PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 The Faire Gospeller 
 
 MISTRESS ANNE ASKEW. 
 
 Recounted by ye unworthie Pen of 
 Nicholas Moldwarp, B.A., 
 
 AND NOW FIRST SET FORTH BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF "MARY POWELL." 
 
 Rather Death than fal/e of F.iith. 
 
 NEW lORK, 
 
 D D D , MEAD & COMPANY, 
 
 Publishers. 
 
 
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 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 >, THE FAIRE GOSPELLER, 
 
 AT/STRESS ANNE ASKEIV. 
 
 228817
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 rACi 
 
 What the Houfe Porter fayd .... 7 
 
 SECTION I. 
 How we loft our loved Lady .... 27 
 
 SECTION II. 
 How we came by our new Lady .... 40 
 
 SECTION III. 
 How Sir William put me in Charge ... S3 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 How Mafter Francis and I went overfeas . . 68 
 
 SECTION V. 
 What befel us in Foreign Parts , , '79 
 
 SECTION VL 
 How we left Venice . . . • • • 9* 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 Of Weddings and Burials io5
 
 vi Contents, 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Springes to catch a poor Bird . . . .119 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 How the poor Bird fled from its Cage to its 
 
 Neft 131 
 
 SECTION X. 
 Of our Journey to London I45 
 
 SECTION XI. 
 Of what befel us in London , . . ,160 
 
 SECTION xn. 
 
 Of our Change of Place 178 
 
 SECTION XIII. 
 Of what befel us there 195 
 
 SECTION XIV. 
 Delivered to ye Tormentors . . . .212 
 
 SECTION XV. 
 Adjutor in Tribulationibus 224 
 
 SECTION XVL 
 Freed at Laft . . . . . . .229
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 W/iat the Houfe Porter fay d. 
 
 Yes, Sir, the Houfe hath a Blight 
 
 on it. I remember when 'twas not fo . . . 
 that was when I was a Boy ; and before you 
 were born. Sir. Not fo very young } well, 
 you may be older than your favour. Sir . . . 
 In respeft of years, I fuppofe I might be your 
 Grandfather, Sir. 
 
 Maybe ye come down to thefe parts for 
 fowling.-' Marry, we have decoys of teal, 
 widgeon, and others of the duck kind . . . 
 Greebes, goodwits, whimbrels, coots, ruffs an' 
 reeves find plenty of food in our filhy pools 
 and flreams. This county is a great refort 
 of the feathered kind. Stares rooft on the 
 reeds in winter, breaking 'em down by their 
 weight. Not a fowler. Sir } 
 
 . . . Stratford on Avon, Sir ? No, I've
 
 8 TJie Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 never been there. I was born and bred on 
 this land. Sir, — that's why I hang by it flili. 
 It has a bad name, folks fpeak ill of it, and 
 I'm fure I've reafon to think ill of it ; but 'tis 
 familiar to me, you fee. Well, it is low and 
 fenny. 
 
 Ghofls, Sir "i No ! . . . I ne'er heed what 
 they fay of 'em. There's none, Sir ! — or there 
 would be, here. Difmal Noifes there are, 
 full fure, fighings of the Wind, and fo forth — 
 fcurrying of Rats behind the Pannells, — 
 creaks of ruflie Cafements, — old Furniture 
 ftretching itfelf and yawning. Nothing 
 worfe. 
 
 If I thought JJie walked, I'd watch the 
 livelong Night for her, I warrant ye ! But 
 no, file's quiet where fhe is. There be 
 others, might well be unquiet in their graves, 
 but they would not haunt this place. Sir. 
 Still, I deny not there be ftories about . . . 
 
 Now we come to Miftrefs Anne's pidlure. 
 That's her. — Yes, it's like. ' Equal ' to that, 
 Sir } Blefs you ! 
 
 This was done by an Italian. Her picture 
 was painted in London, fome time after, but 
 I doubt if by as good a hand. The other is 
 called ' the motto picture.' This wants no
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 9 
 
 motto. I've feen her look juft fo ; her lips a 
 little apart, ready to fpeak. That bad man 
 called her a parrot. ' Parrot ' quotha ! 
 
 What did he mean by it .'' Well, Sir, he 
 meant to filence her ; put her down. She 
 had too Iharp a wit for him : not fharp i' th' 
 wrong fenfe, ye wot. Certes, when they 
 browbeat her, fhe anfwered 'em agayn, A 
 worm will turn. Sir. Yes, Sir, juft as you 
 fay : much enforced, fhe would fhow a hafty 
 fpark. Gone the next moment. Sir ! 
 
 — If you look well at that pi6ture, you'll 
 note there's not a fingle hard line in it. 
 Mafter Moldwarp obferved it to me firft. He 
 fayd there are no hard lines in nature, and 
 this pi6fure is next to nature itfelf. Going — 
 you fee — before its time — the paint caking 
 off — covered with a network of fmall cracks, 
 though painted in my time. Stand a little 
 back, Sir — you'll not fee them. There are 
 very deep, foft fhadowings about the eyes — 
 you can hardly tell whether the eyes are grey 
 or brown ; no more you could of hers — they 
 looked like three-piled velvet, till they lighted 
 up, and then — flafh ! ' The hafty fpark,' Sir ! 
 
 The tincture of her fkin reminds you of a 
 pearl and a peach } Well, Sir, you fay true.
 
 10 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 That little bit of hair beneath the coif, dark 
 in the fhade, golden in the fun, is well done, 
 it feems to me, Sir ? She was fmall and 
 compactly made, not under-fized, but of 
 middle height — her little bones were firmly 
 knit. Sir ! But oh, the fpirit of endurance — • 
 
 We'll pafs on, an' it pleafe you. This fmall 
 clofet was her coufin Britain's bed-chamber. 
 Darkfome and fomewhat flraitened, but he 
 liked it becaufe it opened into the Book-room. 
 He was hugely given to ftudy, was Mafter 
 Britain. There's the old prefs he kept his 
 clothes in. 
 
 This is the Book-room, Sir. Difappointed 
 in it } May I make bold to afk what you 
 expected } Belike there be bigger book-rooms 
 at your Univerfities ; but for a country gentle- 
 man — well, I thought it had been fomething 
 beyond common. Mafler Britain's hand was 
 familiar with those heavy volumes, Sir ; but 
 they are fpoiling for want of care — the damp 
 mildews them in winter, and the fun rots 
 them in fummer, ftreaming in on them 
 through that fouth window with ne'er a 
 blind. 
 
 Miftrefs Anne ufed to be here a good deal ; 
 poring over the books with her coufm. She
 
 Mijlrcfs Aline AJkezv. 1 1 
 
 had a turn for fhudy, Sir ; it was born in her 
 Perhaps it had been better had flie ne'er 
 learnt to read. Nobody comes here now, but 
 Mafter Nicholas Moldwarp. Who is he, do 
 you fay. Sir ? A reverend and clerkly gentle- 
 man, though of humble defcent, Sir. His 
 father was houfe-fteward to Sir William. 
 Little Nick, as he was ufed to be called, took 
 hugely to his book, and it came to Sir Wil- 
 liam's knowledge, and he favoured him and let 
 him learn of his chaplain, and he was fent to 
 St, John's College, Cambridge. 
 
 At eighteen years of age. Sir, he was made 
 bachelor of arts. That fhowed good fcholar- 
 fliip, I fuppofe .'' I remember we all thought 
 much of it. He was elated a little, I think, 
 by what was thought of him here at home, 
 and he gave out that he was pretty fure to get 
 a Fellowlhip. But difficulties arofe. Sir : he 
 had become tinftured with the new opinions. 
 Some evil in his throat, like as of the core of 
 an apple in his wind-pipe, came on whene'er 
 he eflayed to read aloud or fpeak for a con- 
 tinuance ; and this growing worfe and hinder- 
 ing his advancement. Sir William made him 
 keeper of the Book-room, and fent him abroad 
 with Mafter Francis.
 
 12 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 Yes, he lives ftill, Sir. Sir Francis is 
 dead ; but Mafter Moldvvarp, though his 
 fenior, is not. His blamelefs courfe, Sir, has 
 conduced to long living ; but he has had his 
 forrows. He is now very withered, very 
 fhaky . . . trembling like the laft November 
 leaf on the bough ; but his mind as clear as 
 ever, Sir ; and he llill hangs about the old 
 place. 
 
 He hath a penfion of Ten Pounds by the 
 year. That was granted to him for dedi- 
 cating a Book to the King's Majefty, which 
 he went up and prefented to him at Green- 
 wich. It took him a deal of pains to write, 
 and was fayd to be above common, Sir. 
 What was the fubjeft .? Well, Sir, The 
 Adornment of Gardens. 
 
 A trivial fubject, ye may think, and un- 
 likelie for a great Scholar to write upon ; but 
 I've heard him fay there's no Subje6l fo Bald 
 and unpromifing but a Genius may ingrayn 
 and overlay it with choice Conceits and 
 Clafficalities. Maybe King Henry would 
 have afifecled it more, had it been touching 
 Polemics, but that would not have been fuch 
 fafe ground ; for I've heard the King was apt 
 to change his own Mind, fo that what he
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 1 3 
 
 prayfed to-day, he might punifh to-morrow . . 
 Gardening was fafe ground, Sir. 
 
 Ye Ihould have feen the prefentation copy, 
 done on veHum, with fine bordures of gold 
 and divers colours — the gold-leaf layd on 
 quite in plates, like as the old Monks ufed 
 to do. Mafter Moldwarp had a gift that way, 
 which he improved abroad. 
 
 When Queen Mary came to the Throne, 
 he lofb his Penfion, and had to fhift for his 
 living an' keep clofe to fave his Life. We 
 all loved him fo well that he harboured fafely 
 among us, and he moftly tables with me 
 ftill. But, by the bounty of our gracioufe 
 Queen, his Penfion hath been reftored. Happy 
 the Land that hath a Godly Queen, 
 
 Sir, it is pouring of Rain — your goodly 
 Apparel will be drenched, if ye effay to go 
 forthe ere the Storm hath fpent itfelf. An* 
 you will condefcend. Sir, to accompany me to 
 the Steward's Room, which is nearly the only 
 inhabited corner of the Houfe, you fhall have, 
 not a Manchet, but a good Barley Loaf; and 
 three Mutton-bones boiled ; and fhall fee and 
 converfe with Mafter Moldwarp, an' it like 
 vou.
 
 14 The Fairc Gqfpeller, 
 
 Good Will! fweet Will! hadft thou been 
 in my place, thou wouldft have made precious 
 Merchandize of this old Maunderer ; and, 
 couldft thou have feen the Deferted old 
 Manor Houfe, all mouldering and decaying 
 bit by bit, and the Pleafance fo rankly o'er- 
 grown, and the defaced Picture of that fair 
 Creature — fcarce fixteen at the time — and 
 the old tattered green Bed fhe flept in, and 
 the old Book-room flie haunted — I know full 
 well thou wouldft have become fo poffeffed 
 of her prefence, as that, having brooded on 
 it awhile, firft on the fpot, and then in thy 
 Bank-fide Lodging, thou wouldft have called 
 her into Life agayn, in one of thofe marvel- 
 loufe Creations of thine which thou art ^en 
 now devifmg. 
 
 Now, forafmuch as I am at this prefent 
 fliut into mine ill Lodging by fettled Rain, I 
 find time to jot down all was fayd to me by 
 this grey-haired blue-coated old Serving-man, 
 who was not ill-pleafed to get a Companion 
 and Auditor; and mefeenis, in thus doing, 1 
 may be fupplying yju, molt gifted Will, with
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 15 
 
 Notes pour Servyr. Read them to the. end, 
 then, and caft them not incontinently into 
 the Wood-fire that burns on Thy Hearth e'en 
 in open-cafement feafon, chiefly for the pur- 
 pofe, I fufpeft, of burning wafte paper. 
 
 This old Servitor is very deaf, as well as 
 well ftricken in years. You will perceive he 
 repeated almoft everything I fayd to him ; to 
 make fure, as 'twere, of not mifapprehending 
 me. Thus I have fent you not a Dialogue, 
 but Monologue. 
 
 Agayn, his fpeech was hardlie that of a 
 mere Houfe Porter ; and I take it to be for 
 this reafon — that he meffes dailie with a good 
 Scholar whofe converfe imparts a kind of 
 intelligence to his owne. Tell me your 
 Companions, and fo forthe — the Proverb is 
 fomething ftale. By commerce with a 
 fuperior Mind, the inferior acquires fome- 
 thing, however little, tindlure from it. Par 
 exeniple, I may and mufl have been fomewhat 
 fliarpened at thy whetftone, gentle Will — 
 albeit I am to thee as Cloth of Frieze to 
 Cloth of Gold. 
 
 The old Man took me through fundrie 
 damp ftone paffages ; and whenever a door 
 fluit to behind him, 'twas with a ghoflly
 
 1 6 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 clang that echoed through the emptie Houfe 
 Sometimes, when he fumbled at a rufly lock, 
 it feemed me fome confcious Prefence breathed 
 a cold Breath on my Cheek or the nape of 
 my Neck. Now and then, in dark corners, I 
 thought I heard a Sigh. 
 
 At length we reached the Houfe Steward's 
 Room, where, though there was little befide 
 an old oaken Table, Bench, and Stool, a 
 decaying fire, treen platters, and a black jack 
 — there was more an air of human, living 
 comfort than in any other apartment of that 
 forlorn houfe. Dozing or mufing over that 
 handful of red embers, with his pale, bony 
 hands on his knees, fate a lean old man who 
 might have been your Holofernes, returning 
 blink for blink with an old grey Cat. 
 
 He, looking leifurely round, as if affured 
 of only feeing his old chum, opened his 
 eyes wide at my unexpe6led apparition, and 
 greeted me with a wiftful ftare. To him 
 fayd mine ufher how that I was a noble and 
 worthy gentleman who, for regard to tJie 
 Family (as though there had been but one 
 in the world) had fought out that removed 
 place, for no other earthly reafon than to look 
 at the old walls, and the portraieture of Mif-
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 17 
 
 trefs Aane : and that a fquall of wind and 
 rain having befallen, he had bidden me to his 
 poor table to break my faft however meanly. 
 
 Sayd Mafter Holofernes — Mafter Mold- 
 warp, I mean — with a dignity that became 
 him, " Sir, you are welcome. Jafper and I 
 commonly partake our meal head to head, as 
 the Frenchman fays — The advent of a third 
 party is almoft iniexampled, and by no means 
 unwelcome. I would we could fhow him 
 better entertainment." 
 
 I protefted againft the need or the wifh. 
 With a mute gefture of the hand he waved 
 the fubject out of fight, and thereupon we 
 drew round the old board with ne'er a cloth 
 on't, and pulled at the barley loaf and black 
 jack in right good fellowfhip. Nor was 
 formal grace forgotten : and when the old 
 ftudent quenched his drought, he toafted 
 " To better times ; " and fetched a figh. 
 
 Why feek for better } quod I. Sure the 
 times are mended fince you were a fchoolboy. 
 
 You may fay fo, you may fay fo, quod he, 
 fliaking his old poll, that had a trick o' trem- 
 bling already. Why, Sir, I can remember the 
 vvorfl times this land ever knew — times that 
 your nurfe may have feared you with flories
 
 1 8 The Faire Gofpcller, 
 
 of — days when the godly of this realm had 
 trial of cruel mockings and fcourgings, of 
 bonds and imprifonment — were tempted, were 
 tried, were flain with the fword, were burned 
 with fire. You have heard of it with the 
 hearing of the ear, but mine eyes have feen it. 
 
 (Confirmed by Jafper with fomewhat be- 
 tween a grunt and a grone.) 
 
 Something I have heard of this, replied I, 
 with affumed lightnefs, but what the eye does 
 not fee, the heart does not rue. 
 
 Probatum ejl, rejoined the old man, and 
 feemed fhutting his memories up, which was 
 not what I wanted. 
 
 If you have any exemplars to quote, fayd I, 
 bending towards him, and fpeaking loudly 
 and diftinftly, all I can fay is that any recol- 
 le6lions you can unfold and will condefcend to 
 impart, will find an apprehenfive auditor. 
 
 Sir, I am not deaf, fayd he, fomething 
 quickly. Indeed my age is great, but my 
 hearing is not dulled, nor my mental force 
 abated. I think I may fay fo, Jafper } (Two 
 nods from Jafper.) My hand, indeed, doth 
 vibrate a little, which makes my penmanfhip 
 falter fomewhat ; but yet I write, Sir. Yes, 
 I write a little llill !
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkcw. 1 9 
 
 I am not ignorant, fayd I, of your pre- 
 tenfions as an author. (A good touch that, 
 Will!) 
 
 The bait took. No } fayd he, with a curious, 
 pleafed fmile fleeting over his wizen face. 
 May I be fo bold as to inquire what work of 
 mine you have perufed t 
 
 Have you ever furpaffed that which you 
 dedicated to the King } 
 
 Well — no — quod he, doubtfully. I con- 
 ceited you referred to that — 'Tis the only 
 thing of mine that will live — A few brochures 
 that made a noife, Sir, at the time, have all 
 dropt out of fight. 
 
 Sic tranfit gloria mtmdi, fayd I appro- 
 priately ; which was well received. 
 
 All this while the fky had been getting 
 darker and darker, the atmofphere flifling ; 
 and at this moment a vivid Lightning flafli 
 paffmg right between us, made us ftart from 
 our feats, and was followed the next inftant by 
 a deafening crafh of thunder. It made us 
 wink, I might fay wince ; for a minute we 
 were all dead filent, and then Mafter Mold- 
 warp began, rather under his breath, to recite 
 the Twenty-ninth Pfalm — Vox Domini fupef 
 aquas, Dcus majejlatis intonnit : Dominiis
 
 20 TJie Faire GofpcUcr, 
 
 fupcr aqjias imiltas. Vox Domini in virtute : 
 vox Domini in magnificentia, etc. 
 
 Wnen he got to confringcntis cedros he 
 made a folemne paufe ; looking at Jafper with 
 meaning. And Jafper told me there had 
 indeed been a mighty Cedar overfhadowing 
 that unfortunate Iloufe, that was lliivered to 
 fplinters by a lightning flalh, the very day 
 and hour that Miftrefs Anne fuffered. 
 
 Methinks everything brings us round agayn 
 to Miflrefs Anne, fayd I. 
 
 Belike, belike, the old man fayd foftly. Oh, 
 Sir, the time cannot now be far off when I 
 fhall enter the fame Prefence where Ihe is, 
 whether by rough or fmooth path. 
 
 I folicited him with much endeavour to tell 
 me all he knew or could remember of her, 
 from which at firft he held back. At length 
 on my vaunting fomcwhat the endowments 
 and acquirements of an illuftrious, gifted 
 Friend of mine, (thyfelf. Will,) to whofe wit 
 mine own was l)ut as the Scabbard to the 
 Sword, and who now held a prom.inent place, 
 though infinitely below that he merited, in the 
 world's efleem, and that he coveted and would 
 prize any particulars I could give him (excufe 
 that fiourifli), his curiofity became awakened,
 
 Mijlrefs Amie AJkew. 21 
 
 and he qiieflioned me Ihrewdly refpe6ling 
 the courfe your genius had chofen. When I 
 mentioned the Stage, it was plain to fee you 
 loft fome elevation in his opinion. 
 
 The fock and bufkin, quod he, have been 
 held in refpecl from the days of Thefpis his 
 cart, by reafon of great poets fuch as ^fchylus, 
 Sophocles, and Euripides making their dramas 
 the vehicles of great and profound truths. 
 Yet we know too well that the exceffive 
 love of the Greeks and Romans for their 
 Theatres, and finally their Amphitheatres, de- 
 moralized and debafed them more than any- 
 thing elfe. Wherefore, Sir, I hold it a thing 
 to be regretted, that in thefe more inflru6led 
 times, wherein the pure Gofpel light fhineth, 
 our court and city are alike given to the 
 patronage and encouragement of thefe foolifh, 
 licentious toys. . . . Peradventure I am ad- 
 dreffmg a dramatift. ....<* 
 
 (I difclaimed the honour.) 
 
 Or a player ....'' 
 
 (I denied the imputation.) 
 
 Nay then, I offend you not, young Sir, in 
 declaiming againft one of the greateft temp- 
 tations to wafte time in the metropolis, where 
 the language is often impure and prolane,
 
 22 TJie Fa Ire Gofpeller, 
 
 the drefs immodeft, the examples enfnaring, 
 the views of human hfe and character un- 
 natural, the morality highly dangerous, the 
 company pernicious. 
 
 I afked whether he had lately vifited the 
 capital. 
 
 Not for twenty years and more, he replied. 
 
 Then I affured him things were not as bad 
 there as he imagined ; and it may be I 
 coloured the pifture a little too brightly. He 
 obferved with fimplicity, that he was glad 
 things had changed fo much for the better. 
 The old Myfteries and Moralities had been 
 myfteries of immorality and profanity, com- 
 pelling the word of God to fupply matter for 
 buffoons. He fhould deem the glorious and 
 bleffed Reformation near perfe6lion when 
 comedies, mafques, and interludes were 
 baniflied altogether. Now we had become 
 men, we fliould put afide childifh things. 
 
 I obferved, You include not tragedies. . . . 
 
 Ah, fayd he, with a dolourous figh, we find 
 tragedies in real life beyond any that were 
 writ by the old Greeks. 
 
 I prefTed him more clofely ; and at length 
 out there came fuch a tale of woe and forrow 
 as for piteoufnefs exceeded that fabrication of
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 23 
 
 thine, Will, that beguiled the time as we 
 footed it up to London, trufting, like Dick 
 Whittington, to find its ftreets paved with 
 gold. 
 
 In fine, he robbed me of fome tears ; and 
 old Jafper too, waking up from a doze, and 
 taking up the ftory he knew by heart already, 
 where he found us at it, was fain to brufh 
 his hand now and then acrofs his eyes : add- 
 ing here and there fome correlative circum- 
 fiance. 
 
 I made a minute or two of times and 
 places ; obferving which, Mafter Moldwarp 
 faid 'twas pity my tablets were fo fmall, and 
 half-filled already. 
 
 Then I afl^cd him whether he of his 
 courtefy might not be prevailed on to vacate 
 a certain portion of his leifure (his life is 
 nothing elfe) to the perpetuating with his 
 mafterly pen the fragment of family hiftory 
 he had been relating to me. He fmiled a 
 little at the word mafterly ; fayd his writing 
 days were part . . . time had been when, an' 
 if he would . . . but he was in the fear and 
 yellow leaf now . . . perhaps, if he addreffed 
 himfelf to it at fome propitious feafon he 
 might jot down a thing or two, might profit
 
 24 TJie Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 me and my gifted friend, in the way of 
 Chriftian warning and example. 
 
 I fomewhat eagerly rejoined, that if he 
 would furnifli the fable, we would fit the 
 moral ourfelves. 
 
 Fables I am too old for, fayd he gravely, 
 and fo, I think, are you. But an' if an old 
 man's broken record of fome events that will 
 never die out of his mind while memory lafts, 
 can afford you a little plcafure, I may well 
 effay to fupply them, for the fake of the plea- 
 fant hour we have had together. 
 
 I thanked him warmly and took him at his 
 word. Then, after fome little arrangement 
 how the manufcript Pnould be fent me, we 
 parted like the befi of friends. 
 
 Jafper remarked that the rain had now 
 ceafed ; and indeed, as I picked my way down 
 the foaked Avenue, where the old track was 
 fcarce difcernable for weeds, I obferved with 
 delight that e'en the minutefi leaf, bud, and 
 blade of grafs, fparkled in the fun as if befet 
 with diamonds. 
 
 Returned to the poor Inn where I fup, I 
 have cheated the elfe heavy time during a 
 recurrence of the fummer florm, by fetting 
 down thefe particulars as a fort of prologue
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 25 
 
 to the old-world narrative I hope foon to 
 lend you. Till then, I lay afide thefe leaves 
 and releafe my thoughts from the Deferted 
 Houfe. 
 
 postscriptum. 
 
 Old Friend, 
 
 Years have paffed by fince I penned 
 thefe nearly forgotten pages. The old man 
 feemed to have failed of his promife ; but I 
 did him injuftice, for his manufcript hath juft 
 come to hand, after many delays and mif- 
 chances by the way. With regard to it, I 
 may fay, He, being dead, yet fpeaketh. It is 
 even fo ; Maftcr Moldwarp, after attaining 
 extreme old age, hath gone to his reft. His 
 works will follow him : his good deeds to tef- 
 tify in his favour ; his writings will refolve 
 'emfelves to duft like his poor body. What 
 need to covet this world's immortality, when 
 the other and better imperifliable life is in 
 queflion } You yourfelf feem to feel fome- 
 thing of this, judging by the neglect to 
 which you have configned your admired 
 
 2
 
 26 
 
 The Faire Gofpeller. 
 
 works, without giving them even a revife, 
 This, I think, you owe the World, that will 
 not confent to let them die. Howbeit, if you 
 will not hear Mafter Jonfon on this head, you 
 are not likely to hear me. 
 
 The old man's tale is different from what I 
 had expected — I doubt your making any ufe 
 of it : yet, funning yourfelf in the pleached 
 alleys of New Place, or feated within your 
 parlour lattice, with pippins and carraways on 
 the table, it may beguile the half-hour after 
 dinner, when you happen to be free from the 
 importunity of a gueft.
 
 NOTES POUR SERVYR 
 
 SET DOWN BY Ye UNWORTHIE PEN OF 
 NICHOLAS MOLDWARP, B.A. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 How we lojl 07ir loved Lady. 
 
 N olde Mafs Prieft, hight Sir Mau- 
 rice, a man much beloved and of 
 moft fweet conditions, was chaplain 
 and confeffor to the right worlhipful 
 and my fmgular good Mafter, Sir William 
 Afkew of Stallingboro', Lincolnfliire, Knight. 
 Thinking he perceived in me good Promife, 
 — for, though but Houfe Steward's fon, a love 
 of Letters had been born in me — he induced 
 the noble Knight firft to put me to School, 
 and then to fend me to Cambridge. 
 
 As a mere Boy, I had lived at our Farm, 
 but was continuallie at the Hall for fomething 
 or other, and on pleafant footing with the
 
 28 The Fa ire Gojpeller, 
 
 young Folk. There were Mafter Francis, 
 Mafter Edward, Mafter Roger, Milirefs 
 Patty, Miflrefs Anne, and, Mifcrefs Joan. 
 Sir William liked to have me about Mafter 
 Francis (feveral years my junior), in theiiope 
 I might make him more bookifh : and oft- 
 times we went a fi filing together. This 
 reminds me of a little Trait that amufed me 
 at the time, and was brought ftronglie back 
 to me long afterwards. 
 
 I was bird-nefting one fide a Hedge, on 
 the other fide of which Mafter Francis and 
 little Miftrefs Anne were in the Home-clofe, 
 gathering Crowfoot and Trefoil for their Pet 
 Lamb. Kine were feeding in the Meadow, 
 and prefentlie Miftrefs Anne sayth : 
 
 " Frank, the big Bull's looking at us." 
 
 "Never mind," quod he carelefflie, "keep 
 your eye on him, and he won't run at you." 
 
 But, anon, looking up himfelf, and feeing 
 the Bull draw near, he o' sudden took Panic 
 and fled for his. Life, and vaulted over the 
 flyle, leaving the brave little Mayd facing the 
 Bull as he had bidden her, I made no moe 
 ado, but cleared the ftyle the next moment, 
 and caught her out of danger. When I 
 afked her " Were ye not feared .-' " flie made
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJIcew. 2g 
 
 anfwer, " A little, but Frank told mc there 
 was no Peril if I faced it." When I afked 
 Mafter Francis how his praclice came to be 
 fo diverfe from his precept, he looked con- 
 fufed, but did not fay. 
 
 I was fifteen yeares old when I entered St. 
 John's College, Cambridge. The univerfity 
 roll was at that time full of great Names. 
 My tutor was Hugh Fitzherbert, Fellow 
 of St. John's, who, with his fvvorn friend 
 Pember, defpifed not my youth, but incited 
 me to prefs forward in the Race that was fet 
 before me. • 
 
 By applying to my Studies with all Dili- 
 gence, I took my Bachelor's Degree at the 
 age of Eighteen, which was accounted early. 
 I had good hope of a Fellowlhip before 
 Twenty. But a Squinancy in my Throat 
 left fuch a weaknefs behind it as prevented 
 all hope, for the time being, of my Lecturing 
 or fpeaking in Publique ; and this difappoint- 
 ment, together with fome Difcountenance 
 from Do6lor Medcalfe, who held me too much 
 led away by what was termed " the new 
 learning," and therefore warned all the Fel- 
 lows not to be fo bold as to give me their 
 Voyce in the Ele6lion — fo affe6led my Health
 
 30 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 and diflcmpered my Spirits, as that I was 
 forced to return home to be nurfed, having 
 been abfent from it three years. And there- 
 after, Sir William made me keeper of his 
 Book-room. 
 
 'Tis pity, o' my Life, when narrow Means 
 mate wide Afpirings. Sir William's Means 
 were not narrow, for a Countrie Gentleman 
 dwelling on his own Eftate ; but acquaint- 
 ance with a too luxurious Court had greatly 
 flraitened him. He had attended King 
 Henry the Eighth to the Field of Cloth of 
 Gold, with as faire an equipage and retinue as 
 any Knight in Lincolnfhire could have boaft- 
 ed. But he paid dear for his fhort Glorye. I 
 need not remind ye that the nobilitie and 
 gentry of England and France vyed with 
 each other on that Occafion in lavifh Ex- 
 penfe. Many of 'em involved themfelves in 
 great Debts, and were not able by the Penury 
 of all theire after Lives, to repair the coft of 
 that vaine .Splendour of fo fhorte Duracion. 
 
 Sir, it was thus with Sir William. 1, hen 
 he returned to Stallingboro', all the ct-'inty 
 Gentry flocked about him to heare how and 
 about it, and there was much Feafling, much 
 Entertayniug, much Caroufing, and much
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 31 
 
 Jefting that was not convenient. All the 
 while, Sir William had a Thorn in his heart 
 that he mafked under a fmiling face ; and 
 when the Round was run, and we fettled into 
 our Places agayn, he took a ftrict account of 
 his Houfehold and Eftate, to fee how he 
 could retrench, and his Retinue was di- 
 minifhed, and timber was cut down, and land 
 was fold, and the tables were mul6led of 
 certayn Meates, and Scambling-days came 
 not onlie in Lent, and oftener than on Mon- 
 days and Saturdays. I ufed full oft to fee the 
 Chequirroills, and I remember the Servants 
 were to have no Board Wages in thofe Days, 
 they went about their own Bufmeffe, and 
 Chickens were onlie to be ferved at Sir 
 William's Mefs, and Woodcocks to be bought 
 at a Penny a-piece at the moft, and Sea Pies 
 at principall Feafbs and no other, and the 
 fame with Herons and Cranes, and Pygges 
 not to coft more than iv^. or vd. That was 
 the old Rule ; and if the Caterer raifed the 
 Prices of his Stuff otherwife than he was 
 wont to do, he was to be reafoned with upon 
 it. But now, fmall Birdes were not to come 
 to table at all, fave fuch as we fnared our- 
 felves, and no white Salt was to be ufed, fave
 
 32 TJie Faire Go/pt'ller, 
 
 for Sir William's Mefs, and no Lambs be 
 bought, when dear, e'en for the firft Mefs, 
 nor yet Stockfifh we wanted not, for its 
 cheapnefs ; all Beer to be brewed in the 
 Iloufe, all Bread made in the Bakehoufe, all 
 Vinaigre made of ye broken Wines ; and 
 Leathern not Earthen Jacks ufed by the Men 
 for drinking. In fine, I think Sir William 
 would ha' been glad, had we been created 
 without mouths, like the AJloini, that People 
 of whom Pliny fpeaks : not but what I hold 
 that ftory to be P^able or P'ancy, derived, 
 maybe, from their covering the lower part of 
 their Faces. 
 
 Now, all this fkimping proceeded from an 
 honeft, honourable defire in Sir William, to 
 pay his Debts and recover his Independence, 
 wherefore we did not mind it much, at leaft 
 I did not, though it hurt me for my Father 
 to be fo hauled over the Coals as he often 
 was. 
 
 This was the ftate of Houfekeeping ftill 
 carrying on when I became one of the Houfe- 
 hold ; but we were all mighty happy in our 
 feverall fafliions ; for in truth. Ill-humours 
 could fcarcc abide where my Lady was, fo 
 fweet and gracioufe was her nature. But I
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJhew. 33 
 
 noted a Penfivenefs on her dear face it had 
 ne'er worn before, which I now think arofe 
 from a Prefcience of her Fate. She was very 
 kind to me ; woulde prefcribe Honey and 
 Borax for my Throat, and divers Syrops and 
 Emollients. Some travelled Perfonage had 
 told her of the wondrous fair Gardens in 
 Italy ; and one of her Delices was to work 
 out her pretty fantafies on the old Pleafance, 
 wherein I oft affifted her with my Mathe- 
 matiques in laying out Geometrical Figures. 
 Sometimes flie would fay, " If I had your 
 ready Pen, Nicholas, I would work it out on 
 Paper." 
 
 Sir William had loved to humour her 
 hitherto, and had gone to much expenfe for 
 Lapidary-work ; but now, when flie wiflied 
 for a Fountain, he fayd, "In a word, my 
 Love, it may not be afforded.'" She uttered 
 not a word of Difappointment, but quietlie 
 counter-ordered fome adornments flie had 
 intended for her Grotto ; and I believe the 
 bought not fo much as a kerchief or quoiffure 
 from that moment, but made thofe (he had 
 by her, ferve. 
 
 In a little while, flie was fnatchcd from us ; 
 leaving in her place a little, wawling Infant 
 
 2*
 
 34 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 The Mow fell on us like a Thunder-clap : 
 the checrfulle Manfion became a Funebral 
 Maufoleum. The Chamber flie had died in 
 was fhuttered and locked up : that which Sir 
 William adopted in its ftead was the difmal- 
 left in the Houfe. In place of Mirrours and 
 pleafant Pidlures, it had a Skull and Croff- 
 bones, a Relic or two, and a Spanifli painting 
 of the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence. In this 
 Chamber Sir William long time immured 
 himfelf, macerating his body with long fafting, 
 breaking his reft with untimeous vigils, fo that 
 he became more like a Spe6lre than a Man. 
 
