Matez Janova, and Tomas ze Stitneho, who was the first to write in Bohemia on moral philosophy. This great movement culminated in the appearance of John Hus, who became the recognised leader in the great moral revolution. The earnest desire of the reformers for the restoration of purity in the Church is fully expressed in the copious theological literature of the time contributed to by Hus, and after him, amongst many others, by Petr Chelcicky (d. 1460), who was the spiritual founder of the later "Jednota bratrska" (Unity of the Brethren), which became the embodiment of the reforming spirit.
The invention of the art of printing and the contemporaneous spread of the knowledge of classic literature infused new life into Bohemian literature aad at the same time brought a change of style.
The science of law was expounded in eminent works by Viktorin Cornelius ze Vsehrd (d. 1520) and Daniel Adam z Veleslavina (1546-99). The latter achieved great fame in consequence of his efforts for the development of literature and the scientific purification of the language.
It was at this time that one of the greatest monuments of Bohemian literature was produced by the Unity of Brethren, in the form of a complete translation of the Bible.
The battle of the White Mountain was the forerunner of a rapid decline in literature. In consequence of the merciless persecution of all who refused to yield to the Catholic Church, the best Bohemian families went into exile. The great teacher John Amos Komensky (1592-1671),
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