who reaped much benefit out of the existing disorders, became alarmed, and did all in their power to bring the proposed Council into discredit. When King Václav expressed his desire that the nation should for the time being remain neutral in regard to the two Popes, he met with much opposition, even from the archbishop. He therefore appealed to the university; but this was divided into two parties—the Bohemian, in the minority, approving of the king’s decision, and the German, opposing him. Hus and his friends grasped the opportunity to free themselves of the foreign yoke. They proposed a change in the constitution of the university; viz., that the natives should have three votes and the foreigners but one. At first, King Václav looked upon this innovation with displeasure, and severely reprimanded Hus for constantly causing disturbances; but being convinced of the justness of the request, he issued the following proclamation:
“Although it is necessary to love all men, yet charity ought to be regulated by the degrees of proximity. Therefore, considering that the German nation, which does not belong to this country, has, as we have learned, appropriated to itself, in all the acts of the University of Prague, three votes, whilst the Bohemian nation, the legitimate heir of this realm, has but one; and considering that it is very unjust that foreigners should enjoy the privileges of the natives to the prejudice of the latter, we order, by the present act, under the penalty of our displeasure, that the Bohemian nation should, without any delay or contradiction, enjoy henceforth the privilege of three votes in all councils, judgments, and elections, and all other academic acts and dispositions, in the same manner as
