Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

families in Poland embraced openly the Bohemian
doctrines; and it is an interesting fact that one of
the professors in the university, Andreas Galka,
expounded the works of Wicliffe at Cracow, and
wrote a poem in honor of the English Reformer. It
is the earliest production of the Polish muse in
existence, a poem in praise of the Virgin excepted.
The author, addressing "Poles, Germans, and all
nations," says, "Wicliffe speaks the truth!
Heathendom and Christendom have never had a
greater man than he, and never will." Voice after
voice is heard in Poland, attesting a growing
opposition to Rome, till at last in 1515, two years
before Luther had spoken, we find the seminal
principle of Protestantism proclaimed by Bernard
of Lublin, in a work which he published at Cracow,
and in which he says that "we must believe the
Scriptures alone, and reject human ordinances."[5]
Thus was the way prepared.
Two years after came Luther. The lightnings of
his Theses, which flashed through the skies of all
countries, lighted up also those of Polish Prussia.
Of that flourishing province Dantzic was the
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