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
and were beheaded When this was noysed abroad the vniversity running took away the bodys and in a sollemn Procession sung These are the saints who gave up their bodys for the testament of God They carry them to the Church of Bethlehem and there bury them 11. The day after Husse did propound certain theses to dispute against those superstitious indulgences and publickly with Mr. Ierom who did as strongly impugne there errors in the Schoole as Husse did in the Church shewed their vanity but when notwithstanding al this he impudently proceeded the company of Studients did violently snatch from him his Bulls they do cloth one of their own company in a whorish habit put him into a cart adorne his brest with Bulls carry him about and acclaime unto him the whore in the mean time with sweet words gesture alluring the company and distributing blessings at the length they burne all the Bulls with many of the Popes in the midst of the market 12 In the meane time the Pope cites Husse to appeare at Rome who in regard of the disswasion of the Vniversity and nobility did not appeare Pope Iohn 23 in the yeare 1413 in Iune did interdict their celebrating of Masse in regard of the presence of Huss a contumacious offender upon this when hee saw the Magistrates rage and the common people divided into contrary factions and all things to be disturbed he of his own accord leaves Prague and from towne to towne teaches the word of God untill the time that he was called to Constance to give an account of Doctrine receiving letters of safety from the Emperour Histories report how he was there handled by the Romish Councell to witte in the yeare 1415. The 6 of Iuly Husse in the yeare 1416 the 30 of May Ierom were burnt Consult the book of Martyrs CHAP. IX All Bohemia condemned 1. THe adversaries were not satisfied with their blood but suddainly took bloody Councell for the destruction of the whole nation for when the chiefe nobles of Bohemia 58 in number in the name of the whole Comonalty in the yeare 1416 the 2 of September sent letters from Prague subscribed with their own hands and signed with their own seals to the Councel complaining expostulating that their Pastor an innocent and holy man a faithfull teacher of the truth was unjustly condemned the Synod did not answer them neither did they answer the Nobility of Moravia which complained of like matters in letters of their own but the Councell writ to the persons who were besotted with the Romish superstition men in eminency namely Iohn of Mecklesburg Alsiscopeck of Dubba Alburt of Colditz intreating and obtesting them that they would regard the Romish-Catholick Church and that they would helpe the Legate of that councell Iohn Lotmislenia Bishop in oppressing Heresie and Hereticks these letters were dated at Constance in the yeare 1417 the 22 of March 2 Thus the Bohemians being incited to mutuall dissentions by the Councell contensious brawlings and hatred were exasperated every day more and more The Pristes did divulge from the Pulpit excommunications against the Husites and devoted them with direfull execrations and that they might render them the more hated used certaine lying signes amongst the rest they cast some dirt into the lamps of the wax candles and when the flame had burnt the waxe candle to the moistnesse of the dirt it was extinguished then cryed they out that God did by miracles declare that the wicked Hereticks were unworthy to enjoy the light they drove them therefore out of their society and persecuting them all manner of wayes breaking open their churches wheresoever they could which businesse in the yeare 1419 the 13 of Iuly raised such a tumult at Prague that the common people inraged threw 12 Senators of old Prague with the City Magistrate out of the windows of the Senate house who fell upon the points of speares 3 There was a new Pope elected of the Synod who was named Martine the 5 who with kind letters dated at Constance in the yeare 1418 invited the Bohemians to renounce the errors of Wicklif Husse But afterward in the year 1420 he publickly excommunicated them at Florence and excited the Emperor Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Governours Cityes Common-wealths to take up armes against them and did intreat them by the wounds of Christ and their owne salvation unanimously fall upon them and quite extirpate that sacrilegious and cursed nation and promised a vniversall remission of sinnes to the most wicked person that should kill but one Bohemian 4 Sygismund the Emperour being inflamed by this incentive with all Germany and the neighbouring Kingdomes yeelded himselfe a servant to Antichristian Tyrany and in the same yeare he enters Bohemia with a strong army and wearies them with 13 years continued warre and this was called the Husite warre concerning which Eneas Sylvius writes they would rather be admired than believed of posterity in regard Siska the Bohemian Captaine and his successours did alwaies vanquish the contrary party 5 But the state of the Bohemian affaires were very confused at home when some of them stood for the Emperor and Pope others defended the use of the cup from whence they were called Calikstiles upon this ground with horrible cruelty they were inflamed to destroy each other CHAP. X. The Martyrs of Tabor 1 BUt some things are to be dâ—â—coursed of more briefly in respect of places and persons and distinctly it must be opened how the Roman faction being incited by the Antichristian alarum of Martine did persecute the faithfull 2 When after the death of Wensislaus in the yeare 1419 Sygismund took the Kingdom and by his Deâ—egates he not being present there till he came afâ—er with an army ordered severall things which dâ—d streighten the liberty of their consciences some thousands of those that imbraced the pure Religion gathered together to a stony mountaine ten miles from Prague which they named Tabor that mountaine they compassed about with a wall and constituted a common-wealth determining to defend it by armes if need were 3. The Papists and those that were called Calikstins being enraged against them persecuted them all manner of ways first when they sent their Embassadors Gallus Perstenus and Mathias Blacils for peace sake to Cuttenburg these men were cast headlong into the most deepe mines of mettall but the Cuttenburghians who were devoted to the Emperor and for the most part the Germaine nation because of the working in the mines not long after John Codeck Minister of Gurim which had admitted the Emperors party and many others both Priests and Lay people were thus served for they bought those of Tabor giving five florence for a Priest and one for a Laick which was the cause of horrid butchery 4. Thurmenus does witnesse that which followes to be found in a certaine manuscript in the year 14â—0 ther were cast in at Cuttenburg in the first mine about 1700. in the second 1038. in
