The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 16
Chap. XVI.
The Martyrdoms under the future Hussites.
1. VVE are now come to declare the Schism of those men, who did professe the name of Hus, and how the greater part of them did by degrees degenerate, and at last did persecute the faithfull: They all had a zeal, according to the example of Hus their Master, to oppose Antichrist; But when by his remarkable death, they were destitute of a discreet and couragious Captain, who should contain the incensed people within the bounds of rule and order, it so came to passe, that they were distracted into divers opinions, and nourished most grievous dissentions among themselves. For the Commonalty of the people, and the greatest part of the Clergy, being bent only upon the Cup, and from thence called Cuppeirs in the Story of Security, neglected the other documents of Mr. Hus. But the Thaborites (amongst whom Wenceslaus Lorenda, and Nicolas Episcopius, two excellent men, were most eminent, with some few others) did presse the purity and simplicity of his doctrine, in all the Articles and Ceremonies thereof. On the one side it was cryed up, that the Rites of the Church were not essentiall, on the other side all Superstition was cried down: neither were there wanting some disguised men, who to promote the cause of the Pope and Emperour, did kindle new flames of dissention, and did stir up the hatred of the people against the professors of the pure doctrine, traducing them by the hatefull name of Piccardines; for you are to understand that they called the Waldenses by a nick-name, Piccardines, who not long before being forced from France, did fit down in Austria, and were now famous for the infamy of the foulest of Hereticks: So distractedly did disorder & confusion mannage al things, I told you before how zealous Zealine was made shorter by the head. There were also some found, who so possessed Zisca, Commander in chief of the Thaborites, that he should unite himself with the Calixtines, who were only and altogether for the Cup, and persecure the Piccardines, as he did the Papists, with fire and sword.
2. In the year 1427, the Administrators themselves of the Consistory of Prague, Mr. Przibram, and Mr. Procopius de Pelsna, being at that time Chancellour of the University, with Peter de Mladoniowitz, and Dr. Krzostan a Physitian, were first imprisoned, and afterward banished for the profession of the pure doctrine. It was no wonder indeed, if the intrests of Rome, and her Agents had not utterly dissolved them, so disagreeing amongst themselves: but the wonderfull goodnesse of God did otherwise dispose it, which knew so wisely to temper the folly of men, that neither friends nor foes had any place left for the glory of Triumph; for as often as Cæsar (taking advantage of their dissentions) did grow upon the Bohemians with his Armies, they alwayes (a happy peace being suddenly concluded) did defend the common cause with common Arms. Zisca and Procopius leading their men and managing their affairs and God giving them success, and wonderfull victories.
3. The Emperor therefore with the Pope finding that they could profit nothing by the sword, did imploy their cunning and having called a councell at Basilea, in the year of our Lord 1432. they most cutteously invited the Bohemians to a peaceable transaction, promising them to give them satisfaction on the publick faith, as they themselves should desire. Commissioners were therefore sent unto this councell, amongst whom the most eminent was John Rokizane of Prague, and Nicolas Episcopius of the Taborens both famous Divines. Of the nobility of that Kingdome, they made choice of Procopius Generall of the Taborens, and William Rastka Baron of Postupicz and others, who being honourably entertained, and asked what their demands were, they offered four articles, desiring that either the Councell would grant them, or allow them by argument to defend the righteousnesse of them: The Articles were these.
1. That the use of the Cup may be restored to the people, and that the service of the Church might be in their own tongue,
2. That the Clerks or Ministers might usurp no authority in secular things.
3. That the word of God might be freely preached and without disturbance.
4. That there may bee publicke punishment for publick offences.
4. The Legate of the Pope demanding if that they had not any more articles to propound, because he heard it reported that they affirmed that the Order of the Monks were from the Divells, Procopius made answer, from whence otherwise could they derive their Original which was instituted neither by the Patriarks nor Prophets, neither by Christ nor the Apostles, &c.
5. After this Delegates were deputed who on both sides, for forty days together, disputed on the articles. And when the Bohemians could not be confuted, they were drawn at last to a friendly composition, John Rokizane with the hope of an Arch-Bishopprick, being corrupted himself, and seducing others of the Commissioners, the affairs were so carried, that the Bohemians promised to return unto the obedience of the Church of Rome, and to observe all their traditions and their rites, the use of the Cup being among other demands excepted. These four Articles were afterwards named the agreement, and Commissioners were sent into Bohemia from the Councell and Cæsar, who were to declare that the Bohemians were received into the bosome of the Church, and were again to be esteemed as deer children. Heere a Parliament being called, Rokizane, Rhetorically enough, did expound himself, how according to his desire he obtained these things, in the fighting for which such an excesse of bloud was made, and the Kingdome was made so great a Ruine. He was now pleased to stile the Pope and Cæsar in some other language then heretofore, when he called them the Whore ard the Beast.
6. It gave an occasion of great grief to many, especially to the zealous Thaborites, to depart in this manner from the Discipline of Hus, and to return into the profession of the Church of Rome. They indeavoured what they could to restrain them, and at last they had recourse unto armes again, in which the Thaborites were overthrown, and their defeat was so remarkable, that after this they defended themselves only by the Word of God and patience. This hapned in the year of our Lord, 1434.
7. In the year following at a publick convention, Rokizane was solemnly chosen Arch-Bishop, but when the Emperour endeavoured to hinder from the solemn Rites of consecration (peradventure because he did distrust a man to deceitfull) he being impatient that he was thus deluded, did again make a new faction, and bitterly inveighed against the unrighteousnesse of the Emperor, and the domineering of the Pope of Rome, & for fear of Cæsar he for the space of 3 years, withdrew himself from Prague, for Sigismund not long after died, & so did his successour Albertus within two years space, having left his son Ladislaus behind him, who had his education in the Court of Frederick the Emperor.
8. In this tine and intervall of Government, and especially not long after the sudden death of Ladislaus, when George Podebrade did succeed him whom Rokizane did infinitely possesse, was that of the Prophet truly fulfilled, Manasses shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and both shall be against Juda. For the Pope did rage against George Podebrade, and the Calixtines, who were those that used the Cup, with prohibitions, censures, and with curses, and they as eagerly did inveigh against the Pope and Monks but the truly faithfull were on both sides oppressed.