Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-08
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF JOHN HUss.

One of the most eventful ecclesias- tical trials that occurred during the Reformation was that of the Bohe- milan reformer, John Guss, who was the central figure in the movement in the early part of the 18th century. so much at variance with those of the prevailing doctrines that he passed through a stor~--~- neTiod before he was finally adjudged, sentenced and eX- ecuted.
 Huss was the exponent of wyclif. He preached his doctrine throughout Bohemia, and his followers were able to carry Wyclifsm into the adjoining countries. To put an end to the critics of the Reformation and to take up the long desired reform of the church, as the Bohemian government saw It, a general council was convened on Nov. 1, 14t4, at Constance.
 The Emperor Sigisnund prevailed upon Huss to go to Constance. where he arrived on Nov. 3. and on the fol- nounced that Michael of Deutschorod would be the opponent of Huss the heretic.
 In the beginning Huss was at Ib- erty, making his abode at the house Of widow, but after a few weeks ing him. on the strength of a rumor that he intended to flee. On Dec. $ he was thrown into the dungeon of the Dominican Monastery. The Pope then appointed three bishops to investigate the case against the ''heretic," and to the prosecution were heard, and, con- trary to the first decision, Huss was refused an advocate. He was then taken from the monastery and handed over to the Archbishop of Constance and taken to his castle, Gottliebeu on the Rhine. Here he was ill-treated in every way, tortured by disease, poorly fed and all the time kept in chains. For the 8 days in which he remained in the castle he never once communi- cated with his friends.
 The first hearing of the case was on the 5th of June. Copies of re- ligious tracts which he had signed were produced and were acknowledged by him. On these were based the charges of heresy. When the prisoner he was interrupted by cries of: Re cant, Recant'', and so was compelled to bring his speech to 8 premature close. This he did with the whitening remark: Tn such a council as this l had expected to find more propriety, piety and concern.
 On the 7th of June, he was again tried, this time in the presence of King Sigismund. The extracts relative to the pamphlets were again brought up diltl lnS question as 10 IIle ISldLlOilS between the prisoner and Wyclif was closely discussed. Also that he had abandoned the Catholic doctrine and four other charges: l. That he had erred in the theses which he had hitherto maintained; 2. That he re- nounced them for the future; 3. That he recant them: and 1, that he de- clared the opposite of these sentences.
 Doctrines which he had not taught, he said, he could never recant, and as to the others, if they could be proved by the Bible to be wrong, he would gladly recant them. as it would be against his conscience to dc otherwise.
 SigisTnund himself, then gave it as his opinion, that Euss was guilty of heresy and that it had been proved by Huss that he make general confes- sion. but Sigismund declared that if he would make 1t now that 1t would be too late.
 During the next four weeks every expedient was tried to make Russ con fess, but all of no avail for he saw his path clearly set by conscience and from it he could not stray. On July 6 he was condemned. and sentenced to he burned at the stake. First he was errayed in all the priestly robes and publiriy asked to recant. Refusing, the robes were torn from his body and his soul consigned to the devil He was taken by 3. large body of armed men and chained to the stake. where von Pappenheiun again asked him to recant and save himself from death. To this he replied: God is my witness that I have never taught that Of which I have been accused by false witnesses. In the truth of the gospel which I have written. taught, and preached, I will die today with glad ness,'' Thereupon, the fire was kindled. When the flames were started Nuas sang, "Chrigt, Thou Son of the Living God, Have Mercy l1non Me" This he sang three times, and upon reaching who are born of Mary the Virgin," i" tiae wind blew The names in his Race and though his 'I-as still moved he died of suffccation. His ashes were then gathered and thrown 5u the Rhine.