l you I go to mass and confession both."

"So she doth," said the priest: "but I misdoubt somewhat if she be not
of the `halting Gospellers' whereof we heard this morrow in the Moot
Hall."

"Better put them in charge of the Black Sisters of Hedingham," suggested
Dr Chedsey. "Come you this even, good woman, to the White Hart, and
you shall then hear our pleasure. Father Tye, I pray you come with us
to supper."

Dr Chedsey had quite recovered from his emotions of the morning.

"Meanwhile," said Sir John, rising, "let the morrow of Lammas be
appointed for the execution of those sentenced." [See note 2.]

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Note 1. Rose's words are given as she spoke them: but it must be
remembered that they would not sound nearly so strong to those who heard
them as they do to us.

Note 2. Lammas is the second of August.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

MAN PROPOSES.

Mrs Cosin, the landlady of the White Hart, prepared a very good supper
for the Commissioners. These gentlemen did not fare badly. First, they
had a dish of the oysters for which the town was famous, then some roast
beef and a big venison pasty, then some boiled pigeons, then two or
three puddings, a raspberry pie, curds and whey, cheese, with a good
deal of Malmsey wine and old sack, finishing up with cherries and sweet
biscuits.

They had reached the cherry stage before they began to talk beyond mere
passing remarks. Then the priest said:--

"I am somewhat feared, Master Commissioners, you shall reckon Colchester
an infected place, seeing there be here so many touched with the poison
of heresy."

"It all comes of self-conceit," said Sir John.

"Nay," answered Dr Chedsey. "Self-conceit is scarce wont to bring a
man to the stake. It were more like to save him from it."

"Well, but why can't they let things alone?" inquired Sir John, helping
himself to a biscuit. "They know well enough what they shall come to if
they meddle with matters of religion. Why don't they leave the priest
to think for them?"

Dr Chedsey was silent: not because he did not know the answer. The
time was when he, too, had been one of those now despised and condemned
Gospellers. In Edward the Sixth's day, he had preached the full, rich
Gospel of the grace of God: and now he was a deserter to the enemy.
Some of such men--perhaps most--grew very hard and stony, and seemed to
take positive pleasure in persecuti