'Not whilst she holds the doctrines of presumption instead of those of faith; not whilst she propagates falsehood for truth; not "whilst she loveth and maketh a lie;" not whilst she debases her communicants by giving them half a sacrament for the whole, and even makes that half idolatrous by her false persuasions.' 'She is one of those evils under the sun which King Solomon saw--viz., "_a servant when he reigneth_," for she ought to be the servant of God; but she pretends to reign with a king's dominion, and cannot therefore be a true servant. Thou hast sought this at my tongue, Cardinal, and I am not ashamed thereof, neither do I ask pardon for giving thee a plain answer.' 'I can pardon thee without thine asking; but here comes Tonstall, and if thou wouldst return in peace to thine own dear Freston Tower, let me advise thee to speak more cautiously before him than before one who feels some gratitude for the past.' 'I can but speak to thee, my lord, as I would before my judge. I will not compromise the truth for any Bishop of London.' CHAPTER XLI. THE ARGUMENT. Cuthbert Tonstall was ushered into the presence of the Cardinal, and it was curious to see how soon the dignitary of Rome assumed that position of manner and behaviour which even then, though declined in royal favor, Wolsey could not forget. They bowed reverentially to each other. Both were eminently learned men, and each had a great respect for letters. 'Has Bilney submitted to the orders of the church, good father?' 'He has, my lord, and is committed unto safe custody in prison to wait thy fiat of detention or release. He has conformed, and I have here his written recantation, delivered by the heretic himself into our hands.' It was agony indeed to De Freston to recognise the handwriting of his friend, and the tears rolled down his face as he read, line by line, that document which told so sad a tale. But the old man's prayer ascended even then for such a friend. Tonstall exchanged looks of curiosity with the Cardinal, as to what this strong feeling could mean. He said-- 'Thou oughtest rather to rejoice than weep at a heretic's arising from the depths of the deluge to the safe footing of the ark of the church.' 'I weep to think,' replied De Freston, 'that he has fallen away from grace. It would have been a marvel to Tonstall to find such a man in such company--a heretic in the Cardinal's palace! But he had been forewarned thereof by Alice De Clinton, and yet could he scarcely believe his ears and eyes. 'These are friends of Bilney,' replied the Cardinal, 'and they are my friends too, to whom I am indebted for many things. I would therefore intercede with thee, father, for thy mercy. Spare my aged friend for his grey hairs; and this, his daughter, for the love I bear her; and this, her husband, for the friendship's sake of early college days.' 'But will they promise to abjure the tenets of Bilney, and be obedient to the discipline of the church?'