The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 24

by Johan Amos Comenius

CHAP. XXIIII.

 

The Proclamation of King Wladislaus for the banishing of the Brothers, made frustrate by the intervention of some wonderfull Iudgements: The Martyrs at Bora.

 

I. THe enemies of the truth could not bee quiet, but a new destruction was againe designed, to this small flocke of the brothers, for Iohn Bozake Bishop of Warade in Hungary (a Moravian by his birth, a subtile man, and burning with an implacable hatred against the enemies of the truth) entring into crafty counsell with other Bishops of Hungaria and Bohemia, the Queen her selfe was suborned, who great with child, and so neere unto her delivery, that it was believed the King would deny her nothing in that estate, she sollicited him for a new edict against the Piccardins, and comming to his Chamber, as it was afterwards known by some Gentlemen of his Bedchamber, and most worthy of beliefe, she desired that favour that the King would give way to so many Petitions, and severely prosecute against that so much hated fraternity. The King beingsad to heare that request, only nodded with his head but gave no answer at all.

2. Presently upon this the Bishops in the presence of the King did begin to write the Coppy of the Mandate. The King going into his chamber, did fall on his knees, and with teares besought God to forgive the guilt of those bloudy Councels, and no successe unto them. God heard his voyce, and shewed some Examples of horrid Judgment on the authors of this conspiracy. The first example was the Queene her selfe, who (before hand delighting her selfe with the immagination of it) did propose unto her fancy, what gratefull spectacles she should behold at Prague, when being delivered of her Child she should come to that City, and see the Piccardines some burned, some beheaded, and some stifled in the water. But Oh the Judgments of God, for before the time of her delivery, being prevented with the pangs thereof, and not able to bring forth, The Physitians, that they might preserve one, were of opinion that the Child should be cut out of the mothers womb, and the Chyrurgions being come, tooke out the child alive, but (because it was brought into the world before its time) as yet unable to see. This was Ludonick, who afterward succeded his father in both Kingdomes, but the Mother no longer able to indure the torment did expire, and with her dyed the wicked contriveances of the enemyes of the Truth for that time. This was at Buda in the year 1506. on the beginning of July.

3. Two yeares after this, the Bishops obtained what before they attempted, and the King overcome by their importunity, who cryed out that sharp remedies must be used to take away such a growing Evill, he commanded that all the Piccardins whatsoever without difference either of sexe, or Age, should be punished with the losse of life. This was in the year 1508. on the tenth of August.

4. Ionh, Bishop of Warade, and Stanislaus Sturzo, Bishop of Olumitz brought this Edict unto Bohemia; and a full house of the states being called, gave it to them. But because many of the chiefe of the Nobility complained, that this Decree was made without the knowledge of the Parliament, they could not consent that it should carry any force with it. The execution of it therefore went on but slowly, and almost eighteene moneths were spent in disputations only, and debates about it.

5. At the last by the cunning Artifice, and proceedings of Albert Chancellor of Kolowratte and his Accomplices, this bloudy Edict received force by the assent of most of the Nobility, in the presence of the King, at the Parliament held at Cutna in the year 1510, and it was ordered that it should not only be ingrossed in the Records of that Kingdome but there was a mutuall exhortation, and confederacy that they should prosecute it with an armed power. But God having laide Albertus and some others on their backs, who were contrivers of this cruelty, he almost brought altogether to nothing these endeavors of their cruelty, of which more hereafter.

6. In these troubles the Ministers of the unity of the brothers were almost al turned out of their places, neither did they dare to preach or pray but in privat. The most chief of them were by name cited into the Chancery of the Kingdom, but were forbidden by their Patrons to appear, neither did the published edict do any more hurt, but only took hold on some of the poorest of the people, & brought them to be punished.

7. For the Baron of Schwanberge having apprehended sixe of the bearers of the brothers, at a Village called Augedz, not far from Tust, he brought them to Bora where he commanded them to be burned, their names were.

Matthias Procopius, by his trade a cobler.
Iohn Simonowitz, a Weaver.
Bartholomew Hranowitz: a Letherdresser.
Iohn Herbek, a Potter.
Iohn Nadribke.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	two brother Germans both bred up to the Plough.
Nicolas Nadribk.

7. Being examined by a Papist parson, whether they would obey them as the Pastor of their soules, they answered they had Christ for their Pastor. And being brought forth to punishment, they did go cheerfully to it. And when the chief Officer taking an affection to Nicolas above the rest did offer his life, if he would recant his errour, and would give him a whole yeares space to consider of it. He stood still a little as if he would consider of it, and by and by he made answer. It is too much by too long a deliberation, that I should lose my brothers, and went along with them to the fire.