The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 62
Chap. LXII.
I. THis man had an incomparable wit, famous for his learning, as appeareth by his writings, renouned for his travels through Germany, Italie, France, England, and Turkie, where he lived seven years, he was very zealous, deserving reverence even for his age, (for he was seventy years old) eminent also in regard of his places of preferment. For under Rodolphus he was a Counsellor, and was called to the place of one of the Directors of the reformed Consistory, and Academie. By Mathias he was made a Counsellor, and by the Order, Director of the Kingdome in the vacancy, until a King was elected. Lastly he was President of the Court of Appeales, the glory of his Country, and the bright shining starre of the Church; he was none that Lorded it over his inferiors, but was rather a Father to them. In a word , he was right deare both to God and man.
2. After the Victory of Ferdinand, he accompanied his family out of Prague, (his Wife, his Sonne, Nurse, Nephews,) and (least he should seeme to have forsaken the Crowne, whereof with one Otto he was appointed keeper) he returned. His house not long after was plundred, even to his wearing apparell, he onely saying, that the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken.
3. Paulus Aretinus being Secretary of the Tribunalls, talking with him, (for he was now kept under arrest in his owne house) and being demanded; that since he had b n once in the deeps, why he would trust himselfe to those tempestuous storms, he did answer, his conscience pressed him to what he did: It was Religion that perswaded him to forsake his Countrey, and a good cause. But I know not Gods pleasures, whether he will that I should seale it with my bloud. And rising up he said, I am here my God, dispose of me thy servant as it seemeth good in thine eyes; I am full of years, take from me my life, that I may not see those evils which I see are now comming on my Country. Being another day visited by the same party, and being before acquainted of the report that went on him (that for very griefe he died) smiling he answered; What me? I had never had the happinesse to injoy so much pleasure as now: behold my Paradise (shewing his Bible) it never yeelded me so much Nectar and Ambrosia as now, I live, and will live as long as God please, neither, I hope, shall any man see that day wherein good old Budowecius, was said to die with greif. Being examined of the Inquisitors often, he stifly maintained the equity of the cause; and being condemned, he said to the Judges, Yee have long time thirsted after my bloud, but know withall, ye will find God a revenger of innocent bloud, for whose cause we suffer.
4. The third day before the execution, hee told his dreame to his servant Zidnowskie. He dreamed that he thought he saw himselfe walking in a pleasant field, and thinking of the event of these, things with a heavie heart; when behold one comming to me offered me a booke, which when I looked into, I saw silken white leaves, and nothing therein written, but the fift verse of the thirty seven Psalme, Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in him, and he shall bring it to passe: when he began againe to thinke what that meant, another came, and brought a white Robe, which he cast upon him. The old man awaking, told it presently to his servant: and as hee went on the Scaffold, hee said to him, Now I goe covered with the cloth of Righteousnesse, that I may appeare before God in whom I hope.
5. After the pronunciation of the sentence, as he was going into the Crosse, two Capuchins met him, and told him, the cause of their comming, which was, to afford him mercy in these straits, he demanded of them, what that mercy was. They did answer, that they might shew him the way of the Lord. He replied again, I know that by the mercy of my God. They again said, Sir, you are deceived a in your opinion. Unto whom hee answered, I rely not on opinion on but the infallible truth; for I have no other way, but him who said, I am the way, the truth, and life. But they replied there is no salvation out of the Church, and here they fall into discourse of the authority of the Church, to trifle away the time, and would gladly confine it to the Pope, and Cardinals, in which discourse they use vaine repetition, in desiring their principles to be granted, whereat the Martyr incensed, said: but I think your Pope is a Divel, and Antichrist, and the son of perdition, and that Beast that was made red with the bloud of Saints: depart with him to the place ye have deserved, and let me alone: yet if ye will learn from me the way of truth, stay ye, it will not be tedious to me, to spend some time and pains to save your soules. Here they beating their breasts, and signing themselves with the sign of the Crosse they departed, complaining that they never met with such a blasphemous Heretick.
6. In like manner (on the day of. Martyrdome) very early in the morning, two Jesuites came into the Court, and began again to trouble these holy men: and when some slighted them, they came to the Baron, and said, We perceive that this Baron is very learned, we doe desire to gaine his soule, and afford unto him the worke of mercy: to whom he said, What! would ye gaine my soule? Would ye were assertained of your salvation as I am of mine, the Lord be praised, who by his holy spirit, hath assured me of my salvation by the bloud of the Lambe. The Jesuite replyed, Good sir, do not presume too much, and assume that to your selfe, whereof no man can promise to himselfe any certainty; For doth not the Scripture say, No man knowes whether hee have deserved grace? To whom the Baron answered, Is it therefore that I have need of your mercy? Yee unhappy gainers of soules, yee rather infuse desparation into me, but ye erre, not knowing the Scriptures. And here hee expounded, and gave them the sense of this place, and brought other portions of Scripture, which prove the infallibility of the salvation of beleevers. Amongst others that of Saint Paul, I know in whom I have believed, also I know that a crown is laid up for me. The Jesuit interrupting him, said, This Paul said of himselfe, not of others: The Baron replyed, Thou liest: for it followes, not for me onely, but for all those that wait for his comming. Here the Sophister was mute and the Baron went forward. As for that saying, No man knoweth whether he deserve grace or hatred, doe you thereby seeke to coope me up? pray tell me where you find it written? here is the Bible, where doe you find it? The one said, If I be not deceived, in the Epistle of Paul to Timothy. The Baron being very angry, said, Thou Asse, wouldest thou teach me the way of salvation, which knows so little of the word of God? Satan be gone from me, and tempt me not. At length (being confuted) they went their way, and stood a far off, while the Martyrs prepared themseves for suffering, as they use to paint Devils, when they are forced to leave & forsake the sinner, looking (as we use to say) as if he had caten Bull-beef. And it is probable, that nothing so much troubled Satan, than that all of them slighted him and his factors.
7. Presently after, the Baron was called, and as he went on the Scaffold, he carried his head stately, and stroking his long beard, he said, My gray hairs, Behold what honour remains for you, that you should be crowned wih Martyrdome: and then directing his speech to God, hee prayed for the Church, his Country, his Enemies, and recomended his soule to Christ: whose head being cut off, was set on the Tower, and his body buried.