_Bailiff._ “We have another Scripture, where Paul says: The powers are not ordained in vain; for God himself has ordained them.” Rom. 13:1.
_Adrian._ “Yes, for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the evil (1 Peter 2:14); but it seems to me the order is inverted, that they are for the punishment of the good, and the protection of the evil.”
_Bailiff._ “We shall prove to you from books, that we may put you to death.”
_Adrian._ “You can not do this with the gospel?”
_Under bailiff._ “What do you know about the gospel?”
_Adrian._ “It is written: Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15.
_Under bailiff._ “There are eight gospels written.”
_Adrian._ “I am well content with four; if these cannot teach me, neither can the others.”
_Bailiff._ “Shall we send you learned men, to instruct you with the word of the Lord?”
_Adrian._ “I am willing to be instructed with the word of the Lord.”
_Bailiff._ “Well said.”
_Adrian._ “I will not speak with them except in the presence of the court, and of those that are imprisoned with me.”
This did not please them, and they went away, the bailiff leaving immediately for Delft.
Three weeks after this, the bailiff came into the prison where we three in number, were sitting, and asked us whether we were not almost beginning to get tired of it. We said: “No.” I then said: James says: “Take it for an example of suffering affliction.” James 5:10. It surprised them greatly that we minded it so little. I then said to the Bailiff: “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5.
_Bailiff._ “I should think it would weary you?”
_Adrian._ “Don’t you also begin to get weary of shedding this blood?”
He did not reply. Thereupon he asked whether they should send us learned men. We replied: “We are always willing to be instructed with the words of the Lord.”
_Bailiff._ “You will not be instructed otherwise than with the word of the Lord?”
_Ans._ “We are always willing to give our faith for a better one, that it may not be said that we are obstinate; and our adversaries ought to do the same.”
_Bailiff._ “That is so; suffer yourselves to be instructed, perhaps your stay here is but brief?”
_Adrian._ “You do not know whether your stay here will be long. Though we are now as forsaken, the Lord will soon be gracious to us.”
With this it rested. He then said: “We shall send you some one.” We called to him, as he descended the stairs, that he should bring a Bible or Testament with him.
In the afternoon there came a priest with two servants; he advanced in fine style and laid out his wares, thinking to sell something, and his words were full of suavity. And when one of us spoke, he had much to say. Thereupon I said that the Lord had warned us of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of them that go in long clothing.
_Priest._ “The clothing don’t make it.” I then told him that their things, as infant baptism, ringing of bells, mass, and all other trumpery, were good for nothing. Upon this he replied that holy baptism of infants was right. I asked where the authorization for it was to be found.
_Priest._ “In the 16th chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians.”
_Adrian._ “There it is written: The house of Stephanas are the first in Achaia who addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints. These certainly could not have been infants; infants cannot addict themselves to the ministry of the saints, but have themselves to be ministered unto.”