The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 93
Chap. XCIII.
The Reformation at Kutterberg.
I. THis harsh dealing with the people of Prague, might neverthelesse have been coloured over with the paint of justice and equity; for they had licence to enjoy the benefit of departure, as they mollified and minced their tyranny with this specious name; those goods which were unmoveables they were permitted to take in sunder and the moveables to truss up and freely carry them away. But left others should do the like, both the fury of the Kings Officers in the Cities, and the insolency of the Monks and souldiers appointed to keep ward, did greatly withstand them; for those miserable men when almost all (for feare of those harpies) fled from their houses, they were plundered most ravenously, and permitted to carry nothing away of their goods and houshold stuffe, but what they removed away privily. Their houses and grounds were left destitute and forsaken, yet afterwards found those that also possessed them, some few that were expelled their possessions, received the same favour which those at Prague had formerly. This will be more fully manifested in that which followeth.
2. Kutterberg is a City of Bohemia, and (nex unto Prague most eminent; very famous for abundance of silver Mines, multitudes of citizens, and zealous Professors. This City by the Kings appointment hath in it a chiefe President, the Master of the Mint, a Baron, or Knight; and an Arch-Deacon, the chief Prelat of the Church, with other Pastors and Collegiats, in number seven. So soone as it began to be moletted by the mony-master (Wresowecius) under the pretence of Religion; the Incomes of the Kings Revenue began also to be diminished; their Mettall-Artists (most of them being Germans) failing them in most places. This inconvenience being well observed, the King covenanted with the Citizens, that they should be Masters of the Mettalls for ten years, paying unto him a certaine summe of money yearely, they in the interim being safe from the Souldiers violence, and quietly injoying their Religion. The King Subscribed, and confirmed the Covenant by setting thereto his Seale, Iune 24. 1625. Which was received by the Citizens with incredible joy, many others there promising to themselves Sarepta, and the Cave of Abdia.
13. But it grieved Satan, that any receptacle remained for the faithfull; he therefore prevailed by the buzzing Iesuits, that the King moved with I know not what feare of some new Rebellion) having scarce stood five monethes to his Covenant, he tooke care to have the souldiery brought in againe: who (December the sixt) entering the Cicy, the business of Religion is taken up againe. The Citizens astonished with the newes hereof (against such manifest Covenants) they again humbly petition, that so much favour might be granted them (to keep the Workers in Mettall) that no violence be offered them. But instead of an Answer, a command is given to the Captaine (December 22.) that for Hlawse the Conful, Paul Screte, Iohn Schreyter, Iohn Agathon, Sigismund Kosel, and M. Peter Capo, Senators, and chiefe Citizens, the abettors of the hereticall obstinacy, to place twenty Musquetiers in their houses upon free quarter, untill he had received a Schedule from the Confessour, as a testimony of their Confession made before him. The Souldiers domineering by reason of the licence given them, did not onely suck out and exhaust good men by their profuse living upon them, but did also abuse them diverse other wayes after their own pleasure: whose patient constancy notwithstanding overcame their tyrannicall behaviour: For so long as they were able, they afforded them provision; but this failing, part of them wihdrew themselves by flight, to further danger; others resigned the Government of their goods at home, delivering the Keyes to their landslords.
4. When they see their designe could not well proceed this way, the taske of reforming Kutterberg is committed to Don Martin of Hursa, who guarded with a troup of Curasiers (armed from top to toe) and brandishing a naked sword with his right hand, entereth the Cicy, the day before Easter, anno, 1626. The Citizens affrighted at his comming, who had before given publick tokens of his cruelty in other Cities, doe forthwith that night, take their flight in great multitudes, thinking to lurke privily in the neighbour-villages and townes. Don Martin observing this, returnes to Prague, and gets an Edict published, for not receiving or favouring any Exile, under mulct of an hundred Imperials.
5. And now when all hopes of returning were taken away from the people of Kutterberg: another Edict came forth (Augult 17.) promising impunity to those that would returne: Some hereupon returned, but to their owne grief and danmage. For in the yeare following, a Senate being elected out of the most wavering Apostats (whereof some, and of them the Major of the City, not long before a hore-courser were illiterat persons) were so diversly molested with the souldiery, that multitudes of them being broken withdaily pressures, at last shook hands with the Persecutors, and submitted their necks to the Antichrisstian yoke: others together with their wives and children (leaving all behind them) willingly betooke themselves to banishment.