The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 30
CHA A. XXX.
I. IN the year, 1526 on the 9 day of December Nicholas Wrzetenar, being well stricken in yeares and withall a learned man, is accuſed of Piccardisme, before the Senat by Jacobus Parochus, and appearing according to his citation, he was demanded by Zabera what he did beleeve concerning the Sacrament of the Altar, answered. That which the Evangelists and St. Paul taught mee to believe. He that at that time sate as chiefe asked him; beleevest thou that Christ is there present having flesh and bloud, but he answered, I beleeve that when the Ministers of Gods word doth declare to the faithful congregation the benefits which are received by the death of Christ, the bread and wine are then made the supper of the Lord, wherein they are made partakers of the body and bloud of Christ, and the benefits received by the death of Christ. What needes many words after the discussing of some questions concerning the Mase, and intercession of Saints, &c. they do condemn him to the fire together with his Hostesse Clara being a widow of three score yeares of age, who would not deny that faith whereof she was instructed by her inmate.
2. Being brought to the place of torment, and being comanded to pray to the sign of the cross, lifted up toward the east, they utterly refused, saying. The law of God permitteth us not to worship the likeness of any thing either in heaven or earth, we wil worship the living God of heaven, who alike inhabiteth the South, the West, the North, the East, turning their backs therefore unto the image, and prostrating themselves towards the West, with their hands and eyes lifted up unto heaven with great ardencie of spirit they called on Christ, then tooke leave of their children, and Nicholas with much cheerfulnes ascended the heap of wood, & there stood, and did repeat the Articles of the Creed, which when he had finished, he looked up to heaven, praied, and with a loud voice said. Lord Jesus Christ, thou son of the living God who was born of a pure virgin, and didst vouchasfe to undergo the shamefull death of the Crosse for me a wretched sinner, thee alone do I worship, to thee I recommend my soul, be merciful unto me and forgive me all my sins. Then he repeated this Psalm in latine. In thee O Lord have l put my trust. In the mean time the executiones had laid Clara on the pile of wood, and then bound them both and casting the books which were found about them on the heap he set fire thereto.