The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 104
Chap. CIIII.
George Balthasar Martyr.
I. THis appendix of the former chapter (shewing how the persecutors dealt with the common people) will be a History famous to posterity. In the year 1629. the fifth day of May, two and twenty country men were brought captives from the village of Zlonice into the City of Slana singing with a pleasant voyce, and triumphant hymnes about the resurrection of Christ; it was brought in as a matter of charge against them, that having before turned Catholicks, they returned to Heresie, and ministred to themselves holy things. Being sent into several prisons, they were forthwith brought to examination: the Chieftain of these was said to be one George Balthasar, an inhabitant in the village of Tmanus, who had no learning, and yet was a preacher among them: his Master therefore Bohuchwal Walkaun having a little before turned Apostate (least that he should draw upon himself Cæsars anger, or evill surmizes, accuseth him in a letter written to the Senate of Slana, and therein requires that justice should be done upon such a Rebellious fellow. The Senate having summoned this man to appear, causeth this writing to be read by the Solicitor, and asked what he would give in by way of answer. He requires time, and promiseth that he would answer the writing; leave being given him, he frames this answer, which out of the Bohemian tongue we have thus translated word for word.
I Have understood what charge was drawne up against me by Iames Swojanovius, under the name of Mr. Bohuchwal Walkaun. The first article is, That I have been pernicious to God my Creator, and to men in obligation, in that having turned Catholick, I have again fallen from the Roman Catholick faith, and have violated my Oath. To this I answer, That heretofore being in a cruell prison, I was prevailed upon to sinne against God, my most righteous Judge, because then I was weak in the faith, not trusting God, that he was able to deliver his out of the hands of men: but God chastised me for this my fault, holding my conscience captive for a whole year together, so that I could have no hope in Gods mercy: and yet I recalled to mind former sinners, who did upon their repentance obtain mercy at the hands of God. Thereupon I cryed to my God, a whole year, night and day I did water my bed with my teares, because I thought my selfe damned: but that true and righteous God who is not the cause of our destruction, neither would that a sinner should die, but rather that hee should be converted and live, when he saw a fit time, did not hide his mercies from me; for I obtained what I did desire, hee sent his Angell unto mee, and mine eies saw his glory brighter than the sun, and there was given to me in a moment the holy spirit, and I was born again: there was likewise afforded me a discerning of the Spirits, so that I could distinguish between good and evill; and with this great gift, I did likewise receive a command of reproving the sinnes of men. Nor am I deceived, for the Spirit of God doth not hide himself from any man to whom he is given, that he should not declare to the wicked, things future, but mercy to the penitents: and therefore I was likewise forbid by the spirit to doe any mote the workes of the flesh, according to the lusts of the world, which had conspired together, what they might, against the just Judge of the living and the dead, and against the anointed ones whom he hath chosen to himselfe. Nor is my Mr. Walkaun ignorant of this; for they did hinder me from speaking the truth for the space ot four years: but by how much the more they hindred me, so much the more did God confirme mee by his Spirit. Likewise they may remember, that I came to the Pallace of Zlonice, that I might declare unto them the truth, and invite them to repentance, even as the Lord Jesus had commanded me by his holy Spirit, and so to continue for three days together, Friday, Sabbath day, and Munday; upon which last day, I had also my booke with me, (but where he saith, I am a seducer of soules, I answer and affirme, that it is the certain will of the Lord, that all you also should hear me) neither were they so strong as to snatch the book out of my hand. Neverthelesse they did despise the glory of God: for I ought to teach all, how they might come to repentance, but they had a signe given them, when those three spiritual men went from me, asking me a sign from Heaven (but they are without excuse, for they themselves held the books in their own hands) and I wept greatly, because they did not receive the Lords anointed: which indeed is no matter of wonder, seeing even from the beginning of the world, they did persecute those, who being renewed of God, doe good workes. And it was necessary that it should so happen to me, that every one might know the world to be an hater of the truth; because the truth is not in it: and that it also might appear, that the world is an enemy of God. Nothing therefore could so farre affright me, nor had I respect to any thing that should hinder me from the chearfull doing of that work which God had vouchsafed to deliver unto me. I would therefore knew of you, who are made of earth, and of a lump of clay as well as I, what place you will shew me, that I might freely teach you without impediment: if that you do refuse this, there will a time come wherein you would desire to shew me a place, but ye shal not have it. Wherefore in the name of God I do exhort you, that you would not receive this grace of God in vaine, nor despise it; for Gods rod is already tooke up, with which God will shortly lash those that do not acknowledge his voyce. There are more things for me to write unto you, but seeing my selfe knowes not how to write, I must have respect unto others whom I doe imploy, and so briefly do conclude. When I shall speak with you face to face, I shall distinctly unfold all things: in the mean while the grace of our Lord God be with us all. Amen.
2. This Epistle being read, and they looking upon it as being of an unusual Stile, there went to him (but accesse was denyed to all others) the Pastor of the place, and strange Jesuites, conferring with him face to face, and endeavoured to disswade him from his purpose: but he remitting any thing of his constancy, did confesse, that he was indeed a Lay man, and had no learning: but yet whatsoever hee did preach or afterwards should preach, hee had it not from himselfe, but from the Holy Spirit. For so it is, said he, as lately I haue written, and often I have said, that I (after that my abominable fall) did speake a whole yeare in weeping, but at length the Lord Jesus had mercy upon mee, shewed mee his wounds, with which the wound of my conscience in a moment was cured, and hee gave mee also the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and commanded that I should declare unto others the grace shewed to me, and export them to repentance; which I have done this foure yeares, and will doe as long as my life shall last. I know truly, that the wicked world doth endeavour to take away my life, but I am prepared to die, because by my death I shall glorifie Christ. Hee declared also, that when hee did call upon God in the prison of Zlonice, the Spirit of God answered him in his heart, and spake great things, which were not lawfull to be uttered; as also that he was taken up on high, above all the powers of this world, lest there should be any which might prevaile against him. As he had formerly declared all these things to the common people, so he did now declare them in prison to the Jesuites themselves: if they did descend to controversie about the Supper of the Lord, and about one Mediator, Christ, &c. he did fitly quote Scriptures, and urged them strongly: he did likewise denounce punishments to the persectuors of Gods people, the seducers of souls, and Masse-priests. He foretold also the bringing back, and gathering together of the flock of Christ, now scattered abroad by the wolves.
3. In fine, when all these things did shew a spirit more noble, than that it should be resisted, they took care that hee should be brought to Prague, the tenth day of august, and upon the fourteenth day of the same moneth, they punished him, and that in such a manner as was a signe of a feared conscience: for before morning light, the people not knowing of it, they commanded that hee should be brought forth, and without the gates at the gallowes be beheaded, and quartered; the severall quarters being as a sight set in the high-wayes, as being the members of some wicked Malefactors.