d what might not be five years hence, if Elizabeth were taken
out of the way and Mary reigned in her stead. He knew from his father
how swiftly and enthusiastically the old Faith had come back with Mary
Tudor after the winter of Edward's reign. And if, as some estimated, a
third of England were still convincedly Catholic, and perhaps not more
than one twentieth convincedly Protestant, might not Mary Stuart, with
her charm, accomplish more even than Mary Tudor with her lack of it?

* * * * *

He saw many fine sights during the three or four days after his coming
to London; for he had to wait there at least that time, until a party
that was expected from the north should arrive with news of where he was
to go. These were the instructions he had had from Rheims. So he walked
freely abroad during these days to see the sights; and even ventured to
pay a visit to Fathers Garnett and Southwell, two Jesuits that arrived a
month ago, and were for the present lodging in my Lord Vaux's house in
Hackney.

He was astonished at Father Southwell's youthfulness.

This priest had landed but a short while before, and, for the present,
was remaining quietly in the edge of London with the older man; for
himself was scarcely twenty-five years old, and looked twenty at the
most. He was very quiet and sedate, with a face of almost feminine
delicacy, and passed a good deal of his leisure, as the old lord told
Robin, in writing verses. He appeared a strangely fine instrument for
such heavy work as was a priest's.

On another day Robin saw the Archbishop land at Westminster Stairs.

It was a brilliant day of sunshine as he came up the river-bank, and a
little crowd of folks at the head of the stairs drew his attention. Then
he heard, out of sight, the throb of oars grow louder; then a cry of
command; and, as he reached the head of the stairs and looked over, the
Archbishop, with a cloak thrown over his rochet, was just stepping out
of the huge gilded barge, whose blue-and-silver liveried oarsmen
steadied the vessel, or stood at the salute. It was a gay and dignified
spectacle as he perceived, in spite of his intense antipathy to the
sight of a man who, to him, was no better than an usurper and a deceiver
of the people. Dr. Whitgift, too, was no friend to Catholics: he had,
for instance, deliberately defended the use of the rack against them and
others, unashamed; and in one particular instance, at least, as Bi