A HISTORY OF UNITARIANISM - Starr King School for the Ministry

there was scarcely a country in all Europe where they could be sure of a
welcome and of freedom from persecution), or on the other hand, for the sake
of worldly advantage, abjuring their religious faith, violating their conscience,
surrendering their honor and self-respect, and all hope of the spiritual freedom
that they had enjoyed for a century. As for the humbler classes among them,
there was little choice left: it was practically impossible for them to emigrate to
an other land. For themselves and their children they must perforce accept
baptism in the Catholic Church. Whatever faith they still secretly cherished in
their own hearts, their posterity would live in a faith that they themselves had
abhorred. Even the gentry had to choose between home comforts and
associations, all worldly prospects and public honors, and going forth in their
declining years to face privation, hardship and misery, not only for themselves
but also for their wives and children. The ampler their possessions the more
they must sacrifice in leaving them, and the greater temptation to compromise
with con science instead. Small wonder, then, that the greater part of the
wealthier ones chose the easier alternative, while comparatively few chose a
life in exile. 34 It stands recorded, however, that in not a few instances the wives
and daughters remained stedfast even after their husbands or fathers had
yielded.
Nearly a year before the decree of banishment was passed, the Swedes had
evacuated Krakow, and the Socinians that had taken refuge there departed at
the same time. Now that the country was again pacified, those that had come
from the Palatinate of Krakow returned to their desolated estates, accompanied
by their devoted pastor, Andrew Wiszowaty. Three prominent Socinians,
however, who had enjoyed the Swedish governor’s favor, followed in the
Swedish train: Jonas Schlichting, whose life as one long since proscribed would
not now be safe in Poland; 35 Christian Stegmann, and Stanislas Lubieniecki. 36