XIII.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE BOHEMIAN BROTHERHOOD TO THE ACCESSION OF FERDINAND I. TO THE THRONE OF BOHEMIA 341-373

(1419-1526.)

Parallels between English and Bohemian history--Likeness and difference between the Bohemian Brothers and the English “Friends”--Contrast between English and Bohemian traditions--Peter of Chelc̆ic--His early career--Relations with Rokycana--Change of Rokycana’s policy towards the Brothers--Gregory persecuted by Rokycana--Organisation of the Brotherhood--Further persecutions--Death of George and accession of Ladislaus II.--Denunciations by the “Masters” of Prague--Death of Gregory--His warnings to the Brothers--Growth of the Brotherhood--Lukas of Prague--Struggle between Lukas and Amos of S̆tekna--The compromise with the world--New persecutions--Bohuslav of Hassenstein--Amos’s denunciations--Ladislaus offends the Constitutionalists--The protectors of the Brotherhood--The examination at Prague--The Printing Press--Ladislaus’s appeal to Moravia, and its repulse--Persecution in Bohemia--Erasmus and the Brothers--Death of Ladislaus--Decline of freedom in Bohemia--The struggle between the towns and the nobles--King Louis--Lev of Roz̆mital and Pas̆ek of Wrat--Louis’s reforms--Luther’s appearance--Luther and Hus--Luther’s warnings to the Utraquists--Gallus Cahera--Pas̆ek’s new intrigues--The tyranny in Prague--Louis’s vain resistance--Lev of Roz̆mital and Henry of Rosenberg--The Turkish invasion--Louis’s vain appeal--His flight and death--Battle of Mohács--Election of Ferdinand I.