Page:Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment.djvu/159

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TO JOHN OF CHLUM.
125

in such and such a sense.” “Will you defend it?” they asked me; and my answer was, “No; I abide by the decision of the Council.”

I call God to witness, that, under the circumstances, I saw nothing better to reply, as I had antecedently given it under my own hand that I should not defend any thing obstinately, but that I was ready to be instructed. These questions were put to me, because it was reported that I had informed the Emperor that I wished to defend three or four articles. They even asked me what I had declared to the Emperor, and I replied, that I had not said anything of the nature attributed to me.[1] Michael Causis was present, with a paper in his hand, and urging on the patriarch to force me to reply to his questions; and whilst this was going on, some bishops entered. Michael has invented something new. God has been pleased to allow him and Paletz to stand against me for my sins. The former scrutinises my letters and my writings; and Paletz brings forward all the conversations that we held together in bygone years.

The patriarch maintained openly that I was exceedingly rich; and an archbishop said to me, “You have seventy thousand florins.” Michael asked me before them all, “Eh! what has become of that robe-full of florins? How much money of yours have the barons of Bohemia in

  1. John Huss adds, Sed sicut scitis, &c., “but as you know,” &c., and does not terminate the sentence.