croachments of an ambitious priesthood. The testimony of a Bohemian jesuit to the character of our reformer, must be equally gratifying and unsuspected. "He was more subtile," he observes, "than eloquent; but the gravity and austerity of his manners, his frugal and exemplary life, his pale and meagre countenance, his sweetness of temper, and his uncommon affability towards persons of all ranks and conditions, from the highest to the lowest, were much more persuasive than any eloquence could be."*

In the propagation of his principles he was honoured by the support of Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia, until the year 1414, when he was summoned to appear before the council assem→ bled at Constance. Furnished with a safe conduct, by the Emperor Sigismund, promising to preserve him in going to and returning from the council, Huss, in the full consciousness of innocence, repaired to the tribunal of judges, who, acting upon the generous principle that, "no faith is to be kept with heretics," first degraded, and afterwards burnt alive this illustrious martyr, in July 1415. The treatises which he wrote were printed together, at Nuremburg, in 1558.

* See Bohus Balbinus, Epitom. Rer. Bohem. lib. iv. cap. v. p: 431.

No. III.

JEROME, of Prague, so called, from the place of his birth, in Bohemia, was neither a monk nor clergyman, but received a learned education. Having embraced the opinions of John Huss, he began to propagate them in the year 1408. With the intention of supporting his friend Huss, he repaired to Constance., Intimidated, however, by the prospect of a cruel death, at which nature revolted, he retracted his opinions; but on the 26th of May, 1416, he condemned his former recantation, and reasserted his real opinions. The testimony of the celebrated Poggio Bracciolini (a Roman catholic), to the eloquence and firmness which our reformer displayed on his trial, as it must necessarily be considered impartial, cannot fail of proving interesting to every protestant reader. "Soon after my return," he observes, " from Baden to Constance, the cause of Jerome of Prague, who was accused of heresy, came to a public hearing. The purport of my present letter is to give you an account of this trial, which must of necessity be a matter of considerable interest, both on account of the importance of the subject, and the eloquence and

learning of the defendant. I must confess that I never saw any one who in pleading a cause, especially a cause on the issue of which his own life depended, approached nearer to that standard of ancient eloquence, which we so much admire. It was astonishing to witness with what choice of words, with what closeness of argument, with what confidence of countenance, he replied to his adversaries. So impressive was his peroration, that it is a subject of great concern, that a man of so noble and excellent a genius should have deviated into heresy. On this latter point, however, I cannot help entertaining some doubts. But far be it from me, to take upon myself to decide in so important a matter. I shall acquiesce in the opinion of those who are wiser than myself.

"Do not, however, imagine that I intend to enter into the particulars of this cause. I shall only touch upon the more remarkable and interesting circumstances, which will be sufficient to give you an idea of the learning of the man.

દ Many things having been alledged against the prisoner, as proofs of his⠀⠀ entertaining heretical notions, and the council being of opinion, that the proof was sufficiently strong to warrant further investigation, it was ordered that he should publicly answer to every par

ticular of the charge. He was accordingly brought before the council. But when he was called upon to give in his answers, he for a long time refused so to do; alledging, that he ought to be permitted to speak generally in his defence, before he replied to the false imputations of his adversaries. This indulgence was, however, denied him. Upon which, standing up in the midst of the assembly-What gross injustice is this!' exclaimed he, that though for the space of three hundred and forty days, which I have spent in filth and fetters, deprived of every comfort, in prisons situated at the most remote distances from each other, you have been continually listening to my adversaries and slanderers, and will not hear me for a single hour! The consequence of this.is, that on the one hand, every one's ears are open to them, and they have for so long a time been attempting to persuade you that I am a heretic, an enemy of the true faith, a persecutor of the clergy; and on the other hand, I am deprived of every opportunity of defending myself: you have prejudged my cause, and have in your own minds condemned me, before you could possibly become acquainted with my principles. But,' says he, you are not gods, but men ; not immortals, but mortals; liable to error, and subject to imperfection. We are taught to believe that this assembly contains the light

of the world, the prudent men of the earth. You ought, therefore, to be unremittingly careful not to do any thing rashly, foolishly, or unjustly. I, indeed, who am pleading for my life, am a man of little consequence; nor do I say what I do say through anxiety for myself (for I am prepared to submit to the common lot of mortality)-but I am prompted by an earnest desire, that the collective wisdom of so many eminent men may not, in my person, violate the laws of justice. As to the injury done to myself, it is, comparatively, of trifling consequence; but the precedent will be pregnant with future mischief.' These and many other observations he made with great eloquence; but he was interrupted by the murmurs and clamour of several of his auditors. It was decreed, that he should first answer to the charges exhibited against him, and afterwards have free liberty of speech. The heads of the accusation were accordingly read from the desk. When, after they had been proved by testimony, he was asked whether he had any remarks to make in his defence; it is incredible with what skill and judgment he put in his answers. He advanced nothing unbecoming a good man; and if his real sentiments agreed with his professions, he was so far from deserving to die, that his principles did not even give just ground for the slightest offence. He denied the whole