[130] These cupboards or rather sideboards of plate were necessary appendages to every splendid entertainment. The form of them somewhat resembled some of the old cumbrous cabinets to be found still in ancient houses on the continent. There was a succession of step-like stages, or desks, as Cavendish calls them, upon which the plate was placed. The reader will have a better conception than description can convey of this piece of antient ostentation, from a print in a very curious work by Julio Bello, entitled LAUREA AUSTRIACA: _Francof._ 1627, folio, p. 640. Where our King James I. is represented entertaining the Spanish ambassadors in 1623.
[131] _Proface._ An expression of welcome equivalent to Much good may it do you! Mr. Steevens conjectured it to be from the old French expression, '_Bon prou leur face_,' which is to be found in Cotgrave _in voce_ PROU. This was a happy conjecture of Mr. Steevens, for Mr. Nares has pointed out its true origin in the old Norman-French or Romance language: 'PROUFACE souhait qui veut dire, bien vous fasse, _proficiat_.' ROQUEFORT. _Glossaire de la Langue Romane._
[132] 'Mademoiselle de Boulan à la fin y est venue, et l'a le Roy logée en fort beau logis, qu'il a fait bien accoustrer tout auprès du sien, et luy est la cour faicte ordinairement tous les jours plus grosse que de long temps ne fut faicte à la Royne.'
[133] It is a question of fact which has been warmly debated, whether the suffrages of the Universities in Henry's favour were purchased by money. It does not seem very necessary that _we_ should enter into this dispute. But any one who wishes so to do, may consult _Burnet's Hist. of the Reformation_, Vol. iii. p. 401, Appendix. _Harmer's Specimen of Errors_, p. 7. _Fiddes's Life of Wolsey_, p. 420. _Poli Epistolæ_, Vol. i. p. 238. A. D. 1744. _W._
[134] Eight of these determinations soon after were printed in one volume, with a long Discourse in support of the judgments contained in them, under the following title: "The Determinations of the moste famous and moste excellent Universities of Italy and Fraunce, that it is so unlefull for a man to marry his Brother's Wyfe, that the Pope hath no power to dispence therewith: imprinted by Thomas Berthelet the viith day of Novembre, 1531." They were also published in Latin: in which language they are exhibited by Bishop Burnet in his _Hist. of the Reformation_, Vol. i. book ii. No. 34. Records. _W._