The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 21
Chap. XXI.
Abominable Lyes cast upon the Brothers.
1. BUt to returne back a little, in the year, 1471. Rokizane dyed, having wrastled with dispaire, and citing King George, who came to visite him, to appeare with him before the Tribunall of God, who one moneth after followed him: and Wladislaus a Polonian did succeed him, a milde and a gentle Prince. To whom, the Brothers being againe overwhelmed with many false Accusations, did write an Apology, desiring him that he would suffer nothing by force to be acted on them.
2. Which did so exasperate some wicked men that in the year, 1476. they indeavoured by a most impudent invention, to stirre up against them the hatred of all men. They had suborned a most light man, by art a Polender, by name Lezka, which if you interpret it signifies a lyar, the sound agreeing with the thing, who upholding that he came from the Piccardins, and was an Elder amongst them, would seem to discover wonderfull secrets, as how in their conventicles they would blaspheme God, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints, traduce the Sacraments, with their scoffings, mingle them selves incestuously after the manner of the Adamites, commit murthers, practise witch-craft, heape up most vaste summes of money, &c. This man they did leade through Townes and Cities as a spectacle, they brought him into their Temples, where he should abjure his errours, and most hainous crimes, and beseeched the people to pray for him most wretched sinner, and to take heed by his example, of the most wicked Piccardins. They tooke also his confession in writing, and published it, being confirmed with the seales and subscriptions of some Deanes and Priests, that where Lezka himselfe could not come in person, his confession might be read in the Churches to the people.
3. But this indeavour of the Devill did come to nothing, for the Brothers by publick writings did confute their Lyes, and Lezka trembling so often to forswear himselfe in the sight of the people, and to speak lies in the stead of truth, refused any longer to obey them, and confessed that hee was suborned to do what he did, and that he knew not any of the Piccardines.
4. Howsoever this impudence, and these obloquies of the Devill, by the accustomed goodnesse of God, did prove good for some, who making experience of so great a Villany, began privately and in disguises to frequent the Assemblies of the Brethren, and finding it to bee farre otherwise, than was reported, they did associate themselves with the brothers, as with true Christians.