[7] 



Roman Pope to be a heretic, a demon, and antichrist ; 

 the Roman Pope entertained similar views about his holy 

 brother of Bologna ; and both stigmatised the Avignon 

 Pope as an impostor and schismatic ; while his Holiness 

 of Avignon had as much affection for his two holy 

 brethren as they had for him. 



Another Council was held at Constance in 1418, at 

 which all three Holinesses were deposed, excellent pre- 

 cautions being at the same time taken to ensure the 

 proper carrying out of the sentences. Otho Colonna was 

 then elected to the chair of St. Peter, as Martin V., and 

 the schism at last put an end to. But at what a cost 

 had this schism been kept up for forty years ! People 

 had begun to seriously question the right of the popes 

 to claim infallibility; many were now in the habit of 

 daily reading the Bible, and some had even dared to 

 search ancient authors for fuller information respecting 

 the establishment of Christianity. Unless these three 

 ulcers were immediately cauterised and effectively effaced, 

 the Church must fall from its high position, as the holy 

 ones at the Vatican well knew. Accordingly, the Inquisi- 

 tion was brought into service of the Pope, to put a stop 

 to the insolence of those who dared to assail the dogma 

 of infallibility, and who had been guilty of the blasphemy 

 of reading the Bible. Huss and Jerome had already 

 been burnt at the stake. In addition to this, large sums 

 of money were offered for freshly-discovered MSS. of 

 the ancients, in order that all the evidence it was possible 

 to collect together might be available in case of emer- 

 gency. These means were very effectual ; for trouble- 

 some people, who had inquiring minds or who had learnt 

 to read and write, were quickly despatched to a happier 

 land by the agents of the Inquisition, while the money 

 offered for newly-discovered MSS. acted like magic in 

 causing old musty writings to turn up in every direction. 

 While the Council of Constance was being held for 

 the purpose of electing one pope, and one only, to sit in 

 the chair of St. Peter, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Win- 

 chester, second son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 

 happened to pass through the town, and took advantage 

 of the opportunity thus offered him to attend the sittings, 

 where he made the acquaintance of many, among whom 



