d to have the charge
amended to one of heresy and murderous opposition to the Church. The
governor asked for evidence in support of his claim. A nod to Basil,
and the latter began a speech for the prosecution. Master Jeffreys
stopped him by an appeal to the governor.

"May it please your excellency," he said, "my comrades have no
knowledge of Spanish, and I have but little. I am persuaded that your
excellency, as a soldier and a gentleman of honour, is anxious to give
us a fair trial. There is peace between our Queen and King Philip;
there should at least be justice and fair-dealing betwixt you and us.
Mine ears tell me that yonder man is more accustomed to speak my tongue
than yours; his Spanish hath the same rough English smack about it as
hath mine own. I pray you that he may say to us in English what he
saith to you in the language of Spain."

Basil reddened and turned to his superior; but the governor, though
indolent and capricious, was a man of some honour and chivalry. He
told the accuser to speak alternately in the language of the court and
that of the prisoners.

Very few sentences in English were necessary to enlighten Johnnie as to
Basil's identity. He could now see the spiteful face that confronted
him on a memorable morning in the shades of Dean Forest. He listened
intently. The harangue was long and tedious, and endeavoured to prove
that the tallest prisoner was a contumacious heretic, who had fought
against the Holy Church, frustrated her lawful efforts at the
conversion of England, and had slain two noble and saintly missionaries
and servants of King Philip--to wit, a certain Jesuit father, Jerome,
and a monk named John. The prisoner had also repeatedly attempted the
life of the speaker. As for the others, one at least had attempted the
speaker's life in Plymouth, well knowing who and what he was; and all
the others were aiders and abettors.

Johnnie heard, and asked if he had the right of reply.

"Most certainly," said the governor. "This is a court of law, and it
is our boast and pride that we give justice without fear or favour."

Whereupon Morgan, with Jeffreys as interpreter, gave his version of the
incidents in the forest. A plot, to which no king could have been a
party, was set afoot by his accuser and others to destroy a forest over
which he (Morgan) was a duly appointed guardian. He fought the
conspirators by way of simple duty to his trust. Could he do less and
hold up