For the Master's Sake: A Story of the Days of Queen MaryHolt, Emily Sarah
History
For the Master's Sake: A Story of the Days of Queen Mary
Holt, Emily Sarah
Counter-Reformation -- England -- Fiction; England -- Social life and customs -- 16th century -- Fiction; Historical fiction
The struggle was sharp, but short. On the tenth of July, Lady Jane made
her queenly entry into the Tower, in anticipation of that coronation
which was never to be hers in this world; and on the twentieth, her nine
days' reign was over, and Mary was universally acknowledged Queen of
England. The first important prisoner made was the Duke of
Northumberland, hurled down just as he touched the glittering prize to
the winning of which he had given his life; the second was Bishop
Ridley. Events followed each other with startling rapidity. The Lady
Elizabeth, with her customary sagacity, kept quiet in the background
until the succession of her sister was assured, and then came openly to
London to meet the Queen. Peers were sent to the Tower in a long
procession. Bonner was restored to the See of London, Gardiner sworn of
the Council, Norfolk and Tunstal released from prison. The Queen made
her triumphal entry into her metropolis, and the new order of things was
secured beyond a doubt.
Business was very brisk, for some weeks afterwards, with the carver and
gilder at the bottom of Hosier Lane. Quantities of idols, thrown six
years before to the moles and to the bats, were now searched for,
mended, cleaned, regilt, and set up in elevated niches. Every house
showed at least one, except where those few dwelt who counted not their
lives dear unto them for the Master's sake. Henry Marvell went to the
expense of a new Virgin, which he set up on high in his kitchen; but
Cicely did not put her hand to the accursed thing, and quietly ignored
its existence. Christie, as usual, made himself generally disagreeable,
by low reverences to the image in the presence of his mother, and making
faces at it in that of his father--a state of things which lasted until
he was well beaten by the latter, after which occurrence he reserved his
grimaces for other company.
Mistress Flint was entirely indifferent to the question; but since every
body else was setting up an idol, she followed in the crowd. If Mr
Flint cared, he kept his own counsel. Little Dickon clapped his hands
at the pretty colours and bright gilding; and Will innocently asked,
"Mother, wherefore had we ne'er Saint Christopher aforetime?"
"Come now, be a good lad, and run to Gossip Hickman for a candle!" was
his mother's convincing answer.
But this is anticipating, and we must retrace our steps to that sixth
Sunday for which Agnes was waiting in patient hope. Very anxiously she
watched to see whether, when dinner was over, she would be despatched to
Aldgate or Bermondsey. But it happened at last as she desired; there
was nowhere to send her. Mistress Winter, in her usual considerate
style of language, gave Agnes to understand that she had no wish to see
her again before dark; and, clad in the old patched serge which was her
Sunday dress, the poor drudge crept timidly into Saint Paul's Cathedral.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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