5. This vehemence of yours I preferred to commend
privately to your own consideration, rather than possibly raise it by
any action of mine in public. And so I have preferred to be
somewhat wanting in duty rather than in humility, and that other,
should rather think me wanting in priestly authority than that you
should find me lacking in most loving reverence, that having restrained
your vehemence your power of deciding on your counsel should not be
weakened. I excuse myself by bodily sickness, which was in truth
severe, and scarcely to be lightened but by great care. Yet I
would rather have died than not wait two or three days for your
arrival. But it was not possible for me to do so.