ror as to the necessity of
maintaining the Catholic religion in all its purity. It meant burn,
slay, destroy, or drive out of the realm, all who oppose the religion of
the priests of Rome--crush out with an iron heel every spark of liberty
of conscience, of freedom of thought, of Protestant principles. Ernst
found afterwards that Master Gresham's thoughts had agreed with his, and
that he anticipated fearful evils for the people of the Netherlands.

CHAPTER TEN.

ERNST VERNER BEGINS HIS JOURNAL.

I, Ernst Verner, had by this time sufficiently mastered the art of
penmanship to enter the events of the day in my journal with facility,
which I seldom failed to do. My notes are, however, far too numerous to
be copied. I therefore write out only such as I deem most likely to be
interesting to my friends.

On our return to Antwerp; Master Gresham busied himself greatly in the
business which had brought him to that city. We were all busily
employed from morning till night writing and making up accounts. Not
only were monetary transactions to a vast amount carried on, but large
purchases were made of arms and ammunitions of war. Bullion to a
considerable amount also was required in England; of this Master Gresham
possessed himself for the advantage of the Queen.

We were also employed in purchasing gunpowder, military stores, and
other necessary tackle for the Queen's ships of war, which at that time
were greatly deficient in these articles. I consider that it was
greatly owing to this forethought of my kind patron that England was
afterwards in a condition to defeat the efforts of Spain to bring her
under subjection; but I am now referring to events which did not take
place for some time after the period of which I am speaking.

It was with considerable regret that I heard that my kind patron was
directed once more to return to England, and that he purposed taking
Lady Anne and his family with him.

On our arrival in London I was sent back to Saint Paul's School to
finish my education. I was received kindly by the masters, who had not
been changed, although they were compelled to be circumspect in their
conduct, lest they should be accused of heresy, of which they knew
themselves to be guilty, according to the ideas entertained by those of
the Romish Church. The times were very sad. On my first holiday I went
out in search of my old friend A'Dale, for he had left school. I found
that he had been apprentic