The Fire by the Great Oak

Hájek relates thus under the year 991: “On Petřín in wintertime certain Czechs made themselves a fire by a great oak, in which wild shapes of human faces appeared to them. Those more inclined to heathenry showed that fire great reverence and bowed down to it, running to it by night and laying on wood; and seeing in the fire such figures like themselves, they said that the souls of their fathers and forefathers were being cleansed there of their sins, and some then threw loaves into the fire and others money.” When Duke Boleslav heard of it and the priests instructed him that devils were showing themselves here in human shapes, he sent his servants to put the fire out and ordered the oak cut down. The heathens took this very hard and often came back to the place and lit the fire again.