The history of popery, or, Pacquet of advice from Rome the fourth volume containing the lives of eighteen popes and the most remarkable occurrences in the church, for near one hundred and fifty years, viz. from the beginning of Wickliff's preaching, to the first appearance of Martin Luther, intermixt with several large polemical discourses, as whether the present Church of Rome be to be accounted a Church of Christ, whether any Protestant may be present at Mass and other important subjects : together with continued courants, or innocent reflections weekly on the distempers of the times.

The Debates of the Bohemians at the Council of Basil. The Story of Zisca, his wonderful success and Epitaph. The use of the Cup permitted to the Bohemians, &c.

AMongst other Occurrences that happened at the Council of Basil (which began to be Assembled Anno 1431. and continued sitting almost 12 years) very remarkable were their proceedings with the Bohemians. How God had been pleased to enlighten that Na∣tion with the knowledge of his Truth, and to discover to them the errors and wickedness of the Church of Rome, by the spread∣ing of Wickliffs Books amongst them, we have heretofore acquaint∣ed you. As also how those good seeds were cultivated by the pains of those laborious Husbandmen in the Lords Vineyard, John Huss and Jerome of Prague, who were both cruelly mar∣tyr'd, (contrary to the safe conduct granted them) by the Coun∣cil of Constance, about the year 1415. Whereby the Gospel had taken such Root amongst the Bohemians, that all the powers of darkness could not pluck it up; yet of those of them that re∣fused

the Church of Rome, there were two sorts, some that only contended to have the use of the Cup in the Sacrament restored to the Laity, but in other Doctrines agreed with the Romanists; and these for that reason were commonly called Calixstines (from Calix a Cup;) the other not only complained of the Sa∣criledge of the Papists in that respect, but also pressed for the purity and simplicity of Religion in all Articles and Ceremonies, and these were sometimes call'd Piccardines, and sometimes Ta∣b••rit••s, for the cause herein after mentioned.

You must note, after the burning of Huss and Jerome, the Nobles of Hungary, to the number of 50 and upwards, in the name of themselves and the whole Commonalty, sent Letters under their Seals, Dated 2 Sept. 1416, to Constance complaining thereof; as likewise did the Nobles of Moravia: But that Bloody Conventicle vouchfased them no answer, but on the con∣trary stirred up great persecution against them, so that the Hus∣sites were not only Excommunicated, but their Churches broke open, and their persons and goods every where exposed to vio∣lence, which occasion'd such a tumult on the 13th. of July 1419 at Prague, that the common people being enraged, threw 12 Senators of Old Prague, with the chief City Majestrate out of the Windows of the Senate House, who fell upon the points of Spears.

Pope Martin the 5th. Anno 1420, publickly excommunicates the Bohemians, Exciting the Emperor and all Kings, Prince, Dukes, &c. to take up Arms against them, Intreating them by the Wounds of Christ, and their own Salvation, unanimously to fall upon them, and quite Extirpate that Sacrilegious and cursed Na∣tion, and withal promises [so zealous and bountiful was his Ho∣liness!] an universal remission of sins to the most wicked person that should kill one Bohemian Heretick—History of the Bohemian Persecution, p. 27.

But some small time before this, some thousands of those that profess'd the true Religion, finding they could not live peace∣ably in Prague, retired from thence to a stony Mountain about 10 Miles distant, which they named Tabor, and encompassed it round with a Wall and other fortifications, constituting there a kind of Common-wealth, and resolv'd to defend themselves by Arms, and hence they were call'd Taborites. The Emperour Sigismund spur'd on by these Incentives and large promises from the Pope of gairing Heaven, gathers a most puissant Army from

all parts of the Empire, and resolves utterly to extirpate these poor Bohemian Hussites. Who being in this sore distress, one John de Trosnovie, call'd Ziska, because he had but one Eye, of a Noble house, but mean fortune, yet great valour and conduct, undertakes to gather together the scatter'd people, and to head them against their Enemies, which he perform'd with such suc∣cess, that Aeneas Sylvius (afterwards Pope, and no friend to be sure to the Bohemians) who wrote the Story of those Wars, af∣firms his Atchievements will rather be admir'd than believed by posterity; for with handfuls of those poor unfurnisht people, he fought eleven several Battels with Sigismund's numerous, well provided and fresh recruited Armies, and in all of them came off victorious, nay though in one of them he lost his other Eye and so was blind; yet afterwards he continued no less fortunate a Leader, so that at last Sigismund despairing to vanquish him, but by a Treaty, consents to declare him his Lieutenant, and allow him a Pension, on condition he and his followers would acknow∣ledge him the said Sigismund as King.—But before this Treaty was fully perfected Ziska dies.

Some say that he should bequeath his Skin to make a Drum of, or that his followers should carry it about with them, think∣ing thereby to fright their Enemies, but this I conceive but a Fable, and yet 'tis little more than what our valiant King Edw. the 1st. did; who on his Death-bed, commanded that his Bones well boil'd from the flesh should in a fit Vessel, be carried about by his Son, 'till he had Conquer'd the Scots, telling his Son, that as long as he had his Fathers Bones with him, none should overcome him. This is certain, that after his Death the Bohemians call'd themselves Orphans, as having lost the common Father of their Country man; nor will it be amiss to insert here his Epitaph written on his Tomb in the City of Tabor, as we find it before the History of the Abbot of Ʋrsperge.—I John Ziska rest here, in the skill of Military Affairs, not inferiour to any of the Emperours or famous Captains of old. A severe scourge of the pride and covetousness of Clergy-men, and a most valiant Defender of my Country. That which Appius Claudius being blind did for the Romans in well counselling, and furious Camillus in valiantly exploiting; the same have I done for my Bohemians. I was never wanting to the good fortune of the war, nor it to me. I have foreseen though blind, all advantages and opportunities of well

doing, and with Ensigns display'd have fought eleven times in the open Field, ever victorious. It seemed to me most fit and honourable to take in hand the most just cause of the miserable and hungry, against the delicate fat and full-cram'd Priests, and in this doing, I have found the assistance of God giving a Blessing to my arms; if their en∣vy had not hindred it, no doubt I should have merited to be numbred amongst the illustrious men; nevertheless my Bones lye here in this sacred place, without asking the Pope any leave, and in spight of his Teeth.—John Ziska the Bohemian, an Enemy of Priests that are covetous of dishonest gain, but in a godly zeal.

