An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church

The 26. day, after John Huss was come to Constance,¹ the Cardinals, through the instigation of Palletz and de Causis, sent the Bishop of August, and the Bishop of Trident, and with them the Archborough of Constance, and a certain knight to John Huss's lodging, which should make report, that the Pope and Cardinals willed him ⟨p. 324⟩to come and make account of his doctrine before them, as he had oft times desired: and that they were ready to hear him. John Huss understanding of their mind, went out to the Popes court, and being come before them, they required him to declare unto them the points which were reported of him to be taught erroneous, and against the Church, which John Huss was willing to do, and protested that he never (by Gods assistance) would maintain or teach any doctrine that were not sound. The Cardinals said, they liked that answer well, and so went their way and left him, and master John Clum, under the custody of armed men, till four of the clock at after noon: at which time the Cardinals assembled again in the Popes court to take counsel what they might do with John Huss. And a little before night, they sent the provost of the Romaine court, to show maister John de Clum, that he might return to his lodging, for as for John Huss they had other wise provided for him. And after this, John Huss was led by the officers of the Chapter house of the great Church of Constance, where he was kept prisoner by the space of eight days. From thence he was carried to the Jacobins, hard by the Rhine, and was shut up in the prison of the abbey, which was hard by the Bogardes;² where he fell sore sick of an ague, by reason of the stench of the place: where he became so weak that they despaired of his life: and for fear he should die in prison, the Pope sent his physicians to cure him. In the time of his sickness, his accusers made importunate suit to the principals of the Council, that he might be condemned: and presented unto the Pope articles. 1. That he held against transubstantiation. That Priests can not consecrate being in deadly sin.³ That he doth not allow that the church signifieth, Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, &c. That he saith, all Priests have like power. That the Church being in sin hath no power of keys. That he feareth not excommunication. That he keepeth not the inuesstures