham Angel and Iohn Iacob Heydon We give command to the worthy Ioachim Salwate
wherewith he should bind himselfe that Mathew being alive he should meddle with none of the affarres of Bohemia much lesse Religion He is therefore crowned and presently went into Moravia and then into Silesia and Lusitania and there requested that he might be received 3 And after this time the enemies being made more confident boast themselves outragiously and began to wish ill luck to the Evangelists as also to threaten them openly And Ferdinand going into Moravia to receive homage the Jesuites erect at Olumatium a Triumphall Arche and paint upon it among the Armes of Austria with the Lion of Bohemia tied to it with a chaine and the Eagle of Moravia with a sleeping hare lying with open eyes and this Emblem written under I have practised casting a jeere upon the Orders for suffering themselves so to be bound and tied to drowsinesse but the year following a booke of Moltzarmius Alsatia from the new erected Academie of the Jesuites came forth in the dedication whereof encouraging Leopaldus to zeale they urge the example of his most peaceable Brother the founder of the Vniversitie that howsoever at his coronation in Bohemia after the usuall manner he performed his oath to the Heriticks yet first he left it in the Vestrie of the Church that he would not give way to the Heriticks whereby the Church might be defrauded 4. And it appeared most sufficiently that Ferdinand sware to the Orders with his mouth in his heart to the Pope truly from that time something hath bin attempted whereby it might not be well with the Gospelers either by passing from them their right by cosening or by overcoming their patience that by open injuries they might give them occasion to oppose them Presently after Ferdinand was gone they went about not only the Bishop and the Clergie but the Laity with those that did belong to the Pope Slawata Smeczanski and others in Moravia Olomucensis the Bishop and also the chiefe Duke Ladislaus de Lobkowitz the Lord of Holdsâ—orvia to vexe his subjects for Religion contrary to the expresse assurance of the obligation of his Majesty and then they attempt the like also even in Prague and other free cities of the King From the Chaires of the Jesuites not only the Gospellers but also that bountifull Rodolphus now dead and the Liberty of Religion granted to the Kingdome by him shamefully defamed and taunted at and threatned that their Liberty should not last long 5 They did likewise inhibite by a speciall command that they should print nothing unless perused and approved of by the Chancelour of the Kingdome divulging in the meane while their owne slanderous Pamphlets and dangerous writings against the Gospellers Also instruction was given from the same Chancery of the Citizens of Prague to the Captaines and Judges of Caesar who were Popelings to require earnestly of the parishoners the foundations of the Churches from the Originall And that they no way give nor consent to any meetings unlesse they themselves were present and to joyne with the chiefe overseeres and Parson of the said Parish vnder one kind which after was done in some Churches and at length to deny unto the defendors and those of the Consistorie any executing process of Law 6. And they dealt under hand with the Pastors whom they did believe they might reduce to Psudo-Hussitisme that they should require by presenting to the King an humble declaration that the new Consistory under both kinds after the forme of the former under the obedience of the Archbishop might be granted and about twelve of them being drawne into the net subscribed the chiefe of them being Matthew Praczuda whom they fed on with hopes that he should be promoted to the dignity of Administrator When he perceived himselfe to be very sick so that he was ready to die and calling to mind his former act detesting his perfidiousnes and dehorting his confederates from that fact their Stratagems are brought to nothing 7. Since this exploit of theirs tooke no effect they went another way to work The Church of Bethleem which from its first foundation was dedicated to the University was lately by the Reformation of the Consistory disposed of to the use of the brethren in the year 1609 after the death of the Senior of these Matthew Cirus in the year 1607. the Papists threaten to sue them at the law endeavor to deprive them of the Church but the Professor of the University making use of their own right they bring in John Cyrillus for Senior according to their solemn form these and the like they made triall of in other places but still without successe 8. The Burgrave Carelsteinensis that is to say the safeguard of the Crown and priviledges of the Kingdome is also taken away by the Count Turnensis a President never before heard of and against all the Lawes of the Kingdome not for any crime unlesse it were that in the late Parliament hee had more freely stood for the free election of a King and is delivered to Smeczanius the bitterest enemies of the Gospellers perchance that hee because lately hee could not inhibite the priviledge of Religion might by cunning now begin to do it He therefore began to disturb them by inhibiting the subjects of that dominion baptism and buriall 9. The same enemies go forward elsewhere and destroy the Churches of the Gospellers in the Arch-Bishops Town Grob and by vertue of the Kings Patents the new built Church Braumow of the Abbot Braumow Also in Krumloviana they beginn the persecution of the Gospellers being Subjects the government belonging to the King CHAA. XLIII The Bohemians being often provoked take up armes I. THe Governors of the University and consistory in communion under both kinds being warned of these and other matters which were published in the States Remonstrance were assembled together at Prague about the beginning of the yeare 1618 and having power formerly given them by the States and confirmed by Rodolphus his letters Patents they chose sixe persons out of severall Lordships two Barons with as many Knights and Citizens to consult jointly what was best to be done in this tiâ—e of their enemies insolence But presently there arrived an injunction in Caesars name that neither the Governours should attempt to call any together neither should any man who was called dare to appear and if any did contrary to this command they should bee guilty of high treason and that Caesar would not acknowledge any man the Governour of his Kingdome but himself 2. Notwithstanding the Major part of the States met and when as new prohibitions and threatnings were spread abroad and those States were certified by sufficient proofs that the thunderbolts were not brought from Vienna where Caesar had his residence but forg'd in and shot from the Castle of Prague by the Deputies Their wronged patience was suddenly changed into severity and being guarded with a great troup they go up to the Castle and apprehending Smeczanius and Slawata the chiefe authours
the Councell of the Kingdom by name and from thence he should expect instructions what to do with their persons and their goods 7. Afterwards Marriages Burials Baptisme were forbidden to those that were Non-Catholicks that which indeed was a thunder-bolt which shook the mindes of many especially those which intended to marry The want of baptisme and disgrace of buriall because they were to be buried by the gardens fields and high-wayes without any ceremony could be endured more easily if any one were privately married or had his infant baptized his punishment was a long imprisonment unlesse that he could procure his liberty either by apostasie or by some great fine 8. In the Towns both those that belonged to the King and to the Nobility workes and trades and all means of getting their living were forbidden at length buying of food was prohibited as at Litomste being opprest therefore with want and hunger there was a necessity either to flie but whether so for ever while the same face of things did appear or despair or apostatize as most of them did 9. They did set the Countrey-men into the Towns they took those who denied to come either by a Troop of Souldiers sent or by their Court-flatterers or else they did apprehend them in the night draw them out of their chambers and drive them by troops like beasts even in the sharpest cold and filled the common-prison the Towers Sellers Stables and Hog-sties with them where they were killed with hunger and thirst and filth and cold and heat Joachim a Chyrurgion with others was cast into a Tower full of snakes at Plumlone At Prostanna were put together into the Castle Stable and the window every where closed up that being almost strangled for want of aire fainted among others James Vlicky an old man of above 80 yeares of age was drawn out for dead being an Inhabitant of Kosteleck a little Town of the said Kelted whose son Matthew Vlicky a Minister of the Word was tormented at Czaslavia as we have related in the 57. Chapter but Kunash the chiefe persecutor often times repeating that they did counterfeit death said that he would raise the knaves and so commanded that good store of water should be poured upon them Some came to themselves but the old man died in his sight whom he commanded to be carried out and buried the rest not being dismist unlesse they would promise confession In some places they proceeded to that degree of Barbarisme that they shut up men in Privies to be poisoned by the stink of excrements which Nicholas Szarowetz among others had experience at Kosenburg also some of Slunen at Letomisle and else-where they thrust men and women together into the same place that there was scarce any room for modesty 10. They invented new prisons to torment more grievously and to ruine more speedily For example sake at Folessovie in Moravia Dracovius a Jesuite being presently reformer upon the reception of Ferdinand for their King in the yeare 1617. there were holes made and spikes put in them wherein those that were shut could neither lie sit nor stand by reason of the narrownesse of the place but bending and crooked they with their knees halfe bent and their backs prest they hung halfe