The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 40

by Johan Amos Comenius

Chap. XL.

 

Under Rodolphns the Gospellers had full liberty.

 

I. IN the year after 1576 Maximilianus being dead, his sonne Rudolphus succeeded him, who trod in his fathers steps, hee reigned peaceably untill the year on thousand fix hundred and two no persecution being in all that time concerning religion. In this year it was so brought about by the private practises of the Jesuites and their instruments, that Rodolphus should subscribe to, and cause to be published an Edict drawne by them, concerning the renewing of a Decree of Wladislaus against the Piccardines; for noe other end, but that their Churches might be shut up for a time, the Patrons of the Brethren, the Noblemen protested that it did no way concern them, since thesemen are not such as the Piccardines are described to be, and therefore Cæsar did connive and looked not so narrowly after them, as that they should so strictly observe his decree herein, neither was it lawfull for the enemy to presse the Orders so farre, and it was related by a man of credit, that the evening before the 22. of July, when newes was brought to the King that Alba Regia was taken (being the chiefe City of Hungary) in great astonishment said, I looked for some such thing, since this day I began to usurp the Government of God, which is of consciences.

2. Neither intended hee any thing else than to make good the promise of his father, and to settle liberty of conscience, as he declared afterwards, when in the year 1609 to the Orders of the Kingdome under both kinds (the Pope the Spanish faction and their counsellors not consenting thereto) he committed the lower consistory, and the university to be reformed at the pleasure of the Orders, giving them Patents whereby this donation was confirmed to them, and gave leave that the churches and schools should be inhabited, or if need be should be built, and forbad that any of his subjects whether Catholick or Spirituall should bee punished for his religion, and obliged those Kings that should succeed him, religiously to observe these things, and also gave power to the Orders to make choise of some among them to bee defendors of this liberty.

3. The Orders therefore reform the consistory, and for quietnesse sake they chuse 3 Hussites, 3 Brethren, and 3 Gospellers, to these they adde the 3 Professours of the University, and command these twelve chosen men to order all affaires concerning Church Government throughout the Kingdome. And because it was generally agreed that the confederates should bee cashiered, and Church government bee according to the rule of Gods law. Elias Shudim of Semanin a Hussite is chosen first Adminiftrator, and afterward to bee elected out of the ordinary sort of Ministers. But concerning the brethren it is concluded (the order of whole discipline was granted for the better reconciliation) that they should have their Seniour, being the next Colleague of the Administrator, so long as the diversity of this order yet in a friendly concord should endure. To whom ar Prague a Church is given by the University, as it were to the true off-spring of Hus called Bethlehem, famous for the preaching of Hus. All which things were done with the publick acclamation of all good people, and all things rung out with divine praises, and were fastned to the doors of the church these lines.

 

The Temples ope’d, the Lion joyes, that Raph, To Maxamilian kept his promised faith. &c.

 

4. The orders under both kinds made a friendly agreement with the orders under one kind, for the consideration of peace and mutuall concord among them, which having digested into articles, they promised to enter into the Registrie of the kingdome, but to be confirmed by the subscription of Cæsar & his Councehors. But three were found who did refuse, being two or three times solicited, having some scruple of conscience. Zdenko Adalbertus Popel de Lobkowitz Chancellor of the kingdome, William Slawata de Chlum, and Iaroslaus de Martinitz Smeczanskie. Therefore they solemnely protest against the orders under both kinds, that if hereafter they shall attempt any thing against this liberty granted to the whole kingdome by Cæsar, that then they would punish them as disturbers of the publique peace; which protestation of the orders, Rodolphus assenting to it, is entered into the Registrie of the Kingdome, and kept among the priviledges, and confirmed by the same oath with other priviledges of the Kingdome, by Rodolphus and his successors.

5. False Hussitisme being taken away, a more pure Religion flourished throughout the whole kingdome, so that there was scarce one among a hundred who hid not professe the Evangelicall doctrine. But alas! with the liberty of Religion (as usually it happens) by little and little, two much liberty of life began to increase, and learning (even among whom formerly it flourished) began after a strange manner to be dissolved. Wherefore this liberty bringing along with it carnall security, did not please all godly men, and some began to presage ill, that so a horrible tempest from some Ferdinand should againe overwhelme them. It was a Propheticall speech, in peace my bitternesse is most bitter and fullfilled, of which it followeth.