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A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN LITERATURE
of Alexander, Lobkovic in his Farragines published an epigram stating that even the guardian of hell had declined to admit Pope Borgia, as he might corrupt the other inmates of the infernal regions ! That Lobkovic, however, remained a stanch adherent of the Church of Rome is proved by an occurrence that took place somewhat later, and caused great excitement among the small group of Bohemian humanists. It is very characteristic of the times. Some citizens of Prague, who belonged to the most moderate faction of the Utraquist party, had, in 1493, presented an address to the Roman pontiff. With little political foresight, Lobkovic, thoroughly believing that the separation of Bohemia from the Roman Church had now at least come to an end, wrote an enthusiastic letter to John of Domoslav, a writer in the law-courts of Prague, and one of his very numerous correspondents. In this letter, written in his best Latinity, Lobkovic rejoiced over the final suppression of heresy, and enclosed a prayer in verse in which he invoked the aid of Providence for the purpose of the restoration of What followed is not very Bohemia to Catholicism. clear, but it seems that Domoslav showed Lobkovic's poem to Victorin Cornelius ze Vsehrd, who had that year been appointed to high office in the law-courts of Prague, and was his official superior. Vsehrd, a fervent Utraquist, was indignant at the suggestion of a reunion with Rome, and, as a true humanist, he also immediately composed a Latin poem, parodying that of LobThe poem ended with the words : — kovic " Boemicus
sanguis si quid tibi restal aviti
Rob oris, indigno subtrahe collajugo! Qui domini tanto servasH jussa superni Tempore, papalibus contaminari cave "
J
