staunch to the authority you have so long recognised, and be a true friend to your king and your church." "So help me God," answered the old boatman reverently. "Had I lived in the time of my ancestors, I would have fought for the freedom of my country even as they, but since it has long been the will of God that the English should rule over us, I have not seen it my duty to contend against them, since He has been pleased to call me to a state of life in which I find myself under their lawful dominion. They have treated us well, methinks, and shown much confidence in us of late years, besides special favours to many of our most noble families, and I am well content, save only that I cannot agree with such of my countrymen who, in their over-zeal for all that is English, would fain forget wholly their native tongue, and gladly see it die out from our midst. There I follow them not, but rejoice to think that our ancient language has still some few such brave supporters as your own most learned cousin of Castell Leon, good Master Rhys Prichard, whose efforts to maintain it I have ever seconded to the best of my poor power. I warrant you his Gospel Poems are nowhere more oft on the lips of the children, or better engraved on the hearts of the poor and unlearned, than in your village of Cwmfelin, or our little hamlet here by the river." "They have done a good work," said Master Rhys, "and greatly do I esteem my good cousin for his labours, though I do still confess, to my shame as a Welshman, an unfair love for the English tongue! But for that you have ever pardoned me, knowing how my long residence in an English cure as a younger man was fain to bias my good taste! I well remember your joy and pride in our first Welsh Bible placed in the church some five or six years since, good Jack, and how your fair Primrose gazed with admiration at the big volume, and touched with awe the chains which bound it to the desk! Ah me! I oft look round upon my little church and its simple treasures with fear and trembling in these troublesome times; for that dark storms are brewing, I doubt not, and it has been ever before me of late that the day is coming shortly when we who remain loyal to our church will stand in greater danger than heretofore, if not of our lives, yet of our livings being wrested from us, and our churches desecrated." "I pray Heaven such evil may not come in your day, good sir," said Jack, "though I likewise have evil forebodings, and am sometimes pleased to think that our seclusion doth somewhat profit us, if only in the saving of our ears from the pillory! Methinks that youthful enthusiast of Cambridge must needs take care of his, for in these days over-boldness will scarce go unchallenged!" "Should he be much about the Court in his service of chaplain to Lord Bryn Afon," said Master Rhys, "he is likely to give no displeasure to our present sovereign by his teachings, for none can deny that King Charles doth