Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 5.djvu/563

1555.] of the court, 'appear here, and make answer to that which shall be laid to thy charge; that is to say, for blasphemy, incontinency, and heresy; make answer to the Bishop of Gloucester, representing his Holiness the Pope.'

The Archbishop approached the bar, bent his head and uncovered to Story and Martin, who were present in behalf of the Crown, then drew himself up, put on his cap again, and stood fronting Brookes. 'My Lord,' he said, 'I mean no contempt to your person, which I could have honoured as well as any of the others; but I have sworn never to admit the authority of the Bishop of Rome in England, and I must keep my oath.'

The president remonstrated, but without effect, and then proceeded to address the Archbishop, who remained covered:

'My Lord, we are come hither at this present to you, not intruding ourselves by our own authority, but sent by commission, as you know, by the Pope's Holiness partly; partly from the King's and Queen's most excellent Majesties; not utterly to your discomfort, but rather to your comfort if you will yourself. For we are come not to judge you immediately, but to put you in remembrance of that which you have been partly judged of before, and shall be thoroughly judged of ere long.

'Neither our coming or commission is to dispute