The conference started on 31 March 1559; the disputation began, and was stopped because of disagreement on rules, and was adjourned (as it turned out, permanently), on April 3 (a Monday). The timing coincided with the Easter recess of Parliament. It has been argued that the event was staged to discredit the Catholic position on reform, and
Patrick Collinson states that the disputation was manipulated to that end. It took place in
Westminster Hall. There were three articles at issue in the disputation (on the liturgical language, church authority over forms of worship, and scriptural warrant for propitiatory masses).
Nicholas Bacon was in the chair, with
Nicholas Heath sitting by him.
John Feckenham and
James Turberville sat with the bishops' side. Then Robert Horne replied, with a prepared statement. He put the case for English. The disputation then foundered: there was a lack of agreement whether it should be oral or written, and whether Latin or English should be employed. Heath, who had collaborated in Bacon in setting up the disputation, did not intervene to support the Catholic side's view on the pre-agreed conditions. Bacon in the chair was not neutral: he pushed some of the Catholic participants into offensive behaviour. Six more of the participants were fined by the privy council. ==Aftermath==