Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/179

 tears in their eyes, if it were possible, that he should accept the instruction of the Church. His final answer was as follows:

“The bishops bid me acknowledge before you my errors. If this were possible, merely by the loss of honor of a mortal man, they would perhaps have persuaded me to do so. But I stand here before the face of Almighty God, and I can not do it without dishonor to Him, and the reproaches of my own conscience; because I feel convinced that I have never taught those things of which I am accused; but that I have at all times believed, written, and taught the contrary of it. How could I lift my eyes to heaven, how could I show my face to those whom I have taught—whose number is very great—if I were to unsettle their minds about those things, of which at present they have no doubt? Dare I by my example cast doubt into so many souls and consciences instructed by the words of Holy Writ and edified by the pure doctrine of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? No! I shall never let it appear that I have more regard for this mortal body than for the eternal salvation of those souls.”

As Hus could not be induced to recant, he was condemned to be burned at the stake. The day fixed for the execution of the sentence was July 6, 1415. Weak and emaciated from illness and persecution, he was taken from his filthy dungeon and led to the place of execution, which was some distance out of the city. He was divested of his garments, tied to the stake; a high paper-cap, decorated with pictures of devils was placed upon his head, and the bishop ordered the torch to be applied to the fuel piled up about him, while he commended his body to the flames and his soul to the