“Be plain,” says Lukas. “I’m a simple servant of God.”
Jan looks to the ceiling, rolls his neck to crack it, then brings his eyes back to Lukas. “You know I’ve been visited by the papal envoy.”
“Of course I know. I was there.” He stood in the back with his friars.
“He delivered a disturbing message. It’s come to the notice of the Holy See that there are cells of unorthodoxy in Flanders. A tract, written in Dutch, purporting to be gospel, has reached the pope’s hands. He is asking how Brugge could harbor such activity.”
“You know the answer. People want to understand the scripture.”
“They have their priests for that.”
“Your priests barely read Latin!”
“You criticize the Church.”
“You should welcome the Dutch gospel.” Lukas rubs his hands on his thighs. The coarse wool reminds him who he is. He must not let Jan get under his skin.
“God’s word is subtle,” says Jan. “Translations are easily corrupted.”
“We could supervise them.”
“No. Once the tracts get out, people will copy them, they will get into every household, in the hands of shoemakers and bakers. The sacramental mysteries aren’t meant for scullery maids.”
“But the people yearn for their God.”
“Whose God? The people’s God?” snaps Jan. “Or the pope’s God?”
Lukas shuts his eyes, gathering himself. “Worshippers deserve the truth.”
“They have no idea what that is.”
“They do, brother, better than you think.”
“Better than Rome?” Jan slams his fist on the table. The dishes rattle. “You contradict the pope? Sometimes, Brother, you sail perilously close to the wind.” A servant looks in. The bishop, annoyed, brushes him away. He spreads his hands on the table as if calming unruly waters.
“Look. You need a house. I can give you that house.”
“You want something in return.”
“Don’t look so offended. We’re sons of the same banker. I require only one.”
“One what?”
“One heretic. I propose a trade. A heretic for a house.”
“What?” Lukas stands abruptly, pushing back the chair. Not here. Not in this town. “Jan, no. These are good people in Flanders.”
“Good people reading the Bible? Where do you think the heresies of the south came from? The Waldensians? The Cathars?”
“It’s not the same.”
“It is exactly the same. My priests complain that people are asking why they can’t speak directly with God. Parishioners have become scornful. The value of indulgences has fallen. People are starting to claim they understand the scriptures better than their own clergy. It’s certainly not my priests giving them these ideas.” He gives Lukas a pointed stare.
“You’re saying we are.”
“I’m saying that you and your brothers need to stop whipping people up.”
“Is that a threat?”
