The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Some examples of Gods Iudgement on the enemies.
I. IN this place it is conceived requisite to give an account of some examples of Gods judgement, shewed at this time and a little before upon the bloody endeavours of some cruell enemies, Albert Kolawrat Chancellor of the Kingdom returned from the Parliament above mentioned, and in his way gave a visite to the Baron of Coldice, and with great pleasure reported to him what there they had al agreed upon, Coldice asked his servant Simon, that stood by him, a man addicted to the discipline of the brothers, how he liked it. He made answer that they had not all agreed to it. The Chancellor presently sets upon him as a man knowing some new conspiracy, and commanded him to declare, who he or they were who durst oppose all the States of the Kingdome, whosoever they were he said they were Traitours to the Kingdome, wretched Villaines, and to bee involved in the same punishment with the Piccardines. The servant lifting up his hand, in heaven (he said) there is one, who if hee were not present at your counsells, you have taken counsell in vain. The Chancellour replied, knave thou shalt find that, as well as the rest; and full of fury he rose up, making hast to his owns habitation at Krupha. But in that very moment, a Carbuncle grew upon his foot, which turned into that disease called Ignis sacer, which being to be extinguished by no Art of the Physicians, did extinguish the impious man; from whence it came to passe, that the Bellowes of division being taken away, the others did break more gently.
2. But the great Artist of Warade hastning from Bohemia into Moravia, and willing to alight from his Chariot not far from Olumitz to make water, his breeches (according to the fashion of that time) being not on, hee lo strooke his Member on a sharp naile that was by the boot of his Chariot, that in his hasty descent, hee drew out his entralls with him, some part of them sticking upon the point of the nail, and not long after hee gave up the Ghost.
3. Doctour Augustine, a civill Lawyer who by a most false and flanderous libell, indeavoured to stir up the Kings and all good mens hatred against the Brothers, died suddenly much about the same time at Olumitz as he was at supper at his owne house.
4. Puta de Swihow did forego these, who was also one amongst the foremost in the bloudy counsells. A great Tempest then arising about his Castle, he ranne into the Cellar and there locked him self. Not long after some Courtiers knocking at the door, and finding no man open to it, they sent for a Black-smith, who brake it open, foure of the chiefest of them entring in, and making no long stay, they tooke order for the making of a Barge, which being covered with pitch, they put the master of the house in it, and gave fire to it, neither for a long time was it known who did do it.
5. Henry de novo Domo, a man of great authority of the Kingdome, and not the least enemy in the truth, delighting much in hunting, when he was throwne off from his Carriage, his hunting shaft being fastned to his side, comming up upon it, was forced so violently into his thigh, that the point thereof came forth at his loines, and brought unto him a most painfull death.
6. To conclude, so many and so prudent were the judgements of God in protecting this little and unarmed flock of his faithfull servants, that it was used as a proverbe among the adversaries themselves, ‘If any man be weary of his life, let him but attempt against the Piccardines, & he shall not out-live a yeer. In the mean time, the particular and personall persecutions of them were not few, to which maybe referred this which followeth.