[THE INDUCTION.
“Verye well sayde,” quothMemory, “I would I had habilitie to redeeme this prince’s soule out ofLymbo-lake: I wyl insuer you the shorte tragedie of this man’s life hath made a long discourse of the present estate ofEngland, in which ther be more by three parts which serue, like carpite knightes,Venusand her darlinges, then God and their prince: who I feare are so fast seazed vpon beautie’s fiste, that this example wyl be little auailable vnto them. But let it be as it wil, warned folkes may liue, and happie are they whome other men’s harme do make to be ware. But, goodInquisition, whome haue you there? What haue you brought vs in steede of a prince, a priest? It woulde appeare by his shauen crown that he hath bin a monke, or a frier. What, shal we alowe tippet wearers to pleade amongst princes? Me thinke by the deformitie of his apparel, he shoulde not be of thereligion, nor of the reformed church: yea, I wyl insuer you, his precise lookes maketh me to suspect that he is one of them which do cry out, 'O these indifferent thinges do not edifye.’ Speake therfore,Inquisition, if he be one of that precise order he get no place here.” “OMemorie,” quothInquisition, “they of the reformed church be the most zelous pastoures of the world, moste of them both godly good liuers, and wise: and in my fancye, in many poyntes, greatly deseruing the name of reformed. But this man was both a prince and a prelate, whome I refused oftentimes to heare, because he looked so deuoutly, yet he being importunate, did ouercome me with his prayers: and when I gaue eare vnto him I reioyced: and not without a cause, goodMemorye, for it is euen he whom you sent me to seeke.” “Let me see,” quothMemorie, “is itCadwallader? In good time, it is euen he in deede. O se what the alteration of apparel doth! In good fayth, I had almost forgotten the man. He was the last king of theBrittaynes,and when thinges would not fal out after his desire, he went toRome, and there he became afrier. But we wyl not accuse him of anye thing, let him do the thing that he commeth for; you may perswade your selfe that seing he is of the church, his conscience wyl constrayne him in euery thing to tel the truth.” Then he stepped forthe, booted and spurde, al in blacke, with a long prieste’s gowne, a square cappe, ascala cœliin his hande, and a longe payre of beades by his side: then he sighing, proceeded vnto his purpose, and said, as followeth.