Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment/Letter 25, To the same
LETTER XXV.[1]
TO THE SAME.
Beloved friend in Christ, endeavour once more to persuade all our noblemen to solicit the Emperor and the Council, that what they promised may take place; for they declared to me,—“The facts alleged against you shall be put down briefly in writing, and in an approaching audience you shall reply.” Our noblemen, by reminding the Emperor and the Council of their own words, can constrain them to do what they have promised. Then in the Council, with the assistance of God, will I loudly proclaim the truth; for, rather than to be thus basely stifled by them, I prefer to have my body burned with fire; but I am anxious that every Christian shall know what are my last words. I, therefore, in the name of the Most High, conjure my noble friends to act with energy, and to give me a last proof of their firmness. My trust in the Lord, noble John, my generous and most faithful friend, is unchangeable. May God award you a fitting recompense for all your kindness. I conjure you not to withdraw until all has been consummated. Oh! why am I not led forth to the funeral pile, rather than be thus prevented from being heard! I still hope that the Almighty God will deliver me from their hands through the merits of the saints. Let me know, I pray you, if I shall to-morrow be heard before the Council. Salute, from me, all my friends in Bohemia, and beseech them to pray to God for me. Should I remain in prison, it will be a great consolation to me, during my melancholy expectation of death, to know that you have exhorted the masters to remain steadfast in the truth, as well as the young maiden Petra and all her family. Recommend Master Jessenitz to take unto himself a wife. Pray my good friend Guzikon and the curé not to be angry with me for not having paid what I owed them, for it was totally out of my power. Let those persons who have aided me with their money, salute my friends in Christ of both sexes, and let them pray to God for me. No one will repay them, as well as our Lord Jesus Christ, the money they had advanced to me, it having been done for his service. I should, however, be well pleased that the richer persons paid the poorer; but I fear that in some this saying may be confirmed,—Tzosoczy to Smyssli.[2]