The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 100
Chap. 100.
The Reformation of Rokezan.
IN the year 1624. Zdenko Leo being a Baron, is created Earl of Colourat, and sent by Authority of the Prince Liktenztinus, with a band of Souldiers to Rokezau, do not onely plunder the Citizens of their money, but do also tyrannically oppose their Religion, no insolency can be thought upon which they did not give their mindes to; among other things in the close of the yeare, the Bohemian song concerning the coming of Christ to judgement, which they were used to sing, which runs thus, That day shall be a day of anger, a dreadfull day, a swift, great, and terrible day, &c. This song was brought to him, and by way of scoffe, sung to the Citizens that came unto him.
2. The 20. of December he calles the Citizen together and with indignation does upbraide them for their late Rebellion, as also Mansfield and Seska, and a certain Citizen named John Rokiszan (he that was before chosen Arch-Bishop of Prague, a man as they say alltogether unconstant) and forthwith compelled them to write their names in three Register-books. In the first, the names of those which were already Catholiques, (there were six Apostates lately made.) In the second, the names of those that would become Apostates in two weeks. In the third, the names of those which were refractory and opposite to God and Cæsar; but when he saw that those of the third sord were far more in number then the other, he began to devote them to all cruelties, pronouncing them worthy of the Crosse, the wheele, yea of hell it self.
3. The day following being Thomas day, he compells all to appear in the Temple, and he, as an example to the rest going before them, receives the Sacrament under one kind after dinner, again he commands that notice should be given by the Bells, and entring the Temple when he saw no body present (for even the Monkes themselves were not as yet come) he runnes out, and going through the Market, the streetes, yea into the very houses, drives all that he meetes with his stick to the Temple, being entred again, and there seeing M. John Felixtessius a chief Citizen, and most odious unto him, because a Calvinest sets upon him, beating him with his knobby Club (which he had taken from a certain Countrey-man standing by) and followes him even to the Altar, saying, Thou wicked fellow who hast set thy name in the Register-book of the damned, and refusest to confesse. He thereupon desires the Earle, that he would consider the holinesse of the place, and he would deal more mildly with him but the Earle beats him still more and more about the head, shoulders, and hands: Felix thereupon bending his knees, desired help of God; but the Tyrant seeing his blood in a great measure flowing out, at last sayes thus to him, Get thee hence O thou beast with thy cursed Calvin-blood; he rising up, goes out of the Temple, and severall asking what had happened, answers them thus, My blood hath dropt from me, between the Temple and the Altar, but it was for his name who did abundantly powre out his blood for us.
4. He being gone out of the Temple, the Earl compelling the Citizens that were gathered together, to confesse, did furiously rage against them belching out his curses against all, but beating some with his staffe, and spitting in the faces of others, but his cruelty did most appear in pulling of the grave beard of that most honest Citizen Wenceslaus Crosinus, and strowing it about the Temple.
5. Being returned home, he Commands that Felix should be again called, and threatens that he would act another Trajedy with him, unlesse he did discover himself to be of another mind, on the day following, but he thinking that the morrow was not to be expected (saying that nothing was done by reason, but all by splene and fury) withdrew himself by night, leaving behind him his Mother of foure score years of age, his wife and most dear Children.
6. The Earl seeing his hopes and expectation failed him, commands his goods to be confiscated, his wife to be imprisoned, and those that he had before forced to an Apostasie: he now compells to subscribe to a certain paper wherein the Citizens of Rokizan did testifie, that they did owe their safety to God, to the Virgin Mary, to the Lord Deacon of Collerate, and that they did imbrace the Catholique Religion freely, and with all readinesser of mind, onely the cowle being the occasion of it, and this they did testifie by the subscription of their hands, and the Seale of the City, and so that miserable Earle being soas to attempt the deceiving of God, Cæsar and himselfe, within a short time was commanded to appear at Vienna, and for some facts was there imprisoned.