BOOK VII.

FARTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

SECTION I.

Persecutions in Bohemia and Germany.

THE severity exercised by the Roman hemians, which produced a violent persed Catholics over the reformed Bohemians, in- tion against the latter. At Prague it w duced the latter to send two ministers and extremely severe, till, at length, the refor four laymen to Rome, in the year 977, to ed, driven to desperation, armed themselv seek redress from the pope. After some attacked the senate-house, and cast twel delay, their request was granted, and their of its members, with the speaker, out of t grievances redressed. Two things in par- windows. The pope, hearing of this, we ticular were permitted to them, viz. to have to Florence, and publicly excommunicat divince service in their own language, and the reformed Bohemians, exciting the e to give the cup in the sacrament to the laity. peror of Germany, and all other kin The disputes, however, soon broke out again, princes, dukes, &c. to take up arms, in ord the succeeding popes exerting all their to extirpate the whole race; promising, power to resume their tyranny over the way of encouragement, full remission of minds of the Bohemians; and the latter, with sins to the most wicked person who sho great spirit, aiming to preserve their re- kill one Bohemian Protestant. The res ligious liberties. of this was a bloody war; for several pop

Some zealous friends of the gospel, applied princes undertook the extirpation, or at le to Charles, king of Bohemia, A. D. 1375, to expulsion, of the proscribed people: wi call a council for an inquiry into the abuses the Bohemians, arming themselves, F that had crept into the church, and to make pared to repel them in the most vigor a thorough reformation. Charles, at a loss manner. The popish army prevailing aga how to proceed, sent to the pope for advice; the Protestant forces at the battle of Cutt the latter, incensed at the affair, only re- burgh, they conveyed their prisoners to th plied, "Punish severely those presumptuous deep mines near that town, and threw se and profane heretics." The king, according- ral hundreds into each, where they peris ly, banished every one who had been con- in a miserable manner. cerned in the application; and, to show his A bigoted popish magistrate, nar zeal for the pope, laid many additional re- Pichel, seized twenty-four Protesta straints upon the reformed Christians of the among whom was his daughter's husba country. On their all confessing themselves of

The martyrdom of John Huss and Jerome reformed religion, he sentenced them to of Prague, greatly increased the indigna- drowned in the river Abbis. On the day tion of the believers, and gave animation to the execution, a great concourse of pe their cause. These two great and pious men attended; and Pichel's daughter threw were condemned by order of the council of self at her father's feet, bedewed them v Constance, when fifty-eight of the principal tears, and implored him to pardon her 1 Bohemian nobility interposed in their favor. band. The obdurate magistrate sternly Nevertheless they were burnt; and the pope, plied, "Intercede not for him, child; he in conjunction with the council of Constance, heretic, a vile heretic." To which she n ordered the Romish clergy, everywhere, to answered, "Whatever his faults may be excommunicate all who adopted their opin- however his opinions may differ from yo ions, or murmured at their fate. In conse- he is still my husband, a thought which quence of these orders great contentions a time like this, should alone employ arose between the Papists and reformed Bo- whole consideration." Pichel flew int violent passion, and said, "You are

These two great men were first brought to the cannot you, after his death, have a m light of truth by reading the doctrines of our coun-worthier husband?"—"No, sir," replied: ryman John Wickliffe, who, like the morning star of reformation, first burst from the dark night of "my affections are fixed upon him, popish error, and illuminated the surrounding death itself shall not dissolve my marr vow." Pichel, however, continued inf

world.

ble, and ordered the prisoners to be tied with care was taken lest his wounds should morti. their hands and feet behind them, and in that fy, and his sufferings be thus shortened, till manner thrown into the river. This being the last day, when the forcing out of his eyes put into execution, the young lady watched caused his death. her opportunity, leaped into the waves, and embracing the body of her husband, both sunk wgether.

