It seems
to me that King Henry has provided an ell or two of coarse stuff for
this mantle, and that the poisonous fellow Leus (Leo X), who wrote
against Erasmus, or someone of his sort, has cut and lined the hood.
But I will help them--please God--by ironing it and attaching bells
to it."
More felt that he must say something or lose his head, so he said:
"That is monstrous! That is quite monstrous!"
"Go on!" exclaimed Henry.
After saying that he postponed the discussion of the other six
sacraments, Luther added: "I am busy in translating the Bible into
German, and cannot stir up Heinz's dirt any more."
The Treasurer was nearly choking with suppressed laughter, but he
felt the sword suspended over his head, and continued: "But I will
give the poisonous liar and blasphemer, King Heinz, once for all, a
complete answer, and stop his mouth.... Therefore he thinks to hang
on to the Pope and play the hypocrite before him.... Therefore they
mutually caress and tickle each other like a pair of mule's ears...."
"No, sire," More broke off, "I cannot go on; it is high treason to
read it."
"I will read," said the King, and took the pamphlet from him:
"'I conquer and defy Papists, Thomists, Henrys, Sophists, and all
the swine of hell!' He calls us swine!"
"He is a madman who ought to be beaten to death with iron bars or
hunted in a forest with bloodhounds.
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