# The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 58

Chap. LVIII.
Ministers cast out of Moravia.
THe same year 1624 as in Bohemia, so in Moravia, the Edict was published against the Ministers, and Commissaries were appointed who should see the execution done. These going through all the Provinces, remove the Ministers of the Gospell, and at the last baniſh them.
2. But John Jacob the greater an Italian, and a man that was very rich, and Iohn Ernestas Platesius, a Canon of Colmucensis, came unto that illustrious Baron, Charles of Zerotina, a man for his wisedome, and other Heroieall Virtues, famous through all Europe. And under Matthias for the space of eight yeares pro-Mazchio, and being in great favour with the house of Austria for his fidelity to them, onely envied for his constancie in Religion, for even at that time he maintained 24 of the fraternity in his jurisdiction, for which they required that he should give satisfaction to Cæsar, neither could Cæsar loose any priviledge thereby: They say they have an express command from Ditrichsteinus the Cardinall, the governour of Moravia, he tells them againe, that in matters of Religion he ought not to be subject to ​the Cardinall, and therefore from the Cardinall he appeales to Cæsar.
3. Very willingly they agree to this, and therefore doe grant him but fourteene dayes, which being past and the Baron in regard of the ill disposition of his body, could not goe unto Cæsar, the next day after the Epiphanie they returne, and press hard for the execution of Cæsars will, yet it was left to the Barons choise, whether he would promise to send the Ministers away, or whether he would leave this thing for them to doe. The Baron sayd, that neither of these was convenient, that either he should banish those whom he knew to bee the servants of Christ, or that the Commissioners should prescribe it to him; but that he would appeal to Cæsar. They protested that they ought to put in execution the commands of Cæsar, and therefore immediately goe into the town, and make ready the citation, and having called the the Burrouhg Master of the Towne, require him to provide them a messenger, and presently, even that night, (that they may declare themselves to be of the number of those whom the Scripture sayth, ‘cannot take their rest unless they may doe some mischiefe, or those whose sleep departeth from them except they may destroy, Proverbs 4, 16.) commanding all that inhabite that village, that they appeare next morning very early.
4. The Ministers and they appeare, they read ​Cæsars Edict, and aske them whether they would submit thereto, to which they answer; That they rely wholly upon the will of God, whom in the Gospell of Jesus Christ they serve, relying therefore on Gods will and pleasure, they did resolve to undergoe what punishment they would inflict, since they suffered onely for the name of Jesus Christ, not for any ill deeds. Againe they demanded whether they will repent, and returne to the Catholicke Church from which through schisme and hæresie they had departed. Unanimously they doe deny it. The Commissaries dismiss them, having given them some time to consider of it, and that every one particularly might come in and speake for himselfe; but they repeat againe their common answer, that in so religious a cause as this there needed no deliberation. Therefore the Commissioners in Cæsars name banish them, and command them to depart out of the City within eight dayes, under the paine of death. These godly men did obey, and went into banishment, for whom the Baron at his owne charge tooke care, that they should be carried into Hungary.
5. Going afterwards into Wienna the Baron complaines unto Cæsar of the injurie done unto him by the Cardinall in Moravia, and the Prince of Litchtensteine in Bohemia, (for there he had a town with some villiges, and the Ministers were there also cast ​out, but all to no purpose as shall be shewed heareafter under the title of the proceedings against even the Peers and Noblemen.
6. And thus the Ministers of the Gospell throughout all Moravia and Bohemia, the slaves and vassalls of Antichrist are given to the Churches for Doctors, blind guides to seeing men. It is high time to see how they dealt with the other Orders.