Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-08-05

ne suburbs. In the centre he saw an accumuIa-
ton of fagots amidst which strong post was erect
ed Several men were emp ployed in carrying more
wood into the oren space, and four large bundles
of straw were placed beside the iagots. man OF
'erocious aspect stood near the post, about which
he fasois were being piled. lie was engaged in
isentanglng the coils OF rope which had been re-
Gently immersed in water, and two or three chains
we're laid across bench, with an appearance oil
careful arrangement. Huss hal no difficulty 10 re-
.ognlzing in this man his executioner, and IN the
place to which he had now boen conducted, the
spot on which he was to die.
Unmoved by the terrible array, the Bohemian adj
vanced towards the fatal stake. He TRANQUILITY sur
veyed the preparations, and when workman who
was engaged in fixing one Of the staples 10 which
he was to be chained, paused as If unwilling to
continue his labor, while the eyes of the sufferer
we're on him. Huss mildly desired him to proceed.
or his work would not he completed in time. Then
falling his knees, he again mplored divine aid,
and introduced parts ofseveral psalms into his pray
er. He quoted rather largely from the thrty-sec-
ond, and though he solicited forgiveness for all his
enemies, he could not help repeating, with strong
emphasis, passages like The following? Lei me MOI
be ashamed, o Lord for Ihape called upon ,hee;
let the wicket be ashamed. Let The lying ups be PIT
10 silence. which spsak grierous things proudly ana
contemptuousiy against The righteous lie addict,
but now fastening to present myself before thy
that have put from all my earthly resent
ments. In the NEE kness of Christian We leave
the world Now, delgn TO grant that ray OF Thy
Irvine intelligence m " sustain and light aud snid'
me. through the brief rugged path which haN,
vet to tread. Into thine hand | commit my spirit.
Thou hast redeemed me, source OF eternal
truth :"
The interest which attaches to the last words and
actions oil man, who is about to lay down his lite
in the " esence OF multitude oil his ieoy-crea-
lures seldom, tails 10 awake a lively sentiment o.
commi 'seration,e even when the most hardened male
factors are TO eXpate their atrocities (; but where
tle individual is celebrated for has talents a d
learning, and stanis charged with moral offence,
a still warmer degree of sympathy IS inspired IN e.
cry heart which degrading ogotry mas not bereit of
the nobest feelings OF human nature. Though the
unfortunate Huss was surrounded by beings who
had wrought themselves up to suppose that the
torture and death of viruous man, would be an
acceptable spectacle 10 God o. mercy. there were
many among the crowd whose piety fell far short Of
that zeal, which could contemplate the medated
lice without shuddering horror. These now
made their voices heard, temarkIng, that in what
ever way the sufferer had before offended, he pray
ed most devoutly, and some WISHED that he might
be indulged with a confessor. But priest who
mad been present at the council, and was now RI
ling within the circle, called out, perceiving the
impression which the martyrs words had ms dc,
that beng convicted hartIc, those intrusted with
the punishment of his offences ought not TO suffer
him to be heard. At the same time, he declared
that no conlessor could be allowed to approac one
so accursed-cut off from, and already dead to the
Church.
His rage was all in vain Huss, though strongly
opposed to the abuses which he had remarked III
the government OF the Roman Church, had not so
far emancipaed himself from ITS authority, but he
still subscribed 10 many of its tenets and he hadta-
t. ealt thn
vantages of confession and absoution, while he was
still in priso,. TO the ster.l and lnhuman language
of the priest. he vouchsaed no reply but by again
a sing his eyes and hands IN the act of prayer. Do
ing tins, his head beng thrown back the cap which
he had till now worn. fell of. lie perceived moi
TIE accident, till soldier running up to HIM re-
placed It ; at the sane time telling him that he
sAould not die without company, as the devils his
masters, should be burnt with him.
Insult was lost u pon Huss, after the numerous
outrages he had sustained. lie did not even hear
the unteellns speech Of the soldier, but under
standing that he had prepared him tor immediate
execution, hs meekly Indicated by submissive
gesture, that he was ready to suffer.
The execut,oner then took from his person a
white coat, which he he had put on in honor OF his
anticiuated deliyerance. A frock, prepared with
pitch and tar, was brought to him, an wearing
his, he was conducted to the stake. Ills hands
were bound, and two fagots, With straw intermxed
were placed beneath his ieet wet rope was put
round him, and on this being tied to the stake,
II partial murmur ran through those who had
been admitted within the guarded space. Huss
started. An idea crossed his mind, that possibly
Sigismund had relented but this was immediately
dismissed, when the priest, who had before spoken
to reprove the cries OF the crowd, advanced to give
expression to the feeling which had just manifested
itself
"What mean you he exclaimed, with much
harshness in his tone, that you thus scandalize the
holy council, who have righteously doomed this
wretch to perish, by permitting him. IN this his last
nour, to look wards the east ?"
his remark was supported by several voices,
winch vociferously condemned the granting OF such
unmerted indulgence.
The executioner, who was really innocent OF the
imputed kindness, felt hurt at the suspicion that he
was capable Of fcommisseratIon Anxious to repeI
the calumny, and to prove that he stranger to
such ,mpety he hastened to atone for the accident
which had endangered his reputation, by roughly
ordering the Bohemian to move round to the west,
nd before the willing martyr could comply, rude
thrust proved to all present. that any deficiency in
cruelty which nil hit have been remarked, was
wholly involuntary. Huss was tied first round the
middle with cords. A chain was passed over these,
and chains were fastened to his left leg and his neck
Thus securely bound to the stake, the fagots pro-
vided for the occasion were piled up to his chm =
straw was placed beneath and between them,
where it was thought likely most efectually to
contribute to the ierceness Of the blaze.
moment Of awful expectation followed. The
execut.oner approached with lighted torch when