The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Iohn Zeline.
1. A Monk of the Order of Premonstrates or Exemplars, was Pastor in New Prague and a Teacher in White Maryes Church, one of the designed Administrators of the consistory, a man more famous for his eloquence than his learning. He having alwayes a most frequent audience, did advance in his Pulpit the purer Doctrine of the Thaborites, and was author to the inhabitants of Prague for the reformation of their Senate, But Haschek de Welisch a Captaine of old Prague, whom the said Monk had often rebuked (having conspired with the Senate who were half Romanists) betrayed this Monk with twelve more into the Common hall at Prague, and making a heady processe, did suddenly behead them.
2. This was done on the 9 of March, in the year of our Lord 1422, which being discovered by the bloud, was the occasion of a mighty Tumult. For the flowing of the bloud did cause such a confluence of people, that they did breake open the doores, and beholding the lamentable spectable, one of them brought forth the head of the Monk, and shewed it to the multitude standing round about him, on which so generall was the out-cry, and so loud the lamentation, that no pen is able to expresse it.
3. Not long after, a Priest (Gaudentius by name) carrying the head about the City (laid in a Charger) did incite all that met him, to revenge. By reason whereof, the anger of the multitude being heightned and inflamed into a fury, they put to death some of the Senators, others sayed themselves by flight. The Colledges themselves were plundered; the bodies of the deceased good men were brought into the Church, and solemnly interred. The Preacher having heard the complaint of the people, and observing such a consternation in their minds, that many of them fainting away, did almost tremble into death, he became speechlesse himself. Having recovered his spirit, he did read his text out of the Acts of the Apostles, the words were, And godly men buried Stephen. At the end of his Sermon he did fervently exhort them, with many words, and tears, and obtestations, shewing the head of Zeline to the people, that what they had learned from so faithfull a Master, they would be mindfull of it, and give no beliefe to any who should teach the contrary, although he were an Angell from Heaven.