ble, and ordered the prisoners to be tied with care was taken lest his wounds should mortitheir hands and feet behind them, and in that fy, and his sufferings be thus shortened, till manner thrown into the river. This being the last day, when the forcing out of his eyes put into execution, the young lady watched caused his death. her opportunity, leaped into the waves, and embracing the body of her husband, both sunk together.

PERSECUTION BY THE EMPEROR FERDINAND.

The other acts of these monsters were various and diabolical. At length, the winter being far advanced, the high court of reformers, with their military ruffians, thought proper to return to Prague; but on their way meeting with a Protestant pastor, they could not resist the temptation of feasting their barbarous eyes with a new kind of cruelty. This was to strip him naked, and to cover him alternately with ice and burning coals. This novel mode of torture was immediately put in practice, and the unhappy victim expired beneath the torments, which delighted his inhuman persecutors.

The emperor Ferdinand, whose hatred to the Protestants was unlimited, not thinking he had sufficiently oppressed them, instituted a high court of reformers, upon the plan of the inquisition, with this difference, that the reformers were to remove from place to place. The greater part of this court consisted of Jesuits, and from its decisions there was no appeal. Attended by a body of troops, it made the tour of Bohemia, and seldom ex- Some time after, a secret order was issued amined or saw a prisoner; but suffered the by the emperor, for apprehending all noblesoldiers to murder the Protestants as they men and gentlemen who had been principalpleased, and then to make report of the mat- ly concerned in supporting the Protestant ter afterwards. cause, and in nominating Frederick, elector

The first who fell a victim to their barbari- palatine of the Rhine, to be the king of Boty was an aged minister, whom they killed hemia. Fifty of these were suddenly seized as he lay sick in bed. Next day they robbed in one night, and brought to the castle of and murdered another, and soon after shot a Prague; while the estates of those who were third, while preaching in his pulpit. absent were confiscated, themselves made They ravished the daughter of a Protest-outlaws, and their names fixed upon a galant before his face, and then tortured her lows as a mark of public ignominy. father to death. They tied a minister and The high court of reformers afterwards his wife back to back, and burnt them. proceeded to try those who had been appreAnother minister they hung upon a cross hended, and two apostate Protestants were beam, and making a fire under him, broiled appointed to examine them. Their examhim to death. A gentleman they hacked iners asked many unnecessary and impertiinto small pieces; and they filled a young nent questions, which so exasperated one of man's mouth with gunpowder, and setting the noblemen, that he exclaimed, opening fire to it, blew his head to pieces. his breast at the same time, "Cut here; But their principal rage being directed search my heart; you shall find nothing but against the clergy, they seized a pious Pro- the love of religion and liberty: those were testant minister, whom they tormented daily the motives for which I drew my sword, and for a month in the following manner: they for those I am willing to die." placed him amidst them, and derided and As none of the prisoners would renounce mocked him; they spit in his face, and pinch- their faith, or acknowledge themselves in ed him in various parts of his, body; they error, they were all pronounced guilty; the hunted him like a wild beast, till ready to sentence was, however, referred to the emexpire with fatigue; they made him run the peror. When that monarch had read their gauntlet, each striking him with a twig, names, and the accusations against them, he their fists, or ropes; they scourged him with passed judgment on all, but in a different wires; they tied him up by the heels with manner; his sentences being of four kinds, his head downwards, till the blood started viz. death, banishment, imprisonment for life, out of his nose, mouth, &c.; they hung him and imprisonment during pleasure. Twenty up by the arms till they were dislocated, and of them being ordered for execution, were then had them set again: burning papers, informed they might send for Jesuits, monks, dipped in oil, were placed between his fin- or friars, to prepare for their awful change, gers and toes; his ilesh was torn with red-hot but that no communication with Protestants pincers; he was put to the rack; they pulled would be permitted them. This proposal off the nails of his fingers and toes; he was they rejected, and strove all they could to bastinadoed on his feet; a slit was made comfort and cheer each other upon the solin his ears and nose; they set him upon an emn occasion. The morning of the execuass, and whipped him through the town; his tion being arrived, a cannon was fired as a teeth were pulled out; boiling lead was pour- signal to bring the prisoners from the castle ed upon his fingers and toes; and, lastly, a to the principal market-place, in which scafknotted cord was twisted about his forehead folds were erected, and a body of troops in such a manner as to force out his eyes. drawn up to attend. The prisoners left the In the midst of these enormities, particular castle, and passed with dignity, composure,

and cheerfulness, through soldiers, Jesuits, for they know not what they do." Then ap priests, executioners, attendants, and a pro- proaching the block, he kneeled down, and digious concourse of people assembled to see exclaimed, with great energy, "Into thy the exit of these devoted martyrs. They hands, O Lord! I commend my spirit; in were executed in the following order: thee have I always trusted; receive me,

