ster the body of Christ vnto other, wherupon most reuerend fathers and Lordes: Albeit that I together wyth the other prelates, doctors, maisters and other innumerable catholikes of the sayde kingdome, the whych doe desire as much as in them lieth to defend the faith of Christ, haue laboured for the extirpation & rooting out of that most wicked and detestable sect of Wickliffes, which nowe (alas for sorow) beginneth to spring and rise in the sayd kingdome, as it is well knowne. Notwythstanding, here in thys my oration, not for any shame or reproofe, but for the honour of the kingdome aforesayd, I haue propounded, and declared a certaine new sect, whych is nowe lately sprong vp in the sayd kingdome, the folowers whereof do minister & communicate the sacraments in many cities, townes, & places of the said kingdom, vnder both kindes both of breade and wine, and doe constantly teache the common people bothe men and women that it is so to be cōmunicated, obstinatly affirming the same, and that the clergy which do repugn or say nay vnto it, are to be counted church robbers, as by the wrytings of their assertions being directed and presented hether, shall openly appeare.

Moreouer by the report and fame whych goeth here abroade, & by the wrytings which were sent ouer vnto me, I haue propoūded that it came to my knowledge, that the bloud of Christ is caryed about in vessels not consecrated, approuing the foresaide erroneous assertion of the Wicleuists, that affirme it necessary for saluation, that the people shuld communicate vnder both kindes of bread and wine, and that it is necessary, as the body of Christ is caryed in the pixe or boxe, so the bloude of Christ should be caryed in bottles, or other necessary vessels from place to place, and specially about the ministration of the sick. Also I declared not of my selfe, but I heard it to be declared by others, both great and credible persons, that there was a certaine woman a folower of that secte, the which taking by violence the body of Christe out of a priests handes, did communicate vnto her selfe, and affirmed that all men oughte to doe so, if the Priests would denye them the Communion. And the same woman amongst many other errours, of the whych shee was conuicted, did affirme that a good lay woman myght better consecrate and geue absolution, then an euill priest: affirming that an euill priest can neyther consecrate nor absolue. But I know that neyther I, neither any of my assistance in this matter haue broughte thys at any time into your eares, that coblers in the sayde kingdome doe heare confession, or minister the sacrament of the body of Christ, as is alleaged by the sayde Peter, in the behalfe of the sayde supplicantes. Notwythstanding, that we did feare if meanes were not founde to recounter or stoppe the offences before named, that thys would immediatly folow vpon it. Wherfore most reuerend fathers, least that the kingdome mighte bee defamed any more by such pestiferous sectes, and that the Christian faith myght happen to be indaungered: with all reuerence and charity I do desire you, euen by the bowels of mercy, of our Lord Iesus Christe, that thys most sacred Councel, would prouide some speedy remedy for this kingdome, as touchyng the premisses.

Moreouer, whether be they backbiters and slanderers or wicked and false enuiers of the kingdome of Boheme, the which do let the errors aforesaid, & many other more, which are sowen by the Wicleuists in the sayd kingdome, and also els where, whych also both do labor and haue laboured for the extirpation and roting out of those errours out of the kingdome aforesayd, and as catholicke men, for the zeale of their faith haue manfully put forth themselues against the maintainers of the sayd errours or such as doe maintaine and defend the teachers of those errours. This answere I haue here presented before your reuerences alwaies, wholy submitting my self and assistance vnto your iudgement, and to the definition of this most sacred councell of Constance.

MarginaliaThe byshop of Luthonius answere confuted.THe day before Whitsontide, the nobles of Boheme dyd confute this theyr aunswere made 2. dayes before in the Councel to their former wryting, as here foloweth: Most reuerend fathers and Lordes, for so much as vpon thursday it was answered in the behalfe of your reuerences to the requests of the nobles and Lords of Boheme, that the sayde Lordes were misinformed of diuers poynts contained in the declaration of their said bil: therfore the foresayd Lords haue now determined and decreed to declare their former propounded requests more at large vnto your reuerences, not mineding hereby to argue or reprooue your fatherly wisedomes and circumspections, but that yourereuerences (theyr desires being partly on thys behalf fulfilled) might the more effectuously & distinctly discerne and iudge as touching thys matter.

