Background
Augusta was born in Prague in 1500 and learned his father’s trade of hat making.
Augusta was born in Prague in 1500 and learned his father’s trade of hat making.
He was not formally educated but had read the works of Czechoslovakian priests like Matthias of Janov and January Hus. Augusta joined the Unitas Fratrum in 1524 after exploring and rejecting other Christian communities. Augusta was named the president of the Inner Council of the Unitas Fratrum in 1547.
After the war was over, Ferdinand banished the whole sect and arrested the principal preachers.
Augusta attempted to escape in the garb of a peasant, but was captured and taken in chains to Prague, where he was thrown into prison. He was offered his liberty on condition of making public recantation and becoming either a Catholic or an Utraquist.
Augusta was ready to profess himself a Utraquist, but not to recant in public, and he accordingly remained in prison 16 years. As a condition of his release, he had to promise not to preach any more.
He died in 1572.
He discouraged members of the Unitas Fratrum from cooperating with Ferdinand I during the Smalkaldic War.
