“These heretics refuse to be corrected by Scripture!” he cried instead, as a much more satisfactory thing to say.
Gerhardt’s quiet answer was only heard by those near him—“I have not been so yet.”
This aggravating man must be put down. The Bishop raised his voice.
“Speak, ye that are behind this man. Do ye accept the interpretation of Scripture taught by the Church our mother, to whom God hath committed the teaching of all her children?”
Old Berthold replied. “We believe as we have been taught, but we do not wish to dispute.”
“Ye are obstinate in your heresy! Will ye do penance for the same?”
“No,” answered Gerhardt.
“Let them have one more chance,” said King Henry in a low voice. “If they are unsound on one point only, there might yet be hope of their conversion.”
“They are unsound on every point, my Lord,” replied Lincoln irascibly; “but at your desire I will test them on one or two more.—Tell me, do ye believe that the souls of the dead pass into Purgatory?”
“We do not.”