Huss and Jerome
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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 an-
other 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 him-
self 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 the council
[111]
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