“True--I had forgotten--and my words have wronged you; but, Cuthbert, whatever are your purposes, they do not make you happy. I met you the other day riding much faster than is your wont, and your countenance was clouded, and your teeth were set, as if in hottest anger, and you would not stop, but only muttered a good morrow as you passed swiftly by. What do all these things mean?” “They mean that I am sick at heart for England; sick for the meek man’s wrongs. I had just then met an aged countryman, his furrowed cheek newly branded, for a churchyard brawl: I questioned him closely, and found him a sufferer for conscience’ sake, falsely accused and persecuted by a godless parson of his parish.” “Cuthbert, did the countryman tell truth? Did he name the parish and the parson?” “He did; I know them well: in Oxfordshire was this outrage done, and the crime is not three months old.” “Well, here is a case of wrong to be made known and to be redressed. Scandals there must be, even in the most sacred offices, when they are held by mere men. Some are cruel, and some are wanton by nature, and to punish these we have our judges and our bishops.” “Yes we have--and the same who ruled the decisions of the Star-chamber. The wrong redressed! it would be smiled at; and if it were punished, what then? There’s nothing but the grave-worm can take away the brand from the old man’s cheek: his grandchildren will put their little fingers on the mark and ask the story of it, and he will tell them what he told me, and more. It is a hard world, Juxon.” “And always was, and always will be. Legislation is a coarse thing: some innocent will always suffer with the guilty.” “The guilty! is liberty of conscience guilt? Look you, Master Juxon, there are good men and true ready to stand up for that liberty.” “And for a little more, perhaps: your secret is out; so, instead of our sword-play being mere exercise for pastime, after college fashion, I have been teaching the noble science of defence to a stout Parliamentarian, to an enemy of mother church.” “Nay; no enemy to any persons or any institutions, but to the oppressor every where, and to oppression every where, by whatever titles or names they may be disguised.” “You confess, then, that you wish an appeal to the sword.” “I say not so; but if it come, as it may, and as in my present judgment it surely will, I shall be well pleased that my fingers have been taught to fight; for I would not be wanting in the day of battle.” “I have heard you, Cuthbert, speak words of Christ’s religion since your late illness, which I have thought of so sweet and heavenly a temper, as might well engage all men to follow the truth in love. Surely the weapons of a Christian’s warfare are not carnal.” “I tell you, the fat heart of the oppressor is proof against all other, and they that govern with the headsman’s axe must look to be wounded by the patriot’s sword.”