The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 42
Chap. XLII.
I. IN the year 1617. Matthias came into the Kingdome unhoped for, accompanied with his Cossen Germane Ferdinand, and the decree being sent out to the Orders, that the Assemblies speedily should come together he went to Dresda Elector of Saxonie, desiring to get Ferdinand into his favour, and returning he goeth to the Assembly, some few of the Order in hope, not by any desire of their owne, appearing. For it was now harvest time, neither did any one then take pleasure in being taken from his houshold affaires.
2. There Cæsar complained that he had no issue, and therefore told them that he would adopt Ferdinand his sonne, he commendeth his virtues, and desireth that he may be received and crowned; the Orders answered, that a matter of that consequence in the absence of the united Provinces, could not be done. Cæsar urgeth; that Bohemia is the chiefe seat, and whatsover they should doe, would be confirmed by the rest, that he grew faint, and therefore the businesse could not be deferred untill another time. It came to that pass that the Orders did protest that, that Terme of receiving him King was new, he ought first to be chosen before he were received. But all these things by divers devices, and private affections of some men, and the affrightings of others were deluded and dashed. Whence it came to passe, that some perceiving that there was no place for a free voyce, departed. But they which stayed and were present at the Coronation, caused this, that before he were crowned, he should give something in writing to the Orders wherewith he should bind himselfe, ‘that Mathew being alive he should meddle with none of the affarres of Bohemia, much lesse Religion. He is therefore crowned, and presently went into Moravia, and then into Silesia and Lusitania, and there requested that he might be received.
3. And after this time the enemies being made more confident, boast themselves outragiously, and began to wish ill luck to the Evangelists, as also to threaten them openly. And Ferdinand going into Moravia, to receive homage, the Jesuites erect at Olumatium a Triumphall Arche, and paint upon it among the Armes of Austria, with the Lion of Bohemia tied to it with a chaine, and the Eagle of Moravia, with a sleeping hare lying with open eyes, and this Emblem written under I have practised. casting a jeere upon the Orders, for suffering themselves so to be bound and tied to drowsinesse; but the year following a booke of Moltzarmius Alsatia from the new erected Academie of the Jesuites came forth, in the dedication whereof encouraging Leopaldus to zeale they urge the example of his most peaceable Brother the founder of the Universitie, that howsoever at his coronation in Bohemia after the usuall manner, he performed his oath to the Heriticks, yet first he left it in the Vestrie of the Church, that he would not give way to the Heriticks, whereby the Church might be defrauded.
4. And it appeared most sufficiently that Ferdinand sware to the Orders with his mouth in his heart to the Pope; truly from that time something hath bin attempted, whereby it might not be well with the Gospelers, either by passing from them their right by cosening, or by overcoming their patience, that by open injuries they might give them occasion to oppose them. Presently after Ferdinand was gone, they went about, not only the Bishop and the Clergie, but the Laity, with those that did belong to the Pope. Slawata, Smeczanski and others (in Moravia, Olomucensis the Bishop; and also the chiefe Duke Ladislaus de Lobkowitz, the Lord of Holdseorvia) to vexe his subjects for Religion, contrary to the expresse assurance of the obligation of his Majesty, and then they attempt the like also even in Prague, and other free cities of the King. From the Chaires of the Jesuites, not only the Gospellers, but also that bountifull Rodolphus now dead, and the Liberty of Religion granted to the Kingdome by him, shamefully defamed and taunted at; and threatned that their Liberty should not last long.
5 They did likewise inhibite by a speciall command, that they should print nothing unless perused and approved of by the Chancelour of the Kingdome, divulging in the meane while their owne slanderous Pamphlets, and dangerous writings against the Gospellers. Also instruction was given from the same Chancery of the Citizens of Prague, to the Captaines and Judges, of Cæsar (who were Popelings) to require earnestly of the parishoners the foundaţions of the Churches from the Originall. And that they no way give nor consent to any meetings unlesse they themselves were present, and to joyne with the chiefe overseeres and Parson of the said Parish under one kind, (which after was done in some Churches) and at length to deny unto the defendors and those of the Consistorie, any executing process of Law.
6. And they dealt under hand with the Pastors, whom they did believe, they might reduce to Psudo-Hussitisme, that they should require, by presenting to the King an humble declaration, that the new Consistory under both kinds after the forme of the former under the obedience of the Archbishop, might be granted, and about twelve of them being drawne into the net subscribed; the chiefe of them being Matthew Praczuda (whom they fed on with hopes that he should be promoted to the dignity of Admninistrator.) When he perceived himselfe to be very sick, so that he was ready to die, and calling to mind his former act & detesting his perfidiousnes, and dehorting his confederates from that fact, their Stratagems are brought to nothing.
7. Since this exploit of theirs tooke no effect, they went another way to work. The Church of Bethleem which from its first foundation was dedicated to the University, was lately by the Reformation of the Consistory, disposed of to the use of the brethren in the year 1609 after the death of the Senior of these Matthew Cirus in the year 1607. the Papists threaten to sue them at the law, & endeavor to deprive them of the Church: but the Professor of the University making use of their own right they bring in John Cyrillus for Senior according to their solemn form. these and the like they made triall of in other places, but still without successe.
8.The Burgrave Carelsteinensis (that is to say) the safeguard of the Crown and priviledges of the Kingdome) is also taken away by the Count Turnensis, a President never before heard of, and against all the Lawes of the Kingdome, not for any crime (unlesse it were that in the late Parliament hee had more freely stood for the free election of a King) and is delivered to Smeczanius the bitterest enemies of the Gospellers, perchance that hee, because lately hee could not inhibite the priviledge of Religion, might by cunning now begin to do it. He therefore began to disturb them by inhibiting, the subjects of that do minion baptism and buriall.
9. The same enemies go forward elsewhere, and destroy the Churches of the Gospellers in the Arch-Bishops Town, Grob, (and by vertue of the Kings Patents the new built Church, Braumow of the Abbot Braumow. Also in Krumloviana they beginn the persecution of the Gospellers being Subjects, the government belonging to the King.