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Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

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about the same time sent <strong>in</strong>to perpetual exile, after<br />

he had <strong>in</strong> va<strong>in</strong> thrown himself at the k<strong>in</strong>g's feet for<br />

mercy. Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong>, who had now ascended the<br />

throne, changed the Council of Prague, <strong>and</strong> gave<br />

the exiles liberty to return. The year 1530 was to<br />

them a time of restitution; their churches<br />

multiplied; they corresponded with their brethren<br />

<strong>in</strong> Germany <strong>and</strong> Switzerl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> were thereby<br />

strengthened aga<strong>in</strong>st those days of yet greater trial<br />

that awaited them.[13]<br />

These days came <strong>in</strong> 1547. Charles V., hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

overcome the German Protestants <strong>in</strong> the battle of<br />

Muhlberg, sent his brother, Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong> I., with an<br />

army of Germans <strong>and</strong> Hungarians to chastise the<br />

<strong>Bohemia</strong>ns for refus<strong>in</strong>g to assist him <strong>in</strong> the war just<br />

ended. Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong> entered Prague like a city taken<br />

by siege. The magistrates <strong>and</strong> chief barons he<br />

imprisoned; some he beheaded, others he scourged<br />

<strong>and</strong> sent <strong>in</strong>to exile, while others, impelled by terror,<br />

fled from the city. "See," observed some, "what<br />

calamities the Lutherans have brought upon us."<br />

The <strong>Bohemia</strong>n Protestants were accused of<br />

disloyalty, <strong>and</strong> Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong>, open<strong>in</strong>g his ear to these<br />

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