 All this partook of a humorous Mellan- 
 cholie which the good Chaplain Sir Maurice 
 called moft unwholefome. The Houfe was fo 
 dulled by it, that Mafter Francis, now fifteen, 
 was the lefs loath to go to Cambridge, albeit 
 with little turn for fludy. His younger 
 brothers were left pretty much to their own 
 devices, with the Gamekeepers or in the 
 Stables ; the little Ladies were fecluded out 
 of fight in the Nurfery ; which we greatly 
 deplored, becaufe their pretty voices, though 
 like to pierce the Father's Heart at firfl, would 
 have fed a fwcet Humanity, and foon have 
 proven his greateft Solace.
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 35 
 
 After fome weeks, however, Sir William 
 took order for a better difpoficion of his 
 Houfehold. Miftrefs Patty was fetched away 
 by one of her Aunts, who thenceforth brought 
 her up : and Sir William's bewidowed Sifter, 
 Miftrefs Britain, came to rule over his houfe, 
 bringing her onlie Son, Mafter Edmund, to 
 take '^he run of the houfe with his Coufins. 
 
 And now, little pattering feet would agayn 
 find their way into the Book-room, and when 
 Sir William went forth to ride, his abfence 
 xnight be known by the fhrieks of Laughter 
 at being tickled and chafed about, that rang 
 through the Houfe. I was ftudying hard at 
 that time, maftering fundrie living Languages, 
 but oft-times I fet my Books afide to fport with 
 the Children and tell them ftoryes ; while 
 Miftrefs Britain was bufy in the Store-room 
 or Stille-room, or overfeeing the Kitchen 
 from the little, latticed Gallery. 
 
 Shortlie thefe Joculations were held to have 
 paffed bounds. Sir William fummoned me to 
 him one day, and thus befpake me : — 
 
 *' Nicholas, there is a way in which thou 
 mayft make thyfelf a little lefs unprofitable to 
 me. The children are growing miforderly, 
 they are old enough now to apply to regular
 
 36 TJie Faire Gofpdlcr, 
 
 tal'kes. See to it, therefore, that they hence- 
 forth come to thee for tutoring. Even Miftrefs 
 Anne is equal to her Letters." 
 
 'Twas fourly fpoken ; but never was office 
 more readiHe accepted. I fayd — 
 
 " Sir WilHam, to perform your beheft will 
 be the greateft of pleafure to me," and bowed 
 lowlie before him. 
 
 " See ye fpoil them not," fayd he fternly. 
 " You muft have a little rod." 
 
 "Very well, Sir," fayd I, knowing that an' 
 I had fayd I trufted there would be no neede, 
 he would have fupplyed one himfelf, and a 
 thick one. 
 
 " I was not half whipt myfelf," added he, 
 as I turned to go. " Had I been better cor- 
 rected, as a boy, I had been a better man." 
 
 " We all need correction fometimes, Sir," 
 fayd I mildlie : — on my life, only to fay fome- 
 thing infleade of nothing. 
 
 " O indeed ! and pray, what corre6lion do 1 
 want .-• " 
 
 I ftoode abafht, and fayd, " Indeed, Sir 
 William, I know not." 
 
 " I fliould think fo," fayd he Ihortly. Then, 
 as I quickened my pace toward the Door, he 
 called me back, and fayd feverely —
 
 Mijlrejs Aiinc AJkeiv. 37 
 
 " You do not mean to imply, I fuppole, thai 
 my great and dreadful Bereavement was fent 
 as a Corre6lion ? " 
 
 " No more, Sir," anfwered I deprecatinglie, 
 " than the Tower that fell on the Galileans." 
 
 " Good fo . . . onlie, whenever people har- 
 bour ill of me in their Thoughts, I had much 
 rather they fpake it out." 
 
 " Good Sir William . . . mine honoured Pa- 
 tron," cried I, " what call could I, your moft 
 unworthie Servant, poffibly have to harbour 
 evill Thoughts of one who has onlie accumu- 
 lated Kindneffes on me } I fliould be of all 
 Men the mofl ungratefuU ! " 
 
 " Weil, I think you would," fayd he, foften- 
 ing. " There, go now . . . I've no more to fay 
 Get you gone. And mind ! don't forget the 
 rod ! " 
 
 I fuppofe this was reiterated left I fliould 
 go away too happy. O how diftempered was 
 the poor Knight's mind ! how changed from 
 what it was aforetime. I found little Miftrefs 
 Anne in the Book-room, playing with her 
 Dolls ; which flie would fain make me kifs. 
 Then fhe got upon my knee, and laid her 
 fatin-foft cheek next mine. 
 
 " The idea," thought I, as I careffed her 
 
 *}4 

 
 38 The Fairc Gofpcller, 
 
 with delight, " of fcoring this foft fkin with 
 (Iripes ! " And I recalled the Scriptural ex- 
 [)refl'ion, " his fkin came agayn unto him, 
 like thejkin of a little ch ild. " A n d agay n , I fay 
 fayth " the Calf, and the young Lion, and 
 the Fatling together, a/ul a little child Jliall 
 lead them." And agayn what fayd our 
 Saviour ? " Of fuch is the kingdom of 
 Heaven." 
 
 I was a young Man then, I am an old 
 Man now ; but I hold ftill, as I ever did, 
 that young children are better allured to 
 Learning by Love than Beating. Obedience 
 there muft be ; that's the foundation-flone of 
 all ; but that may be obtained by a wife 
 Love. 
 
 Thus, I aimed to draw rather than drive 
 my young charges to their tafkes ; and did fo 
 A'ith faire fuccefs. The young Gentlemen, 
 indeede, were fomewhat obflreperous ; but 
 the promife of a Story, or to help them catch 
 a Trout, or bend their Bow, or make a Ball 
 for 'em, ftrengthened my hold on them 
 mightily. The Rod, indeed, was made, 
 though never ufed ; at leaft by me. It hung 
 on the wall like a Kite on a Barn-door, 
 till one unluckie day, when Miftrefs Anne
 
 Mijlrefs Atine AJkew. 39 
 
 committed fome childifh Mifdemeanour. 
 I believe flie would not be wafhed. Sir 
 William, chancing to heare the Nurfe's 
 angry tone, would know what it meant. 
 She moft unwifely, made the worft of it ; 
 whereon he, without a word of reafoning or 
 commard (the child would have minded 
 him, X' ly on't) and without deferring the 
 matte/ to Miftrefs Britain, whofe province it 
 properly was, ftrides, black as night, to the 
 Boot' -room, takes down the dufty rod, and in 
 a lit'ile while I heard a fhrilly wail. Ah, it 
 fmote rny heart ! Mafter Britain, who was 
 conflruing to me, flopped fhort. When Sir 
 William went out, I fayd to the lad, " Go 
 and comfort her." He brought her in, all 
 bedabbled with tears. 
 
 Children's woes are foon comforted . . . 
 prefently they were at play in the garden. 
 Sir William thought he had done well. 
 Perhaps he had — Eli was a good old Prieft, 
 but he kept not his fons in the right path. 
 But fee here — It had been better the Rod 
 had never been made. For when we've 
 made a thing, our fingers itch to ufe it. We 
 think it no good hanging by the Wall.
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 How we came by our new Lady. 
 
 FTER this, Miftrefs Anne was 
 duteous, obedient, forgiving, and 
 loving ; but fhe had a dread of her 
 Father ihe knew not before. Sometimes, 
 though rarehe, he would carefs her, and 
 fhe would fweetly return his carefs ; but not 
 as file would fly up to me, even till a big 
 girl of feven or eight ; hugging and kiffnig 
 me till I was fain to bid her defift. She 
 obeyed ; but with a droll look ; making as 
 though fhe were going to kifs me, and then 
 turning off. For fhe could be very droll 
 and waggifli, could Miftrefs Anne. 
 
 As for Miftrefs Patty, fhe was getting her 
 education in the houfehold of an honourable 
 Lady much at court, who had fundrie young 
 Gentlewomen in her Houfehold, and a 
 Mother of the Maids to have the overfight 
 of tliem. Mewed up they were, the moft 
 of their time, at their tapeflry and otlier
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJJceiv. 41 
 
 work ; and full glad, for Diverfion, to get 
 their Icffons in Mufique and Dancing ; but 
 it was held a fpeciall privilege for them to 
 get the training, with chance of Hufbands 
 or Court Preferment afterwards. How fuch 
 training and fuch preferment fometimes 
 anfwered, Queen Anne Boleyn and Queen 
 Katherine Howard perhaps might tell. 
 
 What better could be done, Sir .? Now 
 my Lady was gone, there was a poor look- 
 out for the daughters at home : for Miflrefs 
 Britain, great in a Sick-room or Still-room 
 or Wardrobe, had never trained young Gen- 
 tlewomen. As for the young Gentlemen, 
 when their time came, they learnt for to ride 
 comely, run fair at the ring, (hoot with bow 
 and with gun, and play at all weapons ; vault 
 their own height, race, wreftle, fwim ; hawk, 
 hunt, play at tennis and bowls ; of the re- 
 fpeaive proper Teachers ; all of which took 
 them for the mofl part of their time, ye will 
 fee, out of my fight ; or when they came in 
 to conftrue a little, they would be out of 
 breath and in a heat, and fmelling of the 
 Stable ; and I grieve to fay they learned 
 ftable talk and liable oaths more deftly than 
 Latin and Greek. Mafter Edmund Britain,
 
 42 The Faire Gofpcller, 
 
 indeed, was fleady to his Book, for he had 
 his way to make in the world and knew it. 
 He was a pleafant, compofed, confcientioiis 
 Lad, whofe good points were not fully efti- 
 mated by his coufins. 
 
 Every year I vifited Cambridge, to im 
 prove my parts, keep up old friendfliips and 
 borrow books. Often I was preffed to re- 
 main there and ftudy for a fellowfliip, but 
 the defire had ceafed within me ; I loved my 
 Book-room beft. To me, in return, came 
 now and then fome fellow-ftudent, dufly and 
 foot-fore, whom, as Sir William difliked not 
 the reputation of a fmall Mecaenas, I was 
 privileged to entertayn ; and thus, through 
 the loophole of retirement I got infight into 
 what was paffing in the world ; wherein 
 Doctor Martin Luther was beginning to 
 make a ftir. 
 
 In my learn'd and peacefull feclufion I alfo 
 had leifure to carry on lengthened correfpon- 
 dences with college friends on the fubjeCts 
 then ftirring men's minds ; and becaufe oi 
 my acquirement of the German tongue 
 (which was more by the Eye than the Ear, 
 wherefore I could read it better than fpeak 
 it), from time to time a friend would fend me
 
 Mijlrefs Aime AJkew. 43 
 
 a German treatife to tranflate ; the which 
 fometimcs brought money into my purfe, 
 though I mainly did it for love. 
 
 Thefe works were in fome inftances, thofe 
 of Martin Luther, which I naturally perufed 
 with that fond attention, which truth, accom- 
 panied by novelty, ufually commands. How 
 frefh and forcible they were. Sir ! though on 
 What ye may pleafe to term fuch hacknied 
 fubjefts. But Truth Divine can ne'er grow 
 old ; and here were what we had been accuf 
 tomed to count for truths, and let pafs as 
 fuch, proven to be no truths at all, when fet 
 face to face with Scripture. The fophiftry 
 of the Schools thus began to be lefs efteemed, 
 and Scripture itfelf, like a mighty Rock and 
 unfliakeable, to become more and more re- 
 vealed as the tide of thofe idle waves receded 
 from it that had vainly threatened to fwallow 
 it up. 
 
 Many ingenious perfons were now dili- 
 gently bringing all things to the teft of the 
 Bible, to afcertain whether they really had 
 warrant therein ; and thefe ftudents were 
 known in the univerfities by the cognomen 
 of Scriptnrijls, whereof Thomas Cranmer was 
 one.
 
 44 The Fo.irc Gofpcllcr, 
 
 He, then a young hufband, and the fon of 
 a country gentleman in Nottinghamfhire, had 
 given more evidence at firft of eminence in 
 manly fports than in polemics. For no man 
 could better manage a pack of hounds, or 
 ufe the crofs-bow or long-bow with better 
 aim. His father dying early, his mother fent 
 him at fourteen to Cambridge, where he may 
 be fayd to have wafted ten years in puerilities. 
 
 But after the death of his young wife, with 
 whom he had onlie enjoyed one year's mar- 
 ried happinefs, he, being of better mood than 
 Sir William Afkew, did betake himfelf to pro- 
 fitable ftudy, inftead of to afcetic mortify ca- 
 tions. Whereby it came that he benefited 
 both himfelf and others ; for he became a po- 
 pular Le6lurer at Magdalen College, and his 
 leftures being chiefly dire6led againft the 
 fuperflitions of the Romifh Church, caufed 
 more and more light to pierce through the 
 long-eftablifhcd darknefs. 
 
 I need not trace here. Sir, how he pro- 
 ceeded, ftep by ftep, refufing any ftudent to 
 proceed to hi? degree who did not prove con- 
 verfant with the . Scriptures. Many of 'em 
 afterwards acknowledged their obligations to 
 his care. Nor need I rehearfe how he came
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkeiv. 45 
 
 into court-notice by a fo-called chance acci- 
 dent, King Henry happening to pafs a night 
 at Waltham, and fome of his retinue happen- 
 ing to lodge in the houfe where Cranmer was 
 vifiting. At fupper, ye will recollecl, the 
 much vext queftion rofe, Is it lawful to mar- 
 ry a brother's widow ? Cranmer's thought on 
 the fubject, of colle6ting the opinions of all 
 the univerfities in Europe, appeared to his 
 companions fo plaufible, that they reported it 
 to the King, who defired to have fpeech of 
 him. And thenceforth, as ye wit, he rofe 
 flep by ftep, till he attained the higheft emi- 
 nence in the Church of this realm, to be de- 
 graded therefrom and receive the fiery crown 
 of martyrdom. 
 
 When, in confequence of Cranmer's intro- 
 duction to the King, he was fent to Italy as 
 one of the three commiffioners, ye may con- 
 ceit how men's eyes were fixed on him. 
 
 Moreover, Wolfey's commanding all men to 
 yield up their copies of the books of " that 
 peftilent heretic, Martin Luther," under pain 
 of being punifhed as heretics, only increafed 
 the defire of people to read them. Well I 
 wot I myfelf was oft-times in jeopardy for 
 harbouring thefe very works, which yet were
 
 46 The Faire Gofpellery 
 
 fent to me for tradu6lion by notable pious 
 fcholars at Cambridge. 
 
 And before this, many unhappy perfons 
 had been brought before Wareham in the 
 Bifhops' Courts ; fome of them for declaring 
 the Eucharift to be nothing but material 
 bread, fome for maintaining that fundry of 
 the feven Sacraments were neither neceffary 
 nor profitable, otherfome that Pilgrimages 
 ought not to be performed, that Images ought 
 not to be worfliipped, that Prayer ought not 
 to be addreffed to the Saints. Truly, they 
 were knocking away the very ground from 
 under us ! What did they give us in its 
 place .'' A ftedfaft Rock, even Chrift. 
 
 When I mooted any of thefe fubje6ls with 
 Sir Maurice, he would placidly obferve that 
 " The Church was an anvil that had broken 
 many hammers." But I trow that fimilitude 
 originated with the other party. 
 
 When I told him of an Obfervantine Friar, 
 of fingular piety, who admitted he had tried 
 the moft rigid rules of mortification, and yet 
 altogether failed of obtaining peace and 
 affurance — 
 
 " As for affurance," quod the old Chaplain 
 with a fmile, " if you are on the road, fay to
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJknv. 47 
 
 Lincoln, and don't know it, ye are on the 
 road to Lincoln nothingthelefs. As for Peace 
 — fon, fon ! it depends upon temperament ! 
 Go, write your book, and adorn its margins 
 with goodly devices, emblazoned with divers 
 colours ! Credit me, ye fhall get peace." 
 
 And fo away, with his fweet look and laugh ; 
 but he did not that way fatiffy me. 
 
 One day he came in with a look of fmiling 
 complacence, and fayd, 
 
 " I have that to unfold which will furprife 
 thee." 
 
 " What is it, Father .-' " fayd I, expe6ling 
 fomc public news, fo little had we of change 
 in private life. 
 
 He anfwered not till he had leifurely feated 
 himfelf ; but then fayd, with a twinkle in his 
 eye — 
 
 "The Knight contemplates a fecond mar- 
 riage." 
 
 " Sir William ! " I exclaimed. " To whom } " 
 
 He looked amufed at my aftonifliment, 
 and quietly anfwered, 
 
 " Miftrefs Margery, the daughter of Sir 
 Robert Hildyard. I tell ye no fecret, my fon, 
 for he hath exprefQy defired me to reveal it to 
 the houfehoM. Well, what have you to obje6l ? "
 
 4^ The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 " Nothing," I replied, " only it came on me 
 fo fudden. Nothing, if the lady be good and 
 motherly to the children." 
 
 "Why fhould we doubt it?" fayd Sir 
 Maurice. " She is, I am told, gracioufe and 
 well-conditioned ; comely to fee, pleafant to 
 liften to ; in footh, a lady of good favour and 
 a faithful daughter of the Church. Well por- 
 tioned moreover. What, then, lacketh .-' " 
 
 "What, indeed.?" repeated I. "Well, I 
 hope the houfe will be the merrier." 
 
 " And the more orderly, too," fayd Sir Mau- 
 rice. " Miflrefs Britain carrieth a flack 
 rein." 
 
 " Wc were all very well as we were, I 
 think," fayd I. " Well, I wifli it may all be 
 for the beft." 
 
 " Don't wifli it, though, in a tone as though 
 you thought it might be all for the worft," 
 rejoined he, fmiling. 
 
 " No, father, no." 
 
 By and by, Miftrefs Anne ran in to me, 
 took me by the hand, looked wiftfuUy in my 
 face, and fayd in a troubled voice, 
 
 " Wc are ^oing to have a new Mother." 
 
 " Why not t " fayd I gently " You cannot 
 remember the old one."
 
 MiJlrCjL- Anne AJkcw. 49 
 
 " She was not old ! " was the quick reply. 
 •' She never lived to be old ; and now flie is 
 where flie will be young for ever." 
 
 " Sure, then, flie has the beft of it," said I, 
 ftroking her head. 
 
 "Yes, but — Muft we love this newone.-'" 
 
 " Certainly we muft," fayd I, " and revere 
 her too." 
 
 " I did not mean you, Mafter Nicholas. I 
 meant my brothers and fifters and I." 
 
 " Full fure you muft ; and now, hear me, 
 my little lady. This is one of the turning- 
 points of your life." 
 
 " Turning-points } What be they, Mafter 
 Nicholas .>" 
 
 " See here now. Ye are facing the fouthern 
 door. We will fuppofe that door leads to 
 goodnefs and happinefs. It is in your own 
 power to go to it, and through it." 
 
 Then with my hands on her fhoulders, I 
 turned her fuddenly about, and fayd, " Now 
 you face that north door, which only leads to 
 a dark clofet, where things vile and refufe are 
 fhut out of fight. We will take that to lead 
 to wrong and to forrow." 
 
 " Yes, I fee. What then .? " 
 
 " All depends, ye fee, on which way you 
 
 3
 
 5© TJie Fa ire Goj'pellcr, 
 
 turn, before you ftart on your courfe. Now, 
 if you, at this prcfent juncture, proceed to 
 manifeft fullennefs, flubbornnefs, and ill-will, 
 becaufe Sir William is about to do what he 
 is at perfe6t liberty to do — and which he 
 thinks, and we may all find, is a wife and good 
 thing — you will be making ftrait for the dark 
 clofet. If you follow his will with fweet affec- 
 tion, ftrive to give the Lady a duteous wel- 
 come, fludy to love her, obey her, pleafe her 
 as much as you can — you will be making for 
 the door that leads to flowery paths and 
 bright funfliine." 
 
 " But what and if fhe will not be pleafed ?" 
 
 " Not pleafed with yoii, my Joy ? If you 
 try to pleafe her, take my word fhe will be 
 pleafed — Aye, and pleafe you too." 
 
 " Very well, then, I will," faid fhe, fetching 
 a figh. Then, dancing off from me, — 
 
 " See, Mafter Nicholas ! I'm going through 
 the door that leads to flowers and bright fun- 
 Ihine ! " 
 
 "Always do fo, fweet Mifl:refs." 
 
 And as fhe opened the door, fure enough, 
 the bright Sunlight poured in, and fhe dif- 
 appeared in a flood of glory. 
 
 So the wedding took place. Of courfe the
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJJcew. 51 
 
 burthen and glory of it was at the other 
 hoiife — the hoiife of the bride's father ; but 
 we came in for fome of it too : had cakes and 
 ale, carolling and revelling, an ox roafted 
 whole, fports on the Green, and much gun- 
 powder expended. I thought the knight's 
 bravery fate fomewhat cumbroufly on him ; 
 he was not fo ere6l and flender-made as at 
 the Field of Cloth of Gold. Still, he was e'en 
 yet a fine figure of a man ; of a proper 
 height ; thick without groffnefs, his face 
 broad, ftern, and manly ; his eyes fhining fit- 
 fully from dark caverns ; his beard with 
 much lefs of grey than of black in it. And 
 when ye faw him in his white fatin hofen and 
 coat, gold fpurs, broad gold chain, and crim- 
 fon velvet mantle upborne by the blooming 
 lads his fons, truly, the Bridegroom coming 
 out of his Chamber not ill reprefented the 
 fun Shining forthe in his ftrength. 
 
 So this is how we came by our new Lady. 
 Miftrefs Patty, too, came home for a while, 
 and filled the houfe with laughter. Before 
 fhe returned, Miftrefs Anne wondered much 
 what fhe would be like, and how they fhould 
 refemble one another. I fayd, 
 
 " Like the Town and Country Moufe."
 
 52 The Faire Gofpeller. 
 
 *' No more than that ? " returned fhe. 
 
 I fayd, " There need not be contradi6lory, 
 but may be fubcontrary oppofition." 
 
 " Oh, if you get to your categories and 
 fyllogifms, I've done with you," fayd fhe, 
 laughing, and running off. 
 
 Not that fhe knew a category from a fyllo- 
 gifm, though I had defined 'em to her, but 
 fhe had picked up the terms. 
 
 When the Town-moufe arrived, truly fhe 
 did not fhamc Miftrefs Anne in refpect of 
 learning. She could fcarce write legibly, was 
 an ill fpeller, and hefitated over a word of four 
 fyllables. Alfo her falfe quantities were 
 marvelloufe. 
 
 But then, as for dancing, fhe could bound 
 and leap with the greatefl agility ; knew all 
 the new figures and fteps ; could tell of the 
 new fafhions in drcfs ; thrum a little on the 
 Theorbo ; fing full fweetly (but the words 
 were not pretty) ; had been to ever fo many 
 plays and mafques, had even performed a 
 child's part in fome of them ; could patter 
 French ; and fay her Latin prayers, without 
 underflanding one word, or caring to under< 
 ftand. 
 
 For all this, I liked the Country Moufe better
 
 STATF NORMAL SCHOl, 
 
 -ai. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Hozv Sir IViniam put me in Charge. 
 
 EW brooms fweep clean. 'Tis a 
 homely proverb to apply to a Lady. 
 Ne'erthelefs, our new Lady cleaned 
 us up to that ftate of polifh that we 
 (hone again. Miftrefs Britain had gracefully 
 yielded up the keys, and returned to London, 
 though preffed to ftay : and took with her 
 her fon Ned, whom I was full forry to part 
 withal, the youngfter took to his ftudies fo 
 bravelie. Great was the wail Miftrefs Anne 
 made for him. " Oh, deareft Ned, and muft 
 we' part } " (this in the Pleached Alley, when 
 they wift not I was in the Arbour.) " How 
 fhall I fare without thee .-• Who will correct 
 my Sums .'' and help me in parfmg } and tell 
 me the conjugations .'" 
 
 " Nay, coz, you muft do all that for your- 
 felf now. 'Tis expedient I fhould not be with 
 you always, or you would be but a left-hand 
 glove all your life. Your wit fliall now be fet
 
 54 Tlie Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 on new work." " But I've none, Ned ; 1 
 don't believe I've anie at all." " Oh yes, you 
 have ; a great deal for a girl, onlie Mafter 
 Moldwarp doefn't let you know it, for fear it 
 fhould make you vain." " Why, whenever I 
 tranflate fome dull epiftle into Latin, he fay 
 ' Tully would not have done it fo.' " " No, 
 becaufe he knows the exact word Tully would 
 have ufed ; and I'll tell you how he knows, 
 fince I'm going away." — (Oh, the villain !) 
 " Mafter Moldwarp takes a fhort epiftle of 
 Tully's, fuited to your capacity, — fay, one of 
 thofe ' to Terentia, to my deareft Tullia, and 
 to my Son.' . . ." 
 
 . " Ah, I love that," quoth Miftrefs Anne. 
 " I fhould like you to write me juft fuch let- 
 ters, Ned, when you get to London, all full of 
 love and grief-—" 
 
 " Well, perhaps I may ; only you muft not 
 look to have much grief. Nan ; becaufe, you 
 fee, 'tis long fmce I was in London — when 
 I was quite a Boy " — (what was he now i*) — 
 " and there'll be many fine fights I fhall be 
 full fain to fee — " 
 
 " What be thofe fights, Ned } " 
 
 " Why, to fee the foldiers relieve guard, 
 and to fee the King's Watch fet, and the
 
 Mijlrefs Aiine AJkew. 55 
 
 Archery Grounds, and the Playhoiife, and — 
 oh, I cannot tell the half." 
 
 " I like not what Patty tells of the Play- 
 houfes," fays Miftrefs Anne, " and you will 
 fee Patty often, Ned, and forget me." 
 
 " But I fwear I will not," fays Ned. 
 
 " Oh, Ned, that's very wicked indeed ! 
 Knoweft thou not who has fayd, ' Swear not 
 at all V" 
 
 " But you put me befide myfelf, Nanny. 
 You may count on me as your Friend as long 
 as ever we live ; fo don't mifdoubt me." 
 
 " Well, I will not : only I fuppofe you'll 
 have a wife, fome day — " 
 
 " Yes, I fuppofe I fliall, and then you fliall 
 come and vifit us. Then you fhall fee all the 
 fights in London town. But meanwhile I 
 muft read hard for a Lawyer, and keep my 
 Terms, and eat many dinners . . ." 
 
 " That will not be hard, if only one a day." 
 
 " No, only it will keep me on the fpot, you 
 fee ; and that's why I muft eat them." 
 
 'Twas worth a world to hear their pretty 
 talk, only I was glad the Boy plighted not 
 himfelf to have her for his Wife, but only for 
 his Vifitor, to fee the fights of London town 
 Boy-like, he may be hoped to do much better
 
 56 The Fa ire Gofpeller, 
 
 for himfelf than that, without confideiing that 
 Sir William would look a good deal higher 
 than the Law-courts for his daughter. 
 
 So Mafter Edmund went ; but not before I 
 had fet him on telling his coufin, for his fake 
 to flick to her books — and then, maybe, he 
 would think of her in London. After he was 
 gone, Miftrefs Anne was very penfive for a 
 day or fo ; then cleared up, and went to her 
 taflcs with zeal. She was now very forward 
 in her Latin, and could conftrue very prettily. 
 
 Our new Lady was of a fanguineous com- 
 plexion, faire, and frefh-coloured ; with golden 
 locks like Aurora, approaching to red. Her 
 keen, grey eye faw everything at a glance, and 
 at lafl: fhe found me out in my Book-room. 
 
 "Oh, what, here you are, Mafter Nicholas! 
 up to the eyes in dufty books. Do the worms 
 get to them much } My father. Sir Robert, 
 hath a copy of Gower that they have pierced 
 right through, like as with a gimlet. Ah, 
 here is one they have begun their work upon 
 — faugh ! how mufty it fmells. I fuppofe you 
 have a fet time for dufting and airing them 
 all — How often .-* I Ihould fay once a quarter 
 was too feldom. Are there any Italian novels 
 here ? I read a little Italian. What language
 
 Mijirc/s Anne AJJcetu. 57 
 
 are thefe books in ? High Dutch ? Ob. 1 
 know not one word . , . unlefs faucr kraut— 
 There are two words for you . . . Read mc a 
 bttle, that I may bear the found . . . Ha ! . . 
 a little more, an' it pleafe you ? Tliat will do. 
 I call it not a pretty language. It pleafes not 
 my ear : my ear is very delicate. I can play 
 the Viol-di-gamba. What books are thefe.? 
 Latin } Ob, I know Latin. A little, that is." 
 
 I ventured to fay Ladies were fo modelT:, 
 they always fayd " a little." 
 
 " But in troth, I know but little. Come, 
 you fball bear me conftrue a fentence or two 
 . . . There ! Not amifs, was it '? " (She bad 
 made fome frightful miftakes ; but v/bat 
 matter ? ) " You keep Nan well to her books, 
 I hope ? She is getting to an awkward age. 
 One does not want children always about, 
 pricking up their ears at grown-up talk. She 
 mull; be a good deal at her needle, and at her 
 book. Ob, what, you write books, I think, 
 Mafler Moldwarp ? Some one told me fo. Do 
 you get anybody to read them ? Do you get 
 paid anything for them ? My father bath given 
 large fums, fometimes, for Dedications. There 
 was one in Latin ... I forget bow it began. 
 I think it was Anna virumqne ^ano ... no,
 
 58 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 Cedant anna . . . prettily turned. What are 
 you at work upon now? German .again ? 
 Who wrote it ? Martin Luther ? O, the 
 naughty man ! His books are very unfit, you 
 know . . . You muft never let Miil;refs Anne 
 read them." 
 
 Miftrefs Anne then coming in, my Lady 
 called her fweetheart and precious : then, in 
 the next breath, " Why, child, you have been 
 through an Hedge : what diibrder is this ? 
 your hair is the abfoluteft maze : why is it 
 only tied with a ribband ? 'Twere beft cut 
 fhort off — mine was cut ftrait acrofs the fore- 
 head, at your age : and I had a coif. You 
 muft have a fet of little coifs too : they are 
 decent and maidenlie." 
 
 So our pretty M.i{\.vek Annesc/nojnaatn^ata 
 was hidden under a little linen cap — but her 
 beauty could not be hidden any way. 
 
 Why do I dally with thefe old, fond records .-* 
 Becaufe of the troublous days coming. 
 
 Mafler Francis had returned to Cambridge. 
 He had been fent thither full young, but not 
 fo young but that he was contrafted in mar- 
 riage to Miftrefs Elizabeth, fole daughter 
 and heirefs of Mafter William Hanfard of 
 South Kelfey, which contracft he was to fulfil
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 59 
 
 after that he had been three years at College 
 and two years on the Continent of Europe. 
 ; The profpeft of this rich match pleafed 
 Sir William mightily, and made him yet 
 more content with my Lady, who had 
 helped to promote the contraft. 
 
 Next there was Mafter Edward to provide 
 for ; but he promifed to provide for himfelf. 
 The toga was to give place to arms in his 
 cafe : he was anything but bookifli, and born 
 to be a Soldier. A Soldier he eventually 
 became, and a valiant one too : likewife a 
 Gentleman Penfioner. He was married, in 
 due courfe, to Miftrefs Margaret Gibfon : — 
 but that's told too foon. At the time whereof 
 I write, he was a fpirited Boy. 
 
 Thirdly, Mafler Roger : he had much ado 
 to keep ahead of Miftrefs Anne in their 
 fludies ; and prefently let her overpafs him. 
 Nor did he trouble himfelf much to regain 
 the loft ground. 
 
 Now here ye fhall fee the perfe6l order and 
 daily courfe of this honourable Famil}'-. Mafs, 
 to begin with, at fix o' the clock ; a certain 
 portion of ftudy ; then Breakfaft ; then fludy 
 again ; afterwards exercife, in the open air, 
 weather permitting: ftudy again: Dinner:
 
 6o The Faii'e Gofpcller, 
 
 eleven o' the clock till twelve foine open-aii 
 paflime : Even-fong at three hours after noon ; 
 general talk in the hall, toward duik, round 
 the fire, during the Ihort days. Study again 
 Supper, fix o' the clock to feven. To bed at 
 nine, after Complines. 
 
 Sir, we were, as times went, very happy : 
 in a little Haven of quiet the troublous waves 
 of the world did not reach. And yet there 
 were troubles and difturbances but a little 
 way off. The Cardinal's difgrace and death, 
 the blow that was ftruck, through him, at the 
 Clergy, the affumption of fupreme authority 
 by the King, the imminent likelihood of an 
 utter breach with Rome, filled men's minds 
 and mouths and led to overt a6lions. Much 
 money that was claimed by the Pope, for firfl 
 fruits, and levied on new Prelates, was with- 
 held ; and it was made law that any cenfures 
 paffed by his Holinefs on account of it, fhould 
 be difregarded. Then there was the mattei 
 of Queen Katherine's appeal going on : the 
 King was cited to appear, and went not. 
 Moreover, he privately married Miftrefs Anne 
 Boleyn, whether his Divorce fhould be gotten 
 or no : and an act was paffed foi bidding all 
 appeal to Rome, in matters of marriage, di-
 
 Mip-cfs Anne AJkew. 6\ 
 
 vorce, wills, and fundry others. And then the 
 King proceeded to divorce himfelf. 
 
 All this weaned the people more and more 
 from their refpecl for Papal authority ; and a 
 Bifliop preached every Sunday at Paul's Crofs, 
 lo the efte6l that the Pope had no authority 
 beyond his own diocefe. The King was de- 
 clared fupreme head of the Church. 
 
 That brought Sir Thomas More to the block. 
 A good and great man, Sir, and confiftent 
 Romanift. A great tide had rifen, and he 
 was fwept away in it, ftruggling againft it to 
 his lateft breath. 
 
 Nobody knowing what lengths the King 
 would go, everybody believed their own hopes. 
 Heretics for a while were not perfecuted : the 
 books that had ftolen acrofs the Channel and 
 been tranllated, were read and canvaffed 
 everywhere. Tindal's tranflation of the Bible 
 did more than all the reft. 
 
