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 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