Wesley Corpus

But more of this by and by. “He gave notice that he would stand his trial; but he attempted to escape.” No, never; this is pure invention. “He is arrested at Constance,”--whence he never attempted to escape, -“and confined. His friends plead his safe-conduct. The Council then declared, “No safe-conduct granted by THE FREEMAN's Journal. 169 the Emperor or any other Princes, to heretics, ought to hinder them from being punished as justice shall require. And the person who has promised them security shall not be obliged to keep his promise, by whatever tie he may be engaged.’” And did the Council of Constance declare this? “Yes,” says Mr. O’Leary. I desire no more. But, before I argue upon the point, permit me to give a little fuller account of the whole affair:-- The Council of Constance was called by the Emperor Sigismund and Pope John XXIII., in the year 1414. Before it began, the Emperor sent some Bohemian gentle men to conduct John Huss to Constance, solemnly promising that he should “come and return freely, without fraud or interruption.” But before he left Prague, he waited on the Bishop of Nazareth, Papal Inquisitor for that city and diocese, who, in the presence of many witnesses, gave him the following testimonial:-- “We, Nicholas, do by these presents make known to all men, that we have often talked with that honourable man, Master John Huss, and in all his sayings, doings, and behaviour, have proved him to be a faithful man; finding no manner of evil, sinister, or erroneous doings in him, unto this present. PRAGUE, August 30, 1414.” This was attested by the hand and seal of the public notary, named Michael Pruthatietz. After this, Conrade, Archbishop of Prague, declared before all the Barons of Bohemia, that “he knew not that John Huss was culpable or faulty in any crime or offence whatever.” So neither the Inquisitor nor the Archbishop knew anything of “his making Bohemia a theatre of intestine war!” In October he began his journey, accompanied by two noblemen, Wencelat de Duba, and John de Clum. On November 3d, he came to Constance, and was treated with great respect. But not long after, he was suddenly arrested and cast into a noisome prison. Here he quickly fell sick. During his sickness, his accusers exhibited twelve articles against him. But none of them charge him with sedition.