"Shall we enter the church together ?" Seldom had a temple consecrated to God witnessed so singular a spectacle as that which now animated the solemn space of the Lateran.
In the centre of the church, seats were raised in an amphitheatre, at the far end of which was a scaffolding, a little higher than the rest; below this spot, but high enough to be in sight of all the concourse, was placed a vast table of iron, on which was graven an ancient inscription, and bearing in its centre a clear and prominent device, presently to be explained.
The seats were covered with cloth and rich tapestry.

In the rear of the church was drawn a purple curtain.

Around the amphitheatre were the officers of the Church, in the party-coloured liveries of the Pope.

To the right of the scaffold sate Raimond, Bishop of Orvietto, in his robes of state.

On the benches round him you saw all the marked personages of Rome--the judges, the men of letters, the nobles, from the lofty rank of the Savelli to the inferior grade of a Raselli.