The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 103
Chap. 103.
The Proceedings against the Common-People.
WHen the Shepheards are removed, and the dogs fled, how easie is it for the Wolves to assault the flock; but yet Satan here found some obstructions that he was not able (as he hoped) to blow away all by one breath; we will relate some of these things briefly, and by degrees intermixing some particular examples for the credit of the history.
2. First, They removed every where the Ministers of the Word, even when they had not any of their own to succeed, then they endeavoured to take the Bibles, and other profitable books from the hands of the Lay-men, both for this end, that heresie (as they called it) might grow out of fashion, and the heat of Religion might grow cold.
3. The Monks being afterwards brought in, did not presently thunder, but did deal very fairly, beseeching and confirming the truth of their religion with oaths, and dreadfull cursings of themselves, promising a firm peace, the successe of affaires, and the whole blessing of God, professing also their great hope of the kindnesse of the Emperour, and their Lords, and the diminishing of their burdens, and they also themselves being but little liberall in such a grievous dearth of provision, did offer either money, or corn, if they would change their religion, by which stratagem some are deceived; examples of this thing are extant every where, and also in Kossimberg, Cerket; where when a Monk being more greedy of praise for the conversion of Hereticks, or rather of meriting heaven did promise to every one thas confessed a bushell of wheat, the poorer sort ran to him, bringing their confessions to the Priest for corn, he being afraid of his Granary, lest it should faile, if he did so largely distribute, resolved to dispense more sparingly, and gives to one of a mean estate that came to him, but halfe the measure; but he taking away his share, returns and requires the rest. The Monk denying him, What, sayes he, is my soule more vile then the rest? so he departed angerly. Is not this grosly to make merchandise of the souls of men, as Peter fore-told? or rather to bring the miserable common people to such a passe as they should think gain to be godlinesse, which Paul in the first of Timothy notes of certain false teachers, and men of corrupt minds, and averse from the truth.
4. But when they saw that few were drawn unto them by their fox-like subtilty, they returned to their wolvish cruelty, and compelled some by force to frequent their Masse, and therefore Catalogues are made through all the Churches, and punishment to those that were absent, the Sexton being to give notice.
5. If any went privately to the Neighbour Churches of the Protestants (while there were some yet remaining) or to their private religious Exercises, being known they were fined, imprisoned, and whipt; sometimes souldiers were suborned who might distribute, and ruine the Protestant meetings, by their invasion of which thing I will relate one example, when that the year 1623. was brought about, when as much people had met upon the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, in the Temple near to Kutiburg, and the Village Wysoke (in the Oratory of the Barons of Dona) Beneda and Lazgeausky, Bohemian Noble-men, Collonels of Horse, remaining in the Garison of Kutiburg, on a sudden flie hither with their scame, incompasse the Temple, rush in, and draw from the Altar the Minister George Barthius; strip off his clothes, and carry him away prisoner (but yet he escapt) and cast the holy bread upon the earth, and poure out the wine, and trample upon it. They then take away with them whatsoever stuffe was ordained to holy uses, they stript persons of both Sexes, so that it happened that some being utterly naked, running homewards in a deep snow through many furlongs, being vehemently hurt through the sharpnesse of the cold, died. Some were wounded, others (among so many glittering swords) fell into diseases by reason of fear, what besides they did with the women-kind in the Temple, modesty forbids me to speak; the spoiles, as if taken from an enemy publickly sold at Kutiburg; and in their feasts they merrily drunk out of the cup which was taken away, and all without any punishment. I forbear to speak of more of the like cases.
6. They afterwards tried to weaken their courages by threatning greater evils. For an example of which, a command was given by the Prince Lichtenstein to the Captain of Pirglisky 1624. on the 20th. of December, That whosoever should deny to obey their orders, in forsaking their hereticall errours, whether they were men or women, old men or young men, free men or forraigners, in-mates or servants, he should send them to 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 Ulicky 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 Ulicky, 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 char 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 Slanen 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 sinues 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 adverfaries 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 frõ 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 be 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 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 conyert 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 Laymen had norhing to do with it: this was nothing with them, nay, these blasphemous wretches were not afraid with their soule mouthes to nick-name he 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 Butcher at Colone upon the River Elve, they forced and compelled to communicate in one kind, his stomack began to rise, and he went from the Altar and vomitted all the way home; when this was told the Captain, he chect him, but yet let him alone, because he thought it sufficient that he did obey them.