1. Lord Schilik, a nobleman about the therefore, my blessed Redeemer." The fatal age of fifty. He possessed great abilities, stroke was then given.

natural and acquired. On being told he was 4. Lord Frederic de Bile suffered as a to be quartered, he smiled with great sereni- Protestant, and as an instigator of the war: ty, and said, "The loss of a sepulchre is but he met his fate with firmness, and only said, a trifling consideration." A gentleman who he wished well to the friends whom he left stood by, crying, "Courage, my lord;" he behind, forgave his enemies, denied the replied, "I possess the favor of God, which authority of the emperor in that country, acis sufficient to inspire any one with courage: knowledged Frederic to be the only true the fear of death does not trouble me. I king of Bohemia, and trusted for salvation in have faced him in fields of battle to oppose the merits of his Redeemer. Antichrist." After repeating a short prayer, 5. Lord Henry Otto, on first coming upon he told the executioner he was ready, who the scaffold, seemed greatly agitated, and cut off his right hand and head, and then said, as if addressing himself to the emperor, quartered him. His hand and head were "Thou tyrant Ferdinand, thy throne is esplaced upon the high tower of Prague, and tablished in blood; but if thou killest my his quarters distributed in different parts of body, and dispersest my members, they shall the city. still rise up in judgment against thee." Then 2. Lord Winceslaus: this venerable no- growing calm, he said to a gentleman, "A bleman, exalted by his piety, had attained few minutes I was greatly discomposed, but the age of seventy, and was respectable now I feel my spirits revive; God be praised, equally for his learning and hospitality. He death no longer appears as the king of terwas so little affected by the loss of worldly rors, but seems to invite me to participate of riches, that on his house being broken open, some unknown joys." Then kneeling before his property seized, and his estates confis- the block, he said, "Almighty God! to thee cated, he only said, with great composure, I commend my soul, receive it for the sake "The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath of Christ, and admit it to the glory of thy taken away." Being asked why he engaged presence." The pains of his death must in a cause so dangerous as that of attempt- have been severe, the executioner making ing to support the elector palatine against several strokes before his head was separated the emperor, he replied, "I acted according from his body.

to the dictates of my conscience, and, to this 6. The Earl of Rugenia was distinguishday, acknowledge him my king. I am now ed for his great accomplishments and unaffull of years, and wish to lay down my life, fected piety. On the scaffold he said, "We, that I may not be a witness of the evils who drew our swords, fought only to preserve which await my country. You have long the liberties of the people, and to keep our thirsted for my blood; take it, for God will consciences sacred. As we were overcome, be my avenger." He then approached the however, I am better pleased at the senblock, stroked his gray beard, and said, tence of death than if the emperor had given "Venerable hairs, the greater honor now me life; for I find that it pleases God to attends you; a crown of martyrdom is your have his truth defended, not by our swords, portion." Then laying down his head, it was but by our blood." He then went boldly to severed from his body, and afterwards placed the block, saying, "I shall now soon be with upon a pole in a conspicuous part of the Christ," and was instantly launched into the ocean of eternity and glory.

town.

3. Lord Harant. He was a nobleman 7. Sir Gaspar Kaplitz. This gentleman whose natural abilities were improved by was eighty-six years of age. On coming to travelling. The accusations against him the place of execution, he addressed the were, his being a Protestant, and having principal officer thus: "Behold a miserable taken an oath of allegiance to the elector ancient man, who hath often entreated God palatine, as king of Bohemia. When he as- to take him out of this wicked world, but cended the scaffold, he said, "I have travel- could not till now obtain his desire; for God ed through many countries, and traversed reserved me till these years to be a spectacle many barbarous nations, yet have I never to the world, and a sacrifice to himself; found so much cruelty as at home. I have therefore God's will be done. An officer told escaped innumerable perils both by sea and him that, in consideration of his great age, land, and have surmounted all to suffer in- if he would only ask pardon, he would imnocently in my native place. My blood is likewise sought by those for whom I and my ancestors have hazarded our lives and fortunes; but, Almighty God! forgive them,

