Page:The History of the Bohemian Persecution (1650).djvu/250

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216
The Hiſtory of

Chap. LXX.

Bohoſlaus de Michalowtz Lord of Rugenice.

I. HE was a man excellent in abilities of the mind and zeale for God, having deſerved much both of the Kings and Kingdome of Bohemia.

2. Being adjudged to die, he ſaid it was more welcome to him, than if the Emperour had commanded him to live, and reſtored him to all his goods with an addition of more. For he knew their ſecret counſels, and perceived what would follow. The fear and griefe of Death (ſaith he) is but for a few hours, and then comes the deſired Reſt. Being asked with others, by the Miniſter of the Word, whether they did acknowledge themſelves juſtly condemned to the death? Hee anſwered: If we did think that we were the cauſes of theſe evils, we would not be aſhamed to confeſſe and detest it. But we will not fall downe and deſire favour, lest we give to man that honour which is due to God, and betray our own innocency. For God knowes, the Papiſts did that ſecretly by their plots, which we ſee now done: They provoked us to take up armes, and now they ſlanderouſly lay to our charge many things, which never entred into ony thoughts. God is our witneſſe, that we fought for nothing but the liberty of Religion:

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