"But in case no devise of the succession were made," said John, "the Lady Mary's Grace should follow without gainsaying, I take it." "Not without gainsaying," answered Mr Rose. "My Lord of Northumberland knoweth full well that he could not reign under her as he hath done under King Edward. Remember, she is no child, but a woman; ay, and a woman taught by suffering also." "And every Lutheran in the kingdom would gather round him," added Mr Underhill. "Round John Dudley?" cried Dr Thorpe. "Hang me if I would!" "Saving your mastership," said Mr Underhill, laughing, and making him a low bow. "And every Papist would go with the Lady Mary," said John. "It were an hard choice for us. How think you? Which way should the Gospellers go?" "Which way?" cried Mr Underhill, flaring up. "Why, the right way! With the right heir of England, and none other!" "I asked not you, Ned Underhill," answered John, smiling. "I know your horse, and how hard you ride him. I wished to question Rose and Holland." Mr Rose did not answer immediately. Mr Holland said, "It were an hard case; yet methinks Mr Underhill hath the right. Nothing can make right wrong, I take it, neither wrong to be right." "Truth: yet that is scarce the question," responded Avery. "Rather is it, if the King made another devise of the crown, who should then be the right heir?" "Ah! now you are out of my depth," answered Mr Holland. "This little maid and I understand each other better. Do we not so, Kate?" "Well, Rose?" inquired John. "Prithee, get Mr Underhill out of the house first," interposed Dr Thorpe, laughing. "Or we shall have a pitched battle. I would like nothing better!" said Mr Underhill, rubbing his hands, and laughing in his turn. "Brother," said Mr Rose, turning to him, "the wisdom that cometh from above is peaceable." "But first, pure!" answered Mr Underhill, quickly. "There were little of the one, if it should lack the other," responded he. "Come, give us your thought!" cried Mr Underhill. "I will endeavour myself to keep mine hands off you, and allgates, if I grow very warlike, Avery and Holland can let me from blood-shedding." "When I find myself in the difficulty, I will," replied Mr Rose, with his quiet smile. And no more could Mr Underhill obtain from him: but he said that he would demand an answer if the occasion arose. The King had no sooner recovered from the small-pox than he took the measles; and the Parliament, seeing no hope of his speedy amendment, broke up on the 15th of April. Mr Rose stepped into the Lamb that evening. "There is a point of our last week's matter, that I would like your thought upon," said Avery to him. "Granted that the Gospellers should make a self party, and not join them with Lutherans ne with Papists, touching public matters, where, think you, look we for a leader?" Mr Rose shook his head. "We have none," said he. "Not my Lord Archbishop?"