Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/174

 As might be expected, this misfortune was laid at the door of Hus and his friends. Probably the worst feature of this was the bad reputation that Bohemia gained throughout the empire by the evil reports spread by the German professors and students. To this was due, doubtless, the malicious hatred that manifested itself on the part of the Germans against the Bohemians during the long wars that followed.

Another matter that brought Hus into ill repute among the clergy was his opposition to the sale of indulgences.

In 1411, Pope John XXIII declared a crusade against Ladislav, King of Naples, charging him with heresy. He promised plenary indulgences to all who should either take part in person or aid it with funds. In Bohemia, the sale of these indulgences was intrusted to Tiem, the Dean of Passau, who obtained permission for this both from the king and the archbishop; but only under certain conditions. He, however, did not keep the conditions, but sold the documents to various priests, allowing them to make what they could in retailing them. As this traffic was held in no good repute in Bohemia, it was taken up by priests that were notorious for their grossly immoral lives, and carried on in a most scandalous manner.

Hus denounced the traffic, warning the people not to squander their money for these worthless promises. The matter was brought before a Synod of the University, and it decided that, since this came from the Pope, Christians were bound to treat it with reverence, even if they could not agree with it.

Hus made a declaration that showed that he was