but approve of your Christian prudence and temperance Therefore we willingly advise you publickly that however opinions may arise from other places that you adhere to this and suffer not your selfe to bee led away from this holy and pure truth For this is certaine that the church is very well provided for and is then chiefly built up and kept in unity and unanimity when the pure doctrin of the Gospell without far-fetched subtilities and emergent contentions is propounded to Christian people in simplicity of truth as it is in Psalm the 25. Let integrity and uprightnesse preserve me Dated at Wittenbergh 3. Novemb. 1575. CHAP. XL. Vnder Rodolphus the Gospellers had full liberty I. IN the year after 1576 Maximilianus being dead his sonne Rudolphus succeeded him who trod in his fathers steps hee reigned peaceably untill the year on thousand six hundred and two no persecution being in all that time concerning religion In this year it was so brought about by the private practises of the Jesuites and their instruments that Rodolphus should subscribe to and cause to be published an Edict drawne by them concerning the renewing of a Decree of Wladislaus against the Piccardines for noe other end but that their Churches might be shut up for a time the Patrons of the Brethren the Noblemen protested that it did no way concern them since these men are not such as the Piccardines are described to be and therefore Caesar did connive and looked not so narrowly after them as that they should so strictly observe his decrees herein neither was it lawfull for the enemy to presse the Orders so farre and it was related by a man of credit that the evening before the 22. of July when newes was brought to the King that Alba Regia was taken being the chiefe City of Hungary in great astonishment said I looked for some such thingâ— since this day I began to usurp the Government of God which is of consciences 2. Neither intended hee any thing else than to make good the promise of his father and to settle liberty of conscience as he declared afterwards when in the year 1609 to the Orders of the Kingdome under both kinds the Pope the Spanish faction and their counsellors not consenting thereto he committed the lower consistory and the university to be reformed at the pleasure of the Orders giving them Patents whereby this donation was confirmed to them and gave leave that the churches and schools should be inhabited or if need be should be built and forbad that any of his subjects whether Catholick or Spirituall should bee punished for his religion and obliged those Kings that should succeed him religiously to observe these things and also gave power to the Orders to make choise of some among them to bee defendors of this liberty 3. The Orders therefore reform the consistory and for quietnesse sake they chuse 3 Hussites 3 Brethren and 3 Gospellers to these they adde the 3 Professours of the University and command these twelve chosen men to order all affaires concerning Church Government throughout the Kingdome And because it was generally agreed that the confederates should bee cashiered and Church government bee according to the rule of Gods law Elias Shudim of Semanin a Hussite is chosen first Administrator and afterward to bee elected out of the ordinary sort of Ministers But concerning the brethren it is concluded the order of whose discipline was granted for the better reconciliation that they should have their Seniour being the next Colleague of the Administrator so long as the diversity of this order yet in a friendly concord should endure To whom at Prague a Church is given by the Vniversity as it were to the true off-spring of Hus called Bethlehem famous for the preaching of Hus. All which things were done with the publick acclamation of all good people and all things rung out with divine praises and were fastned to the doors of the church these lines The Temples ope'd the Lion joyes that Raph To Maxamillian kept his promised faith c. 4 The orders under both kinds made a friendly agreement with the orders under one kind for the consideration of peace and mutuall concord among them which having digested into articles they promised to enter into the Registrie of the kingdome but to be confirmed by the subscription of Caesar his Councellors But three were found who did refuse being two or three times solicited having some scruple of conscience Zaenko Adalbertus Popel de Lobkowitz Chancellor of the kingdome William Slawata â—e Chlum and Iaroslaus de Martinitz Smeczanskie Therefore they solemnely protest against the orders under both kinds that if hereafter they shall attempt any thing against this liberty granted to the whole kingdome by Caesar that then they would punish them as disturbers of the publique peace which protestation of the orders Rodolphus assenting to it is entered into the Registrie of the Kingdome and kept among the priviledges and confirmed by the same oath with other priviledges of the Kingdome by Rodolphus and his successors 5. False Hussitisme being taken away a more pure Religion flourished throughout the whole kingdome so that there was scarce one among a hundred who hid not professe the