out public scandal; indeed with public applause in this city, which for so many years has heard the Gospel. Even if there were scandal, we should not regard it in divine matters. . . .
You know that I think private masses are a mere mockery, mere comedies, and that those who say such masses are those who have Christ for a show.* . . . Here we are accustomed everywhere and without objection from anyone, to communi- cate under both kinds ; care is taken in the churches that the priests shall offer both bread and wine to all. This is no reason, as you think, why we should be called Hussites. Do Dot let the Nurembergers do it. . . .
S09. JOHN CLERK TO WOLSEY. Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, iii, no. 1654. English.
RoME^ Oct. i<), 1521.
Had informed the Pope that his oration was ready, and asked for a public consistory for presenting the King's book. The Pope declined a public consistory, as men's minds are so much infested with Lutheranism, and the people "so frowardly disposed," he was afraid of stirring a controversy. He promised, however, to do all that was necessary to de- clare his approbation of the book, and asked Qerk for the substance of his oration, that his Holiness might be ready with an answer. On Wednesday, October 2, the Pope having sum- moned the consistory, the master of the ceremonies ordered that Qerk should kneel all the time of his oration. "Whereat I was somewhat abashed, for methought I should not have my heart nor my spirits so much at my liberty. I feared greatly lest they should not serve me so well kneeling as they would standing." "The Pope's Holiness sat in his majesty upon a [throne] three steps from the ground underneath a cloth of [state] ; afore him in a large quadrant upon stools sate the [cardinals] in their consistorial habits, to the number of XX. . . ." After kissing the Pope's foot, when he would have returned to his place, his Holiness took him by the shoulders and caused him to kiss first one cheek and then the other; then, having a stool before him, and kneeling, he defivered his oration, which he incloses. This done, he pre-
» Cf. PhOippiins i. 18.
�� �
