Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie
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had for his <strong>in</strong>structor John Fauser, a man of<br />
decided piety, <strong>and</strong> a lover of the Protestant<br />
doctr<strong>in</strong>e, the pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of which he took care to<br />
<strong>in</strong>stil <strong>in</strong>to the m<strong>in</strong>d of his royal pupil. For this<br />
Fauser had nearly paid the penalty of his life. One<br />
day Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong>, <strong>in</strong> a fit of rage, burst <strong>in</strong>to his<br />
chamber, <strong>and</strong> seiz<strong>in</strong>g him by the throat, <strong>and</strong> putt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a drawn sword to his breast, upbraided him for<br />
seduc<strong>in</strong>g his son from the true faith.<br />
The k<strong>in</strong>g forbore, however, from murder<strong>in</strong>g<br />
him, <strong>and</strong> was content with comm<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g his son no<br />
further to receive his <strong>in</strong>structions. Maximilian was<br />
equally fortunate <strong>in</strong> his physician, Crato. He also<br />
loved the Gospel, <strong>and</strong>, enjoy<strong>in</strong>g the friendship of<br />
the monarch, he was able at times to do service to<br />
the "Brethren." Under this gentle <strong>and</strong> upright<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ce the <strong>Bohemia</strong>n Protestants were accorded full<br />
liberty, <strong>and</strong> their Churches flourished. The<br />
historian Thaunus relates a strik<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>cident that<br />
occurred <strong>in</strong> the third year of his reign. The enemies<br />
of the <strong>Bohemia</strong>ns, hav<strong>in</strong>g concocted a new plot,<br />
sent the Chancellor of <strong>Bohemia</strong>, Joachim Neuhaus,<br />
to Vienna, to persuade the emperor to renew the<br />
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