Evangelicall doctrine But alas with the liberty of Religion as usually it happens by little and little two much liberty of life began to increase and learning even among whom formerly it flourished began after a strange manner to be dissolved Wherefore this liberty bringing along with it carnall security did not please all godly men and some began to presage ill that so a horrible tempest from some Ferdinand should againe overwhelme them It was a Propheticall speech in peace my bitternesse is most bitter and fullfilled of which it followeth CHAP. XLI New stratagems of the enemies under Matthias I. I Must begin higher that the bottom of our calamity may be more apparent The occasion of the grant of this ample Religious Liberty by Rodolphus to the Bohemians and Silesians was because the Hungarians with Austrians and Moravians forsaking Rodolphus for some civile causes had created his brother Matthew Archduke King Duke and Marquis and with a great army in the year 1608. entring into Bohemia even unto Prague did not only demand the Crowne of Hungarie which was there kept but courted the Bohemians to a revolting but they with the Silesians were faithfull to him and Mathew with the Crowne of Hungarie and hope for succession in the Kingdome of Bohemia after the death of Rodolphus being sent away they asked and obtained for that they had sworne fealty to Rodolphus the former promised favour of Religious liberty and the power of the Consistorie and Vniversitie 2. In the meane time for this affront put upon him by his Brother he was very much vexed and the more because foreseeing the Spanish plots began to boad no good luck to his Bohemians and all Germanie he began to enter into new consultation with himselfe and he was
of these troubles they throw them headlong out of the Castle windowes together with their secretary Philip Fabricius who was privy to all their designs This indeed was done rashly and without mature deliberation but they were engag'd to it by a protestation made against the disturbers of the peace in the yeare 1609 for Pope Lewis was then absent The enemies look't upon it as a miracle that none of those that were throwne downe lost their lives but truly it was not so strange that men falling on the soft ground strewed with papers under the Chancery window should remain without any hurt It was rather a signe that God would have them preserved to be the Bohemians scourges 3 Having begun to put their intent in practise against these men and appeasing the tumult which was upon this occasion raised through all the cities of Prague They banished the Jesuites out of the Kingdome as the chiefe contrivers of these mischiefs whose instruments onely these men were in the yeare 1618. 23 day of May which act administred a welcome occasion to the enemies of kindling the War about Religion wherewith all Europe is in a flame at this day And although the Bohemians by Embassadours did protest to Caesar that they had no intentions against his royall Majesty but onely to bring to punishment the disturbers of the publicke peace being thereunto authorized not onely by his Majesties letters but engaged also by their protestation made at that time humbly beseeching Caesar that hee would not otherwise interpret the action Yet Caesar by the instigations of Ferdinand and those of the league resolved to revenge this treason as they called it or by the force of arms and the Bohemians on the other side resolved to defend themselves by armes and therefore chose in that Interregnum 30 directors the Moravians and Silesians in the mean time taking the Bohemians parts when they perceived Religion to be the cause of the quarrell 4. It did appeare that this was that which the enemies laboured for and that to this purpose they divers wayes provoked the Bohemians because the Jesuites applauded themselves in this fit occasion of a totall conquest of the Bohemians as the States declared in their Apology of some out of their intercepted letters 5. Those of Caesars counsellors which did advise them to use more moderation were not regarded The Cardinall Cleselius Bishop of Vienna was accused by the Spanish Embassador before Caesar as a traitor to the house of Austria and imprisoned because that hee was against the War They report that when Cleselius affirmed that the destruction of that flourishing Kingdome would undoubtedly follow if they were forced to a desperate defence of their liberties Ferdinand should answer We would rather have the Kingdome destroyed then damned An Imperiall Army presently rushed into Bohemia under Generall Dampier afterwards a Spanish under Generall Bucquoy 6. In the mean time Matthias Dies and the Bohemians with the Moravians Silesians and Lusations consult whether Ferdinand who wa so open an enemy both of their Religion and Liberties and rather obtruded on them by subtilty than chosen by their free consent and who had intermedled with their affaires while Matthias was yet living contrary to his own Letters Patents should bee admitted to the Crown and at last conclude that hee should not succeed Whereupon they send Embassadors to Franckford where the Electors were assembled for the choice of a new Emperour to signifie this and to desire that Ferdinand might not bee admitted among them by the name of King of Bohemia whom they would not acknowledge for their King But this was in vaine for hee was admitted and afterward chosen Emperour the Bohemians in the meane time electing Fredericke Count Palatine for their King CHAP. XLIV The Bohemians being overcome undergoe a terrible storme I. THose of the League being provoked by this are hurried into furie and raising greater forces rush againe into Bohemia under Maximilian of Bavaria and taking by storme Pracatice and Pisek Protestant townes put the Citizens to the sword for a terror to others and every where make great slaughters of the Protestants At length they came as farre as Prague the Metropolis of the Kingdome which being struck with a Pannicke feare after the overthrow of their forces in a set battell before the