e advice of Sir John De Leigh, Master Gresham
agreed to take him back to Antwerp.

"He will be no longer recognised there," observed the knight; "but that
priest, whom I know well, and who has accused him, will not rest till he
has again got him into trouble. Why he has thus marked him down I know
not, but that he has done so I am certain. Till you commence your
journey, I would advise that he remains in the house, or only goes forth
under your charge, and no one will now dare molest you. Had they not
required your services, I fear that my influence would have availed
little; but, being fully aware of your value, they are too wise to cut
down the tree from which they hope to pluck golden fruit. Now,
farewell, my friend; I must hie me back to court, there to attend on my
loving sovereign." The knight spoke in a somewhat satirical tone.

"Remember, my good friend, that there are some persons from whom
faithful service obtains but a scant recompense," observed Master
Gresham. "As a tree, too, is known by its fruit, surely, judging by its
produce, the Church of Rome must be of a very bitter nature, and not
such as a man like you would desire to support."

"I was brought up a faithful son of the Church of Rome; and as that
appears to have the upper hand at present, I see no reason why I should
quit it," answered the knight; "and if I did so, I should have little
chance of helping myself, much less my friends; so you, at all events,
should not advise me to take any such step."

Master Gresham sighed.

"Such principles as these will soon bring ruin on our country," he said
to himself; for he could not utter such thoughts aloud. The knight
seemed to divine them, however.

"It is well that all people do not think as Bishops Gardiner and Bonner,
or, forsooth, as the Queen's majesty herself, or perchance there might
be as many burnings and hangings in fair England as there have been in
the Netherlands. We cannot stop the tide altogether, but we can help to
quell its fury. However, farewell, honest friend; I am glad to have
done thee a service."

Saying this, the knight took a cordial farewell of Master Gresham and of
Lady Anne, giving Ernst a kind shake of the hand.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

A STORM AT SEA.

The shades of evening had settled down over the great City, the only
lights being those of the lanterns of the costermongers' stalls
scattered up and down in various directions, and the occasional glare of
a l