Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/507

Rh court. Seven bishops arrayed him in priestly garb and warned him to recant while yet there was time. He turned to the crowd, and with broken voice declared that he could not confess the errors which he had never entertained, lest he should lie to God, when the bishops interrupted him, crying that they had waited long enough, for he was obstinate in his heresy. He wag degraded in the usual Manner, stripped of his sacerdotal vestments, his fingers Scraped ; but when the tonsure was to be disposed of an

scissors. Scissors won the day, and a cross was cut in his hair. Then on his head was placed a conical paper cap, a cubit in height, adorned with painted devils and the inscription, “This ig the here-

Siarch.” In accordance with the universal custom no proceed-

Sigismund, it is true, might have delayed the execution for six days, but this would have been so unusual as to have excited most unfavorable comment. There had already been afforded ample Opportunity for resipiscence, and the convict could always still recant up to the lighting of the fagots. N othing could reason- ably be hoped from further postponement, and Sigismund’s ap- proaching departure counselled promptitude, He therefore briefly ordered the Palsgrave Louis to take charge of the culprit and to do to him as to a heretic. Louis called to Hans Hazen, the im- perial vogt of Constance, « Vogt, take him as judged of both of us and burn him ag a heretic.” Then he was led forth, and the council calmly turned to other business, unconscious that it had performed the most momentous act of the century.

The place of execution was a meadow near the river, to which he Was conducted by two thousand armed men, with Palseraye Louis