Walls in 1620. the 8 of November and the flight of their new King is delivered unto them and all Bohemia Moravia and Silesia The Conquerour promising to keep articles but afterwards performing them according to the manner of the Councell at Constance 2. And now began the face of the Bohemian Church to appeare in sadnesse at the raysing that most cruell persecution which hath brought an utter ruine and destruction of the Protestants They now carried on their designes otherwise than they formerly did in England the Low-Countries and France doing more mischiefe by their milde as they would have it seem proceedings than lately by their outragious furie when the sword and fire and wheele were the instruments of their rage against the faithfull Which was a new policy of the Whore of Babylon to appear couretous that she might scare fear from her by her cruellty For that their Privie Councel is open and manifest wherein when it was debated at Rome about the time of the preparation for the war in the year 1617. how they should deale with the Bohemians and other Germanes after the Conquest it was agreed That seeing those strong purges which had bin administred for the expelling hereticall humors had wrought weakely they would try whether they could be cured by a temperate dâ—et And therefore it was not commodious to put the Hereticikes to death wherein they did glory as in Martyrdome but to use some other meanes whereby to weary them and reduce them to their obedience And to change the hatefull and rigid name of Inquisition into the milder name of Ref rmations 3. And according to this decree they proceeded aganist the Moravians Bohemians and Silesians so that all that professed the pure doctrine of the Gospell were oppressed and had onely the favour of not being utterly extinguished few among them obtaining the glory of Martyrdome Don Martine de Huerda by Nation a Spaniard by trade a Taylor but being brought up from his youth in Bohemia had enobled himselfe by the stealing away the Countesse of Serivia of the house of Kolowrat and afterwards for hs valour advanced to a Barons degree and enriched with a great estate was often heard to boast to the Protestants faces that when he brought the newes of the victory to Vienna standing at Caesars side he advised him to command them to be slaughtred without distinction of sex or age that there might not be any remainders of so rebellious and Hereticall a Nation To whom Caesar answered that hope of favour was given them by the Duke of Bavaria but there would not afterwards want meanes whereby to quell the Haeresie and rebelious desires of so barbarous
accustomed manner the Kings Treasurer was at hand for all things were stuft with Traytors and Treasons who protesting that the Emperour had need of it to defray the charges of the Warre took it away giving to the Creditor a written note to testifie that such a summe was due to him from the Emperour 8. So the ancient inhabitants being commanded to depart those that were addicted to the Popish Religion divided the confiscated goods among themselves as it was commodious for any of them to add this or that Village Towne Castle or other Lordship to their owne bounds and as they could obtaine it from the Emperour as a gift or upon any other account The greatest part fell to the share of strangers Spaniards Italians Germans the Commanders of the Imperiall Army instead of their pay 9. If there remained any goods of Widdowes or Wards that were not taken away by colour of Law there scarce wanted Ahabs to covet Naboths vineyard For if any one was pleased with anothers mans ground bordering on him he would circumvent him by craft or allure him by promise as a favour or compell him by quartering Souldiers on him to sell it Whereas the buyers for the most part performed the part of pricers cheapners and contractors obtruding such a price on them as they themselves listed and afterwards not paying it 10. The Emperour commanded the Charter of the Kingdome granted by ancient Kings to bee brougbt to him at Vienna which when hee received he said Are these the Papers which have procured so much trouble to our Ancestors And viewing the severall Parchments seals and subscriptions he rent them and threw them into the fire Adam de Waldstein Burgrave of Prague and supream Officiall of the Kingdome who brought them standing by astonished and secretly sighing CHAP. LXXXVIII The Protestants are prohibited from the exercise of Religion and the benefit of the Law even those that had not offended the Emperor I. IN the mean time the Ministers as is spoken of in this place were banished and thrust out of the Kingdome and a great charge published that none should receive any of them upon any pretence whatsoever Which when they who had in no kind broken their allegiance to Caesar or whom Caesar had already pardoned boasted not to belong to them they were charged by reitterated commands to dismisse them Neither were the most part disobedient to those commands 2. Charles de Zerotine alone as we formerly mentioned dared to oppose himself against this cruelty and did not onely withstand Cardinall of Ditrichstein Governour of Moravia and his Commissioners but when he found no help here went to Vienna complaining to the Emperour of the wrongs of the Cardinall that he extended that punishment to him who was innocent which was inflicted on perjured persons as they pleased to call them and desired that right might be done to him But he received this answer of the Emperours Counsellors who excused this proceeding That this businesse of Reformation was badly undâ—rstood as if it were instituted meerly for the imposition of punishment when it was rather a fatherly care which the Emperor bare for the salvation of his Kingdomes and Provinces and that the Emperor was bound though no crime was intervened to provide as well for the eternall salvation of his subjects as for their outward tranquillity At this the Baron was astonished when hee saw those plots which had been covered with darknesse so openly manifested and Tyranny over