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 no longer in spiritual bondage to the Pope. He said: “I term the doctrines of Christ’s apostles apostolic commands, and, in so far as the commands of the Pope of Rome agree with those doctrines, I am willing to obey them; but when I see the contrary, I shall not obey, even if ye place fire before me to consume my body.” Hus not only continued to exhort the people against the indulgences, but he sent letters to various parts of Bohemia, Moravia, Poland, and even to Hungary, warning the people against this traffic. This diminished the sale of the indulgences, and, moreover, helped to cultivate a spirit of resistance to all ecclesiastical authority.

To quiet the disturbances that were constantly arising, a Synod was held in Bohemian Brod. At this Synod, Master Jacobek stated that the real point at issue was whether human ordinances, proceeding from a hierarchy composed of mortal, and consequently fallible beings, were to be obeyed in preference to the commands of God.

This Synod accomplished nothing, and, the disturbances in the capital constantly increasing, King Václav requested Hus to leave the city for a while. This, however, only helped to spread the new doctrine. Such immense crowds flocked to hear the preaching of Hus, that he was obliged to address the people in the open air. Besides this, he had time to write various articles, which, being in the mother tongue, were eagerly sought and read by the common people.

While these things were going on in Bohemia, Sigmund had been elected King of the Romans, and while on an expedition to Italy to aid the Pope against Ladislav, he persuaded that pontiff to call a General Coun-