Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 3.djvu/174

154 themselves on raised benches at the back. The prisoner was brought in; and soon after the King entered, 'clothed all in white,' with the yeomen of the guard.

The Bishop of Carlisle rose first to open the case. The King, he said, had put down the usurpations of the Bishop of Rome, but it was not to be thought, therefore, that he intended to give license to heresy. They were not met, at present, to discuss doctrines, but to try a person accused of a crime, by the laws of the Church and of the country.

Lambert was then ordered to stand forward.

'What is your name?' the King asked. 'My name is Nicholson,' he said, 'though I be called Lambert.' 'What!' the King said, 'have you two names? I would not trust you, having two names, though you were my brother.'

The persecutions of the bishops, Lambert answered, had obliged him to disguise himself; but now God had inspired the King's mind, enduing him with wisdom and understanding to stay their cruelty.

'I come not here,' said Henry, 'to hear mine own praises painted out in my presence. Go to the matter without more circumstance. Answer as touching the sacrament of the altar, is it the body of Christ or no?'

'I answer with St Augustine,' the prisoner said; 'it is the body of Christ after a certain manner.'

'Answer me not out of St Augustine,' said the King; 'tell me plainly whether it be He.'

'Then I say it is not,' was the answer.

'Mark well,' the King replied, 'you are condemned