< Page:A history of Bohemian literature.pdf
This page needs to be proofread.

228

A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN LITERATURE

are ascribed both to Krasonick^ and to Prokop, who has Blahoslav describes Krasoalready been mentioned. " a sensible and learned man, a friend of ancient nick^ as

Even in Blahoslav's days many of Krasosimplicity." nick^'s works had already been lost. " Of the writers of the " small party it will be sufficient to mention Brother Amos, its first leader. He is known to have written three theological treatises, one of which has been partly preserved in a work of Brother Lucas, written for the purpose of refuting it. Amos, like Krasonick^ and the majority of the writers of the Unity, wrote only in Bohemian. The Hfe of Bishop Augusta (born 1500, died 1572) belongs, like that of Archbishop Rokycan, rather to the political history of Bohemia than to literature. Though his fame as a preacher is far greater than as a writer, he was the author of a large number of theological works. Born in humble circumstances — his father was a hatter — and not having received a very extensive education, Augusta's talents, and yet more his indomitable energy and determination, soon brought him to Born a member of the Utraquist Church, he the fore. joined the Unity at the age of twenty-four. He was prepared for his clerical duties by Brother Lucas, and in — or bishops, as they were 1532 became one of the elders often called — to whom the entire government of the Unity was intrusted. His influence soon became predominant among the brethren. While Brother Lucas and Augusta's younger contemporary, Blahoslav, wished above all to preserve the separate character of the Unity, Augusta was in favour of a close alliance, if not of a union, with Luther and the German Protestants. Augusta, for this purpose, twice visited the great German

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.