Ans. “No.”
Hans. “Well, if no one is our adversary, why are we imprisoned?”
A councilor then said: “The Emperor is your adversary.”
Hans. “We have not offended against his Imperial Majesty according to the power which he has received from God, and will obey him in every ordinance, as far as we can do so consistently with the truth.”
Councilor. “You have held meetings of this new doctrine, and the Emperor has commanded that this should not be done.”
Hans. “God has not authorized him to make such commandments; in this he transcends the power which God has given him, and in this we do not recognize his supremacy; for the salvation of our souls concerns us more, so that we show obedience to God.”
The monks then said: “We are your adversaries, in that your doctrine is not good; for if it were good, you would not preach in woods and corners, but openly.”
Hans then said: “Grant us a free place in the market, or in your monasteries and churches, and see whether we then shall go into the woods; but no, you are afraid that you would be reproved; hence you have brought it about, that you cannot be reproved, and have driven us from cities and countries.”
Monks. “Alas! we have not done it; the Emperor does it.”
Hans. “You have urged him to it.”