mediately receive it. "Ask pardon!" exclaimed he; “I will ask pardon of God whom I have frequently offended, but not of the emperor, whom I never offended. Should 1

sue for pardon, it might justly be suspected | tioner, do your office." On this he instantly I had committed some crime for which I de- received the crown of martyrdom. served this fate. No, no; as I die innocent, 14. John Shultis was, by all who knew and with a clear conscience, I would not be him, beloved in his life, and regretted at his separated from these noble companions:" so death. The only words he spoke before his saying, he cheerfully resigned his neck to martyrdom were, "The righteous seem to the block. die in the eyes of fools, but they only go to

8. Procopius Dorzecki said on the scaf- rest. Lord Jesus! thou hast promised that fold, "We are now under the emperor's those who come to thee shall not be cast off. judgment; but in time he shall be judged, Behold, I am come; look on me, pity me, and we shall appear as witnesses against pardon my sins, and receive my soul." him." Then taking a gold medal from his 15. Maximilian Hostialick was celebrated neck, which was struck when the elector for his learning, piety, and humanity. When Frederic was crowned king, he presented it he first came on the scaffold, he seemed terto one of the officers with these words, "As rified at the approach of death. Soon after, a dying man I request, that if ever king he said, "Christ will wash me from my Frederic be restored to the throne of Bohe- crimes." He then told the officer he should mia, you will give him this medal. Tell him, repeat the song of Simeon; at the conclufor his sake I wore it till death, and that now sion of which the executioner might do his I willingly lay down my life for God and my duty. He accordingly said, "Lord! now king." He then cheerfully submitted to the lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, acfatal blow. cording to thy word, for mine eyes have seen 9. Dionysius Zervius. This gentleman thy salvation:" after uttering these words had been educated as a Roman Catholic, his head at one blow was severed from his but had embraced the reformed religion. body. The Jesuits used their utmost endeavors to 16. John Kutnaur, not having been born make him recant when on the scaffold, and independent, but having acquired a fortune return to his former faith, but he gave not by trade, was ordered to be hanged. Just the least heed to their exhortations. Kneel- before he was turned off, he said, "I die, not ing down, he said, "They may destroy my for having committed any crime, but for folbody, but cannot injure my soul; that I com- lowing the dictates of my conscience, and mend to my Redeemer." defending my country and religion."

10. Valentine Cockan was a gentleman 17. Simeon Sussickey was father-in-law of great fortune, and eminent for his piety to Kutnaur, and was ordered to be executed and uprightness. His talents and acquire- in the same manner. He appeared impaments were, however, of very inferior order; tient to be gone, saying, "Every moment yet his imagination seemed to brighten, and delays me from entering into the kingdom his faculties to improve, on the approach of of Christ." death, and just before he was beheaded, he expressed himself with such eloquence, energy, and precision, as amazed his hear

ers.

18. Nathaniel Wodnianskey. This gentleman was also hanged. At the gallows, the Jesuits used all their persuasions to make him renounce his faith. Finding their at11. Tobias Steffick was remarkable for tempts unavailing, one of them said, "If you his affability and the serenity of his temper; will not abjure your heresy, at least repent which did not desert him in this awful crisis. of your rebellion." To which Wodnianskey A few minutes before he died, he said, "I replied, "You take away our lives under a have received, during the course of my life, pretended charge of rebellion; and, not conmany favors from God; ought I not there- tent with that, seek to destroy our souls: fore cheerfully to take one bitter cup, when glut yourselves with blood, and be satisfied, he thinks proper to present it? or rather, but tamper not with our consciences." His ought I not to rejoice, that it is his will I own son then approached the gallows, and should give up a corrupted life for that of im- said, "Sir, if life should be offered to you on mortality?" condition of apostasy, I entreat you to re12. Dr. Jessenius. This gentleman was member Christ." To this the father replied, a student of physic, and was accused of "It is very acceptable, my son, to be exhaving spoken disrespectfully of the em- horted to constancy by you; but suspect me peror, of having sworn allegiance to the not; rather endeavor to confirm in their elector Frederic, and of being a Protestant: faith your brothers, sisters, and children, and for the first accusation he had his tongue cut teach them to imitate my constancy." He out; for the second he was beheaded; and had no sooner concluded these words, than for the last, his body was quartered. he received his fate with great fortitude. 13. Christopher Chober. No sooner had 19. Winceslaus Gisbilzkey, during his this gentleman stepped upon the scaffold, whole imprisonment, had great hopes of life than he said, "I come, in the name of God, given him, from which his friends became to die for his glory; I have fought the good very apprehensive for the safety of his soul. fight, and finished my course; so, execu- He, however, continued stedfast in his faith,

prayed fervently at the gallows, and met his were, his being charitable to heretics, and end like a Christian hero. advancing money to the elector Frederic. It 20. Martin Foster was an unfortunate is supposed, however, that his great wealth cripple; the chief accusations against whom was the principal cause of his death.

