of Luther, Dr. Staupitz, who, in 1518, became the court preacher of the ducal archbishop of Salzburg. In 1520, however, he was silenced by the archbishop. Another eminent evangelical priest was Paul Speratus, who was driven into banishment. A third was Stephen Agric- ola, also a court preacher; after three years of impris- onment he escaped (1524), and became a pastor at Augsburg. A fourth was George Schilrer, who was ac- tually put to death for his earnest preaching of the Gospel. In 1588 archbishop Dietrich issued a decree that all non -Catholic Salzburgers should within one month either become Catholics or leave the duchy. As the most of them chose the latter, another decree w as issued confiscating their lands, fnder his successor a similar measure was executed in 1614. During the whole period of the Thirty-years' "War (1618-48), Salz- burg was relatively quiet, and actually increased in material prosperity, while disorder and ruin prevailed elsewhere. But a tolerant archbishop was a rare ex- ception. Accordingly the harsh measures broke out afresh under Gandolph in 1685. This was occasioned by the discovery of a rural parish which was wholly Lutheran, save that occasionally it held a public mass. All the evangelical books of this society were at once gathered up and burned, and the single choice oifered of submission to Rome or exile, with loss of property and children. More than a thousand persons saw themselves forced in midwinter to leave their homes and children. Earnest remonstrances were made by Prussia and other Protestant powers against this direct violation of the provisions of the Peace of Westphalia. "While this dip- lomatic correspondence was taking place, the arch- bishop died (1686). Under his two successors there was less persecution, and the Lutheran-minded among the inhabitants practiced more caution, concealing their Bibles and other books in the mountains, and resorting to secret places in the night and celebrating their sim- ple worship, armed with axes, and with outstanding guards. But the final storm came at last, when the miserly and ambitious Leopold Anton becaine arch- bishop (1728). This man was anxious for two things — to stand in high favor at Rome, and to fill his treasury. Both objects he thought would be reached bj^ a severe course against all open or secret heres3% Accordingly he flooded his land with Jesuit spies. All heretics were at once arrested and cast into prison, and tormented with hunger and tortures. Meantime a few of the chief non-Catholics fled secretly to Ratisbon and to Prussia, in hope of eflFecting forcible intervention on their be- half. They were warmly welcomed bj' Frederick Will- iam I of Prussia, and were promised homes and protec- tion for all who should be forced to abandon their coun- try. But before their return the archbishop had resorted to a more extreme measure. The nonconformity of the non-Catholics was represented to Austria as rebellion, and from 4000 to 6000 troops were obtained, and then quartered on the persecuted Lutherans; and then, in or- der to terrifj- the rest into submission, some 800 of the most prominent members were violently arrested, and required within eight days to leave the country. But the effect was the contrary of what had been expected : they behaved so heroicalh^ and resolutely as to inspire the whole body of non-Catholics with a like enthusiasm. In December, 1731, they crossed the Bavarian frontier. A few days later another company of 500 followed them. By April, 1732, the number of the exiles had reached more than 14,000; and some of the best districts were almost desolated. The sole substantial help was given to the exiles by Prussia. The king issued a decree in February, 1732, requiring his officers to furnish them with money to make their journe}', acknowledging them as Prussian subjects, pledging his government to see that recompense should be made for their lands, and threatening to confiscate Catholic property in his own dominions in case the archbishop did not proceed with more moderation. Denmark, Sweden, and Holland made similar remonstrances and threats in their behalf.
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At the suggestion of George II of England a collection was taken up for the sufferers throughout Protestant- (lom. It amounted to some 900,000 tiorins. The place of refuge assigned to them was in the wilds of Lithua- nia. The course of their march through Nuremberg, Erlangen, Leipsic, Halle, Wittenberg, INIagdeburg, Pots- dam, and Berlin was almost like a triumphal procession, so great was the sympathy which their long-endured sufferings had everywhere excited. At Potsdam the old king, Frederick William, received them into the palace gardens; and, with his queen, mingled among them very familiarly, asking them questions in regard to their faith, and giving them advice for the future. He was highly gratified with them, gave them money, and, assuring them that he would treat them in the best possible manner, bade them a hearty godspeed. From Berlin the exiles took their way to Stettin, where they took ship and sailed to Kcinigsberg. Thence they marched by land to Lithuania, where wild lands awaited them, and* which their industry speedily transformed into a flourishing colony of towns and farm-houses. The number who positively settled there was over 20,000. They cordially welcomed the Lutheran pas- tors who were furnished to them at Berlin. The several millions of thalers which the king spent upon them proved no less a wise commercial investment than had been the case with the help given to the banished Huguenots by his grandfather, the great elector.