John Inglesant: A Romance (Volume 1 of 2)Shorthouse, J. H. (Joseph Henry)
History
John Inglesant: A Romance (Volume 1 of 2)
Shorthouse, J. H. (Joseph Henry)
Great Britain -- History -- Charles I, 1625-1649 -- Fiction; Religious fiction
upper classes would be so great, that the Romish faith would gain
numberless converts. He finally pressed upon Johnny the necessity of
great prudence, telling him that he should be immediately placed about
the person of the Queen as one of her pages; and, as soon as possible,
transferred to the King’s service in as high a post as the influence to
be exerted could command, in order that he should possess as much
influence as possible: that in the meantime his business would be simply
to become acquainted with as many of all parties as he possibly could,
and to gain their confidence, opportunities for doing which should be
given him both in the assemblies he would meet at his father’s house,
and in other company into which he should be introduced. He warned him
against crediting anything he heard, unless assured of its truth by
himself—the most exaggerated reports upon every subject, he said,
prevailing in the Court and city. The conversions to Romanism, he told
him, though numerous, were nothing like so many as were reported, as
might be supposed when the reputed ones included such men as Mr.
Endymion Porter, the most faithful servant of the King and a firm Church
of England man, though, like many others, entertaining very friendly
opinions of the Papists.
Conversing in this way, they entered London one afternoon at the
beginning of August 1637. Johnny, as may be supposed, was all eyes as
they entered London, which they did by Kensington and St. James’s Park.
The beautiful buildings at Kensington, and the throng of gentry and
carriages in the park astonished him beyond measure. As they passed
through the park many persons recognised Father St. Clare, but they
passed on without stopping, through the gateway by the side of the
beautiful banqueting-house into the narrow street that led by Charing
Cross and the Strand. The crowds were now of a different kind to those
they had passed in the park. They passed several groups assembled round
quack doctors and itinerant speakers, one of whom was relating how the
congregation of a Parish Church the Sunday before had been alarmed by an
insurrection of armed Papists—stories of this kind being then a common
invention to excite and stir up the people. At one of these groups they
were startled by hearing a man who was selling books, announce the name
as "Jesus’ Worship Confuted;" as the thing was new to the Jesuit, he
stopped and ordered one of his men to dismount and bring him one, when
it was found to be a tract against ceremonies, and especially against
bowing at the name of Jesus. They resumed their passage down the
Strand, Father St. Clare remarking on the strange ideas a stranger would
attach to the state of religion in England if he listened only to the
opposing cries. All down the Strand the Jesuit pointed out the
beautiful houses of the nobility, and the glimpses of the river between
them. They stopped at last at Somerset House, then a large rambling
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account