consciences cloaked with an appearance of piety He went forward yet to expostulate with the Emperour himself The Emperour answered That he would grant him nothing for his conscience The Baron replied That in his conscience he was obliged to God and that he desired that Caesar would not oppresse it The Emperour answered That he did not oppress it but that Preachers could in no wise bee granted The Baron replied That he could not want the holy worship of God and that this could not be done without a Minister of the Word And with this Protestation he departed from the Emperour not onely openly retaining Paul Hronovius his houshold Chaplain but like pious Obadiah sustaining the most religious old man Iohn Lanctius above 70 years of age George Drastus superintendent among the brethren in Moravia and many others privately in their Caves with bread and water And setting aside all fear of men he doubted not to give liberty to his own subjects but to others out of the neighbouring places of what degree soever to come to his holy exercises which were performed in his own Castle Namesch by Hronovius In which thing hee had in Bohemia the Baron of Slaupna George Sadorius and some few others his pious imitators untill themselves as shall afterward be related were commanded into banishment 2. In the mean time when wicked men are like Euripus neither can bee quiet but cast out mire and dirt as the Prophet speaks it came to pass that they invented a new kind of rage By banishing the instruments of the truth by a peculiar writ that whosoever of the Barons Noblemen or Citizens did keep a Non-Catholick Tutor for their Children should presently dismiss him otherwise he should bee taken and punished 4. And that all might understand that this was done seriously and that Caesar could endure none but Roman-Catholicks a decree was published in the year 1625. 22. of June whereby Non-Catholicks were for ever prohibited the use of the laws of the Kingdome 5. The good Protestants understanding that the laws were not serviceable to them and that nothing was remaining in which they might appeale when they were wronged besides Heaven did this one thing those that were capable to understand this mistery of iniquity viz. Solicite God with sighs and groans to be the revenger of such malice otherwise there was no help left CHAP. LXXXIX The Protestant Nobility are banished out of the Kingdome I. THe enemies being every day puft up with the successe of their victories set upon an action unlooked for that all the Protestant stocks of whom the Kingdom did partly consist should altogether and at once be banished the Kingdome For they hoped that when the Provinces of Germany round about were subdued and the King of Denmark with Mansfeild and Winariensis and others were overcome and upon that the hearts of many faint it would come to passe that at length being struck with this thunderbolt most would forsake Religion which happened accordingly In the year therefore 1627. July 31. a day consecrated to Ignatius Loyola to witnesse that it was coined by the Loyolites as the first inventers a solemne Mandate of the Emperours came forth wherein he affirming heresie to be the sole cause of the so many miseries of the sometime flourishing Kingdome of Bohemia whereby the minds of the inhabitants were as well divided among themselves as from their Magistrates and diverse judgements of God drawn upon them declares his will thus We therefore our conscience urging us neither
can nor will any longer tollerate any one of the inferiour much lesse superiour States among all the subjects of our hereditary Kingdome of Bohemia of either sex who is infected with hereticall Errors And therefore we do grant unto the same superiour States the term of one six moneths to learn the holy and only saving Roman-catholick faith And that there may not want some from whom they may sufficiently draw saving instructions and informations we do upon our religious counsell appoint certaine Commissioners of Reformation as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall men It was our pleasure therefore by this publick act to assure all men of our Fatherly care for the salvation of this Kingdome as likewise to warn that all and every person making account both of his temporary and eternall salvation would not fail to yield themselves obedient to our will and to be diligently instructed by the afore-named Commissioners of Reformation and unlesse any man shall obey our will and agree with us in the same faith hee shall not be licenced to tarry in our Kingdome much lesse to possesse his Goods For wee Will that all those who are obstinately stubborne shall selling their Goods among the Catholicks depart out of the Kingdome of Bohemia at the end of the terme and never promise themselves any return unlesse they turn Catholicks c. 3. Here one might see strange alterations of minds and diversities of Counsell Those that loved Religion and constancy at their hearts did instantly separate themselves by banishment others were troubled and wavered seeking holes and hiding places soliciting Caesar by Petitions either to change the decree or grant them a longer time or else indeavouring by words to obtaine it as much as was in any mans power There were not some wanting who pretending the discomodities of banishment poverty age sicknesse duties and every thing else thought it best to satisfie the Emperours will Others were found who thinking to deceive the Emperour and Pope did buy with their gold false testimonies of the Priests that they had performed confession and communicated in one kind And it was so that some did by those bought bills make a shew of dissembled Apostacy and by that means avoided banishment 4. But such a Marchandize of soules did not prosper well with some For Lawrence Niezburski Pastor of Alberts in New-Prague who did too freely use that imposture and for such bills had scraped together a great summe of mony from the Citizens Noblemen and Barons being betrayed was taken and with him above a hundred Citizens of Prague who