John Huss: his life, teachings and death, after five hundred years

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John Huss: his life, teachings and death, after five hundred years (1915)
by David Schley Schaff

Preface

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3474218John Huss: his life, teachings and death, after five hundred years1915David Schley Schaff

JOHN HUSS

JOHN HUSS

—HIS LIFE, TEACHINGS AND DEATH—

AFTER FIVE HUNDRED YEARS

BY

DAVID S. SCHAFF, D.D.
PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY, THE WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Non debemus consuetudinem sequi sed Christi exemplum et veritatem

Not usage are we to follow but the example of Christ and the truth

—Huss’s letter, written from prison,
Constance, June 21, 1415

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1915

Copyright, 1915, by

CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

Published May, 1915

CONTENTS
chapter		page

(not listed in original)

Preface

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

v

Testimony of the University of Prague to John Huss

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xi

I.	The Age in Which Huss Lived . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	1
	General estimate of Huss—The period, 1300–1500—Boniface VIII—The Unam sanctam—The mediæval papacy—Thomas Aquinas and the papacy—Treatment of heresy—Attacks against the papacy—Dante, Marsiglius of Padua—The German mystics—The Humanists—Disciplinary reformers—Reformers before the Reformation—The Avignon exile and papal schism—Huss in the midst of these movements.
II.	Huss and the Bethlehem Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	19
	Huss’s birth and school life—At the university—Rector—Ordained priest—Preacher at Bethlehem—Prague as an intellectual and religious centre—Charles IV, Petrarch, Æneas Sylvius—The Bethlehem chapel—Bohemian preachers—Konrad of Waldhausen—Milicz of Kremsier—Matthias of Janow—Huss’s sermons—Preaching before the synod—The Bethlehem chapel pulpit—Huss’s Christmas meditation—Palacky on Huss as a preacher.
III.	Huss’s Debt to Wyclif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	43
	The university of Prague—Wyclif’s writings carried to Bohemia—Wyclif’s teachings—His treatment in England—His definition of the church—His influence at the university of Prague—Its decision on the Wyclifite Articles—Waldenses.
IV.	Huss as a National Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	58
	Three currents in Prague—Archbishop Zbynek—Huss as synodal preacher—Attacks clerical vice—The blood of Wylsnack—The parts of Christ’s body—Relics—Document from Oxford about Wyclif—Palecz and Stanislaus of Znaim—Zbynek summoned by the pope to search for Wyclifite heresy—Indictment against Huss—The doctrine of remanence—Zbynek’s reply—“No heresy in Bohemia”—Call of the council of Pisa—Breach between Wenzel and Zbynek—Wenzel’s withdrawal from the Roman obedience—Sigismund—Wenzel’s sympathies for Huss—Germans and Czechs at the university—Wenzel changes the charter—Secession of the Germans—Huss’s responsibility.
V.	In Open Revolt Against the Archbishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	85
	Council of Pisa—Huss supports Alexander V—Huss indicted at Rome—Alexander orders chapels for preaching closed and Wyclifism punished—Zbynek decrees the burning of Wyclif’s writings—Huss’s appeal—Sermon of defiance—The writings burned—Huss excommunicated—Wyclif defended in public addresses—Huss’s assertion of freedom of inquiry—Richard Wyche—Huss appeals to John XXIII—King and queen intercede—Huss’s procurators—Huss cited to Rome—Refuses to obey—Indignities to Zbynek—Formal attempt to reconcile Zbynek and Huss—Zbynek’s withdrawal from Prague—Turns to Sigismund—Zbynek’s death.
VI.	Huss Resists The Pope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	107
	Huss’s case a European affair—John Stokes’s visit to Prague—Huss’s reply to Stokes—The sale of indulgences—Ladislaus —John XXIII’s two bulls—Huss’s resistance—Treatise against indulgences—A crusade for killing Christians—Jerome of Prague—Parody on the burning of Wyclif’s books—Rioters executed—Wyclif’s XLV Articles stigmatized by Palecz—Huss’s reply to the eight doctors—Pope has no business with the material sword.
VII.	Withdrawal from Prague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	133
	Huss’s aggravated excommunication—Interdict pronounced over Prague—Huss’s appeal to Christ—Effect of the interdict—Wenzel calls on Huss to withdraw from Prague—Huss at Austi—Konrad, archbishop of Prague—Ill fame of Bohemia—Huss’s letters—His use of Scripture—Wyclif’s books burned at Rome—Commission appointed to settle the dissension—Palecz’s protest against the decision—Gerson’s XX charges—The opposition to Huss.
VIII.	Before The Council of Constance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	161
	Purpose of the council—Sigismund promises the salvus conductus—Certificates to Huss’s orthodoxy—The journey to Constance—The council—Huss’s arrest—Imprisoned at the Blackfriars—Huss’s sickness—Correspondence—The commission of inquisition—Sigismund’s arrival—His attitude to Huss—Jerome’s first arrest.
IX.	Before the Council of Constance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	191
	John XXIII’s flight—Panic in Constance—Huss removed to Gottlieben—Protests from Bohemian nobles—Distribution of the cup in Prague—Huss’s attitude—Transferred to the Franciscan friary—Huss’s hearings June 5, 7, 8—The formal charges—Sigismund’s address—d’Ailly’s counsel—Sigismund’s last words to Huss—Huss and conscience—Huss and the council.
X.	Condemned and Burned at the Stake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	228
	Sigismund’s confidential address—Last four weeks of Huss’s life—Called upon to abjure—Last meeting with Palecz—Huss on the pope—The council—Last messages—Use of the Scriptures—Distribution of the cup—Huss’s books condemned to the flames—A final deputation from the council—Arraigned in the cathedral—Bishop of Lodi’s sermon—Sentence pronounced—Degradation from the priesthood—The way to the stake—The last scene.
XI.	Huss’s Place in History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	260
	Among his own people—In his age—Did Huss know he was a heretic?—Condemned according to law—Huss’s four fundamental errors—Sigismund’s treatment of Huss—The safe-conduct—Huss’s understanding of it—Huss and Luther—The Hussite hymn-book—Huss and liberty of conscience—Gerson’s attitude—The Reformation.
XII.	Huss’s Writings and the Hussites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	304
	Arnold of Brescia, Huss, Savonarola—Polemic works—The Treatise on the Church—Debt to Wyclif—Commentary on the Lombard’s Sentences—Hymns—The news of Huss’s death at Prague—Revolt in Bohemia—Efforts to appease Huss’s followers—Jerome of Prague burned—Poggio’s letter—Martin V—Calixtines and Taborites—The university on Huss—Crusades against the Hussites—Basel council grants the use of the cup—The downfall of Hussitism—The Moravians—Huss’s followers in Prague to-day—Huss’s spirit in Bohemia.
	Appendix I. Chronological Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	337
	Appendix II. A Spurious Work on Huss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	341
	Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	343

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