they were, for he had formerly been in service at Litomyšl. He well knew that they suffered all this not because of any evil deed that they had committed, but because of the religion; he therefore felt a certain pity for them. Risking everything, he then consented to give them all they required, and that was sent them by their brethren and friends, as well as to forward all their communications to their friends. He began doing this in 1550, before the day of the Conversion of St. Paul, and continued it up to the year 1553. He obtained for both of them letters from their brethren and dear friends, ink, paper, and all that is required for writing. He also brought them some books and other things that they required, such as money and tapers, and they accepted them not without much concern for the man’s sake; for they feared that he would forfeit his life, if it were discovered that he had given them these things. As regards themselves, they had in everything commended themselves to God and to His grace, whatever might befall, and they knew that they had acted well. They were therefore not much concerned about themselves, and rejoiced that God had granted them these things, accepting them with much gratitude and thanksgiving, and praising the Lord therefore.’ I regret to be unable to quote more extensively from this interesting little book. The last years of Augusta’s captivity were somewhat lightened by the kindness of Philippina Welser, the morganatic wife of the archduke Ferdinand, who then resided at Křivoklat. Before leaving Bílek I should mention that his book—which was written in Bohemian—has recently been translated into German by Dr. Joseph Müller[1],
- ↑ Leipzig, Josef Jansa, 1895.
F
