John Huss and the Hussite Wars - James Aitken Wylie

They then put twelve schedules or voting papers
into the hands of a boy who was kept ignorant of
the matter, and they ordered him to distribute these
schedules among the nine persons already selected.
Of the twelve voting papers nine were blanks, and
three were inscribed with the word Est – -i.e., It is
the will of God. The boy distributed the schedules,
and it was found that the three bearing the word Est
had been given to the three following persons: –
Matthew Kunwaldius, "one of the most pious of
men;" Thomas Przelaucius, "a very learned man;"
and Elias Krzenovius, who was "distinguished for
his great parts." They received ordination, by the
imposition of hands, from a body of Waldensian
pastors, including two whom Comenius styles
bishops, and one of whom, Stephen, soon
thereafter suffered martyrdom at the stake in
Vienna.
The death of Podiebrad and the accession of the
Polish prince, Vladislav, in 1471 brought them
deliverance from persecution. The quiet they now
enjoyed was followed by an increase in the number
of their congregations. Their lot was cast in evil
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