 When Bilney was martyred, Miftrefs Anne 
 came to me, looking very white. I fayd, 
 "What is it, fweet Miftrefs.?" She fayd, 
 •' Mafter Kyme hath come over to play 
 fhuffle-board, but chiefly, I think, to tell my 
 father, with gloomy joy, that Mafter Bilney is 
 burnt."
 
 62 TIic Faire Go/pdler, 
 
 When I heard this, I wept, and fayd, "I 
 knew hull well at Cambridge. Alas, my 
 brother ! " She took my hand in both hers 
 — flie was about fourteen then — and fayd, 
 
 " Weep not, for ruth, Mafter Nicholas." 
 
 I fayd, " I weep for ruth, at his ruthlefs 
 end. Tell me what they fayd of him — ?" 
 drying my eyes. 
 
 " That would only pain you, but I will 
 tell you what he — Thomas Bilney, fayd. He 
 had thefe words of the prophet Ifaiah in his 
 mouth, ' When thou walkeft through the 
 fire, thou flialt not be burned.' Are they 
 true, think ye .-* " 
 
 " As truth itfelf, Miftrefs." 
 
 " But Jie was burned ! " 
 
 " In the vulgar, material fenfe, but what 
 then .'' The fire only confumed his body as 
 ftubble, while his Spirit foared upward like 
 Elijah in the fiery chariot. Our Saviour 
 fayd thefe words — ' Fear not them that can 
 deftroy the body, but afterward have no 
 more that they can do. I will tell }ou 
 whom ye fhall fear. Fear Him who, after 
 that He hath killed the body, hath power to 
 caft into hell.' That is God. Believeft thou 
 this.?"
 
 Mijlrefs Anne Afkcw. 63 
 
 " I cannot choofe but believe it ! though 
 Mafter Kyme thinks he is gone to torment. 
 He feems glad of it, Mafter Nicholas ! — is not 
 that bad of him ? I diflike him fo ! — " 
 
 Then flie prefently added, " The wind, as 
 though in pity, blew the flames from him 
 feveral times ; but they only heaped the reeds 
 and fagots the more about him, he fometimes 
 crying out, ' Jefus ! ' at other times, ' Credo,' to 
 the very laft." 
 
 " Why, then, the Soul was viftorious over 
 the Body," cried I. " Heaven be praifed for it. 
 Depend on it, Jefus never let him call on Him 
 that way, without anfwering. He never does." 
 
 " Do you think you could bear to be mar- 
 tyred .' " 
 
 " I hope I fliall never be tried." 
 
 " I'm fure I hope fo too," fayd flie, deeply 
 fighing, " for you and myfelf too. I'll- tell you 
 what I think, Mafter Nicholas ! I know not 
 that I am brave enough to bear burning, but 
 I think I could make bold to fay, in a great 
 matter of right and wrong, that which fliould 
 procure me burning." 
 
 " May you never be tried — Come, let us 
 read a little together." And I took up 
 Horace, at his tenth Ode.
 
 64 The Faire Gofpellcr, 
 
 " One nuift take care, though," purfiied 
 fhe, " that one's Judgment is not in fault. 
 Elfe, one might be burnt for the fake of a 
 fuppofed Truth, which, after all, was not 
 true." 
 
 "Jufl; fo," fayd T, for I had no warrant to 
 unfettle her, and had been accuftomed, when 
 fhe, as a child, would afk me this and that, 
 as children will, to tell her, " That is too 
 grown-up for you as yet." But this would 
 hardly do now, for her mind was expanding 
 every day, and ripening faft, and flie could 
 not always be evaded. Sometimes I fayd, 
 " Go, inquire of Sir William," or " Go, afk Sir 
 Maurice." " Nay, but," fhe would anfwer, 
 "you trow Sir William never likes or will 
 anfwer fuch matters. All I fliould get would 
 be a frown, and maybe, a pulh or a cuff. As 
 for dear old Sii Maurice," and fhe laughed in 
 my face, "you know I fhould get no anfwer 
 from J limy 
 
 "Well, well then, Miftrefs, ye mufl ftudy 
 logic, that by acquiring folid powers of reafon- 
 ing ye may be able to folve all hard queftions, 
 like Solomon himfelf" 
 
 " So I will then," fayd fhe, " though I fhall 
 never be a Solomon."
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkciv. 65 
 
 "In truth, the more we know, the more we 
 find that we do not and cannot know." 
 
 " Then where's the good of going onward ? " 
 
 " Becaufe a bleffing commonly attends on 
 thofe who, by reafon of ufe, have their fenfes 
 exercifed to difccrn both good and evil." 
 
 " Is that a Scripture phrafe .'' " 
 
 " The latter part is." 
 
 " Show it me, that I may fee it myfelf." 
 
 Thus we ufed to be drawn to the very 
 verge of dangerous ground. 
 
 One day, Sir William fummoned me. 
 
 " Moldwarp," fayd he with fome abruptnefs, 
 " wouldft thou like to make acquaintance with 
 foreign parts } " 
 
 " Certes, I Ihould," feyd I with a dart. 
 
 " But haft thou fufficient maftery of con- 
 tinental tongues to make thy way ? " 
 
 " My accent is doubllefs defective, but yet 
 I could make myfelf underftood — which is to 
 fay, in German, French, and Italian." 
 
 " That will do. You know fomething of 
 foreign monies .<* " 
 
 " I have acquainted myfelf with their com- 
 parative values." 
 
 " Know the difference between a doit and 
 a lucat, ha ! — Frank is hanging about and
 
 66 TJie Faire GofpcUef, 
 
 doins: no frood. I want to fend him abroad 
 till he marries. He would be the better of a 
 companion who had at leaft a fmattering of 
 the fpoken tongues, and fomc knowledge of 
 the monies. Of geography alfo, and hiftory, 
 and what is worth noting. You think your- 
 felf equal to this .'' " 
 
 " You fhould hardly afk me, Sir William. 
 My Inclinations may prompt me to too pro- 
 mifing an anfwcr ; but I will perform to the 
 boft of my Ability." 
 
 " Enough fayd. Your route is drawn out 
 and papers provided ; with letters commenda- 
 tory and bills of exchange. Keep the boy 
 out of mifchief and write to me once a 
 month. You have nothing to do but pack 
 up and pack off. I hope you will enjoy 
 yourfelves." 
 
 I was elated beyond meafure ; firfl, at being 
 treated with fuch confidence and refponfi- 
 bility ; next, at the profpe6t of the fcenes be- 
 fore me. In fact I was a young man ftill ; 
 ftaid and fimple, however, in my life and 
 habits ; with a natural fhrewdnefs, plentiful 
 inexperience, great honefly, and defire to 
 acquit me well of my charge. 
 
 My little pacquct was foon made up,
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkcw. 6"] 
 
 Miflrefs Anne was both pleafed and forry : 
 fhe regretted to mifs me, but rejoiced in 
 Frank's getting my company, and counted on 
 many ftories of our adventures when we 
 returned. I negle(51:ed not to take leave of 
 my kived parents. Though my father was 
 but Steward of the Houfe, that was an office 
 not difdained by many a Knight in the retinue 
 of our great Earls. However, my father was 
 but Houfe Steward to a Knight ; but yet he 
 had his little Farm, worth five pound a year, 
 the tillage whereof kept half a dozen men. He 
 had a walk for an hundred fheep, and my 
 mother milked a fcore of kine. Nay, and I 
 am proud to fay he found the King a harneffe, 
 with himfelf and his horfe, until he came into 
 an houfehold where he ffiould receive wages. 
 That was my father's pofition — neither lefs 
 nor more. He portioned my fifters with 
 twenty nobles a-piece : and fomething he gave 
 to the poor. Might my father have as little 
 call for fhame of me, as I of my good father !
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 How Majler Fj-aiicis and I wmt over-fcas. 
 
 T was in the pleafant Spring-tide 
 that we ftarted — 
 
 *• IV/iciuie tJiat Aprils with his JJioivres fote, 
 The breath of March hath pierced to the rote.'''' 
 
 Mailer Francis mounted on a fine Bay 
 Horie, myfelf on a ferviceable roadfter, a 
 Groome behind us with our bags : and full 
 cheerful we fet forth together, to fee the 
 World, or at leaft a new part of it. I will 
 not ungratefully neglect to fay that my Lady 
 had ftarted me with four good Holland fhirts, 
 and Sir William had given me a compleat 
 Suit of new Black, Cloak and Beevor Hat 
 inclufive ; the fuit having been made up by 
 the village Taylor, who certes allowed for my 
 Growth, as if I had been an Urchin. Sir 
 William likcwife gave me a Burfe containing
 
 Mifircfs Anne AJkezu. 69 
 
 ten gold pieces for my folc and feparate ufc ; 
 To that verily I was well found. 
 
 If my purpofe were to cover Paper, which 
 it is not, I could, methinks, fill fome Pages 
 pleafantlie with what befel us on our journey 
 from Stallingborough to Harwich, and how 
 we fed, what we difcourfed on, and what com- 
 pany we fell in with by the Way. 
 
 Inftead of this, }'ou muft fuppofe us em- 
 barked on board a Dutch veffel bound for 
 Flufliing, where we landed next day at noon, 
 after much difcomfiture from ficknefs. 
 
 At that time, Mafter P'rancis was as hand- 
 fome and engaging a Youth as you would be 
 likely to meet in the courfe of the longeft 
 day. His raiment and equipage were point- 
 device, for he loved to go handfomely appa- 
 relled. We were on very pleafing terms 
 together, for he was affable and I compliant ; 
 and, at firft, my knowledge of the language 
 gave me fo much the advantage, and his want 
 of it left him fo much behindhand, that I 
 continually took the Lead ; but this was of 
 no long continuance. He foon picked up a 
 fmattering of the Vernacular wherever we 
 went, and with a better accent than mine. 
 
 We proceeded to Rotterdam by water,
 
 7o The Faire Gofpcllcr, 
 
 mightily pleafed with the novelty of our 
 mode of travelling. This city was note- 
 worthy to me, as being the birthplace of 
 Erafmus ; and I was forry he was not then in 
 it ; but he, though alive, was then extreme 
 old (yet younger than I at this prefent writ- 
 ing), and refident at Bafle. 
 
 We vifited, in fucceffion, the Hague, 
 Leyden, Utrecht, Antwerp, and 13ruffels, 
 feeing the remarkable things of each. I 
 would fain have tarried yet longer in every 
 one of them ; but Mafter Francis, with tlie 
 impatience of his age, was for hurrying on- 
 ward to Paris. When we got there, we pre- 
 fented ourfelves to the Englifli Ambaffador, 
 fent the Letters of Introdu6lion with which 
 we were charged, and took up our abode at a 
 convenient lodging, as it was intended our 
 fta) fhould be of fome duration. 
 
 Here Mafter Francis, at Sir William's de- 
 fire, was to play at weapons, and pra6tife the 
 blow as well as the thruft, to exercife his 
 breath and flrength. Alfo, he was not to let 
 a day pafs without an hour or two fpent in 
 praclifing the finglc fword and dagger, and in 
 reading the claffiques with me. All which, 
 for a little time, he pundlually fulfilled.
 
 Mijlrcfs A line AJkew. 71 
 
 Soon, however, being prefented by our 
 Ambaffador to King Francis the Firft, Queen 
 Claude, and the Queen Mother Louife, he 
 obtained the entry to fo many houfes of the 
 great, and formed acquaintance with fo many 
 )'0ung gallants, that his time was confumed 
 in one diverfion after another, and his ftudies 
 altogether neglefted ; he excufmg himfelf to 
 me for it by alleging that Sir William had 
 fent him abroad mainly to polifh his manners 
 and ftudy mankind. 
 
 Study mankind indeed ! as if that were the 
 way to do fo ! It made me full anxious to 
 know what Sir William would think of it ; 
 but yet I had no certain complaint whereof 
 to write unto him ; and when I mentioned in 
 a general way, that Mafter Francis now found 
 no time for ftudies, the anfvver, which was 
 brief and long in coming, lightly treated it, 
 and fayd, allowances muft be made for the 
 vivacity of youth. So there was an end. 
 
 Meanwhile I picked up a ftudious acquaint- 
 ance or two, and learnt that King Francis' 
 lenity, or rather laxity, as touching the Sacra- 
 mentarians (which was the name given in 
 France to the Reformed), had till lately been 
 fuch, that they had begun to lift up their
 
 y2 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 heads and think their Redemption was draw- 
 ing nigh. But fome ill-judged placards affixed 
 by 'em to the Gates of the Palace at Blois 
 (where the Court then was) fo enraged the 
 King, that he hurried up to Paris, though in 
 depth of Winter, and got up an Expiatory 
 Proceffion, in which he, Queen Claude, and 
 the whole Court took part ; after which, a 
 moft ftrift Search was made for Heretics, 
 who, after fliort trial, were haled to the Stake 
 and miferably burnt, the King himfelf look- 
 ing on. 
 
 Afterwards, finding he had carried this 
 too far, and excited great deteflation in Ger- 
 many, King Francis affected to glofs it, and 
 for a while there was a lull, which was juft 
 when we got there. 
 
 It flruck me that Paris was a ftrangely un- 
 governed, mis-ordered city : I will juft quote 
 a ridiculous adventure that happened to my- 
 felf, which was not without its evil confe- 
 quents. 
 
 One night, we had been fupping in the 
 fuburbs of St. Germains, and, at Mafter 
 Francis' requefl, I was returning without 
 him, he alleging fome flight rcafon. I was 
 approaching the Pont Neuf, preceded by a
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJhe-iv. 73 
 
 boy carrying a torch, when I heard the clafh- 
 ing of fwords a little in advance. This did 
 not deter me from going forward, though I 
 carried no arms, but only a ftout ftick ; and 
 anon I was accofted by two breathlefs men 
 with drawn fwords and cocked piftols, one of 
 whom thruft a paper into my hand, requeft- 
 ing me civilly enough to read it. He fayd he 
 had cafually picked it up, and the fubftance of 
 it had appeared fo ftrange that it had caufed 
 him and his companion to come to blows. 
 
 I perufed it with fome furprife, and the 
 matter of it was this, That it fhould be known 
 to all men by thefe Prefents, that whofoever 
 fliould pafs over that Bridge after nine o'clock 
 at night in the Winter, and ten in Summer, 
 fhould leave his Cloak behind him, and, in 
 cafe of no Cloak, his Hat. While I, in 
 amaze, was revolving this ftrange condition, 
 one of them fayd, politely, " Sir, ye fee we 
 have no choice but to relieve you of your 
 cloak, which of courfe you will have back 
 again ; — 'tis a mere form" — "And your Hat 
 likewife, to be quite on the fafe fide," added 
 his companion. So without time for a word 
 of remonilrance, one whipped off the one, 
 and the other the other, and took to their 
 
 4
 
 74 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 heels round the corner ; and as for the boy 
 with the torch, he fled acrofs the Bridge, cry- 
 ing " J'ay Peur!" which, being interpreted, 
 is, " Oh, I'm fo frightened ! " So there had I 
 to grope onward in the Dark, cloaklefs, hat- 
 lefs, and in marvellous ill-humour : and was 
 fo long on the road, that by the time I reach- 
 ed our Lodging, there was Mafter Francis 
 back before me, who roared with laughter 
 when he faw me, and afked me how I came 
 to look fo like a fkinned Rabbit. When I 
 told my tale, difcontentedly enough, he fhook 
 his head upon it, and fayd gravely, I feemed 
 to have been within an Ace of another Life ; 
 but yet, after that, I was plentifully laughed 
 at about it, both by him and his witty-pate 
 acquaintance. Strangely enough, the Cloak 
 and Hat were returned ; being found on the 
 open flair next morning, though fadly be- 
 grimed, as though they had paffcd the night 
 in the Stable. I fuppofe the Rogues had con- 
 fciences ; though how they knew my Lodg- 
 ing I trow not ; unlefs they followed me in 
 the diflance. 
 
 Though this may appear to others a mifad- 
 venture of trifling import, it proved of ferious 
 confequence, by leffening Mafter Francis'
 
 MiJIiefs Anne AJkew. 75 
 
 rerpe6l for my fagacity, and accuftoming him 
 to a way of laughing at me whenever I oppofed 
 any undefirable incHnation of his, and had the 
 beft of the argument. 
 
 A wicked city is Paris. Scarce a night 
 paffed without fome ftreet murder ; and what 
 led to fuch murders, but revelling and drunk- 
 ennefs ? The wit and beauty of the women, 
 the courtefy of the men (though but the mafk 
 of felfiflmefs), are moft enfnaring to the young. 
 The Court was very corrupt, defpite fome 
 notable exceptions, as the Queen Confort and 
 Queen Marguerite of Navarre. Were I a 
 father, I would ne'er fend child of mine there. 
 Grant a little polifli gained — is that an equi- 
 valent for the bloom brufhed off .'' Ye would 
 not deem a coat of varnilh repaired the loft 
 bloom of plum or peach. 
 
 Queen Marguerite was deemed fpotlefs as 
 fnow. She was called the Pearl of Princeffes. 
 She hath fmce been the Alma Mater of the 
 French Reformation. Her little Court at 
 Beam was the refuge of the Calvinifts. She 
 wrote " Le Miroir de I'Ame Pechereffe," 
 which our Maiden Monarch hath tranflated. 
 Yet e'en this Pearl of Princeffes wrote fome 
 very light tales.
 
 76 The Fairc Gofpdler, 
 
 Clement Marot — I faw a little of him : he 
 hath fmce turned David's Pfeaulmes into 
 verfe : but he was neither good nor pious 
 then. 
 
 There, faw I my firft Play : fave thofe, ye 
 wit, our Scholars play at Chriftmas, in Col- 
 leges and Villages. Mafter Francis was 
 greatly taken with them : then, after the play, 
 the fupper ; much drinking, much gaming, 
 much unreafonable jefting. One day I was 
 fent to our Ambaffador on a meffage, and he 
 told me privily, we had better proceed on our 
 journey. He fayd, if I were gainfaid, he would 
 bear me out in it. 
 
 So we got our paffports ; Mafter Francis 
 not offering that oppofition I had looked for, 
 Juft before we turned our backs on Paris, he 
 received letters from home ; and fayd to me, 
 with glee — 
 
 " There's like to be a double wedding when 
 we get home. Sifter Patty is promifed to 
 Mafter Kyme the younger — Thomas Kyme!" 
 
 " Indeed ! " cried I. " And does fhe like 
 it?" 
 
 " She likes the profpe6l of being married, 
 no doubt," returned he lightly. "There leema 
 no chance of her being Maid of Honour."
 
 Mijlrefs A fine AJkczv. jy 
 
 " You are pleafed with it yourfclf ? " 
 
 " How can I choofe but be pleafed ? Kyme 
 is not very fociable, but he is very rich — will 
 be, at leaft, on his father's death. Old Kyme 
 hath rich lands at Wrangle, Frifkney, Wain- 
 fleet, and Thorpe. At prefent, Tom Kyme 
 hath but little. But my father hath fuch faith 
 in him that he is going to advance him a por- 
 tion of my fifler's dowry." 
 
 " That is a Angular ftep," I obferved. 
 
 "Singular good fortune for Kyme, I wis," 
 replied Mafter Francis. " He will improve 
 with it the property on which my fifter is 
 hereafter to live." 
 
 " Suppofe he fliould die firft, after fpending 
 the dowry .'' " 
 
 " Oh, fuppofe and fuppofe ! Suppofe the 
 flcy fliould fall, old croaker ! — Since Robin 
 is going home, he can carry anfwers to thefe 
 letters." 
 
 Robin the groom, being flck, and deadly 
 homefick, we were going to carry him no 
 further : our Ambaffador having undertaken to 
 fend him back to England with fervants of his 
 own,_who were returning thither on bufinefs. 
 
 So we wrote home by Robin, and them fet 
 our faces toward Italy ; approaching it through
 
 yS The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 Orleans, Lyons, and Marfeilles, whence we 
 took fhip for Genoa. 
 
 On our voyage, a wind as tempeftuous as 
 Euroclydon (they call it Tramontana) over- 
 took us, and, blowing very hard from land, 
 between the gaps of the mountains, raifed on 
 a fudden fo great a fea, that we were almoft 
 abandoned to defpair. The Pilot gave us up 
 for loft, and the Sailors fell to their prayers. 
 A Prieft on board confeffed many of us, as in 
 the article of death ; amongR others, Mafler 
 Francis, who was fore diftraught and in the 
 moft abfolute terror. 
 
 For me, though I believed my end very 
 near, a calm poffeffed me I could no ways 
 account for: it originated not in myfelf; it 
 could not be from beneath ; then it muft have 
 been from above. Deiis nojler refugiam et 
 virtus, adjntor in tribtilationilnis. 
 
 And now, when we were weary, and fpent 
 in pumping and baling out w^ater, it pleafed 
 God of His own proper mercy to allay the 
 Storm, and fo we were at the Haven where 
 we would be : noting, with rapture, the charm- 
 ing Villas fcattered over the Hills, and inhal- 
 ing the odours of Orange, Citron, and Jafmine, 
 that were wafted off fhore.
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 W/iat difc-/ us hi Foreign Parts. 
 
 fE reached Genoa at a feafon of 
 inconceivable ftir and buftle, the 
 Harbour crowded with Galleys, for 
 the famous Andrew Doria, Lord 
 High Admiral of the Imperial Fleet, was 
 about to put to fea. We had arrived in the 
 very Nick of Time : the grandeur of the fcene 
 was incredible ; and Mafter Francis, for all 
 his late fears on the tempeftuous deep, could 
 hardly be reftrained from enrolling himfelf in 
 the forces as a Volunteer. 
 
 We landed by the Pratique houfe, where, 
 after ftricl examination by the Sindaco, we 
 were had to the Ducal Palace, and, our names 
 having been taken down there, were conducted 
 to our Inn. 
 
 Genoa could not immediately fubfide from 
 ."ts ferment, and it feemed the gayeft, moft 
 enchanting place in the world. The Palaces,
 
 8o The Fairc Gofpcllcr, 
 
 with their court-yards adorned with fculptures 
 and orange-trees, were of excellent beauty ; 
 but what delighted me beyond meafure were 
 the Gardens, beautiful with terraces, marble 
 flairs, urns, fountains, and grottoes, moft 
 deleitable to behold, which I have already 
 enlarged on in my Treatyfe On the Adorn- 
 ment of Gardens, dedicated to the King. 
 
 So again, at Ferrara, where I was inex- 
 preffibly pleafed with the Gardens of the 
 Belvedere Palace ; and, again, the Gardens of 
 the Pitti Palace at Florence, which I have 
 dilated on in another place. Ah, what beau- 
 ties ! — 
 
 At Ferrara, Sir, where Mafter Francis 
 was courtcoufly received by Duke Ercole 
 and Duchefs Renee, we faw the famous poet 
 Ariofto and his venerable mother, in the 
 modeft manfion beftowed on him by the 
 Duke. 
 
 At Arezzo, we had a glimpfe of the famous 
 Michel Angelo Buonarroti. 
 
 O, the delight I experienced in beholding 
 Padua ! and the bufy fcene its vaulted ftrccts 
 prcfented, as ftudents from Turkey, Arabia, 
 Perfia, and every land in Chriftcndom, pouied 
 forth from fomc popular Lecture. Fain would
 
 Mijlrefs Amie AJIcezu. 8 1 
 
 I .lave tarried long time in that learned City 
 a (d made acquaintance with fome of its Uni- 
 vorfity Do6tors ; but Mafter Francis was for 
 preffing forward to Venice, fo I needs muft 
 yield. Hitherto we had travelled vetturino, 
 that is on hired horfes with a Guide ; but now 
 we embarked in a ftout veffel, failed down the 
 Adige, into the Adriatic, and beheld the 
 beautiful City, contemplating herfelf as in a 
 Mirrour in the tremulous waters. 
 
 As foon as we landed, we were conduced 
 to the Dogana ; after which we took up our 
 quarters at a good Inn near the Rialto. 
 
 After fuppcr, Mafter Francis propofed our 
 gcing. forth in a Gondola, which pleafed me 
 well. Moft delightful was it to float over the 
 liquid furface of thofe watery ftreets of gor- 
 geous Palaces, with their flights of fteps, 
 terraces, and balconies, and to catch glimpfes 
 of fair women and ftately cavaliers leaning 
 over the balluftrades, or defcending or afcend- 
 ins: the marble flairs — to fee other Gondolas„ 
 with their high fleel beaks, and taffelled cur- 
 tains, dart out from unfecn coverts and glide 
 by as filently as bats ; while others gave forth 
 fllvery founds of mufic and mirth. At fundry 
 points, the Gondolas were fo crowded together 
 
 4*
 
 8j The Faire GofpcUer, 
 
 that they were like to fink one another, fway- 
 ing fearfully to one fide. All the nobility 
 feemed out on the Canals, enjoying the plea- 
 fant frefliness of the air after a hot fumraer day. 
 
 Sometimes the Gondolier ufed his oar as a 
 helm, and let the little veffel float idly at its 
 will. We lingered on the water till long after 
 the general concourfe had difperfed, and till 
 lights began to glimmer through windows, 
 and purple night fet in, glorified by an infinity 
 of ftars, and till the moon arofe and caft broad 
 lights and deep black Ihadows. Now and then 
 a folitary Gondola fleeted paft like a swallow 
 on the wing ; and once, a large one, clofely 
 curtained with black, and with muffled oars, 
 paffcd noifelefQy along in the deep fhadow ; 
 and our Gondolier told us, when it had paffed, 
 that it belonged to the Inquifition, and was 
 carrying forth a prifoner, or prifoners, to be 
 drowned in the Laguna. A forrowful death, 
 I thought ; and I ftraincd my ears, though 
 vainly, to hear the fatal plafli. 
 
 At length, we bade the fellow carry us 
 back to the Inn : we were fome way from it ; 
 the Canals were now deferted. 
 
 All at once, we heard afar off, with a fur- 
 prife that gave a thrill, a rich and melodious
 
 Mip-efs Anne AJIcciv. Z^ 
 
 voice chanting ibmewhat in metre, the effe6^ 
 of which was moft entrancing. No fooner 
 did it ceafe, than we were ftartled by hearing 
 our own Gondolier take up the refrain and 
 give a replication of the ditty in a loud, harfli 
 voice. He ceafed ; the other refponded ; 
 then he again ; and thus they alternated 
 ftanza after ftanza, till the ftrange Gondolier 
 paffed us like a fhot, and we prefently heard 
 his voice in the remote diftance, dying into 
 the filence of night. 'Twas Ariofto thefe 
 Gondolieri were finging ; methought that 
 was a popularity to be proud of. 
 
 As we rounded a corner, we came on a 
 flight of marble ftairs, which an old and 
 weighty gentleman, whofe Gondola had juft 
 glided away, was flowly afcending ; when I 
 was ware of two Mifcreants lurking behind 
 a Pillar to waylay him. I had fcarce pluckt 
 Mafter Francis by the fleeve and pointed them 
 out, wdien they affailed the old dignitary, 
 who uttered a loud and terrified cry of " Al 
 Socc6rso ! " 
 
 Mafter Francis was up with him the next 
 inftant, his fword whipt out ; and the Ruf- 
 fians, feeing they had more than they bar- 
 gained for, ran off into the dark.
 
 u4 The Faire Gofpdler, 
 
 " Cheerly, cheerly, Signer ! " fays Maftei 
 Francis. " Have they hui t you ? " 
 
 "A mere prick, my brave young friend,' 
 returns the other; and t)ien enfewed great 
 fahitations and courtefiej, ending in his con- 
 ftraining Mafter Francis ^o go into his Palace, 
 which he did, after /1io;htly calhng to me 
 from where he flood, to go back to the Inn, 
 and bid the Gondolier return for him. 
 
 I Uked not thif, : J liked not lofmg fight 
 rf him, nor knowinp^ into what hands he had 
 fallen : however, I gathered from the Gondo- 
 'ier that the Senator Cornaro (for his rank 
 was no lefs) was of one ol the noblefl houfes in 
 Venice ; and he told me alfo that the waylay- 
 ers were probably no mere Pilferers, but a 
 couple oi liravoes hired by fome Enemy to 
 ^ay the oM Man, out of fome Spite and 
 Revenge. 
 
 When Mafter Francis returned, which was 
 /ery late, he reproved me for waiting Supper 
 for him — faying he had fupped with the Sena- 
 tor and his fair daughter. He was in high 
 f^oirits, for he had been made much of, on 
 account of his fuccour of the old Gentleman ; 
 and thenceforth he had free accefs to the 
 Palace as a cheriflied Gueft.
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 85 
 
 Thereafter we were much divided. He 
 never put me forward, or made me known to 
 Signor Cornaro ; fo that I wift not what his 
 employments were, nor into what fort of 
 company he had fallen. Once, when I inti- 
 mated I would gladly have borne him com- 
 pany, he fayd (lightly, " Your clothes are 
 too fhabby," — which hurt me, for they were 
 always well brufhed, and by no means thread- 
 bare. And as almofl every one in Venice 
 wore black, why, I was not fo far out of the 
 Fafhion. Had it not been for the Tone he 
 took over me, I fhould have been content 
 enough to have my time at my own difpofe ; 
 but that was not what I had been fent abroad 
 for. 
 
 However, having remonftrated as well as I 
 could, I did not fee what remained left undone 
 that I could have done ; fo I made e'en the 
 beft of it, and lookt about the place a little, 
 and faw the Arfenal, and the Churches, and 
 the Ducal Palace ; the Courts of Juftice, the 
 Senate-houfe, and the Exchange ; but all 
 with a kind of diffatiffa6lion. 
 
 A gentleman whom I met at the tavola 
 ordinaria, helped me chiefly to the feeing of 
 thefe, and alfo to fee fome Libraries and
 
 86 TJie Faire Gofpcller, 
 
 book-fhops. I was much tempted to buy a 
 Hebrew Pfalter, the firft that had iffiied from 
 the prefs, as alfo an Italian tranflation of the 
 Bible printed at Venice in 1471, for the 
 curiofity and intereft of it; but counting the 
 coft, found it prudent to abftain, though my 
 companion feemed rather forry I did not. 
 Afterwards I was told he was a Spy. 
 
 But before I knew that, he took me to 
 feveral Painters' Studios, where I picked up 
 fome hints of colouring; and alfo to fome 
 fa(5lories and curiofity-fhops. 
 
 I found Venice was a very wicked y-place, 
 I heard tales of treachery, malice, and re- 
 venge, beyond belief It was a noted place 
 for poifoning, and the inventing of the moft 
 cruel and fubtile inftruments of Torture. 
 For example : I faw a Chair fo contrived as 
 to catch faft any Perfon that fhould fit down 
 in it, by certain fprings in the back and 
 fides, which on fitting down fliould furprife 
 him by inclofing his arms and thighs, with 
 true Italian treachery. Likewife I faw a 
 thing more fearful than cruel, which is to 
 fay, a goggle-eyed Satyr's Head, which by 
 fome contrived machinery could utter a 
 human voice ; a conceit that might affright
 
 Mijlnfs Anne AJkew. 87 
 
 perhaps others befide Women and Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 I became apprehenfive that Mafter Francis 
 was following evil courfes. In England he 
 had been a worthy youth, though fomewhat 
 wilful and idle. Among the refpe6lable 
 Hollanders he maintained the good report of 
 his family. In France, the corrupt influence 
 of the Queen Mother Louife extended be- 
 yond the Court to the Capital and Country, 
 juft as the Circles made by a Stone caft 
 into the Water extend one beyond another. 
 Hence, a Levity of Manners, a Loofenefs 
 of Speech, a Lightnefs of Condu6l, that 
 could not but be very bad Examples to the 
 young. 
 
 In Italy, we found ourfelves among a more 
 decent, decorous People, rarely endowed and 
 moft plaufible of Speech. But they are 
 profound Diffimulators : their own Hiflory 
 bewrays it : they e'en make it a Science. 
 St-Iu, they themfelves maintain that no one 
 is lb bad as " L Inglcfc Italianato " — the 
 Italianified Englifliman. 
 
 Now, while I was leading an anxious, 
 unquiet life, I received a letter from Sir 
 William, accufmg me cf grofs mifmanage-
 
 88 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 ment of our Expenditure, which he under- 
 ftood was owing to my unacquaintance with 
 the Monies and Current Prices of Italy ; 
 adding roundly that he would have no fuch 
 Waftry, and that if I looked not fliavp, he 
 would prefently recal me. 
 
 This letter took me quite by Surprife, and 
 occafioned thoughts that were mofb painful. 
 It was apparent that Mafter Francis had 
 written home to his father, without my 
 knowledge, things that difparaged me and 
 that were untrue ; for the purpofe, namely, 
 of excufmg his own profufion at my Expenfe. 
 
 I turned in my thoughts how I fliould 
 handfomcly clear myfelf to Sir William 
 without inculpating his Son, but could come 
 to no conclufion ; fo, to conftrain myfelf, 
 as 'twere, to a cheerfuller frame, I went 
 forth to the Mercera, a fpot where any but 
 the defolateft mind might furcly find amufe- 
 ments. , 
 
 For there, on either hand, you behold the 
 faireft Shops in the World, tapeftried, as 
 'twere, with Cloth of Gold and rich Damafks 
 hung from the firft-floor Windows, delight- 
 ing the Eye with every conceivable allure- 
 ment of Fabric and Colour : there, again, aie
 
 Mip'cfs Anne AJkeiv. 89 
 
 Perfumery- fhops, regaling exquifitely the 
 Smell with odours of Rofe, Violet, Pink, and 
 every odoriferous Flower, while the fenle of 
 hearing is captivated by the warbling of 
 numerous Nightingales in Gilded Cages hung 
 up in the Shops ; fo that, fliutting your eyes, 
 you might conceit yourfelf in fome Woody 
 Lane or Copfe, rather than in the midft of a 
 City. And no found of wheel or hoof; 
 nothing but the fnfurra of innumerable 
 Voices, the ringing of Bells, and the meloily 
 of flringed and wind Inftruments. 
 
 So cheerful a fcene might well have cheated 
 my fadnefs ; but it did not, for, as I entered 
 the Mercera, I encountered Mafter Francis, 
 walking in the too familiar Italian fafliion, 
 with his arm about the neck of a gay young 
 Nobleman. I faluted him with gravity as I 
 pafled : he refponding by a fcarce perceptible 
 nod. Said Signor Zeno, " Cojtofcc cojini?" 
 He replied with flightnefs, "/<? lo couofco" — • 
 as if he juft knew me by fight and that were 
 all. 
 