18. If any through fear of those tyrannicall proceedings betooke themselves to flight, their safety was not, neither indeed could it be long-lived; for hunger drave those out who had hid themselves in woods and secret places of mountaines & as for those that fled for refuge to neighbouring places, they found themselves beset with such as would betray them, and so were either streightway summoned and commanded to return, or brought back by the Souldiers, or by such like forceible meanes: certaine edicts also were published in some Villages, forbidding any to entertaine or covertly to keep in his house any of them that fled, and whosoever should, was to pay an hundred pieces of silver. Afterwards in the yeare 1628. upon the third day of March, there was Proclamation made, that those that should act contrary to the former command, should for each nights entertainment pay an hundred pieces of silver. What then should these miserable people do? it was hard for them to go out of the Kingdom; not being acquainted with any other language; nay, being ignorant both of the places and the waies; and these Goliahs the troublers of those Israelites reported, that the same Tragedie was acted, or ere long should be acted every where.
19. Hereupon some not knowing what course to take, applyed themselves to desperate remedies: viz. raising tumults and seditions, and taking up armes not onely against the cruell Souldiery, and those impostors the Jesuites; but also against the lawfull Magistrate: the event of whose undertakings was somewhat various, the Inhabitants of the Mountainous places of Wsetinen in Moravia, (the Walacks by name) did so defend themselves by Armes, that they did not onely continue free from Apostasie, but also from the power of the enemy, so that by warre they could not be brought under their yoake; sometimes the German and Italian Souldiers, as also the Polonian Kozacks attempted to break through the passages of the Mountains, and so to overpower them, but in vaine; so that those Alps or high Mountains of Moravia, serving instead of a City of refuge; these men having set an example (as also some Country-men of the upper Austria, who being gathered together into great bodies, cut out good store of worke for Cæsar) were followed by the subjects of Baron Terozkius (in Bohemia) who being in number about 4000. took up Armes in the year 1628. in March; but being vanquished by Troops suddenly assaulting them, they were diversely punished. Likewise in Fridland (in the year 1629.) sedition being sprung up among the Commissaries violently reforming (in which a Jesuite was kill’d, and the Commissarie scarcely escaping by flight) gave occasion to many of severall places, to rise up in Armes, and resist cheir violence; but presently the Souldiers of Cæsar set upon then, and many of the poor Country-men were slaine, many taken, two of those that were taken were beheaded, two quartered, and the rest by Apostacy saved their lives.
20. Their safety was greater, who perswaded themselves that by constancy alone they should prove invincible: of this sort some were found of every ranck. We have mentioned some Ministers before in their place: we will now speak of one of the Nobility Catharine Otti of Losse (formerly a Lady of Teschobuse) who, notwithstanding the banishment which Cæsar threatned against widowes, did neither forsake her Religion, nor her Countrey: when the Commissaries required that she should chuse one of those two things, she answered them, That she could not suffer banishment, because she wanted an estate, but yet that it was not lawful for her to change her religion, and that because of her conscience; and therefore she would doe neither: if that they would ordain a third thing concerning her, she would leave it to their wils, but commit her selfe wholly unto God: hereupon they dismist her, either for shame, or else because it was not yet appointed that any should lose their lives meerly for religion: we have already mentioned some Citizens, unto which we may joyn these; Martin Stransky Citizen of Daczicum, and Simeon Siakowsky, Citizen of Crumlovia, in Moravia; neither of which could be bowed by fair promises, nor be prevailed upon by cruell miseries, being both of them resolved to die for the faith: the Adversaries therefore overcome with their patience, let them out of prison, and suffered them freely to take up a banished condition.