The other acts of these monsters were various and diabolical. At length, the winter being far advanced, the high court of reformers, with their military ruffians, thought PERSECUTION BY THE EMPEROR FERDINAND. proper to return to Prague; but on their way The emperor Ferdinand, whose hatred to meeting with a Protestant pastor, they could the Protestants was unlimited, not thinking not resist the temptation of feasting their be had sufficiently oppressed them, instituted barbarous eyes with a new kind of cruelty. a high court of reformers, upon the plan of This was to strip him naked, and to cover the inquisition, with this difference, that the him alternately with ice and burning coals. reformers were to remove from place to This novel mode of torture was immediately place. The greater part of this court con- put in practice, and the unhappy victim exsisted of Jesuits, and from its decisions there pired beneath the torments, which delighted was no appeal. Attended by a body of troops, his inhuman persecutors.

it made the tour of Bohemia, and seldom ex- Some time after, a secret order was issued amined or saw a prisoner; but suffered the by the emperor, for apprehending all noblesiders to murder the Protestants as they men and gentlemen who had been principalpleased, and then to make report of the mat- ly concerned in supporting the Protestant ter afterwards. cause, and in nominating Frederick, elector

The first who fell a victim to their barbari- palatine of the Rhine, to be the king of Bowas an aged minister, whom they killed hemia. Fifty of these were suddenly seized as he lay sick in bed. Next day they robbed in one night, and brought to the castle or and murdered another, and soon after shot a Prague; while the estates of those who were thurd, while preaching in his pulpit. absent were confiscated, themselves made They ravished the daughter of a Protest-outlaws, and their names fixed upon a galat before his face, and then tortured her lows as a mark of public ignominy. ther to death. They tied a minister and The high court of reformers afterwards wife back to back, and burnt them. proceeded to try those who had been appréAnother minister they hung upon a cross hended, and two apostate Protestants were eam, and making a fire under him, broiled appointed to examine them. Their examto death. A gentleman they hacked iners asked many unnecessary and impertito small pieces; and they filled a young nent questions, which so exasperated one of a's mouth with gunpowder, and setting the noblemen, that he exclaimed, opening re to it, blew his head to pieces. his breast at the same time, "Cut here; But their principal rage being directed search my heart; you shall find nothing but inst the clergy, they seized a pious Pro- the love of religion and liberty: those were stant minister, whom they tormented daily the motives for which I drew my sword, and a month in the following manner: they for those I am willing to die." aced him amidst them, and derided and As none of the prisoners would renounce cked him; they spit in his face, and pinch- their faith, or acknowledge themselves in him in various parts of his body; they error, they were all pronounced guilty; the ted him like a wild beast, till ready to sentence was, however, referred to the empire with fatigue; they made him run the peror. When that monarch had read their utlet, each striking him with a twig, names, and the accusations against them, he eir fists, or ropes; they scourged him with passed judgment on all, but in a different res; they tied him up by the heels with manner; his sentences being of four kinds, head downwards, till the blood started viz. death, banishment, imprisonment for life, t of his nose, mouth, &c.; they hung him and imprisonment during pleasure. Twenty by the arms till they were dislocated, and of them being ordered for execution, were had them set again: burning papers, informed they might send for Jesuits, monks, ped in oil, were placed between his fin- or friars, to prepare for their awful change, sand toes; his flesh was torn with red-hot but that no communication with Protestants cers; he was put to the rack; they pulled would be permitted them. This proposal the nails of his fingers and toes; he was they rejected, and strove all they could to nadoed on his feet; a slit was made comfort and cheer each other upon the solsears and nose; they set him upon an emn occasion. The morning of the execu and whipped him through the town; his tion being arrived, a cannon was fired as a were pulled out; boiling lead was pour- signal to bring the prisoners from the castle apon his fingers and toes; and, lastly, a to the principal market-place, in which scafted cord was twisted about his forehead folds were erected, and a body of troops ach a manner as to force out his eyes. drawn up to attend. The prisoners left the the midst of these enormities, particular castle, and passed with dignity, composure,

and cheerfulness, through soldiers, Jesuits, for they know not what they do." Then a priests, executioners, attendants, and a pro- proaching the block, he kneeled down, a digious concourse of people assembled, to see exclaimed, with great energy," Into th the exit of these devoted martyrs. They hands, O Lord! I commend my spirit; were executed in the following order: thee have I always trusted; receive m

1. Lord. Schilik, a nobleman about the therefore, my blessed. Redeemer." The fat age of fifty. He possessed great abilities, stroke was then given.

