in ecclesiastical history, a party of reformers, the followers of John Huf.

John Huf, from whom the Hussites take their name, Hus name, was born in a little village in Bohemia, called Hus, and lived at Prague in the highest reputation, both on account of the sanctity of his manners and the purity of his doctrine. He was distinguished by his uncommon erudition and eloquence, and performed at the same time the functions of professor of divinity in the university, and of ordinary pastor in the church of that city. He adopted the sentiments of Wickliffe, and the Waldenses; and in the year 1407 began openly to oppose and preach against divers errors in doctrine, as well as corruptions in point of discipline, then reigning in the church. Hus likewise endeavoured to the utmost of his power to withdraw the university of Prague from the jurisdiction of Gregory XII, whom the kingdom of Bohemia had hitherto acknowledged as the true and lawful head of the church. This occasioned a violent quarrel between the incensed archbishop of Prague and the zealous reformer, which the latter inflamed and augmented from day to day, by his pathetic exclamations against the court of Rome, and the corruptions that prevailed among the sacerdotal order.

There were other circumstances that contributed to inflame the resentment of the clergy against him. He adopted the philosophical opinions of the realists, and vehemently opposed and even persecuted the nominalists, whose number and influence were considerable in the university of Prague. He also multiplied the number of his enemies in the year 1408, by procuring through his great credit, a sentence in favour of the Bohemians, who disputed with the Germans concerning the number of suffrages which their respective nations were entitled to in all matters that were carried by election in this university. In consequence of a decree obtained in favour of the former, which restored them to their constitutional right of three suffrages, usurped by the latter, the Germans withdrew from Prague, and, in the year 1429, founded a new academy at Leipfick. This event no sooner happened, than Hus began to inveigh with greater freedom than he had before done against the vices and corruptions of the clergy, and to recommend, in a public manner, the writings and opinions of Wickliffe, as far as they related to the papal hierarchy, the despoticism of the court of Rome, and the corruption of the clergy. Hence an accusation was brought against him, in the year 1410, before the tribunal of John XXIII, by whom he was solemnly expelled from the communion of the church. Notwithstanding this sentence of excommunication, he proceeded to expose the Romish church with a fortitude and zeal that were almost universally applauded.

This eminent man, whose piety was equally sincere and fervent, though his zeal was perhaps too violent, and his prudence not always circumspect, was summoned to appear before the council of Constance. Secured, as he apprehended, from the rage of his enemies by the safe conduct granted him by the emperor Sigismund, for his journey to Constance, his residence in that place, and his return to his own country, John Hus obeyed the order of the council, and appeared before it to demonstrate his innocence, and 'to prove that the charge of his having deserted the church of Rome was entirely groundless. However, his enemies so far prevailed, that by the most scandalous breach of public faith, he was cast into prison, declared a heretic because he refused to plead guilty against the dictates of his conscience, in obedience to the council, and burnt alive in 1415; a punishment which he endured with unparalleled magnanimity and resignation.

The fame unhappy fate was borne by Jerome of Prague, his intimate companion, who attended the council, in order to support his persecuted friend. Jerome, indeed, was terrified into temporary submission; but he afterwards resumed his fortitude, and maintained the opinions, which he had for a while deserted through fear, in the flames in which he expired in 1416.

The disciples of Hus adhered to their master's doctrine after his death with a zeal which broke out into an open war, that was carried on with the most savage and unparalleled barbarity. John Zifka, a Bohemian knight, in 1420, put himself at the head of the Hussites, who were now become a very considerable party, and threw off the despotic yoke of Sigismund, who had treated their brethren in the most barbarous manner. Zifka was succeeded by Procopius, in the year 1424. The acts of barbarity that were committed on both sides were shocking and horrible beyond expression: for notwithstanding the irreconcilable opposition between the religious sentiments of the contending parties, they both agreed in this one horrible principle, that it was innocent and lawful to persecute and extirpate with fire and sword the enemies of the true religion; and such they reciprocally appeared to each other. Those commotions in a great measure subsided, by the interference of the council of Bafli, in the year 1433.

The Hussites, who were divided into two parties, viz. the Calixtines and Taborites, spread over all Bohemia and Hungary, and even Silesia and Poland; and there are some remains of them still subsisting in all those parts.