 This flung me, and did not the better fit 
 me for fhowing him his father's letter, which 
 I did next time we met, keeping my eye on 
 him while he read it.
 
 90 The Fa ire Gofpeller, 
 
 He coloured high, and fayd, with choler, 
 *' Have you nothing better to do than to ftare ? 
 What is this Coil ? You know as well as I 
 do that we are fhort of Money, and had beft 
 beware of making Mifchief between my 
 Father and me." 
 
 I fayd, nothing would occafion me greater 
 concern than to do fo ; it wounded me that 
 he fhould deem me capable of fuch bafenefs. 
 He fayd imperioufly, " Peace, minion ! " which 
 was a term he certainly was no ways entitled 
 to ufe, but he meant to hurt me, and did. I 
 was prudent enow to take his advice, and held 
 my peace. 
 
 But the pleafantnefs of my life was gone, 
 and fo, I apprehend, was his. One Evening, 
 at Dufk, a Mafkt Perfon ftepped from behind 
 a Column, and put a billet into my hand. It 
 contained thefe words — " Your Mafler is in 
 danger." I did not fo much mind being held 
 his fervant, though I was his Governor, not 
 he my Mafter ; but I was difquieted for his 
 fafety. I'o check him a little, I fhowed him 
 the billet. He treated it lightly, and fayd, 
 *'The words of fome jealous, meddling wo- 
 man." 
 
 Another billet was fliortly given me at
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkeiv. 9 1 
 
 dufk "Since he will not be warned, he 
 muft abide the riik. Mocenigo is coming 
 home." 
 
 What had Mocenigo's coming home to do 
 with it ? Mocenigo was betrothed to Cor- 
 naro's daughter, Madonna Veronica, and was 
 high in command in the Venetian Navy. 
 He was now with the fleet at Cyprus. What 
 call had Mafter Francis to make the brave 
 man jealous, or give him reafon for jealoufy, 
 even by light, unmeaning gallantry to his 
 affianced bride, — he who was himfelf con- 
 tracted to Miftrefs Beffy, and to marry her 
 on his return home } Up to the time of his 
 leaving England, he had been diftra6ledly 
 fond of her, wooing her with love-tokens, 
 love-verfes, gauds, trinkets, pofies, fweet- 
 meats, and what not. For a time he was 
 always thinking of her, — up to the time, 
 that is, of his going to the French Court, and 
 funning in the fmiles of Queen Louife's 
 ladies. 
 
 Sir, ye are young : mayhap your friend is. 
 Take warning by Mafter Francis — wear not 
 your heart on your fleeve, to be pluckt at by 
 the idle, audacious hand of ftrangera.
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 How we left Venice. 
 
 HILE I was painfully miifing over 
 this billet, Mafter Francis comes in 
 with a rare carven Ivory Cafl-cet 
 ftudded with fmall Brilliants in his 
 hand. I may here fay, that throughout his 
 travels, he had bought gauds that pleafed his 
 fancy for Miftrefs Beffy, fome of which had 
 already found their way to her. Setting down 
 the Cafket on the table, he began to tear open 
 fundry Notes that lay thereon, pifliing, and 
 crying with annoyance, "Bills, bills, bills!" 
 as he threw 'em confecutively on the table. 
 I meanwhile eyeing the cafk-et (which I had 
 already noted in a Jeweller's fliop on the 
 iMercera) fayd commendingly, " A pretty toy 
 for Miftrefs Elizabeth." '"Tis not for Mif- 
 trefs Elizabeth," returned he fliortly, "and 
 coft more than 'twas worth. Jews have no 
 confcienccs, I think — and here are bills for
 
 Mijlnfs Anne AJkew. 93 
 
 things I've paid for already . . . But oh ! 
 Nick, what's this?" and he turned afliy 
 pale — "A letter from my Step-mother, fay- 
 ing Sir William lies at poini of Death, and 
 bidding me home on the inflant." "Sir, fir," 
 fayd I, " we cannot choofe but make our befl. 
 fpeed thither." " Not an Hour muft be loft," 
 fayd he. " Take meafures for our immediate 
 Journey. I will but bid adieu to a Friend, 
 and turn my face homeward." And clapping 
 his hand to his forehead, as if in Anguifh 
 intolerable, he caught up the Cafket and was 
 haftening forth, when I fayd, " Sir, you muft 
 leave that to be packed up." " Tut, fool ! " 
 rejoined he, and rufhed away. 
 
 I was ufed now to his uncivil language, 
 but did not like it the more. By and by he 
 returned in ftrange commovement : a kinf- 
 man o' Cornaro's was with him, almoft as 
 much excited as himfelf, who hurried our 
 Departure, obviated all Difficulties (as for 
 Monies, Papers, &c., got us on board a 
 Felucca), and in lefs than another hour we 
 were ploughing the Adriatic. 
 
 Mafter Francis flung himfelf prone on the 
 deck, with his face buried in his Mantle. I 
 think young People have a Luxury fome-
 
 94 The Fa ire Gofpeller, 
 
 times in immoderate Grief, and think it 
 becomes them. Deep, exhaufting Sighs and 
 fpafmodic Throes were lieard and feen from 
 under the Cloak ; and I thought, fure the 
 young Gentleman grieves piteoufly for his 
 Father ; or elfe is leaving his heart behind 
 him — which is it, I wonder ? 
 
 I need not go over the circumftantials of 
 our Journey, which, though tedious, was as 
 rapid as circumflances permitted. Mafter 
 Francis noted nothing, fcarce fpake or ate on 
 the Road. He left everything to me ; and 
 had I not been a better Accountant and 
 Economift than he had reprefented me to be, 
 it would have fared ill with us, e'en with the 
 purfe Cornaro's kinfman put in his hand at 
 parting. 
 
 Gladly I hailed the white cliffs of England ; 
 gladly rode poft with him home ; our horfes 
 in a lather. The Lincolnfhire air felt moifh 
 and raw, but it was our native air for all that : 
 the country looked ftrangely flat and colour- 
 lefs ; it feemed as if fomething had been cut 
 off the horizon, to bring the cold, grey fky 
 lower down to it. In Venice, a red rag or a 
 broken blue jug in a window had abfolute 
 beauty in it — here were green, fwampy trails
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkezv. 95 
 
 with fat beads depafturing on them ; the vaft, 
 yellow H umber ; and, in the diftance, a blue 
 ftrip of the German Ocean. 
 
 We gallopped as we approached Stilling- 
 boro', and breathleffly flung ourfelves from 
 our horfes at the Hall door. 
 
 " Doth my Father yet live } " cries Mafter 
 Francis. 
 
 " Yes, Sir, he's doing cheerly," fays Robin. 
 Oh, how thankful I felt ! Mafter Francis 
 fprang up the great Staircafe, three flairs at 
 a time, while I followed more flowly, and 
 paufed in the doorway. Sir William was 
 fitting up in his great Bed, fwathed in Flan- 
 nels, his Lady and Daughters befide him, 
 Mafter Francis with his back to me, his arms 
 about his Father, who was embracing him 
 with afteftion, but faying with fome Heat, — 
 
 " Dying ? Nothing of the fort . . . I'm 
 a great way from Death yet, I affure you. 
 You have only been recalled by a Woman's 
 nonfenfe ; but, however, fmce you are here, 
 'tis well, for you have been fpending a great 
 deal too much Money, Frank, in your 
 abfence." 
 
 Miflrefs Anne here came round to me, and 
 preffed my great, bony hand moft lovingly
 
 g6 TJie Fa ire Gofpcllcr, 
 
 betwixt both her own. I thought her thcj 
 nioft beautiful Creature I had feeii in my Hfe. 
 Sa}-d Sir Wilham, — 
 
 " Oh, what, Moldwarp, you are there, are 
 you ? Your Suit of Black fomething the 
 worfe for fervice. I believe I could write 
 my name in the Duft on your Doublet 
 There, go and get fomething to eat." 
 
 Miftrcfs Anne foon flipped after me, and 
 fayd, "Do not mind my Father's fpeaking 
 fliort. We have all had a good deal to bear 
 while he was ill. 1 believe Gout generally 
 diftempers the mind as well as body. I 
 knew not Lady Alkew had ordered you home, 
 but peii/aits he did. Frank's extravagance 
 
 hath vexed them forelie. But oh, what a 
 pleafant time yuu mufl: have had of it, dear 
 Nicholas ! I hope you have a great deal to 
 tell ! " 
 
 I fayd I had indeed feen much that was 
 noteworthy. 
 
 " As foon, then, as thou haft had Meat and 
 Drink, and fhaken the Duft off thyfelf, come 
 into the Book-room and talk without ceafmg." 
 
 But before I could do that. Sir Maurice 
 would needs have me into his little veflry, and 
 fearch and probe me raofl narrowly refpcding
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkcw. 97 
 
 all our doings. He fecmcd to know a great 
 deal already, and to have been efpying us all 
 the while, by Deputy or Deputies, which in- 
 deed the Prielthood may well do if they deem 
 it worth their while, they have fo many 
 Efpions. And when he had fifted me like 
 Wheat, he would fain know about foreign 
 Churches, Cathedrals and convents, fhrines 
 and relics, different orders and fraternities, the 
 ftate of Religion abroad, the degree of refpe6l 
 commanded by the Priefls, and religious 
 goflipry in general. 
 
 When I went to the Book-room, feeling like 
 a Culprit, and expe6ting a chiding from 
 Miftrefs Anne, Ihe was leaning half out of the 
 open Lattice, and on the other fide of it was 
 a good-looking young Man talking with her 
 whom I did not at firft difcern to be Matter 
 Edmund Britain. He greeted me firfl, was 
 amufed and pleafed at my not having known 
 him, and fayd, — 
 
 " Well, 'tis a compliment to my manhood." 
 After which, he bade Miftrefs Anne fland 
 afide, till he fcrambled into the room, by plant- 
 ing his foot on a ftrong branch of Honey- 
 fuckle, which helped him up. 
 
 What a pleafant talk we had ! Little 
 
 5
 
 98 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 Miftrefs Joan made a fourth, coming in and 
 ftanding by my knee ; but Ihe was not lb 
 pretty as Miftrcfs Anne had been at her age. 
 
 By and by, Miflrefs Anne excufed herfelf, 
 and went up to Sir WilHam, who exafted his 
 Daughters' attendance by turn ; they land- 
 ing befide him by the hour, till they were like 
 to drop ; even whiles he flept. Direftly fhe 
 was gone, Mafter Britain fayd to me, "Is not 
 my coufin fair?" "I am quite amazed," an- 
 fwered I, " to fee how fhe hath improved. 
 She is a wondrous fair woman." " They 
 count her as a child, though," he rejoined. 
 " She is fnubbed and checked more than any 
 creature I e'er knew ; and yet fhe's not hurt- 
 ful, nor defpiteful, nor unduteous in aught. 
 Her happieft hours are fpent in this room, 
 among your books : you will find fhe hath fed 
 freelie on them." " Had I known that," fayd 
 I, " I would have packed fome in a box and 
 fent them to our Farm-houfe. I knew that 
 no one elfe would trouble them, and did not 
 think fhe would." " There is no harm in 
 them," fayd he. " 'Tis hard to fay what there's 
 no harm in, in thefe days," fayd I. Then we 
 talked of the times, and of his Studies. 
 
 Shortlie, Mafter Francis' accounts were
 
 STATE Nbiii^lAL , 
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 99 
 
 overhauled, and I was called in to verify them 
 He met me juft as I paffed in to Sir William, 
 and whifpered haftily, " Say nothing about 
 Cornaro's Purfe." " I looked furprifed, and 
 would have remonflrated ; but he was gone. 
 I had little time to digeft the matter, and 
 left it to fettle itfelf. I would not needlefQy 
 bring it up ; and if I were obliged to account 
 for it, I would fpeak the truth. As it happ'd, 
 I had no need ; Sir William never once quef- 
 tioned our having had enough refidue to bring 
 us home : there was a deficit he could no 
 ways account for, unlefs it had been gambled 
 away. He queftioned me ftraitly if it had 
 gone thus. I fayd I had never feen him play. 
 He fuppofed I had always been with him } 
 I fayd I had not the entry of the Senator's 
 houfe. He chafed, and fayd Frank fliould not 
 have gone there alone. I explained, as well 
 as I could, how it was. He thought upon it 
 with a troubled face, and fayd, — 
 
 " Well, I fuppofe young Men muft be 
 young Men ... as Boys will be Boys ; and 
 have been, ever fince Cain and Abel. His 
 wife's Fortune muft reconcile me — and they 
 fliall be married as foon as fhe will name the 
 day. He hath expended a good deal on her
 
 lOO The Faire Gofpellcr, 
 
 already — I fay not wafted a good deal on her 
 becaufe it hath been favourably received by 
 her family, and given a good impreffion of his 
 means. Howbeit, I have no faith in that 
 Hungarian opal being genuine." 
 
 I fayd, " Opals are fo diverfe, that I have 
 been told the attempt to fix a price on them 
 is idle. Each has its diftinftive beauty, alto- 
 gether independent of weight." 
 
 " You are fpeaking of the real thing," fayd he 
 impatiently, " which I am convinced this is not." 
 
 " I had not thought," I fayd, " that Art 
 could produce fuch an exact copy. However, 
 the Venetians are very clever, and the Jews 
 are very cunning ; and (under your favour, 
 Sir William) the young are very guilelefs, and 
 eafy to be impofed upon." 
 
 " I believe you have hit it now," fayd he, 
 mollified, " and the Lad thought to pleafe me. 
 Tufh, an Opal as big as that would be worth 
 a King's Ranfom." 
 
 I found afterwards, Mafter Francis had 
 little claim to guilcleffnefs in the matter ; for 
 when I told him Sir William thought the 
 Opal not genuine, he anfvvered, " Did I ever 
 fay it was .<* I did not think, though, he 
 would doubt it."
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkeiv. lOI 
 
 I flirewdly opined Mafter Francis had, 
 after all, left Venice in debt ; which indeed 
 was the cafe. But one coil he had got into 
 he was not altogether blameworthy in. He 
 had taken a fancy to fit for his Piclure to a 
 young Venetian Artift, intending it for Mif- 
 trefs Beffy, and had given Meffer Antonio 
 fundry fittings. Howbeit we left him and the 
 Picture in the lurch when we came awav. I 
 had read to him fometimes during thefe fittings, 
 to beguile the time, and likewife in the hope 
 to profit him a little. Howbeit, I liked not 
 the Novelle the painter would have fupplied ; 
 and when I read a Claffique, Mafter Francis, 
 after keeping quiet a little, would make fome 
 utterly irrelevant remark. Then we would 
 fall into general talk, pleafant enough, becaufe 
 Meffer Antonio was full of ingenuity ; and he 
 would afk about England, which Mafter 
 Francis would defcribe as the fineft place in 
 the world ; as indeed it is, for many things, 
 but not in the way he intended. He would 
 add that there were more good Patrons than 
 good Painters, and that, if Meffer Antonio 
 came over here, he would fhortly make his 
 fortune ; which was fpoken very much at 
 random, though Meffer Antonio did not know
 
 102 The Faire Go/pdlcr, 
 
 it. One of my fancies was whether Meffer 
 Antonio might not put him to his wit's end 
 fome day, by prefenting himfelf, with his 
 great, iinpaid-for Piclure, at the Gate. 
 
 Mafler Francis was very much obliged to 
 me for not telHng about Cornaro's loan. 
 Where he got the Money to repay it, I know 
 not ; but he came to me one day to get me to 
 write in his name to the Senator, he not being 
 converfant enough with Italian fpelling to do 
 it himfelf, and acquit him of the debt, at the 
 fame time thanking him handfomely for the 
 affiftance in his moment of unlooked-for 
 need. 
 
 After this, his thoughts turned chiefly to 
 his approaching wedding. Mr. Ned Britain 
 went back to his Law-Courts at Term- 
 time ; Sir William was on his legs again, 
 though tottery ; and my Lady obtained from 
 him the obje6l of her Defire, which was a 
 Scarlet Satin Gown. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Kyme was now admitted to 
 formal vifits at the Hall, as Miflrefs Patty's 
 declared lover ; fhc was always demure and 
 ftately at fuch times, and feemcd, to me, a6l- 
 ing a part. His own demeanour was fcarce 
 lefs conftrained ; fo there was little love loll
 
 Mijlrtfs Anne AJlceiv. 103 
 
 between them. But how changed flie was 
 from a girl ! She would ftill, when no one 
 was by to check her, fport and romp with 
 her younger brothers and fifters, and rufli 
 down the ftairs and bounce into the rooms ; 
 but it was as though Ihe were only trying to 
 run away from herfelf You might hear her 
 loud laugh all over the houfe ; and hear it 
 flop fliort in the midft. Meeting her the next 
 moment, fhe would look as if flie had never 
 laughed in her life ; dreary as a cloiftered 
 Nun. She was grown thin and haggard. 
 What a change from the blooming Miftrefs 
 Patty ! 
 
 Meeting her thus in the Gallery, I would 
 turn into the Book-room, and there find 
 Miftrefs Anne, pure as a pearl, beauteous as 
 a nymph, kneeling before a great Folio, with 
 her hands over her ears, and her eyes de- 
 vouring the open page. I found her bent 
 was now wholly to polemical ftudies ; fhe 
 was quite verfed in all the queftions of the 
 day. 'Twas no good now to fliut the flable- 
 door ; the fteed had found his own way out, 
 and was pafturing at his own free will, 
 Thofe paftures were green and frefh, befide 
 living waters.
 
 I04 The Fairc Go/pel ler. 
 
 Once, when I would gently have drawn the 
 Bible out of her hand, flie fmiled in ray face 
 and fayd, — 
 
 " To no ufe, Nicholas. I have it all here, 
 and here," — touching firll her forehead and 
 then her heart. 
 
 The Reformation had made great ftrides 
 during my abfence, and many were fearching 
 the Scriptures in the fpirit of the intelligent 
 Bereans. 
 
 Even Mafter Francis had entertained the 
 fubject, in a fuperficial fort of way, while 
 abroad ; and while he brought home a falfe 
 opal for his ftep-mother, a Venice-glafs for 
 his father, a flilctto for his brother Ned, and 
 a carved fan for his eldeft fifter, he brought 
 home an Italian Bible (the fame I had covet- 
 ed) for his " fifter Nan." 
 
 So fhe read this unreproved, keeping it in 
 her poucn, and drawing it out whenever flie 
 lifted ; anfwering briefly, whenever the quef- 
 tion was put, " Nan, what art about .'' " 
 " Reading Italian." 
 
 I found her coufin Britain had difcourfed 
 with her a good deal on religious matters. 
 His own mind fecmed to be in an inquiring 
 flate.
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Of Weddings and Burials. 
 
 MUST haften onward to Mafter 
 Francis' Marriage, and remark by 
 the way that his Italian flame had 
 burnt out as fpeedily as Tow or 
 Flax, fo evanefcent are the impreffions of 
 many young People, 
 
 The Nuptials were folemnized with much 
 State : I walked over to South Kelfey to wit- 
 nefs them ; and before they took place, Mat- 
 ter Francis went up to Court and was knight- 
 ed by King Henry, during the feftivities in 
 honour of Queen Anne Boleyn. This was 
 about Whitfuntide, 1534: and ye may be 
 fure, a good deal was thought of it at South 
 Kelfey, as alfo at Stallingboro'. 
 
 After the wedding feftivities were ended, 
 we fubfided into great quiet. It was then T
 
 io6 The Fa ire Gofpellcr, 
 
 began to lay the foundation ftone of ni^ 
 Treatyfe on the Adornment of Gardens, and 
 build it up day by day. How calm and happy 
 an occupation it was ! I foon found I could 
 beft elucidate it by marginal defigns, which 
 indeed were not very well done, but yet there 
 was nobody about me that could do better, or 
 as well ; and as I coloured them in the Vene- 
 tian ftyle (at leaft as near as I could come to 
 it) the effect to the eye was agreeable. His 
 Honour Sir William took confiderable intereft 
 in this my work, would watch me at it, and 
 daily after dinner cry, " Well Moldwarp, how 
 are you getting on now .'' Let us fee," — and 
 then would leifurely begin at the very begin- 
 ning and turn over page after page, remark- 
 ing as he proceeded, without Satiety, which 
 was fingularly acceptable to my unworthy 
 felf, and proved a great fpur to the accom- 
 plifhment of my Tafk. As for Miftrefs Anne, 
 fhe would rub my paints, wafh my brufties, 
 and do anything I would let her to help me, 
 fo that we were very harmlefflie happy. And 
 my opinion is, that whatever felf-gratulation 
 may attend the completion of a work, or 
 whatever praife from others it may elicit, the 
 true reward is in the production thereof.
 
 Mijbefs Anne AJkew. 107 
 
 When my poor work was completed, it was 
 a notion of fome of Sir William's guefts, to 
 whom he made me exhibit it, that the King's 
 Grace would be pleafed to accept the Dedica- 
 tion of it to himfelf ; and though I was fome- 
 what in dread of fo afpiring a ftep, I was 
 urged on to it, and finally, through Sir Wil- 
 liam's abetting the fame, it was brought to 
 pafs. Enough of this toy ; maybe I fhould 
 have omitted its mention altogether ; but old 
 age is garrulous. 
 
 Sir William having married his Son, would 
 needs next compleat the Marriage of his 
 eldeft Daughter in the enfuing Autumn. 
 Now Miftrefs Patty having, as I have here- 
 tofore rehearfed, fallen much out of health, 
 which at firft no one feemed to notice, began 
 to have long fwoonings, which no one could 
 choofe but notice, fmce fhe loft or nearly loft 
 her fenfes, her lips and alfo nails turned blue, 
 her face aftien grey and clammy. One of 
 thefe fwoonings occurring on a day that the 
 Marriage had been much fpoken of. Sir 
 William attributed it to fome milliking on her 
 part, and was offended at her indifpofition 
 and would make no account of it, but begged 
 he might hear no more of her till (lie got
 
 I08 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 better. Thereon, flie no fooner came to her- 
 felf, than Miftrefs Anne led her gently into 
 the open air to a bench aneath my Lattice, 
 and I heard her fvveet, tender chiding of her 
 fifter, and how flie fayd, " Dear Patty, my 
 Father thinks you give way too much, and 
 that, if you would roufe yourfelf when the 
 fwooning is coming on, you might keep it off 
 altogether." 
 
 But (lie only wept and fayd, " Chide me not, 
 Nan, for thou haft ever been kind to me. I 
 can no more help it than I can help breathing. 
 I hear every word you fay, but fpeak I cannot 
 while that deadly ficknefs lafls, which comes 
 on every fifth day." 
 
 When I heard her fay that, I thought, 
 " Why, 'tis an ague fhe hath gotten, and of the 
 worft kind. How came we never to guefs it 
 before } " 
 
 So I haftened to name it to Sir William, 
 who at firft would not credit it ; but at length 
 perceiving its likelihood, he did fend for the 
 Court Phyfician, who came down at great 
 charges, and, after examination of the cafe, 
 pronounced it double Tertian Ague. Thereon 
 Mifs Patty had to drink Mulled Wine, infufed 
 with certain Medicaments, but above all to be
 
 Mijlrefs Amte AJkew. 109 
 
 removed, not only from the vicinage of the 
 Moat, which indeed was that feafon full 
 noifome, but leave Lincolnfhire for a while 
 altogether. Thus llie returned to her Court 
 friends for fome months, and got quite well ; 
 fo that it was fettled flie fliould be married in 
 the Spring. 
 
 That was the Spring in which the unhappy 
 Lady Anne Boleyn came by her violent Death 
 on the 19th of May, 1536 ; but that concerneth 
 not this prefent hiftory. 
 
 In the early fpring of that 'year, the Houfe 
 Porter came to me and fayd there was an out- 
 landifh Stranger at the Gate, whom no one 
 could underftand. I went forth to prove him 
 with Languages ; and who fliould he be but 
 Meffer Antonio, the Venetian painter, whc, 
 taking Sir Francis at his word, had found his 
 way over to us, expe6ling great patronage. I 
 told him Sir William was from home, and Sir 
 Francis married and fettled in another neigh- 
 bourhood, which greatly difgufted him ; and 
 he feeming quite at his wit's end, I bade him 
 come in and take fome refrefliment. At this 
 juncture. Sir William luckily rode up with his 
 Hawk on his fift, and looked inquiringly at 
 the fallow ftranger. When I did him to wit
 
 no The Faire Gofpcller, 
 
 who he was, he fayd he muft by no means lie 
 caft adrift, fince his Son had invited him over; 
 fo, to my great relief as well as that of the 
 poor Painter, he bade me receive and entertain 
 him till Sir Francis fhould be advifed of his 
 coming. 
 
 When he had wafhed and fed and was reft- 
 ing himfelf, we had much talk of Venice the 
 Beautiful and what was doing there, and how 
 he came to think of journeying to us (which I 
 eventually gathered was for ftabbing a Rival, 
 only at firft he made as though it were folely 
 on Sir Francis' account). He had met with 
 ftrange Mifadventures by the way, and called 
 Lincolnfliire " quejla brutta paefe." I do not 
 wonder at an Italian thinking it fo. 
 
 To be fhort — he painted that goodly Pidlure 
 of Miftrefs Anne, which is now, for want of 
 care, going to ruin ; and he painted Sir Wil- 
 liam and my Lady, and then went to South 
 Kelfey and painted Sir Francis and Dame 
 Elizabeth Afkew. After this we loft fight of 
 him, but I underftood that Sir Francis was 
 fomewhat anxious to get rid of him, and fent 
 him up to London, telling him he would be fure 
 of patronage, which, however, he found not ; 
 for Toto di Nanziata and Bartolomeo Penni
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJIcezu. 1 1 1 
 
 were beforehand with him ; and what became 
 eventually of the poor fellow I do not 
 know, 
 
 Miftrefs Patty now returning home, Mafter 
 Kyme would play the impatient Lover, and 
 infift on her naming the day, which the did, 
 and fhe had already brought her own confent 
 to it, and brought many fine things from Lon- 
 don, including a five-pointed Head-tire for 
 Miftrefs Anne, who had hitherto worn but a 
 coif Brothers and coufins were fummoned 
 about us ; the houfe was full of Guefls ; re- 
 becks and recorders were tuning ; rich diflies 
 prepared ; fumptuous clothes provided — and 
 on one fatal day, when they were riding on the 
 banks of the Humber and a fog came on, 
 Miftrefs Patty took a cold, and became fo ill, 
 file was forced to take to her Bed, which (he 
 never left alive. 
 
 I ne'er knew a man more put out by difap- 
 pointment than was Mafter Kyme. It was 
 not Grief, fo much as Indignation that his 
 Will fhould be thwarted. For a few days, it 
 was hoped the Sicknefs would pafs oft", and 
 the Guefls ftayed on. But when the Shadow 
 of Death fell on the Houfe, they all difap- 
 peared like the Swallows, in a Day, and only
 
 112 The Fairc Gofpcller, 
 
 huQied voices and muffled footfteps were 
 heard. When they told her flie muft die, 
 file cried, " Oh, I cannot — oh, fave me, fave 
 me !" — and wept fore. Her Father, her Step- 
 mother, would comfort her in vain. The old 
 Chaplain effayed his befl. — Ihe would none of 
 him. She kept crying, " Oh, leave me with 
 my fifter Nan!" — which at laft they 
 did. 
 
 How Miftrefs Anne miniftered to her 
 unquiet fpirit and brought peace, fhe onlie 
 knew. 
 
 After a long time, when Sir William and 
 my Lady went in to them, Miftrefs Patty was 
 peacefully ebbing away, Miftrefs Anne, with 
 her arms about her, lying by her fide, Miftrefs 
 Patty opened her eyes — fayd, " Kifs me, 
 Nan" — then fuddenly looking upward, ex- 
 claimed, " Behold where He is ! " and fo 
 died. 
 
 It was very piteoufe, and much dwelt on in 
 the country. Sir WilKam felt it much, but 
 his trouble uttered not itlclf in words ; only 
 in fighs. This was the firll; Death-bed 
 Miftrefs Anne had feen ; but it did not fcare 
 her with any terrors. She fhed tears of 
 fweet affection ; and thenceforth was habi^
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJlccw. 113 
 
 tiiallie grave. She would often unconfciouflj 
 ceafe from what flie was about, and feem 
 looking into the unfeen World. When 
 Mafter. Edmund Ikitain occafionally came 
 down to the Hall, fhe would affe6l his com- 
 panie more than anie elfe ; there was no 
 lev'itie in their talk, nor any love-making ; 
 though I ufed to think they might be Lovers 
 by and by. They would difcourfe of high 
 and holy themes, like Brother and Sifter, or 
 very dear Friends . , . which was what they 
 were. She would queftion him much con- 
 cerning the i^rogrefs the Reformers were 
 making, and of the checks they gat from the 
 King. And thus flie went on to about eight- 
 een years of age. 
 
 During thefe faddened and filent years, we 
 had feen little or nothing of Mr. Thomas 
 Kyme ; but now he rode over with Sir 
 Francis, and paid Sir William a vifit of fome 
 duration. What they devifed between 'em, 
 we only knew by the Confequents. 
 
 After fome refle6lion, when they were 
 gone. Sir William fent for Miftrefs Anne. 
 She came in to me afterwards, and fat down 
 and fobbed bitterly. I afked her what was 
 her grief. She faid, " My Father fayth I
 
 114 '^^'■^ Fa ire GofpcUcr, 
 
 muft marry." I fayd, " Sure that muft happen 
 firft or lafl. Who would let a fair Daughter 
 remain fingle all her life ? " She fayd, " But 
 I am quite young yet — I told him fo. There's 
 no hurry." I fayd, " All young Gentlewomen 
 fay thofe things." She fayd, "I don't care 
 what all young Gentlewomen fay," and wept 
 on. After a paufe, I fayd, "Who is the 
 Party.?" "Did I not teil you.?" fayd flie, 
 looking up. " Who, of all others, but Mafter 
 Kyme.?" "Mafter Kyme ! " repeated I in 
 amaze ; and had not a word to proffer. 
 
 "You may well be furprifed, Nicholas," 
 fayd fhe, "but my Father declares it fhall be, 
 and foon too. Oh ! I had much rather 
 die." 
 
 I fayd, " We muft not take the name of the 
 King of Terrors in vain. Here is no queftion 
 of dying: it only concerns a thing you don't 
 like—" 
 
 " And cannot do," interpofed fhe. 
 
 "Well, well," fayd I, "let us fee how things 
 will turn." 
 
 They did not turn. Sir William would not 
 turn: Mr. Kyme was not to be turned: more 
 by token he had received half of Miftrefs 
 Patty's portion in advance, which Sir William
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkeiv. 1 1 5 
 
 had no mind to lofe, nor he to give up. Sure, 
 that was the forrovvfuleft time the Houfe had 
 yet known ; forrier, by far, than IMiftrefs 
 Patty's death, becaufe this had much bitter- 
 nefs in it. It made ill words all round. Lady 
 Alkew fayd, " Sir William, I muft fay you too 
 much urge your daughter." He fayd fternly, 
 " In the good old times the difobedience of 
 children was punifhable by death." " Good 
 old times, quotha," muttered Mafter Roger; 
 for which he was fent to his chamber fupper- 
 lefs. 
 
 Sir Francis was had over to talk with his 
 fifter, becaufe that, aforetime, they had been 
 very fond of one another. After a long talk 
 with her in the withdrawing-room, he rofe as 
 if to leave, but beckoned her after him ; and 
 brought her, his arm about her waift, into the 
 Book-room, fhe with her eyes fwollen with 
 crying. He fayd, " By your leave. Mold- 
 warp," and went on as if I had been a Chair 
 or a Table. He fayd, " Sweet Nan, come tell 
 me, your own dear Brother, where the flioe 
 pinches. Don't fend me home with a 
 troubled heart — have we not alway loved one 
 another } " " Indeed we have, Frank," fhe 
 fayth, crying. "Well then, what is't ?
 
 Ii6 The Faire Gofpellcr, 
 
 Where's the hitch ? Never mind telling 
 me, — I won't tell again." " I can't love him, 
 Frank." " Nay, but why 1 He's a per- 
 fonable Man — a right worthy Gentleman." 
 " I think differently. I think him harfh, 
 difagreeable, and ugly." " Oh fie for fhame ! 
 thofe are not words for a Lady's mouth." 
 " Our minds do not accord in one fingle 
 point." "Tulh!" "Tell me now, Frank, 
 you who have an ear for Mufique, what Con- 
 cert Ihould that be in which you played one 
 tune on the Viol-di-Gamba, and Sifter Befs 
 played another tune on the Flute .'' " He 
 laughed immoderately and fayd, "A moft 
 horrible Difcord." "Then that's jufl the 
 Concert Mafter Kyme and I fnould make 
 together," fayd fhe quickly. He laughed on, 
 and I thought, forced his merriment to cover 
 his difficulty. But fhe fayd, " You may laugh 
 an' you will ; 'tis no laughing matter to me. 
 Tell me now, Frank, can I be compelled by 
 Law of the Country, to be married whether I 
 will or no } " He flood at paufe, and fa3'd, 
 " Why, no." " Then will I never marry 
 Mafler Kyme ! " "I tell you what. Nan ; I 
 fee what it is, and will not mince it. You 
 love another man."
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. Ii7 
 
 She coloured fcarlet, and fayd, " I don't ! " 
 But he fayd, " O yes you do, and that makes 
 you fo difficult." " Who, pray ? " " Non 
 importa. No need to mention names. Yon 
 know, and / know." And he held her firm 
 and looked full into her eyes. 
 
 She fayd, " I will not bear this. You may 
 look as you will, and think wliat you will, 
 but you are quite miftaken." " What makes 
 you colour fo, then.-' Juft look at her, 
 Moldwarp ! " " Sir, fir," fayd I, in remon- 
 flrance. 
 
