The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 41
Chap. XLI.
New stratagems of the enemies under Matthias.
I. I Must begin higher, that the bottom of our calamity may be more apparent. The occasion of the grant of this ample Religious Liberty, by Rodolphus to the Bohemians and Silesians, was because the Hungarians with Austrians and Moravians forsaking Rodolphus, for some civile causes, had created his brother Matthew Archduke, King, Duke and Marquis, and with a great army in the year, 1608. entring into Bohemia, even unto Prague, did not only demand the Crowne of Hungarie, which was there kept, but courted the Bohemians to a revolting, but they with the Silesians, were faithfull to him, and Mathew with the Crowne of Hungarie, and hope for succession in the Kingdom of Bohemia after the death of Rodolphus, being sent away, they asked and obtained, for that they had sworne fealty to Rodolphus, the former promised favour of Religious liberty, and the power of the Consistorie and Universitie.
2. In the meane time, for this affront put upon him by his Brother, he was very much vexed, and the more, because foreseeing the Spanish plots began to boad no good luck to his Bohemians, and all Germanie, he began to enter into new consultation with himself and he was troubled in mind not konwing whom he might trust with his secrets; at the length he made choise of two Barons, whom he hoped would be faithfull unto him, the one from Austria, Mr. Kahn, the other from Moravia, Mr. Schamid, both which were of Stiriacus, but both by Ferdinand the Archduke, in the year 1600. reforming Stiria, with many other banished there countrie, these he calls to Prague to him in the year 1610. and opens his case to them: he is sorrie that Matthias must succeed him, who because he was but a young man, and was altogether at the beck of the Clergie, very much feared that he would come, and that they would recommend Ferdinand to be adopted, and by that meanes get the Scepter. He resolves therefore upon Leopaldus of his owne family, that he shall be the successor of his Kingdome, whom he knew, though now a Bishop, and brother in law to Ferdinrnd was of a more milde temper, and would hearken to good Counsell. And that he might not be seduced, he would undertake some memorable thing, to wit, that he would erect an Order of Peace for the liberty of Consciences, and that he should be blamelesse, that called upon Christ any way; and to the fellowship of this order, he would invite all Kings and Princes that were promoters of the Gospell, and also Catholicks, if they would come. When he had got a Catalogue of their names, he signed it, and showed it to them, the number being about fifty; and reading the forme of the Covenant, or societie of that Order made by himselfe, and bringing forth two gold chaines, giving to each of them one, with the ensigne of Peace made by his owne hands, of which sort he said he would make more according to the number of the societie of that Order.
3. He demandeth of them, even with astonishement hearkning unto him, whether they were ready to promote so holy and pious resolution. They know not, they say what can bee hoped for in so great a matter in regard of his poverty, but hee answered, I intended to make use of your two best endeavors on an Embasy. Yours Rakin to the Prince of Germany, yours Schmedi to the chiefe of Bohemia and Moravia, but in the first place I must provide for the safeguard of my selfe and my Kingdome, yee shall therefote first go unto Leopaldus and give this advice unto him, and by letters written with my own hand, I will give testimony of your fidelity, and if hee shall consent which I know he will, it shall be your care that an army be raised, and then to return to me, being amazed at these things, Cæsar gave them three dayes to consider of it. What needs many words, they return, undertake his commands, and execute them but with ill successe. For although in the year 1611 the army of the Passavians had entred by force as far as Prague, yet Matthias following them with his army gave them a repulse, and was made King of Bohemia, and Rodolphus with grief died.
4. I cannot passe this over with silence, when the Baron Schmidius, returning from Passavia, was sent on an Embassy to the chief of Bohemia and Moravia intimating the intention of Cæsar all things happen contrary to their expectation, for they gave no credite to them, all of them interpreting, that they came with colourable pretences, and that some crafty plot lay hid, or else fearing a warre betweene those two Kings. Schmidius having declared this to the Emperour being very angry, he suddenly arose from his seat, and hastned to the window, and opening it violently, looking toward the City, said, Prague, ungratefull Prague, thou hast beene made glorious by mee, doest thou now reject me your benefactour, the vengeance of God follow thee, and may a curse light upon thee, Prague, and all Bohemia. I heard all this from the mouth of the Baron Schmidias in his Castle at Kunstat, where the good old man, being threescore and ten yeares old, shewed me the chaine, and ensigne dedicated to the Order of Peace, & weeping said, this, that religions and godly Cæsar made with his owne hands, and presently after the malediction of godly Cæsar, towards whom we were ungratefull, falls upon us.
5. That purpose concerning the founding the Order of Peace, without all doubt was so pleasing, that it is a wonder that it went not forward. Some peradventure may suppose, that they much erred from Politique counsels, that this businesse was not otherwise, and by others begun, but if we looke higher, they are the just judgments of God, bringing this whole nation and all Germanie to punishment, and suffering our enemies to fill up the measure of their fathers. For they fild it up to the top, and utterly undid us. We shall collect this history by parcells, we cannot give you yet the full. Because his Antichristian plots forged in secret, which we have rejected, being outward are manifest, we must expect that God would bring to light the inward
6. But we under Mathew being intrapped, did not perceive our ruine, nay we exceedingly did rejoyce, as if the liberty of our Consciences were well provided for. When behold new on all sides contrivances of the enemies come to light, but never more openly than afterwards they came, which thing that godly King Rodolphus formerly did much feare: that Ferdinand from Stiria, should be advanced to the Kingdome.