Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/508

 ^no BOHEMIA. 492 at their head, and a vast crowd, including many nobles, prelates and cardinals. The route followed was circuitous ^^^ •^''der ^^* he might be carried past the episcopal palace, m front of which his books were burning, whereat he smiled. Pity from man there was none to look for, but he sought comfort on high, repeatmg o himself, " Christ Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy upon me . and when he came in sight of the stake he fell on his knees and prayed. He was asked if he wished to confess, and said that he would gladly do so if there were space. A wide circle was formed, and Ulrich Schorand, who, according to custom, had been provi- dently empowered to take advantage of any final weakening came- forward, saying, "Dear sir and master, if yo"^-f J^^?^ your unbehef of heresy, for which you must suffer, I will wil ingly hear your confession; but if you will not, you know nght weU that according to canon law, no one can admmister the sacra- ment to a heretic." To this Huss answered, " It is -t necessary : iL no mortal sinner." His paper crown fell off and he smiled as his guards replaced it. He desired to take leave of his keepers, "dTen they were brought to him he thanked them for their kiness, saying that they had been to him rather ^-thers than iailers. Then he commenced to address the crowd in German, teUinc them that he suffered for errors which he did not hold, sworn to by perjured witnesses ; but this could not be permitted, ald^e was cut^short. When bound to the stake a^ two cart loads of fagots and straw were piled up around him the pals grte and vogt for the last time adjured him to ^ bj-e Even yet he could have saved himself, but he only repeated 1-t J^e J.ad been convicted by false witnesses of errors never entertained by him They clapped their hands and then withdrew and the exe- c^oners applieTthe fire. Twice Huss was ^^^^^'^Jl^-f^;^ '' Christ Jesus, Son of the living God, have ™*^rcy ^P^^^.' '"^ a wind springing up and blowing the flames and smoke into his ariled'further utterance, but his head was seen to shake . and his lips to move while one might '^^^^^ ^^' f^'^'ZieZZ ternoster.' The tragedy was over ; the sorely-tried -'^l ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ from its tormentors, and the bitterest enemies of the refoimer could not refuse to him the praise that no philosopher otoA^^ faced death with more composure than he had shown ^^ hi dread lul extremity. No faltering of the voice had betrayed an inteinal