whom I have appealed, knowing that He will judge every man, not
according to false witness, but according to the truth and each one's
deserts." Against the authority of men Hus asserted the authority of
his conscience enlightened by the Holy Scriptures.

On July 1, Hus was brought out again to recant his heresies. He replied
in writing: "I, John Hus, fearing to sin against God, and fearing to
commit perjury, am not willing to abjure ... any of them."

On July 5, a deputation of some of the most eminent members of the
Council made a final effort to get Hus to recant. Wenzel of Duba said:
"Behold Master John, I am a layman and cannot give advice. Consider then
if thou feelest thyself guilty of any of the things of which thou art
accused. If so, do not hesitate to accept instruction and recant. But if
thou dost not feel guilty of these things that are brought forward
against thee, be guided by thy conscience, do nothing against thy
conscience, nor lie before the face of God; rather hold unto death to
the truth as thou hast understood it."

Hus answered in tears: "Be it known to you that if I knew I had written
or preached anything against the law and holy Mother Church, I would
humbly recant; may God be my witness to this; but I always desired that
they should show me doctrines better and more credible than those I have
written and taught. If such be shown me, I will gladly recant."

A bishop sneered: "Wilt thou then be wiser than the whole Council?"

Master Hus replied: "I do not claim to be wiser than the whole Council,
but, I beg you, give me the least man at the Council that he may
instruct me out of the word of God, and I am ready to recant at once."

"Behold, how obstinate he is in his heresy!"

XVII.

Hus Condemned.

On Saturday, July 6, the Council had great scruples in condemning the
Duke of Burgundy, a self-confessed would-be assassin, but it had
absolutely no scruples in condemning the blameless patriot reformer of
Bohemia.

"Dressed in black with a handsome silver girdle, and wore his robes as a
Magister"--Hus was led after Mass before the whole Council in the
cathedral. He kneeled and prayed fervently for several minutes. James
Arigoni, Bishop of Lodi, preached from Rom. 6:6--"That the body of sin
might be destroyed." Henry de Piro proposed that Hus be delivered to the
civil power for burning.

Sixteen charges from Wiclif's writings were read. When Hus tried to
explain, he was brutally r