to the ground It was scarce possible that any one should indure this pressure above two or three houres their sinnes in the mean time quivering their Members trembling and their hearts ready to faint with trouble and feare In the mean time some came who asking them whether they would volentarily imbrace the Catholique Religion most seeing to be fed with lies did grant it the simpler sort denyed it and were brought back to torture untill they also did lie in saying they were made voluntary Catholiques 11. The like imprisonment happened to John Rederius a freeborn Subject and Treasurer of Pardubicium an imperial Town who all the rest forsaking faith onely continued constant but when he prepared himself for banishment he was kept in prison because there was no body found who might take the charge of his accounts a delay being alwayes made for some fained reason or other the good man perceiving himself abused and fearing some devilish snares laid in a certain place with letters of Protestations and those bookes of account and in the year 1625. betook himself into a neighbouring Town called Brundus upon Orlisen a Town of Charles Lord of Zeratin where hitherto Religion had been professed but being by craft removed from thence was cast into prison and not suffered to depart before he changes Religion although he did patiently indure his imprisonment for three whole yeares and often desired to be banished yet his adversaries more and more by degrees endeavoured to shake his constancy at length they devised a prison upon the water very narrow and not above a Cubit and a halfe in length that so when he lay down he could by no meanes lay himself at length and they had provided so that if he should turn himself unawares he must then fall into the water underneath and be dipt now it was winter-time and he himself was sick of the Gout and no body was admitted to come to him except some instruments of the Devill who should tempt him to turne he being tormented with this kind of punishment for three dayes and nights at length begun to faint especially when his wife came to him who was newly turned a Papist and opprest him with her clamours therefore halfe doubting he consented and was carried into a Monastery and was received by the Guarden into the number of the Catholicks 12. If Commissioners were sent any where that the businesse might not be delayed they took this policy in hand that they should first assault the men of greatest authority either by cunning or force and make them an example to the rest in the Town Minion when Commissioner Zenkow de Kolowrat demanded a positie answer frō the Subjects of that Countrey convened together whether they would be Catholicks or no and one of them in the name of the rest began to speak boldly concerning Religion That conscience would nor could not be forced he presently commanded him to he apprehended and in the sight of them all to be laid upon the ground and beat withall asking whether he would be a Catholick but he continually denying yea when he could hardly speak the Commissary commanded him to be torn in pieces when he was halfe dead the rest were affrighted at the dreadfulnesse of this spectacle and promised obedience if time would permit them When the Senatours of Fermanno Mestecia a Town hard by Chruda refused to be made examples to others of apostasie they were thrown in a scurvy prison the president of them being forced to ride the wooden horse in the Market-place used formerly to punish mutinous souldiers although he was very ancient yet indured this ignominie and contempt and pain for above six hours but at evening after the Jesuites had continually solicited
upon the Godly that they might put a fairer glosse upon their tyranny We will hereafter acquaint you how the Father of this Martyr a man of eighty yeares of age laid his life downe for Religion in the same yeare at Prostanna in Moravia CHAP. LVIII Ministers cast out of Moravia THe same year 16â—4 as in Bohemia so in Moravia the Edict was published against the Ministers and Commissaries were appointed who should see the execution done These going through all the Provinces remove the Ministers of the Gospell and at the last banish them 2. But John Jacob the greater an Italian and a man that was very rich and Iohn Ernestas Platesius a Canon of Colmucensis came unto that illustrious Baron Charles of Zerotina a man for his wisedome and other Heroieall Virtues famous through all Europe And under Matthias for the space of eight yeares pro-Mazchio and being in great favour with the house of Austria for his fidelity to them onely envied for his constancie in Religion for even at that time he maintained 24 of the fraternity in his jurisdiction for which they required that he should give satisfaction to Caesar neither could Caesar loose any priviledge thereby They say they have an express command from Ditrichsteinus the Cardinall the governour of Moravia he tells them againe that in matters of Religion he ought not to be subject to the Cardinall and therefore from the Cardinall he appeales to Caesar 3. Very