while yet there was time.  He turned to the crowd, and with broken voice declared that he could not confess the errors which he never entertained, lest he should lie to God, when the bishops interrupted him, crying that they had waited long enough, for he was obstinate in his heresy.  He was degraded in the usual manner, stripped of his sacerdotal vestments, his fingers scraped; but when the tonsure was to be disposed of, an absurd quarrel arose among the bishops as to whether the head should be shaved with a razor or the tonsure be destroyed with scissors.  Scissors won the day, and a cross was cut in his hair.  Then on his head was placed a conical paper cap, a cubit in height, adorned with painted devils and the inscription, “This is the heresiarch.”

The place of execution was a meadow near the river, to which he was conducted by two thousand armed men, with Palsgrave Louis at their head, and a vast crowd, including many nobles, prelates, and cardinals.  The route followed was circuitous, in order that he might be carried past the episcopal palace, in front of which his books were burning, whereat he smiled.  Pity from man there was none to look for, but he sought comfort on high, repeating to himself, “Christ Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy upon us!” and when he came in sight of the stake he fell on his knees and prayed.  He was asked if he wished to confess, and said that he would gladly do so if there were space.  A wide circle was formed, and Ulrich Schorand, who, according to custom, had been providently empowered to take advantage of final weakening, came forward, saying, “Dear sir and master, if you will recant your unbelief and heresy, for which you must suffer, I will willingly hear your confession; but if you will not, you know right well that, according to canon law, no one can administer the sacrament to a heretic.”  To this Huss answered, “It is not necessary:  I am not a mortal sinner.”  His paper crown fell off and he smiled as his guards replaced it.  He desired to take leave of his keepers, and when they were brought to him he thanked them for their kindness, saying that they had been to him rather brothers than jailers.  Then he commenced to address the crowd in German, telling them that he suffered for errors which he did not hold, and he was cut short.  When bound to the stake, two cartloads of fagots and straw were piled up around him, and the palsgrave and vogt for the last time adjured him to abjure.  Even yet he could save himself, but only repeated that he had been convicted by false witnesses on errors never entertained by him.  They clapped their hands and then withdrew, and the executioners applied the fire.  Twice Huss was heard to exclaim, “Christ Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy upon me!” then a wind springing up and blowing the flames and smoke into his face checked further utterances, but his head was seen to shake and his lips to move while one might twice or thrice recite a paternoster.