Most prominent of his party--which was Puritan of the Puritans--was Edward Underhill of Honyngham, the Hot Gospeller. His history was a singular one. Left an heir and an orphan at a very early age, he had begun life as a riotous reveller. Soon after he reached manhood, God touched his heart--by what agency is not recorded. Then he "fell to reading the Scriptures and following the preachers,"--throwing his whole soul into the service of Christ, as he had done before into that of Satan. Had any person acquainted with the religious world of that day been asked, on the outbreak of Queen Mary's persecution, to name the first ten men who would suffer, it is not improbable that Edward Underhill's name would have been found somewhere on the list. But, to the astonishment of all who knew his decided views, and equally decided character, he had survived the persecution, with no worse suffering than a month spent in Newgate, and a tedious illness as the result. Nor was this because he had either hidden his colours, or had struck them. Rather he kept his standard flying to the breeze, and defied the foe. No reason can be given for his safety, save that still the God of Daniel could send His angel and shut the lions' mouths, that they should do His prophets no hurt. On the accession of Elizabeth, Underhill returned for a short time to his London home in Wood Street, Cheapside; but die soon went back to the family seat in Warwickshire, where he had since lived as a country squire. [Note 1.] "Yet these last few months gone have I spent in London," said he, "for my Hal [name true, character imaginary] would needs have me. Now, Robin, do thou guess what yon lad hath gat in his head. I will give thee ten shots." "No easy task, seeing I ne'er had the good fortune to behold him. What manner of lad is he?" "Eunice?" said her father, referring the question to her. Eunice laughed. "Hal is mighty like his father, Master Tremayne. He hath a stout will of his own, nor should you quickly turn him thence." "Lo you, now, what conditions doth this jade give me!" laughed Underhill. "A stubborn old brute, that will hear no reason!" "Hal will not hear o'ermuch, when he is set on aught," said Eunice. "Well," said Mr Tremayne thoughtfully, "so being, I would guess that he had set his heart, to be Archbishop of Canterbury, or else Lord Privy Seal." "_Ma foi_!" interposed Mrs Rose, "but I would guess that no son of Mr Underhill should tarry short of a king. Mind you not, _hermano_, that I did once hear you to say that you would not trust your own self, had you the chance to make your Annette a queen?"