Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

y travelling through all the kingdoms of Western
and Southern Europe. He had filled the highest
offices of the State under several monarchs.
Protestant writers speak of him as "the glory of his
country, and the bright shining star of the Church,
and as rather the father than the lord of his
dependents." The Romanist historian, Pelzel,
equally extols his uprightness of character and his
renown in learning. When urged in prison to beg
the clemency of Ferdinand, he replied, "I will
rather die than see the ruin of my country."
When one told him that it was rumored of him
that he had died of grief, he exclaimed, "Died of
grief ! I never experienced such happiness as now.
See here," said he, pointing to his Bible, "this is my
paradise; never did it regale me with such store of
delicious fruits as now. Here I daily stray, eating
the manna of heaven, and drinking the water of
life." On the third day before receiving his sentence
he dreamed that he was walking in a pleasant
meadow, and musing on the issue that might be
awaiting his affairs, when lo! one came to him, and
gave him a book, which when he had opened, he
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