The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 101
Chap. 101.
The Slanenseon Reformation.
SLana, otherwise a City for the King, yet yielded to Phalaris Martinitz, and by him cruelly handled, over whom Nicholas Hansbursky was made Captain by the same Martinitz, who a little before (for some fact) was delivered to the Hangman of Prague, and had redeemed his life by Apostasie. This man that he might ingratiate himself with the Jesuits, did strongly promote the persecution of the faithfull. In the year 624. he appointed a solemn procession at Slana (in that pompeous feast of the Body) most of the Citizens being brought to it, either by deceit or force. John Bleyssa being cited by him, & solicited to be a companion of his Idolatry, refused. When he asked the Reason, he said: As often as I have received the Lords supper, so often have I obliged my self to God, to shun these abominations. The other telling him, thou shalt not resit the Emperours pleasure; he answered, In these things which belong to Cæsar it is otherwise: but here Gods businesse is acted. He inferring that there should not be meanes wanting whereby thou mayst be forced, he answered, God seekes willing, and not forced Worshippers: The end of this disputation was a publick prison, where Bleyssa suffered punishment for his disobedience (as they called it) nine weeks.
2. But John Jahoda was fined a summe of money. For when he would not be present at an Idolatrous procession, neither would erect an Altar before his house, he being called into the Court, was accused of blasphemy against God, and Rebellion against the Magistrate. The punishment pronounced to him was imprisonment for 9. weeks, and the payment of 50. dollars (to help to get a new hoast) when the time of his imprisonment was run out, he laid down his money, protesting, That he gave nothing to the Hoast (for he knew no other to wash away the sinnes of the world, then that which was lifted up on the Crosse) but in obedience to the Magistrate, who might convert this money to what use he pleased. For which words being sent back to prison, he was not dismissed till after a moneth, and with the payment of 50. shillings: But instantly driven out of the City with his wife. He was a very zealous man, who a little after dying of the plague at Prague, he piously slept.
3. John Bleyssa when he had again offended, (having offered his Daughter privately to a Protestant Minister to be baptized) was first put into a stinking prison, and after (with his wife lately delivered) punished with banishment: The third part of his goods was onely granted unto him the other two parts being brought into the Lords Coffer: But when he saw this taken away, and getting nothing of the whole, he committed himself to divine providence with a full confidence, and indured the miseries of banishment, even to death, dying at Pern in Misnia.'
4. In the year 1626. The same Captain, that he might bring a universall deluge of Apostasie, brought in Souldiers, and compelled some by divers tortures to a desperate obedience. Among the rest, he forced 50. men into a narrow place of the Court, where they could not stand, much lesse sit, or lie. While they were kept in this place three whole dayes, and there having all passage out denied them, they performed the work of nature (Sr. Reverence) it could not be, but that they, being troubled with the stink, and likewise sad and angry, should faint. Therefore promising to learn, they are dismissed. In the same manner the wicked man handled women in his Chamber. But those that loved Christ went afterward into banishment.