A view of the subject which so greatly tickled Robin that he could not speak for laughing. He was, and always had been, very fond of Kate, and she of him. A fresh rumour now ran that five thousand more Spaniards would shortly be brought over; and some of them preferred to the vacated benefices and sees. On the 30th of September, Gardiner preached at the Cross, the Bishop of London bearing his crosier before him. All the Council _were_ present who were then at Court. He spoke much of charity, which is commonly lauded by false teachers; and said that "great heresy had heretofore been preachen at that place, by preachers in King Edward's time, which did preach no thing but voluptuousness and blasphemous lies." Then he touched upon the Pharisees, who stood, said he, "for such men as will reason and dispute in the stead of obeying." And lastly, he spoke of the King; praised his dominion and riches, and "willed all so obediently to order them that he might still tarry with them." "Well!" said Dr Thorpe, "I count I shall not need to order me for so long time as King Philip is like to tarry with us: but afore I do go on my marrow-bones to beg him tarry, I would fain know somewhat more of what he is like to do for us." Our friends at the Lamb were fearfully employed on the 5th of October. For during the previous fortnight there had been so severe a search for Lutheran books, and nearly sixty persons arrested who were found to possess them, that John determined to hide all his in a secret place: one that, he said, "with God's grace these bloodhounds shall not lightly find, yet easy of access unto them that do know the way." So he buried all the books at which offence could be taken, leaving only his own law-books, and Isoult's "Romaunts" that she had when a girl, and Dr Thorpe's "Game of the Chess," and Robin's "Song of the Lady Bessy," and the "Little Gest of Robin Hood," and similar works. In the evening came Mr Underhill, whom they told what had been their occupation. "Why," said he, "but yesterday was I at the very same business. I sent for old Henry Daunce, the bricklayer of White Chapel (who used to preach the gospel in his garden every holiday, where I have seen a thousand persons), and got him to enclose my books in a brick wall by the chimney side in my chamber, where they shall be preserved from moulding or mice. Mine old enemies, the Papistical spies, John a Vales and Beard, have been threatening me; but I sent them a message by means of Master Luke, the physician of Coleman Street, to let them know that if they did attempt to take me, except they had a warrant signed with four or five of the Council's hands, I would go further with them than Peter did, who strake off but the ear of Malchus, but I would surely strike off head and all." After which message Mr John Vales and Mr Beard never meddled further with the Hot Gospeller, doubtless knowing they might trust him to keep his word, and having no desire to risk their necks.