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APPENDIX A: A DOUBTFUL LETTER OF HUS - Jan Huss, The Letters of John Hus [1904]

Edition used:

The Letters of John Hus. With Introductions and Explanatory Notes by Herbert B. Workman and R. Martin Pope (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1904).

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


APPENDIX A

A DOUBTFUL LETTER OF HUS

We have deemed it best, following the example of Palackẏ, to print the following letter in an Appendix rather than to incorporate it in the main text. The letter itself is not found in any manuscript, nor is it printed in the Epistolæ Piissimæ. We are entirely dependent for it upon the Nuremberg edition of 1558 (Monumenta, i. 59). It is true that there is also a Czech copy of it, first printed in 1564, but the Czech copy, according to Palackẏ (Doc. 149 n.), is a mere translation from the Latin, and is in no sense an original of Hus. But the most suspicious circumstance is the internal evidence. The letter contains an exhortation to communion in both kinds. Now historians are agreed that this was a matter upon which Hus had formed no very definite ideas before his imprisonment at Constance (see supra, pp. 170, 177, 248). That clause therefore certainly must be an interpolation. But the rest of the letter is a mere patchwork, which could easily have been compiled from the other letters of Hus.1 Moreover, it is evident from the absence of all allusions that this letter was not written during Hus’s stay in Constance, or from his prison. This therefore rules out a later date. The letter seems to us either a pious fraud in the interest of the Calixtine party, or else to be too seriously interpolated for us now to discover the original kernel. Of the two, we incline to the former opinion. But the reader shall judge the matter for himself.

To a certain Priest

(Without date)

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thee!

Brother beloved, be diligent in preaching the gospel and do the work of a good evangelist; neglect not thy calling, and labour as a happy warrior of Christ. First of all, live a godly and holy life; next, let thy teaching be faithful and true; be an example unto others in good works, lest thou be rebuked in a sermon; correct sin and commend well-doing. Unto those who live evil lives, threaten eternal penalties; but to those who are faithful and live godly lives, hold out eternal bliss. Preach unremittingly and yet at no great length, and profitably, with a prudent understanding of the Holy Scriptures. Never make hesitating and doubtful statements, lest thou be rebuked by thine adversaries, who rejoice to disparage their neighbours and hurl insults at God’s ministers. Give exhortation to the confession of faith and the communion in either kind of the body and blood of Christ, that those who have truly repented of their sins may the oftener on that account present themselves for communion. Moreover, I urge thee not to meet strangers at taverns, lest thou hold converse with men; for the more a preacher holds aloof from converse with the world, the more acceptable he is. Nevertheless, refuse not such help as thou canst render to others. Preach in season and out of season, so far as in thee lieth, against luxury: for that is the fiercest beast that devoureth man, for whom the man Christ Jesus suffered. Wherefore, brother beloved, I counsel thee to flee fornication: for it will conceal itself, where thou wouldest do good. By all means flee young women, lest thou put trust in their religious zeal; for St. Augustine saith: “The more religious people are, the more inclined are they to luxury; and under the cloak of religion lurks the craft and poison of fornication.” Dearly beloved, know this, that the conversation of such subverteth many who could not be deceived or defiled by the conversation of the world. On no account permit women to enter thy house; nor converse too frequently with them, as it seemeth to be a stumbling-block. Next, whatever thou doest, fear God and keep His commandments; so shalt thou walk uprightly and not perish; thou shalt subdue the flesh, despise the world, vanquish Satan, put on God, find life, confirm others, and crown thyself with a crown of glory, which the Righteous Judge will give thee. Amen.

APPENDIX B

TABLE OF HARMONY BETWEEN THE NUMBERING OF THE LETTERS IN THIS EDITION AND THOSE OF PALACKẎ AND THE NUREMBERG FOLIO; ALSO A TABLE OF THE DATES IN THIS EDITION AND PALACHY

