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John Huss and the Hussite Wars - James Aitken Wylie

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to almost all <strong>the</strong> princes of his age, in believing that<br />

in order to reign it was necessary to dissemble, <strong>and</strong><br />

that craft was an indispensable part of policy. He<br />

was a sincere devotee; but just in proportion as he<br />

believed in <strong>the</strong> Church, was he sc<strong>and</strong>alized <strong>and</strong><br />

grieved at <strong>the</strong> vices of <strong>the</strong> clergy. It cost him<br />

infinite pains to get this Council convoked, but all<br />

had been willingly undertaken in <strong>the</strong> hope that<br />

assembled Christendom would be able to heal <strong>the</strong><br />

schism, <strong>and</strong> put an end to <strong>the</strong> sc<strong>and</strong>als growing out<br />

of it.<br />

The name of Sigismund has come down to<br />

posterity with an eternal blot upon it. How such<br />

darkness came to encompass a name which, but for<br />

one fatal act, might have been fair, if not<br />

illustrious, we shall presently show. Meanwhile let<br />

us rapidly sketch <strong>the</strong> opening proceedings of <strong>the</strong><br />

Council, which were but preparatory to <strong>the</strong> great<br />

tragedy in which it was destined to culminate.<br />

65

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