 But Ihe rc'^urned his look intrepidly, though 
 her cheek, brow, and neck were flill incarna- 
 .dined, and fayd, " It is as I fay : I tell no lie. 
 My heart is my own : who is there, I pray, 
 to give it to .'' " He ftill kept his eye on her, 
 and fayd deliberately, " Edmund Britain." 
 "Poor dear Edmund ; muft Jie be brought 
 in .'* " cried flie, with almofl; merriment, 
 though her colour yet augmented. " Indeed, 
 I remember he ufed to call me his little wife, 
 but he left that off long ere he went to Col- 
 lege ; and, I think, would not have me if I 
 afked him." 
 
 Sir Francis only replied, " Nan, Nan, 1 
 have your fecret," and turned to the door
 
 ii8 
 
 The Faire Gojpeller. 
 
 " Faithful friends don't betray fecrets, — fup« 
 pofing it one," fayd fhe quickly. But he waa 
 gone.
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 Springes to catch a poor Bird. 
 
 FTER this, there was a dull fort of 
 quiete in the Houfe for a few days, 
 though I wift that Letters were 
 privilie exchanged betwixt Sir Wil- 
 liam and his Son. On the third day, Sir 
 Francis and his Lady rode over to Dinner, 
 and invdted Miftrefs Anne to fpend a week 
 with them, which, confent being obtained, fhe 
 was full faine to do, and thankful to them for 
 afking her. 
 
 At dinner-time, Sir William looking to- 
 ward his fon, fayd in a loud, clear voice, " I 
 fuppofe you have heard of this projected 
 Marriage of Edmund Britain's .-• " 
 
 " No, indeed," returns Sir Francis ; " what, 
 is it a settled thing, then .-* I had not fui>
 
 120 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 pofed anything ferious in that quarter. What, 
 hath the Lady money ? " 
 
 " Not much of that, I believe," fayd Sir 
 WilHam, flightly ; and began to fpeak of a 
 different matter, I ftole a look at Miflrefs 
 Anne, from where I fate at the Side-table, 
 and noted her eye-lids tremble a little, which 
 was all the emotion flie fliowed. 
 
 Mafter Kyme came not near us while fhe 
 was away, and I heard he abftained equally 
 from going to South Kelfey. 
 
 I was only a byftander ; had neither right 
 nor difpofition to interfere in the Game ; 
 neverthelefs I had my own proper thoughts 
 and notions ; and one of them was that this 
 ftory of Mafter Britain's engagement was a 
 fabrication ; but the fcene was fuificiently 
 well enacted to have the force of truth to a 
 guilelefs young mind. 
 
 Have you feen Kelfey Hall, Sir .'' It is a 
 moated Manfion, added to at different periods, 
 which gives it an irregularity that to my eye 
 is by no means unpleafing. It hath a small 
 Court in front, furrounded by a wall with 
 odtangular turrets at each corner, and a hand- 
 fome Gate-way in the middle. On one fide 
 the Entrance Porch, the Mullioned Windows
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 121 
 
 have five lights ; on the other side, only four. 
 There are little, ftepped Gables over the 
 Dormer Windows. 
 
 Miftrefs Anne had been fo little from home, 
 and Sir Francis and his Lady, being young 
 and fond of pleafure, kept fuch different State 
 from Sir William, that flie enjoyed her fojouni 
 with them exceedingly. They rode, they 
 hawked, they played with Bows and Arrows, 
 they fang Madrigals and played on ftringed 
 and wind Inftruments, and made her time 
 pafs as pleafantlie as they could ; giving her 
 to underftand by the w^ay, that all thefe 
 Delices would be at her command when Ihe 
 was wedded to Mafter Kyme. Sure 'twas 
 ingenioufly done. 
 
 Then, when llie came back, Mafter Kyme 
 rode over and brought her a rare jewel ; an 
 Emerald, with three pear-fhaped pendants ; 
 but fhe contemned it. He told her how much 
 it had coft him, and fayd the jewel was with- 
 out flaw. Then, fayd fhe, " That's a great 
 deal to fay of an Emerald, and more than can 
 be honeftly fayd of any living creature ; leafl 
 of all, of me." 
 
 " I wift not you had any flaw," quod he. 
 " O yes, Sir ; a very unyielding Temper " 
 
 6
 
 122 The Faire Gofpeller^ 
 
 " Since /ou trow that to be a flaw, which 
 in footh it is," returns he, "no doubt you will 
 flrive for grace to mend it." "In reafonable 
 things, but not unreafonable." " How mean 
 you by that ? " fayd he. " I mean that there 
 are things in which others would fometimes 
 have me yield, that they deem reafonable, but 
 I, unreafonable." " Oh, Miflrefs Anne, there 
 is a certain guide for that. Ye fliould abide 
 by the judgment of your Elders." " How if 
 they are not my Betters } " " That query 
 favoureth not of a humble mind." " How if 
 my Elders are at iffue between themfelves .■' 
 But there ! I'm tired of it ! " fayd fhe, fling- 
 ing away a Carnation fhe had been pulling to 
 pieces. 
 
 Mafter Kyme looked at her from under 
 his thick, black brows, as though he hoped to 
 make her fmg another Song, another Day. 
 But fhe faw him not, for her face was turned 
 afide, and pouting. She had a weary time of 
 it, day by day : all pleafant Talk was chafed 
 away by Altercation. One day, when flie was 
 leaving the room in a huff, fhe ran againft 
 fome one in the Doorway and fayd, " Oh, 
 Edmund, is it thou .?" and began to cry. He 
 fayd, " Why, Nan, what's the matter ? You
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 1 23 
 
 ufed to be all Smiles and no Tears." " 'Tis 
 juft the other way now then," fayd lli-e, " for 
 \ am badgered from morn till night." " By 
 whom .'' " fayd he, taking her by the hand and 
 drawing her to a chair, and then fitting over 
 againft her on a Stool. She hung her head 
 and fayd, " By my Father moftly." " I fup- 
 pofe," fayth he, " you know the firft command- 
 ment with promife.^" "You think to flop 
 my mouth with that," fayth flie, fofter, and 
 looking down. " Dear Nan," he returns very 
 kindly, " you accept the whole canon of Scrip- 
 ture, do you not t " " Why, of courfe I do." 
 " You deem it a great and glorious thing that 
 Cranmer has done, to fet up a copy of Cover- 
 dale's Bible in the choir of every Church, for 
 public ufe .'' " " Indeed I do," flie cries, her 
 bright eyes raifed and beaming. " You are 
 ready to abide by it to the death." "Aye, I 
 hope I am, God being my Helper." " Now 
 fee how witlefs a thing it is, Nan, to be willing 
 to die for it, and not to live by it." " How 
 mean you .'' " fayd fhe, regarding him wiflfully. 
 " I know not any warrant we have," he pur- 
 fued, " for obeying one part of Scripture and 
 not another : onlie picking out our favourite 
 texts in it. The wickedeft finner that ever
 
 124 '^^^ Faire Cofpeller, 
 
 lived might even his conduft by it that way. 
 He that fayd Thou flialt not kill, said Thou 
 flialt not fteal : now, if thou kill not, yet if thou 
 fteal, thou haft broken the Law." " Of course ; 
 that's the fubftance of St. Paul's argument," 
 fayth Ihe. " We are fmners all." " He that 
 fayd Thou fhalt not fteal, fayd alfo Honour 
 thy Father and thy Mother," continued he. 
 " Now, if thou fteal not, yet if thou difho- 
 noureft thy Father and Mother, thou tranf- 
 greffeft the Law." "To difahow is not to dif- 
 honour," fayd flie, looking troubled. " Tut ! 
 what is to difallow but to difhonour ? We 
 diflionour thofe we difobey and contravert." 
 " I fee they have had you here on purpofe to 
 put me down with your Subtileties," fayth fhe, 
 beginning to weep. " On my Honour no, 
 Nan. I came down of my own Accord, 
 and on no Invitation." It was eafy to fee 
 what great Relief fhe received on hearing 
 this. 
 
 "O, Ned," fayth flie, "you joy my heart; 
 and fmce I think you the beft friend I have, 
 advife me, I befeech you, in this fore ftrait." 
 " Right willingly, and without Fee," quoth lie 
 playfully. " Show me what the ftrait is." 
 " Sure you know the difficulty I am now
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJIcczv. 125 
 
 in ?" fhe fayth. But he looked all abroad, 
 though I trow he knew it well enough in 
 his heart. He would compel her to fpeak^ 
 which fhe did faltering, and plucking at her 
 Apron. 
 
 " Why, about Mafler Kyme." " What about 
 Mailer Kyme .-' " " You know he was to have 
 had Patty." " I know he was to have 
 had Patty." " Patty died." " I know that 
 too." " Is that any reafon he fliould have 
 me { 
 
 " That depends," fayd he, with a pleafant 
 fmile, and fliifting his pofbure. " Is there any 
 reafon he fhould not ? " " Yes, if there's not 
 mutual Liking." " I conclude he likes you." 
 " But I know I don't like him." 
 
 " Your obje6lions, yourobjeftions," fayd he, 
 flicking his hand with his glove. 
 
 " Oh, I can't count them all, they're fo 
 many ; I like him in nothing — diflike him in 
 everything." 
 
 " If you were my fifter, Nan, I might a(k 
 ... do you like any one better .'' " 
 
 " All the world ! every one ! " fayd flie 
 brifkly, which took him fo by furprife he 
 could not help laughing. 
 
 " Well," fayd he, " I don't fee my way out of
 
 126 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 tliis— -" " How can you wonder that I don't ?" 
 " How, indeed ? " repeated he, gravely, and 
 regarding her wuth attention. " You are but 
 young yet, and know not that Life is full of 
 forrow." 
 
 " O but I do," returns Ihe, weeping. " Have 
 not I loft Patty.?" 
 
 " Aye," fayd he, " and I loft a dear Friend 
 no great while back. It made me fo fick at 
 heart that I came to this conclufion . . . 
 There's no good or Stay in this Life at all, 
 but only to do one's Duty in it. But you 
 cannot underftand or feel this." 
 
 " Indeed but I can, though," quoth flie. 
 
 " There's no good nor Stay in this Life, 
 fave to do one's Duty in it," repeated he after 
 paufmg. " And this Life, how fliort ! a mere 
 Breath — a Bubble. It is the prelude to a 
 Life that fliall never end. How mad, then, 
 to fet the Pleafure of this little Life before its 
 Duty!" 
 
 " I don't want to do that," fayd fhe, humblie. 
 
 " I know you don't." 
 
 " But I want to know what my Duty is," 
 
 " If I fhow it you, will you engage to per- 
 form it .•' Otherwife I may fpare myfclf the 
 trouble."
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkcw. 127 
 
 "Well, then,— I will," fayd fhe, hcfitat- 
 
 mg. 
 
 " You will ! " 
 
 " Yes, I will." 
 
 He took her hand for a moment. 
 
 " Duty very often comes in the very fliape 
 we do not wifli. The old Chinefe Philofo- 
 pher fayd, that when he was undecided which 
 was the beft between two courfes, he gene- 
 rally found it fafeft to take the moft Untempt- 
 ing. Every thinking Perfon knows (only the 
 general don't think) that there are two great 
 Antagonifts engaged in conftant Warfare — 
 the World, and Heavenly Wifdom. Now, 
 there is fo much that is dear to us, on the 
 fide of the World ! And Satan, like a cun- 
 ning General, puts the very deareft thing we 
 have, which he holds as Hoftage, in the front 
 Rank of his forces ! — thinking we will not ftir 
 againft it. Do you fee '^. " 
 
 " Yes, Ned," with a deep figh. I was fure 
 how the matter would end after this. 
 
 " Well," fayth fhe, after long thinking, " if I 
 muft, I muft— " 
 
 " That's my good Nan ! " 
 
 " And as Queen Efther fayd, ' If I die, I 
 die.' "
 
 128 The Fa ire Gofpeller, 
 
 " Die ! We fliall all die ; but none the 
 fooner, all the fvveeter, for being in the path 
 of Duty." 
 
 " You are quite fure, Ned, it is my duty t(, 
 marry him whom I do not love ? Once prove 
 it, and . . ." 
 
 " Cafes like thefe go not by logical proof. 
 Our likes and diilikes fhift like the clouds. 
 Refolve to be a good wife unto him ; you'll 
 learn to love him ! " 
 
 " Is that the way you would like j^ou/ 
 wife to learn to love you, coufin .'' " 
 
 He did not anfwer this, but went on, 
 " Receive his overtures of affection plea- 
 fantlie, graciouflie ; what begins in Duty 
 cannot but end in Happinefs." 
 
 " Well, I'll try," fayd flie, with yet another 
 figh. 
 
 " And if you do, Nan, it cannot but be a 
 well-afforted Marriage." 
 
 " Oh, by the way, coufin," raifing her 
 fweet eyes with a fmile in them to his, " I 
 offer you my good wiflies on your own ap- 
 proaching Marriage." 
 
 " Mine .'' " fayd he, changing countenance ; 
 " I'm not going to be married ! Who could 
 have told you fo } "
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 129 
 
 « My father." 
 
 His eyelids gave an involuntary quiver. 
 " Ah, my Uncle laboured under a Miftake," 
 fayd he quietly. " Next time we are alone 
 together, he fhall have it explained. Come, 
 fhall we go and feek him .'' " 
 
 She was very pale ; her eyes full of tears. 
 But fhe put her hand in his, and fayd, " Yes ; 
 and mind you keep me up to the mark." 
 
 " No doubt of it," he replied ; " and, Nan, 
 one word in your ear : give yourfelf much 
 unto Prayer." 
 
 " Ah, I do that alreadie ! Where, elfe, 
 were I .? " 
 
 After that, they paiTed out together ; and I 
 felt abfolutely convinced fhe was being led to 
 Suffering and Sorrow. 
 
 Sir William was infinitely pleafed at her 
 yielding all he wanted without more ado : 
 and careffed her now and then, which, I 
 think, went further with her than all his 
 arguments and upbraidings. Mafter Kyme, 
 too, fhowed his bell fide outward, fo that 
 the path to her Fate was fmoothed as much 
 as might be. They took long Rides together ; 
 (he loved galloping, and would return all 
 flufhed and panting. As for her Wedding 
 
 6*
 
 f30 The Faire GofpcUer. 
 
 Garments, perhaps never Bride took lefs 
 mtereft in them. She fayd, " I wilh all the 
 feafting were over. When we are left alone, 
 Mailer Kyme will doubtlefs go out hunting, 
 and looking after his eftate. I fliall fit with- 
 in and make clothes and flops for poor Folk, 
 and read a great deal." 
 
 "And write, perhaps," said I. 
 
 " What, a book, Nicholas t What a bright 
 thought ! Why fhould I not, as well as Mar- 
 guerite de Valois .'' " 
 
 " Or a deal better t " sayd I, playing on the 
 word. 
 
 In fa6l, fhe had a pretty turn for poetry ; 
 as alfo for mufique. I doubt if Queen Anne 
 Boleyn, or Lord Percy, or Lord Surrey, could 
 make better verfes, or set them to prettier 
 Tunes. Happy they who have fuch re- 
 fources, not for the praife they get, but for 
 the folace and refuge they afford, in many 
 elfe fad or idle Hours. 

 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 How the poor Bird fled from its Cage to its 
 
 Nefl. 
 
 O fhe was married — the pale, beauti- 
 ful bride ! I think onp of her pureft 
 pleafures was giving me a complete 
 new fuit, of excellent broad-cloth, 
 and pinning a white knot on it herfelf As 
 fhe left the Book-room, flie looked around it, 
 faying, " How many happy hours have I 
 paffed here ! — " 
 
 When the laft fummer funbeam fliines on 
 us, we fliould be very fad, did we know 'twas 
 our laft. I think my laft fummer funbeam 
 was o'erclouded when flie left the Houfe ; but 
 a not unpleafmg grey, dim twilight, gradually 
 ftole on, that was not for fome time deepened 
 into gloom. 
 
 My niece Lettice, a buxom, black-eyed
 
 132 The Faire Gojpcller, 
 
 lafs, was promoted to be her woman : a great 
 honour for Lettice, Sir, and one that flie did 
 not abufe. When flie came over to Stalling- 
 boro' for her hoHdays (her Lady always gave 
 her one a quarter), fhe always brought me 
 her Lady's kind regards, and often fome little 
 token, of fruit, or flowers, or a book, or, may- 
 be, a kerchief hemmed by herfelf. Thus I 
 learnt of Lettice how flie fared. 
 
 Mafter Edmund Britain looked over the 
 Marriage Settlements. There was a fmall 
 property devifed to her from her Mother, 
 which he fayd fliould be fettled on her for her 
 fole and feparate ufe ; and he carried the 
 point too ; Mafter Kyme could not for fhame 
 gainfay it, having alreadie had the ufe of half 
 her portion and now getting the other half; 
 but he fayd, Wives fliould not be inde- 
 pendent of their Husbands. She was not, 
 Sir ! He took care of that, and gave her 
 the lefs Pin-money, and at length none. I 
 believe their firft variance was about her little 
 Pittance, when Quarter-day came round and 
 fhe gat it not. She had a Girl's pleafure in 
 the independent ufe, for the firft time, of a 
 little Money ; and wanted it not for Vanities, 
 poor young Lady, but for the P()or, and fof
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 133 
 
 Books. She fayd, half between jeft and 
 earneft, that if he did not pay it her, ihe 
 would tell her Father ; fo then he let he-r 
 have, what ought never to have paffed through 
 his hands. But, you fee, fhe had unbufmeff- 
 like Truftees ; at leaft one was, — the other 
 was Mafter Britain. 
 
 Sir William having carried his point with his 
 Daughter, had now nothing to do, one would 
 fuppofe, but enjoy having his own way: but 
 he grew exceeding captious and quarrelous ; 
 fo that it was next to impoffible to pleafe him. 
 The only company he now feemed truly to 
 care for, was that of Sir Francis, who, how- 
 ever, came not over to him fo often as he 
 would have feen him ; nor remained fo long ; 
 and this was a fertile fource of complaint. 
 His fecond fon, Mafter Edward, was now of 
 the houfehold of Archbifliop Cranmer ; who, 
 on his appointment, wrote of him that the 
 young man was of a very gentil nature, right 
 forward and of good adlivity. Mafter Roger 
 was keeping his terms at Oxford. 
 
 My good Parents had long gone to their 
 reft ; my Brother held the little farm, which 
 now depended only on one Life ; my fifters 
 were married to honeft Yeomen and had
 
 134 I'^i^ Faire Gojpeller, 
 
 grownup Children. At times we heard the 
 news ; oft-times none reached us till it was 
 fi.ale: the winter was long and drearie, and 
 Miftrefs Anne was unable to come over to us. 
 When I hearde fhe had a little Dauirhter I 
 rejoiced that the had fo pure a fource of 
 Pleafure vouchfafed, and prayed the little 
 Youngling might prove an ICpitome of her- 
 fclf; but Sir William was difappointed of 
 her not bearing a man-child, and Mafter 
 Kyme was out of humour at not getting an 
 Heir. 
 
 I wearied for a fight of her dear Face, but 
 on how fad an occafion did fhe vifit us. Sir 
 William had an accefs of Gout in the ftomach, 
 which caufed all his Children to be fum- 
 moned about him by Exprefs ; but the more 
 diftant ones arrived not in time to fee him 
 alive. Mafler Kyme was from home, but 
 Miflrefs Anne came over as faft as a ftrong 
 high trotting horfe could carry her (it being 
 two days' journey) ; the Nurfe, riding Pillion, 
 following her with the infant. To fee her 
 hang over Sir William, and tend him with 
 the utmoft duteoufnefs, ye might have thought 
 he had been the kindefl Father ever was ; 
 but he made little account of her, and only
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 135 
 
 chafed becaufe Sir Francis came not on the 
 inftant. At length, with his wife, eldeft fon, 
 and two daughters about him, he made an 
 end, deriving but httle comfort, it feemed to 
 me, from the ceremonial obfervances of 
 religion that yet were duly and reverentlie 
 performed. After extreme uncStion, he fell 
 into lethargy, and fo fhortly departed. 
 
 Miflrefs Anne, full of tears, was faine to 
 remain in the Houfe till after the Funeral : — 
 ye have feene the green Bed, fir, in the 
 chamber fhe lay in. As foon as the obfe- 
 quies were concluded, (which were celebrated 
 at Mid);ight, a large body of the country 
 Gentry attending to do him the last honours,) 
 Mailer Kyme took wife and child with him ; 
 the young gentlemen difperfed, and the be- 
 widowed Dame and youngeft Daughter, re- 
 mained bereft and lonely till Affairs were 
 fettled and fhe put in receipt of her jointure, 
 which is to fay at the expiry of fix months. 
 Many Servants were difmiffed, the remainder 
 put on board wages, the greater part of the 
 Houfe fluit up, and wearing apparel packed 
 ready for a vifit to my Lady's kinffolk. Mif- 
 trefs Joan, though of tender years, had 
 '»J»'';ad)', by Sir William's arrangements, been
 
 136 The Faire Gofpdlcr 
 
 deftined for the wife of Sir George St 
 Paul of Snarford ; and flic vifited among 
 his family and hers, till the Wedding took 
 place ; never fetting foot in Stallingboro' 
 again. 
 
 Thus the place was left to enjoy its Sab- 
 baths ; and I wot I fliould have beene caft 
 forth with the reft, but that the Manfion 
 was left in charge of an old fervant or two, 
 and my Lady thought I might as well ftay 
 on, and keep them to their pofts. I now 
 had great leifure for Study, which affuredly I 
 did not neg]e61. Now and then I hoed and 
 raked the Flower-beds a little, and did a 
 little pruning, for it feemed a fliame the 
 Pleafance fhould be let grow weedy and feedy 
 by one who had writ on the Adornment of 
 Gardens. Howbeit, there was work, not for 
 one man but half a dozen. 
 
 One day after weeding a little, I fat down 
 on the heavy ftone Roller to recover my 
 breath, when I faw my niece Lettice coming 
 up the turfen alley. Time had fleeted on fo 
 unmarked, that I was aftonied when fhe 
 told me Miflrefs Anne had borne another 
 infant. 
 
 "And," fayth flie, "'tis another girl, as
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkczv. 137 
 
 ill luck will have it, which makes Mafter 
 Kyme downright favage." 
 
 " How can he be fo un-Chrifbian ? " quod 
 I, " when the Lord hath added another little 
 Olive-branch to his table ? Children are a 
 heritage from the Lord." 
 
 " Aye ; but he doth not count it fo," fayd 
 Lettice. " Oh, it is fearful to hear how he 
 upbraids her — not for this, in fo many words, 
 but for all (he does and fays, and mainly for 
 what he calls her Gofpelling." 
 
 " Aye, aye ? " fayd I, anxioufly. 
 
 "In faith, the fweet Lady hath no com- 
 fort but in her infants, and her Bible," fayth 
 Lettice. "When they were firft married, I 
 know not what fpirit of wifdom and filence 
 poffeffed my dear Miflrefs, but fhe habitual- 
 lie kept her tongue within her teeth, only 
 trufting herfelf to utter phrafes abfolutely 
 needful and harmlefs. Mafter Kyme was 
 well pleafed with this retention of fpeech. 
 The firft time flie brake through it was, as I 
 told you, when he kept back her Money and 
 flie threatened to tell her Father. I kncjw 
 not what courfes he took with her, when by 
 themfelves, to cow and leffon her '; but when 
 I next went in to her, ftie was in a violent
 
 138 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 fit of trembling, like as Miftrefs Patty fhook 
 in the double tertian. But ilie had carried 
 her point ; and after that flie fcemed defirous 
 by the utmoft fweetnefs and ftudy of his 
 wifhes, to make him forget fhe had ever 
 gainfaid him. This he^d on till after Sir 
 William's death. Mafler Kyme, who had, I 
 believe, never forgiven her firft felf-affertion, 
 now thought he would make her find flie 
 had no appeal. He abided his time ; flie 
 'meanwhile, unfufpe61;ing coming evil, and 
 incited to good fpirits by her dear little 
 infant, would fing and laugh to it, and talk 
 freely out of her heart's fullnefs to all about 
 her. Thus her tongue became unlocked : 
 fhe was as free of fpeech as though rhere 
 was no one to be afraid of; and would bid 
 us, like the good Miftrefs flie is, be faithful 
 in bufinefs, fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord 
 — not with eye-fervice, as men-pleafers, or 
 women-pleafers either. Alfo at dinner time, 
 file would from time to time fpeak her 
 mind, in converfe with guefts ; Mafter 
 Kyme eyeing her all the time with filent 
 feverity : yet abftaining from checking her, 
 becaufe the Duchefs of Suffolk had fhown 
 her favour."
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 139 
 
 " That was very good of her nobhi Grace," 
 faycl I, " fo to rtrengthea the uiiprote6led. 
 How did matters go after that ?" 
 
 " Quarter day came round and paffed," 
 fayd Lettice, "and my Miftrefs, who had 
 promifed help to a poor Widow, at length 
 fayd 'Good hufband, you have forgotten my 
 money,' ' I have none about me,' he an- 
 fwered (lightly. I believe flie did this two 
 or three times without getting any more 
 fatiffaclion. At length fhe fayd, but not 
 unkindly, ' Well, I wilh Coufm Britain had 
 taken order to pay my money dire6t to my- 
 felf I think I'll afk him.' ' Why are you 
 always harping on Money .'' ' quod he, very 
 fliarply. * Becaufe I want it very badly, my 
 dear.' ' Have you not everything found .'' ' 
 ' 'Tis not for myfelf, but Widow Green, who 
 hath loft her Cow.' ' Oh, there then ; there's 
 fomething towards it ' — giving her a little 
 loofe filver : which was not the fame thing, 
 you know, Nunks." 
 
 "Not at all," fayd I. "I'm forry they 
 had words. Widow Green would rather have 
 fliifted without the money than gotten it at 
 fuch coft." 
 
 " But 'twas her own, you know," perfifled
 
 140 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 Lettice, "and I muft fay I think her right 
 No more was then fayd ; but next morning 
 my Miftrefs could nowhere find her Bible. 
 We hunted high and low for it in vain ; it 
 could not be found. At length flie fayd to 
 Mafter Kyme, ' Such a flrange thing hath 
 befallen : my Bible is gone.' * O, I have 
 it,' fayd he coolly, * you are not to have 
 it again.' * Not have it .-' ' repeated flie, 
 colouring violently, ' It is mine.' He an- 
 fwered, ' What's yours is mine, and what's 
 mine's my own.' Tears ftarted into het 
 eyes, and fhe fayd, ' This is too cruel a jeft. 
 Forfooth and forfooth ye mufb let me have 
 it' ' Not I,' anfwered he roughly. ' It is 
 no jeft, as ye fliall find. I defire that from 
 this time forth thou tamper not with the 
 religion of my houfehold. If thou doft so, 
 after this injunftion, I fhall take such order of 
 thee. Madam, as . . . .' And fo away, only 
 finifhing his fentence by a terrible look. 
 She, ready to faint, could not proffer a word ; 
 and up to this time, hath not again provoked 
 him to anger. Meanwhile fhe ufes a little 
 Italian. Teftament." 
 
 " Which Sir Francis brought her fronj 
 Italy," fayd I ; "I know it well."
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 141 
 
 " But it will foon be taken from her," fayd 
 Lettice, "for Mafter Kyme's Confeffor is a 
 moft tyrannous Prieft, and ruleth everything 
 in the houfe." 
 
 After fome further talk, flie left me, to fee 
 her father and mother, and I remained in a 
 painful mufe on this family flory, till driven 
 indoors by a fmart rain. 
 
 The weather broke up, about this time, 
 and fet in very wet, I was ufed to lleep in 
 what went by the name of the Prieft's 
 Chamber, over the Gateway, which had 
 aforetime been occupied by good old Sir 
 Maurice till his death. I loved the little cell 
 for his fake : it had no Fireplace, and was 
 draughty enough, fet up on high and expofed 
 \p the wind all round ; but that feldom hin- 
 dered me of fleep. 
 
 But one night, when the wind blew in 
 gufts and the rain pattered againft the Lat- 
 tice, I was roufed from fleep by what 
 feemed Voices borne on the Blaft, and I lay 
 thinking of the poor Outcafts who might, 
 e'en on fuch a night, be crolTmg dank Moors 
 or cowering 'neath Hedges. The rattle, as 
 of a Pebble cafl againft the Cafement, made 
 me rife up and look about me. I diftindly
 
 142 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 heard a Woman's voice at the Gate below, 
 calhng " Uncle ! uncle ! " I opened the 
 cafement in great fear, and called, " Who's 
 there ? " 
 
 "Tis I, uncle," cried Lettice, "with 
 Miftrefs Anne and the two babes. Oh, 
 hafte and let us in, for we are drenched to 
 the fkin, and ready to drop." 
 
 "Alas for ruth!" ejaculated I. "Tarry 
 but a moment ; I'll come quickly." And 
 haftily dreffing, I went down and let her in, 
 greeting her with " Poor soul ! poor soul ! " 
 
 There was hardly any light, for black 
 clouds were faft drifting over the moon, but 
 a pale ray for a moment fhowed me indif- 
 tin6lly a cowering figure wrapped in fome- 
 thing whitifh, like fheet or blanket, and 
 clofely clafping fomething in her arms, 
 Lettice had the bigger child, heavy with 
 fleep, on her back. Miftrefs Anne fpake 
 never a word, 
 
 " We muft get indoors, uncle, as foon as 
 ever we can," cried Lettice quickly. 
 
 " Injlanter, injlanter" fayd I, half out of 
 my wits ; " there's nobody indoors but old 
 Meggot and his wife ; and I fear they fleep 
 heavily."
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkciv. 143 
 
 Meanwhile we had blundered our way 
 acrofs the foaked court, to the Portal, where 
 Lettice, feizing the great Bell-handle, never 
 ceafed from pulling till the clangour refoundcd 
 through the empty Houfe. Prefently old 
 Margery put forth her head from a Dormer 
 window, and began in a quavering voice to 
 cry " Murder ! Fire ! " 
 
 " Come down quickly," I cried, " and let us 
 in ! Here's Miftrefs Anne ! " 
 
 Margery uttered a cry of furprife, and 
 hurried away. We foon heard her croffing 
 the Hall and undoing the Bolts. "Whatever 
 can have brought you, good Madam, at this 
 untimeous hour 1 " quod fhe, peering into her 
 face. 
 
 " Fire — let us have a fire quickly," fayd 
 Miftrefs Anne, "and milk for the babes." 
 
 Dire6lly Margery brought a light, I 
 caught fight, for the firft time, of Miftrefs 
 Anne's face, and was terrified at it. Her 
 cheeks were as crimfon, her eyes fliining as 
 ftars, her wet hair hanging over her flioulders. 
 From her hard, unnatural voice, ctnd blazing 
 eyes and cheeks, it was evident flie was in a 
 high fever. 
 
 No more fayd fhe, but followed us ftrait
 
 144 "^J^^ Faire Gofpeller. 
 
 through the great, vacant Kitchen, where we 
 now ne'er hghted a Fire, into the Steward's 
 Room hard by, which we preferred inhabit- 
 ing and cooking in by reafon of its fniignefs, 
 and for Economy of Fuel. Here were dying 
 Embers on the Hearth, which Margery 
 fpeedily nurfed into a good Fire, Miflrefs 
 Anne getting fo clofe to it as to endanger 
 her garments, and fighing deeply from 
 time to time, as flie chafed her little 
 infant. Marger^', talking disjointedly, fet 
 on Milk and brought Bread and Bafnis, 
 and foon they were all having bread- 
 and-milk, and fhaking out their wet upper- 
 garments ; and then they crept up-ftairs, 
 where Margery made what poor provifion 
 fhe could for their fleeping, my Lady 
 having locked up all but the Servants' Bed- 
 ding before flie went away.
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 Of our Journey to London. 
 
 GAT no more Sleep that night, 
 
 and at Day-dawn, after counfel 
 
 with Miflrefs Anne, I ftarted for 
 
 Kelfey, to bring Sir Francis over 
 
 to her. 
 
 He had juft breakfafted, and was playing 
 with his Hawk when I got there. He fayd, 
 " What now, Moldwarp ? What makes you 
 fo early aftir ? To pick up the early worm, 
 eh ? " 
 
 I fayd, " Sir Francis, I have fomewhat for 
 your private ear. A fore Mifchance hath 
 befallen." 
 
 He fayd, "Take the Hawk, Jeffop— come 
 in here, Nicholas ; " and flraitway turned 
 into his private Room ; where he threw 
 himfelf into a Chair. " Now then for it " 
 
 7
 
 146 The Faire GofpeUer, 
 
 "Mafter Kyme, Sir, hath turned Miftrefs 
 Anne out of Doors. She came a-horfeback 
 with her Maid and two Infants, acrofs the 
 Moors through Wind and Rain, and reached 
 StaUingboro' long paft Midnight." 
 
 He fwore an oath and ftarted to his feet, 
 crying, " I muft have his Blood." 
 
 "Sir, fir!" fayd I, "don't talk that way 
 . . . you have a Spoufe and two fweet ofif- 
 fpring of your own." 
 
 "True, true," fayd he, refuming his feat. 
 " I owe my life to my family, and a Duello 
 does not always determine a quarrel with 
 juftice. But, — fent her adrift.' . . . and in 
 fuch Weather, too! Perhaps the illgrained 
 fellow hath even ftruck her ! " 
 
 " She fayd nothing of that," fayd I. 
 
 " Well, well, then I dare fay he has not 
 Moft likely fhe would have told if he had." 
 
 But fhe has told nothing," fayd I ; " fcarce 
 opened her lips." 
 
 " That looks fufpicious," fayd he, frowning 
 and looking hard at me — " women always 
 make enough ado in thefe cafes, and naturally 
 make the beft of their own caufe, and the 
 worft of the other fide. If he'd Beaten her, 
 T vow I would draw his Blood . . , unlefs he
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkciv. 147 
 
 gave me a very good reafon indeed why I 
 fliould not. But we muft be wary, Nick, 
 we mufl; be wary — there may be two ways 
 of telHng the Story ; and between ourfelves, 
 Miftrefs Kyme's judgement is like to be 
 warped a Httle by paffion." 
 
 "But you have not heard her Story yet, 
 Sir," cried I. "Do, for the love of ruth, 
 ride over and fee her for yourfelf and hear 
 her Say. There may be things too delicate 
 for her fervants to be told, that flie will con- 
 fide to a dear Brother.'' 
 
