Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/526

 ^^Q THE HUSSITES. brother was suspected of favoring the heretics, as no one could conceive that such wickedness could be committed under so pow- erful a king without his connivance, and the council had decided to proceed against him, but had consented to delay at the instance of Sigismund, who for three years had been strenuously endeavor- ing to avert the prosecution. He warns every one, in conclusion, not to aid the heresy, but to exert themselves for its suppression.* Shortly after this, November 11, 1417, the weary schism was closed by the election to the papacy of Martin Y. Under the im- pulsion of a capable and resolute pontiff, who, as Cardinal Ottone Colonna, had, in 1411, condemned and excommunicated Huss, the reunited Church pressed eagerly forward to render the conflict inevitable. In February, 1418, the council pubhshed a series of twenty-four articles as its ultimatum. King Wenceslas must swear to- suppress the heresy, of Wickliff and Huss. Minute directions were given to restore the old order of things throughout Bohemia; priests and Catholics who had been driven out were to be rein- stated and compensated ; image and relic worship to be resumed, and the rites of the Church observed. All infected with heresy were to abjure it, while their leading doctors, John Jessenitz, Ja- cobel of Mies, Simon of Eokyzana, and six others, were to betake themselves to Kome for trial. Communion in both elements was to be specially abjured, and all who held the doctrines of Wicldiff and Huss, or regarded Huss and Jerome as holy men, were to be burned as relapsed heretics ; that is, without opportunity of recan- tation or hope of pardon. Finally, every one was required to lend assistance to the episcopal officials when called upon, under pam of punishment as fautors of heresy. It was simply the application of existing laws, as we have so many times already seen them brought to bear on offending communities. To enforce it, Sigis- mund promised to visit the rebellious region with four bishops and an inquisitor, and to burn all Who would not recant.f This was speedily followed, February 22, 1418, by a bull of Doubtless there was much ill-treatment of such of the clergy as remained faith- ful to Rome. In 1417 Stephen of Olmiitz complains that they were driven .rom their benefices, beaten, and slain.-Steph. Cartus. Epist. ad Hussit. P. i. c. 3 (Fez Thesaur. Anecd. IV. ii. 517). + Von der Hardt IV. 1514-18.— Palacky Documenta, pp. 676-77.
 * Von cler Hardt IV. 1077-82, 1410-13. -Palacky Documenta, pp. 652-4.