was the principall ende and purpose of my doctrine, that I might teach all men penaunce and remission of sinnes, according to the verity of the Gospel of Iesus Christ, and the exposition of the holy Doctours: wherefore wyth a chearefull minde and courage I am heere ready to suffer death.MarginaliaThe last cōfession of Iohn Hus. When he had spoken these words, they left him, and shaking hands together they departed.

MarginaliaThe martyrdome of blessed Iohn Hus.Then was the fire kindled, and Iohn Hus began to sing with a loud voice, Iesu Christ the sonne of the liuing God haue mercy vpon me. And when he began to say the same the third time, the winde droue the flame so vpon his face, that it choked him. MarginaliaPrecious in the sight of God is the death of hys saintes.Yet notwithstanding he mooued a while after, by the space that a man might almost say three times the Lordes prayer. When all the wood was burned and consumed, the vpper parte of the body was left hanging in the chaine, the which they threwe downe stake and all, and making a newe fire burned it, the heade being first cut in small gobbets, that it might the sooner be consumed vnto ashes. MarginaliaThe hart of Iohn Hus beaten with staues, and consumed with fire.The heart, which was founde amongest the bowels, being well beaten with staues and clubbes, was at last pricked vppon a sharpe sticke, and roasted at a fire a parte vntill it was consumed. MarginaliaThe ashes of Iohn Hus cast into the riuer of Rheine.Then with great diligence gathering the ashes together, they cast them into the riuer of Rhene, that the least remnaunt of the ashes of that man shoulde not be left vppon the earth, whose memorie notwythstanding cannot be abolished out of the minds of the godly, neither by fire, neither by water, neither by anye kinde of torment.

MarginaliaThe author and witnes of this story.¶ I know very well that these things are very sclenderly wrytten of me as touching the labours of thys most holy Martyr Iohn Hus, with whome the labors of Hercules are not to be compared. For that auncient Hercules slew a few monsters: but this our Hercules with a moste stout and valiant courage hath subdued euen the worlde it selfe, the mother of all monsters and cruell beastes. Thys story were worthy some other kind of more curious handling, but for so muche as I cannot otherwise perfourme it my selfe, I haue endeuored according to the very truth, as the thing was in deede, to commend the same vnto al godly mindes: neither haue I heard it reported by others, but I my selfe was present at the doing of all these things, and as I was able I haue put them in wryting, that by thys my labour, and indeuor howsoeuer it were, I might preserue the memory of this holy man and excellent Doctour of the Euangelicall truth.

Marginalia

M. Iohn Pizibram is thought to be his name.

Ex Cochleo lib. 2. de Hist. Hussit.

This godly seruaunt and Martyr of Christ was condemned by the cruel couucel, and burned at Constance an. 1415. about the moneth of Iuly.

Howe grieuously this death of Iohn Hus was taken among the nobles of Boheme and of Morauia, heereafter (Christ willing) shall appeare by their letters which they sent vnto the councell, & by the letters of Sigismund the king of Romaines, wrytten vnto them. Wherin he laboureth, all that he can, to purge and excuse himselfe, of Husses death. All be it he was not altogether free from that cruell fact, and innocent frō that bloud: yet notwithstanding hee pretendeth in words so to wipe away that blot from hym, that the greatest part of that crime seemeth to rest vpon the bloudy prelates of that councel, as the wordes of the king do purport in forme as followeth.MarginaliaEx Cochleo de hist. Huss. lib. 4.

MarginaliaThe Emperour excuseth him self of the death of I. Hus.INterea (inquit) nobis adhuc in partibus Rheni existentibus, peruenit ad Constantiam &c. i. In the meane time as we were about the coastes of Rhene, Iohn Hus went to Constance, and there was arrested, as it is not to you vnknowen. Who if he had first resorted vnto vs, & had gone with vs vp to the Coūcel, perhaps it had bene otherwise with him. And God knoweth, what griefe and sorrowe it was to our heart, to see it so to fall out, as with no wordes can be well expressed. Whereof all the Bohemians, which were there present, can beare vs witnesse, seeing and beholding howe carefull and sollicitous we were in labouring for him: In so much that wee many times with anger and furie departed out of the Councell: and not onely out of the Councell, but also went out of the City of Cōstance taking his part, vnto such time as the rulers of the Councell sending vnto vs, sayde: That if wee woulde not permit them to prosecute that, which right required in the Councell, what should they then do in the place? Whereupon thus we thought with our selues, that here was nothing els for vs more to doe, nor yet to speake in this case, for asmuche as the whole Councell otherwise had ben dissolued. Where is to be no-ted moreouer, that in Constance the same time there was not one clearke, or two, but there were Ambassadours for all kinges and princes in Christendome, especially since the time that (Petrus de Luna geuing ouer) all those kinges and princes which tooke his part, came to vs: so that whatsoeuer good was to be done, it was nowe to be passed in this present Councell. &c. Ex Epist. Imper. Sigismundi. ad Nobiles. &c.

