arrayed him in priestly garb and warned
him to recant while yet there was time. He turned to the
crowd, and with broken voice declared that he could not
confess the errors which he never entertained, lest he
should lie to God, when the bishops interrupted him, crying
that they had waited long enough, for he was obstinate in
his heresy. He was degraded in the usual manner, stripped of
his sacerdotal vestments, his fingers scraped; but when the
tonsure was to be disposed of, an absurd quarrel arose among
the bishops as to whether the head should be shaved with a
razor or the tonsure be destroyed with scissors. Scissors
won the day, and a cross was cut in his hair. Then on his
head was placed a conical paper cap, a cubit in height,
adorned with painted devils and the inscription, "This is
the heresiarch."

The place of execution was a meadow near the river, to which
he was conducted by two thousand armed men, with Palsgrave
Louis at their head, and a vast crowd, including many
nobles, prelates, and cardinals. The route followed was
circuitous, in order that he might be carried past the
episcopal palace, in front of which his books were burning,
whereat he smiled. Pity from man there was none to look for,
but he sought comfort on high, repeating to himself, "Christ
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy upon us!" and when
he came in sight of the stake he fell on his knees and
prayed. He was asked if he wished to confess, and said that
he would gladly do so if there were space. A wide circle was
formed, and Ulrich Schorand, who, according to custom, had
been providently empowered to take advantage of final
weakening, came forward, saying, "Dear sir and master, if
you will recant your unbelief and heresy, for which you must
suffer, I will willingly hear your confession; but if you
will not, you know right well that, according to canon law,
no one can administer the sacrament to a heretic." To this
Huss answered, "It is not necessary: I am not a mortal
sinner." His paper crown fell off and he smiled as his
guards replaced it. He desired to take leave of his keepers,
and when they were brought to him he thanked them for their
kindness, saying that they had been to him rather brothers
than jailers. Then he commenced to address the