Dr. Henry in his history of this period observes, however, that “there was one vice, indeed, which the clergy most zealously endeavoured to extirpate. This was what they called the damnable vice of heresy, which consisted in reading the New Testament in English, the works of Wickliff and Luther, and of others of that learning; in denying the infallibility of the Pope, transubstantiation, purgatory, praying to saints, worshipping images, &c. Notwithstanding the cruel punishments that had been inflicted on those who entertained these opinions, their number was still considerable, particularly in London, and in Colchester, and in other parts of Essex. They called themselves Brethren in Christ, and met together with great secrecy in one another’s houses, to read the New Testament and other books, and to converse upon religious subjects. Many of them were apprehended, and brought before Cuthbert Tonstall, bishop of London, and Dr. Wharton, his chancellor. But Bishop Tonstall, being a prelate of uncommon learning and eloquence, and of great humanity, earnestly tried to prevail upon them to renounce, or rather to dissemble, their opinions, by which they escaped a painful death, but incurred the painful reproaches of their minds.” As a specimen of those who were brought before the tribunals, take these cases:-- “Elizabeth Wightil deposed against her mistress, Alice Doly, that speaking of John Hacher, a water-bearer in Coleman Street, London, she said he was so very expert in the Gospels and the Lord’s Prayer in English, that it did her good to hear him. She was also said to have heretical books in her possession. “Roger Hackman, of Oxfordshire, was accused for saying in the county of Norfolk, ‘I will never look to be saved for any good deed that ever I did, neither for any that I shall ever do, unless I have my salvation by petition, as an outlaw pardoned by the king;’ adding, ‘that if he might not have his salvation so, he thought he should be lost.’” If such doctrine as this was condemned, we cannot wonder at hearing of “certain heretical books called the Epistles and Gospels.” The darkness was indeed thick, but happily the dawning was at hand. CHAPTER II. _THE SCHOLAR WHO OUTSTRIPPED HIS TEACHER._ “Meek souls there are who little deem Their daily strife an Angel’s theme, Or that the rod they take so calm Shall prove in heaven a martyr’s palm.” --KEBLE. “The voice of Nature never goes to the _heart_ until it blend with the voice of Scripture.”--PHILIP. “It is by celestial observation alone that terrestrial charts can be constructed.”--COLERIDGE. HARD FARE MAKES FIRM MEN--WHAT ERASMUS WISHED, AND TYNDALE ACCOMPLISHED--WEALTH MADE THE TEST OF TRUTH--A MAN OF PUTTY HELPING A MAN OF IRON--DRIVEN AWAY, BUT NOT CONQUERED.