# Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment/Letter 30, To his Noble Benefactors

LETTER XXX.
TO HIS NOBLE BENEFACTORS.
I am delighted that the treatise against an unknown person has not been discovered, as well as several others. I have been able these latter days to nourish my soul with better things, than since Easter day until last Sunday. I imagined this Council to contain more order and decency. May the noble John, my friend, be blessed in eternity. I should with pleasure learn in what state is Barbat, who refused to follow the counsels of his friends.
Since they are in possession of my book, I have not felt any want of the work. Preserve carefully the list of the first articles, with the proofs; and if you should ​want any testimonies for any of the articles, assign witnesses. The most important article is that entitled All that a virtuous man does, he does virtuously.
I am suffering from a toothach, and during the heat have been seized with vomitings of blood. I suffered also from the stone and headach. These are punishments for my sins, and signs of God’s love. Since they have condemned my treatises, I pray you to suppress the last letter written in Bohemian, which I sent to-day, in order that the people of God should not believe that all my books are condemned, as I was afraid of, from a letter I received yesterday.
It would be desirable that no letter written in this prison should be known; for what God intends to do with me is still very uncertain. I fear that Ulric may have published some of my letters. I conjure you, therefore, in God’s name, to pay the greatest attention to the letters—to your words and acts. Oh! how much I was consoled by receiving your letters, and in writing you mine! I hope, with the grace of God, that men may one day derive instruction from them.
As long as I know you remain with the young Seigniors at Constance, I shall be comforted, even though I should be already condemned to death. I regard it as certain that God has bestowed you on me, as angels to strengthen and console me,—me, a weak and unfortunate man, in the midst of my temptations. What they have ​been, what they are, and will still be, the Almighty God knows. He who has compassion on me, He who is my refuge, my support, and my deliverer, in Him have I placed my trust.
Two delegates of the Council asked me in prison, “If I possessed several books which I had made use of in my researches?” I answered, that “I possessed them.” They asked me, “Where?” “In Bohemia,” I replied. They inquired of me, “Whether I had none here?” I denied having any, which is the fact, although I had previously brought with me the book of Sentences, the Bible, and some other works. I learned from them that John, my pupil, had withdrawn; and they said to me, “Have you no other observations to offer?” “No; what I have said, is the truth.” “Will you abjure and recant?” “No,” I replied; “but come to the Council; there you shall hear me. I am to appear before it, and there will I answer. Why do you tempt me? Have you come to console a prisoner, or add to his affliction?” Then, after having again exchanged some words, they withdrew. Take care of the books, if you have any; as for me, I am not aware of any.
Tell Master Jessenitz, that the notary has perfidiously changed my evidence concerning the explanation of the bull, which, as you have heard, I strongly affirmed before the Council.
* ↑ Hist. et. Monum. Johann. Huss, Epist. xxxvii.
* ↑ Catholicism.
* ↑ De bonis plus comedi. I did not think it possible to understand these words but in a figurative manner.