Page:Roman Catholic cruelties.pdf/8

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

8

their virgins ravished, the women affronted, the men beaten and abused, and the vallies are become the dungeons in which they are kept as slaves, and secured by strong forts and garrisons of Papists; so that they are even dying while they live, and have cause to cry out,—"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood," Rev. vi. 10.



The Persecutions and Cruelties of the Papists upon the Protestants at Bohemia, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania.


The Persecutions of the Papists against the Bohemians began very early, even about 907 years after the death of our blessed Saviour.—Pope Hildebrand (otherwise called Hellbrand,) was the first that fed upon them, and afterwards Pope Celestine; and persecution continued upon them for many years. John Huss, and Jerome of Prague, were burned in defence of the gospel, at Constance, notwithstanding they had the public faith of the empire of Germany given then for their security.

In the year 1421, one Pichel, a chief magistrate of the city of Limeritis, having taken 24 of the chief citizens, and among them his son-in-law, put them in an high tower, and being there almost famished, they were at last brought out, and condemned to be drowned, their wives, children, and friends, following them to execution with cries and tears: yea, the magistrate's own daughter came with prayers and tears to her father, beseeching him to spare her husband; but he, like a hard hearted wretch, said, 'Cannot