¶ By this it may appeare that the Emperour as partly ashamed and sory of that which was done, wold gladly haue cleared himselfe therof, and haue washed hys handes with Pilate: yet he coulde not so cleare himselfe, but that a great portion of that murder remained in him to be noted, and well worthy of reprehension: as may both appeare by his last words spoken in the Councel to I. Hus, whereof Iohn Hus in his Epistles complaineth, wryting to certaine of his friendes in Bohemia in his 33. Epistle,MarginaliaEx Epist. Iohn Hus. 33. as by hys wordes may appeare here following.

MarginaliaThe Emperour vncurteous to Iohn Hus.I Desire you yet againe for the loue of God, that the Lordes of Boheme ioyning together, will desire the king for finall audience to be geuen me. For so muche as he alone saide to me in the Councell, that they shoulde geue me audience shortly, and that I shoulde aunswer for my selfe briefly in wryting: it will be to hys great confusion, if he shall not perfourme that which he hath spoken. But I feare that worde of his will be as firme and sure, as the other was concerning my safeconducte graunted by him. Certaine there were in Bohemia, which willed mee to beware of hys safeconducte. And other sayde: he will sure geue you to your ennemies. And the Lord Mikest Dweky told me before M. Iessenitz, saying: Maister, know it for certaine you shalbe condemned. And this I suppose he spake, knowing before the intētion of the king. I hoped well that hee had bene well affected towarde the lawe of God and trueth, and had therein good intelligence: nowe I conceiue that he is not greatly skilfull nor so prudently circumspecte in himselfe. He condemned me before mine ennemies did. MarginaliaPilate more moderate to Christ, then this Emperour to Iohn Hus.Who, it if had pleased him, might haue kept the moderation of Pilat the Gentile, which sayde: I finde no cause in this man: or at least if hee had sayde but thus: beholde I haue geuen him his safeconducte safely to returne And if hee will not abide the decision of the councell, I will send him home to the king of Boheme, with youre sentence & attestations, that he with his cleargie may iudge him. But nowe I heare by the relation of Henry Leffl, and of other, that he will ordaine for me sufficient audience: And if I will not submit my selfe to the iudgement of the councel, he wil send me safe, the contrary way. &c.

This Iohn Hus being in prison, wrote diuers treatises, as of the commaundements, of the Lordes prayer, of mortal sinne, of matrimony, of the knowledge and loue of God, of 3. ennemies of mankinde, the world, the flesh, and the deuill, of penaunce, of the Sacrament of the body and bloud of the Lord: of the sufficiencie of the lawe of God to rule the church. &c. He wrote also diuers Epistles and letters to the Lordes and to his frendes of Boheme: And in hys wrytings did foreshewe many things before to come, touching þ^e reformation of the Churche: and seemeth in the prison to haue had diuers prophetical reuelations shewed to him of God. Certaine of which his letters, and predictions, I thought here vnderneath to insert, in such sort, as neither in reciting all I will ouercharge the volume too much: nor yet in reciting of none, I wil be so brief, but that the reader may haue some taste, and take some profit of the Christian wrytings and doings of this blessed man: Firste beginning, with the letter of the Lorde Clum, concerning the safeconduct of Iohn Hus.

TO all and singulare that shall see and heare these presentes, I Iohn de Clum doe it to vnderstande, howe maister Iohn Hus Bacheler of diuinitie, vnder the safeconduicte and protection of the renowned prince and Lorde Sigismund of Romaines semper Augustus, and king of Hungarie. &c. My gracious Lorde, and vnder the protection, defence, and safegarde of the holy Empire of Rome, hauing the letters patent of the said my Lorde king of Romaines. &c. came vnto Constance to render a full counte of hys faith in publicke audience to al that would require the same. This the saide M. Iohn Hus, in this Imperiall Citie of Constance, vnder the safeconduict of the said my Lord king of Romaines, hath bene and yet is deteined. And although the Pope with the Cardinalles haue bene seriously required, by solemne Ambassadours of the sayd my Lord king of Romaines, &c. in the kings name & behalfe, that the said maister Iohn Hus should be set at libertye, and be restored vnto me, yet notwythstanding, they haue and yet do refuse