and picturesque, his language cutting and clear. One day he
compared the Church of Rome to a burned and ruined city, wherein the
beasts of the forests made their lairs; and, again, he compared her
to a storm-tossed ship, which sank beneath the howling waves because
the sailors were fighting each other. "It is better," he said, "to
tie a dog to a pulpit than allow a priest to defile it. It is
better, oh, women! for your sons to be hangmen than to be priests;
for the hangman only kills the body, while the priest kills the
soul. Look there," he suddenly exclaimed one Sunday, pointing to a
picture of St. Peter on the wall, "there is as much difference
between the priests of to-day and the twelve apostles as there is
between that old painting and the living St. Peter in heaven.6 For
the priests have put the devil into the sacraments themselves, and
are leading you straight to the fires of Hell."

If an eloquent speaker attacks the clergy, he is sure to draw a
crowd. No wonder the Thein Church was crammed. No wonder the
people listened with delight as he backed up his hot attack with
texts from the prophet Jeremiah. No wonder they cried in their
simple zeal: "Behold, a second John Hus has arisen."

But John Rockycana was no second John Hus. For all his fire in the
pulpit, he was only a craven at heart. "If a true Christian," said
he to a friend, "were to turn up now in Prague, he would be gaped at
like a stag with golden horns." But he was not a stag with golden
horns himself. As he thundered against the Church of Rome, he was
seeking, not the Kingdom of God, but his own fame and glory. His
followers soon discovered his weakness. Among those who thronged to
hear his sermons were certain quiet men of action, who were not
content to paw the ground for ever. They were followers of Peter of