“Try him,” said one of the Bishops. A Latin book was handed up to Gerhardt, from which he readily construed some sentences, until the Council declared itself satisfied on that point. This man before them, whatever else he might be, was no mere ignorant peasant.
“Are the rest of thy company lettered men?”
“No. They are mostly peasants.”
“Have they gone about preaching, as thou hast?”
“The men have done so.”
“And how can ignorant peasants teach abstruse doctrines?”
“I do not think they attempted that. They kept to the simple doctrines.”
“What understandest thou by that?” Gerhardt was beginning to answer, when the Bishop of Winchester interposed with another question. He was Prince Henry of Blois, the brother of King Stephen, and a better warrior than a cleric. “Art thou a priest?”
“I am not.”
“Go on,” said the Bishop of Lincoln, who led the examination. “What meanest thou by the faith of Christ? What dost thou believe about Christ?”