Note 181 — Chapter V · - REFORM MOVEMENTS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY AND THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE

See Gerson, Works, vol. ii, p. 572; H. v. der Hardt, Magnum oecumenicum Constantiense concilium (Frankfort, 1697-1742), vol. iv, p. 521; Palacky, Documenta, p. 284; Lea, vol. ii, pp. 467-8. ‘The explanation of the controversy over the violation of the safe-conduct is perfectly simple. Germany, and especially Bohemia, knew so little about the Inquisition and the systematic persecution of heresy that surprise and indignation were excited by the application to the case of Hus of the recognized principles of the canon law. The Council could not have done otherwise than it did without surrendering those principles.’