willingly they agree to this and therefore doe grant him but fourteene dayes which being past and the Baron in regard of the ill disposition of his body could not goe unto Caesar the next day after the Epiphanie they returne and press hard for the execution of Caesars will yet it was left to the Barons choise whether he would promise to send the Ministers away or whether he would leave this thing for them to doe The Baron sayd that neither of these was convenient that either he should banish those whom he knew to bee the servants of Christ or that the Commissioners should prescribe it to him but that he would appeal to Caesar They protested that they ought to put in execution the commands of Caesar and therefore immediately goe into the town and make ready the citation and having called the the Burrouhg Master of the Towne require him to provide them a messenger and presently even that night that they may declare themselves to be of the number of those whom the Scripture sayth cannot take their rest unless they may doe some mischiefe or those whose sleep departeth from them except they may destroy Proverbs 4 16. commanding all that inhabite that village that they appeare next morning very early 4. The Ministers and they appeare they read Caesars Edict and aske them whether they would submit thereto to which they answer That they rely wholly upon the will of God whom in the Gospell ef Jesus Christ they serve relying therefore on Gods will and pleasure they did resolve to undergoe what punishment they would inflict since they suffered onely for the name of Jesus Christ not for any ill deeds Againe they demanded whether they will repent and returne to the Catholicke Church from which through schisme and haeresie they had departed Vnanimously they doe deny it The Commissaries dismiss them having given them some time to consider of it and that every one particularly might come in and speake for himselfe but they repeat againe their common answer that in so religious a cause as this there needed no deliberation Therefore the Commissioners in Caesars name banish them and command them to depart out of the City within eight dayes under the paine of death These godly men did obey and went into banishment for whom the Baron at his owne charge tooke care that they should be carried into Hungary 5. Going afterwards into Wienna the Baron complaines unto Caesar of the injurie done unto him by the Cardinall in Moravia and the Prince of Litchtensteine in Bohemia for there he had a town with some villages and the Ministers were there also casâ— out but all to no purpose as shall be shewed heareafter under the title of the proceedings against even the Peers and Noblemen 6. And thus the Ministers of the Gospell throughout all Moravia and Bohemia the slaves and vassalls of Antichrist are given to the Churches for Doctors blind guides to seeing men It is high time to see how they dealt with the other Orders CHAP. LIX Proceedings against Peeres Noblemen how many eminent chiâ—fmen were taken some condemned to death others to perpetual imprisonment I. THe enemies of the Gospell trained up in Phalaris and Machiavellâ— schoole aimed at topping the chiefe and principall heads of the Poppy for which thing they had a faire pretence which formerly they sought viz. The accusation of taking up armes against them for though after the fight a certaine hope of pardon was granted if laying downe their armes they would submit themselves to Caesars mercy by which slight they are caught who otherwise might have escaped but afterwards whom they had appointed for slaughter they apprehended saying that the publicke liberty without the ransome of some heads could not be redeemed 2. First of all therefore they took all such whom they could have out of the ranck of the Defenders and and Directors and then all those whom they knew had done any thing for the common good of the country and religion or feared that they might be able to do those excepted who adhered not to Ferdinand or that feared to break their faith to Frederick these they accompany going unto banishment About fifty men farre excelling others in godlinesse wisdome and courage who had passed over their younger yeares in learning in millitary affaires and in travelling the rest of their age sety apart for the Church and Common-wealth to wit by watching by shewing dangers to the imprudent adding courage to the prudent by exhorting unto concord and advising in common what they could for the best in a word the very flower of our nation the lights delights and safeguard of our Country How therefore those were examined condemned and after what manner they were punished how cheerfully they did suffer Martyrdome for the truth of the faith and liberty of the Country with my most accustomed plainness and brevity I shal declare 3. The Pipe maketh sweet musick while the fowler catcheth the birds more than three moneths nothing is heard but fair promises of favour and hope of impunity for all by gone trespasses insomuch that some came out of their lurking holes and some returned home that were exiled but when many had despaired of hoping suddenly and in one hour which was the first houre of the night even about supper time on the 20 of February in the year 1621 they laid hold on and captivated as many as they could come at for every one being in their houses unlooked for were visited by the Captaines of the City of