 "You fay true, indeed," quod he, "and 
 yet there is nothing on earth more difagree- 
 able than interference between Man and 
 Wife—" 
 
 " But Sir ! your own Sifter — ' 
 " Or, indeed, in any Family Quarrels — " 
 " Turned out of Houfe and Home — " 
 " One is fure to burn one's finsrers- -" 
 " All through that drenching Rain — ** 
 " And very likely, take the wrong fide — " 
 *• When I heard the Pebble come againft 
 my window," perfifted I, "you might have 
 knocked me down with a ftraw." And 
 then, without the manners to wait till I was 
 bidden, I ran, or raced, through all the par-
 
 148 The Faire Gofpcllet-y 
 
 ticulars, with fuch vehement pity and eager 
 watchfuhiefs for fome token of fympathy in 
 him, that he could not choofe but fliow con- 
 cern, and cry, 
 
 " Poor Nan ! poor Nan ! — truly I wifli J. 
 faw my way through this : I would confult 
 my wife, only I know fhe would be againll 
 my taking any rafh ftep — I muft controul 
 myfelf — I muft feek to be mediator ; Go back, 
 Nick, and tell my Sifter I'll come over as faft 
 as I can," 
 
 With which I was conftrained to content 
 myfelf, though I would fain have {q,q.\\ him 
 ftart when I did, fince his boiling up had fo 
 fuddenly fubfided alreadie. However, I did 
 him injufticc, for juft as I got back to the 
 Hall, I heard Horfes galloping behind me, 
 and looking round, faw him riding up, like 
 a gallant Gentleman as he was, his white 
 Feather ftreaming in the air, and his fine 
 face flufhed with exercife. He flung his 
 rein to his groom, fprang to the ground, and 
 rufhed in with outfpread arms, crying, " My 
 Sifter ! Oh, my unhappy Sifter !" 
 
 Miftrefs Anne, rifmg up from her low 
 feat by the fire, fell into his arms, and wept 
 tears of affe61;ion and tliankfulnefs. For a
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 149 
 
 while it was only fuch broken words aS; 
 " Oh, my poor Nan ! — that it fliould come 
 to this ! " " Dear, dear Frank ! I knew you 
 would come ! Oh, I have been fo very, very 
 unhappy ! " 
 
 " Tell me all about it," fays he, releafing 
 her from his arms, "but not in this unfit 
 place. Let us go into Lady Afkew's room." 
 " She hath locked it up, Frank — She hath 
 locked up nearly all the Houfe." " Nay 
 then, we can pace the Hall — but you are 
 tired t " " In faith, Frank, I can fcarce 
 ftand — I fhall be better prefently." And fhe 
 turned deadly pale. I brought her fome 
 water. " The Book-room," I fayd, " will be 
 beft." 
 
 " Juft fo, Nicholas," fayd Sir Francis ; and 
 taking his Sifter's hand, he led her in there, 
 and fhut to the door. What they fayd was 
 between 'emfelves alone — we could only 
 hear voices, raifed to a high key fometimes, 
 and then ftifled ; and a good deal of Sobbing, 
 It feemed an age before they came forth ; 
 but they did at laft ; more by token, I think, 
 the Baby began to wail and flie heard it. I 
 never faw a defolater Creature than fhe look- 
 ed when fhe came forth ; they were not on
 
 150 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 the fame terms as when they went in ; and 
 I knew what a trick he had of edirin": 
 round. " Well," fays he, as if making fome 
 great conceffion, " I'll do as I fay I will : I'll 
 ride over and fee him : your clothes you at 
 leaft muft have. And I hope this unhappy 
 affair may be made up. Perchance he may 
 this morning be in a better mind. Had he 
 been drinking, think you .'' Had you croft 
 him in anything } Tut, tut . . . there, don't 
 cry. Thou knoweft. Nan, my tender love 
 for you. Make the beft of it . . . fomething 
 will needs come to pafs. My lady defired me 
 to bear you her loving regards — " 
 
 " Here's my baby, Frank — you have not 
 feen it before — " 
 
 " Ha ! — " with a pre-occupied air as if it 
 was not his firft fight of a baby ; which in- 
 deed it was not. " Well, cheer up. Sifter 
 . . . Hope for better times . . . Receive pla- 
 cably the firft offer of compofition . , . Let 
 bygones be bygones . . . he'll know better 
 in future. Mind ye be not backward when 
 he comes forward. Something will be ar- 
 ranged, I doubt not. You fhall hear from 
 me foon. Farewell, Sifter!" 
 
 And, having embraced her anew, he fprang
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkezv. 151 
 
 into his faddle, and the white plume vauiflied 
 through the Gate. 
 
 The reft of the day was dull and cheer- 
 lefs enough ; but Miftrefs Anne took up 
 her quarters in the Book-room, where I fail- 
 ed not to keep up a good fire, and we con- 
 trived a little fleeping place for the infants. 
 The eldeft was an engaging prattler, and 
 amufed us whether we would or no. And- 
 little by little, Miftrefs Anne relieved her 
 mind to me of much that was on it, and 
 how that a cruel Confeffor had alienated 
 her husband from her, even to making him 
 threaten her perfonal liberty, and feclufion 
 from her children : and flie fayd her lot 
 had graduallie worfened ever fmce her 
 father died ; and that fhe thought what had 
 happened now would have happened afDre, 
 but for his having the fear of the Duchefs 
 of Suffolk before his eyes. She being now 
 at a diftance, he had ta'en advantage of 
 her abfence. 
 
 When file ceafed, I paufed a little, and 
 then began gently to talk, not of her prefent 
 Trouble in particular, but of Troubles in 
 general, their purpofes, whether as judge- 
 ments, like the plagues of Egypt ; or chaf
 
 152 The Faire Gojpcller, 
 
 tenings, like death of David's little child ; 
 or warnings, like the blindnefs of Elyraas ; 
 or tefts, like the fufferings of Job ; or 
 trials, like the trials of Abraham ; or puri- 
 fiers, like the affli6lions of Mary Magdalene ; 
 or to make the good that lay hidden in us 
 fhine forth with the greater luftre, as in 
 Queen Efther. 
 
 ■ When I paufed, fhe fayd, " Go on, dear 
 Mafter Moldwarp, I love to hear you." 
 Her eldeft was fleeping on a pillow, her 
 youngeft neftling in her arms. The day was 
 far fpent, the wind and rain had ceafed, we 
 were fitting by the fitful light of the fire. 
 So then, in a defultory fafhion, I moralized 
 on the patience of Job; and meeknefs under 
 contumely of Hannah, and the low eftate of 
 Ruth, and the trials of unloved Leah, and 
 the angel comforting defolate Hagar, and the 
 tribulations of the early Chriftians, and the 
 exceeding love of our Lord and Saviour in 
 dying for us. After this, I fayd, " Suppofe 
 we pray?" and knelt down that minute and 
 had a fpirit of utterance given me I had 
 never poffeffcd before ; and we rofe up 
 mightily compofed and ftrengthened. Then 
 the little one woke and fayd, " Sing, Mammy,
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 153 
 
 fing," and Miftrefs Anne fang one fwect 
 hymn after another. Thus, ftrange to fay, 
 we were not unhappy. When we retired to 
 reft, after our cuftomed devotions, fhe gave 
 me her hand and fayd, — 
 
 " Oh, old Friend, how you have calmed 
 me ! Would that you were ever at hand, 
 as aforetime." I fayd, " Would that I were." 
 
 A few days after, a fumptour-mule brought 
 over fome great ill-packed bundles of apparel 
 moft negligently and difrefpectfully put to- 
 gether; with a billet from Sir Francis ; 
 who fayd he had been unable to bring 
 Mafter Kyme to any compofition, and he 
 believed the only way would be for his 
 fifter to humble herfelf. All this time, flie 
 had fcarce tarted food fave bread and milk ; 
 for our Board-wages neceffitated a meagre 
 Larder ; and to fupply fomewhat for the 
 unexpe6led demand on our refources, I had 
 taken up my hat, and was about to ftep 
 over to the Farm, when fhe called out, 
 " Stop the groom ! I'll ride over to Kelfey. 
 My brother is under fome great mifappre- 
 henfion. I was caft forth for none other 
 than the Gofpel's fake. No Reproach but 
 that of Chrift is upon me. As for Mafter 
 
 7*
 
 154 The Faire Go/pel ler, 
 
 Kyine liflening to reafon, I might as well 
 talk to the Coat-of-arms over the Gate. He 
 hath impofed on me Silence, and threatened 
 to gag me." 
 
 She would not be ftayed ; but, equipping 
 herfelf in cloak and muffler, fet forth accom- 
 panied by the man, leaving the children in 
 charge of Lettice. 
 
 When the fixth morning came without 
 her return, we became uneafy ; and as the 
 Babes wept and pined, we planned that I 
 fliould follow her to wit was become of 
 her, and allege for plea, that the Infant was 
 out of forts. 
 
 I borrowed a Horfe of my Brother, who 
 was poffeffed of all was going on, though 
 we kept it from the Village, and pitied us 
 amain. When I got to Kelfey, I found 
 Miftrefs Anne was not there : fhe had gotten 
 a horfe and journeyed to Lincoln. What 
 poffeft her to go to that city, I wift not, but 
 follow her I needs muft : my Fears would let 
 me take no reft. 
 
 When I got to Lincoln, I went to a Seed- 
 Ihop, the owner of which I knew, and 
 afked him if he could dire6l me to Miftrefs 
 Kyme. Smiling a little, he fayd, " Ye will
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkexv. 155 
 
 find her in the Cathedral, ftandinj^ by the 
 leftern, where fhe hath ftood, thefe five 
 days, to confront, fhe fayth, any that fhall 
 allege evil againft her Sure, her mind mufl 
 be fomething diftempered ? " 
 
 I fayd, " Oh, believe it not. 'Tis only 
 that file hath been hardly dealt with : " and 
 I haftened, full of trouble, to the Cathedral, 
 where a little knot of people were hanging 
 about the entrance. I paffed through their 
 midft, and heard fuch fragments as " A Befs 
 o' Bedlam;" "No, an Outcaft Wife;" 
 " In footh a goodly Lady ; " "A Bigot to 
 her Opinions ; " "A Faire Gofpeller." 
 
 When I went in, not above five or fix 
 people were in fide, and they were ftanding 
 and curioufly ftaring at Miftrefs Anne where 
 fhe ftoode at the le6lern, calmly reading the 
 Bible. The funlight ftreaming in upon her 
 through a painted window at that moment, 
 methought fhe looked like a glorified Saint. 
 
 After waiting a good while, there was a 
 little huilling among the byftanders, and one 
 of them flepping up to her, uttered fome 
 forrie Jeft, I believe, though I could not 
 hear it, for fhe gravely looked up at him till 
 he turned away abalht, and then refumed
 
 15^ The Fa ire Gojpellcr, 
 
 her reading. Looking up again, however, 
 flic perceived me, and, after a moment's 
 hefitation, reverently clofed the Bible, look- 
 ing round her as fhe did fo, and faying, — 
 
 " Good Chriftian people, this Book con- 
 taineth the words of e1:ernal life. For 
 holding to this Book am I now in tribula- 
 tion." Then fhe came up to me, and 
 eagerlie whifpered, " Hath aught befallen 
 the Children?" "The Babe," I replied, 
 " ceafes not to moan and lament." " Nay 
 then," quod fhe, " I will return with thee 
 on the inftant. I have now thefe fix days 
 ftood here, to fee what would be fayd unto 
 me ; and felt not one bit afraid, becaufe I 
 knew my caufe to be good." 
 
 Though I mifdoubted her Judgement in 
 fo doing, I could not but admire her Courage 
 and Simplicitie. 
 
 As we rode back, flie told me Sir Francis 
 had turned quite cold upon her, and fliown 
 himfelf of very poor fpirit : adding, "They 
 were incenfed at me for awaiting and braving 
 the evil-fpeakers, whofe minds are fet on 
 mifchief, and mightily afraid of my angering 
 the Ecclefiaftical Authorities. Howbeit, not 
 one of them offered me let or hindrance."
 
 Mijlrcfs Aline AJkeiv. 157 
 
 After this, Sir Francis feemed minded to 
 try wliat effccl Neglc6l would have on her ; 
 for though he knew we were even pinched 
 for food, he fent us not fo much as a difh of 
 water fifli, though his Tenants were bound to 
 fupply his table with 'em all the year round ; 
 and though, when fhe depended not on 
 Prefents for Plenty, fcarce a week paffed 
 without gifts of Game, Fruit, and fuchlike, 
 going to Mafter Kyme's houfe. 
 
 Miftrefs Anne felt the unkindnefs very 
 little, for in truth flie feemed not to know 
 what flie ate or drank, and flie preferred 
 Bread-and-milk, becaufe 'twas foon lapt up 
 and caufed no Flufliings nor Heavinefs. 
 
 Her time was now mainly fpent in Letter- 
 writing, to I think almofl; every member of 
 her family, and alfo to friends at a diflance ; 
 and the counfel they fent her was fo diverfe, 
 that if flie had been fo minded fhe could 
 not have followed it at all. Sir Francis at 
 length came over again to his fifter ; and was 
 moft contrary and querimonious, alleging 
 that as fhe had brewed, fo fhe muft bake ; 
 that Mafter Kyme would on no hand now 
 receive her again into his Houfe. She fayd, 
 deeply fighing, " Since that is fo, I mufl fue
 
 158 The Fain Gofpeller, 
 
 for a divorce." " I thought you would fay 
 it," quod Sir Francis. " You were beft to 
 apply to Coufin Britain, for you have not 
 much to go towards law charges." She 
 fayd, " Will you write to him about it '^. " 
 He fayd, " I Ihall neither make nor meddle 
 in the matter." " Oh, well, then I muft do 
 it myfclf," flie fayd calmly ; and flie wrote to 
 Mafter Britain, a very compofed and well- 
 ordered letter. He had for fome time been a 
 husband and a father, and was rifing into fair 
 praftice. 
 
 By the earlieft opportunity came a letter 
 from Mafler Britain, fliowing what real 
 fympathy could be, and what real friendfliip 
 could offer. He expreffed great tribulation 
 at her fad cafe, much indignation againft 
 Mafter Kyme, to whom he offered to write, 
 and he begged in his Wife's name and his 
 own, that fliould Ihe refort to London, fhe 
 would, in any cafe, lodge in his houfe. 
 
 Miftrefs Anne would not be beholden to 
 him for this, nor cumber him and his good 
 wife with herfclf and fmall children : but 
 file felt the goodnefs none the lefs, and fayd 
 it joyed her heart. Alfo he had fent her her 
 quarterly payment, which he took fhame to
 
 Mtprfs Anne AJIcew. 159 
 
 himfelf for not having afce-rtaincd beforetlme 
 that (he had pun6tually received. Tims, 
 with money in her purfe, fhe was able to 
 provide for the journey ; and flie refolved to 
 fet forth without delay. 
 
 Now when I beheld the dear young Lady 
 thus about to be thrown on the world, 
 without any of the male kind to care whe- 
 ther fhe fhould fink or fwim, I determined to 
 be her attendant. After a little debate, fhe 
 confented to this, thanking me much beyond 
 my deferts or wiflies ; and my Brother, ftill 
 helpful in every way he could, provided us 
 with Horfes and a Guide : Miftrefs Anne 
 and her Maid each carrying a child, and 
 riding Pillion.
 
 SECTION XI. 
 
 Of what befel iis in London, 
 
 T an Inn on the Road, where we 
 baited, a flovenly Fellow lounging 
 about the place feemed watching 
 us attentively, and Miftrefs Anne, 
 happening to notice him, fayd to me, " That 
 man comes fometimes to Mafter Kynie." 
 He, feeing himfelf obferved, lounged away ; 
 but I faw him again, juft before we entered 
 London, and thought he dogged us. 
 
 Arrived in the City, we found a plain but 
 decent Lodging with an old fervant, over 
 again ft the Temple, where was a double- 
 bedded Chamber for Miftrefs Anne, the 
 Infants, and my Niece ; a Parlour, and an 
 Attic for m3'felf She foon took order for
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. i6l 
 
 the method of her fmall Houfehold on a 
 fcale proportioned to her means ; and hav- 
 ing written letters to Mafter Britain and 
 tv/o Ladies of her acquaintance, fent me 
 forth to deUver them. It feemed ftrange to 
 me to be bhmdering my way about the 
 bufie City, the noifes of which bewildered 
 me ; howbeit I did mine errands at lafl, 
 though more tardily than if I had been ufed 
 to London. Mafter Britain was' conferring 
 with a Client, but when he faw me, his 
 countenance changed ; and as foon as the 
 Client was gone, he made me fit down and 
 go over the whole matter in a plaine, 
 methodicall way. 
 
 "I always thought Kyme a Churl," quod 
 he, "but gueffed not he would exhibit this 
 extremity of Malice. What is the ground 
 of it, think ye } " 
 
 I iayd it undoubtedlie had been aroufed b) 
 diverfitie of religious Belief 
 
 "There is no more likelie Caufe. I con 
 fefs I fee not my way through this matter 
 Separation is a grieveufe remedy, and yet, 
 e'en if we could bring them togethei 
 again, we could not make them more of a 
 mind."
 
 1 62 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 He fayd he would ftep round in the aftcir- 
 noon and fee his Coufm, and invite her to 
 vifit his Wife at Chelfea. When I went 
 back, I found Miflrefs Anne tying on her 
 hood : fhe fayd the miftrefs of the houfe, 
 Miflrefs Berry, was going to hear a Le61ure, 
 and had offered to take her with her. So I 
 followed, to take care of both. 
 
 The Lecture was given by one Porter, a 
 godly preacher, in the Crypt of St. Paul's. 
 It gave us matter for much difcourfe and 
 fearching of Scripture on our return ; and 
 while thus engaged, there came in Mafter 
 Britain. He was more affected at the meet- 
 ing, I thought, than fhe ; for her mind was 
 now ftrung up and fixed on Matters far 
 above the little reverfes of daily life. When 
 fhe told him where ihe had been, he fayd he 
 had heard Mafler Porter once or twice him- 
 felf, and deemed highly of him, but that 
 attendance on his Le6lures was not without 
 danger, for that a retrograde movement had 
 taken place in the King's Government under 
 the influence of Gardiner, Wriothefley, and 
 the Duke of Norfolk. She fayd, " Are we 
 to fall back becaufe of them } " He fayd, 
 " No, but he had no mind to put his head in
 
 STATf Bh 
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 163 
 
 the lion's mouth, and hoped (he would not." 
 She replied not whether or no. 
 
 Then he bade her to Chelfea ; but when 
 fhe found Miftrefs Britain was keeping her 
 bed, fhe fayd fhe would defer it to a more 
 convenient time. Then they got to her 
 matter with Mafter Kyme, and flie was very 
 quiet about it, and did not fay aught that 
 was querimonious. She fayd they could not 
 fort 'emfelves together : Ihe -had known from 
 the firft they had their minds fet oppofite 
 ways, and 'twas confcience with her not to 
 change hers. He fayd, " And perchance with 
 Mafter Kyme too." She fayd, when it came 
 to being a Man's confcience to lock up his 
 Wife, threaten to gag her and feparate her 
 from her Children, and tell her Servants they 
 were not to liften to her nor heed what fhe 
 fl^yd, it was not eafy to live with him. But 
 when he put her outfide the Door amid rain 
 and darknefs, and refufed to let her in again, 
 fhe could not choofe but live without him. 
 
 Mafter Britain brooded over this in painful 
 filence. 
 
 " So the Law had beft complete what he 
 hath begun," flie fayd quietly. " Then I fhall 
 know where I am." 
 
 t.
 
 164 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 " Not in a hurry, not in a hurry," fayd 
 he. " Nothing will be gained by precipita- 
 tion." 
 
 " What am I to Hve on } " 
 
 " Of courfe we fhall take order about 
 that." 
 
 " Very well, then," fayd flie, fighing, " I 
 fliall leave it to your direction." 
 
 " And where fliall you abide .'' " 
 
 " Where, better than here .? " 
 
 " This is but a poor place." 
 
 " The fitter for poor fortunes — I care not 
 a Pin," added fhe quickly, "for living on 
 Bread-and-milk. Do I, Moldwarp } " 
 
 " Mafter Nicholas," fayd he, cordially, " I 
 am right glad you have linked yourfelf to my 
 Coufin's fortunes." 
 
 When he was gone, we had our frugal 
 fupper : at Evenfong, the good woman of 
 the houfe, whofe intereft Miftrefs Anne had 
 quickly fecured, came in to join in the 
 family exercifes, which Miftrefs Anne con- 
 duced, reading the portion of Scripture, 
 praying, and leading the Pfalmody. After 
 this, we all went peaceably to reft. 
 
 There was always fome lecture or fermon, 
 or prayer-meeting to attend. In the morning
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJIcew. 165 
 
 a man in violet-coloured livery brought a 
 note from Lady Denny, faying flie was going 
 down the river to the Court at Greenwich, 
 and inviting Miftrefs Anne to bear her com- 
 pany : the Man would attend her to the 
 Barge. I attended her to it too, and faw her 
 fafe into my Lady's hands : fhe was too fair 
 to fee and unufed to City ways to be let go 
 hither and thither. 
 
 When file returned, Lady Denny's groom 
 of the chamber, Chriftopher, faw her to the 
 door, and flie was forry flie could only give 
 him a groat. But the day arrived when the 
 groat came from him to her. 
 
 She looked bright, and fayd, " Oh, they 
 were all fo good, I have been almoft happy ! 
 I have been with Lady Hertford, and fhe 
 is a very Saint. Her whole ftudy is the 
 Bible." 
 
 After this, fhe was fent for by thefe and 
 other Court ladies from time to time, and 
 enjoyed delices of Chriftian friendfliip and 
 converfation. The reft of her time was 
 fpent quite in a retired manner with her 
 children, only going forth to hear Le6lures 
 and Sermons. All this while, Sir Francis 
 wrote only once to her, without figning his
 
 1 66 TJie Faire Gofpellei-y 
 
 name at full length ; but Miftrefs Difney 
 wrote twice and kindly. Mefeemed, her 
 own Sex fympathized with her a good deal 
 the moft. Mayhap the married men feared 
 her enfample, as the privy council of King 
 Ahafuerus feared that of Queen Vafliti. But 
 they need not to have been afeard of Miftrefs 
 Anne. 
 
 The more I held converfe with her, the 
 more I perceived how her po .vers of reflec- 
 tion and reafoning had ripei ed fince her 
 Marriage ; which was not fo much by the 
 ftudy of many books as of one Book, and 
 making divine pafture thereon. 
 
 One day, my Niece fayd unto me, " Me- 
 thought People in great Cities were lefs 
 curious than in fmall Villages, and had lefs 
 time for their. Neighbours' Affairs." 
 
 " 'Tis fo," I replied. 
 
 " There's One i' the next Houfe," returned 
 Lettice, " whofe fole Bufmeffe feems to be to 
 watch us from Morn till Night." 
 
 " Aye .'' " quoth I. " The man that dogged 
 us on the Road .'' " 
 
 " No, not he, though he may be fet on 
 by him. If, when thou returneft home, 
 thou lookcft ujj at the firfl-floor Lattice,
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkciv. 167 
 
 there thou flialt fee him, lurking juft within 
 the Ihadow, hke a Spider watching for a 
 Fly." 
 
 I did fo, and liked not the look of the 
 Fellow, who caught my eye and drew back. 
 Thereafter I made it my bufmefs to flare 
 hard at him, every time I came back, till 
 I'm fure he hated the very fight of me. At 
 my inflance, Miflrefs Berry privily afked the 
 woman next door whether ftie had let her 
 lodging and who was her Lodger. She fayd, 
 one Mafler Wadloe, a Curfitor of Chancery, 
 and a man of great piety. However, his 
 piety proved to be of the fort Saul of Tarfus 
 had, when he haled poor Chriftians to prifon. 
 It came out afterward, that, having gathered 
 fomewhat of her ftory, after a twifhed fafliion, 
 and not thinking well of her Life, he had 
 been fo officious as to get himfelf lodged next 
 Door, for the main or fole intent to fpy out 
 her ways, and fift them fine. 
 
 But mark the Iffue of this : and take 
 Comfort therein. From her malicious Ef- 
 pion, he became a compleat Convert to her 
 virtue and fanftity. For, fayd he afterward, 
 *' She is the moft devout and godly creature 
 that ever I knew. At midnight flie begin-
 
 1 68 The FaiTc GofpcUcr, 
 
 ncth to pray, and ceafeth not for a long 
 while after, when I and others apply our- 
 felves to fleape or do worfe." 
 
 Now befel the fad and forrowful caption 
 of Mafler Porter the Bible reader, who was 
 committed to Newgate by order of Bonner, 
 to the grievoufe lofs and lamentation of his 
 well-widiers and difciples. Mafter Britain's 
 fecond vifit to us was made as touching this, 
 and to warn off Miflrefs Anne from fliowing 
 herfclf openly his follower. Whereon fhe 
 quoted, " I was fick and in prifon and you 
 vifited me ; " and afked him how he inter- 
 preted that. He fayd, that was fpoken to 
 Men. She fayd, " I've yet to learn there's 
 one Gofpel for Men and another for 
 Women." In truth, flie with Miftrefs 
 Berry, and me for their Uflier. liad already 
 been to Newgate, and there cheered the 
 prifoner's heart with Scriptural comfort. 
 On his part, he was no whit caft down 
 or amazed, but lifted up his voice and 
 preached the Saviour till e'en the Gaolers 
 melted. 
 
 The end of this poor young Man, though 
 painful, was fhort. On the plea of caufmg 
 tumultuous Affemblages, e'en in Prifon, he
 
 Mijli'cfs Anne AJkczv. 169 
 
 was caft into a Lower Dungeon, and there 
 chained by the Neck to the Wall ; through 
 which hard treatment, he, though young and 
 vigorous, was, on the eighth day, found dead 
 in his Bonds. 
 
 Then came to pafs that which Mafter 
 Britain in his world-fapience had predi6i:ed ; 
 to wit that Miflrefs Anne, having been noted 
 beyond others, maybe on account of her ex- 
 cellent Beauty, as having reforted to Newgate 
 and upheld him in the Faith, was fummoned 
 before the Queft affembled at Sadlers' Hall, 
 for having broken the law of the Six Articles, 
 
 1. having fcarce time to flart off after her, 
 haftily bade Miftrefs Berry advife Mafter 
 Britain of the event. 
 
 I fcarce need to tell anie well-inftrucled 
 perfon that the Six prefcribed Articles of 
 Faith, lately impofed on all by Aft of Par- 
 liament through ye Influence of that Bigot 
 the Duke of Norfolk, were thefe : — i. The 
 Corporal prefence of Chrift in the elements. 
 
 2. Reception of the Communion in one kina. 
 
 3. Vows of Chaftity. 4. Private Maffes. 
 5. Celibacy of the Clergy, 6. Auricular 
 Confeffion. 
 
 Againfl moft; of thefe Cranmer had argued
 
 170 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 for feveral days. But the Popifli party were 
 as five to four ; fo they carried it. 
 
 In the greateft of Trouble I now took my 
 way to Sadlers' Hall, where, on entering, I 
 found Chriftopher Dare, being one of the 
 Queft, examining her on the Real Prefence, 
 and putting it to her, did the believe the 
 Sacrament hanging over the Altar was 
 Chrift's very body or not. 
 
 Then fhe : " I will in like manner afk you a 
 Oueflion, and do you anfwer me : Why was 
 St. Stephen ftoned to death ? " 
 
 He frowned and pilhed, and could not 
 think of an apt reply, and fayd he could 
 not tell. 
 
 " No more tell I you what you have afked 
 me," fayd fhe. 
 
 "It hath been alleged againft you," quod 
 he, "that you have been heard to fay» 
 ' God dwellcth not in temples made with 
 hands.' " 
 
 " Well," then fayd fhe, " how read you the 
 feventh and feventeenth chapters of the A6ls 
 'jf the Apoflles '^. What fay St. Stephen and 
 St. Paul therein } " 
 
 " Nay," fayth he, " I have not their words 
 Rt mv finfrers' end."
 
 Miflrcfs Anne AJkew. 171 
 
 '• Tlicfe be they," fayd flie— " Sayth Stephen 
 (Ads feven, forty-eight) ' Howbeit the MoU 
 High dwelleth not in temples made with 
 liands : as fayth the Prophet, Heaven is my 
 throne and earth is my footftool : what houfe 
 will ye build Me ? fayth the Lord : or what is 
 the place of my reft ? Hath not my hand 
 made all thefe things ? ' — Holy Stephen quot- 
 ed the prophet Ifay : chapter fixty-fix. Hear 
 alfo what St. Paul fayth : Acts feventeen — 
 'God, that made the world and all things 
 therein, feeing that he is Lord of Heaven 
 and earth, dwelleth not in temples made 
 with hands ; neither is worfhipped with 
 men's hands, as though he needeth anie 
 thing, feeing he giveth to all, life and breath 
 and all things.' " 
 
 " Well," fayth he, looking fomething mazed, 
 " how take ye thefe fentences } " 
 
 On which fhe, with the only little dafli of 
 impatience from firft to laft, fayd — " I will not 
 throw pearls before fwine ; acorns are good 
 enow for them." 
 
 After a paufe, he afked her, 
 
 "How came you to fay, 'I had rather 
 read five lines in the Bible than hear five 
 maffes.?'"
 
 172 The Fa ire Gofpdler, 
 
 - " Well, I would rather," fhe layd quiet- 
 lie. 
 
 " How fo ? " 
 
 " Not for the difpraife of the Epiftle or 
 Gofpel, but becaufe the one would greatly 
 edify me, the other not at all." 
 
 " How } Not at all 1 " 
 
 " Doth not St. Paul witnefs in the four- 
 teenth chapter of his firft epiftle to the 
 Corinthians, faying, ' If the trumpet giveth 
 an uncertain found, who will prepare himfelf 
 for the battle ? ' " 
 
 " Oh, then you maintain that if an ill 
 Prieft miniftereth, 'tis the fubflance of the 
 devil, and not of God." 
 
 Then fhe : " I never fayd fo ; nor did I 
 mean it. The ill-conditions of the Prieft 
 that miniftered could nohow hurt my faith. 
 In fpirit I fliould ftill receive the body and 
 blood of Chrift." 
 
 " What haft thou to fay, as touching Con- 
 feffion ? " 
 
 " The fame that St. James fayd, that every 
 man ought to acknowledge his faults to others, 
 arid pray, the one for the other." 
 
 " What is your judgement of the King's 
 book .? "
 
 MiJIirfs Anne Afkcw. ly-}^ 
 
 " Nay, I can form no judgement, tor I have 
 never read it ! " 
 
 Dare feemed to have come to his wit's end, 
 for he now fent for a Prieft noted for a 
 Zealot. 
 
 He, in place of dodging her after the 
 previous unfkilled fafliion, held to one main 
 point, and preffed her hard dov/n upon it. 
 What deemed fhe of the Sacrament of the 
 Altar .? 
 
 She, perceiving him for what he was, 
 one that would fain entangle her in hei 
 talk, fayd only, "I pray you have me ex- 
 cufed." 
 
 He prefented the queflion to her again in 
 various forms ; but Ihe returned no other 
 anfwer. At this juncture, I heard a hard 
 breathing clofe behind me, and looking round, 
 beheld Mafter Britain, gazing and liftening 
 with the utmoft anxiety. 
 
 Then fayd the Priefb, " Believeft thou not, 
 that private Maffes help departed Souls .^ 
 Anfwer thou me." 
 
 To whom flie anfwered, " It were indeed 
 idolatry, to believe more in them than in the 
 death which Chrift died for us miferable 
 finners."
 
 1/4 'T^^^ Fa ire Gojpcllcr^ 
 
 I drew a deep figh, and 'twas echoed 
 bcfide me. Then fayd Chriftopher Dare, 
 with a geflure of impatience, " There is 
 no arguing with fuch a woman — fhe mull; be 
 brought before the Lord Mayor." 
 
 It might have been thought a matter of 
 dailie courfe to her to be brought before 
 him, fo compofedly did fhe go forth to appear 
 before him and the Common Council then 
 fitting in Guildhall. 
 
 My Lord Mayor, Sir Martin Bowes by 
 name, a goldfmith of good Yorkfhire family, 
 might be reafonably fuppofed no rare theo- 
 logian. He put to her the futile and irre- 
 verend queftion that had alreadie been mooted 
 along with many other Quodlibets, as touch- 
 ing a Moufe that fhould eat the Hoft : adding, 
 " What fayeft thou, foolifb Woman t " 
 
 Thereat Miftrefs Anne did not refrain 
 from fmiling ; and fundrie of the Council 
 laughed outright, which made the Lord * 
 Mayor fore difpleafed. 
 
 "Tell me, woman," quod the Chancellor of 
 London, " haft thou not by word of mouth 
 publicly addreffed congregitions contrary to 
 Scripture .■* " 
 
 " No, on my faith," fayth fhe.
 
 Mip-cfs Anne A/Iceiv. 175 
 
 It came into my mind that he muft have 
 heard fome Bruit of her ftanding by the 
 Le6lern in Lincoln Cathedral, before the 
 face of all the people. Sad to relate, though 
 her anfwers gave or fliould have given full 
 fatiffaftion, they had no mind to be fatiffyde ; 
 whereby this faire and innocent Lady, by 
 nature fliamefaft, by education cultivated, of 
 habits retired and unacquainted with the 
 world, was fent to the Comptor prifon in 
 Bread Strete, the Lord Mayor refufmg to 
 take bail. 
 
