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Stray Sheep.

"Is there no hope on either part ?"

221

"Nay! the Papifts be engroffed in ignorance and heathen fuperftitions, and the Reformed rest on the word

that either they be faved or reprobate others, a few, be indifferent which."

"No order taken for a cure?"

"Not general, though thus for particular. The priests pick up neglected and despairing Proteftants; and, to be even with them, enthufiaft preachers catch at hungry Papists. But if either make a profelyte he shall hardly be the better Christian, I trow."

"Her Grace did undertake".

"Ay, and wife Master Bacon fhewed a scheme her Highness was pleased with: but my Lord denied it."

"What?"

"You shall not be wanting in true religion,' faith Master Francis, if you tolerate their faith: but for a time only, 'till occafion serve for reformation!""

"Oh !"

"Effex faid roundly, he would not palter with a promise to the ear, others might break to the people's hurt. If it were their right to be allowed (faid he), there should

be no let: if not, there fhould be no grace. He had not

leisure to discourse the matter; nor would he move in't till he was 'ware."

"Good and honest as ever!" quoth Sir Thomas.

"And Francis had another scheme, 'fome zealous preachers,' faith he, who fhall not be fcholaftic ""_

"Out-out! interrupted the Vicar." The Homilies be good, the Prayer-book better, the Bible beft of all: but from ignorant yet zealous preachers what fhall poor folk get? Fanatic mischiefs, vulgar schisms, all manner of puffed vanities!

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"Fie, fie, Master Francis! Fie, fie! The blind lead the

blind! Fie, fie!"

"What can one teach but what he hath learned?"

"And how shall he know aught without scholarship?”

"An there be no fpring to feed the fountain, how shall the waters flow?"

"When his little stock be spent, fhall he not beg, borrow, or fteal from fome one?"

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"Or ufe up his own material? ”

"Yea! or twaddle away the time?"

"Or ftammer out trite nothings-fix for your half

The Religious Wheel!

223

dozen. I' the daytime you shall fee the fun: the night

cometh in the dark. Evil men be naught; a wife man

hath understanding."

"Or haply hold his peace-eh?"

"Oh, that he would! Oh, that he would!"

CHAPTER XVI.

"Et quoniam variant morbi, variabimus artes;
Mille male fpecies, mille falutis erunt.”

OVID, R. A. 525.

HERE were now two factions in the Court. The

Earls of Shrewsbury and Nottingham, the

Lords Thomas Howard, Cobham, Grey, Sir

Walter Ralegh, and Sir George Carew, on the one part: on the other, the Earls of Worcester and Rutland, Lords Mountjoye, Rich, Harry Howard, Lumley, Sir Edward Dier, Mr. Comptroller (Knollys), and many Knights.

The former dined with Master Secretary, the latter fate at the Master of the Horse's table.

My Lord Effingham (the Lord Admiral's fon) was conftantly with my Lord, profeffing friendship: and fo was

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Harry Howard, but, as folk whispered, his Lordship was

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Her Grace now orders the Earl into durance at York

'Twas a

Houfe; my Lord Keeper to have his charge. hard-natured act as might be; for Essex was troubled with the Irish flux, being very ill. And presently he gat the stone, and a stranguillon, and a grinding of the kidneys, which took from him all ftomach and reft. Added to which his poor Countess had just borne a daughter; and was extremely troubled that she neither faw nor heard from her dear husband, now so near at hand and returned.

But what were the bodily pangs of her fervant Effex who had wasted himself to that royal lady, herself now in fuch healthful vigour? And how should she sympathize with the anxious wife, and newly-pained mother, who had ever contemned domeftical bonds? Indeed fhe fent Dr. Brown to fee the Earl, and, under medical advice, gave liberty of the garden to my Lord: but Sir Walter falling fick on this relaxation, her Grace allowed no farther.

The Queen now willed it that her late Deputy should write upon the state of Ireland: not that there was more to be learned than had already been disclosed; but it would be

VOL. III.

Q

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