Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/260

 be searched. When this was announced to the people, their priest asked if he and his two chaplains were included in this agreement. To which the mayor replied: “No, indeed, dear Sponsor, the Hussites show no mercy to priests.” Then the priest began to lament, saying: “Alas! how basely ye have beguiled and betrayed me; may God himself pity me! When I wanted to leave you to escape, ye said I should remain; that ye would stand by me, through good and evil, in life or death; that it was not becoming for a shepherd to leave his flock; and, behold, now the flock forsakes its shepherd!” Then the citizens, with tears in their eyes, begged him not to lament, that they would save him yet. “They therefore offered to dress him and his chaplains in women’s clothes, and thus, in disguise, lead them out of the city. But the priest replied to this proposal: “God forbid that I should so far forget my office and dignity! I am a priest, not a woman; but you men, consider how basely ye deliver me to death, saving yourselves!” These protests, however, availed him nothing. The chaplains were dressed as women, and each one given a child to carry. One by one the prisoners then descended the stairs, the men being seized as they passed, and the women and children let go. Thus all escaped, except those who had hidden in the cellars, they being smothered when afterwards the house was set on fire. Now, when all had descended, the pastor remained above with several young men—apprentices—who, having no means wherewith they might redeem themselves, refused to be taken prisoners. But when they saw all their friends surrendering themselves, their heart failed them, and they too