t on the 14th of November came a more woeful sight. For the
prisoners in the Tower were led on foot to the Guild Hall, the axe
carried before them, there to be judged. First walked the Archbishop of
Canterbury, his face cast down, between two others. Then followed the
Lord Guilford Dudley, also between two. After him came his wife, the
Lady Jane, apparelled in black, a black velvet book hanging at her
girdle, and another open in her hand. After her followed her two
gentlewomen, and Lords Ambrose and Henry Dudley. The Archbishop was
attainted for treason, although he had utterly refused to subscribe the
King's letters patent for the disinheriting of his sisters.

Late in the evening Mr Ive looked in, to say that he hath spent all the
day at the Guild Hall, and brought the sad news that the gentle Lady
Jane and all the Lords Dudley were condemned to death. It was expected,
however, that the Queen would not suffer the sentence to be executed on
her own cousin Lady Jane. The Archbishop, Mr Ive told them, came back
to the Tower, looking as joyful as he had before been cast down. He was
entirely acquitted of treason, and remanded to be tried for heresy; for
which he blessed God in the hearing of the Court.

"One step more," said Mr Rose to Avery, whom he met in Cheapside. "The
old service-book of King Henry must now be used, and the new of King
Edward put away; and in every church in London shall the mass be next
Sunday or Monday. And Saint Katherine's Eve shall be processions, and
Saint Nicholas shall go about as aforetime."

So, slowly and darkly, closed the black year, 1553.

Married priests forbidden to minister--the English Service-Book
prohibited--orders issued for every parish church to provide cross,
censer, vestments, and similar decorations of the House of Baal--mass
for the soul of King Edward in all the churches of London. It was not
six months since the boy had died, with that last touching prayer on his
lips--"Lord God, preserve this realm from Papistry!" Was that prayer
lost in the blue space it had to traverse, between that soul and the
altar of incense in Heaven? We know now that it was not. But it seemed
utterly lost then. O Lord, we know not what Thou doest now. Give us
grace to wait patiently, to be content with Thy promise that we shall
know hereafter!

There was one bright spot visible to the tear-dimmed eyes of the
Gospellers, and only one. The Parliament had been prorogued, and th