Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie
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care for the salvation of his k<strong>in</strong>gdom," he would<br />
permit none but Catholics to live <strong>in</strong> it, <strong>and</strong> he<br />
comm<strong>and</strong>ed all who refused to return to the Church<br />
of Rome, to sell their estates with<strong>in</strong> six months,<br />
<strong>and</strong> depart from <strong>Bohemia</strong>. Some there were who<br />
parted with "the treasure of a good conscience" that<br />
they might rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> their native l<strong>and</strong>; but the<br />
greater part, more steadfastly-m<strong>in</strong>ded, sold their<br />
estates for a nom<strong>in</strong>al price <strong>in</strong> almost every<br />
<strong>in</strong>stance, <strong>and</strong> went forth <strong>in</strong>to exile.[9] The, decree<br />
of banishment was extended to widows. Their sons<br />
<strong>and</strong> daughters, be<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>ors, were taken forcible<br />
possession of by the Jesuits, <strong>and</strong> were shut up <strong>in</strong><br />
colleges <strong>and</strong> convents, <strong>and</strong> their goods managed by<br />
tutors appo<strong>in</strong>ted by the priests. About a hundred<br />
noble families, forsak<strong>in</strong>g their ancestral doma<strong>in</strong>s,<br />
were dispersed throughout the neighbor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
countries, <strong>and</strong> among these was the gray-headed<br />
baron, Charles Zierot<strong>in</strong>, a man highly respected<br />
throughout all <strong>Bohemia</strong> for :his piety <strong>and</strong> courage.<br />
The places of the banished gr<strong>and</strong>ees were filled<br />
by persons of low degree, to whom the emperor<br />
could give a patent of nobility, but to whom he<br />
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