Henry VIII. was at this time requesting that a new embassy should be sent to him, and that Melanchthon should be a member of it. The princes were not inclined to intrust the mission to this doctor, as they feared that he might, for want of firmness of character, make imprudent concessions to the king.[780] Calvin opened his mind freely to Melanchthon on the subject. ‘I swear most solemnly to you,’ replied the latter, ‘that there is no ground for this fear.’ ‘I rely on him no less than on Bucer,’ wrote Calvin to Farel. ‘When the business is to treat with those who require to be treated with some indulgence, Bucer is animated with so much zeal for the propagation of the Gospel that, content with having obtained the most important things, he is perhaps sometimes rather too ready to give up those which he looks on as very subordinate, and which for all that have their weight.’ Further, Calvin’s opinion of Henry VIII. was formed, and he did not conceal it. ‘This prince,’ said he, ‘is scarcely half wise.[781] He prohibits the marriage of priests and bishops, not only under the penalty of deprivation of their offices, but by severe punishments besides. He maintains the daily masses and the seven sacraments. He has thus a mutilated Gospel, half of it torn off, and a Church still full of many absurdities.[782] He has recently published a new edict, by which he endeavors to keep the people from the reading of the Bible; and to show you that it is not mere thoughtlessness, but that he takes up the matter in earnest, he has lately had a good and wise man burnt because he denied the carnal presence of Christ in the bread.’[783] Calvin afterwards says, ‘The worst of it is that the king tolerates nothing but what he has sanctioned with his own authority. Thus it will come to pass that Christ shall profit them nothing, except the king should be willing to permit him. The Lord will punish such arrogance by some notable chastisement.’[784]