Page:The History of the Bohemian Persecution (1650).djvu/360

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The Hiſtory of

tormented with this kind of puniſhment for three dayes and nights, at length begun to faint, eſpecially when his wife came to him, who was newly turned a Papiſt, and oppreſt him with her clamours, therefore halfe doubting, he conſented, and was carried into a Monaſtery, and was received by the Guarden into the number of the Catholicks.

12. If Commiſſioners were ſent any where, that the buſineſſe might not be delayed, they took this policy in hand, that they ſhould firſt aſſault the men of greateſt authority, either by cunning, or force, and make them an example to the reſt in the Town Minion, when Commiſſioner Zenkow de Kolowrat demanded a poſitie anſwer frõ the Subjects of that Countrey, convened together, whether they would be Catholicks or no; and one of them, in the name of the reſt, began to ſpeak boldly concerning Religion, That conſcience would nor could not be forced, he preſently commanded him to be apprehended, and in the ſight of them all to be laid upon the ground, and beat, withall asking whether he would be a Catholick, but he continually denying, yea when he could hardly ſpeak, the Commiſſary commanded him to be torn in pieces; when he was halfe dead, the reſt were affrighted at the dreadfulneſſe of this ſpectacle, and promi-

ſed