The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 46
CHAP. XLVI.
The burthens of Taxes.
I. AFter Prague was yielded the souldiers were authorized to plunder the houses of the Noblemen and citizens, but yet at several seasons & chiefly in the night time were their plots cunningly forg’d by their Captains. By which means as the enemies themselves boasted, were taken from the Protestants some millions of Gold, and it is not unlikely. For almost all the creatures of all men, and the jewels and best moveables, were brought hither in the time of the War as to the centure of security, no man considering that God had provided a rod for their backs. But all this rich prey within the Walls of Prague fel to the shares of Commanders: but the neighboring places were exposed to the fury of the rest, where the Germans, Italian, Spanish, French, Polonian, and Croation souldiers (for with the scumme of so many Nations fighting for Antichrist in Cæsars name were overflowed) robbed, and utterly spoiled Villages, Towns, Parishes, and Churches, burning and killing without any restraint.
2. The Garrison Souldiers that were afterwards dispersed into severall Lordships & Cities, would not onely have free quarter, but would extort mony from their Landlords every day.
3. Presently Commissioners were sent to promise security to those Cities and Noblemen, that were taken into Cæsars protection. But with this contdition, that every Baron, Knight, and Corporation, and also the Ministers, should bring in a good summe of mony for the payment of the Souldiers stipends, which (as they often said) they would not receive as a free gift, but only borrow it. Cæsars protection was promised to those that were liberall, and the rest were threatned to be given up to the souldiers fury to bee plundered. Neither were they content with that which every one did freely offer according to his estate, but set a price as it were according to the custome of buyers, writing downe in particular Tables made to that purpose, what summes were to bee paid within the compasse of some dayes: viz. a hundred. a thousand, two, three, six thousand Florenee. And because they promised that upon the payment of the mony the Souldiers should bee removed, therefore every one brought in his part more willingly and some readily bringing in their plate and Jewells.
4. A little while after other Commissioners sent to require certain Cities of the Nobility to maintain the standing forces of the Kingdome (for the greatest part of the Army was drawn into Moravia and Hungaria) and to contribute Corn, wherein also publick Granaries might be erected. This businesse cost them much mony and pains.
5. In the meane time all were fed with a vaine hope of the removall of the Souldiers, but none were removed but rather more were lifted, which increased new pressures and raised the taxes so high as was impossible for people to pay, even in those places which had revolted to them. For when some who were allured to deny the truth from a vaine hope of freedome from taxes and quarterings of Souldiers, complained that promises were not performed, the Jesuites answered. That they had no cause to wonder, for that this proceeding was safe for them. For they were to deal with Hereticks as with children and madmen, to whom if you would get a knife from them, you must shew and promise some other things, though you do not give them. They might be content that they had provided for their soules, and therefore to testifie their thankfulnesse might more chearfully help the Emperour by contribution, and quartering of Souldiers.