Page:John Huss, his life, teachings and death, after five hundred years.pdf/197

 Leitomysl. The day after Huss’s arrival, Michael posted up formal notice of the proceedings, in which he was to be a prosecutor. Palecz and Michael not only drew up charges from his Treatise on the Church, but actually went about among the cardinals, archbishops, and other prelates to stir up prejudice against him or confirm suspicion, associating with themselves in this business members of the Dominican order. Huss’s hope was in Sigismund, not yet on the ground, and supremely in Christ, whom he called “his strong champion”—bellator fortis.

November 9, the week after Huss’s arrival, John XXIII, in answer to the request of Huss’s friends, sent word that the interdict was suspended and that Huss was free to go to and fro in the city and in the churches, with the caution that he should not attend high masses and should avoid mixing with the people. This seemed to be a good omen. And, as we learn from a letter written by John of Reinstein, Huss was celebrating mass daily in his lodgings; but the same authority bears witness to the uneasiness in the city occasioned by Huss’s presence. He speaks of a false rumor circulated, he knew not by friend or foe, to the effect that Huss was to preach in the cathedral on the Sabbath after he was writing, and that he had promised a ducat to every one who was present to listen to his strictures upon the clergy. This valuable letter closes with a reference to Huss’s name, that the Goose is not yet cooked and not afraid of being cooked, for geese were not eaten on that St. Martinmas, which happened to fall on Saturday, a day when geese were not eaten. With all who came to his lodgings Huss spoke freely, but he was wise in not going beyond his lodgings, as John of Chlum distinctly stated.

But Huss, after all, was a heretic and under the ban of the curia. His liberty was an offense to the rigorous party, continually reminded by the hostile Bohemians of the cer-