emperor here present ." --Bonnechose , vol . 2 , p . 84 . A deep flush crimsoned the face of Sigismund as the eyes of all in the assembly turned upon him .
Sentence having been pronounced , the ceremony of degradation began . The bishops clothed their prisoner in the sacerdotal habit , and as he took the priestly robe , he said : " Our Lord Jesus Christ was covered with a white robe , by way of insult , when Herod had Him conducted before Pilate ." -- Ibid ., vol . 2 , p . 86 . Being again exhorted to retract , he replied , turning toward the people : " With what face , then , should I behold the heavens ? How should I look on those multitudes of men to whom I have preached the pure gospel ? No ; I esteem their salvation more than this poor body , now appointed unto death ." The vestments were removed one by one , each bishop pronouncing a curse as he performed his part of the ceremony . Finally " they put on his head a cap or pyramidal-shaped miter of paper , on which were painted frightful figures of demons , with the word ' Archheretic ' conspicuous in front . ' Most joyfully ,' said Huss , ' will I wear this crown of shame for Thy sake , O Jesus , who for me didst wear a crown of thorns .'"
When he was thus arrayed , " the prelates said , ' Now we devote thy soul to the devil .' ' And I ,' said John Huss , lifting up his eyes toward heaven , ' do commit my spirit into Thy hands , O Lord Jesus , for Thou hast redeemed me .'" --Wylie, b . 3 , ch . 7 . He was now delivered up to the secular authorities and led away to the place of execution . An immense procession followed , hundreds of men at arms , priests and bishops in their costly robes , and the inhabitants of Constance . When he had been fastened to the stake , and all was ready for the fire to be lighted , the martyr was once more exhorted to save himself by renouncing his errors . " What errors ," said Huss , " shall I renounce ? I know myself guilty of none . I call God to witness that all that I have written and preached has been with the view of rescuing souls from sin and perdition ; and , therefore , most joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written and preached ." -- Ibid ., b . 3 , ch . 7 . When the flames kindled about him , he began to sing , " Jesus , Thou Son of David , have mercy on me ," and so continued till his voice was silenced forever .
Even his enemies were struck with his heroic bearing . A zealous papist , describing the martyrdom of Huss , and of Jerome , who died soon after , said : " Both bore themselves with constant mind when their last hour approached . They prepared for the fire as if they were going to a marriage feast . They uttered no cry of pain . When the flames rose , they began to sing hymns ; and scarce could the vehemency of the fire stop their singing ." -- Ibid ., b . 3 , ch . 7 . When the body of Huss had been wholly consumed , his ashes , with the soil upon which they rested , were gathered up and cast into the Rhine , and thus borne onward to the ocean . His
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