Jerome of Prague

Jerome of Prague, the friend and disciple of Huss, was born at Prague between 1360 and 1370. The statement that his family name was Faulfisch is incorrect. After attending the university of his native town, he studied for some time in Oxford, where he became a convert to Wyclif's doctrines. When he reached home he zealously taught the new doctrine he had learned in England. He further studied at Paris, Heidelberg, and Cologne, and acquired a reputation for learning and energy. Ladislaus II., king of Poland, employed him to help to reorganise the university of Cracow in 1410; and Sigismund, king of Hungary, invited him to preach before him at Budapest. Jerome entered with his whole soul into the contest carried on by Huss (q.v.) against the abuses of the hierarchy and the profligacy of the clergy. But his impatient zeal led him to overstep the bounds of prudence, and even to abuse the authority he possessed. When Huss was arrested at Constance Jerome voluntarily hastened to his side to defend him, although he was not provided with a safe-conduct. Arrived at Constance, he was met by sinister rumours as to the fate in store for Huss and himself. He hastily withdrew from the city, and applied for a safe-conduct. It was refused; thereupon Jerome set out to return to Prague, but was arrested at Hirschau in Bavaria in April 1415, and conveyed to Constance. After four months' imprisonment he recanted his opinions; but eight months later still (in May 1416) he boldly withdrew his recantation, and in the same heroic spirit went to the stake, 30th May 1416. See works in German by Helfert (1853) and Becker (1858), with others cited at HUSS and WYCLIF.