said of himselfe not of others The Baron replyed Thou liest for it followes not for me onely but for all those that wait for his comming Here the Sophister was mute and the Baron went forward As for that saying No man knoweth whether he deserve grace or hatred doe you thereby seeke to coope me up pray tell me where you find it written here is the Bible where doe you find it The one said If I be not deceived in the Epistle of Paul to Timothy The Baron being very angry said Thou Asse wouldest thou teach me the way of salvation which knows so little of the word of God Satan be gone from me and tempt me not At length being confuted they went their way and stood a far off while the Martyrs prepared themseves for suffering as they use to paint Devils when they are forced to leave forsake the sinner looking as we use to say as if he had eaten Bull-beef And it is probable that nothing so much troubled Satan than that all of them slighted him and his factors 7. Presently after the Baron was called and as he went on the Scaffold he carried his head stately and stroking his long beard he said My gray hairs Behold what honour remains for you that you should be crowned wiâ—h Martyrdome and then directing his speech to God hee prayed for the Church his Country his Enemies and recomended his soule to Christ whose head being cut off was set on the Tower and his body buried CHAP. LXIII Christopher Haraâ—t Baron of Bezdruzitz and Polzciz Lord of Petzka I. HE got himself a name and much experience by his travells in Europe Asia and Affirica which he published to the world in his native language he was made by Rodolphus one of his Privy-Chamber by Matthias a Privy-Counsellour lastly by Fredericke chiefe of the Kings Chamber This was the cause why the sentence of death was pronounced against him because he was present at the expedition of the Orders in Austria and not being absolved of his former Oath took an oath to be true to Frederick which thing was as wel done by others as by him so that it was evident that these Politicians sought their pretences meerly out of the hatred they did bear unto religion 2. Going to suffer he called unto him Rosacius a Minister of the Gospell and told him how much he was troubled for his wife and children for hee knew his wives coldnesse in religion and therefore feared what hee should commit to her shee now wanting a counsellour He remembers that he left in witing something with her which he doth desire to remember and therefore desirteh the Minister to rehearse them to him First that she should be constant in the Gospell Religion nor suffer her self by any allurements to be perswaded from it for he tels ther that therein is the readiest and most infallible way of Salvation and assurance of the mercy of God by the merits of Christ being mindful of him of that which she had heard from him that he had tried all Religion and compared them with the Scriptures and that he found none more sure solid than that which he was about to seal with his bloud that we attain Salvation by the bloud of the Lamb which he is certain very shortly to find Of which glory if she would be partaker she should persevere in the same faith Secondly he prayed that she would use more clemency to his Subjects and rather ease then overcharge them with burthens last of all to command that she would have a care of her Children and bring them up in pure Religion otherwise if through carelesnesse they were seduced he would cause them to appeare before Christ his tribunal This he spake with much zeal and solemn protestations but this meer woman being perfidious to God her conscience her children and her subjects observing nothing of all this For within a while after she did marry an Apostate committed her sonnes to the tuition of Jesuites she her self swerved from her Religion and did exercise tyranny over the soules and bodies of her subjects 3. Being called forth to execution he said I have travelled so many Countries so many barbarous nations have undergone so many dangers by sea and and now I suffer innocently in my owne Country and by their hands both for whose good I and my fore-fathers spent our Estates and Lives Father forgive them As he went forth he prayed In thee O Lord have I hoped let me not be confounded for ever Going on the Scaffold he lift up his eyes and said Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit Walking on the fatall cloth that was spread on the floore he made a little stand and brake forth againe into these words In thee O Lord have I trusted in my Youth I am confident that I shall be accepted by that ignominious death of my Saviour and falling downe on his knees he added To thee O God I commend my spirit thou God true and just hast redeemed me And seeing the Executioner