The history of the Bohemian persecution, from the begining of their conversion to Christianity in the year 894. to the year 1632. Ferdinand the 2. of Austria. Reigning. In which the unheard of secrets of policy, consells, arts, and dreadfull judgements are exhibited.

To the Godly Reader.

AFter that some of the banished Bohemians, who were in Hol∣land, understood that the Edition of Fox's booke of Martyrs, was by some learn∣ed men, and well-wishing to posterity, again intended in England, and that Additions were every where sought for, and that they were admonished to adde unto it, the Histo∣ry of our present Persecution and banishment; they did not intermit forthwith to write to their exiled friends, in Misnia, Polonia, and Hungaria, that so farre as they could, they would declare those memorable things

which were acted in this unhappy tragedy, we thought nothing could be declared by us, of which there was not sufficient example, whe∣ther wee consider the most bitter h••tred and rage of Sathan against the Church, or the frau∣dulent machinations of Antichrist, or humane fragillity in persecutions; or the most wise cou••sell and help of God in preserving his: but be∣cause it is neither unpleasant nor unprofitable for Godly spirits to looke upon many examples; partly, to see upon what various occasions God doth exercise his Church with afflictions; part∣ly, how craftily the old Serpent doth cir∣cumvent the Saints of God, likewise how men being exposed to trials do severall wayes fall; and lastly, how valiantly God doth corro∣berate some valiantly to undergo disgraces, banish∣ments, prisons, deaths, and all things grie∣vous, for his Name, and how they overcame the World by bearing. Therefore wee were willing to communicate our affaires to the Churches of Christ dispersed through the World, and Godlinesse it selfe doth command us to declare unto posterity, as much as in us lies, what waters wee have past through, and in what furnaces of fire wee have beene heated, that

knowing to what vicisitudes the Church millitant is subject (as the Moon which sometimes increases and sometimes de∣creases, sometimes with a full countenance she defuseth her light, sometimes she suffers a sad Eclipse) they may be the lesse troubled in future times, that they may seasonably prepare their minds for all hazards, and may learn to seek securities and blessings, not under the Sun, but in Heaven, for this reason from the first Originall, we have have brief∣ly deliniated all the most famous muta∣tions of the Bohemian Church, especially since the story of our Martyrs under Gentilisme, Papacy, and fained Protestantisme is com∣municated but to a few; for beside Hus, Je∣rom of Prague, and Milisius (whom the Catologue of the witnesses of truth remem∣bers) the book of Martyrs is silent of other sufferers: we thought good therefore by this occasion to join old stories with new, com∣prehending them both with as much brevity as possible, and faithfully to declare them in a Historicall stile; the former stories we have

taken out of our Historians; the latter are faithfully collected, either out of our own pro∣per observation, or from the testimony of eye witnesses: and this last persecution of Ferdi∣nand, although it may seem to bee raised on politick causes, and a great part of those mi∣series which befell the faithfull, to be acted by the licenciousnesse of Souldiers, by the course of War, yet none will deny, but that the constant asserters of the Gospel were Martyrs, who will consider those words in the 13 Re∣vel. 7. and it was given to the Beast to make Warre with the Saints, and over∣come. Had not Nebucadonozor a politick cause to destroy Jerusalem (to wit) the rash and obstinate defection of the Jewish people from him, yet you may know what account God makes of his destroying them: consult with Isaiah 47.6, 7. Jer. 50.18, 19. Zach. 1.14, 18. and in many other places. Did not the Jewes give occasion to the persecution of Antioch, by their Domestical tumults, as may appear in the 2. of Macha∣bees 5.11? there is another intention in

God, who chastises his Church for their faults; and in the enemy who seeks to destroy it, therefore we lawfully say, with that Martyr mentioned 2. Ma∣chabees 7.32. We suffer for our sinnes. Yet thou who doth wage war with God in persecuting his ser∣vants, thou shalt not escape the judgement of the Al∣mighty. We could have wished these things more copi∣ously to have been collected, and more accurately set down, than our present state will suffer us; but in regard we have been often admonished to communi∣cate some late transactions done in our Country and Church, we had rather give this, than not to satisfie the desires of those that are good. When God shall bring us home again, which we hope, other memo∣rable things may be added and these things which are now written, declared with more evidence. Fare∣well.

In our banishment in the year, 1632.

N. N. N. &c.