SECTION II.

Life, Sufferings, and Martyrdom of John Huss.

JOHN Huss was born in the village of Hus-sations laid against him, of preaching heresenitz, in Bohemia, about the year 1380. His sies. From this appearance Huss desired to parents gave him the best education they be excused, and so greatly was he favored could bestow, and having acquired a toler- in Bohemia, that king Winceslaus, the queen, able knowledge of the classics, at a private the nobility, and the university, desired the school, he was sent to the university of pope to dispense with such an appearance; Prague, where the powers of his mind, and as also that he would not suffer the kinghis diligence in study, soon rendered him dom of Bohemia to lie under the accusation conspicuous. of heresy, but permit them to preach the gospel with freedom in their places of worship.

In 1408, he commenced bachelor of divinity, and was successively chosen pastor of the church of Bethlehem, in Prague, and dean and rector of the university. The duties of these stations he discharged with great fidelity, and became at length so conspicuous for the boldness and truth of his preaching, that he attracted the notice, and raised the malignity of the pope and his creatures.

His influence in the university was very great, not only on account of his learning, eloquence, and exemplary life, but also on account of some valuable privileges he had obtained from the king in behalf of that semi

nary.

The English reformer, Wickliffe, had so kindled the light of reformation, that it began to illumine the darkest corners of popery and ignorance. His doctrines were received in Bohemia with avidity and zeal, by great numbers of people, but by none so particularly as John Huss, and his friend and fellow-martyr, Jerome of Prague.

Three proctors appeared for Huss before cardinal Colonna. They made an excuse for his absence, and said, they were ready to answer in his behalf. But the cardinal declared him contumacious, and accordingly excommunicated him. On this the proctors appealed to the pope, who appointed four cardinals to examine the process: these commissioners confirmed the sentence of the cardinal, and extended the excommunication, not only to Huss, but to all his friends and followers. Huss then appealed from this unjust sentence to a future council, but without success; and, notwithstanding so severe a decree, and an expulsion from his church in Prague, he retired to Hussenitz, his native place, where he continued to promulgate the truth, both from the pulpit, and with the pen.

He here compiled a treatise, in which he maintained, that reading the books of Protestants could not be absolutely forbidden. The reformists daily increasing, the arch- He wrote in defence of Wickliffe's book on bishop of Prague issued a decree to prevent the Trinity; and boldly declared against the the farther spreading of Wickliffe's writ- vices of the pope, the cardinals, and the clerings. This, however, had an effect quite gy of those corrupt times. Besides these, he the reverse to what he expected, for it stim- wrote many other books, all of which were ulated the converts to greater zeal, and, at penned with such strength of argument, as length, almost the whole university united greatly facilitated the spreading of his docin promoting them. trines.

Strongly attached to the doctrines of In England, the persecutions against the Wickliffe, Huss strenuously opposed the de- Protestants had been carried on for some cree of the archbishop, who, notwithstand-time with relentless cruelty. They now exing, obtained a bull from the pope, autho- tended to Germany and Bohemia, where rizing him to prevent the publishing of Huss, and Jerome of Prague, were particuWickliffe's writings in his province. By larly singled out to suffer in the cause of revirtue of this bull, he proceeded against four ligion.

doctors, who had not delivered up some In the month of November, 1414, a genecopies, and prohibited them to preach. ral council was assembled at Constance, in Against these proceedings, Huss, with some Germany, for the purpose of determining a other members of the university, protested, dispute then existing between three persons and entered an appeal from the sentences of who contended for the papal throne.* the archbishop. The pope no sooner heard

of this, than he granted a commission to Italians; Gregory, by the French; and Benedict, by *These were, John, proposed and set up by the cardinal Colonna, to cite John Huss to ap- the Spaniards. The council continued four years, pear at the court of Rome, to answer accu-in which the severest laws were enacted to crush

