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the proceedings against him。 But the enemies of the Reformer were malignant
and determined。 They appealed to the emperor's prejudices； to his fears； to
his zeal for the church。 They brought forward arguments of great length to
prove that 〃faith ought not to be kept with heretics； nor persons suspected
of heresy； though they are furnished with safe…conducts from the emperor and
kings。〃Jacques Lenfant； History of the Council of Constance； vol。 1； p。
516。 Thus they prevailed。
Enfeebled by illness and imprisonment；for the damp； foul air of his
dungeon had brought on a fever which nearly ended his life；Huss was at
last brought before the council。 Loaded with chains he stood in the presence
of the emperor； whose honor and good faith had been pledged to protect him。
During his long trial he firmly maintained the truth； and in the presence of
the assembled dignitaries of church and state he uttered a solemn and
faithful protest against the corruptions of the hierarchy。 When required to
choose whether he would recant his doctrines or suffer death； he accepted
the martyr's fate。
The grace of God sustained him。 During the weeks of suffering that passed
before his final sentence； heaven's peace filled his soul。 〃I write this
letter；〃 he said to a friend； 〃in my prison； and with my fettered hand；
expecting my sentence of death tomorrow。 。 。 。 When； with the assistance of
Jesus Christ； we shall again meet in the delicious peace of the future life；
you will learn how merciful God has shown Himself toward me； how effectually
He has supported me in the midst of my temptations and trials。〃Bonnechose；
vol。 2； p。 67。
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In the gloom of his dungeon he foresaw the triumph of the true faith。
Returning in his dreams to the chapel at Prague where he had preached the
gospel； he saw the pope and his bishops effacing the pictures of Christ
which he had painted on its walls。 〃This vision distressed him： but on the
next day he saw many painters occupied in restoring these figures in greater
number and in brighter colors。 As soon as their task was ended； the
painters； who were surrounded by an immense crowd； exclaimed； 'Now let the
popes and bishops come； they shall never efface them more！'〃 Said the
Reformer； as he related his dream： 〃I maintain this for certain； that the
image of Christ will never be effaced。 They have wished to destroy it； but
it shall be painted afresh in all hearts by much better preachers than
myself。〃D'Aubigne； b。 1； ch。 6。
For the last time； Huss was brought before the council。 It was a vast and
brilliant assemblythe emperor； the princes of the empire； the royal
deputies； the cardinals； bishops； and priests； and an immense crowd who had
come as spectators of the events of the day。 From all parts of Christendom
had been gathered the witnesses of this first great sacrifice in the long
struggle by which liberty of conscience was to be secured。
Being called upon for his final decision； Huss declared his refusal to
abjure； and； fixing his penetrating glance upon the monarch whose plighted
word had been so shamelessly violated； he declared： 〃I determined； of my own
free will； to appear before this council； under the public protection and
faith of the emperor here present。〃Bonnechose； vol。 2； p。
84。 A deep flush crimsoned the face of Sigismund as the eyes
of all in the assembly turned upon him。
Sentence having been pronounced； the ceremony of degradation began。 The
bishops clothed their prisoner in the sacerdotal habit； and as he took the
priestly robe； he said： 〃Our Lord Jesus Christ was covered with a white
robe； by way of
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insult； when Herod had Him conducted before Pilate。〃 Ibid。； vol。 2； p。 86。
Being again exhorted to retract； he replied； turning toward the people：
〃With what face； then； should I behold the heavens？ How should I look on
those multitudes of men to whom I have preached the pure gospel？ No； I
esteem their salvation more than this poor body； now appointed unto death。〃
The vestments were removed one by one； each bishop pronouncing a curse as he
performed his part of the ceremony。 Finally 〃they put on his head a cap or
pyramidal…shaped miter of paper； on which were painted frightful figures of
demons； with the word 'Archheretic' conspicuous in front。 'Most joyfully；'
said Huss； 'will I wear this crown of shame for Thy sake； O Jesus； who for
me didst wear a crown of thorns。'〃
When he was thus arrayed； 〃the prelates said； 'Now we devote thy soul to the
devil。' 'And I；' said John Huss； lifting up his eyes toward heaven； 'do
commit my spirit into Thy hands； O Lord Jesus； for Thou hast redeemed
me。'〃Wylie； b。 3； ch。 7。
He was now delivered up to the secular authorities and led away to the place
of execution。 An immense procession followed； hundreds of men at arms；
priests and bishops in their costly robes； and the inhabitants of Constance。
When he had been fastened to the stake； and all was ready for the fire to be
lighted； the martyr was once more exhorted to save himself by renouncing his
errors。 〃What errors；〃 said Huss； 〃shall I renounce？ I know myself guilty of
none。 I call God to witness that all that I have written and preached has
been with the view of rescuing souls from sin and perdition； and； therefore；
most joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written
and preached。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 7。 When the flames kindled about him； he
began to sing； 〃Jesus； Thou Son of David； have mercy on me；〃 and so
continued till his voice was silenced forever。
Even his enemies were struck with his heroic bearing。 A zealous papist；
describing the martyrdom of Huss； and of
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Jerome； who died soon after； said： 〃Both bore themselves with constant mind
when their last hour approached。 They prepared for the fire as if they were
going to a marriage feast。 They uttered no cry of pain。 When the flames
rose； they began to sing hymns； and scarce could the vehemency of the fire
stop their singing。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 7。
When the body of Huss had been wholly consumed； his ashes； with the soil
upon which they rested； were gathered up and cast into the Rhine； and thus
borne onward to the ocean。 His persecutors vainly imagined that they had
rooted out the truths he preached。 Little did they dream that the ashes that
day borne away to the sea were to be as seed scattered in all the countries
of the earth； that in lands yet unknown it would yield abundant fruit in
witnesses for the truth。 The voice which had spoken in the council hall of
Constance had wakened echoes that would be heard through all coming ages。
Huss was no more； but the truths for which he died could never perish。 His
example of faith and constancy would encourage multitudes to stand firm for
the truth； in the face of torture and death。 His execution had exhibited to
the whole world the perfidious cruelty of Rome。 The enemies of truth； though
they knew it not； had been furthering the cause which they vainly sought to
destroy。
Yet another stake was to be set up at Constance。 The blood of another
witness must testify for the truth。 Jerome； upon bidding farewell to Hus