THE CONCHJUMS SAAL AT CONSTANZ.

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tlie Churcli, he took his departure for that city, aecom-panied by his faithful friend, the Knight John of Chlum,and a few followers. ,

A thousand partisans wished to escort him, but Hussdesired to go alone with John of Chlum and some 30 ad-herents; and having received a Warrant of " safe-conduct,"the little cavalcade left Prague for Constanz early in October,1414.

In a letter that Huss wrote from Nürnberg during thejourney, he says that he rode all the way with his head un-covered, and with free and open countenance, according to theancient custom, to show that he feit hirnseif secure; and thatthe innkeepers on the road treated him with great respect, andbrought out large cans of wine wherever they halted; forwhich kindness he gave them a copy of the Ten Command-ments printed in German, and nearly all stuck them over theirdoors.

The Emperor Sigismund had decided that the solemnopening of the Council should take place on the day ofAU-Saints, nevertheless, the inaugural mass was not cele-brated until the 16th November—the Pope, John XXIII.(who had come to Constanz to join in the Council), presidingat the first sitting, and the Emperor Sigismund taking partin the high mass on Christmas eve that was celebrated in theCathedral by the Pope himself.

The second Session did not occur until the second day ofMarch, 1415, when Pope John announced that he wouldrenounce the tiara if Gregory and Benedict would consent todo so the same, But, to avoid a more formal abdication of thePapal throne—the Council having constrained him to makethe promise of renunciation—John fled in the night, underthe protection of the Duke of Tyrol, to the Castle of Unnoth

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