being all accused of Treason both to God and the Emperour were adjudged to death The Lay-men redeemed their lives with a pecuniary fine and a true Apostacy the false Priest was degraded and put to death in the market-place in old Prague in the yeare 1631. the seventh of Aprill But we must returne to those feares which did arise upon the first publication of the Act for banishment 5. The enemies having understood so great wavering of minds and conceiving some hope that more in tract of time would either be dashed against the rock of dispaire or throwne downe headlong into the bottome of doubts obtaine of the Emperour that another six moneths may be added to the end of that terme A new decree is thereupon published Decemb. the 6. of the same yeare 1627. whereby a longer time of staying within the bounds of their country is granted but yet sharper than before for all were forced to imbrace the Romish religion partly by promises and partly by threats Besides the said act of banishment is extended to Widows Children onely are excepted whether their mothers were alive or no and commanded to be delivered to the care and instructions of Catholicks or else to be shut up in Monasteries And this was a cause of many groanes and teares to the godly when their Noblemens Sonnes and Daughters even marriageable mayds we pulled from the lapp of their Mothers Aunts and Uncles and thrust into the Jesuites Colledges or the Monkes cells Their goods were taken out of the hands of their lawful tutors and managed by Papists 6. The fawning craftinesse of these seducers whereby they deceived unwary persons and did more hurt then by their rigour and terrours As often as any one that did well know the foundations of religion came before these reformers to be examined they granted many things and permitted most of the foundations to be believed yea even the Article concerning justification by faith saying that this one thing was required of them to give obedience to the Church and to acknowledge the Roman Bishop to be a visible Head of the Church seeing it was necessary for good orders sake so the simpler sort supposing that they were not constrained to any other faith then that which they had learnt thought they might with a safe conscience promise that outward obedience If they saw any one sprung from a more noble family or to be either the sole or with a few others remainder of the race or in any otherwise delicate and they suggested to them how much it grieved his Imperiall Majesty that those ancient families which formerly were the ornaments and props of their Countrey should run themselves into the danger of banishment through meer unadvisednesse that it would be better for them to remain and flourish under the favour both of God and Caesar By these and the like Stratagems of Satan there was a great ruine of the Protestant Nobility all of them who thought their earthly Countrey better then the heavenly or whose consciences were stupified by their subtilties sliding into apostasie or hypocrisie 7. Notwithstanding about a hundred families of both Sexes that lov'd heavenly things above earthly and who did reverence that command of the heavenly Emperour Come out of Babylon my people leaving their inheritances and all their possessions went away Some were dispersed through the neighbouring Provinces Votland Misaia Lusatia Silesia Poland Hungary some who were more easily able to endure the troubles of banishment went as farre as Prussia Russia and Transylvania Among these was the goodly old man Charles de Zerotine who only could obtain leave to stay in his Countrey all the dayes of his life if he would deprive himselfe of the holy worship of God or covertly use it yet he would rather be afflicted with the people of God then enjoy temporary profits Having sold his possessions but for halfe the price a part of which also they extorted from him under colour of a certain Sute and Judgement and other devices he departed with Caesars knowledge and leave to Presland in Silesia but a little after a Declaration was annexed to the Imperiall letters that if the Baron would depart from that City it should be lawfull for him to go whither he would so that he came not back into the Emperours Provinces or went not to the Emperours enemies 8. The Enemies in the mean time not vouchsafing such as had departed out
had no desire to return into their Countrey and give up themselves to such dangerous snares but commended their and the Churches cause with sighes to God 14. The Emperour in the mean time that he might preserve his Kingdome in a flourishing condition or else increase his glory fill'd the empty places of those that departed with spirituall persons to whom being advanced to the dignity of State he assign'd the first place and commanded that they should go and sit before Princes Counts and Barons which thing was never till that day heard of in Bohemia 15. He also abrogated the ancient Statutes of the Kingdom and established new ones which were printed declaring that he did confirme all the priviledges of the Kingdom except those Concerning Religion Of the free election of a King Of the use of the Bohemian language in publick Courts that he might by little little extinguish the language with the Nation Of the goods of persons that can make no wils _____ falling to the Common-wealth Of not alienating the lands from the male-stock by marriage That by the marriages of Bohemian maides with forraigners or new persons the ancient families might be thrust from their possessions or else more easily rooted out which was manifest by the effect when some were thrust out by others from fine inheritances whether they would or not As if it had been on purpose desired to oppresse every where the Kingdoms priviledges and to appoint a Government not over men but over beasts CHAP. XC Their Proceedings against the Free Cities IT followeth how tyrannically they used the free Cities Especially for that instead of an halter they placed Chief-Officers and Judges in the Cities without whose licence no man could move himself