CH. XV.] CONSERVATISM OF THE TABORITES. 469 but a poor and unworthy tribute to that "truth of God,” in defence of which it was an honor to die. The Calixtines formed as they would wish to be regarded-the conservative reformers of the Bohemian nation. They remained steadfast in their regard for the memory of Huss, and in their attachment to the celebrated four articles which formed that portion of their creed in which they differed from the church of Rome. Once only they compromised matters with the Taborites, by declaring the wearing of priests' vestments a matter of indifference, a non-essential. They wished to preserve the order and the institutions of the church intact, except so far as they would be modified by the admission of the four articles. They declared themselves opposed to all unnecessary innovations. They wished to commend themselves to the Christian world as faithful adherents to the Catholic faith. They took pains therefore to distinguish their cause and views from those of the Taborites, in as marked a manner as possible. In a council held at Prague, in the year 1421, they drew up twenty-three articles, which they set forth in a document intended to serve as the exponent of their faith. In these they maintained transubstantiation, the necessity of the seven sacraments, the Catholic forms and rites of baptism with sponsors, chrism, the holy oil, and triple immersion in holy water, auricular confession, episcopal authority, the exclusive power of the keys by the priesthood, extreme unction, the invocation of the saints, purgatory and prayer for the dead, the propriety of the priestly robes, and the offices connected with the mass, the observance of fast-days and the festivals of the saints, the consecration and sanctity of churches, the necessity of sacred vessels and ornaments, as well as a peculiar and distinctive dress for priests, the observance of canonical hours, and obedience to episcopal authority. On all these points, the Calixtines, however inconsistent or neglectful of the consequences flowing from their first article, as to the supreme authority of scripture, wished to abide by the rule and observance of the Roman church. The In reply to the twenty-three articles of the Calixtines, the Taborites drew up an equal number of an opposite tenor. But for a long time the two parties were so evenly balanced, that neither could claim a manifest preponderance. The great majority of the barons of the kingdom, with the citizens of Old Prague, were Calixtines, and Zisca himself, though the general of the Taborites, had evidently a strong leaning toward this party, at least on many points. citizens of the New city, and the lower classes of the nation generally, composed the body of the Taborites. The danger of foreign invasion did not allow the two parties to risk their common security in fratricidal quarrels. It was evident, however, that only the power and wisdom of Zisca prevented an open division and hostility between them. If a compromise was ever to be affected with the so-called Catholic church, it could only be on a Calixtine basis. CHAPTER XVI. THE CAMPAIGNS OF ZISCA. RETREAT OF POLICY OF ZISCA. HIS FREEDOM FROM FANATICISM. GROWTH OF THE CONVENTION AT CZASLAU. - VINDICATION OF THE STATES. THEIR COMPLAINT AGAINST SIGISMUND. - DEFENCE OF SIGISMUND BY COCHLEIUS. InvaSION FROM SILESIA. - ZISCA LOSES HIS SIGHT ENTIRELY AT THE SIEGE OF RABY. — STILL HEADS HIS ARMY. PLANS OF INVASION FROM THE EAST AND WEST. CEREMONIES OF TABORITE WORSHIP. — KUTTENBERG REVOLTS.-ZISCA IN Danger. EXTRICATES HIMSELF.- VICTORY AT DEUTSCHBROD. - DISASTROUS RETREAT OF THE IMPERIALISTS. - GENERALSHIP OF ZISCA. BISHOP OF LEITOMISCHEL DEFEATED.INVASION OF MORAVIA. THE CROWN OF BOHEMIA. - EXECUTIONS AT PRAGUE. at Prague. →→ CORYBUT. - DIET AT PRAGUE.-ZISCA DISSATISFIED. — HOSTILITIES WITH THE CALIXTINES.MARCH ON KONIGGRATZ.--- DEFEAT OF THE CALIXTINES. — ZISCA BECOMES A TABORITE. — MARCHES INTO MORAVIA. - RETURNS. SUCCESSIVE BATTLES. — MARCHES AGAINST PRAGUE. ZISCA'S SPEECH. ITS EFFECT. NEGOTIATIONS. PEACE SECURED. THE EMPEROR TREATS WITH ZISCA. HIS HUMILIATION. — ZISCA'S SUDDEN DEATH. HIS EPITAPH, PERSON, AND Character. AUG. 5, 1420—Oct. 11, 1424. ALTHOUGH the emperor had been forced to raise the siege of Prague, he did not abandon his designs against Bohemia. He determined to levy fresh armies, and make another attempt to recover the kingdom. His retreat from Prague was as desolating to the region through which he passed as his invading march had been. With his hussars, he stopped for a while at Kuttenberg, and the valor and energies of his army were devoted to the work of ravage and plunder. His retreat allowed the differences that existed between the Calixtines and Taborites to show themselves. The twelve articles of the latter, for which they demanded the approval and sanction of the city, and one of which threatened danger to the churches and monasteries, were at first rejected, and afterward approved only through a revolutionary movement that secured new magistrates, whom the Taborites nominated. In spite of this, however, they determined to leave the city. Their friends in New Prague strongly urged them to remain, but the Calixtines of Old Prague were more than willing to have them depart. Their radical views of reform, and their unyielding hostility to images, statues, pictures, the old church forms, and whatever savored in their opinion of superstition and Antichrist, diverged so far from the moderation of the Calixtines, who would be satisfied with securing the granting of their four articles, that Zisca acted only a prudent part in withdrawing his forces from Prague, (Aug. 22, 1420.) But his object in doing this was not merely to prevent a collision between the Taborites and Calixtines. He wished to keep his forces employed, and suppress through Bohemia any movements in favor of Sigismund. The monks and priests soon felt the weight of his vengeance. With sword in hand, he swore never to rest till the power of the papacy in Bohemia was utterly prostrate. The cities which CH. XVI.] CAPTURE OF PRACHATITZ. 473 but resisted the freedom of the communion of the cup, especially the monasteries, were marked for assault and pillage.1 Kniczan, about a league from Prague, was the first to feel his vengeance. The castle was taken, the church destroyed, and seven priests burned. Zisca then directed his steps to the Circle of Prachin. Desolation marked his course. The city of Pisek fell into his hands. He presented himself before the walls of Prachatitz. It stood charged with having treated the Hussites with harsh cruelty. Zisca for once was disposed to be lenient. It was at Prachatitz that he had spent his early years as a student. He wished to spare the city, if possible, as a tribute to the memory of the happy days and the friendships he had enjoyed there. He summoned it to open its gates to him, promising it favorable and lenient terms, but was met by a blunt refusal. Upon this he stormed the city, (Nov. 12, 1420.) It was taken, and no mercy shown. Two hundred and thirty were left dead in the streets, and more than fourscore persons were burned. Even women and children were driven into exile. To the plea for mercy, Zisca's stern reply was, "We must fulfil the law of the Lord Christ in your blood." Meanwhile Sigismund had gathered a new army, and advanced to resume the siege of Prague. During the past two months (September and October, 1420) he had amused the barons of the empire by frequent assemblies, which he summoned with the ostensible purpose of restoring peace and order throughout the kingdom. But all these efforts were 1 Guerre des Hus., i. 130. |