Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie
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heads, but began to walk about with front erect,<br />
<strong>and</strong> eyes that presaged victory. The pr<strong>in</strong>cipal<br />
measures brought to bear aga<strong>in</strong>st the Protestants<br />
were the work of the college of the Jesuits <strong>and</strong> the<br />
cathedral. The partisans of Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong> openly<br />
declared that the Royal Charter, hav<strong>in</strong>g been<br />
extorted from the monarch, was null <strong>and</strong> void; that<br />
although Matthias was too weak to tear <strong>in</strong> pieces<br />
that rag of old parchment, the pious Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong><br />
would make short work with this bond.<br />
By little <strong>and</strong> little the persecution was <strong>in</strong>itiated.<br />
The Protestants were forbidden to pr<strong>in</strong>t a s<strong>in</strong>gle<br />
l<strong>in</strong>e except with the approbation of the chancellor,<br />
while their opponents were circulat<strong>in</strong>g without let<br />
or h<strong>in</strong>drance, far <strong>and</strong> near, pamphlets filled with<br />
the most sl<strong>and</strong>erous accusations. The pastors were<br />
asked to produce the orig<strong>in</strong>al titles of the churches<br />
<strong>in</strong> their possession; <strong>in</strong> short, the device pa<strong>in</strong>ted<br />
upon the triumphal arch, which the Jesuits had<br />
erected at Olmutz <strong>in</strong> honor of Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong> - namely,<br />
the <strong>Bohemia</strong>n lion <strong>and</strong> the Moravian eagle cha<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
to Austria, <strong>and</strong> underneath a sleep<strong>in</strong>g hare with<br />
open eyes, <strong>and</strong> the words "I am used to it"[4] --<br />
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