[127] This passage stands in the ordinary MSS., and in Dr. Wordsworth’s edition, in the following abridged and confused manner. The transcribers of the MSS. appear to have been sensible that their copy was defective, for in several of them one or two blank leaves are here left.
“Now shortly after there were divers malicious practices pretended against us by the French, who by their theft somewhat impaired us: whereupon one of them, being a man I was well acquainted with, maintained a seditious untruth, openly divulged, and set forth by a subtle and traitorous subject of their realm, saying also that he doubted not, but the like had been attempted within the king of England his majesty’s dominions; but to see so open and manifest blasphemy to be openly punished, according to their traitorous deserts, notwithstanding I saw but small redress.”
[128] The twentieth of October, A. D. 1527. The embassadors were the Maréchal de Montmorency, the Bishop of Bayonne, the President of Rouen, and Monsieur d’Humieres.
[129] The book of ceremonies (compiled under the influence of the Bishops Gardiner and Tonstall, and in opposition to that of Cranmer, about the year 1540, and designed to retain in the church many operose and superstitious rites, by setting them off with the aids of a philosophical and subtle interpretation), describing in succession the different parts of the Canon of the Mass, proceeds thus, "Then saith the priest thrice, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, &c. advertising us of three effects of Christ’s passion; whereof the first is, deliverance from the misery of sin; the second is from pain of everlasting damnation; wherefore he saith twice Miserere nobis, that is to say, Have mercy on us; and the third effect is, giving of everlasting peace, consisting in the glorious fruition of God." Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials, Vol. i. p. 289. Records. See also Mirror of our Lady. fol. 189, and Becon’s Works. Vol. iii. fol. 49. A. D. 1564. W.
[130] These cupboards or rather sideboards of plate were necessary appendages to every splendid entertainment. The form of them somewhat resembled some of the old cumbrous cabinets to be found still in ancient houses on the continent. There was a succession of step-like stages, or desks, as Cavendish calls them, upon which the plate was placed. The reader will have a better conception than description can convey of this piece of antient ostentation, from a print in a very curious work by Julio Bello, entitled Laurea Austriaca: Francof. 1627, folio, p. 640. Where our King James I. is represented entertaining the Spanish ambassadors in 1623.
[131] Proface. An expression of welcome equivalent to Much good may it do you! Mr. Steevens conjectured it to be from the old French expression, ‘Bon prou leur face,’ which is to be found in Cotgrave in voce Prou. This was a happy conjecture of Mr. Steevens, for Mr. Nares has pointed out its true origin in the old Norman-French or Romance language: ‘Prouface souhait qui veut dire, bien vous fasse, proficiat.’ Roquefort. Glossaire de la Langue Romane.
[132] ‘Mademoiselle de Boulan à la fin y est venue, et l’a le Roy logée en fort beau logis, qu’il a fait bien accoustrer tout auprès du sien, et luy est la cour faicte ordinairement tous les jours plus grosse que de long temps ne fut faicte à la Royne.’
Lettre de l’Evesque de’ Bayonne.
[133] It is a question of fact which has been warmly debated, whether the suffrages of the Universities in Henry’s favour were purchased by money. It does not seem very necessary that we should enter into this dispute. But any one who wishes so to do, may consult Burnet’s Hist. of the Reformation, Vol. iii. p. 401, Appendix. Harmer’s Specimen of Errors, p. 7. Fiddes’s Life of Wolsey, p. 420. Poli Epistolæ, Vol. i. p. 238. A. D. 1744. W.
[134] Eight of these determinations soon after were printed in one volume, with a long Discourse in support of the judgments contained in them, under the following title: “The Determinations of the moste famous and moste excellent Universities of Italy and Fraunce, that it is so unlefull for a man to marry his Brother’s Wyfe, that the Pope hath no power to dispence therewith: imprinted by Thomas Berthelet the viith day of Novembre, 1531.” They were also published in Latin: in which language they are exhibited by Bishop Burnet in his Hist. of the Reformation, Vol. i. book ii. No. 34. Records. W.