19 - Hus Made Over to the Emperor

Chapter XIX - Hus Made Over to the Emperor

Doomed by the Church, Hus was now made over to the Emperor, with the usual hypocritical prayer that he might not be put to death.

Sigismund said: “Sweet Cousin, Duke Louis, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire and our High Steward, since I bear the temporal sword, take thou this man in my stead and treat him as a heretic.” The “sweet cousin” called the warden of Constance: “Warden, take this man, because of the judgment against him, and burn him as a heretic.” Others added: “And we give thy soul over to the devil.”

“And I commit my soul to the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Warden made him over to the executioner, who led Hus out under a strong guard, escorted by eight hundred armed men, followed by an immense multitude of people curious to see the final scene.