Number in Palackẏ.Number in this Edition.Date in Palackẏ.Date in this Edition.Pages in the Monumenta (1558 and 1715).
LetterLetter
iiJuly 1408June 30, 1408not included
iiiii1408 fin.early Dec. 1408not included
iiiiis. d.Sept. 1408 (?)not included
ivivcc. 1409late autumn 1408i. 93b; 117
vvcc. 1410about 1410i. 100b; 125
vivi1410Sept. 1410not included
viiviiJan. 18, 1411Jan. 18, 1411not included
viiiviiiMay 25, 1411May 25, 1411i. 94; 119
ixixSept. 1, 1411Sept. 1, 1411not included
xxSept. 1411early Sept. 1411i. 92; 117
xixiDec. 1411Dec. 1411not included
xiixii1412 s. d.March 1412not included
xiiixiiiJune 10, 1412June 10, 1412not included
xivxiv1412summer 1412not included
xvxv1412Aug. (?) 1412i. 93; 117
xvixviNov. 1412early Oct. 1412not included
xviixvii1412early Oct. 1412i. 95; 119
xviiixviii1412Oct. 1412i. 99; 124
xixxix1412Oct. 1412i. 97; 121
xxxxs. d.Dec. 1412i. 98; 123
xxixxiDec. 1412Dec. 1412i. 98; 123
xxiixxiiDec. 25, 1412Dec. 25, 1412i. 99; 124
xxiiixxiii1413Jan. (?) 1413i. 98; 122
xxivxxiv1413Jan. (?) 1413i. 97; 122
xxvxxvFeb. 1413after Feb. 6, 1413not included
xxvixxvi1413early 1413i. 94; 118
xxviixxvii1413after April 1413not included
xxviiixxviii1413after April 1413not included
xxixxxixs. d.1413not included
xxxxxx1413end of April 1413not included
xxxixxxiJuly 1, 1413July 1, 1413not included
xxxiixxxii1414early in 1414not included
xxxiiisee p. 140Aug. 26, 1414Aug. 26, 1414i. 2
xxxivsee p.140, n. 1Aug. 26, 1414Aug. 26, 1414not included
xxxvsee p. 141Aug. 30, 1414Aug. 30, 1414i. 283
xxxvixxxiiiSept. 1, 1414Sept. 1, 1414not included
xxxviixxxivbeginning Oct. 1414Oct. 12, 1414i. 57; 72
xxxviiixxxvbeginning Oct. 1414early Oct. 1414i. 57; 72
xxxixxxxviOct. 20, 1414Oct. 20, 1414i. 57; 73
xlxxxviiNov. 4, 1414Nov. 4, 1414i. 58; 74
xlixxxviiiNov. 6, 1414Nov. 6, 1414i. 58; 74
xliisee p. 162Nov. 10, 1414Nov. 10, 1414i. 58; 73
xliiixxxixNov. 16, 1414Nov. 16, 1414i. 58; 75
xlivxlJan. 19, 1415Jan. 19, 1415i. 60; 76
xlvxlis. d.Jan. 1415i. 72; 91
xlvisee p. 169s. d.Jan. 1, 1415i. 72; 91
xlviixliis. d.Feb. 1415i. 74; 94
xlviiixliiis. d.Feb. 1415i. 71; 90
xlixxlivs. d.Feb. 1415i. 72; 92
lxlvs. d.Feb. 1415i. 74; 94
lixlvis. d.end of Feb. 1415i. 72; 91
liixlviiis. d.March 4, 1415i. 71; 90
liiisee p. 191s. d.March 5, 1415i. 71; 90
livxlixs. d.March 6, 1415i. 71; 91
lvsee p. 196March 1415first week in March 1415i. 73; 93
lvils. d.middle March 1415i. 73; 93
lviixlviiMarch 4, 1415Feb. 28, 1415i. 73; 93
lviiiliafter March 20, 1415March 21, 1415i. 75; 95
lixliiMarch 24, 1415March 24, 1415i. 75; 95
lxliiiJune 1415morning June 5i. 69; 88
lxilxJune 1415after June 8i. 68; 86
lxiilviJune 1415June 6, 1415i. 66; 84
lxiiilivJune 5, 1415June 5, 1415i. 69; 88
lxivlvJune 6, 1415June 6, 1415i. 65; 84
lxvlviiJune 7, 1415June 7, 1415i. 62; 79
lxvilviiiJune 1415June 8, 1415i. 69; 88
lxviilixJune 1415June 9 or 10, 1415i. 68; 87
lxviiilxis. d.June 9, 1415not included
lxixlxiiJune 9, 1415June 9, 1415i. 70; 90
lxxlxiiiafter June 8, 1415after June 8i. 68; 87
lxxilxivJune 10, 1415June 10, 1415i. 60; 76
lxxiilxvJune 13, 1415June 13, 1415i. 65; 83
lxxiiilxviJune 16, 1415June 16, 1415i. 66; 84
lxxivsee p. 238s. d.middle of Junei. 70; 89
lxxvlxviis. d.middle of Junei. 70; 89
lxxvisee p. 240s. d.middle of Junei. 70; 89
lxxviilxviiis. d.middle of Junei. 70; 90
lxxviiilxixs. d.after June 18i. 63; 81
lxxixlxxJune 21, 1415June 21, 1415i. 64; 82
lxxxlxxiJune 21, 1415June 21, 1415i. 62; 80
lxxxilxxiis. d.about June 22i. 63; 80
lxxxiilxxiiiJune 23, 1415June 23, 1415i. 67; 85
lxxxiiilxxivJune 24, 1415June 24, 1415i. 61; 78
lxxxivlxxvs. d.June 24 or 25i. 67; 86
lxxxvlxxviJune 26, 1415June 26, 1415i. 60; 77
lxxxvilxxviiJune 27, 1415June 27, 1415i. 62; 79
lxxxviilxxviiiJune 27, 1415June 27, 1415i. 63; 80
lxxxviiilxxixs. d.June 1415 (?)i. 64; 82
lxxxixlxxxJune 29, 1415June 29, 1415i. 64; 82
xclxxxiJune 29, 1415June 29, 1415i. 65; 83
xcilxxxiiJune 29, 1415June 29, 1415i. 65; 83
not in PalackẏFinal Declaration, see p. 275...July 1st, 1415...

Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

[1 ]The reader may compare the letter with pp. 149, 275, and other places.