JEROME OF PRAGUE, so called from the place of his birth, was one of the earliest, ablest, and most devoted of the followers of John Huss. [Hess, Jones] He was endowed with great natural ability, which had been carefully cultivated, he having studied at the univer sities of Paris, Heidelberg, and Cologne, from each of which he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In extent of learning and acquaint ance with scholastic logic he was regarded as superior to his master, and he was by far the most effective of his preachers. From almost the commencement of the 5th century Jerome was indefatigable in proclaiming the Hussite doctrines through the principal towns of Bohemia and Hungary, and ho also visited Poland. When Hues appeared before the Council of Constance, Jerome was cited by that body also. In reply he affixed a paper upon the doors of the churches of Constance, stating his willingness to appear before the council end to defend his teaching, if a safe conduct were furnished him. His challenge being left unnoticed, he prepared to return to Bohemia. A passport was now sent him from the council, guaranteeing his safety from violence, but not from punishment, if he were adjudged guilty of the heresy charged against him; but this Jerome—Huss having been already cent to prison—deemed insufficient, and he proceeded on his journey. On his way ho was arrested, April 25, 1415, and delivered
over by the I'rinco of Salzbach into the power of the council, May 23. Ho underwent the usual interrogatories!, in the intervals being subjected to excessively cruel treatment in prison. The point which ho was chiefly required to retract was his opinion on the doctrine of Transubstantia tion ; aud on the third examination, on the 11th of September 1415, he made a qualified recantation of the Huasite statement of the euchar istic theory. But oven this admission he passionately disclaimed at a publio audience on the 20th of May following. "Confessing with horror," his cowardice, he declared that "only the dread of the punish ment by fire bad brought him to cousent, against his conscience, to the condemnation of the doctrine of Wycliffe and John Huss." He was at once condemned, and delivered over to the secular power; and four days after was burned. Like Hues he proceeded to the stake with the greatest serenity, and the manner of his death produced a powerful impression. Bracciolini, who was present at the execution, bears full evidence in his letter to Arctino to the firmness of the victim, and so does zEneas Sylvius, afterwards Pope l'ius 11., in his ' Historia Behemica.'