John Huss and the Hussite Wars - James Aitken Wylie

face; for had I been afraid of the fire I should not
be here."
When the faggots began to burn, Jerome with a
loud voice began to sing "Into Thy hands, O Lord,
I commit my spirit." As the flame waxed fiercer
and rose higher, and the martyr felt its scorching
heat, he was heard to cry out in the Bohemian
language, "O Lord God, Father Almighty, have
mercy upon me, and be merciful unto mine
offenses, for Thou knewest how sincerely I have
loved Thy truth."
Soon after the flame checked his utterance, and
his voice ceased to be heard. But the movement of
his head and rapid motion of his lips, which
continued for about a quarter of an hour, showed
that he was engaged in prayer. "So burning in the
fire," says Fox, "he lived with great pain and
martyrdom whilst one might easily have gone from
St. Clement's over the bridge unto our Lady
Church."
When Jerome had breathed his last, the few
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