those of the Order of Knights these of Citizens But what such men even such as in the great scarcety of home-bred Romanes they were able to procure Bannites Italians or Germanes or else apostate Bohemians covetous muck-wormes who drove their own designes infamous homicides base-begotten persons Spirits such as sell persons free born Fidlers Stage players Smiths certain also not so much as A. B. C. darians without estate without any certain abode without Conscience all this we could easily demonstrate in particular and pertinent examples so that projecting villany with all impudency they obliged their faith to Antichrist under the name of Cesar for to invent treachery and lay snares for others men unworthy to have place in our writings 2. To such as these were all businesses in Cities committed upon their determination the City-Councells were commanded to depend Nor could the publick complaints of the ataxie and confusion of affaires prevaile any thing to the contrary but onely that they being unable to bear it in the yeare 1624. did afterwards displace the Capitanes or head-Officers and referred all to the Judges onely which neverthelesse were assisted by the chief of the Souldiery as a super-attendant lest the Kings affaires should suffer dammage 3. Their care in the next place was to suck juice and bloud out of the Cities which they notably effected by Taxes and Contributions for some yeares continued and extorted by the Souldiers power 4. Then the Ministers of the Churches being removed and Masse-Priests for the most part by force of Armes introduc'd they begun to compell people to frequent the Masse Marriages also were prohibited except amongst the Catholiques by which stratagem of Satan very many in every place carnally affected were brought to Apostasie and afterwards promoted to the dignity of Senators even men of no judgement or experience 5. The number of Apostates being thus augmented the Popish Senate began to be enraged against the rest of the Citizens diverse wayes which will not seem tedious particularly to describe how their proceedings were contrived onely we shall in the interim set down the generall instructions given to the Capitanes of Distresses in the yeare 1624. CHAP. XCI Articles gathered out of the Instructions given to the Capitanes of Distresses July 1624. 1. WHosoever do refuse to joyne with the Kings Majesty in point of Religion all traffick and commerce shall be debarr'd him 2. Whosoever shall permit private Preaching Baptisme or Matrimony in his house shall pay an hundred taleres or if he be not able shall suffer imprisonment six moneths But he that shall be found to harbour a Preacher in his house shall loose both goods and life 3. The ordinary Catholique Pastor of a place may not accompany any dead person which was not Catholique with ceremonies to his grave neverthelesse the funerall duties shall be paid him 4. If any shall follow his work upon Catholique holy-dayes he shall be imprisoned and shall not be dismist till after payment of ten florences 5. If any shall be caught in a victualling-house in time of Masse he shall pay ten florences and the Victualler double 6. Whosoever shall laugh at the Catholique Priest or his Sermon his words gestures and so at the Catholique rites he shall be banished and his goods confiscated 7. Whosoever shall eat flesh upon dayes prohibited without an indulgence from the Pope shall pay ten florences 8. If at any time the Master of the Family shall be absent upon the Lords day or upon festivall Masse-dayes if he be of the richer sort he shall pay four pounds of wax toties quoties if of the meaner sort two 9. Let the youth be taken notice of throughout all Cities Towns and Villages those that place their Sonnes in non-Catholique Schooles let them call them thence by the feast of All-saints under paine of 50. florences for the wealthy and of 25. for the poorer sort 10. If any bring up youth privily in his house all shall be taken from him and himself cast out of the City by the common Catch-pole 11. It shall not be lawfull for any non-Catholique to make a will but if he shall it shall be null 12. No young men whether at home with their Parents or Prentices may be admitted unto any Arts or Trades as Masters unlesse they first have learned the Catholique Religion 13. If any shall speak unbeseemingly of God the blessed Virgin the Mother of God of the Saints Ecclesiasticall rites or the famous house of Austria he shall loose his head without all pardon or favour 14. Whatsoever any Citizen painteth in his house within or without to the dishonour of the Catholique Religion he shall be carefull that it be blotted out forthwith under paine of 30. florences In like manner whatsoever shall be ingraven or painted upon Gates Temples or other publique places that they cause it to be broken in peeces or blotted out and the memorial of Christ crucified or something else set up in its place 15. The poor people in Hospitalls unlesse they shall be converted before the feast of All saints this present yeare let them be cashiered and not re-admitted unlesse they turn Catholiques c. The conclusion was this Herein the constant and unalterable will of his sacred Majesty
