at is chiefest subject of the whole realm!"
said John.

"There is an other before him now," answered Mr Rose. "The chiefest
subject of the realm is Cardinal Pole, that is looked for nigh every
week."

Austin Bernher, who had been talking with Mr Holland, now came up, and
John begged him to tell them particulars of the trial.

"It was a right morris-dance," said he, "all the examination. Mr
Prolocutor Weston disputed with the beer-pot at his elbow, and forgot
not his devoirs thereto in the course thereof. And (whether the said
pot were in fault, I will not say, but) at opening he made a sorry
blunder, for he said that the Court was called `to dispute the
detestable heresy of the verity of the body of Christ in the Sacrament.'
There was much laughter in the Court thereupon. It was in the choir of
Saint Mary the Virgin they held Court, and my Lord Archbishop was first
examined. He denied all propositions advanced unto him, and spake very
modestly, wittily [cleverly], and learnedly. So at the end of the day
he was sent back to Bocardo, where they held him confined. Then the
next day they had in Dr Ridley, who showed sharp, witty, and very
earnest; and denied that (being Bishop of Rochester) he had ever
preached in favour of transubstantiation. At _one_ point, the people
hissing at an answer he had given, Dr Ridley turned him around unto
them, and--`O my masters!' saith he, `I take this for no judgment. I
will stand to God's judgment.' The day thereafter called they up my
master [Latimer]; who, on his entering, escaped no hissings nor scornful
laughter. He came in from the bailiff's house, where he was lodged,
having a kerchief and three or four caps on his head for the fear of
cold, his staff in his hand, and his spectacles hanging at his breast by
a string [Note 5]. He earnestly desired to be allowed a seat, and also
to speak in English; for (quoth he) `I am out of use with the Latin, and
almost as meet to dispute as to be a captain of Calais.' Moreover, he
said his memory was weakened, and he very faint. Then they asked him if
he would allow the verity of the body of Christ to be in the Sacrament.
Quoth he, `I have read over the New Testament seven times, and yet could
I never find the mass in it, neither the marrow-bones nor sinews of the
same.' You know his merry fashion. Then they asked him how long he had
been of that opinion; and he said he had not been so long; that time had
been when he said mass