came not for he was a Gospeller neither did he make too much hast untill they had finished their prayers he perceiving some delay prayed againe Lord Jesus Son of David be mercifull to me and receive my spirit and the sword from behind him cut off his speech with his head CHAP. LXIIII. Caspar Kaplirz of Sulewitz a Knight 86 yeares of age I. VVHen Rosacius the Minister of the Word came to visit him after his condemnation he received him with tears in his eyes but with a merry heart with these words Behold me a miserable old man who have often intreated my God that hee would have compassion on me and take me out of this life but I have not obtained it For God hath reserved me to be a spectacle in the world and a sacrifice to himself Let Gods will be done My death indeed is disgracefull 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 And when the Minister would have comforted him he desired him to heare his confession and to pronounce his absolution and to have that faith and hope which he had in God strengthened by the Lords Supper Having therefore confessed himselfe a sinner but especially that in his youth he committed something according to the custome of that age to please the world he praysed God that had not suffered him to be swallowed up but had called him to a more holy and upright course of life 2. At length he said Through the mercy of my God I have preserved my trust and conscience both to God my King and Country I have faithfully served four Emperours and that now such a reward should be given unto me I leave to God the just Judge who knowes that I sought not either honour or riches by any thing which I did in this businesse But I could not winke at the
of their Countrey the name of banished persons called them Departers either in scorne or else to upbraid their headinesse as not being ejected by Caesar but being blinded by meer obstinacy had passed out of their Countrey But when as they could not endure them in banishment a proclamation came forth in the yeare 1628. August the 18th wherein the Emperour accusing the perversity of some who had departed from Bohemia and Moravia into Silesia Lusatia only protested that it was not his intention to remove those obstinate persons out of Bohemia and to suffer them in the accorporated Provinces And therefore he commanded them to depart otherwise they should be brought to punishment Also by the same edict they were commanded to send hack those children which they had carried with them upon the penalty of loosing all the goods which any of them could require in his Countrey 9. Presently after another Act is published whereby the Non-Catholick wives of the Catholicks were commanded to be punished with banishment unlesse they did repent But when none for no example is extant would not suffer themselves to be frighted and some of the prime and chiefe Officers of the Kingdome had Protestant wives and could not endure divorces leave was obtained for them to stay And an edict came forth the first of May in the year 1629. whereby they were tolerated till the death of their husbands and then should be excluded from the inheritance and sent into banishment in the meane time they should be absent from all nuptiall and festivall solemnities or else should take the lowest place after the Catholicks This was to strike terrour into them 10 But the Emperour had added expresly this clause to the first Act 1627. the 31. of July Lest that any man should think these things to be done for money or depriving any man of his goods and not for the sole honour and glory of God and the salvation of the soules of our Subjects we declare in his part our clemency that if any will be refractary to our gracious will which we hope not he shall have leave to depart quietly and without any imbezlement of his goods We do therefore promise that if any one cannot sell his goods within the aforesaid terme of six moneths or get in his debts in the getting of which we wish that all the Courts be a help to him he may choose any one of his kindred or any other Catholick person whom he may appoint and furnish with full power for the selling his goods and recovering his debts c. Which thing had such a colour of justice joyned with clemency that not only the banished persons did thankfully accept that moderation of the rigour but also it did beguile forraigners making them think that nothing had happened to the Bohemians worse then that departure But these were but words 11. For first what could they sell when as all things had been taken from them under the name of fines Besides if any had retained any lands whom should they sell it to in this fury of warre and almost a universall departure For those who remained were reduced to extreme poverty and the Papists although well monied did not do this that they might furnish the banished persons with provision but drive them by despaire to apostasie Besides if any offered to buy they would scarce give halfe the price And lastly there was scarce any one who would offer ready money but papers and bonds whereby no man could expect to avoid