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Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

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nation would permit them to go <strong>in</strong> restor<strong>in</strong>g their<br />

punitive power. They summoned to their bar the<br />

Canon of Przemysl, Lutomirski by name, on a<br />

suspicion of heresy. The canon appeared, but with<br />

him came his friends, all of them provided with<br />

Bibles -- the best weapons, they thought, for such a<br />

battle as that to which they were advanc<strong>in</strong>g; but<br />

when the bishops saw how they were armed, they<br />

closed the doors of their judgment-hall <strong>and</strong> shut<br />

them out. The first move of the prelates had not<br />

improved their position.<br />

Their second was attended with a success that<br />

was more disastrous than defeat. They accused a<br />

poor girl, Dorothy Lazecka, of hav<strong>in</strong>g obta<strong>in</strong>ed a<br />

consecrated wafer on pretense of communicat<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

<strong>and</strong> of sell<strong>in</strong>g it to the Jews. The Jews carried the<br />

Host to their synagogue, where, be<strong>in</strong>g pierced with<br />

needles, it emitted a quantity of blood. The miracle,<br />

it was said, had come opportunely to show how<br />

unnecessary it was to give the cup to the laity. But<br />

further, it was made a crim<strong>in</strong>al charge aga<strong>in</strong>st both<br />

the girl <strong>and</strong> the Jews. The Jews pleaded that such<br />

an accusation was absurd; that they did not believe<br />

60

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