When I had seated myself, I asked them what they wished. They said they were sent by the lords, to instruct us, and to converse with us concerning the ground and articles of faith. I replied that I was ready to be instructed with the word of God, and to hold converse concerning the ground and articles of faith, and this publicly, in the presence of the judges who were to judge us, and of our brethren and sisters that were imprisoned with us.
Ans. “This they will not permit.”
Hans van Overdam. “Well, let them do what they please; we will not dispute secretly and alone, lest our words be perverted behind our backs.”
Ans. “We will not pervert your words.”
Hans. “No, we know you well.”
Ques. “What do you take us for? what evil did we ever do you? pray, tell us what evil do you know of us?”
Hans. “If you would know it then; I regard you as false prophets and seducers.”
Here we got into a dispute concerning their spiritual semblance, and the command of the Pope regarding the purity of the priests and monks, and why they were called spiritual, and others secular, when all ought to be spiritual.
They then said: “This is not profitable; let us dispute about the articles of faith.”
Thereupon I said: “What I have said I have said.”