[1] Compare the critical edition of these two works in Lagarde's
_Onomastica sacra_ (Götting. 1870).
[2] See Lagarde's edition appended to his _Genesis Graece_ (Leipzig,
1868).
JEROME, JEROME KLAPKA (1859- ), English author, was born on the 2nd of
May 1859. He was educated at the philological school, Marylebone,
London; and was by turns clerk, schoolmaster and actor, before he
settled down to journalism. He made his reputation as a humorist in 1889
with _Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow_ and _Three Men in a Boat_, and
from 1892 to 1897 he was co-editor of the _Idler_ with Robert Barr. At
the same time he was also the editor of _To-Day_. A one-act play of his,
_Barbara_, was produced at the Globe theatre in 1886, and was followed
by many others, among them _Sunset_ (1888), _Wood Barrow Farm_ (1891),
_The Passing of the Third Floor Back_ (1907). Among his later books are
_Letters to Clorinda_ (1898), _The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow_
(1898), _Three Men on the Bummel_ (1900), _Tommy and Co._ (1904), _They
and I_ (1909).
JEROME OF PRAGUE (d. 1416), an early Bohemian church-reformer and friend
of John Hus. Jerome's part in the Hussite movement was formerly much
over-rated. Very little is known of his early years. He is stated to
have belonged to a noble Bohemian family[1] and to have been a few years
younger than Hus. After beginning his studies at the university of
Prague, where he never attempted to obtain any ecclesiastical office,
Jerome proceeded to Oxford in 1398. There he became greatly impressed by
the writings of Wycliffe, of whose _Dialogus_ and _Trialogus_ he made
copies. Always inclined to a roving life, he soon proceeded to the
university of Paris and afterwards continued his studies at Cologne and
Heidelberg, returning to Prague in 1407. In 1403 he is stated to have
undertaken a journey to Jerusalem. At Paris his open advocacy of the
views of Wycliffe brought him into conflict with John Gerson, chancellor
of the university. In Prague Jerome soon attracted attention by his
advanced and outspoken opinions. He gave great offence also by
exhibiting a portrait of Wycliffe in his room. Jerome was soon on terms
of friendship with Hus, and took part in all the controversies of the
university. When in 1408 a French embassy arrived at Kutná Hora, the
residence of King Wenceslaus of Bohemia, and proposed that the papal
schism should be terminated by the refusal of the temporal authorities
further to recognize either of the rival popes, Wenceslaus summoned to
Kutná Hora the members of the university. The Bohemian _magistri_ spoke
strongly in favour of the French proposals, while the Germans maintained
their allegiance to the Roman pope, Gregory XII. The reorganization of
the university was also discussed, and as Wenceslaus for a time favoured
the Germans, Hus and Jerome, as leaders of the Bohemians, incurred the
anger of the king, who threatened them with death by fire should they
oppose his will.
In 1410 Jerome, who had incurred the hostility of the archbishop of
Prague by his speeches in favour of Wycliffe's teaching, went to Ofen,
where King Sigismund of Hungary resided, and, though a layman, preached
before the king denouncing strongly the rapacity and immorality of the
clergy. Sigismund shortly afterwards received a letter from the
archbishop of Prague containing accusations against Jerome. He was
imprisoned by order of the king, but does not appear to have been
detained long in Hungary. Appearing at Vienna, he was again brought
before the ecclesiastical authorities. He was accused of spreading
Wycliffe's doctrines, and his general conduct at Oxford, Paris, Cologne,
Prague and Ofen was censured. Jerome vowed that he would not leave
Vienna till he had cleared himself from the accusation of heresy.
Shortly afterwards he secretly left Vienna, declaring that this promise
had been forced on him. He went first to Vöttau in Moravia, and then to
Prague. In 1412 the representatives of Pope Gregory XII. publicly
offered indulgences for sale at Prague, wishing to raise money for the
pope's campaign against King Ladislaus of Naples, an adherent of the
antipope of Avignon. Contrary to the wishes of the archbishop of Prague
a meeting of the members of the university took place, at which both Hus
and Jerome spoke strongly against the sale of indulgences. The fiery
eloquence of Jerome, which is noted by all contemporary writers,
obtained for him greater success even than that of Hus, particularly
among the younger students, who conducted him in triumph to his
dwelling-place. Shortly afterwards Jerome proceeded to Poland--it is
said on the invitation of King Wladislaus. His courtly manners and his
eloquence here also caused him to become very popular, but he again met
with strong opposition from the Roman Church. While travelling with the
grand-duke Lithold of Lithuania Jerome took part in the religious
services of the Greek Orthodox Church.
During his stay in northern Europe Jerome received the news that Hus had
been summoned to appear before the council of Constance. He wrote to his
friend advising him to do so and adding that he would also proceed there
to afford him assistance. Contrary to the advice of Hus he arrived at
Constance on the 4th of April 1415. Advised to fly immediately to
Bohemia, he succeeded in reaching Hirschau, only 25 m. from the Bohemian
frontier. He was here arrested and brought back in chains to Constance,
where he was examined by judges appointed by the council. His courage
failed him in prison and, to regain his freedom, he renounced the
doctrines of Wycliffe and Hus. He declared that Hus had been justly
executed and stated in a letter addressed on the 12th of August 1415 to
Lacek, lord of Kravâr--the only literary document of Jerome that has
been preserved--that "the dead man (Hus) had written many false and
harmful things." Full confidence was not placed in Jerome's recantation.
He claimed to be heard at a general meeting of the council, and this was
granted to him. He now again maintained all the theories which he had
formerly advocated, and, after a trial that lasted only one day, he was
condemned to be burnt as a heretic. The sentence was immediately carried
out on the 30th of May 1416, and he met his death with fortitude. As
Poggio Bracciolini writes, "none of the Stoics with so constant and
brave a soul endured death, which he (Jerome) seemed rather to long
for." The eloquence of the Italian humanist has bestowed a not entirely
merited aureole on the memory of Jerome of Prague.
See all works dealing with Hus; and indeed all histories of Bohemia
contain detailed accounts of the career of Jerome. _The Lives of John
Wicliffe, Lord Cobham, John Huss, Jerome of Prague and Zizka_ by
William Gilpin (London, 1765) still has a certain value. (L.)