John Huss was summoned to appear at council acted the part of inquisitors. They this council; and to dispel any apprehensions condemned the doctrines of Wickliffe, and, of danger, the emperor sent him a safe-con- in their impotent malice, ordered his reduct, giving him permission freely to come mains to be dug up, and burnt to ashes; which to, and return from the council. On receiv- orders were obeyed.

ing this information, he told the persons who In the mean time the nobility of Bohemia delivered it, "That he desired nothing more and Poland used all their interest for Huss; than to purge himself publicly of the imputa- and so far prevailed as to prevent his being tion of heresy; and that he esteemed himself condemned unheard, which had been resolved happy in having so fair an opportunity of it, on by the commissioners appointed to try as at the council to which he was summoned him. to attend."

Before his trial took place, his enemies

In the latter end of November, he set out employed a Franciscan friar, who might ento Constance, accompanied by two Bohemian tangle him in his words, and then appear noblemen, who were among the most emi- against him. This man, of great ingenuity nent of his disciples, and who followed him and subtlety, came to him in the character of merely through respect and affection. He an idiot, and with seeming sincerity and caused some placards to be fixed upon the zeal, requested to be taught his doctrines. gates of the churches of Prague, in which But Huss soon discovered him, and told him he declared, that he went to the council to that his manners wore a great semblance of answer all allegations that might be made simplicity; but that his questions discovered. against him. He also declared, in all the a depth and design beyond the reach of an cities through which he passed, that he was idiot. He afterwards found this pretended going to vindicate himself at Constance, and fool to be Didace, one of the deepest logicians invited all his adversaries to be present. in Lombardy. On his way he met with every mark of At length, he was brought before the counaffection and reverence from people of all cil, when the articles exhibited against him descriptions. The streets, and even the were read: they were upwards of forty in roads, were thronged with people, whom re- number, and chiefly extracted from his spect, rather than curiosity, had brought to-writings.*

gether. He was ushered into the towns with On his examination being finished, he was great acclamations; and he passed through taken from the court, and a resolution was Germany in a kind of triumph. "I thought," formed by the council, to burn him as a said he, "I had been an outcast. I now see heretic, unless he retracted. He was then my worst friends are in Bohemia." committed to a filthy prison, where, in the On his arrival at Constance, he immedi- day-time, he was so laden with fetters on his ately took lodgings in a remote part of the legs, that he could hardly move; and every city. Soon after, came one Stephen Paletz, night he was fastened by his hands to a ring who was engaged by the clergy at Prague against the walls of the prison. to manage the intended prosecution against him. Paletz was afterwards joined by Michael de Cassis, on the part of the court of Rome. These two declared themselves his accusers, and drew up articles against him, which they presented to the pope, and the prelates of the council

He continued some days in this situation, in which time many noblemen of Bohemia interceded in his behalf. They drew up a petition for his release, which was presented to the council by several of the most illustrious nobles of Bohemia; notwithstanding which, so many enemies had Huss in that Notwithstanding the promise of the em- court, that no attention was paid to it, and peror, to give him a safe-conduct to and from the persecuted reformer was compelled to Constance, he regarded not his word; but, bear with the punishment inflicted on him according to the maxim of the council, that by that merciless tribunal.

"Faith is not to be kept with heretics," Shortly after the petition was presented, when it was known he was in the city, he four bishops, and two lords, were sent by the was immediately arrested, and committed emperor to the prison, in order to prevail on prisoner to a chamber in the palace. This Huss to make a recantation. But he called breach was particularly noticed by one of God to witness, that he was not conscious Huss's friends, who urged the imperial safe- of having preached, or written, any thing conduct; but the pope replied, he never against his truth, or the faith of his orthodox granted any such thing, nor was he bound by that of the emperor.

While Huss was under confinement, the

church. The deputies then represented the great wisdom and authority of the council: to which Huss replied, "Let them send the meanest person of that council, who can conthe Protestants. Pope John was deposed and obliged vince me by argument from the word of God, to fly, the most heinous crimes being proved against | him; among which were, his attempt to poison his *That the reader may form a judgment of his predecessor, his being a gamester, a liar, a mur-writings, we here give one of the articles for which derer, an adulterer, and guilty of unnatural of he was condemned: "An evil and a wicked pope fences. is not the successor of Peter, but of Judas "