which came to seventy-five thousand pounds of gold and silver, as is reported in the Story of St. Alban's, pope Martin, on the day of St. Martin, was elected;[1] concerning whose election great preparation was made before by the council, so that besides the cardinals, five other bishops of every nation should enter into the conclave, who there together should be kept with thin diet, till they had founded a pope. At last, when they were together, they agreed upon this man, of pope and, not tarrying for opening the door, like madmen, for haste they burst open a hole in the wall, crying out, "Habemus papam Martinum," "We have a Martin pope." The emperor hearing thereof, with like haste, came apace, and, falling down, kissed the new pope's feet. Then went they all to the church together, and sang Te Deum.
The next day following, this Martin was made priest, who was before but a cardinal deacon, and the next after was consecrated bishop, and sang his first mass; whereat were present one hundred and forty mitred bishops. After this, the next morrow, the new holy pope ordained a general procession, where a certain clerk was appointed to stand with flax and fire; who, setting the flax on fire, thus said, "Ecce, Pater sancte! sic transit gloria mundi." i. e. "Behold, holy Father! thus vadeth the transitory glory of this world." This done, the same day the holy father was brought up unto a high scaffold, saith the story (I will not say to a high mountain, where was offered to him all the glory of the world), there to be crowned for a triple king. This done, the same day after dinner the new crowned pope was brought with great triumph through the midst of the city of Constance, where all the bishops and abbots followed with their mitres. The pope's horse[2] was all trapped with red scarlet down to the ground. The cardinals' horses were all in white silk; the emperor on the right side, and a prince elector on the left (both playing the pope's footmen), went on foot, leading the pope's horse by the bridle.
As this pageant thus with the great giant proceeded, and came to the market-place, there the Jews, according to the manner, offered to him their law and ceremonies; which the pope receiving, cast behind him, saying, "Recedant Vetera, nova sunt omnia." i. e. "Let old things pass, all things be made new," &c.[3] This was A. D. 1417.
Thus the pope, being now confirmed in his kingdom, first beginneth to write his letters to the Bohemians, wherein partly he moveth them to catholic obedience, partly he dissembleth with them, feigning that if it were not for the emperor's request, he would enter process against them. Thirdly, and finally, he threateneth to attempt the uttermost against them, and with all force to invade them, as well with the apostolic, as also with the secular arm; if they did still persist, as they began.
Albeit, these new threats of the new bishop did nothing move the constant hearts of the Bohemians, whom the inward zeal of Christ's word had before inflamed. And although it had been to be wished, such bloodshed and wars not to have followed; yet to say the truth,N N 2