hunger among forraigners Most therefore who had any villages farmes vineyards or other grounds remaining took this course to commit their goods to the care of some friend such as could be got who should lay title to those things as bought by them and should send something every year to the true possessour out of the revenue But as every one gathers sticks from the fell'd oak so in so great a liberty to commit any thing against those that were condemned and banished it was easie to become malepart and most knew by experience that those to whom they had committed the managing of their affaires were perfidious and false 12. Some therefore privately returning labour'd divers wayes to order their businesse for themselves but as soon as that was known commands were issued out to the Captains of severall Divisions that whomsoever of the Non-Catholicks they could apprehend either those who were not already departed or who had returned any where staying gathering corn exporting it out of the Kingdom or selling it and receiving monies they should take care to seize on them and arrest them sending them into the chiefe Towns of their Divisions taking notice of every one his name Christian-name and family And they should warne those that had nourished such on their allegiance and honour to appear before the chiefe Officers of the Kingdome in the Castle of Prague c. These were given at Prague the 11th of September in the year 1628. the said commands were reiterated to divers divisiōs the second of November and sometimes also in the year following being 1629. At length the 20. of July in the year 1630. instruction was given That knowing where any lay hid they should secretly and suddenly attach them and bring them prisoners adding the reason because they obstinately resisted Gods will and the Emperours 13. But this was granted that whosoever had any businesse to dispatch in the Kingdome should desire leave to come back of the Commissioners of reformation but what that leave was and with what conditions it was limitted will appear from the form which was this The most illustrious and honourable Lords the Lords Commissioners being appointed for the worke of reformation in the Kingdom of Bohemia by his Imperiall Majesty our most mercifull Lord understand by letters for what end N.N. craves leave to return for a time into this Kingdom Seeing therefore he hath afforded a good hope of himselfe but thus to others Seeing the Lords Commissioners conceive good hope of him they grant his Petition and give leave and permit him with safe conduct to come hither freely and quietly and safely to dispatch his businesse being molested by no man upon the account of Religion within the space of six weeks But with this expresse condition that presently upon his entrance into the Kingdom he appear before the most illustrious Lords Commissioners and recite what businesse he hath to do and within that time admit of instruction by spirituall men pious and learned that so being made a member of the Catholick Church by an humble confession of sins and receiving the Sacrament in one kind he might also be received at the end of the terme as a member of the Kingdome There could be no longer time of stay granted to any that did otherwise For this was the unchangeable will of his Imperiall Majesty These were given from the Commission of reformation at Prague N. N. N c. With which kindnesse forsooth most being affrighted
him with their suggestions and his wife and children with their lamentation he yielded and was taken off the wooden-horse halfe dead for he could neither go nor make use of any member so he was carried by other men to a Confessor 13. When some desired rather to die then to be forced to Apostasie it was answered That the Emperour did not thirst after their blood but onely the welfare of their soule some others put questions and they were thus answered in a scoffing manner O you affect the glory of Martyrdome but ye are base knaves and are unworthy to have any thing to glory in this Answer had John Polacicus of Franisium in Moravia who being solicited by the Souldiers and Jesuites severally to Apostasie he fell down upon his knees held up his hands and intreated That they would cut off his head rather then force his Conscience And this Answer had John Elius of Stubnecimus and others in other places and this was the true cause why in all these daily persecutions of Ferdinand Bohemia as also all Germany did not produce more Martyrs there were not wanting who would have died in maintenance of the Christian faith but there were none who would inflict death upon bare account for it was determined by these cruel Tyrants brought up in the Devills Schoole not to kill the body but the soule and therefore they had rather by lingring and continued punishments render men unstable and wavering in the truth then by their patiently maintaining the faith make them victorious they onely put them to death upon whom they had any colour of a civil crime as is manifest in these Martyrs of Prague Andreas Chebdovius a sweet and hopefull young man was thus dealt with whom they apprehended at Dorbusta as he was in his journey from Podebradium his native Countrey going to the Court of Inowen into his service he had ingaged himself at Faradissium they fastened him to a sharpe stake because he was a Messenger to carry about severall treasonable designes when neverthelesse they found nothing about him but a few Letters written from friends to friends nor by any tortures could they force him to confesse any thing and this was done in the year 1622. 