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236 Eumiliatwii of the BishopB. [Ch, in

the realm of England, should be' declared in so noble a
presence to lack faith." It was equivalent to saying
*' that they were infidels, and no Christians — as ill as
Turks and Saracens." Wherefore he " most humbly
besought the King's Highness to call the said bishop 1

before him, and to cause him to speak more discreetly
of such a number as was in the Commons House." *
Henry consented to their request, it is likely with no
great difficulty, and availed himself of the opportunity
to read a lesson much needed to the remainder of the
bench. He sent for Fisher, and with him for the Arch-
The bishops bishop of Canterbury, and for six other bish- \

SSn^°be- ^V^' The speaker's message was laid before
fore the king them, and they were asked what they had to
say. It would have been well for the weak trembling
old men if they could have repeated what they believed
and had maintained their right to believe it. Bold
conduct is ever the most safe; it is fatal only when
there is courage but for the first step, and fails when a
second is required* to support it. But they were for-
saken in their hour of calamity, not by courage only,
but by prudence, by judgment, by conscience itself.
