Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-10-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
the BURNING OF JOHN HUss.


ded on the prosecutions which marked
the early part OF the 18Th century,
work OF considerable value and inter
est--,herc are some impressive de
scriptions of the celebrated Christian
Reiormer, John Huss The account
of his mlrtyrdom cannot fail to arouse
deep attention The age of persecu.
ton by FIRE and faggot is passed, but
here is an Instance OF its destructive
sweeping, heartless severity, while it
lasted. The following extracts from
the work, descriptive of the burning
of John Huss, we think itimpossible
for any one to read without the most
painful emotions:
THE procession moved on. Huss,
absorbed in pions meditatjons, was
only awake 10 joyful hope; and the
momentsry weakness which had come
over him in the church, had given
place to the most calm aud settled for
.tude. Arriving at the gate OF the
Episcopal palace, he saw pile of
wood, and believed that he was al
ready at the place of execution. He
was soon undeceived; for, the wood
being fired, he saw his writings
brought forward, and successfully
thrown into the flames A smile play
ed on his features, which tried, but
in vain, to smother, while he witness
ed this yain experiment; and turning
10 the crowd with The utmost compo
sure, be declared that his writings
were consumed, not for the errors
winch they contained, but to crafty
the ignoble rage Of his sdvcrsaries.
'Thc sun shone bright, but show.
er OF rain had fallen, and in the circle
Of which Huss was admitted to view
The destruction of his books, he saw
a large earthworm in his path. He
stepped little aside to avoid treading
on it. One of his guards, who obser.
we'd this, placed his foot on the reptile
with an air OF hrvado.
4 would call the worm my brother
said the martyr, and truely we are
brothers in misfortune; for we perish
by the same cruelty
'Hc now approached the same area,
which had been cleared from the
crowd, who still anxiously pressed Tor
ward wherever the vigilence of the
guards was relaxed. II was opposite
the gate Of Gottlebian, and between
the gates and gardens of the subberbs.
In the centre he saw an accumulation
of faggots, amidst which strong post
was erected. Several men were EN-
ployed in carrying more wood in the
open space, and four large bundles of
straw were placed beside the faggots
A man of ferocious aspect stood near
The post about which the faggots were
piled He was engaged in disentan.
Cling the coils ola rope which had been
recently immersed in water, and two
or three chains were laid across
bench, with an appearance of careful
arrangement Huss had no difficulty
in recognizing in this man his execu
tloner-and in the place TO which he
had now been conducted, the spot on
which he was to die.
Though the unfortunate Huss was
surrounded by such beings, who had
wrought themselves up to suppose that
the torture and death of virtuous man
would be an acceptable spectacle to a
God of mercy, there were many
among the crowd, whose piety fell
short ofthat zeal which could contem
plate the meditated sacrifice without
shuddering horror. These now made
their voices heard, remarking, that in
whatever way the sufferer had before
offended, he prayed most devoutly,
and some wished he might be indul
sed with a confessOr. But priest
who had been present a! the council.
and was now riding within The circle,
called out en- perceiving the impression
which the martyrs words had made,
that being convicted hereto, those
entrusted --i,h the punishment OF his
uIfepces ought not to suffer him to be-
heard. at the same time, he declar
ed that no rOnfeSSor could be allowed
10 approach one SO accui sed-cut of
Nom the church. and already dead tn II