Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

king's mind as to the expediency of the course he
was pursuing. Instead of pausing, there came a
third edict from Ferdinand, commanding the arrest
and imprisonment of the pastors. All except three
saved themselves by a speedy flight. The greater
part escaped to Moravia; but many remained near
the frontier, lying hid in woods and caves, and
venturing forth at night to visit their former flocks
and to dispense the Sacrament in private houses,
and so to keep the sacred flame from going out in
Bohemia.
The three ministers who failed to make their
escape were John Augusta, James Bilke, and
George Israel, all men of note. Augusta had learned
his theology at the feet of Luther. Courageous and
eloquent, he was the terror of the Calixtines, whom
he had often vanquished in debate, and "they
rejoiced," says Comenins, "when they learned his
arrest, as the Philistines did when Samson was
delivered bound into their hands." He and his
colleague Bilke were thrown into a deep dungeon
in the Castle of Prague, and, being accused of
conspiring to dispose Ferdinand, and place John,
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