After his death, the Pope and Emperour thinking the Hussites much discouraged thereby, as in truth they were, sent several great Armies against them, but still they were strangely discom∣fited, for the Bohemians (saith Monstrelet) feared neither death nor torments, their very Women took arms and fought, and the dead Bodies of many of that Sex were found amongst the slain in several Battels. Wherefore being not able to extirpate them by War, they are invited to come (in order to hearing their demands and giving them satisfaction) to the Council of Basil. Indeed most of the Bohemian Churches being sensible of the perfidious treache∣ry used to Huss and Jerome at Constance were loth to send any Deputies thither, but the Nobility over-rul'd the matter, that some should be dispatcht to render a Reason for the Innovations in Religion laid to their charge.

Commissioners were therefore chosen and sent, amongst whom the most eminent were John Rokizane of Prague, and Nicholas Episcopius of the Taborens, both famous Divines, and of the No∣bility, Procopius the General of the Taborens, and William Rastka Baron of Postupiez, and others, who being honourably conducted in their passage, and courteously received at Basil: They declared that at Constance they had been condemn'd unheard; though they held nothing but according to the Scriptures, and then ex∣hibited the four Requests and Articles following, desiring that the Council would grant them, or allow them to defend them by Argument.

• 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 Clerks or Ministers might usurp no Authority in Se∣culars.
• ...

• 3. That the word of God might be freely Preached without disturbance.
• 4. That there may be publick punishment of publick offen∣ces.

These Articles being read, the Popes Legate demanded if they had nothing else to propound, because he had heard it re∣ported, that they affirmed that the Orders of Monks were from the Devil, Procopius made answer, from whence else, I pray, can they derive their original, which was instituted neither by the Patriarchs nor Prophets, neither by Christ nor his Apostles? However a Conference was appointed, and 40 days (some say 50) the Disputation lasted; and when the Bohemians could not be confuted by Arguments, they were at last wheadled into a com∣position; John Rokisane being himself corrupted with the hopes of an Arch-bishoprick, seduced others of the Commissioners, and so matters were subtilly carried, that leave being given by the Council, that they should enjoy the use of the Cup, in other matters they were brought to consent. These four Articles with some Explanations were afterwards named the Concord, and Com∣missioners were sent into Bohemia from the Council and Empe∣rour, to declare that Realm was received again into the Bosome of the Church, and a Diet being there Assembled on that occa∣sion, Rokisane very rhetorically explained and magnified the be∣nefits of this agreement, whereby so much War, Bloodshed and Devastation, as otherwise might have happen'd to the Kingdom, was prevented, and now he was pleased to mention the Pope and Cesar in other Language than heretofore, when he was wont to stile the one the Whore, and the other the Beast. This Rokisane continued a pitiful Hypocrite long after, and at last died uncom∣fortably, Anno 1471.

The craft of the Council in granting the Cup to the Bohemians provided in all other things they would submit was considerable, for hereby they set at variance the Calixstines and the Taborites, and consequently prevented all their further endeavours of Re∣formation, and the pure professors of the Gospel, henceforwards were as much hated and persecuted by those that enjoy'd the use of the Cup, as by those that disown'd it.

It was no little grief to many, especially of the zealous Ta••o∣rites to depart in this manner from the Doctrine and Discipline of Christ delivered to them by Huss, and return again to the pro∣fession

of the Church of Rome, nor could they ever be wholly brought over to embrace it, but the truth has remained still a∣mongst them, and great Persecutions have they suffered even to our times; as by the History thereof brought down to the year 1632. and Printed at London, Anno 1650. appears.

To return to the Council of Basil, the other most material De∣crees they made, were, 1. That no Actions, Suits or Controver∣sies should by Appeals be carried up to be decided in the Courts at Rome, which were above four days distant from thence. 2. A Regulation of the Cardinals, that they should not be above 24 in number, and to exclude the Popes Nephews and Kindred from that office. 3. Against the payment of Annals or first fruits to the Pope. 4. Against Priests keeping Concubines. 5. They brought two new Holy-days into the Church, viz. The Conception and the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As long as Sigismund the Emperour, and Charles the 7th. the French King lived, who both favoured this Council, the same continued Assembled, but afterwards wanting such friends to back them, it mouldered away insensibly, so that at last most of the Fathers and Ambassadours of the several Princes abandoning it, it was broke up and dissolv'd.

And also Felix that by the said Council had been elected Pope, was prevailed with to renounce that dignity, and resign his pre∣tensions of Papacy to Nicholas the 5th, the Successor of Pope Eu∣genius, about the year 1450.

But remarkable it is with what kind of arguments this very Council (perhaps none of the worst in the whole Pack) endea∣vour'd to silence the Bohemians, which appear out of the Letters of Cardinal Cusanus (one imploy'd by the Council to manage the controversie) in his 2 and 3 Epistle to the Bohemians, where he maintains these assertions: 1. That the Scriptures can by no means be of the Essence of the Church, either begun or continued, but only of the seemly Order thereof. 2. That the Church is not known by the Gospel, but the Gospel by the Church.