natural and acquired. On being told he was 4. Lord Frederic de Bile suffered as to be quartered, he smiled with great sereni- Protestant, and as an instigator of the wa ty, and said, "The loss of a sepulchre is but he met his fate with firmness, and only sa a trifling consideration." A gentleman who he wished well to the friends whom he i stood by, crying, "Courage, my lord," he behind, forgave his enemies, denied t replied, "I possess the favor of God, which authority of the emperor in that country, e is sufficient to inspire any one with courage: knowledged Frederic to be the only tr the fear of death does not trouble me. I king of Bohemia, and trusted for salvation have faced him in fields of battle to oppose the merits of his Redeemer.. Antichrist." After repeating a short prayer, 5. Lord Henry Otto, on first coming up he told the executioner he was ready, who the scaffold, seemed greatly agitated, a cut off his right hand and head, and then said, as if addressing himself to the emper quartered him. His hand and head were Thou tyrant Ferdinand, thy throne is placed upon the high tower of Prague, and tablished in blood; but if thou killest his quarters distributed in different parts of body, and dispersest my members, they sh the city, still rise up in judgment against thee." Th 2. Lord Winceslaus: this venerable no- growing calm, he said to a gentleman," bleman, exalted by his piety, had attained few minutes I was greatly discomposed, the age of seventy, and was respectable now I feel my spirits revive; God be prais equally for his learning and hospitality. He death no longer appears as the king of t was so little affected by the loss of worldly rors, but seems to invite me to participate riches, that on his house being broken open, some unknown joys." Then kneeling bet his property seized, and his estates confis- the block, he said, "Almighty God! to th cated, he only said, with great composure, I commend my soul, receive it for the sa "The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath of Christ, and admit it to the glory of taken away." Being asked why he engaged presence.” The pains of his death m in a cause so dangerous as that of attempt- have been severe, the executioner mak ing to support the elector palatine against several strokes before his head was separa the emperor, he replied, "I acted according from his body..

to the dictates of my conscience, and, to this 6. The Earl of Rugenia was distingui day, acknowledge him my king. I am now ed for his great accomplishments and u full of years, and wish to lay down my life, fected piety. On the scaffold he said, "V that I may not be a witness of the evils who drew our swords, fought only to prese which await my country. You have long the liberties of the people, and to keep thirsted for my blood; take it, for God will consciences sacred. As we were overco be my avenger." He then approached the however, I am better pleased at the block, stroked his gray beard, and said, tence of death than if the emperor had gi Venerable hairs, the greater honor now me life; for I find that it pleases God attends you; a crown of martyrdom is your have his truth defended, not by our swo portion." Then laying down his head, it was but by our blood." He then went boldly severed from his body, and afterwards placed the block, saying, "I shall now soon be upon a pole in a conspicuous part of the Christ," and was instantly launched into ocean of eternity and glory.

town.

3. Lord Harant. He was a nobleman 7. Sir Gaspar Kaplitz. This gentler whose natural abilities were improved by was eighty-six years of age. On coming travelling. The accusations against him the place of execution, he addressed were, his being a Protestant, and having principal officer thus: "Behold a miser taken an oath of allegiance to the elector ancient man,, who hath often entreated palatine, as king of Bohemia. When he as- to take him out of this wicked world, cended the scaffold, he said, "I have travel-could not till now obtain his desire; for ed through many countries, and traversed reserved me till these years to be a spects many barbarous nations, yet have. I never to the world, and a sacrifice to hims found so much cruelty as at home. I have therefore God's will be done. An officer escaped innumerable perils both by sea and him that, in consideration of his great Jand, and have surmounted all to suffer in- if he would only ask pardon, he would nocently in my native place. My blood is mediately receive it. "Ask pardon!" likewise sought by those for whom I and my claimed he; I will ask pardon of God w ancestors have hazarded our lives and for-I have frequently offended, but not of tunes; but, Almighty God forgive them, emperor, whom I never offended. Shrou

sue for pardon, it might justly be suspected tioner, do your office," On this he instantly I had committed some crime for which I de- received the crown of martyrdom, served this fate. No, no; as I die innocent, 14. John Shultis was, by all who knew and with a clear conscience, I would not be him, beloved in his life, and regretted at his separated from these noble companions:" so death. The only words he spoke before his saying, he cheerfully resigned his neck to martyrdom were, "The righteous seem to the block. die in the eyes of fools, but they only go to

