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Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

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<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

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