no A HISTORY
OF BOHEMIAN
LITERATURE
most precious that has been preserved — to his Bohemian friends, Hus, on October ii, 1414, started from the castle of Krakovec directly for Constance.
In his com-
pany were the Bohemian noblemen Wenceslas of Duba, John of Chlum, and Henry of Lacenbok, who were instructed to assure his safety during his journey. Among Hus's companions also was Peter of Mladenovic, private secretary to Lord John of Chlum, who left a valuable record of Hus's last journey, his trial and Hus and his companions arrived at Constance death. on November 3, and he at first occupied lodgings in the house of a widow named Fida ; the house, situated in the street now known as the Husgasse, near the Schnetzthor, is still shown to travellers. Hus confined himself to his room to avoid publicity, and also to prepare the speech he intended to deliver before the Council. He was not, however, allowed to remain at liberty long. On the 28th of November he was arrested by order of Pope John XXIII., and at first confined for a few days under strict guard in the house of a canon of Constance. Thence he was conducted to a monastery of Dominican friars situated on an island in the Rhine, and confined in a dark and gloomy dungeon in immeHe remained here from diate vicinity to a sewer. December 6 to March 24, 141 5. Endeavours were made to justify the arrestation of Hus by the totally unfounded assertion that he had attempted to escape from Constance in disguise. Even the writers most hostile to Hus now admit that there was no truth in this rumour. As might have been expected from the nature of his prison, Hus became seriously ill, and was for some time in danger of his life. His Bohemian friends had meanwhile protested energetically against his imprisonment,
