When they would not read it, I addressed the chief Bailiff, and Roegaergijs, and said: “My lords, I demand that you assist me in this matter, and compel them to read it; else I say that you are tyrants and not judges.” Then said they: “Read it to him.” Thereupon they read Matt. 16. Ronse read, and when he could not find it, he turned as white as a sheet, and then said: “It is not here.” Polet said: “These words are not there, but the sense is in Matt. 28.” He then read: “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” I said: “This is not where he says: ‘I give unto thee the keys, and unto thy successors.’” _Polet._ “Would you have just these very words; they are not here; why make so much ado about it?” _Joos._ “No, but because you will say you will show it to me.” _Ronse._ “Be silent, you are not worthy to speak.” _Joos._ “Why should I keep silence, when you with your false mandates have brought about, that neither proctor, nor attorney, nor friend may speak for us; if you are not willing to let me speak, you ought to have let me remain in my cell; but I shall keep silence neither for you nor any one else; I am neither a thief, nor a murderer, nor a ravisher of women; why should I forbear speaking? I shall defend myself, because my life is at stake, and not keep silence as long as I can move my tongue; but do you N. keep silent; you are not worthy to speak, you soul-murderers, you enemies of the cross of Christ.” Again they proposed to me to dispute. I said: “Before the hall of justice, but not here.” _Ans._ “You will not be taken there.” _Joos._ “Well then, do as you please; I have confessed my faith to you when I first came here, and I have told you more than fifty times before, and tell you again, that I think nothing of all your trumpery, nor of a single point held by the Roman church.” _Ronse._ “Do you think nothing of the sacrament? Let us hear what you think of it?” _Joos._ “An idol, a little flour; and if I had your oil, I would grease my shoes with it.” _Ronse._ “We can hear that you are audacious enough.”
Then a contention arose, and they thought to fall upon me; but I defended myself valiantly with the word of the Lord, as behooves a servant who loves his master. And the Lord gave me such a mouth to speak, that for three hours I did not make one assertion, which they were able to refute. Then the incarnation was made the subject of discussion, which they would carry out to the dead letter. Matt, 1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David. Thereupon I said that Matt. 22:41 it was written: “Then Christ asked the scribes and the Pharisees: What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him the son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word.” I also told them of the figure of Melchisedec, and the last chapter of Revelation, that he is the root of David; which they would not hear, but adhered to their dead text.
When I perceived that they would not acknowledge their error, I said: “If you want to speak of the incarnation, or of any other matter of the faith, come before the city hall.” Then Polet said: “Who should judge there, who is right or wrong?” I said: “These good lords.” Polet said: “They do not understand the scriptures.” I said: “They understand them well enough for you, to dispute here, or in the hall of justice; hence they ought also to understand them, to dispute in the city hall. And if they do not understand the Scriptures, then they ought to feel ashamed that they are judges in this matter, when they do not understand the Scriptures.” So much was said, that as much paper as I could hold in my hand would not suffice me to write down all their sophistry. I commend all dear friends, and all brethren and sisters in the Lord, into his hands, and entreat them all, to arm themselves wisely, for it is necessary; and when they come as far as I am, not to engage in disputation, for, if it were possible, they would draw us away from the truth. Know, that I am of such good cheer, that it would be impossible for me to describe the joy or gladness I have, and I hope that the seal of this letter will be the putting off of my body. To this end, may the Lord give me his grace, that his name may be glorified thereby; for I seek nothing but the glory of the Lord. Nothing more; I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Pray the Lord for me; I will gladly pray him for you also.