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name of religion； and the people openly accused the Romish leaders as the
cause of the miseries that overwhelmed Christendom。
104
Again the city of Prague seemed on the verge of a bloody conflict。 As in
former ages； God's servant was accused as 〃he that troubleth Israel。〃 1
Kings 18：17。 The city was again placed under interdict； and Huss withdrew to
his native village。 The testimony so faithfully borne from his loved chapel
of Bethlehem was ended。 He was to speak from a wider stage； to all
Christendom； before laying down his life as a witness for the truth。
To cure the evils that were distracting Europe； a general council was
summoned to meet at Constance。 The council was called at the desire of the
emperor Sigismund； by one of the three rival popes； John XXIII。 The demand
for a council had been far from welcome to Pope John； whose character and
policy could ill bear investigation； even by prelates as lax in morals as
were the churchmen of those times。 He dared not； however； oppose the will of
Sigismund。 （See Appendix。）
The chief objects to be accomplished by the council were to heal the schism
in the church and to root out heresy。 Hence the two antipopes were summoned
to appear before it； as well as the leading propagator of the new opinions；
John Huss。 The former； having regard to their own safety； did not attend in
person； but were represented by their delegates。 Pope John； while ostensibly
the convoker of the council； came to it with many misgivings； suspecting the
emperor's secret purpose to depose him； and fearing to be brought to account
for the vices which had disgraced the tiara； as well as for the crimes which
had secured it。 Yet he made his entry into the city of Constance with great
pomp； attended by ecclesiastics of the highest rank and followed by a train
of courtiers。 All the clergy and dignitaries of the city； with an immense
crowd of citizens； went out to welcome him。 Above his head was a golden
canopy； borne by four of the chief magistrates。 The host was carried before
him； and the rich dresses of the cardinals and nobles made an imposing
display。
Meanwhile another traveler was approaching Constance。 Huss was conscious of
the dangers which threatened him。
105
He parted from his friends as if he were never to meet them again； and went
on his journey feeling that it was leading him to the stake。 Notwithstanding
he had obtained a safe…conduct from the king of Bohemia； and received one
also from the emperor Sigismund while on his journey； he made all his
arrangements in view of the probability of his death。
In a letter addressed to his friends at Prague he said： 〃My brethren； 。 。 。
I am departing with a safe…conduct from the king to meet my numerous and
mortal enemies。 。 。 。 I confide altogether in the all…powerful God； in my
Saviour； I trust that He will listen to your ardent prayers； that He will
infuse His prudence and His wisdom into my mouth； in order that I may resist
them； and that He will accord me His Holy Spirit to fortify me in His truth；
so that I may face with courage； temptations； prison； and； if necessary； a
cruel death。 Jesus Christ suffered for His well…beloved； and therefore ought
we to be astonished that He has left us His example； in order that we may
ourselves endure with patience all things for our own salvation？ He is God；
and we are His creatures； He is the Lord； and we are His servants； He is
Master of the world； and we are contemptible mortalsyet He suffered！ Why；
then； should we not suffer also； particularly when suffering is for us a
purification？ Therefore； beloved； if my death ought to contribute to His
glory； pray that it may come quickly； and that He may enable me to support
all my calamities with constancy。 But if it be better that I return amongst
you； let us pray to God that I may return without stainthat is； that I may
not suppress one tittle of the truth of the gospel； in order to leave my
brethren an excellent example to follow。 Probably； therefore； you will
nevermore behold my face at Prague； but should the will of the all…powerful
God deign to restore me to you； let us then advance with a firmer heart in
the knowledge and the love of His law。〃Bonnechose； vol。 1； pp。 147； 148。
In another letter； to a priest who had become a disciple of the gospel； Huss
spoke with deep humility of his own errors； accusing himself 〃of having felt
pleasure in wearing
106
rich apparel and of having wasted hours in frivolous occupations。〃 He then
added these touching admonitions： 〃May the glory of God and the salvation of
souls occupy thy mind； and not the possession of benefices and estates。
Beware of adorning thy house more than thy soul； and； above all； give thy
care to the spiritual edifice。 Be pious and humble with the poor； and
consume not thy substance in feasting。 Shouldst thou not amend thy life and
refrain from superfluities； I fear that thou wilt be severely chastened； as
I am myself。 。 。 。 Thou knowest my doctrine； for thou hast received my
instructions from thy childhood； it is therefore useless for me to write to
thee any further。 But I conjure thee； by the mercy of our Lord； not to
imitate me in any of the vanities into which thou hast seen me fall。〃 On the
cover of the letter he added： 〃I conjure thee； my friend； not to break this
seal until thou shalt have acquired the certitude that I am dead。〃Ibid。；
vol。 1； pp。 148； 149。
On his journey； Huss everywhere beheld indications of the spread of his
doctrines and the favor with which his cause was regarded。 The people
thronged to meet him； and in some towns the magistrates attended him through
their streets。
Upon arriving at Constance； Huss was granted full liberty。 To the emperor's
safe…conduct was added a personal assurance of protection by the pope。 But；
in violation of these solemn and repeated declarations； the Reformer was in
a short time arrested； by order of the pope and cardinals； and thrust into a
loathsome dungeon。 Later he was transferred to a strong castle across the
Rhine and there kept a prisoner。 The pope； profiting little by his perfidy；
was soon after committed to the same prison。 Ibid。； vol。 1； p。 247。 He had
been proved before the council to be guilty of the basest crimes； besides
murder； simony； and adultery； 〃sins not fit to be named。〃 So the council
itself declared； and he was finally deprived of the tiara and thrown into
prison。 The antipopes also were deposed； and a new pontiff was chosen。
107
Though the pope himself had been guilty of greater crimes than Huss had ever
charged upon the priests； and for which he had demanded a reformation； yet
the same council which degraded the pontiff proceeded to crush the Reformer。
The imprisonment of Huss excited great indignation in Bohemia。 Powerful
noblemen addressed to the council earnest protests against this outrage。 The
emperor； who was loath to permit the violation of a safe…conduct； opposed
the proceedings against him。 But the enemies of the Reformer were malignant
and determined。 They appealed to