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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 Huss on
his departure for the council； had exhorted him to courage and firmness；
declaring that if he should fall into any peril； he himself would fly to his
assistance。 Upon hearing of the Reformer's imprisonment； the faithful
disciple immediately prepared to fulfill his promise。 Without a safe…conduct
he set out； with a single companion； for Constance。 On arriving there he was
convinced that he had only exposed himself to peril； without the possibility
of doing anything for the deliverance of Huss。 He fled from the city； but
was arrested on the homeward journey and brought back loaded with fetters
and under the custody of a band of soldiers。 At his first appearance before
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the council his attempts to reply to the accusations brought against him
were met with shouts； 〃To the flames with him！ to the flames！〃Bonnechose；
vol。 1； p。 234。 He was thrown into a dungeon； chained in a position which
caused him great suffering； and fed on bread and water。 After some months
the cruelties of his imprisonment brought upon Jerome an illness that
threatened his life； and his enemies； fearing that he might escape them；
treated him with less severity； though he remained in prison for one year。
The death of Huss had not resulted as the papists had hoped。 The violation
of his safe…conduct had roused a storm of indignation； and as the safer
course； the council determined； instead of burning Jerome； to force him； if
possible； to retract。 He was brought before the assembly； and offered the
alternative to recant； or to die at the stake。 Death at the beginning of his
imprisonment would have been a mercy in comparison with the terrible
sufferings which he had undergone； but now； weakened by illness； by the
rigors of his prison house； and the torture of anxiety and suspense；
separated from his friends； and disheartened by the death of Huss； Jerome's
fortitude gave way； and he consented to submit to the council。 He pledged
himself to adhere to the Catholic faith； and accepted the action of the
council in condemning the doctrines of Wycliffe and Huss； excepting；
however； the 〃holy truths〃 which they had taught。Ibid； vol。 2； p。 141。
By this expedient Jerome endeavored to silence the voice of conscience and
escape his doom。 But in the solitude of his dungeon he saw more clearly what
he had done。 He thought of the courage and fidelity of Huss； and in contrast
pondered upon his own denial of the truth。 He thought of the divine Master
whom he had pledged himself to serve； and who for his sake endured the death
of the cross。 Before his retraction he had found comfort； amid all his
sufferings； in the assurance of God's favor； but now remorse and doubts
tortured his soul。 He knew that still other retractions must be made before
he could be at peace with Rome。 The path upon
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which he was entering could end only in complete apostasy。 His resolution
was taken： To escape a brief period of suffering he would not deny his Lord。
Soon he was again brought before the council。 His submission had not
satisfied his judges。 Their thirst for blood； whetted by the death of Huss；
clamored for fresh victims。 Only by an unreserved surrender of the truth
could Jerome preserve his life。 But he had determined to avow his faith and
follow his brother martyr to the flames。
He renounced his former recantation and； as a dying man； solemnly required
an opportunity to make his defense。 Fearing the effect of his words； the
prelates insisted that he should merely affirm or deny the truth of the
charges brought against him。 Jerome protested against such cruelty and
injustice。 〃You have held me shut up three hundred and forty days in a
frightful prison；〃 he said； 〃in the midst of filth； noisomeness； stench； and
the utmost want of everything； you then bring me out before you； and lending
an ear to my mortal enemies； you refuse to hear me。 。 。 。 If you be really
wise men； and the lights of the world； take care not to sin against justice。
As to me； I am only a feeble mortal； my life is but of little importance；
and when I exhort you not to deliver an unjust sentence； I speak less for
myself than for you。〃Ibid。； vol。 2； pp。 146； 147。
His request was finally granted。 In the presence of his judges； Jerome
kneeled down and prayed that the divine Spirit might control his thoughts
and words； that he might speak nothing contrary to the truth or unworthy of
his Master。 To him that day was fulfilled the promise of God to the first
disciples： 〃Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake。 。 。
。 But when they deliver you up； take no thought how or what ye shall speak：
for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak。 For it is
not ye that speak； but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you。〃
Matthew 10：18…20。
The words of Jerome excited astonishment and admiration； even in his
enemies。 For a whole year he had been
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immured in a dungeon； unable to read or even to see； in great physical
suffering and mental anxiety。 Yet his arguments were presented with as much
clearness and power as if he had had undisturbed opportunity for study。 He
pointed his hearers to the long line of holy men who had been condemned by
unjust judges。 In almost every generation have been those who； while seeking
to elevate the people of their time； have been reproached and cast out； but
who in later times have been shown to be deserving of honor。 Christ Himself
was condemned as a malefactor at an unrighteous tribunal。
At his retraction； Jerome had assented to the justice of the sentence
condemning Huss； he now declared his repentance and bore witness to the
innocence and holiness of the martyr。 〃I knew him from his childhood；〃 he
said。 〃He was a most excellent man； just and holy； he was condemned；
notwithstanding his innocence。 。 。 。 I alsoI am ready to die： I will not
recoil before the torments that are prepared for me by my enemies and false
witnesses； who will one day have to render an account of their impostures
before the great God； whom nothing can deceive。〃Bonnechose； vol。 2； p。
151。
In self…reproach for his own denial of the truth； Jerome continued： 〃Of all
the sins that I have committed since my youth； none weigh so heavily on my
mind； and cause me such poignant remorse； as that which I committed in this
fatal place； when I approved of the iniquitous sentence rendered against
Wycliffe； and against the holy martyr； John Huss； my master and my friend。
Yes！ I confess it from my heart； and declare with horror that I
disgracefully quailed when； through a dread of death； I condemned their
doctrines。 I therefore supplicate 。 。 。 Almighty God to deign to pardon me
my sins； and this one in particular； the most heinous of all。〃 Pointing to
his judges； he said firmly： 〃You condemned Wycliffe and John Huss； not for
having shaken the doctrine of the church； but simply because they branded
with rep