ged the hour after."

"The cause seemeth to lack such men at times," said John, thoughtfully,
"and then the Lord raiseth them up. But we should not forget, Ned, that
`they which take the sword shall perish with the sword.'"

"Well!" cried Underhill, "I care not if I do perish with the sword, if I
may first mow down a score or twain of the enemies of the Gospel."

"Such men commonly do so," said Mr Rose aside to Isoult, by whom he sat.

"Do what?" broke in Underhill, who heard it.

"Do perish with the sword," answered he firmly, looking him full in the
face.

"Amen!" cried the other. "I am abundantly ready--only, pray you, let me
have a good tilt with the old _mumpsimuses_ first." [Note 3.]

"I would I were a little more like you, Underhill," said Mr Rose. "I
could suffer, as methinks, and perchance fly, an' I had the opportunity;
but resist or defend me, that could I not."

"Call me to resist and defend you," answered Underhill. "It were right
in my fashion."

"You may not be within call," said Mr Rose somewhat gloomily. "But God
will be so."

"Mr Rose," said Isoult, "look you for a further persecution, that you
speak thus?"

Thekla's eyes filled with tears.

"As Jack saith, Mrs Avery," he answered, "I am neither prophet nor
apostle. But methinks none of us is out of his place upon the
watch-tower. There be black clouds in the sky--very black
thunder-clouds. How know I whether they shall break or pass over? Only
God knoweth; and He shall carry us all safe through them that have
trusted ourselves to Him. That is a word full of signification--`Some
of you shall they cause to be put to death... _Yet_ shall not an hair
of your heads perish.' Our Master may leave any of His servants to die
or suffer; He will never allow so much as one of them to perish. O
brethren! only let the thunder find us watching, praying always; and
whether we escape or no, we are assured that we shall be `counted worthy
to stand before the Son of Man.' I would not like to `be _ashamed_
before Him at His coming.'"

No one answered. All were too full of thought for words.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. The Lady Frances was the eldest daughter of Charles Duke of
Suffolk by his fourth wife, the Princess Mary, and was therefore in the
line of succession to the throne. Her daughters were the Ladies Jane,
Katherine, and Mary Grey.

Note 2. Harl. Ms. 425, folio 93.--Un