had written and put forth agaynst the enormities, pōpe, and disorder of the Prelates, he would firmely and stedfastlye, without recantation, holde and defende euen vnto the death. And last of al, he added that al the sinnes that euer he had committed, did not so much gnaw and trouble his conscience, as did that onely sinne, which he had committed in that most pestiferous fact, whē as in hys recantation, hee had vniustly spoken agaynst that good and holy man and his doctrine, and specially in cōsentyng vnto his wicked condempnation: concludyng that he did vtterly reuoke and deny that wicked recantation, which hee had made in that moste cursed place, and that hee did it thorow weakenes of heart and feare of death: MarginaliaHierom repenteth his speakyng against Iohn Hus.And moreouer that what soeuer thyng he hath spoken agaynste that blessed manne, hee hath all together lyed vppon hym, and that hee doth repent hym with his whole hart, that euer he did it.

At the hearing herof, the harts of the heares wer not a little sorye. For they wished and desired greatlye that suche a singular man might be saued, if otherwise their blind superstitiō would haue suffered it. But he cōtinued still in his prefixed sentence, seeming to desire rather death then life. MarginaliaHus neuer maintained any doctrine agaynst the church of Rome: but only spake agaynst their naughty life.And persisting still in the prayse of Iohn Hus, he added moreouer, that he neuer maintained any doctrine againste the state of the churche, but onelye spake against the abuses of the clergy, against the pride, pompe and excesse of the prelates. For in somuch as the patrimonies of churches were first geuen for the poore, then for hospitalitye, and thirdly to the reparations of the churches: it was a grief to that good man (said he) to see the same mispente and caste away vpon harlots, great feastings, and keeping of horses and dogs, vpon gorgeous apparell and such other thinges vnseamynge Christian religion And herein he shewed him selfe meruelous eloquent: yea neuer more.

MarginaliaHierom did put them to silence.And when his oration was interrupted many times by diuers of them, carping hys sentences as he was in speaking: yet was ther none of al those that interrupted him which scaped vnblanckt, but he brought them all to confusion, & put thē to silence. When any noise began, hee ceased to speake, and after began again, proceding in his oration and desiring them to geue him leaue a while to speake, whom they hereafter should heare no more: neither yet was his mind euer dashed at all these noises and tumultes.

MarginaliaHierom in prison, 340 dayes.And this was meruelous in him to beholde, notwithstanding he continued in strait prison, 340. dayes, hauing neyther booke, nor al most lighte to read by: MarginaliaThe excellent memorye in M. Hierome.yet howe admirablye his memorye serued him: Declaring how all those paynes of his strayte handlynge, did not somuche greeue him, as he did wonder rather to see their vnkinde inhumanity towards him.

When he had spoken these and manye other thinges as touching the prayse of Iohn Wickleffe, & Iohn Hus, they which sat in the Councell, whispered together, saying: by these his words it appeareth that he is at a point with himselfe. Then was he agayne caried into prison, and greuouslye fettred by the handes, armes and feete with great chaynes and fetters of yron.

MarginaliaM. Hierom brought againe before the councellThe Saterday next before the Ascension day, earlye in the morning he was brought with a great number of armed men vnto the cathedrall churche before the open congregation, to haue his iudgement geuen him. There they exhorted him, that those thinges which he had before spoken in the open audience, as is aforesaid, as touching the prayse and commendation of mayster Iohn Wickleffe, and maister Iohn Hus, confirming and establishing their doctrine, he woulde yet recant the same: but he marueilous stoutlye without all feare, spake agaynst them, and amongest other thynges sayde vnto them: I take God to my wytnes, and I protest here before you all, that I do beleue and hold all the articles ofMarginaliaM. Hierome holdeth all the articles of the catholyke church.the faith, as the holy catholike church doth holde and beleue the same: but for this cause shall I now be condemned, for that I will not consent with you vnto the condemnatiō of those most holy and blessed men aforesaid, whom you haue most wickedly condemned for certaine articles, detesting and abhorring your wicked and abhominable life. MarginaliaThe eloquence of maister Hierome.Then he cōfessed there before them all, his beliefe, and vttered many thinges very profoundlye and eloquentlye, in so muche that all men there present, could not sufficiently commend and praise his great eloquence and excellent learning: and by no meanes could they induce or perswade him to recant.

Then a certayne bishop named the bishop of Landy made a certaine Sermon exhortatiue agaynst mayster Ierome, perswading to hys condemnation.

After the bishop had ended the sayd Sermon, M. Hierome said againe vnto thē: You will condemne me wickedly & vniustly. MarginaliaThe prophecie of maister Hierome.But I after my death wyll leaue a remorse in your conscience, & a nayle in your hartes, ET CITO VOS OMNES, VT RESPONDEATIS MIHI CORAM ALTISSIMO ET IVSTISSIMO IVDICE POST CENTVM ANNOS: that is, And here I cite you all to answer vnto me before the most high & iust Iudge, w^tin a C. yeres.

No pen can sufficiently write or note those thynges which he most eloquently, profoundly, and philosophically had spoken in the sayd audience, neither can any tong sufficiently declare the same, wherfore I haue but onely touched here þ^e superficial matter of his talke, partlye, & not wholy noting þ^e same. Finally, whē as by no means he might be perswaded to recant the premisses, immediately euen in his presence, the sentence and iudgement of hys condemnation was geuen agaynst him, and red before him.

MarginaliaThe sentence red agaynst M. Hierome.JN the name of God Amen. Christ our God and our Sauiour being the true vine, whose father is the husband man, taught hys disciples and all other faythfull men, saying: If any man dwell not in me, let him be cast out as a bow or braunch, and let him wither and dry. &c. The doctrine and preceptes of which most excellent doctour and mayster, this most sacred Sinode of Constance, executing and folowing in the cause of inquisitiō against heretiques, being moued by thys sayd sacred Sinode, through reporte, publique fame, and open infamation: procedeth against M. Hierome of Prage, maister of arte, laye man. By the actes & processes of whose cause it appeareth that the sayd M. Hierome hath holden, mayntained, and taught diuers articles hereticall and erronious, lately reproued & condemned by the holy fathers, some being very blasphemous, other some offēding godlye eares, and many termerarious and seditious, whiche haue bene affirmed, mayntained, preached and taught by the men of most damnable memory Iohn Wyckliff, and Iohn Hus, the whych are also written in diuers of their workes and bookes. Which articles of doctrine and bookes of the sayd Iohn Hus and Wickleiffe together with their memory, & the person of the sayd Iohn Hus, were by the sayd Sacred Sinode condemned of heresy. The which sentence of condemnatiō this Hierome afterward during the tyme of inquisition, acknowledged in the sayd sacred Synode, and approued the true catholike and apostolike faith, thereunto consenting, accursing all heresye, speciallye that, wherof he was infamed and confessed hym selfe to bee infamed, and that which in times past Iohn Hus and Iohn Wyckleiffe mayntayned and taught in their workes, Sermons, and bookes: for the which the sayde Wickliffe and Hus together wyth theyr doctrine and errours, were by the sayd sacred Sinode as hereticall, condemned. The condemnation of all whiche the premisses, he did openlye professe and allowe, and dyd sweare that he woulde perseuer and continue in the veritye of that fayth. And if that hee should presume at any time to holde opinion or preache contrary therunto, that he would submit him selfe to the triall and truth of the canons, & be bound to perpetuall punishment. And thys hys profession written wyth his own hand, he deliuered vp vnto the holy Councell. Many dayes after hys sayd professiō & abiuration, as a dog