The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-09-27
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tFrom g the Lollards--A Tate.nl
TIE BURNING OF JOHN HISS

lfrom " the Lollards--A Tate,p1
| THE BURNING OF JOHN HUSS.
The procession moved on--Huss,
absorbed IN pious meditations, was only
awake 10 joyful hope +; and the momen-
'ary weakness which had come over
him in the church, had given place TO
! the most calm and settled fortitude.-
Arriving At the gate of The Episcopal
palace. he saw a pile of wood, and be-
lieved that he was already at the place
OF execution. He was soon undeceivcd,
for the wood being fred, he saw his
writings brought forward, and success
slvely thrown into the flames. A smile
played on his features, which he tried
but in vain TO smother while he witness
ed this vain experiment., and turning TO
the crowd with the utmost conlposure,
he declared that his writings were con-
sumed, not for the errors which they
contained, but to crafty the ignoble rage
Of his adveTsaries.
The sun shone bright. but shower
of rain had fallen, ant! within the circle
TO which Huss was admitted to view tie
destruction Of his books, he saw a large
earth worm in his path. He stepped
| little aside 80 avoid treading on it. Ona
OF his guards, who observed this, placed
his foot on the reptile with an air of bra
Yado.
s'' would call the worm my bFoih~
/ err said the martyr! and truly we are
t hS9i ssms IL eFpneittHj Tor Ire nefsn
\ lln ons.roaNho2
which had been cleared from the crowd.
who still anxiously pressed forward
/ wherever the vigilance of the guards
was relaxed. II was opposite the gate of
( Gottlebian, and between the gates and
gardens of the suburbs. In the centre
he saw an accumulation Of faggo,s,a amidst
! which strong post YVES erected. Sew
eral men we're employed in carrying
more wood in the open space, and four
large bundles OF straw were placed be-
side the taggots. A man of ferocious
aspect stood near the post about which
4 the faggots were being piled. He was
engaged in disentangliug the coils of q
rope. which had been recently immers-
ed in water, and two or three chains
were laid across bench, with the APP
pearance of careful arrangement
( Huss had no difficulty in recognizing in
this man his executioner; and in the
place TO which he had now been con-
Quoted, the spot on which he was TO die.
although the unfortunate Huss was
! surrounded by beings who had wrought
themselves up TO suppose that the tor
ture and death of virtuous man would
be an acceptable spectacle to God Of
mercy, there were many among the
crowd, whose piety fell far short of that
zeal which could contemplate the medi-
tated sacrifice without shuddering hor--
ror. These nov made their voices
& heard, Temarking, that in whatever way
$ the sufferer had before offended, he
7 Iprayed most devoutly, and some wished
he might be INDUCED with a cenfessor.
9 But priest who had been present at
the council, and was now riding within
/ the circle, called out, Oh perceiying the
, impression which the aFtyr's words
had made, that being convicted here
Itic, those entrusted with the punishment
gof his offences ought not to suffer him
/, to be heard At the same time, he de-
> clared that no coniessor could be allow
r ed TO approach one SO accursed, cut of
, from, and already dead TO, the church.
! The executioner then took from his
i person white coat, in honor of his an-
: ticipated deliyerance. frock, prepar-
: ed with pitch and tar, was brought TO
{ him, aud wearing this, he was conduct
= ed 70 the sake--when partial MUIR
: muir ran through those who had been
d admitted within the guarded space.
e Huss started. An idea crossed his mind
/ that possibly Sigismund had FelentedS
y but this was Immediately disguised;
2 when the priest, who had before spoken
= to reprove the cries Of the crowd, adj
yanced 10 give expression TO The feeling
! which had just manifested ITSELF
: g Huss was first tied round the middle
!. with cords. A chain was passed oveI
i these, aud chains were fastened TO biz
!. left leg and his neck, Thus securely
Or bound 10 the stake, the faggots provided
y for the occasion were piled to the chin
Sr straw was placed beneath aud between
y them, where il was thought likely mos