The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
I. THerefore that Zahere and Passoke might the better please both the King and Pope, they enforced all the Pastors and citizens to subscribe to their new Articles, and those who refused were to bee banished the city. In the first place sixe Pastors were proscribed, Wenceslaus Poczatek, Pastor of St. Gallus, George Smahal, Pastor of St. Henry, Matin Betlem, Paul de St. Michaell, Martin de Opatowitz, and John Marussa, after threescore and five of their chiefest citizens were proscribed, amongst whom was Burian de Cornitz Doctour of law and Chancellour of Prague, John Hlawsa, who was Exconsull and others. Likewise a coulour was sought for the greater cruelty, a malicious invention being spread abroad concerning a certaine conspiracy of the Gospellers against the Calixtines, that they might extort the confession hereof, they did bring three citizens John Bonussa, Matthew Hrzebenarz and Iohn Sliwkam to the rack, who rather chose to suffer innocently, than to bear false witnesse, a thing they utterly detested in their conscience.
2. In the meane time while these firebrands of sedition confirmed an agreement, betweene those of Prague, that no man should be questioned, concerning his faith (to wit the Piccardine & Lutheran) but that al should be restored to their former freedom & enjoy the liberty of the city. It was requested that an Embassador should bee dispatched to Buda unto the K. for the confirmation of this ordinance. It was now lawfull for any to do what they pleased to those of a good and right opinion. If one of them were found that was unwilling to pay what hee owed, they would lay to his charge that he was a Piccardine; some were not simply banished, but shamefully brought forth, as Ludovicus Pictor, because at the end of his sermon hee had admonished the Monk of St. Barbara prating foolishly. That it was far better that the people should be instructed out of the Gospell, than be detained with such fables. By the clamors of the Monke hee was laid hold on by the common people that were called together, and hurried to prison, and afterwards by a Serjeant was led out of the City.
3. A certain Cutler because they had found about him a booke concerning the Sacraments, penned by a man of a sincere opinion, was whipped openly in the market place and banished. The like hapned to John Kelenetz, but hee was branded in the forehead, because he being a Lay-man, was said to administer the Eucharist to himself and his family. George Lopatski, being one of those that was banished, when as the King had wrote that hee liked not such proceedings and had commanded the banished to be restored; supposing that it had beene confirmed returned home to his house at Prague, but being apprehended, he was thrust into prison & there murthered.
4. In the meane time the Assembiies of the Kingdome being held, and those wicked pragmatical men urging it, it was agreed upon, that the communicants under one and both kinds, by the violence of those that were joyned together should bee one body, but the commands of Wladislaus should bee put in execution against the Piccardins. From whence arose a new persecution to the brethren, their Church doores being shut up, and their exercise forbidden.
5. Seeing these things were so way wardly done, one Matthias an Eremite, a plaine man, but of an holy conversation of life, who came to Prague in the year 1419. and hitherto was wont to exhort the people in the streets and market places, flocking unto him in great companies in the fear of God, and repentance, the Clergy in vaine striving to inhibit him, felt the severe hand of Zahera. For when he had admonished Zahera the chiefe Magistrate by letters which he wrote unto him in the year 1525 of Theologicall moderation, that men should bee converted to the faith by Scripture, not by imprisonments, scourgings, tortures, and wrackings, &c. being invited by him to a communication, was delivered to the Prætor, and was kept in prison until that day Ferdinand was chosen King, but afterwards he was banished the city. Very Godly letters of that man dated out of the prison are yet extant.