Eventually Hus was summoned by the emperor of Germany to appear before a council in Constance to defend his beliefs and actions. On October 11, 1414, he set out for Constance. But before leaving Prague, Hus gave the following public notice:
I, John of Husinec, announce to the entire kingdom of
John of Husinec, announce to the entire kingdom of Bohemia that I am ready to take my stand |
Bohemia that I am ready to take my stand…on this declaration, in order to establish the truth, before the general Council in Constance: if the pope will be present there, before the pope and before the clergy of that Council. And if anyone knows anything erroneous or heretical against me, let him prepare to go there to accuse me in his own name before the said Council. [12]
In an open letter to the people of Constance, Hus wrote these words:
He is God and we are His creatures; He is Lord and we are His servants; He is the king of all the world and we are but puny weaklings;…Since He likewise;…suffered, why should we not suffer as well?”…Surely His faithful servant cannot perish if, by His help, he remains steadfast. Therefore, dear brethren and dear sisters, pray earnestly that He may be pleased to grant me to undergo the suffering without excessive fear. [13]
On November 4th of that year he arrived at Constance. The gathering was larger than had been anticipated. Pope John XXIII, one of the three rivaling popes and mastermind of the council, intended that the whole of the Roman Empire and the entire Catholic Church would be represented. The attendants included thirty thousand professors who arrived on thirty thousand horses, 108 counts, 200 barons, 27 knights, and 500 minstrels retained for entertainment. Miller describes the atmosphere of this gathering:
For the space of three years and a half—commencing November 5th, 1414—these dissolute men filled the quiet ancient city of Constance with their unblushing wickedness. To write that which was then open as day would defile the pages of our history. The heart shudders as we think of the pollution, the daring impiety and hypocrisy, of these so-called holy fathers, to say nothing of their remorseless cruelty…. [14]
The aim of the council was threefold. First, the problem of multiple popes was to be resolved in order to bring to a close a period of schism in the Roman Church. Secondly, the church was to be reformed. Thirdly, all heresies were to be banished from the kingdom.
The first goal was accomplished. It was first declared that a pope is subject to a council of the whole church. Then all three rival popes were deposed and a new one, Martin V, was elected.
