Page:The letters of John Hus.djvu/229

From another letter of Hus we learn some further details of his dreams, of his own belief in their value, and, apparently John of Chlum’s incredulity. (Compare infra, p. 222, with p. 192, second sentence.)

 

XLVIII. To John of Chlum

 

(Without date: March 4, 1415)

 

Will you please expound my last night’s dream? I dreamt that they wanted to destroy all the pictures of Christ in the Bethlehem, and they did so. On rising next morning methought I saw many painters, who had painted other pictures more beautiful, upon which I gazed with joy. And the painters and a great assembly of folk cried out, “Let the priests and bishops come and destroy these pictures of ours!” Whereupon much people rejoiced in the Bethlehem, and I with them. And when I awoke, I found myself laughing.

Note that they had spread it abroad in several quarters that they wanted to destroy the writing on the walls of the Bethlehem Chapel. I will forward a copy of my treatises, which I have copied out in duplicate.^[1]

 

To this letter of Hus we fortunately possess the answer of John of Chlum. It was written by Peter Mladenowic, his secretary, who has added at the close a paragraph of his own, explaining how it came to pass that Hus called Chlum ‘the doctor of Biberach’ (see p. 155). The letter is a revelation of the sturdy common sense and genial humour of the honest knight. But the Latin is very obscure and crabbed.

 

John of Chlum to Master John Hus

(Without date: March 5, 1415^[2])

My beloved friend, do not be troubled about the hearing,^[3] as more than ordinary attention is now being given to this and the

 

1. The treatises written in prison. See p. 171.
2. See last clause and p. 190.
3. The public andience.