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8. Procopius Dorzecki said on the scaf- rest. Lord Jesus! thou hast promised that fold, "We are now under the emperor's those who come to thee shall not be cast off. judgment; but in time he shall be judged, Behold, I am come; look on me, pity me, and we shall appear as witnesses against pardon my sins, and receive my soul." him." Then taking a gold medal from his 15. Maximilian Hostialick was celebrated neck, which was struck when the elector for his learning, piety, and humanity. When Frederic was crowned king, he presented it he first came on the scaffold, he seemed terto one of the officers with these words, "As rified at the approach of death. Soon after, a dying man I request, that if ever king he said, "Christ will wash me from my Frederic be restored to the throne of Bohe- crimes." He then told the officer he should mia, you will give him this medal. Tell him, repeat the song of Simeon; at the conclufor his sake I wore it till death, and that new sion of which the executioner might do his I willingly lay down my life for God and my duty: He accordingly said, Lord! now king." He then cheerfully submitted to the lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, acfatal blow. cording to thy word, for mine eyes have seen 9. Dionysius Zervius. This gentleman thy salvation" after uttering these words bad been educated as a Roman Catholic, his head at one blow was severed from his but had embraced the reformed religion. body. · The Jesuits used their utmost endeavors to 16. John Kutnaur, not having been born take him recant when on the scaffold, and independent, but having acquired a fortune return to his former faith, but he gave not by trade, was ordered to be hanged. Just the least heed to their exhortations. Kneel- before he was turned off, he said, "I die, not ing down, he said, "They may destroy my for having committed any crime, but for fol body, but cannot injure my soul; that I com- lowing the dictates of my conscience, and mend to my Redeemer." defending my country and religion."

10. Valentine Cockan was a gentleman 17. Simeon Sussickey was father-in-law f great fortune, and eminent for his piety to Kutnaur, and was ordered to be executed and uprightness. His talents and acquire in the same manner. He appeared impaents were, however, of very inferior order; tient to be gone, saying, "Every moment get his imagination seemed to brighten, and delays. me from entering into the kingdom s faculties to improve, on the approach of of Christ." death, and just before he was beheaded, he 18. Nathaniel Wodnianskey. This genpressed himself with such eloquence, tleman was also hanged. At the gallows, ergy, and precision, as amazed his hear- the Jesuits used all their persuasions to make him renounce his faith. Finding their atII. Tobias Steffiek was remarkable for tempts unavailing, one of them said, "If you affability and the serenity of his temper; will not abjure your heresy, at least repent which did not desert him in this awful crisis. of your rebellion." To which Wodnianskey few minutes before he died, he said, "I replied, “You take away our lives under a ave received, during the course of my life, pretended charge of rebellion; and, not conkaty favors from God; ought I not there- tent with that, seek to destroy our souls: re cheerfully to take one bitter cup, when glut yourselves with blood, and be satisfied, thinks proper to present it? or rather, but tamper not with our consciences." His ight I not to rejoice, that it is his will I own son then approached the gallows, and ould give up a corrupted life for that of im- said, "Sir, if life should be offered to you on Portality?? condition of apostasy, I entreat you to re12. Dr. Jessenius. This gentleman was member Christ." To this the father replied, student of physic, and was accused of" It is very acceptable, my son, to be exving spoken disrespectfully of the em- horted to constancy by you; but suspect me ror, of having sworn allegiance to the not; rather endeavor to confirm in their ctor Frederic, and of being a Protestant: faith your brothers, sisters, and children, and the first accusation he had his tongue cut teach them to imitate my constancy." He for the second he was beheaded; and had no sooner concluded these words, than the last, his body was quartered. he received his fate with great fortitude. 13. Christopher Chober. No sooner had 19. Winceslaus Gisbitzkey, during his gentleman stepped upon the scaffold, whole imprisonment, had great hopes of life he said, "I come, in the name of God, given him, from which his friends became de for his glory; I have fought the good very apprehensive for the safety of his soul.. and finished my course; so, execu: He, however, continued stedfast in his faith,

prayed fervently at the gallows, and met his' were, his being charitable to heretics, a end like a Christian hero. advancing money to the elector Frederic. 20. Martin Foster was an unfortunate is supposed, however, that his great weal cripple; the chief accusations against whom was the principal cause of his death.

