The letters of John Hus/Letter 36, To his Bohemian Friends

by Jan Hus

For other English-language translations of this work, see Letter of Jan Hus to his Bohemian Friends (20 October 1414).

XXXVI. To his Bohemian Friends

 

(Nuremberg, October 20, 1414)

 

Greetings from Christ Jesus! Let me tell you that I never rode in a shortened^[1] hood, but undisguised and without anything over my face. As soon as I had crossed the frontier, I reached Baernau^[2] first of all, where the rector with his curates was on the look-out for me before I arrived. When I entered the inn-parlour,^[3] he at once set before me a big tankard of wine, and in right friendly fashion he with his companions welcomed all my views and remarked that he had always been my friend. Next at Neustadt the whole German population had much delight in seeing me. We passed through Weiden^[4] with a big crowd agape with admiration. Arrived at Sulzbach, we entered the inn, where a court was sitting (landrecht).^[5] I said to the sheriffs^[6] and magistrates sitting by the stove, “I am Master John Hus, about whom I suppose you have heard much scandal; ask me any questions you like.”^[7] We had a long conversation and they received everything I said in a good spirit. After this we passed through Hersbruck, and spent the night in the town of Lauf, where the rector, a great canonist, met us with his curates. I had a talk with him and he also took everything in good part. And here we are at Nuremberg! The merchants, who had preceded us, announced our coming. Accordingly the people were standing in the streets looking about and asking, “Which is Master Hus?” Before dinner, the rector of St. Lawrence’s, Master John Helwel, sent me a letter saying that he had long wished to have a good talk with me. On the same sheet I wrote back a message to him to come, and he came. I had, more over, already written out my notice of appeal,^[8] wishing to post it up; but in the meanwhile Baron Wenzel sent me word that the burghers and magistrates were assembled at the inn wishing to see me and to have a conference with me. I at once rose from the table and crossed over to where they were. The magistrates gave instructions that our conference should be in private, but I said to them, “I preach in public, and I want every one, who wishes, to hear me.” From that moment until dusk we talked together in the presence of consuls^[9] and burghers. A Carthusian doctor was there who was a famous debater. I noticed that Master Albert, rector of St. Sebald’s, was vexed because the burghers took my side. In the end all the magistrates and burghers were convinced. In fact, I have not met a single enemy as yet. In every inn I leave the host as a parting gift a copy of the Ten Commandments,^[10] and elsewhere I leave it as a leaven to work in the meal-tub.^[11] All the hostesses and their husbands give me a right hearty welcome. Nowhere do they put into force the edict of excommunication, while my notice of appeal, written in German, meets with universal praise. I assure you then that no greater hostility is shown me than by the Bohemian people.^[12] And what more can I say? Both Baron Wenzel [of Duba] and Baron John [of Chlum] treat me very graciously and kindly; they are like heralds of the truth, or rather, to speak more truly, they are advocates of the truth. With them on my side all goes well, the Lord being my defender. The King^[13] is down the Rhine^[14] and Baron Wenzel de Leštna^[15] is setting out after him. We are going direct^[16] to Constance. Pope John is getting near there.^[17] For we judge it would be useless to go after the King, perhaps a distance of sixty [German] miles, and then return to Constance.

Written at Nuremberg on the Saturday before the Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins.^[18]

 

1. Czotato. Probably the same as scotatus ‘incisus, in orbem diminutus.’ See illustrations of the word applied to dress in Ducange-Carpentier.
2. MSS., Pernow. “B” with Hus generally in names of places becomes “P.” The place must not be confused, as often, with Beraun, near Prague.
3. Stubam. The room of the great stove, so familiar to tourists.
4. MSS., Vaydam.
5. MSS., lantricht—i.e., a provincial court.
6. Consulibus.
7. Cf. Wesley’s Journals, i. 428.
8. i.e., to Constance.
9. Consulibus. The word, whether designedly or not, is very appropriate. Over the gates of Nuremberg was the motto “S.P.Q.N.”
10. Do decem, mandata hospiti. This may be Hus’s tract on the Ten Commandments, the date for which, however, is usually given a few weeks later (see Mon. i. 29b). The subject, at any rate, was clearly a favourite with Hus.
11. Applico in farina. An Italian proverb for a ‘willing mind.’ Some translators have taken the passage literally, that Hus left his tracts in the flour-bin!
12. Cf. pp. 147, 165, 263.
13. Sigismund, as often. See infra, p. 163, n. 5.
14. As a specimen of the faulty readings of the Epist. Piissimæ and Monumenta, note here: Rex est in regno, quem sequitur Dominus Wenceslaus, et nos de nocte pergimus Constantiam, ad quam appropinquat Papa Joannes. Judicamus enim quod sequatur Regem forte per 60 milliaria et revertatur Constantiam. Bonnechose translates this nonsense literally.
15. i.e., Duba. See pp. 160 and 169, n. 2.
16. MS. and editions read de nocte. Read with P., directe, and cf. p. 161 infra.
17. Pope John was at this time crossing the Arlberg. Reichental in his Diary (ed. Buck, 1882) tells us how he was violently hurled from his sledge into the snow. ‘Here I lie,’ he cried, ‘in the devil’s name. I should have done better to have remained at Bologna.’
18. See p. 15 for comment on this name.