# The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 18

CHAP. XVIII
The beginning of the fraternity in Bohemia.
1. BUt when the Bohemians for certain years, did in vain desire, that their Arch-bishop might be invested in his Dignity, having for that purpose sent so many Legates unto Rome, and the Pope refused to do it, unless that Rokizane should renounce the Cup: The Cardinall of Saint Angelo being also sent to Prague, in the year 1448. was commanded under the pretence of Treaty, to call for the Agreement on the four Articles, and to bring them with him: which having gotten into his hands, he stole away with them, but was quickly overtaken, and enforced to return them. Rokizane finding himselfe thus deluded, reassuming new hatred against the Pope, when out of the Revelations, and the Prophecy of Daniel, he had shewed that the Pope was the great Antichrist, and we, saith he, unlesse we shall withdraw our obedience from him, are but a miserable and a damned crew, he proceeded and told the people that the law of Christ, and not the agreement on the Articles were to be held for the rules of Religion, that all ​things from the sea of Rome were polluted, foule and to be forsaken, and Religion to be taken againe from the fundamentalls of the Apostles. In this way he persevered, so thundering against Antichrist that many believed him to be another Husse, and that the hope of the new Reformation did shine forth againe.
2. But when he put no hand unto the worke, the more forward amongst his Auditors (amongst whom one Gregory was the formost, a Nobleman and Nephew unto Rokizan) having joyned in counsells together, they repaire to Rokizan, discover the anguishes of their Conscience and desire counsell of him. Who friendly entertained them and extolled their zeale, and gave them some Treatises to read against the abominations crept into the Church, and in this manner he the more inflamed them, but perswaded them to silence and patience. But when againe and againe being now more considerable in their numbers they importuned him, that he would deferre any longer to exhibit in deeds what he taught in words, he replyed, that it was a businesse of great importance, in which nothing but with deliberation was to be concluded on.
3. In the mean time Rokizane did attempt what he could against the Pope, and consented with the Church of Greece. For when the decree of the Sinod at Florence was proclaimed, in which the Bohemians were the second time to be abalienated from ​the Church as Hereticks. There was a convension of the States at Prague, and a Synod of the Divines, in the yeare 1450. in which by the advice of Rokizane, but by the common consent of all, an appeale was made to the Greeke Church, and Ambassadours sent with letters to Constantinople. The Greekes received the Heads of the Doctrine from them, and rejoyced in their mutuall consent, and letters in the testimony thereof, being returned to the Bohemians, they confirmed them in the faith, having made a promise that they would ordain them Ministers for their Church. The Letters were ingrossed in Parchment, and sealed with waxe of a red colour, with the subscription of the Patriarch, and the chiefest of his Bishops, which being afterward committed to the presse, are yet extant to be seen. But when these things afforded but a lingring hope, Rokizane did again incourage his, and gave them new hopes of a Reformation, suddenly to appear: for taxing divers abuses, he said: We only now do grow on the out-side, but shortly some will appear, who from the depths shall draw forth the foundation of true religion.
4. When in this manner for seven long yeares, hee delayed to give satisfaction to the minds of so many pious men, being againe demanded his advice, hee said. That he now had seriously observed, and considered all things, and could not yet find what ​to determine on, unless there should be a separation aswell from those that used the cup in the Sacrament, as from the Papists themselves, for all things did abound with abominations, and he found the evill irrecoverable. Lupatius also delivered himself after the same manner: when it was replied to Rokizane, Let therefore a separation be made, we will acknowledge thee for our Captaine, we will worship thee for our Doctor, we will follow thee for our Father, he made answer. You offer mee too great a burden to undergo? You are too bold and forward, it is a thing full of danger.
5. In the mean time, in the yeare 1453 Constantinople was taken by the Turks, and two of the dispersed Grecians being come unto Prague, were courteously entertained by Rokizane, and suffered to celebrate the Mass, after many disputations in religion. Where when it jointly appeared to them, that the sincerity of the faith, was overwhelmed with superstition: The good zealous people were more inflamed in spirit, finding what they were to avoid, but having none whom they might follow.
6. They therefore address themselves to Rokizane again, and besought him for the Glory of God to take compassion on their soules, and on the seduced people, and not to abandon them in so great a hazard of their salvation. But he good man, when (forsooth) hee had not so much power to preferre ​the Cross and ignominy of the people of God to the but vain hopes, of an Arch-episcopall Glory, in a great rage did upbraide them with their importunity, and at last intreated them to let him alone, and begin the separation without him, and promised them that he would so prevail with the King (who was George Podebrade, and to enjoy the Crown, did swear obedience unto the Pope) to allow them a place where they might live securely, and serve God with an undefiled conscience.
7. He obtained for them the Territory of Liticitz on of the hilly countries neere unto Silesia, whither immediately after those citizens of Prague, Batchelors and Masters did address themselves, and from other places not a few as well Plebeians as Nobles, learned and uplearned, their greatest confluence was to a Towne called Kunwald, devoting themselves altogether to the reading of the Scripture, to prayers, and to workes of piety. This was in the year 1459. They chose them teachers, that is to say, from the Calixtines, who used the cup in the Sacrament, who throwing off superstition did compose themselves to the form of the primitive simplicity, the chief of them was a devout & pious old man, by name Michael Zamburgh. All of them by the name comon to Christians and acceptable to good men, did call themselves brothers and sisters, which was the reason that by a remarkable distinction the Title of the Bo​hemian Brothers was attributed to them, and so much of this.