Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

Vladislav was succeeded by his brother John
Casimir. Casimir was a member of the Society of
Jesus, and had attained the dignity of the Roman
purple; but when his brother's death opened his
way to the throne, the Pope relieved him from his
vows as a Jesuit. The heart of the Jesuit remained
within him, though his vow to the order had been
dissolved. Nevertheless, it is but justice to say that
Casimir was less bigoted, and less the tool of
Rome, than his father Sigismund had been. Still it
was vain to hope that under such a monarch the
prospects of the Protestants would be materially
improved, or the tide of Popish reaction stemmed.
Scarcely had this disciple of Loyola ascended the
throne than those political tempests began, which
continued at short intervals to burst over Poland,
till at length the nation was destroyed. The first
calamity that befell the unhappy country was a
terrible revolt of the Cossacks of the Ukraine. The
insurgent Cossacks were joined by crowds of
peasants belonging to the Greek Church, whose
passions had been roused by a recent attempt of the
Polish bishops to compel them to enter the
Communion of Rome. Poland now began to feel
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