On the 27th January, the Two Hundred sitting as a court of justice, Furbity was brought before them. He had taken courage; his erect head and confident look showed that he believed himself sure of victory. He called upon the Bernese to set forth their grievances, but protested against the inquiry on account of the sacerdotal character with which he was invested. Then the following colloquy took place:— AMBASSADOR.—You preached publicly that four kinds of executioners divided the robe of our Saviour Jesus Christ at the foot of the cross, and that the first were Germans. That word concerns us. MONK.—I never used such words; and I do not know to what country the executioners belonged. AMBAS.—We will prove this charge presently. You said that those who eat meat on Friday and Saturday are worse than Jews, Turks, and mad dogs. MONK.—I did not mean thereby to offend their Excellencies of Berne; I was preaching only to the people of this city. AMBAS.—You said that all who read the Holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongue are no better than lewd livers, gluttons, drunkards, blasphemers, murderers, and robbers. MONK.—I affirm that I have not abused my lords of Berne. AMBAS.—You spoke in a general manner, and consequently included them in your accusation. MONK.—I was speaking to the Genevese only. AMBAS.—You said: ‘Avoid these wicked modern heretics, these Germans, as you would lepers and unclean persons. Do not let them marry your daughters, you had better give them to the dogs.’ MONK.—I deny having preached that article. AMBAS.—You said: ‘That the modern heretics, who will not obey the pope or the cardinals, bishops, and curates, are on that account the devil’s flock and worse than mad dogs ... and ought to be hanged on the gallows.’ MONK.—That is an article of faith, and I have not to answer for it before you. PREMIER-SYNDIC.—You are commanded to answer. MONK.—I shall not answer. PREMIER-SYNDIC.—The charge is confessed. AMBAS.—‘Most honored lords, we belong to those who read Scripture in the vulgar tongue. We belong to those who hold our Lord as _sole head of the Church_, as its everlasting and sovereign pastor; and, moreover, we are Germans; and for this reason we believe the said articles have been uttered against us. If we were what these articles say, we should deserve corporal punishment; and therefore we demand, in terms of the _lex talionis_, that the said preacher be visited with a punishment similar to that which we should have incurred.’