SECTION II.

Life, Sufferings, and Martyrdom of John Huss.

que

JOHN HUSS was born in the village of Hus-sations laid against him, of preaching he senitz, in Bohemia, about the year 1380. His sies. From this appearance Huss desired parents gave him the best education they be excused, and so greatly was he favor could bestow, and having acquired a toler- in Bohemia, that king Winceslaus, the able knowledge of the classics, at a private the nobility, and the university, desired school, he was sent to the university of pope to dispense with such an appearan Prague, where the powers of his mind, and as also that he would not suffer the ki his diligence in study, soon rendered him dom of Bohemia to lie under the accusat conspicuous. of heresy, but permit them to preach

In 1408, he commenced bachelor of divini- gospel with freedom in their places of w ty, and was successively chosen pastor of the ship.

church of Bethlehem, in Prague, and dean Three proctors appeared for Huss bet and rector of the university. The duties of cardinal Colonna. They made an excuse these stations he discharged with great fidel- his absence, and said, they were ready to ity, and became at length so conspicuous for swer in his behalf. But the cardinal decla the boldness and truth of his preaching, that him contumacious, and accordingly exc he attracted the notice, and raised the malignity of the pope and his creatures.

His influence in the university was very great, not only on account of his learning, eloquence, and exemplary life, but also on account of some valuable privileges he had obtained from the king in behalf of that semi

nary.

municated him. On this the proctors pealed to the pope, who appointed four ca nals to examine the process: these com sioners confirmed the sentence of the ca nal, and extended the excommunication, only to Huss, but to all his friends and lowers. Huss then appealed from this un sentence to a future council, but with The English reformer, Wickliffe, had so success; and, notwithstanding so sever kindled the light of reformation, that it decree, and an expulsion from his churc began to illumine the darkest corners of Prague, he retired to Hussenitz, his na popery and ignorance. His doctrines were received in Bohemia with avidity and zeal, by great numbers of people, but by none so particularly as John Huss, and his friend and fellow-martyr, Jerome of Prague.

place, where he continued to promulgate truth, both from the pulpit, and with the

He here compiled a treatise, in which maintained, that reading the books of testants could not be absolutely forbid The reformists daily increasing, the arch- He wrote in defence of Wickliffe's boo bishop of Prague issued a decree to prevent the Trinity; and boldly declared agains the farther spreading of Wickliffe's writ- vices of the pope, the cardinals, and the ings. This, however, had an effect quite gy of those corrupt times. Besides thes the reverse to what he expected, for it stim-wrote many other books, all of which ulated the converts to greater zeal, and, at penned with such strength of argumen length, almost the whole university united greatly facilitated the spreading of his in promoting them. trines.

Strongly attached to the doctrines of In England, the persecutions agains Wickliffe, Huss strenuously opposed the de- Protestants had been carried on for cree of the archbishop, who, notwithstand-time with relentless cruelty. They now ing, obtained a bull from the pope, autho- tended to Germany and Bohemia, v rizing him to prevent the publishing of Huss, and Jerome of Prague, were par Wickliffe's writings in his province. By larly singled out to suffer in the cause virtue of this bull, he proceeded against four ligion.

doctors, who had not delivered up some In the month of November, 1414, a copies, and prohibited them to preach. ral council was assembled at Constan Against these proceedings, Huss, with some Germany, for the purpose of determin other members of the university, protested, dispute then existing between three p and entered an appeal from the sentences of who contended for the papal throne." the archbishop. The pope no sooner heard of this, than he granted a commission to Italians; Gregory, by the French; and Bened *These were, John, proposed and set up cardinal Colonna, to cite John Huss to ap- the Spaniards. The council continued four pear at the court of Rome, to answer accu- in which the severest laws were enacted to