HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 267 



virtuous Apostle Saint James, and the holy father 

 Innocent the Eighth, together with the aids and ser 

 vices of his prelates, nohles, and commons. That 

 yet he stirred not from his camp till he had seen a 

 little army of martyrs, to the number of seven hun 

 dred and more Christians that had lived in bonds 

 and servitude, as slaves to the Moors, pass before his 

 eyes, singing a psalm for their redemption ; and that 

 he had given tribute unto God, by alms and relief 

 extended to them all for his admission into the city. 

 These things were in the letters, with many more 

 ceremonies of a kind of holy ostentation. 



The king, ever willing to put himself into the 

 consort or quire of all religious actions, and naturally 

 affecting much the King of Spain, as far as one king 

 can affect another, partly for his virtues, and partly 

 for a counterpoise to France ; upon the receipt of 

 these letters sent all his nobles and prelates that were 

 about the court, together with the mayor and alder 

 men of London, in great solemnity to the church of 

 Paul; there to hear a declaration from the Lord 

 Chancellor, now Cardinal. When they were assem 

 bled, the cardinal standing upon the uppermost 

 step or half-pace, before the quire, and all the 

 nobles, prelates, and governors of the city at the 

 foot of the stairs, made a speech to them ; letting 

 them know, that they were assembled in that conse 

 crate place to sing unto God a new song. For that, 

 said he, these many years the Christians have not 

 gained new ground or territory upon the Infidels, 

 nor enlarged and set further the bounds of the Chris- 



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