And first of all, where as the Lordes alleaged and sayd how that maister Iohn Hus was come hether vnto Constance, freely of hs owne good will, vnder the safe conduct of the Lorde the king, and the protection of the sacred Empire: MarginaliaThe byshops do quarell about the safe conduct of Iohn Hus.It is aunswered on the behalfe of your reuerences, how that the said Lords are misinformed, as touching the safe conduict, and that you haue vnderstand by such as are worthy credit, that the frends and fauorers of the sayd M. Iohn Hus, did first procure and get his safe conduicte 15. dayes after hys imprisonment.

MarginaliaThe safe cōduct of Iohn Hus obteyned and shewed before the imprisonment of Iohn Hus.The Lords of Boheme, and specially the Lorde Iohn de Clum heere present, whome thys matter doeth chiefely touche, doeth aunswere, that not onely the 15. day after, but euen the very same day that Iohn Hus was apprehended and taken, when as our reuerende father the Pope, in the presence of all his Cardinals, demaunded of M. Iohn de Clum, whether M. Iohn Hus had any safeconduict from the king hys sonne: he answered, most holy father & Cardinals, knowe ye that he hath a safe conduict, and when he was asked the question againe the second time, he answered in like maner.

Yet notwithstāding none of them required to haue the safeconduict shewed vnto them: and againe the thirde day following, the Lord Iohn de Clum complained vnto our Lord the Pope, how notwythstanding the safe conduict of oure soueraigne Lorde the king, he detained and kept M. Iohn Hus as prisoner, shewing the said safeconduict vnto many. And for a further truth herein, he referreth hymself vnto the testimonies and witnesses of diuers Earles, Byshops, knightes, gentlemen, and famous Citizens of the city of Constance, the whych altogether at this present did see the said safe conduict, and heard it read, whereupon the sayde Iohn de Clum is ready to binde hymselfe vnder what penalty shalbe required, euidently to proue and cōfirme that which hee hath promised, who soeuer say to the contrary.

Moreouer, the Lordes of Boheme referre themselues vnto the knowledge of certaine Princes electors & other Princes, Byshops, & many other noble men, which were present before the kings maiestie, where and when as the said safe conduct was graunted and geuen out by the speciall commaundement of our sayd Lord the king.

Hereby your fatherly reuerences may vnderstand and perceiue that the sayd Lordes of Boheme are not euill informed as touching the saide safe conducit: But rather they which by such reportes haue falsly and vntruely informed your reuerēces.MarginaliaThe byshops of the councell falsly enformed touching the safe conduct of Iohn Hus. And first of al they haue offended agaynst the Lord our king, and hys chauncellours. Secondarely, against the Lords and nobles of Boheme, as thoughe we had priuely & by stealth, purchased the sayde safe conduict. Wherefore the Lords aforesaid most humbly require & desire your reuerēces that you wil not so lightly beleue such as be not worthy of credit, but rather hearing the contrary part, to labour and discusse that the trueth may the more euidently appeare.

Secondly, where as the Lordes aforesayde, alleaging how M. Iohn Hus, cōming vnto Constance, of his owne free will, being neither condemned nor heard,MarginaliaIohn Hus, imprisoned before he was either condemned or heard. was imprisoned, your reuerences haue made aunswer therunto, that he the sayd M. Iohn Hus in the time of Alexander 5.MarginaliaAlexander the 5 was infamed and slandered vppon certaine heresies, and thereupon cited personally to apeare in the court of Rome, and there was heard by hys procurers.

And fo somuch as he refused obstinatly to appeare, he was excommunicated, in the which excommunication he continued (as you affirme) by the space of fiue yeares, for the whych he was iudged, and counted not onely a simple and plaine hereticke, but an heresiarke, that is to say, an inuenter and sower of newe and straunge heresies, and that he comming towarde Constance, did preache by the way openly. To this the Lordes aforesayd do aunswere, that as touching hys slaunder and citation, they can affirme nothing, but by report.MarginaliaThe answere touching the citation of I. Hus to the court of Rome. But as touching that he dyd not personally appeare, they say they haue heard both him selfe, and diuers other credible persones say: yea euen the most famous Prince Wenceslaus king of Boheme, and almost all the whole nobilitie is witnes, that he would willingly haue appeared at Rome, or els where, if he myghte safely haue commen thether, and that deadly enmitie had not letted: MarginaliaI. Hus his procurers euill entreated at Rome.and moreouer his procurers, which he sent vnto the court of Rome, alleaging reasonable causes for hys non apparance, some of them were cast into pryson, and others very euill intreated.