Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/452

 .o/j BOHEMIA. over since the inteUectual movement started by tte Trnversity rPrague was producing a number of -en^d.stmgmshed no only tor learning and piety, but for their bold attacks on the corruptions of the Church, and their questiomng of some of its molt profitable dogmas. The appearance of ^^^fH^^^^^^ Huss is one of the most remarkable mdications of the tendencies of the age in Bohemia, and shows how the Waldensian spmt of revolt had unconsciously spread among the population. Conrad of Waldhansen, who died in 1369, is reckoned the ear- Uest of these. He maintained strict orthodoxy, but his denuncia^ tion in his sermons of the vices of the clergy, and especially of the Mendicants, created a deep sensation. More Fo-nent xn every way was Milicz of Kremsier, who, in 1363, resigned the office of private secretary to the emperor, the function of Co - rector intrusted to him by Archbishop Arnest, and several rich prSerments, in order to devote himself e-lusivdy to preaching. His sermons in Czech, German, and Latm were filled with auda^ lus attacks on the sins and crimes of clergy and 1-ty -d tii evils of the time led him to prophesy the advent of Antichrist between 1365 and 1367. In the latter year he went to Kome in ordlrto lay before Urban V. his views on the present and future of the Church. While awaiting Urban's advent from Avignon, he affixed on the portal of St. Peter's an announcement of a ser- mon on the subject, which led the Inquisition to throw him into prison but in October, on the arrival of the pope, he was released and'r;ated with distinction. On his return to Prague he preached Tith ieater violence than ever. To get rid of him the pnest- r^od 'accused him to the emperor and archbishop, but in vam Then they formulated twelve articles of accusation against him to the pope, and obtained, in January, 1374, from Gregory XL bull denouncing him as a persistent l^e^esiarch who had fi^^^ U Bohemia, Poland, Silesia, and the ^f g»^^^''^^' ,f t A^ttlirist rors According to them, he taught not only that Antcliust had come that the Church was extinct, that pope, cardinal, iishops and prelates showed no light of truth, but he permitted to wf followers the unlimited gratification of their passion • Milicz undauntedly pursued his course until an -q— ^ /^^ cution was commenced agamst him, when l^^^^^PP-^^f^^^^^P^J^ In Lent, 1374, he went to Avignon, where he readily proved his