Panslavism and Germanism. By Count Valerian Kransinski [pp. 486-508]

The Slavonie Nations.
could effect their designs in Bohemia by force of arms; indeed
it is very doubtful whether another army of invasion could have
been collected on any terms, for it was a common saying in
Germany, that "every Hussite had a hundred devils in him."
Diplomacy was now the last resort. Nor were the Bohemian
leaders with all the laurels and wealth they had won, averse from
peace; they longed for it, and in no aspect of his character does
Procop appear more illustrious than in his eagerness to terminate the quarrel honourably. H-e held out in one hand the olive
branch, even when wielding with the other the victor's sword.
Sustained by his invincible Taborites, if he had pleased, perhaps
he might have placed the crown on his own head; but his lofty
patriotism was equal to his heroic valour, and he nobly resisted
temptations by which so many conquerors have been conquered.
Soon after the opening of the Council of Basle, the Emperor
addressed a letter to the HIussites, couched in affectionate terms,
begging them to hold a conference on the points in dispute, at
Basle, and promising their delegates full liberty of worship
while in that city. They were not to be caught, however, by
the honied words of a man whom they had ample reason to distrust, and it required considerable negotiation before their consent was obtained. At length they sent some three hundred
delegates, among whom were priests belonging to their various
sects, and a large body of laymen headed by Procop, and attended
by the Polish ambassador. Eneas Silvius, who was present, has
left us quite a lively account of their arrival at Basle. The whole
population of the town were out to meet them, and as they gazed
upon their strange dresses and terrible countenances, the-simple
Balois concluded that the wide-spread story must be true that
' every Hiussite had a hundred devils in him."-All eyes were
fixed upon Procop "the invincible, the valiant, the fearless, the
indefatigable general," who had put to flight so many armies,
and filled Europe with the fame of his exploits.
The delegates were instructed to demand the ratification of
the Four Articles, which from first to last the Hussites had proposed as the basis of peace. These articles were as follows:
1. The word of God is to be freely announced by Christian
priests throughout the kingdom of Bohemia and Moravia.
2. The venerable sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus
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