The hidden treasure : $b or, Found at lastGuernsey, Lucy Ellen
History
The hidden treasure : $b or, Found at last
Guernsey, Lucy Ellen
Great Britain -- History -- Henry VIII, 1509-1547 -- Juvenile fiction; Reformation -- Juvenile fiction
"As you will," returned Jack. "Master Davis, since it may well be that
I see you no more, I thank you for all your courtesies to me, and
beseech you to convey these little tokens to my father with my love."
"What are they?" asked Brother Joseph.
"You may see them if you will," Jack was beginning, but the jailer
interrupted him—
"What then? I am captain of this jail, I trow, and not you, Master
Joseph. Take your prisoner way as quickly as you will, but I will have
none of your airs here. Marry come up! You are no such great man. Goods
left by my prisoners belong to me, I would have you know. I will do
your errand, Jack Lucas, and I wish heartily that you were well out of
this scrape."
The sacristan deigned no reply, but hurried his charge away as quickly
as possible. Early as it was, the street was already full, and in the
short passage between the jail and the convent, Jack heard many words
of encouragement and met many kindly glances. He was taken into a room
in the Benedictine convent, where he found his judges already waiting
and a secretary ready to take down his replies. He was asked the usual
questions as to his belief, and warned to answer truly.
"I have no desire to answer otherwise," said Jack, with an expressive
look at Father Barnaby.
He was then questioned as to his belief in the authority of the Pope,
the sacraments and purgatory, to all of which questions he returned
straight-forward answers.
"Whence did you obtain your heretical books?" was the next question.
"I am not here to criminate others, neither do I own to having any
heretical books," replied Jack.
"Call in the witnesses," said Father Barnaby.
Jack looked earnestly toward the door, and started as Anne entered
supported by her father. Anne was pale and worn, but seemed quite calm.
She gave her brother a long look which he could not understand. It
was full of love and supplication, and then brightened into a sort of
triumph and joy.
"This maiden is the sister of the prisoner," said Father Barnaby. "With
a degree of faith and piety rare in this age, she hath herself, by
her own act, delivered him into the hands of the Church that his soul
may be saved even by the destruction of the body. Speak, my daughter,
without fear. How did you first suspect your brother's heresy?"
"He came to me to comfort me one day when I was in trouble," answered
Anne clearly and readily. "He found me in tears, and strove to console
me by telling me what he had learned from reading the Bible."
"Well—" said the prior, "and you refused to listen to him?"
"I did at that time," returned Anne.
"What did he say?"
"He told me that all my penances and exercises were of no avail; that—"
"That will do!" said Father Barnaby. "We have heard enough of these
blasphemies without troubling you to repeat them. Is it your belief
that your brother is wholly a heretic?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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