Editing Jan Hus (section)

===Council of Constance===
King Wenceslaus's brother [[Sigismund of Hungary]], who was "[[King of the Romans]]" (that is, head of the Holy Roman Empire though not then Emperor) and heir to the Bohemian crown, was anxious to put an end to religious dissension within the Church. To put an end to the papal schism and to take up the long-desired reform of the Church, he arranged for a general council to convene on 1 November 1414, at [[Konstanz]] (Constance).{{sfn|Lützow|1909|pp=224–228}} The [[Council of Constance]] (1414–1418) became the 16th ecumenical council recognized by the Catholic Church. Hus, willing to make an end to all dissensions, agreed to go to Constance, under Sigismund's promise of [[safe-conduct]].{{sfn|Gillett|1863|pp=464–466}}

====Imprisonment and preparations for trial====
[[File:Hus (Lessing 1842).jpg|thumb|280px|Jan Hus at the [[Council of Constance]]. 19th-century painting by [[Karl Friedrich Lessing]]]]

It is not known whether Hus knew what his fate would be, however, he made his [[last will and testament|will]] before setting out. He started on his journey on 11 October 1414, arriving in Constance on 3 November 1414. The following day, the bulletins on the church doors announced that Michal z Německého Brodu (Michal de Causis) would be opposing Hus. In the beginning, Hus was at liberty under his safe-conduct from Sigismund and lived at the house of a widow. But he continued celebrating mass and preaching to the people, in violation of restrictions decreed by the Church. After a few weeks on 28 November 1414, his opponents succeeded in imprisoning him on the strength of a rumor that he intended to flee. He was first brought into the residence of a canon and then on 6 December 1414 into the prison of the [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] monastery. Sigismund, as the guarantor of Hus's safety, was greatly angered and threatened the prelates with dismissal. The prelates convinced him that he could not be bound by promises to a heretic.{{sfn|Fudge|2010|pp=125–127}}

On 4 December 1414, John XXIII entrusted a committee of three bishops with a preliminary investigation against Hus. As was common practice, witnesses for the prosecution were heard but Hus was not allowed an advocate for his defense. His situation became worse after the downfall of John XXIII, who had left Constance to avoid abdicating. Hus had been the captive of John XXIII and in constant communication with his friends, but now he was delivered to the bishop of Constance and brought to his castle, ''Gottlieben on the Rhine''. Here he remained for 73 days, separated from his friends, chained day and night, poorly fed, and ill.