Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>in</strong> transubstantiation, <strong>and</strong> would never th<strong>in</strong>k of<br />
do<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g so preposterous as experiment<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on a wafer to see whether it conta<strong>in</strong>ed blood. But <strong>in</strong><br />
spite of their defense, they, as well as the<br />
unfortunate girl, were condemned to be burned.<br />
This atrocious sentence could not be carried out<br />
without the royal exequatur. The k<strong>in</strong>g, when<br />
applied to, refused his consent, declar<strong>in</strong>g that he<br />
could not believe such an absurdity, <strong>and</strong> dispatched<br />
a messenger to Sochaczew, where the parties were<br />
conf<strong>in</strong>ed, with orders for their release. The Synod,<br />
however, was determ<strong>in</strong>ed to complete its work.<br />
The Bishop of Chelm, who was Vice-Chancellor of<br />
<strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong>, attached the royal seal without the<br />
knowledge of the k<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> immediately sent off a<br />
messenger to have the sentence <strong>in</strong>stantly executed.<br />
The k<strong>in</strong>g, upon be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formed of the forgery, sent<br />
<strong>in</strong> haste to counteract the nefarious act of his<br />
m<strong>in</strong>ister; but it was too late. Before the royal<br />
messenger arrived the stake had been k<strong>in</strong>dled, <strong>and</strong><br />
the <strong>in</strong>nocent persons consumed <strong>in</strong> the flames.[1]<br />
This deed, comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g so many crimes <strong>in</strong> one,<br />
filled all <strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong> with horror. The legate,<br />
61