the constant and fatheâ—ly admonition of our clement Lord and King his Imperiall Majesty as also to the friendly Church inquisitors and they do despise the sacred wholesome and Catholick Religion but that especially there be two to wit George Kezelius and Henry Semanaina who do persist to oppose the will and command of his sacred Imperiall Majesty to the scandall and evill examples of the Non-Catholicks wherefore in the name and lieu of his sacred and Imperiall Majesty our most clement Lord and King we command you that you seriously advise those your two fellow Citizens arch-sectarieâ— and schismaticks that they do not corrupt others with their errors but that they abjure their erronious opinions and at length imbrace the true Religion and so return into the bosome of the Catholick Church and that they do this by the feast of the Ascention or at utmost by Whitsontide under paine of banishment from the City and ejection from the Kingdome of Bohemia but since you have been certified concerning the late Edict made by P. Lichtenstein of blessed memory Vice-roy of Bohemia in the name and lieu of his sacred Imperiall Majesty that all priviledge and trade be denied to all your Citizens and Burgers who are schismaticks non-Catholicks and not agreeing in religions with his most Imperiall Majesty as disturbers of peace and concord And as yet we are not satisfied whether this hath been by you put into execution If th refere hitherto it hath not we command you in the name of his Imperiall Majesty that you do execute it timely and seriously admonish all your Citizens and inhabitants inmates or servants of other sects elder or younger who are non-Catholickes or hold schismaâ—icall opinions that they so farre consult both for their temporall and eternall advantage as to return into the bosome of the holy Catholick Church under pain of severest and inevitable punishment in which businesse you shall in good time inform us what hâ—th been by you done that so by this means you may fulfill the will of his Imperiall Majesty Given at Prague 17 of April An. Dom. 1627. N. N. N. Appointed Commissioners by his Imperial Majesty for the Reformation of Religion in Bohemia 7. Others of their letters sent the same year to the same persons Grave trusty and well-beloved friends we did expect that you would in obedience to us have executed our late Edict delivered unto you in the name of our most clement Lord his sacred Imperial Majesty that your fellow Citizens who are Non-Catholicks would have forsaken their schismaticall opinions and have returned to the holy Catholick religion but especially that those two obstinate Hereticks George Kezelius and Henricus Seminina would hâ—ve made auricular confession have received the Sacrament of the Altar in one species according to the institution of the holy Catholick Church within the time by us alloâ—ted but we perceive that the two sectaries before mentioned and the rest of your Citizens still continue in their inbred obstinacy and despise the Catholick Religion and all wholesome doctrine and that none of them hitherto have imbraced the Catholick Religion whâ—refore since his sacred Imperiall Majesty will not afford hâ—s royall favour nor allow any to abide or trade in the Kingdome of Bohemia who shall refuse to imbrace the same religion with him but follow the fancies of their own brain and thereby become incendiaries and brochers of sundry heresies whence arise for the most part severall factions and disturbances of the Common-wealth and the whole Kingdome therefore we seriously command you that those two Schismaticks be not onely out-lawed and disfranchâ—sed but that they be presently banished from the City and whole Kingdome of Bohâ—mia without any respect of persons or conditions and that the very day allotted for their banishment or the day after they go out of the City by sun-set and for the future that they never returne into the City or any part of the Kingdome of Bohemia upon pain of severe punishment if at any time they shall returne and bee apprehended Likewise we do seriously and strictly command you in his sacred Imperial Majesties name that you deny to al the Citizens or inhabitants of the city of new Bolislavia who are not Catholicks the benefit of the law or their revenews or to buâ— or sel or any other civil contract that you strictly forbid that none of them for the future do attempt to do the things forbidden without our privity unlesse they do desist from their obstinacy and hereticall opinions and submit to the fatherly commands of his sacred Imperiall Majesty and imbrace the holy Catholick Religion and produce a testimony of their doing so from their confessour And again seriously advise them in our name and strictly command them that without any delay they imbrace the holy Catholick Religion by the last day of June this present year Let every one of thâ—m make confession to their ordinary Catholick Priest and receive the Sacrament of the Altar devoutlie reverentlie according to the custome of the Roman-Catholick Church undâ—r pain of banishment from the City and the whole Kingdome of Bohâ—mia We will deligentlie promote your Petition concerning the removing of the souldiery from your citie onely you shal endeavour that all your fellow Citizens so much the sooner professe the Catholick faith for by this meanes things will better suceeed with you all in this life and the life to come and the wil of his sacred Imperiall Majestie will be fulfilled Given at Prague the 15. June Anno. 1627. N. N. Commissioners in ordinary from his sacred Imperiall Majesty King of Bohemia Hungary for Reformation of Religion in the said Kingdom of Bohemia 8. These Edicts were executed those two were banished with some others Some of the City of their own accord departed for better security or rather secretly run away others were denied traffique the Capuchians went about the Market and from house to house they shut up all the Mercers Shops Taverns and Ale-houses and from those that notwithstanding this Edict sould any thing they tooke away their cloth and linnen and other commodities no man daring to gaine say them the greater part therefore of the Citizens took the mark of the beast that so they might buy and sell CHAP. XCV The Reformation of Litomeric IN the yeare 1517. the 21. of August the Town of Litomeric did ordaine by the comand and unanimous consent of all the Citizens which order they had regestred in their publique bookes and kept in their severall Companies which order runne that none should be inrouled into their catalogue of Citizens _____ no though he were borne in the City and this Edict they made for their better agreement and if at any time any man should move that this order should be nulled he should be disfranchised and depart the City within a moneth This law was ratified and observed inviolable for a hundred yeares untill the time of Ferdinand for in the yeare 1617. two