The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
1. THose brethren had constituted amongst themselves a certain order, elders by suffrages being chosen, who having the Government and direction of things, obedience was promised to him. By the counsel of these men the chiefest of the disperced through Bohemia and Moravia, being called together, they had Synods in those mountaines, and ordained statutes how they should behave thernselves amongst themselves and others, how they should carry themselves to their friends and Enemies, as also toward the King and all Magistrates oftentimes appointing solemn dayes of prayer and fasting for themselves and the dispersed, and taking councell out of the Word of God, concerning those things, which are required to the fuller Reformation both of life and Doctrine.
2. The deepest care that did afflict them, was for Pastors of soules, where they should find new, after those were dead, who then lived with them. To expect that some of the Ordination of Rome, should come unto them for the love of the Truth, was an uncertain hope. And they remembred that Rokizane did often protest, that all things were to be restored from the foundation again. Therefore that there was an Ordination at Rome to be erected, by that authority, which Christ gave unto the Church, that while they had yet amongst them ordained men, they might ordaine others, who againe should have power to ordain others to succeed them. To this, as their desires so their judgements did incline, but a fear invaded them, whether this Ordination were lawfull or no, because not a Bishop, but a Presbiter here did create a Presbiter, and how if any controversie should be they should defend such an Ordinarion either among others, or themselves.
3. At length after certain yeares most serious deliberations, the most eminent of them in all Bohemia and Moravia, about seventy in number, convened at a village not farre from Rich-nove, and many teares and prayers being poured forth to God, that he would vouchsafe to manifest, if their purpoſse were acceptable to him, and whether this were the time of it, they appointed to try by lots the pleasure of the Almighty. They therefore by the suffrages chose from the middest of them nine men, whom above others they thought most fit for the taking of the Ministery, and twelve little Papers closely folded up, being put into the hand of a little boy, sent for on purpose, and not knowing what was to be done, he was commanded to distribute those twelve lots unto the nine men. Nine of these lots were blankes, on the other three were inscribed the word I S, to wit the Will of God, which they desired might be revealed to them. It might therefore come to passe that these nine men every one might have a blank, which would be a token to them that God was not at that present pleased at what they went about. But so it was, that the three lots were given into the hands of three of them, Matthew Kunwald, a most Godly man, Thomas Przelauce, a learned man, and Elias Krzenove a man indued with singular abilities of understanding.
4. These being with great joy embraced, as men sent from Heaven unto them: they took new counsels for the Confirmation, and the Ordination of them. And having understood, that there were some of the Waldenses in the confines of Moravia, and of Austria, that they might provide for the present, and for the time to come, for the scruples of theirs and other mens consciences; they sent unto them Michael Zamberge their Pastor, (who received his Ordination from a Romane Bishop) with two others, who should relate what had beene done, and desire their judgement in this business. They find there Stephanus the Bishop, who, another Bishop, and some of the Ministers being sent for; they declare unto them their Originall from the time of Constantine, they repeat unto them the Articles of their faith, and what a horrible persecution they suffered for it, both in Italy and in France. Then they hear our men make a report unto them of their departure from the Pope, and the Calixtines which they approve of and congratulate. Moreover, giving power to those three to create Ministers, they create them Bishops with the imposition of hands, and return them to those that sent them.
5. Our men receive these things with joy, and being desirous of the Christian Unity, they deliberate whether they should join with the Waldenses, and so be one people and one Church. The purity of their Doctrine, and Christian conversation of life, did much please them. But it again displeased them that they concealed the truth, neither did openly professe it as they ought, but under a desire to avoide persecutions, they frequented the Churches of the Papists and communicated with Idolaters. It was concluded that they should be admonished concerning this & other particulars. Therefore some able men being sent againe to them they acquaint the Waldenses withit, who affirm, that the Proposition for being in an Unity with them is very gracefull to them. As for the Vices objected against them, they said, they were not so ignorant of them, neither would defend them, but would rather confesse that they had departed from the ancient purity of their Forefathers, and would therefore labour an amendment. They concluded to have a meeting ona prefixed day about it, in which they would take some further order concerning this businesse. But before that time, this being discovered, the Papists began to rage very violently against the Waldenses, Stephanus one of the chiefest of them is consumed with fire at Vienna. The rest of them some scattered into Marchia, and others into Moravia, and most of them brought un to Fulnerha, did provide for their safety by flight.
6. From this tranfaction of the Bohemian brothers with the Waldenses, it appeares it did arise that they were called also by the title of the Waldenses. Howsoever they would never admit of it, and have often complaine in their printed papers, that by errour that title was given to them. And this they aid for the cause of truth and necessity; for the cause of truth because they took not their Doctrine from them, neither did they on their perswasion establith the unity, neither were they reformed by them, but desired rather in some defects to bee reformed of them. For the cause of necessity, because they wisely judged that the decrees published by the Magistrates against the Waldenses were no way to be derived to them, but rather to be avoided. Howsoever they never denied, that they received the power of ordaining Ministers and by that, the externall succession of them from the Waldenses, although, and this also oftentimes accordingly as they saw occasion, they wisely did passe by in silence.
7. Neverthelesse God would have the Brothers in Bohemia to be partakers of the persecution of the Waldenses in Austria, against whom in the year following viz. 1468. George the King (the States being solemnly called to councell) did publish a bloudy Decree, which was, that every one of the Peeres within the Territory of his Jurisdiction should endeavour to apprehend as many of the Piccardines as he could, and having apprehended them, to prosecute against them accordingly as he saw occasion, by this meanes of cruelty attempting to hinder the separation.
8. Many therefore were apprehended, and for a long time kept in prison, untill the Death of the King, among whom was one of the chiefest of them, by name Michael Zambergh, with which unjust and cruell proceedings the Brothers being moved, did write an Apology to Rokizane, and to the Consistory, and afterwards to the King, and at last to them All altogether. And it came to passe by the wonderfull Counsell of God, that by the greater indeavour as they laboured to put out this sparke, by so much it brake forth into a greater flame, many of the Peeres to wit the Barons of Kragir, Kostkie, Zerotine and others, submitting themselves to the Discipline of the Brothers, and building Oratories for them in their Townes and Villages, there being Churches by the publick Authority of the Kingdome, allowed to the Calixtines, insomuch that about the year 1500. they had in Bohemia and Moravia about 200. Churches, and so was the Prophesie fulfilled of Mathew of Paris, that an ignoble people should arise without sword or outward power, over whom the Enemies of the Truth should never prevaile.