On the 11th of August, to borrow the expression of the Gospellers, the abominable thing was once more set up in England. For the first time for six years, an old priest sang the Latin ma.s.s in Saint Bartholomew's Church, to the awakening of such burning indignation on the part of his hearers, that he was compelled to escape for his life by a side door.

The application to Mr Rose was made on the Sunday evening following, when John and Isoult, with Robin, rode over to the evening service at West Ham. Mr Rose's sermon was a very solemn one, on the text, "I am now ready to be offered."

Ready to be offered! how many of the Gospellers needed to be so, in that autumn of 1553!

After the sermon, they waited for Mr Rose, and he walked with them for one or two miles on their way home. Robin led the horses a short distance behind them. Mr Rose was quite satisfied with Isoult's proposal to fix a time beyond which Robin should resign the hope of entering the ministry, and indeed seemed relieved by the suggestion. At his request, Robin was waited for, and when he came up with them, Mr Rose asked him what was the reason of his unwillingness to resign the hope of receiving holy orders.

Robin answered, that "having offered himself and his service unto G.o.d, he counted it not right to withdraw the same, unless it should be plain that this was not the way wherein G.o.d would have him to serve."

And Mr Rose's reply was,--"Then, Robin, wouldst thou give up rather Thekla than thine orders?"

"It were well-nigh giving up my life; yet I would do as G.o.d will have me," said Robin, softly.

Mr Rose grasped his hand, and called him a brave lad, adding that "if G.o.d so would, he would be right glad of such a son."

This speech made the tears no further from Robin's eyes, but he smiled and thanked him. And he continued,--"Mr Rose, I would have you to know that I do desire only to know and do what is G.o.d's will for me. If He will make me His minister, I will be thankful for so great an honour; for I do account the service of G.o.d higher than the dominion over men.

Yet, if I can serve Him better as a door-porter or a scullion, I would have Him do His will with me."

"Ah Robin, G.o.d bless thee!" answered Mr Rose, earnestly. "Thou hast learned a lesson which many a scholar of threescore and ten can yet hardly spell."

Note 1. The two ladies first named were second cousins of the King, and stood in the line of the succession. The details here given are almost entirely fict.i.tious (except such as concern Edward himself), for little is really known beyond the time, the place, and the King's presence.

Note 2. The canopy over the throne was called the cloth of estate, often abbreviated into the estate.

Note 3. The d.u.c.h.ess Frances appears to have played a quiescent part in this drama, so soon to turn into tragedy. Otherwise she (from whom alone the t.i.tle was derived) would scarcely have borne so meekly the train of her own daughter.

Note 4. This must not be mistaken for swearing. It was an expression used in the most reverential manner, and equivalent to "G.o.d's will be done."

Note 5. A man infamous for his cruelty, especially to the Protestant prisoners.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE TEMPEST THAT FOLLOWED.

"O yet, in scorn of mean relief, Let Sorrow bear her heavenly fruit!

Better the wildest hour of grief Than the low pastime of the brute!

Better to weep, for He wept too, Than laugh as every fool can do."

Hon. Robert Lytton.

"Heard you the news, friends?" asked Mr Holland, coming into the Lamb, on the evening of the 14th of August.

"News!" cried Dr Thorpe. "I am aweary of the news. There is news every day. My Lord A. to the Tower, and my Lord B. delivered thence; and my Lord C. to the Marshalsea; and my Lord D. to the Fleet; and my Lord E., that yesterday carried the sword afore the Queen, to-day hath his head struck off; and my Lord F., that was condemned to die yestereven, shall bear the Queen's sword this morrow. Pshaw! I am tired of it. 'Tis a game of tables [backgammon], with players that have no skill, and care for nought saving to rattle the dice."

Mr Holland laughed a moment, but immediately grew grave.

"But heard you my news?" said he. "Do you know Father Rose is deprived?"

All cried out together. They had looked for this indeed, but not now.

Six months thence, when the Protestant Bishops were all sequestered, and the Prebendaries in the Marshalsea, Bishop Gardiner might stoop to lesser game; but that one of the very first blows should be struck at Mr Rose, this they had not expected. It showed how formidable an enemy he was considered.

"Deprived!" cried all the voices together.

"Ay, 'tis too true," said Mr Holland. "As a preacher, we shall hear his voice no more."

"The lambs are like to fare ill," growled Dr Thorpe, "when all the great wolves be let forth in a pack."

"Ah, mine old friend!" answered John, "not many weeks gone, you said of my Lord of Northumberland, 'Will none put this companion in the Tower?'

Methinks so many henceforward will scarce be over, ere you may say the like with tears of Stephen Gardiner. The fox is in the Tower; but the wolf is out."

"You speak but truth," said Mr Holland. "And now, my masters, after mine ill news, I fear you will scarcely take it well of me to bid you to a wedding; yet for that came I hither."

"Is this a time for marrying and giving in marriage?" groaned Dr Thorpe.

"I think it is," answered Mr Holland, stoutly. "The more disease [discomfort] a man hath abroad, the more comfort he lacketh at home."

"But who is to be married?" asked John.

"I am," answered Mr Holland. "Have you aught against it?"

"You!" cried Avery, in a voice of astonishment, which Mr Holland understood to imply the reverse of flattery.

"Upon my word, you are no losenger!" [flatterer] saith he. "Have I two heads, or four legs, that you think no maid should have me? or is my temper so hot that you count I shall lead her a dog's life? or what see you in me, body or soul, to make you cry out in that fashion?"

"Nay, man," replied John, laughing, "thou art a proper man enough, and as tall of thy hands as any in Aldersgate; and for thy temper, a dove were crabbed in comparison. I did but think thou wert wedded to thy cloths and thy napery."

"You thought I took counsel of velvet, and solaced myself with broidery!" laughed Mr Holland. "Nay, friend; when I take a wife, I will not wed a piece of Lincoln green."

"And who, pray you, is the bride?"

"Why, Avery, I had thought you should have guessed that without asking.

Who should it be, but mine old and true friend, Bessy Lake?"

"Then I give you joy," said John, "for you have chosen well."

Mr Holland's wedding took place at the Church of Saint Giles Cripplegate, in August [it was in the first year of Queen Mary; exact date unknown]. Bessy Lake, the bride, proved a very gentle, amiable-looking woman, not pretty, but not unpleasing, and by at least ten years the senior of her bridegroom. After the ceremony, the wedding party repaired to Mr Holland's house. Mr Rose was present, with his wife and Thekla; and Mr Ferris; and Mr Ive and Helen, who brought Mrs Underhill's three elder little girls, Anne, Christian, and Eleanor.

Augustine Bernher did not appear until after dinner. Mrs Rose and Isoult had a little quiet conversation; the former was still looking forward to further troubles, and plainly thought Mr Holland was courting sorrow.

"But thank G.o.d he is not a priest!" she said; and the tears rose to her eyes.

Meanwhile, John and Mr Rose were engaged in their private discourse. It was settled between them that the same day, two years later--August 20th, 1555--should be the date fixed, before which, if Robin should not have been ordained, he should give up the expectation of it, and marry Thekla. Mr Holland, being taken into confidence, not only expressed his sense of the wisdom of this arrangement, but at once offered, if Robin wished it, to receive him without premium. This part of the subject, however, was left for future decision.

Helen Ive brought word from Mrs Underhill, that Mr Throgmorton had readily promised to intercede for his cousin, as soon as he found a satisfactory opportunity; which meant, when certain members of the Council, adverse to Underhill, should be absent.