Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

Elector of Saxony, on the throne of Bohemia, they
were put to the torture, but without eliciting
anything which their persecutors could construe
into treason. Seventeen solitary and sorrowful
years passed over them in prison. Nor was it till the
death of Ferdinand, in 1564, opened their prison
doors that they were restored to liberty. George
Israel, by a marvellous providence, escaped from
the dungeon of the castle, and fleeing into Prussia,
he afterwards preached with great success the
Gospel in Poland, where he established not fewer
than twenty churches.[14]
Many of the nobles shared with the ministers in
these sufferings. John Prostiborsky, a man of great
learning, beautiful life, and heroic spirit, was put to
a cruel death. On the rack he bit out his tongue and
cast it at his tormentors, that he might not, as he
afterwards declared in writing, be led by the torture
falsely to accuse either himself or his brethren. He
cited the king and his councillors to answer for
their tyranny at the tribunal of God. Ferdinand,
desirous if possible to save his life, sent him a
physician; but he sank under his tortures, and died
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