 A mob of men and boys, moftly City 
 Prentices, hung about the grated window 
 whence the Prifoners could look forth. 
 Lettice and I did the fame, albeit with fmall 
 expe6lance that Miftrefs Anne would fliow 
 her dear face at it. However, when we 
 heard the prifoners begging a few pence of 
 the by-ftanders to buy bread, and appre- 
 hended that our own dear Lady might e'en 
 want food with the reft, we fearched our 
 pouches, but alas, found not fo much as a 
 Genoa halfpenny therein. On this, Lettice, 
 with a hardihood for which I fmcerelv com- 
 mend her, went up to the keen-looking lads 
 and accofted them with, " Of your pity, fair
 
 1/6 TJic Fa ire Gofpellcr, 
 
 young Sirs, a trifle for my good Miftrefs ; 
 and may ye never, never know what it is to 
 want a Cruft of Bread ! " 
 
 On this, with the impulfivenefs of youth, 
 they abfolutely fhowered fmall coin on her, 
 till, I believe, they had none left ; fhe thank- 
 ing and bleffing them with more fluency 
 than I could have commanded, had my Life 
 depended on it. Then flie would have 
 handed the money through the grate, but the 
 villainous expreffion of fome of the faces 
 looking forth, made her diftruftful. At 
 length a good, pious man, whom we knew 
 by fight, received it of her, and promifed it 
 fliould go to her Lady. 
 
 Oh, where was Sir Francis, the loved 
 companion of her youth (that bade her face 
 the Bull and ran away himfelf) ? where was 
 the Husband of her Efpoufals, who had 
 promifed to cherifh and fuccour her till Death 
 fliould them part ? 
 
 As well aflc for lafl: Summer's Gnats. The 
 fair Creature was utterly left to her own 
 Difcretion and Faithfuluefs ; which, fo fup- 
 porting her as they did, made it clear to all 
 but the wilfully bliiid, that grace was given 
 her from On High. She looked unto the Hill
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkciv. 
 
 177 
 
 from whence came her help ; and the Lord, 
 in place of removing her Trial, fupported her 
 under it.
 
 SECTION XII. 
 
 Of our Change of Place. 
 
 HOW were we (Inick through as 
 with a dart, when the Prifon Door 
 clofed on our loved Miftrefs Anne! 
 We went back to our Lodging the 
 wretch cdeft fouls on earth, there to be affailed 
 by a flood of importunate Oueftions from the 
 Woemen, and floods of Tears and bitter 
 Lamentations, in the which I fliame not to 
 fay I joined. By and by, I bade them call to 
 mind how that when Peter was caft into 
 Prifon, prayer was made without ceafing of 
 the Church unto God for him ; and that it 
 was while they were engaged, late at night 
 in that very a6l, that he was delivered unto 
 them, even by the hand of an Angel, fo that
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkcw. 179 
 
 the Servant-maid Rhoda, hearing his voice at 
 the Gate, opened it not for gladnefs, but ran 
 in to tell the reft. And I improved Miflrefs 
 Anne's command of the Scriptures, chapter 
 and verfe and word for word, and Ihowed 
 how they were the Sword of the Spirit that 
 man could neither gainfay nor refift, though 
 he could gag the mouth that fpoke them. 
 Thereafter we gave ourfelves the greater part 
 of the night to Prayer, and many enfuing 
 nights and days our Minds were continually 
 in a fupplicating poflure before the Lord, 
 pleading with Him His own Promifes, 
 and acknowledging we were not worthy 
 to Afk what yet we befought him to per- 
 form. 
 
 At the end of twelve days, I learned from 
 Mafter Britain, to whom I made dailie refort, 
 that he had obtained leave to fee her and 
 concert with her meafures for her Releafe on 
 bail. I waited for him outfide, and when 
 he came forthe, his face looked full of care. 
 He told me Bifhop Bonner had fent a Prieft 
 unto her, to prove her with hard queftions, 
 and that her matter was now handed over to 
 the Ecclefiaftical Court. She was to go 
 before the Bifhop next day.
 
 i8o TJie Faire Cofpdlcr, 
 
 When I repeated this to the Woemen they 
 begun to lament and fay, "Alas, for us, our 
 prayers are not heard." I fayd, " Ye filly 
 fouls, there is more need for prayer than ever : 
 be at it without ceafmg ; perchance it may 
 draw a Bleffmg and not a Curfe." 
 
 So they took pattern by the importunate 
 Widow, and fpared not their pleadings, Day 
 nor Night. Meantime the Bifliop of London 
 having told Mafter Britain that anie of the 
 Prifoner's friends might be prefent at her 
 examination the day following, he fcnt off 
 expreffes to her Brothers, and to her Huf- 
 band, if haply his Heart might be foftened. 
 But they came not, and indeede Time woulde 
 have failed, if Inclinacion had not. To be 
 briefe, no one fliowed friendlie to her, but 
 Mafter Britain and my unworthy felf ; and I 
 had no Bail to offer, and only went to fee 
 and hear all I coulde, how the matter would 
 turn, and remained in the Lobby, while 
 Alafler Britain went in. Meanwhile a friend 
 of his, one Mafter Spelman of Gray's Inn, 
 arrived at his inftance, to be her Surety., 
 fhould no kinfman appear. 
 
 They waited as long as they could for her 
 Brothers, and the Bifhop bade Mafter Britain
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJIccw. i8i 
 
 exhort her meantime, to reveal freelv the 
 fecrets of her heart when flie came to be 
 examined, for that, whatever the fhould fay, 
 in his Houfe, no man fliould hurt her for it. 
 This, Bifhop Bonner repeated to her himfelf, 
 when he went in to fee her privately ; Ihow- 
 ing none of that Severity and Ruthleffnefs he 
 afterward made manifeft. 
 
 All being ready (fave the kindred that ne'er 
 came) Miftrefs Anne was brought before tlie 
 Court with proper order ; and the Bifliop 
 began examining her on the Sacrament. 
 Attaining to no fatiffa6lory Iffue thereby, 
 the Bifhop went out, anon returning with a 
 written Paper, to which he defired her to 
 fign her Name. She, looking at what was 
 writ, before figning, fayd, 
 
 " I believe fo much thereof as the book of 
 Scripture doth agree to." 
 
 On this, he fliortly replyed, " It is not for 
 you to teach me what to write." 
 
 Then Are, taking the pen which was given 
 her, wrote, " I Anne Afkew do believe all 
 manner of thynges contayned in the faith of 
 the Catholic Church." 
 
 When the Bifhop faw what was writ, he 
 waxed red with choler, and rifing up from
 
 1 82 The Faire GofpcUcr, 
 
 his feat, went forthe into his withdrawing:- 
 room. Thither followed him Mafter Britain 
 and Do6lor Wefton, and found him in a rage 
 with the perverfeft creature he had known in 
 his life. Sayd Mafter Britain — 
 
 " O my Lord ! fet not her weak woman's 
 witt againft your Lordfhip's great wifdom ! " 
 — and Do6tor Wefton fayd other mollyfying 
 things ; fo that, in fine, ye Bifliop was 
 brought to releafe his vi6tim that time on 
 Bail. Howbeit, fhe was ftill detained two 
 more days in Cuftody, (which gave her 
 younger Brothers time to have come) till flie 
 fhould agayn appear before the civill authori- 
 ties in Guildhall. Then fhe finally obtayned 
 her Difcharge in the Confiftory Court of St. 
 Paul's ; her coufm Britain and Mafter Spel- 
 man being Sureties for her future appearance 
 if it were required. 
 
 And thus we got her back. Our eyes 
 were filled with Tears of joy rather than our 
 mouths with laughter, at her fo great deliver- 
 ance ; and there was not one of us fayd, 
 " Why obtayned ye not fooner Releafe .-* " 
 She was free and yet fhe had yielded not a 
 jot ; for the claiife fhe appended to her Name 
 bare witncfs that flie had never recanted,
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJJcczv. J83 
 
 Bonner, meanwhile, might boaft, an' he 
 would, of having got her fignature — he knew 
 what that addition fignified, and forgat it not 
 nor forgave. 
 
 When fhe came forth, I lookt to fee her 
 faire Face marred with grief and Terror : 
 having nightly pi6lured her to myfelf lying 
 alone and in Darkneffe, in fome Mean Cell, 
 her Spiritts amazed and dejefted. On the 
 contrary, though her Raiment (which was of 
 Black) was foiled with duft, her Face, en- 
 gaging as a Child's, looked all Peace and 
 Sweetncfs ; and almoft her firft word to 
 me, after learning how fared the Infants, 
 was — 
 
 " O, dear friend ! I have found that Thing 
 which I defired, but wift not would ever be 
 vouchfafed me — fomething to do and to fufifer 
 for God. Since He hath counted me worthy 
 to bear teftimony for Him, there is nothing I 
 fhall love fo much to do unto my Life's end, 
 He being my Helper." 
 
 I fayd, " Befeech ye, Miftrefs, be careful, for 
 the young Babes' fakes." 
 
 She fayd, " I feemed, in prifon, to feel 
 their little Fingers twining round mine. 
 Carelefs I may not be ; cowardly will I
 
 184 The Faire Gofpcller, 
 
 never be. I brought not my Trial on niy- 
 felf, anie more than anie that reforted to 
 Porter in Newgate ; and I anfwered the 
 Oueft to the beft of my judgement. I did 
 not force the Truth on them, they forced it 
 from me. Should they tear me with red- 
 hot pincers, they will get nothing elfe." 
 And fhe added that the lads of Sparta could 
 bear to be whipped before the Altars, without 
 fo much as quecking. 
 
 When I fayd Sir Francis fhould have come, 
 her face changed, and fhe fayd, "Ah, he might 
 ha' come, an' he would." 
 
 I fayd, " Maybe my Lady would not let 
 him." 
 
 " Coufm Britain," quod fhe, " did not fail 
 me like my Brothers." 
 
 'Twas pretty to fee her fly to her children 
 and fondle them, and they neftling in her 
 arms, to fmother her with kiffcs ; but foon 
 fhe fayd fhe muft change her prifon-foiled 
 garments. Oh ! what Thankfgivings rofe 
 from our full hearts that Night. When the 
 Infants were a-Bed, fhe took her Lute, and 
 fang a fweet Hymn (lie had compofed in her 
 imprifonment. 
 
 Thereafter, we had three months of peace-
 
 Mijtrefs A 71 fie AJJccw. 185 
 
 fulle reft : and, for that we were driven to 
 hard fhift, fometimes, for our daily Meat, fo 
 fcant were her Means, I betook me to em- 
 blazon fundrie Samples of Ornamental Pen- 
 manfhip, which raifed a few Shillings. 
 We never abounded and we never lacked. 
 Miftrefs Anne was fent for once and agayn 
 by Lady Hertford and Lady Denny, the 
 Countefs of Suffex, and the Duchefs of Suf- 
 folk, and I played the Uflier to her when fhe 
 went to Greenwich, albeit my well-bruflied 
 Suit was too threadbare to find favour in the 
 fcornful eyes of the Waiters in the ante- 
 chamber. On one occafion, that gracious 
 child, the Lady Jane Grey, then nine years 
 old, did run after her as fhe came forth, and 
 fay in a low voice, " Oh, Miftrefs Afkew, 
 the Queen wiflies to fee the book you fpoke 
 of" "^ 
 
 For her grace Queen Katherine Parr was 
 herfelf an illuftrious Reformer, and had ap- 
 pointed Miles Coverdale her Almoner, and 
 commiffioned Nicholas Udall, Mafter of Eton 
 fchool, to edit the Tranftations of Erafmus 
 his Paraphrafes of the four Gofpels ; e'en 
 inciting her royal ftep-daughter, Princefs 
 Mary, to accept its dedication : the Queen
 
 1 86 The Faire GofpcUcr, 
 
 being then at Hanworth. And t.ie Lady 
 Herbert and Lady Tyrrell, and young Lady 
 Jane Grey, all of her privy-chamber, were all 
 of 'em Reformers, and fearched the Scrip- 
 tures diligently in the fpirit of the Bereans. 
 Wherefore it is eafie to conclude with what 
 zeft they hearkened unto her who now was 
 called The Faire Gofpeller, and who had en- 
 dured bond and imprifonment for the Truth 
 as it is in Jefus. 
 
 This good countenance toward her could 
 not be hid in a corner. And albeit, when 
 file went to the Palace, fhe was had into the 
 privy-chamber where none overheard her 
 talk with her Majefty and the Honorable 
 women : it became furmized and whifpered 
 among the houfehold, that Miftrefs Anne 
 flood high in royal regard. All this while 
 her family held clofe, in their Country-feats, 
 and gave no fignal of Love or Remem- 
 brance. 
 
 In the month of June, woe worth the hour ! 
 file was fummoned again before the Council in 
 Guildhall, along with Miftrefs Joan Santery, 
 and Robert Luken, fervant of Sir Humphrey 
 Brown. But nought being proven againfl 
 them, they were all difcharged ; only one
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJJzew. 187 
 
 witnefs appearing againfl Luken, and he 
 feeming influenced by malice. Great was 
 our thankfulnefs to have Miftrefs Anne once 
 more refcued from the Lions' Den ; this time 
 alfo, fhe had made no temporizing con- 
 ceffion, neither damaged herfelf by any 
 felf-accufation. She offended not with the 
 tongue. 
 
 Mafter Britain payd her Quarterage punc- 
 tualKc, and, knowing how hard a matter we 
 bad to hve, would have preffed on her money 
 of his own ; but fhe would none of it, fay- 
 inof, if her Husband and Brothers would do 
 as they ought, fhe need be beholden to no- 
 body, and if they would not, flie would make 
 fliift with that fhe had. Indeed, never Lady 
 made fo little fufifice as flie did : her linen 
 and cambric, of the fineft, carefully waflied 
 and mended by Lettice, wanted hitherto no 
 additions : flie had one or two black gowns 
 for morning wear, and a deep Black Velvet 
 for Court, on which her long, taper, jewel- 
 led fingers looked like wax. Pier fmall 
 white ruff and wrift cuffs were broidered 
 with red — emblem of that red and fiery 
 burning in which her fair body was after- 
 wards confumed. Thofe Ladies her friends
 
 1 88 The Faire Gofpclle}, 
 
 would have fupplyed her handfomely with 
 aught ihe needed, but fhe would never take 
 of them. 
 
 One day when I attended her to Green- 
 wich, and was awaiting her in the ante- 
 room, which of all places I count the moft 
 tedious, a flippant hanger-on, with fubtle 
 malice in his long, narrow, ill-favoured face, 
 croffcd the room to me on the pointed tips of 
 his toes, and befpoke me with — 
 
 " By your favour. Sir ; what think you of 
 thefe vext queltions ? " 
 
 " I know not of what you fpeak," quod I. 
 
 " Of thefe Six Articles, and fuch like." 
 
 " Oh," fayd I. " Thofe are queftions 
 that feem to invite no anfwer. They may 
 vex fundric, but I know not how they can 
 be vext." 
 
 " You are guarded," fayd he. 
 
 " Are not you fo } " fayd I. " Every man 
 had better be : efpeciallie a King's Penfioner. 
 Look here," pulling a copy of my Treatyfe 
 from my pouch, " here's a little work writ 
 by my unworthie pen, for which I receive 
 the King's bounty to this day. The Print, 
 you fee, is Fine : the Topic not uninter- 
 efting. A few copies are flill on hand at the
 
 Mijirefs Anne A/Iccw. 189 
 
 Bible and Crown, if you fliould pleafe to take 
 one." 
 
 " Thanks," fayd he ; going off quicker 
 than he came. Thereafter, when anie of 
 'em feemed about to accoft me with trouble- 
 fome intent, I took the whip-hand of 'em 
 by inviting them to fubfcribe to a new edition 
 of my Book dedicated to the King. They 
 foon fhunned me Hke contagion. 
 
 About this time, I had a noteworthy 
 Dream. I fay not there was aught fuper- 
 natural in it, but at any rate it notably fore- 
 Ihadowed events. Methought Miftrefs Anne 
 was walking on a fair Terrace by a River 
 fide, with one of thofe devout Ladyes, and 
 that anon they Tate down on a ftone Bench 
 and continued converfing, though I heard 
 not one word that they fayd. Meanwhile 
 the darknefs of Evening gradually ftole on, 
 and I continued to watch with pleafure the 
 motion of their lips, their earneft, pretty 
 geftures, and the concern difplayed in their 
 countenances. Looking up, I beheld in the 
 deep purple Firmament a little twinkling 
 Star, juft beginning to be born, as 'twere, 
 in the blue expanfe. Beholding it fixedly, 
 I faw it wax bigger and brighter, defcend-
 
 190 The Fairc Gofpcllcr, 
 
 ing gradually towards Miftrefs Anne, till 
 at .ength it difclofed itfelf as a glorious 
 Crown, and encircled her Head . . whereon 
 I woke. 
 
 Yet month followed month, and ftill we 
 dwelt in peace. 
 
 One day, I was croffmg Lincoln's Inn 
 Fields, when I almoft ran againft Sir Francis. 
 He turned quite white when he faw who I 
 was ; though, at the moment, he had clapped 
 his hand on his Sword. I was equally 
 ftartled, but made my Obeifance, and fayd, 
 " Sir Francis, Miftrefs Anne will rejoice to 
 fee you." 
 
 " Forbear to mention name.s^" interrupted 
 he, quickly. " Call me plain Sir, and fpeak 
 of her as your Miftrefs. What makes fhe 
 now. How fares fhe .-' " 
 
 " As poorly as flie well can, having fcarce 
 cheefe to her bread." 
 
 " Tut, tut ! to whom is it owing } She 
 hath brought it on herfelf What a fine 
 mefs fhe got into, being fliut up in the 
 Comptor ! 'Tis no very pleafant thing for a 
 gentleman of my Pofition to hear talked of, 
 I can tell thee. She fhould think of her 
 Kindred a little."
 
 Mijtrcfs Anne AJketv. IQI 
 
 "And her Kindred of her, Sir," layd I. 
 FTe looked fiercely at me, but I would not be 
 put down. 
 
 " Oh ! " fayd I, " how you once loved 
 her ! " 
 
 He was turning on his Heel ; but 
 flopped. 
 
 "You drive me out of my mind," fayd 
 he, impatiently. "Attend to what I am 
 about to fay, Nicholas. A frefli Herefy 
 Bill hath paffed, the meflies of which are not 
 fo wide but my Sifter may be caught in it. 
 Let her take warning betimes, and be ruled 
 for her fafety. Inftead of hanging about the 
 Court (a moft unfeemlie pra6tice for a mar- 
 ried woman feparated from her husband) let 
 her refume the old fliamefaftnefs and quiet- 
 nefs, which, as you fay, once made her fo 
 dear to me. I know of a fafe Retreat, 
 where fhe may harbour, an' if flic will, till 
 this prefent danger be overpaft. Do you 
 think file will have fenfe enow to abide 
 m It — ( 
 
 " With me, and her Children, and her 
 Maid, Sir .? " 
 
 " Aye, all of you. Is flie fcant of money ? " 
 
 " She hath fcarce anie."
 
 192 TJie Faire Go/pel I cr, 
 
 " Why has not Britain advanced her forne?" 
 
 " She would not have it." 
 
 " Tilly-vally. Well, I will allow you, 
 Nicholas, fo much by the week. You ufed 
 to bear the Purfe when we travelled, and 
 were a pretty fair Accountant. I will allow 
 you fo much for the whole family by the 
 Week, payable to yourfelf through Mafter 
 Britain, as long as flie will accept the covert, 
 and abide in it. Do you clofe with the 
 offer.?" 
 
 "As far as I can, Sir, for another: and 
 thankfully." 
 
 "Well, try to get her to do the fame: 
 and let me know." 
 
 " Will you not fee her, Sir > " 
 
 "No, by no means. It would affedl me 
 too much. Come hither to-morrow, at this 
 jiour — Nay, go to Mafter Britain's chamber, 
 that will be beft. Tell him ; and he will tell 
 you." 
 
 Saying which he waved his hand, and 
 fwung out of fight with the white Feather 
 ftreaming from his fmart Beaver. 
 
 When I told Miftrefs Anne I had feen 
 him, her colour changed, and tears came 
 into her eyes. She fayd — "Why came not
 
 I 
 
 Mijtrefs Anne AJkew. 193 
 
 clear Frank near me ? Where is he ? I'll 
 j2;o to him." 
 
 "He told not where he was," fayd I, " and 
 apparently wifhed us not to know. Elfe, why 
 interpofe a third party .'' " 
 
 " What doft thou advife me to do, Mold- 
 warp } " 
 
 " In faith. Madam, what good do you 
 here 1 Your matter with Mafter Kyme is 
 no more advanced. Your means are almoft 
 extin6l : you will not borrow of friends. 
 You fayd nobody fhould help you but your 
 Husband or your Brother. Be helped, then, 
 by your Brother." 
 
 " Sayd he what his help would be .'' " 
 
 " No ; but he fayd it fliould fuffice for 
 all." 
 
 After meditating a little, fhe fayd, "Well 
 then, fo let it be. Having but food and 
 raiment, let us therewith be content. I care 
 not how removed the Retreat is, fo I have 
 my Children." 
 
 So I carried her acquiefcence to Mafter 
 Britain, who feemed mighty relieved by it ; 
 and he gave me the firft inftallment of our 
 allowance, which was flill fmaller than I 
 had looked for ; and ordayned that we fhould 
 
 9
 
 194 
 
 TJie Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 make up our Fardels and be ready to ftart in 
 a vehicle that fhould be provided before day- 
 dawn, at a certain place.
 
 SECTION XIII. 
 
 Of what befcl us there. 
 
 UR Retreat, out of fight of Men 
 or found of hoof or wheel, was 
 rufticall enow to be a pleafing 
 exchange to us countrie-bred Folk 
 from the noife of Temple Bar, the din of 
 Church-bells, hoarfe cries of Wagoners, flirill 
 calls of Fifhwomen and Milkmaids, whooping 
 and whiflling of city-prentices, with now and 
 then the fhouts of " Clubs ! clubs !" When 
 Spring fliould come it would be good for the 
 little ones to fmell the breath of cows, and 
 ftray about the meadow gathering daifies and 
 buttercups ; and meanwhile we had an inex- 
 preffible fenfe of peace and fafetie. 
 
 Mafter Britain had advanced rae a month's
 
 196 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 Allowance ; and when I went to him for the 
 fecond, he told me things were going ill 
 with the Reformers, and left I fliould be 
 tracked, he would pay me a Quarter's al- 
 lowance, and we had better keep as fnug as 
 we could through the Winter ; which we 
 did. When I next went to him, he told me 
 anie breach of the Six Articles was being 
 eagerly laid hold of by ye Council, in fpecial 
 when anie perfons of note laid themfelves 
 open to fufpicion. " Therefore," fayth he, 
 " keep my Coufin as quiet as ye can, and let 
 us hope (lie may be overlookt." 
 
 As the Spring advanced, he told me Do6lor 
 Latimer and Do6tor Crome had been had up 
 for examination, and that two of his Majefty's 
 perfonal attendants, fat George Blaage (whom 
 the King called Piggy) and John Lafcelles, 
 were imprifoned. 
 
 " 'Tis thought matters will go hard with 
 em," quod he ; " and e'en the Queen's ladies 
 arc imperilled, nay, e'en the Queen herfelf ; 
 fo be more careful of my Coufm than 
 ever." 
 
 I did not fee how I could, but promifed I 
 would take all the care in my power. After- 
 wards I went to good Miftrefs Berry, with
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJkew. 197 
 
 whom we had lodged at Temple Bar. She 
 fayd fhe was both glad and forrie to fee me : 
 glad to fee the face of a friend ; forry that 
 my coming to her might lead to my being 
 tracked ; " for," fayth fhe, " this houfe is fcill 
 being watched from next door ; and inquiry 
 hath lately been made after you." 
 
 I told Miflrefs Anne this with trouble, but 
 fhe calmly fayd, " Be not difmayed : not a 
 hair of our heads fliall fall without per- 
 miflion of our Heavenly Father." We gave 
 ourfelves much unto prayer ; but I obferved, 
 that, while I prayed for her Deliverance from 
 all Dangers ghoftly and bodilie, fhe only 
 prayed for faith and fubmifTion, and dire6lion, 
 and ftrength to fulfil the Lord's will, and pro- 
 tection for her Children. 
 
 One night, juft at Bed-time, there was a 
 rapping at the Door ; and on my opening it, 
 a lad thruft a Billet into my hand, and 
 fled. It bore no fuperfcription, but contained 
 thefe words in Sir Francis' hand, dif- 
 guifed — 
 
 " Your Retreat is, I fear, difcovered. Flee 
 to the place you wot of, without the Children. 
 They fhall be cared for." 
 
 I gave it to Miftrefs Anne, for whom
 
 198 The Faire Gofpeller. 
 
 'twas meant. She changed colour, and fayd, 
 " My poor little ones ! m lift I leave them fo 
 foon ? " She covered her eyes with her hands 
 for a minute, and I faw her lips moving. 
 Then (he went to their little Bed where 
 they lay warmly afleep, lockt in each other's 
 arms, like the Princes in the Tower, and 
 kiffed 'em both. The biggeft fleepily fayd, 
 " Good night." She fayth, " Good night 
 God blefs my children." 
 
 Lettice had made up her little Fardel, and 
 gave it her weeping. She took the good 
 Girl about the Neck and kiffed her, faying, 
 " Be a Mother to my Children." " O Madam, 
 you will come back," fayd I. " That is as may 
 be," quod fhe. " We have not the ordering 
 of it." We went forthe into the Dark, fhe 
 carrying her Bible : and took fliort cuts acrofs 
 fields and over ftiles we had learnt to know 
 by daylight, till we came to a lone Cottage. 
 Directly we tapped, the door was opened, and 
 by no other than Sir Francis. She fayd, " O 
 my Brother ! " and fell into his arms. 
 
 He kiffed her once or twice, and fayd 
 with emotion, " 'Tis well you are in fafety, 
 Nan ; you know not what I have fuffered. 
 Ye arc emperilling me as well as yourfelf.
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJIeeiv. 199 
 
 Now, keep quite clofe in this place, till I bid 
 you." 
 
 She fayd, " I will." 
 
 " And you, Nicholas, return whence ye 
 came." I hefitated. 
 
 She fayd, " O yes, go back, Nicholas, and 
 watch over the Children. Let me think 
 they are cared for." 
 
 I fighed and fayd, " I obey." 
 
 "And now, fare thee well, Nan," fayd Sir 
 Francis. " Maybe ye are in lefs danger than 
 I, when all's fayd. I would that Woemen 
 took more heed of confequences." 
 
 " In which world .'' " quod fhe. 
 
 " Tut, tut," fayd he, impatiently ; " there is 
 a way that feems good unto a woman, but 
 the end thereof is death." 
 
 She looked earneftlie at him, and fayd — 
 
 " Rather Death, than falfe of Faith." 
 
 He hafted forth, and prefentlie we heard a 
 horfe galloping away. Then after a tender 
 parting, I quitted her, fhe begging me to let 
 her know in a week, or ten days at moft, 
 how the Children were, and how things 
 went. So I left her in that fequeftered 
 place. 
 
 'Twas none too foon, for next morn 7
 
 200 The Faire Gofpcller, 
 
 was fitting indoors, with my Eyes but not 
 my Mind on a Book, when two ftrange 
 Men, marvelloufly fi.ifpicioiis in appearance, 
 came to the Door, and afked for Miftrefs 
 Anne. The children by good hap were 
 abroad with Lettice. 
 
 I pretended not to know who they meant ; 
 and fayd, " There is no Miftrefs Anne here. 
 Walk in and fee." For we had hidden away 
 all her things. They fayd, " Who lodges 
 here, then .^ " 
 
 I fayd, " I do, with my Niece and two 
 Children. I am a poor Scholar, revifing a 
 Book. Perhaps you will like to buy it .'' " 
 
 " What is it touching t The Bible } " 
 
 " No : the Adornment of Gardens." 
 
 They fcofifed ; and looked about the place a 
 little, but found nothing. I watched them 
 depart and took heart. 
 
 I waited the given time, and then went to 
 fee her. To my confternation flie was gone ! 
 I afked the Purblind old Woeman whither 
 file had fled. She fayd, to the Houfe in the 
 Chalk-pit. How had Ihe gone .-' On a 
 Pillion behind a Man. 
 
 I was troubled and difmayed, and afkt 
 the diftance. Five mile, or maybe fome-
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJIccw. 201 
 
 thing better. How long had fhe been gone ? 
 Two days. 
 
 I ftarted off at once, and reached the 
 Houfe in the Chalk-pit footfore and wearie. 
 It was Ihut up and fparred within : I knock- 
 ed : a fierce Maftiff raged infide, but feemed 
 the only living Creature. In vain I cried 
 and fliouted. I gat no anfwer. 
 
 Turning afide in forrow of heart, I faw a 
 little boy peeling at me through a Hedge. 
 I fayd, " My pretty Boy, haft thou feen a 
 Lady about here '^ " He fayth, " Aye." 
 " Where is the gone ? " " With fome Men." 
 " Where have they ta'en her ? " " To the 
 Houfe i' th' Wood." " How were the Men 
 apparelled ? " " In blue coats and badges." 
 "What was on the Badges.?" "An afs." 
 Then I was comforted, for 'twas the Afkew 
 cognizance. I fayd, " Canft take me to the 
 Houfe i' th' Wood.?" He hefitated, till 1 
 promifed him a guerdon. Then he fet off 
 running before me on his bare feet, till I 
 could hardlie follow. Howfoe'er, I managed 
 to keep him in fight. 
 
 At length, he was fpent, and cried, " See ye 
 that foot-track thro' the brake ! Follow it : I 
 cannot go farther." I urged him, but he was 
 
 9*
 
 202 T]ie Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 footfore and breathlefs, fo I gave him the 
 Penny and followed the Path. It proved 
 much longer and more devious than he had 
 told me, and I oft had to fight my way through 
 briars, and fometimes I feared I had been fent 
 aftray by a villanous Child. 
 
 At length I came out on a little Glade, and 
 on the farther fide of it, fure enow, was the 
 Houfe i' th' Wood. A Hunting-lodge, feem- 
 inglie, fallen into decay; forae of the fliutters 
 hanging by one hinge ; but a thin wreath of 
 fmoke curling from a chimney betokened occu- 
 pation. There was a little Brook between me 
 and it ; and the banks being rather fteep, I 
 could not eafily crofs. While walking along 
 its Margent, looking for a ford, I heard the 
 ftealthy footfall of Horfes, and peeping 
 through the buflies, watched to fee who fliould 
 come. 
 
 Acrofs the Glade, beyond the Houfe, was a 
 narrow road confifting of little but two ruts 
 o'ergrown with grafs. From the covert of 
 Wood over this road iffued forthe a little knot 
 of horfemcn : one of the foremoft being Sir 
 I'^rancis. He was wrapped in a black cloak ; . 
 his ufually fair and florid face was fickly pale, 
 his air crcftfallen. They halted and looked to
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJlcew. 203 
 
 him for dire6lion : he feemed irrefolute a 
 moment — then, waving his daftard arm toward 
 the Houfe, wheeled his horfe about and 
 galloped out of fight. The Craven ! — the fell 
 Traytour ! 
 
 In defperation, I leaped the Brook ; fell, — 
 fprained myfelf, — yet ran limping to the back 
 premifes and battered at the Door, crying, 
 " Alarm ! alarm ! " None heard me. There 
 was a confufed found of voices in front ; I ran 
 round, and faw them lifting Miftrefs Anne on 
 to a horfe. 
 
 I know not what I cried, but flie looked 
 about ; and without bewraying me for her fol- 
 lower, cried out, " Farewell, all who love me ! 
 I go to fhort pain and long joy." 
 
 I ruflied at them, and cried, " Take me too 
 — I'm the fame as flie ! If fhe's guilty, I'm 
 guilty." 
 
 But they only laughed. 
 
 " Give the good Man a lift thro' the Wood," 
 fayd flie, calmly. " He hath been a faithful 
 fervitor." 
 
 " Clamber up behind me, then," fayd one of 
 the horfemen to me, not unkindlie. With 
 thankfulnefs I obeyed. 
 
 Soon wc were threading the wood in fingle
 
 204 TJic Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 file, but when we got out on a wider road, I 
 prayed my companion to let me ride alongfide 
 Miftrefs Anne, which, however, he would 
 not. 
 
 And fo we rode on Londonward, I wot not 
 how long, being ficke with griefe, till we came 
 to a branch road, when my companion fayd, 
 " Alight now. In faith, thou haft had a pretty 
 good lift." 
 
 And Miftrefs Anne, looking round, cried, 
 " Farewell ! farewell ! " 
 
 O how beautiful flie looked, and how fweet 
 and thrilling was her voice ! I ftrained mine 
 eyes after her as long as flie was in fight, and 
 then went on my way weeping. 
 
 That craven Brother! How I hated him 
 in my heart ! He had indeed, as I learnt 
 afterwards, been affayled with threats that 
 might intimidate a Cowardly nature, which 
 his was now proven to be ; but that excufed 
 him not from leading the Myrmidons of 
 injurtice himfelf to the Retreat he only knew 
 of and had placed her in, with the promife 
 of Safety. Oh, 'twas villanous ! No Plume 
 wore he in his flouched hat that day, 
 but he fliowed moft complcatly the white 
 Feather.
 
 MiJIirfs Anne AJIceiv. 205 
 
 But mark the refult to himfelf. Men 
 may clifplay their natural badnefs an' they 
 will, being led captive by the Deftroyer, but 
 Juflice fets her mark on them fometimes, in 
 a manner that fliows beyond miflake the 
 Divine difpleafure. From the hour he 
 pointed out her Afylum and then fled like 
 a timid Hare, he favv ever before him, e'en 
 to the Day of her Death, an infufferable 
 bright Light, which he fpoke of as like that 
 of a great and horrible Fire refle61;ed in a 
 glais Window. This curfe he took about 
 him, wherever he went, do what he would, 
 and fometimes it drew from him Groans and 
 Tears of torment. 
 
 When I got back to the Cottage, I found 
 Lettice and the Infants gone ! I fliould now 
 have been bewildered outright, but for a 
 billet left for me by my Niece, bidding 
 me not to be alarmed, for that the Babes 
 had been fent for by Miftrefs Difney, who 
 would fuccour them till rejoined by their 
 Mother. 
 
 The Neft being thus reft of its Fledglings, 
 I turned my back on the Cottage next morn- 
 ing (for my fatigue and grief infifted on a 
 few hours' reft), and took my way back to
 
 206 TJic Fa ire Gofpellcf, 
 
 Temple Bar, where I craved Ilielter from 
 Millrefs Berry. The good foul readiHe 
 took me in, bidding me lodge and table 
 with her, free of charge, as long I behoved, 
 and filed fad tears on hearing of this new 
 Trouble. 
 