21. There is also a memorable example of constancy in four handy-crafts-men, in the reformation of Kossumberg, for when among three hundred Subjects, there were only ten that remained couragious, so as to endure imprisonment; It came to passe also that six of those ten (unable to endure hardship, and cold, and famine, in prison) forsook their cause: only foure (Sigismund Krussowsky, Nicholas Szarowetz, John Aksamit, and Laurence Karlick) were left to be tormented by the hands of the Tyrants: who, after they were much and daily upbraided with their obstinacy, were at first exposed to cold, for five weeks together (in the moneths of February and March) and afterwards for nine dayes were pined with hunger, not having a crum of bread allowed them; only they had a small portion of bread of their own, with which they did all that time sustain themselves, drinking their own urine: a Jesuite entring in with the Governour of the Castle, in many words threatened them harder usage, unlesse they did repent; to whom Sigismund answered, We willingly imbrace all afflictions, famine, hanging, burning, rather than we would sinne against God: and as they were going out he calleth out to them, saying, What ye do, do quickly. Forthwith it was commanded, that twice a week, and not oftner, there should bee given them a mouthfull of bread, and a draught of water: and then they were kept apart one from the other: Aksamit was left there, Nicholaus thrust into the sinke of the prison (saving your presence) Sigismund into a furnace, and none permitted to visit them, at length, having for the space of twenty one weekes, used all meanes for the working upon them, and despairing of their conversion, they set a fine upon them and so banished them, who with joy leaving their possessions ditected their course into Polonia, but Karlik having got a disease in prison, died of it in his owne country.
22. But wee may moře rightfully, bestow the praise of constancy (and why not of Martyrdome) upon them, who even to their death endured hardship in prison; of this number before this univerſal persecution, was Iohn Burjan Kochowetz, a most honest and learned man, whom the Governor of Lobkowicz, because that at his pleasure he would hot subscribe to the Popish superstitions, caused to be bound; which he (although perpetually vexed with the Monkes and Jesuites) did yaliantly endure for the space of three yeares: and in those bonds hee died, and afterwards was ignominiously buried near the place of punishment at Raudnice.
23. There was also in the reformation of Litomislen, a certain Country-man, of the village of Strakow (his name I have heard, but it is now slipt out of my memory) who did endure a long imprisonment, vexed with the insultings of the Priests; and of three thousand Subjects, (for so many that Lordship did containe,) was alone found constant and immovable. He being sick by reason of the filthinesse of the prison, was visited by a Jesuite, and of him admonished, to whom he thus answered: Get thee hence thou tempter, this day shall I sup with Christ, and a little after he died, and was buried in that place where they were wont to behead Malefactors.
24. Yet more admirable was the constancy of a certain Scribe (there was not any of whom I could learne his name, but the thing it selfe I have read from the hands of faithfull and worthy witnesses) in the Town of Dobrzisse. This Towne, as many of the neighbouring places, were given by Cæsar to Don Martin de Huerda: but he disliking the service of so hard a Master, resigned, and lived with a certain Miller (in the territories of the Suticens) took upon him the office of a Schoolmaster: when Don Martin came to hear of this, he sent thus, that they should bring the Scribe and the Miller bound in chains to the Tower of Welhartitz, and commanded that both should be cast into a deep place of the Tower, in the year 1623 upon the Wednesday, from whence the Miller was a little while after sent, but the Scribe was kept there a whole year, even to his death: the prison was so foul and noysome, that both his feet were rotted off: but he being endued with a great measure of faith, past away the whole time, in singing Psalms, and hymns, as if he were in the enjoyments of all delights. And it is worthy the notice taking, when a little while before his death, it was reported that both his feet were rotted off, and that his body was full of worms, Don Martin not beleeving it, commanded that he should be brought forth, that he might see him, he refused, saying, The Tyrant was unwortby to enjoy the sight of his body. And to remaining immovably united unto Christ, he died about the same time, upon the same Wednesday following, namely, 1624. When he was brought forth, the Tyrant forbad that he should be carried out through the gate of the City, through which he entred in: but commanded that he should be cast over the wall into a ditch, and from thence carried away by a Sheepheard, and buried.