This eulogy fanned the flames of controversy in Prague. Already Bohemia had got the ill fame of being heretical on account of the prevalence of ‘“Wyclifites and errorists” within its borders.[1] The Bohemian element at the university, if not exclusively concerned about Wyclifism, was far more concerned about it than all other elements combined. This element, or “nation,” officially took up the matter May 20, 1408, in an assembly consisting of sixty-four doctors and masters, one hundred and fifty bachelors, and nearly one thousand students.[2] Among the professors were Peter and Stanislaus Znaim, Stephen Palecz, Jacob of Mies, and Huss. Huss protested against the unconditional condemnation of the XLV Articles and the assembly went so far as to modify the decree issued by the whole university in 1403 and contented itself with ordering that the articles should not be taught in a way to give a heretical or erroneous sense. Further, it was agreed that Wyclif’s statements should not be taken up at public disputations and that bachelors of theology should avoid lecturing on Wyclif’s three tractates, the Dialogus, Trialogus and de Eucharistia.
Immediately before as well as after this convention, clergymen, including Nicholas Welemowicz and Master Matthias of Knin, were indicted before the tribunal of the inquisition in Prague, at the head of which stood the Franciscan, Jaroslov, titular bishop of Sarepta. This tribunal had been established in the city in 1315, and early in its history put to death in a single year fourteen Beghards.[3] Welemowicz, called Abraham, was charged with being a Waldensian. He declared laymen might preach as well as priests. When bidden to take the oath upon the Gospels and the crucifix, Huss, who defended him, quoted Chrysostom to show that an oath is not to be required by any created thing but only by God.