 Then I went to Mafter Britain, and he 
 told me Miftrefs Anne was in ward ; but 
 that Kyme was going to appear before her 
 firfl, and charge her with forfaking him. 
 Sure, this was the Wolf charging the Lamb 
 with muddying the Stream ; for had he not 
 turned her out of Doors } 
 
 Mafter Britain's Clerk, i' the outer Cham- 
 ber, whom I knew pretty well by this 
 time, fayd as I came out, " Paufe awhile, 
 I have fomething to give you," — and went 
 away. 
 
 Almoft the next moment. Sir Francis 
 paffed through, and went ftraight in to 
 Mafter Britain. I flirank back with inward 
 loathing, but he noticed me not. His face 
 looked wan and fhrunk, his eyes continuallie 
 blinked as though he could not controule the 
 vibration of his eyelids. I heard him, in 
 mofl; piteous and lamentable gulfc, pray 
 Mafter Britain to get his Sifter off, even
 
 Mijl'refs Auiie AJJcew. 207 
 
 at the price of half his Fortune. Mafter 
 Britain faycl he flioulcl do his beft at any 
 rate, but thefe were matters not to be reached 
 by Guerdon. He feemed to wonder at 
 Kyme's thinking of turning the tables on 
 her ; but Sir Francis' thoughts were all 
 of the Ecclefiaftical Court. My blood boiled 
 when I heard the craven Knight avow 
 fuch concern for her, and never let fell that 
 'twas he led the Myrmidons to her Retreat. 
 " Waking or fleeping," fayth he, " I get no 
 Reft." 
 
 Involuntarilie the words efcaped me, as 
 though forcing 'emfelves from my heart — 
 
 " Rather Death than falfe of Faith." 
 
 He inftantly gave a kind of Sob, and I 
 heard a heavy Fall. Mafter Britain called, 
 " Help ! help ! " I ran in, and faw Sir 
 Francis on the floor. 
 
 " Run, run for a Do6lor ! " cried Mafter 
 Britain. I did fo, and in the doorway nearly 
 ran againft the Clerk, carrying a big Book he 
 thought I fhould find good reading. He told 
 me where to find ye neareft Leech, with 
 whom I returned ; and finding Sir Francis 
 was alreadie recovering from his Swoon, I 
 paffed out, not wifhing to fee or hear more of
 
 2o8 The Faire G of pellet. 
 
 him. I was difmayed at the efifeft of my fo 
 hafty Ejaculation, which prickt too fore a 
 Confcience. He took the echo of his Sifter's 
 words for fupernatural. Mafter Britain, not 
 knowing 'em to be hers, nor couphng them 
 with the Trance, nor even catching their fub- 
 ftance, did only think of Sir Francis' o'er- 
 wroLight condition, and attribute it to flieer 
 Affection and Attendriffement. 
 
 Now we were all at Paufe till Mafter Kyme 
 fliould arrive in London. When he did fo, 
 flie was brought before the Privy Council 
 without further delay, and accufed of refufmg, 
 without juft caufe, to live with her husband. 
 When plied with Queftions, fhe refufed to 
 anfwer them, faying the Lord Chancellor 
 alreadie knew all about it : and when he told 
 her it was the Royal pleafure fhe ftiould plead, 
 fhe defired to do fo before the King in per- 
 fon. 
 
 " It is not reafon," he reply'd, " that the 
 King fhould be troubled on your account." 
 
 " And yet," quod flie, " the wifeft King 
 that ever lived refufed not to hearken unto 
 two poor women that came to him for 
 juft ice." 
 
 In fine, they could make nothing of it,
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJlcciv. 209 
 
 Kyme's cafting her forthe being a fa6l that 
 could not be denyed ; and neither of 'em being 
 minded to rehearfe the previous words that 
 had paffed between them. 
 
 So Mafter Kyme returned unto his own 
 Place ; and then the more dangerous charge 
 of Herefy was brought againft her, Firft, 
 Wriothefley aiked her of her opynyon of the 
 Sacrament ; to whom fhe gave no dire6l 
 anfwer ; and when Gardiner did charge her to 
 fpeak out, fhe fayd — 
 
 "I will not fmg a new fong unto the Lord 
 m a ftrange land." 
 
 Then enfewed a fharp argument betwixt 
 them, he accufmg her of fpeaking in parables. 
 Then flie : " It is beft I fliould ; for if I fpeak 
 the bare Truth, you will not receive it." 
 
 " You are a Parrot ! " quod he ; which was 
 a Angular contradidion to Bonner's complaynt 
 of her that flie was a woman of few words. 
 To this check, flie only made anfwer : " My 
 Lord, I am willing to receive all things at 
 your hands, whether Rebukes or what not." 
 
 One fliould think this might have foftened 
 him ; but one after another of the Council did 
 affa\l and browbeat her ; prolonging the 
 fitting to about five hours. Miftrefs Anne
 
 210 The Faire Gojpcllef, 
 
 was then conveyed, much wearied, by the 
 Clerk of the Council to my Lady Garnifh. 
 
 What paffed next day, when flie was agayn 
 brought before J:he Privy Council, I can but 
 adduce, as above, from her own words. My 
 Lord Chancellor agayn quefhioned her as 
 touching the Sacrament. She alleged fhe 
 could onlie fay what fhe had alreadie fayd. 
 After manie words, they bade her ftep afide. 
 Lord Lifle, Lord Effex, and the Bifliop of 
 Winchefler then fued her earneflly to profefs 
 the bread and wine to be verily and indeed 
 bone, flefh, and blood. 
 
 " It is a great fhame of you," fayd fhe, " to 
 counfel contrary to your knowledge." 
 
 The Bifhop wiflied to fpeak with her in 
 private ; but flie refufed ; faying, " In the 
 mouth of two or three witneffes, everything 
 fhall be eftabliO-ied." 
 
 Then fayd the Lord Chancellor, " I mufl 
 have another word on the Elements." Quod 
 file, " How long will you halt, my Lord, on 
 both ? " 
 
 " Where found you that ? " fayd he. She 
 infwercd, " In the Scripture." 
 
 " You will be burnt," quod the Bifliop. 
 Well, well," fayd Ihe, " I have fcarched all
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 
 
 211 
 
 the Scriptures, yet never could find that either 
 Chrifl or His Apoftles ever put anie creature 
 to death." 
 
 They would have obtayned her fignature to 
 a paper, but this flie refufed.
 
 SECTION XIV. 
 
 Delivered to ye Tormentors. 
 
 ITHERTO Miftrefs Anne's Cou- 
 \'^.gQ had never quelled, nor her 
 Faith waxed weak. But it pleafes 
 God to teft and prove il's, fervants, 
 that they may know all theire ftrength to be 
 from Him, and that without Him they are 
 nothing. 
 
 When I returned to Miftrefs Berry's, after 
 picking up what I coulde of the Examination 
 at Greenwich, who fhould I find there but my 
 Niece, Lettice ! She, feeing my furprife. 
 fayd, " Mafter Kyme hath difcharged me, 
 refufing anie payment of Wages fmce the 
 Night I left his Houfe and followed Miftrefs 
 Anne."
 
 Mijlrefs Aiiiie AJkezv. 213 
 
 " Nay," fayd I, " that was to be ex- 
 peaed." 
 
 " And fince," piirfued Lettice, " Miftrefs 
 Difney hath undertaken the Children, and 
 declines my being about them, I came 
 hither to fee if perchance I might be per- 
 mitted to wait on my deare Lady." 
 
 At this moment, there came in Lady 
 Denny's man Chriflopher, who had often 
 attended Miftrefs Anne from Court, and 
 brought Letters and Meffages ; and me- 
 feemed he looked kindlie on my Niece. 
 This impreffion was not weakened by the 
 Start I faw him give, when he entered and 
 found her with me. 
 
 " You here, Miftrefs Lettice .' " quod he. 
 " How I wifli you could be placed about 
 your miffortunate Lady." 
 
 " That is the fame thing which I covet," 
 fayd Lettice. " Do ye think. Sir, it can be 
 brought about .'' " 
 
 " Nay, I know not,'' returned he ; " but 
 this I know, that it would give entire pleafure 
 to my Lady ; and with your approval I w'il) 
 name it to her and afk whether it may be 
 done." 
 
 " Do fo, by all means," fayd Lettice ; and
 
 214 The Faire GofpcIIcr, 
 
 then, after detailing each to each all we knew 
 and had fecn of this fad Bufineffe, he made as 
 though to leave, but yet ftepped back from 
 the Door to notice fome pretty Flower in 
 the little Court behind, and drew Lettice 
 out to tell him its name ; and there I thought 
 they had a little Lover's Talk, fuch as the 
 ftaid think foolifli, but which I difapproved 
 not for either, they being fo difcreete and 
 good. 
 
 At length it grew dark, and I thought 
 the talk lafted too long ; and when I looked 
 forthe I faw them ftill in the Doorway, their 
 heads clofe together, and I cryed, " 'Tis nigh 
 the time when fober Folk (liut up." 
 
 " I come. Uncle," returned Lettice fome- 
 what pettiflily. 
 
 " I go, Sir," fayd Chriftopher, yet went 
 not. 
 
 Then I misjudged 'em both as elder folk 
 fometimcs do misjudge the young (not but 
 what Chriftopher was turned of thirty) and 
 held the chamber door in my hand, half 
 minded to fpeak agayn ; and foe heard, 
 foftly fpoken, fuch words as, " Well then, 
 good night . . . you promife . . . " " Yes, I 
 promife . . . " " You fully undcrftand ..."
 
 Mijlrcfs Aline AJkew. 215 
 
 " I fully underftand . , . " " I may tell my 
 Lady?" "You may." "Be fecret." "As 
 the Grave." " Forget not the Signal." " As 
 foon forget my Prayers." 
 
 I e'en fancied a kifs exchanged ; and 
 therein may have misjudged 'em too. How- 
 beit, when Lettice came in, and ftruck a 
 light, I obferved a bright hue on her cheek 
 and fparkle in her eyes, which yet bore 
 traces of tears. I fayd, — 
 
 " Ye are young, my Lafs ; and I fland to 
 thee in place of Father and Mother. Beware 
 of men . . . fubtle poifon is under their 
 tongues." 
 
 " Not fuch tongues as yours, Uncle, nor 
 yet as Chriftopher's," fayth fhe quickly. 
 " What think ye we were talking of .^ Plans 
 of communication, in cafe I fhould be fhut 
 up with my Lady, and which e'en may lead 
 to her releafe." 
 
 The good Creatures ! How badly I had 
 misjudged 'em ! 
 
 Now, at this very time, as we afterwards 
 learnt, Miftrefs Anne lay in Ward at Green- 
 wich, forrowful unto Death ... all her 
 Courage gone, her Faith quenched, her 
 Heart difmayed, her Fears raging, her Sins
 
 2i6 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 brought back upon her, hke a burthen too 
 heavy to bear ; a dark Cloud interpofed be- 
 tween her and her Saviour, and a great fear 
 of death taking hold of her. That was the 
 dread hour of the Powers of Darkneffe : her 
 foul refufed comfort, flie watered her couch 
 with tears, and befought piteoufly flie might 
 fee Mafter Latimer. Infteade of which were 
 onlie Adverfaries and bufy Mockers. 
 
 Chriftopher came next day in great difmay 
 to tell us this ; and he fayd intereft was be- 
 ing made by fecret friends to get Lettice 
 admitted to her. 
 
 This was on a Sunday ; and we wreflled 
 in Prayer for her almoft all the Day, fmce 
 fhe was brought too low to be able to pray 
 for herfelf Mark the anfwcr. 
 
 In the height of her illnefs, when flie 
 thought fhe fhould die, fhe was removed to 
 Newgate. There, her ftrength was renewed 
 from above, never more to give way. Her 
 enemies fearing fhe fliould Tcape them by 
 too eafy an end, fo far relaxed as to let her 
 Maid vifit her from time to time. When 
 file faw Lettice firft come in. Hie flung her 
 arms about her, and refted her head on her 
 fjeck.
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJJcezv. 217 
 
 •' Oh," fayth flie, " I have had a bitter fea- 
 fon of defolation, but it is clean overpaft. 
 My Lord fmiles upon me : He will not hide 
 His face agayn." 
 
 She now wrote to her friends, bescoringr 
 them to pray for her. And fhe wrote to 
 the King, meekly fetting forth the articles 
 of her Faith, and affirming that, though by 
 nature finfull, yet fhe could take Heaven to 
 record fhe was innocent of all Herefy. 
 
 Next day, they brought her for examina- 
 tion to the Crown Inn, where Rich and 
 Bonner with all their power and fpecioufe 
 words went about to perfuade her to unfay 
 herfelf, but in vayn. After them. Dr. 
 Nicholas Shaxton counfelled her to recant 
 as he had done ; but fhe told him, " It had 
 been better for you, had ye ne'er been born." 
 Thereafter flie was fent to the Tower. 
 
 At three o' the clock that fame Afternoon, 
 came to her Wriothefley and Rich, and it is 
 not to be doubted, at the immediate inftance 
 of the King, whofe jealoufie of his good 
 Queen's orthodoxie had now been artfullie 
 awakened by her Enemies, who defired to 
 bring her and fundrie of her Ladies to the 
 Block. 
 
 10
 
 21 8 The Fairc Gofpellcr, 
 
 To this end the Lord Chancellor and Mr, 
 Solicitor Generall now came, refolving by all 
 Means, faire or foul, to get Miftrefs Anne to 
 criminate them. They plied her with quef- 
 lions as touching the Duchefs of Suffolk, 
 Lady Suffex, Lady Hertford, Lady Denny, 
 and Lady Fitzwilliam, but flie fayd flie had 
 nothing to allege againft anie of them. 
 
 " Nay but," quod they, " the King hath 
 been informed that ye can, an' if ye will, 
 name a large number of perfons of the fame 
 way of thinking as yourfelf " 
 
 " The King," fhe replyed, " hath beene 
 mifinformed on that point, as on others, by 
 thofe about him." 
 
 " Who affifted you in prifon } " 
 
 " My maid. Sirs, went out and begged of 
 the City Prentices, who gave her of their 
 charitic, but who the good lads were I know 
 not." 
 
 " Nay, but we know ye had money of cer- 
 tayn Ladies, whofe names ye can tell if ye 
 will." 
 
 " Lidecd, a man in a blue coat did once 
 bring me ten fliillings, as he fayd, from 
 Lady Hertford ; and another in a violet coat 
 gave me eight fliillings, he fayd, from Lady
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJIcczu. 219 
 
 Denny. But in faith, Sirs, 'tis like the good 
 man gave it me of his own good will." 
 
 " What members of the Privy Council 
 contributed to your needs in Prifon ? " 
 
 " Not one." 
 
 "Tis falfc!" burft forthe the Chancellor; 
 " and unlefs ye give up their names ye fliall 
 be racked." 
 
 " I have no names to give up." 
 
 Then they fummoned Sir Thomas Knyvet, 
 Lieutenant of the Tower, to fubje6t her tender 
 body to that villanous Torture. ... Oh ! 
 what fayth Scripture 1 " I fay unto you, my 
 friends, Fear not them which can deftroy the 
 Body, but afterwards have no more that they 
 can do." 
 
 S/ze did not fear ! flie, fo lately overwhelmed 
 with Tears and Terrors, now meekly fubmit- 
 ted herfelf to the Tormentors, and uttered no 
 Moan. Sir, in their devilifh fpight, they had 
 doubtlefs thought to delight their ears with 
 her weeping Lamentations ; and becaufe flie 
 now fuftayned that horrid ftretching with in- 
 trepid conftancy, and ftill gave up no names, 
 thofe Beafts rather than Men flung off their 
 Gowns and racked her with their owne hands, 
 till fhe was well-nigh dead, yet after recover-
 
 220 The Fa ire Gofpcller, 
 
 mg a little fhe reafoned with Wriothefley on 
 the Sacrament, two hours off and on, and 
 /ielded not one jot of the truth as fhe held it. 
 
 Now thefe things could not be done in a 
 corner, for fervants fpy out all theire Mafters* 
 ways ; and Chriftopher being in communica- 
 tion with Rich's fervant, had time to bring us 
 word of this long ordeal, and carry Lettice and 
 me down to the Tower, to fee what might hap. 
 
 Miftrefs Anne was then being carryed into 
 a private Houfe to be recovered, thofe Savages 
 being fomewhat fhamed at having fo mangled 
 her as nearly to be her Death ; and Chrifto- 
 pher, knowing one of the Servants, did 
 fmuggle us in to minifter to her. 
 
 As I bent over her white, cold face, fhe 
 whifpered, " Sure, dear Friend, I have as 
 wearie and painful limbes as ever had patient 
 Job." I fayd, " O, dear Ladye, ye have fhown 
 Job's patience, and ye have Job's God to be 
 your Strength." "Aye, and He doth ftrength- 
 en me," whifpered fhe. 
 
 Some one of the houfe here brought in 
 word from the Chancellor, that if fhe would 
 recant, fhe fhoulde be mercifullie dealt with ; 
 but if fhe did refufe, fhe fhould be fent back 
 to Newgate and burnt.
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJheiu. 221 
 
 She made anfwer, " Rather Death than 
 falfe of Fayth." 
 
 To Newgate, therefore, flie was agayn 
 committed, fo foone as fhe could be moved. 
 
 Meanwhile Sir Thomas Knyvet, in the 
 greateft trouble of mind, fought the King's 
 prefence, and humblie befought his forgive- 
 nefs for not having racked Miftrefs Anne as 
 extremely as the Chancellor and Mr, Secre- 
 tary would have had him do. 
 
 The King, afhamed of what had been 
 done, forgave him, and bade him return to his 
 charge ; and afterwards upbraided Wriothef- 
 ley and Rich for their " extreme handling of 
 the woman." And yet it was fhrewdly 
 fufpe6led he had authorized it himfelf ! Put 
 not your faith in Princes. 
 
 Now in Newgate at this time there was 
 a little army of Martyrs in the fame con- 
 demnation with Miftrefs Anne, and deftined 
 for the fame difmal fate ; albeit one of them, 
 George Blaage, being the King's fervant, 
 was let off To Lafcelles, one of thefe 
 prifoners, whom Miftrefs Anne held in much 
 efteem, fhe, as foon as able to ufe a pen, did 
 indite the Letter here following : —
 
 •yy-f 
 
 The Faire Gofpeller, 
 
 " O Friend mod dearlie beloved in God ! 
 
 " I marvel not a little what fliould move, 
 you to judge me in fo flender a Faith as to 
 fear Death, which is the end of all Mifery. 
 In the Lord, I defire you not to believe of 
 me fuch Weaknefs ; for I doubt not God 
 will perform His work in me, like as He 
 hath begun. 
 
 " I underftand the Council is not a little 
 difpleafed, that it is reported abroad that I 
 was racked in the Tower. They fay now, 
 that what they did there was but to fear 
 me ; whereby I perceive they are afliamed of 
 their uncomely Doings, and fear much lef 
 the King's Majefty fliould have information 
 thereof; wherefore they would that no Man 
 fliould noife it. Well, theire crueltie God 
 forg-ive them ! " 
 
 'o' 
 
 Indeed fhc wrote manie godlie letters 
 during her few remayning days, to ftrengthen 
 and refrefli our Souls with that Comfort 
 wherewith fhe was comforted. As alfo, a 
 full declaration of her faith, which if Time 
 and occafion ferve, I will put in an Appen- 
 dix. 
 
 But now the doom went forth that die
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 
 
 223 
 
 fhe fhould ; and by that moft horrid Payn 
 of Burning. Along with her were to fuffer, 
 firfte, a Shropfliire Prieft, called Nicholas 
 Belenian ; next, Mafter John Lafcelles, 
 Gentleman of the Houfehold to the King's 
 Majefty ; third, John Adams, a fimple 
 Tailor : widely differing from one another 
 in all Outward Circumflances ; all alike in 
 the Communion of Faith. 
 
 Within her iron Cage, ye might then have 
 heard our fwect Bird finging a hymn of her 
 own compofure, ending with — 
 
 Yet^ Lord, I Thee defire : 
 
 For tJiat they do to me, 
 Let ihe/n not tafte the hire 
 
 Of their Iiiiquitie.
 
 SECTION XV. 
 
 Adjutor in Tribulationibus. 
 
 J^T would be impoffible to defcribe 
 the awful Rumour through Lon- 
 don flretes, the Night afore the 
 Martyrdom. It was fixed for the 
 third Day after the laft Examination, Mif- 
 trefs Berry, all bewept, would faine have me 
 take her beforehand to Smithfield, where 
 the dreadful Tragedy was to be brought 
 to its Clofe ; and many Citizens and their 
 Wives, unable to bear the dread Spe6la- 
 cle itfclf, were minded to fee the Spot, 
 as well as a multitude of the bafer fort, 
 who love to be ftimulatcd with whatever is 
 horrible.
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJkew. 225 
 
 Thus, as we approached the place, 
 we found it ahnoft impaffable ; but yet 
 were let through when 'twas under- 
 ftood we had perfonal concern in one 
 of the Martyrs ; and pitying looks were 
 given us, with murmurs of " Poor foules." 
 
 We coulde hear the hollow Reverbe- 
 ration of many Hammers ufed by the 
 Carpenters who were bufilie fetting up 
 a raifed and covered Stage in front 
 of St. Bartholomew's Hofpital, whereon 
 the Lord Chancellor and his Com- 
 peers were to fit ; alfo a temporary 
 Pulpit for the Sermon to the con- 
 demned ; and round all, a ftrong, circu- 
 lar Fence, inclofmg a good area. Right 
 in the centre, before the Stage and 
 no great fpace from the Pulpit, were 
 alreadie to be feen three ftrong Oaken 
 Stakes, with a Pile of Fagots befide 
 them ; at the mere fight of which, many 
 women wept, turned fick, and were readie 
 to faint. We met manie pufliing away from 
 it, whofe places were eagerl}' filled by new 
 Comers. 
 
 Having rent our hearts by this fad fcene, I 
 took Mirtrefs Berry out of the crowd, and 
 
 IQ*
 
 226 Tlie Faire Gofpdlcr, 
 
 went flraight to Newgate, having gotten a 
 Pals. 
 
 I found Miftrefs Anne fewing a but- 
 ton to the collar of the long white 
 garment fhe was to wear on the mor- 
 row, and biting off the Thread as I 
 had oft feene her do in happier hours. 
 She raifed her Angel Face, which was 
 as calm as if fhe were preparing for fome 
 Chriftian feftival, and holding out her hand, 
 fayd,— 
 
 " O, dear Friend, how it joys me 
 to fee you ! Do not go to Smithfield 
 to-morrow — it will tax you too forelie. 
 My light AfBiction, which will be but 
 for a Moment, will, lead to a far more 
 exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glo- 
 
 I fayd, " How can you call it light ? '* 
 
 " Becaufe the Lord makes it fo," flie re- 
 plyed. " He fank beneath His own Crofs : 
 but He takes up XhQ heavie End of mine. 
 And thus, my Burthen is light." 
 
 Seeing I could not anfwer her for 
 Tears, fl-ve fayd, " Come, I will fing tc 
 you . . . 
 
 " Oh> do not — do not ! . . I*
 
 Mijlrefs Anne AJJcciv. 227 
 
 "Yes, let me, for the laft time, Nicholas! 
 — till I fing the Lord a new Song in his 
 bleffed Kingdom. I made words and tune 
 myfelf, as I fewed at my Shroud ; now hear 
 how goodly it is." 
 
 And herewith flie took one of my 
 hands in both her own, and though fo 
 wrenched by that vile Rack that flie 
 could not fet foot on the Ground, fhe 
 looked in my face, and fmiled and fang 
 till I almoft wi filed to die hearing her 
 fo fing. Then flie fayd, " Let us pray." 
 And prayed for us all, and for her Ene- 
 myes, and laft for herfelf " Now, you 
 pray," quod fhe ; and fo I did. I wot not 
 how long we fhould have gone on this way, 
 but that Archdeacon Louth came to vifit 
 her ; fo I had to take leave of her, he over- 
 looking us, and could not, for Manhood and 
 Chriftianitie, fhow lefs fortitude than fhe, 
 w^ho had fuch need to retayn her felf com- 
 mand. She kiffed me, once and agayn, 
 calling me her father, bade me give her love 
 to Lettice, and Miftrefs Berry, and all in- 
 quiring friends ; then waved me off, ftill 
 fmiling, with — 
 
 " Now go : I have another to fee : good
 
 2.78 
 
 The Faire Gojpcller. 
 
 bye ! good bye ! — Have a care of your 
 health, Nicholas ! We fliall meet agayn ! " . . . 
 The Archdeacon looked on, aftonied.
 
 >^ 
 
 SECTION XVI. 
 
 Freed at Lajl. 
 
 I FTER her bidding me fpare myfelf, 
 and not go, ye may wonder that 
 
 I went Sir ! I coulde not 
 
 refrayn. I miift needs catch the 
 laft fiofht of her. But what ! Could I not 
 bear to fee, what fhe could bear to fuffer ? 
 
 I hired a window in a mean Houfe o'er- 
 looking Smithfield Market, the owner being 
 a fecret Friend of Miflrefs Anne's, or, at 
 any rate, of fome of her fellow-fufferers 
 To this place I repaired overnight, which 
 they told me would be neceffarie, becaufe 
 of the prefs. And they offered me Supper 
 and Bed ; but I would not fuffer mine eye- 
 hds to take reft, nor partake aught fave
 
 230 The Faire Gojpcller, 
 
 tlie bread of affli61;ion and the water of 
 affliction. 
 
 If her Friends could not wreftle for her 
 in Prayer, that night, and all night long, 
 what manner of Friends muft they be ? 
 Had I e'en been minded to fleep, the lugu- 
 brious noifes outfide, and fiifurra of the 
 mixed Multitude, muft have prevented it. 
 Early in the morning, the church Bell began 
 to toll with a heavie, difmal found. A body 
 of Halbardiers came and encircled ye fence. 
 Before it well got light, I faw men bufie 
 piling the Fagots about the Stakes, and care- 
 fully inferting fomewhat among them. I 
 afked the Owner of the Houfe what they 
 were about. He fayd, putting refinous mat- 
 ters, and, maybe, gunpowder, to fliorten the 
 Martyrs' fuffcring. Therein I took fome 
 comfort. 
 
 At length, after much fufpenfe, a general 
 movement and fuppreffed hum told that the 
 prifoners were approaching. The Lord 
 Chancellor, old Duke of Norfolk, Earl of 
 Bedford, and Lord Mayor, arrived with 
 much Pomp, and took their feats, which had 
 now a red awning. A Grange, confufed 
 moan or groan from many voices, arofe as
 
 MiJIirfs A line AJJcczv. 231 
 
 the Martyrs came in, with bare heads and 
 feet, and in long white Garments. Tnafmuch 
 as, by reafon of her previous racking, Mif- 
 trefs Anne could not ftand, fhe was brough 
 in a Cart, containing a Chair, in which flie 
 was fupported by two Sergeants at Arms. 
 My eyes grew mifty as they lifted her out, 
 and when I could look at her agayn, fhe was 
 bound with a chain to the fame flake with 
 another of the four Martyrs ; and Fagots 
 were being heaped about them. Then there 
 was a Paufe. 
 
 And now the weak-hearted Shaxton 
 mounted the Pulpit, and began to inveigh 
 againft the pure do6trine which, not long 
 agone, he himfelf had upheld. I doubt if a 
 fmgle foul attended to his Sermon, fave 
 Miftrefs Anne, who, when he grievoufly 
 mif-quoted Scripture, fayd, in her clear, 
 filver voice, " He fpeaketh without the 
 Book." I faw the Chancellor gnaw his 
 nails at this. 
 
 And next the tempting offer of the King's 
 written pardon, as unfolded and difplayed by 
 the Chancellor, was made to each Martyr in 
 turn. Miftrefs Anne refufed even to look at 
 it, faying, " I am not come here to deny my
 
 232 The Fa ire Gofpeller, 
 
 Lord and Mafter." The others refufed in 
 turn. Whereon my Lord Mayor rofe in his 
 place, and in a loud, deep voyce, cried, 
 
 ''Fiat Jitjlitia',' 
 
 ^ and immediately the fagots began to 
 crackle. 
 
 Now there was a great fwaying to and fro 
 of the crowd, as of a mighty Wave of the 
 Sea, and I believe there were cryings and 
 moanings, and favage ftrugglings for places. 
 Amidft it all, my Lord Chancellor rofe up 
 in great hafte, along with all his Compeers, 
 and with moft ungraceful Diforder would 
 have quitted the Stage ; having heard there 
 was Gunpowder amongft the Stakes, and 
 fearing the Explofion might reach 'em. 
 Some time elapfed, ere they were fatiffyed 
 on this point and refumed their Places. 
 
 Clouds of white, eddying Smoke, and 
 darting forks of Flame, now concealed the 
 Martyrs from our eyes ; but thofe neareft to 
 them heard them utter pious Ejaculations. 
 The Smoke parting a little, I faw deare 
 Miftrefs Anne's head fallen on her cheft, 
 and felt affured fhe was fmothered. Tlio
 
 Mijljrfs Anne AJkew. 233 
 
 next inftant, a loud Report caufed a general 
 outcry : the powder had exploded. Their 
 light Affli6lion, which was but for a Moment, 
 had been exchanged for a far more exceeding 
 and eternal Weight of Glory. 
 
 Sir, they fay there was a Thunder-ftorm 
 burft over us at the time, but I was too 
 abforbed to note it. To me, the whole 
 world had, for the nonce, become a blank. 
 That night, llrange to fay, I flept heavilie. 
 During the evening, I and Lettice, and 
 Miftrefs Berry and Chriftopher, had gathered 
 together and communed on all that lay in 
 our Hearts. We were fenfible of an inex- 
 preffible Load taken off us ; the worft had 
 been done. It could never be done agayn : 
 fhe was beyond and above their reach now. 
 We wept, and talked of her pretty ways, and 
 how we had feared once and agayn her 
 courage might fayl at the End. But it never 
 did. 
 
 That night, I learned that Chriftopher 
 had afked Lettice to be his Wife. I fayd, 
 " I can entruft you with her ; I know her 
 happineffe will be in fafe keeping. But let 
 us not think of Wedding Bells along with 
 Martyr Fires." 
 
 ^
 
 234 T^f^'^ Faiie Co/pcllcr, 
 
 To be brief : in due time they were 
 marryed ; they have been happy, and have 
 reared up a numerous and virtuous progeny. 
 I am always welcome at their Farm, and 
 from time to time have flayed there ; but I 
 am now fo well ftricken in years, — though 
 my Sight, Hearing, and Memory are unim- 
 payred, — that I prefer hanging about the old 
 Home of my Boyhood, where I hope, not 
 longe hence, to die. 
 
 Sir, I have tried not to be garrulous ; I 
 have fayd little or nothing of mine owne 
 People — my good Father and Mother — their 
 edifying Deaths, within a few Hours of one 
 another — the death of Sir Maurice the 
 Chaplain — my going up to Greenwich to 
 prefent my Book to the King's Majefty, &c. ; 
 and yet I fear I have mentioned myfelf nearlie 
 as oft as Miftrefs Anne. 
 
 This is a fault, and fliould be corre6ted. 
 But I am too old for correftion now. It 
 hath given me fome pleafure to jot down 
 thefe fading Memoryes and read them after- 
 w^ards to Jafper ... I have like wife journeyed 
 to Chriftopher's Farm, and read over the 
 MS. to him and Lettice, now paft their 
 Meridian ; it recalled fome fad yet fweet
 
 Mijlrcfs Anne AJlcew. 235 
 
 recolleclions to them, in fpecial including 
 what firft brought them together ; viz., 
 mutual concern for a moft unfortunate Lady. 
 And an efleem bafed on fuch a concern is 
 very fit to be itfelf the bafe of a true and 
 virtuous Love. 
 
 But what of Miftrefs Anne's foes .'' They 
 are all dead, and gone to their own place, 
 wherever that may be. If there were anie 
 thing to be alleged in their excufe, I hope it 
 will be alleged. God is not extreme to mark 
 what is done amifs, fpecially from Ignorance. 
 But there are fome Sins that proceed from a 
 worfe Root than that : from defperate Hard- 
 nefs of Heart and Tyrannoufnefs. I believe 
 there muft be a condign Punifhment for 
 fuch. I fliould believe it, if 'twere not re- 
 vealed ; but it is. We are told of it by Him 
 who was emphaticallie TJie TnitJi, and He 
 was fo forrie for what the unrepentant needs 
 muft come to, if they turned not, that He 
 gave His own life for them, to the end that 
 all who believe in Him fhould not perifh, but 
 have everlafting Life. 
 
 In Stallingboro' Church, ye may fee the 
 fayre Tomb of marble, under which lie 
 buried Sir William Aflcew and Dame
 
 236 The Fairc Gofpcller, 
 
 Margery, his fecond Wife. Upon the tomb 
 is the portrayture of himfelfe, in compleat 
 Armour ; upon his Surcoat his armes, Sa : a 
 feffe d'or entre trois Affes paffants d'argcnt, 
 
 maynes, tayles, and hoofs There, 
 
 alfo, ye may fee the tomb of Sir Francis, 
 reprefented upon it by a recumbent half 
 flatue, his head forrowfullie rechning on his 
 left hand. He died long ago, Sir, while I, 
 his fenior, ftill live. His eldeft fon and heir, 
 died before him. 
 
 I am not forrie to have been put upon 
 making this brief abftrackt of a very forrow- 
 ful Page of Family Hiftory, in fpecial at the 
 requeft of a young Gentleman who may be 
 advantaged by this Inftance of the Vi6fory 
 of the Soul over the Body ; as well as 
 deterred from Pufillanimity by the fad 
 falling off of the gallant and gracioufe Sir 
 Francis. 
 
 But as to applying the fubftance of the 
 Lincolnfhire Tragedy to the Stage . . albeit 
 as full of dramatique Intereft as aught in 
 Sophocles or Euripides, though the one 
 wrote of Antigone and the other of Iphigenia 
 . , . Sir, the fubje6l matter is too facred, 
 and involves too frequent reference to Holy
 
 Mip'cfs Anne AjTccw. 237 
 
 names and fymbols, that QioukI not be 
 brought on the Stage '*' p^f^fane Hand 
 muft not touch them 
 
 FINIS.
 
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