Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/476



said most reverend father in Christ, the lord Swinco; for I did offer myself to answer to all and singular such things as should he objected against me, referring myself to the whole audience; and if any thing should he found in me contrary to truth and equity (except that I would give place and be ready to amend the same), I am contented, even with my whole heart, to be punished with fire, and am even presently ready, before the whole university of Prague and all the clergy thereof, if any man shall stand up against me, to give a reason of all such things as shall be objected. But, unto this day, there would no man stand up against me, who, according to the canonical laws, would bind himself unto the like punishment or forfeit.'

Which brief or epistle being thus put up and read, the said Master John Huss required, that, for the more evidence and greater evidence to be had, the said writing should be written over again by us the notaries hereunder written, and should be reduced to a common form and order, and afterwards, by the rector, doctors, and masters, of the universities aforesaid, to be sealed with their common seal. The which lord, the rector, after he had taken counsel and advice with the whole college, with one consent and mind granting to the request of the said John Huss, commanded that the brief aforesaid, should be newly written and reduced unto a public form by us the notaries hereunder written; and, for the greater credit to be given thereunto, he commanded also the seal of the university to be put unto it. Upon all which and singular the premises, the aforesaid Master John Huss required that we, the said notaries, should make unto him, one or more public testimonials. These things were done in the presence of the most honourable and discreet men and lords, Vitus, provost of Myzzin in the diocese of Olmutz; James de Tachonia, and John de Tepla, priests; Matthew de Chlumptzan, clerk; and, by the imperial authority, public notary; John Xapasnick esquire, of Prague; Anthony de Rezce, and Michael de Drenow, clerks; and many other witnesses about the premises.

When the noble men of Bohemia by long tune could receive no answer of those supplications which they had already put up, they determined, the last day of May following, by another supplication being put up unto the principals of the council, to entreat that John Huss might be delivered out of prison, and defend his own cause openly: they also put up the testimonial of the bishop of Nazareth, as touching John Huss; the copy whereof is expressed in the beginning of this history, word by word.

Most reverend fathers and lords in Christ! of late there was a put up unto your reverences on the behalf of the lords and nobles of Bohemia, and the nation of the Poles, wherein they most humbly desired your reverences to consider how the informations which were put up unto your reverences by the enemies of Master John Huss, were insufficient, and, with reverence be it spoken, in many points untrue; as in the safe-conduct granted by the king's majesty, and also in other articles, as more plainly appeareth in the schedule, which was then offered unto you; upon which said schedule and other things at that present, being put up, they could not as yet receive any answer. Wherefore the lords aforesaid, most humbly require your fatherly reverences, that it would please you to consider the said supplication, and to give some ananswer [sic] to the lords aforesaid thereupon, and specially having respect unto the great injuries and griefs which are done unto the said Master John Huss, which may be understood and known by the schedule aforesaid, that you will mercifully consider and foresee, that all those griefs and evils, so far different from