After I had been in prison twelve weeks, they led me into the castellan’s house, where were the bishop with a councillor, the pastor of Oudenhoof, the pastor of Nyehoof, the pastor of Jorwert, and the bishop’s commissary. After they had taken their seats, they called me, and when I came in I took off my hat and sat as a sheep in the midst of a troop of wolves. They looked at me sharply and earnestly; but the Lord my God, in whom I trust, strengthened me and gave me a bold heart, so that I was fearless before them all. The bishop commenced, and asked me whether I would still continue in the faith. I was silent for a while, for it seemed unnecessary to me to answer that question; but he had so much to say, that I was finally compelled to defend myself; for I had resolved not to dispute any more. Thus I occasionally reproved and contradicted their foolish ignorance, for I was grieved that the truth should be so blasphemed; and that they should not think that I would listen to them. The sum and substance of what they said was, that I was seduced, and that those who had taught me had been seducers, as Menno, who was a vagabond. I said that I did not rely upon Menno, or human doctrine, but only upon the word of God; in this I desire by the help of the Lord to live and to die. We also had many other words, as, of infant baptism. I said: “It is not contained in the Scriptures, that the children are to be baptized; if this had been the will of the Lord, he would doubtless have commanded it: but since there is nothing written concerning it, and neither our Lord Jesus Christ nor his apostles have made mention of it, it is a great presumption, that we poor, vain human creatures want to improve it, whereas it is written, that we are not to add to, or take away from the Lord’s commandments: he that does this, upon him eternal woe is pronounced.” (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Revelation 22:18).
Finally the bishop said that none of all the articles so surprised him, than this: That I did not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now personally man in heaven, just as he was upon earth, with wounds and stripes which he received from the Jews. This I would not accept because I had not read of it, but I said: “I believe that he is now in the Divinity, sitting at the right hand of the almighty Father, in his glory, and shall come again with power and majesty, as the Scripture testifies with regard to it.” Then the bishop took the Bible, and read the vision which John had seen in the Island of Patmos, of one who was like unto the Son of man; and when he had read it, he closed the book, for it contradicted him. A man can certainly not be of such a nature in his members, as John declares of that vision.
They then rehearsed the articles of my faith anew, and I confessed as I had always confessed before; and after they had noted it down, they went away. The councillor said that I had forfeited my life, according to the decree. They then took me back into prison.
I would have related all these matters at length, but my gift is small, and my hand heavy for writing; hence I must run over them very briefly.
After I had been imprisoned about thirteen weeks, they conducted me once more into the castellan’s house, where was the pastor of Nyehoof, who again began to say that Christ is now personally in heaven, as he was upon earth, in like form as we are. I defended myself, and proved it to him from John’s Revelation. He said that no one could understand John’s Revelation, which surprised me. And in all his remarks he called me brother. I said: “Why do you call me brother? I do not want to be your brother.” He answered that he hoped that we should yet become one fold. And after some more conversation he left me.