The Missionary by S. N. H.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 32.

The Missionary.

By S. N. H.

The Emperor's Second Attempt to Subjugate Bohemia.

A GREAT difference is noticeable between the people of Bohemia and the Waldenses with respect to their warfare. The Waldenses were governed by the principle that when their enemies desired peace they would carry the war no further; no person, whether friend or foe, who applied to them for mercy was ever treated with anything but mercy. So rigidly did the Waldenses adhere to this principle that their enemies often deceived them, and as a consequence thousands of men, women, and children, fell into the hands of the enemy. Not so with the Bohemians. They would ask for quarter for the defeated party, before they went into a battle, and if it was decided by their enemies that no quarter should be given, no quarter was given. The Pope having denounced them as heretics, any compromise with them on the part of the papal party was considered a compromise with their sins, and hence was not permitted. In response to a refusal, the Bohemians would reply, "So be it," and under no circumstances would they grant any compromise. Had the Waldenses taken this course, they would have gained many victories where they met defeat. Which principle was right, under the circumstances, we leave others to decide.

In the year 1420, Sigismund made a second attack upon Prague. Ziska had gained the victory in every encounter thus far, and he was also victorious in this great battle. His name began to be feared, and when he took his position at the head of the army, it carried terror into the ranks of the enemy, although they far outnumbered the Bohemians. It should be remembered that at this time the people were very superstitious, and reports calculated to work upon the mind, greatly affected the people. The standard of Ziska was at Mount Tabor, and this place was thought to be the center and throne of a universal empire which was to bless the nations with righteous laws. A report was spread through Bohemia that all the towns and villages of the country, five excepted, were to be swallowed up with an earthquake, and this prediction gaining general credence, the cities and towns were forsaken, many of the people crowding to the camp, deeming the chance of victory under Ziska preferable to the inglorious fate which they thought awaited their native villages.

At this stage of affairs, the Bohemians called a council to deliberate on what course to take in the future, thinking that the time might soon come when peace would be declared. They decided upon four articles, which they decided to maintain in making peace with any nation. They declared that Sigismund was unworthy to be their emperor under any circumstances, and resolved to offer their crown to the king of Poland, providing that he would agree to the above-mentioned articles, which were as follows: 1. The free preaching of the gospel. 2. The celebration of the sacrament in both kinds. 3. The secularization of the ecclesiastical property, reserving only so much of it as might yield a comfortable support to the clergy. 4. The execution of the laws against all crimes, by whomsoever committed, whether by laity or clergy. They also established a regency for the government of the kingdom, composed of magnates, nobles, and burghers, with Ziska at its head as president.

The Emperor Sigismund proposed to confirm their liberties and redress all their real wrongs, provided they would accept him as their king, and threatened them with continued war in case of refusal. But his promises and threats were alike held in contempt. They returned answer to him that he had broken his word in the matter of the safe-conduct to Huss; that he had inculpated himself by participating in the murder of Huss and Jerome; and had assumed the attitude of an enemy to Bohemia in publishing the bull of excommunication, and in stirring up the German nation against them, to invade their land. The war was now resumed; a little nation contending single-handed against such odds; yet, wonderful indeed, victory invariably declared itself on the side of the Hussites. Ziska won battle after battle. His entire life was one of continual victory. He completely out-generated those in command of the emperor's army, overwhelming them by surprises, and baffling them by new and masterly tactics. His name was a tower of strength to his friends, and a terror to his enemies.

In their marches the Hussites were preceded by their pastors, who bore aloft the cup, the symbol by which they conquered. They combined the spirit of confessors with that of soldiers, which was wholly new in the armies of that age. In the rear of the army came women who attended the sick and wounded, and in case of necessity, worked on the ramparts. It may be truly said that they went to war conscientiously committing their cause to God. They invoked his blessing and believed that they would have victory, and they always did have victory. It would require too much time to enter into details, and explain Ziska's plans of operation, but all historians agree that he was the greatest general of those times. It should be remembered that our present means of warfare were then unknown. Some of their weapons were quite novel. Reference is made by the historian to iron flails, which were said to do terrible execution.

Ziska seemed to have the gift of inspiring confidence in his people to a remarkable degree, and in leading them to believe that God would give them the victory if they went forth relying upon him. Their enemies long remembered the lessons they had taught them; yet their cause has been branded with every epithet of condemnation and abhorrence, by their contemporaries; and even in later times, historians, in recording a history of these times, have been slow to perceive the sublimity of their struggle, and reluctant to acknowledge the great benefit that has come from it to Christendom. Here were the seeds sown of the great Reformation. At the burning of Huss a fire was kindled that has enlightened the world. Wonderful will be the record of these times in the books above, when every secret thing shall be revealed, and everything appear in its true light.

S. N. H.