“Bring him along,” said Herder, “with the other prisoners. The magistrates will quickly adjudge the case. I knew that I should some day have my revenge,” he whispered into the old man’s ear, “and I intend to make you feel it bitterly.”
Moretz was thankful to see that Karl had made his escape, and without opposition followed his captors to the hall where the magistrates were sitting. They had resolved to prevent any public preaching in their town.
While the magistrates’ officers were making prisoners, several men rallied round the preacher, and before he could be seized, got him down from the platform in their midst, and then retired down the street, no one venturing to attack them.
Moretz, with six or seven more prisoners, was placed before the magistrates, several priests being present, eager to obtain their condemnation. Moretz was asked how he dared stop and listen to an heretical preacher, and whether he thought the preacher was speaking the truth, or falsehood?
“Had I thought he had been speaking falsehood, I would not have stopped to listen to him,” answered the old man, boldly. “He spoke things, too, which I know are to be found in the word of God, and I am sure that all in that book is true.”
“Evidently a fearful heretic!” exclaimed the magistrates. “We must make an example of him, and put a stop to this sort of thing. In the meantime, to prison with him!”
“Stay,” said one. “Though guilty of listening, perchance he will recant, and acknowledge himself in error.”
“Indeed I will not,” answered the old man. “I believe God rather than man, and will not deny the truths He has taught me.”
“Off with him!—off with him! You see there is no use discussing matters with a heretic,” exclaimed some of the other magistrates.
The other prisoners were now tried. Two or three only of them, were, however, committed to prison, the others acknowledging themselves in error. Of these, however, several as they went away muttered words complimentary neither to their judges nor to the Pope and his cardinals.