In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

and that all his arts were met and repelled by the
simple massive strength, knowledge of Scripture,
and familiarity with the Fathers which the monk of
Wittemberg displayed, he was not above a
discreditable ruse. He essayed to raise a prejudice
against Luther by charging him with being "a
patron of the heresies of Wicliffe and Huss." The
terrors of such an accusation, we in this age can but
faintly realize. The doctrines of Huss and Jerome
still lay under great odium in the West; and Eck
hoped to overwhelm Luther by branding him with
the stigma of Bohemianism. The excitement in the
hall was immense when the charge was hurled
against him; and Duke George and many of the
audience half rose from their seats, eager to catch
the reply.
Luther well knew the peril in which Eck had
placed him, but he was faithful to his convictions.
"The Bohemians," he said, "are schismatics; and I
strongly reprobate schism: the supreme Divine
right is charity and unity. But among the articles of
John Huss condemned by the Council of
Constance, some are plainly most Christian and
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