Huss and Jerome
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troubled at the sight; but the next day his grief was changed to joy, as
he beheld many artists come to replace the figures in greater numbers
and brighter colors. Their work ended, the painters exclaimed to the
crowd gathered eagerly about them, “Now let the popes and bishops
come! They shall never efface them more!” Said the reformer, as he
related his dream, “I am certain that the image of Christ will never be
effaced. They have wished to destroy it, but it will be imprinted anew
on the hearts of men by much better preachers than myself.”
For the last time, Huss was brought before the council. It was a
vast and brilliant assembly,—the 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 that
of his own free will he had appeared before the council, “under the
public faith and protection of the emperor here present.” 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 insult, when Herod had him
conducted before Pilate.” Being again exhorted to retract, he replied,
turning toward the people, “With what face, then, should I behold the
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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 a crown or mitre, on which were
painted frightful figures of demons, and bearing the inscription, “The
Arch-Heretic,” was placed upon his head. “Most joyfully,” he said,
“will I wear this crown of shame for thy sake, O Lord Jesus, who for
me didst wear a crown of thorns.”