Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/518

 502 BOHEMIA. In this case, more than in that of Hubs, the council seems to have taken upon itself the part of an inquisitorial tribunal, with its commissioners simply as examiners to take testimony, possibly because Jerome had refused to accept them as judges on account of enmity towards him. There is no evidence that it consented to the superfluous infamy of torturing, or even of starving its vic- tim. The commissioners were left to their own devices as to ex- tracting a confession, and May 9 they made another report of the whole case from beginning to end, for what object is not apparent, unless to demonstrate their helplessness. Ha^dng thus wearied them out, Jerome finally promised to answer categorically before the council. Perhaps it was curiosity to hear him, perhaps the precedent set in the case of Huss weighed with the fathers. The concession was made to him, and at a general session held May 23 he was brought in and the oath was offered to him. He re- fused to take it, saying that he would do so if he would be allowed to speak freely, but if he was only to say yes or no he would not. As the articles were read over he remained silent as to a portion, while to the rest he answered affirmatively or negatively, occa- sionally making a distinction, and answering with admirable readi- ness the clamors and interruptions which assailed him from all sides. The day wore away in this, and the completion of the hear- ing was adjourned till the 26th. Again the same scene occurred till the series of articles was exhausted, when the chief of the com- missioners, John, Patriarch of Constantinople, summed up, saying that Jerome was convicted of fourfold heresy ; but as he had re- peatedly asked to be heard he should be allowed to speak, in order to silence absurd reflections on the council ; moreover, if he was prepared to confess and repent, he still would be received to mercy, but if obdurate, justice must take its course.* Of the scene which followed we have a vivid account in a let- ter to Leonardo Aretino from Poggio Bracciolini, who attended the council as apostolic secretary. Poggio had already been pro- foundly impressed with the quickness and readiness of a man who for three hundred and forty days had lain in the filth and squalor of a noisome dungeon, but now he breaks forth in unqualified ad- miration— "He stood fearless, undaunted, not merely despising Yen der Hardt IV. 690-1, 732-33, 748-56.