14. They likewise took another course which was both tyrannical over the Consciences of men and dishonourable to God that because they see they could neither convince nor convert any one by the word of God therefore they resolved with themselves to make no use of any argument from Scripture especially to the vulgar multitude but by Authority of their Church and by force compell'd them to obedience wherefore if any man did appeal unto the Scriptures they were answered with scoffes and jeeres and taunts they accused the Scripture of imperfection of obscurity of ambiguity that it was the fountain of heresie the sanctuary of Hereticks and that Lay-men had nothing to do with it this was nothing with them nay these blasphemous wretches were not afraid with their foule mouthes to nick-name the Bible Wiblia that is in our Language vomit and so they spit in the very face of God himself wherefore they took away all religious bookes from the people that so the blind leading the blind they might over-spread the Kingdom with darknes also they perceived that the people by this meanes being deprived of all light from the word of God might more easily be overspread with the darknesse of error 15. Some of the Nobles after they had forced their Tenants into their Church and shut the doores compell them to receive the Eucharist in one kind as Severinus Talho in the village of Andercze in the County of Pilsnen in the year 1628. with his sword drawn went about in the Church and solicited those that refused to fall down and worship John Adams Czeyka in Newcitz a Town of the same County did beat the joynts of their leggs with Clubs and so forced them to fall down which was also done by William of Klenow Lord of Rupovia John Stepkenick being sent for by his Lord George Metrowsky at Mautina when he perceived that he was to be fettered and chained leapt through the window into the trench of the Castle indeavouring to scape Apostasie by his flight but he being pursued by the Guard was brought back again wounded and was therefore sent to prison at Pilsna not to be released before he had abjured his Religion the same Metrowksy kept another man of his own Ambrose Sterpothus a skinner by trade in prison a whole yeare because he continued firm in his Religion and thrice he sent the Hangman to him and commanded him to be racked and by the torments of his rack forced him to confession at length he was let go and was fined 100. Imperials the Townsmen of Knesovesia upon Slana pursued with drawn Swords the poor Countrey people that fled into the fields and brought them back again some of them wounded some they brought from the Victualling houses and forced them to confession and received the Sacrament in one kind Baron Kolowrat set Muskets to the mouthes of those that refused to receive the Sacrament after the same manner or else by gags forced their mouths open and commanded the Hoast to be thrust down perhaps in imitation of Smeczanius who was used to do so before At Ronspurg in Tosta and in certain other places these wicked reformers are reported to have gone so farre in their wickednesse as to force some of the people not only meerly to abjure the Cup but also to throwe it upon the ground and spit upon it and tread it under their feete and this was the usuall forme of abjuring the Cup and swearing to the Catholique Religion I sweare before God Almighty and the Virgin Mary and all the Saints that I am not forced but do voluntarily return to the holy Roman Catholique faith and I do professe that it alone is true ancient saving faith I do abjure the Cup neither will I partake of the Cup for ever Yea moreover I will by all possible meanes diswade my Children and those that are committed to my trust from partaking of the Cup I do also promise that I will constantly persevere in this Religion and that I will oppose men of contrary Religion so God help and the Virgin his Mother and all the Saints 17. It is not alike provided how those that were now made Catholiques should for the future behave themselves some being content that they had not once filled their lusts upon these heriticall Subjects let them alone and molested them no more yet these poor miserable Creatures when ever they had opportunity to see an Evangelicall Minister did bewaile their Apostasie and did again communicate in both kindes but others were a second time compelled especially when it was suspected that they did not in their hearts return to the Popish Church concerning which certain Edicts of the Emperour and Commissioners came forth to compell them again and again a certain