ed.

A merchant of Prague, going to Breslaw, in Silesia, happened to lodge in
the same inn with several priests. Entering into conversation upon the
subject of religious controversy, he passed many encomiums upon the
martyred John Huss, and his doctrines. The priests taking umbrage at
this, laid an information against him the next morning, and he was
committed to prison as a heretic. Many endeavours were used to persuade
him to embrace the Roman catholic faith, but he remained steadfast to
the pure doctrines of the reformed church. Soon after his imprisonment,
a student of the university was committed to the same jail; when, being
permitted to converse with the merchant, they mutually comforted each
other. On the day appointed for execution, when the jailer began to
fasten ropes to their feet, by which they were to be dragged through the
streets, the student appeared quite terrified, and offered to abjure his
faith, and turn Roman catholic if he might be saved. The offer was
accepted, his abjuration was taken by a priest, and he was set at
liberty. A priest applying to the merchant to follow the example of the
student, he nobly said, "Lose no time in hopes of my recantation, your
expectations will be vain; I sincerely pity that poor wretch, who has
miserably sacrificed his soul for a few more uncertain years of a
troublesome life; and, so far from having the least idea of following
his example, I glory in the very thoughts of dying for the sake of
Christ." On hearing these words, the priest ordered the executioner to
proceed, and the merchant being drawn through the city was brought to
the place of execution, and there burnt.

Pichel, a bigoted popish magistrate, apprehended 24 protestants, among
whom was his daughter's husband. As they all owned they were of the
reformed religion, he indiscriminately condemned them to be drowned in
the river Abbis. On the day appointed for the execution, a great
concourse of people attended, among whom was Pichel's daughter. This
worthy wife threw herself at her father's feet, bedewed them with tears,
and in the most pathetic manner, implored him to commisserate her
sorrow, and pardon her husband. The obdurate magistrate sternly replied,
"Intercede not for him, child, he is a heretic, a vile heretic." To
which she nobly answered, "Whatever his faults may be, or however his
opinions may differ from yours, he is still my husband, a name which, at
a time like this, should alone employ my