through the
crowd. I wondered that such had not been done before: it might have
saved the lives of many innocent men; for those tyrant priests would
never have dared to inflict punishment on their victims if the nation
had boldly risen up against them.

We were at too great a distance from the platform clearly to distinguish
the features of the prisoners; but when the guards opened out a little,
so as to expose them to view, we saw two persons in the dress of
priests, and in a group of women a young girl, whose figure was exactly
that of Aveline. My heart sank as I saw her, and then it seemed to rise
again and throb and boil with indignation. I felt capable of daring and
doing everything to save the dear little girl. Even should it not be
Aveline, I would do much; but I would risk liberty and life, and run
every prospect of suffering the same fate, for the sake of rescuing her.

And now the priests were led up to the platform, where stood a Bishop--
whom we supposed to be Bonner himself--with several other ecclesiastics
round him. These seized the unhappy priests, and tore their robes from
their backs, and then scraped on the crown of their heads and the tips
of their fingers: this being to signify that the oil of anointing was
scraped off. This operation occupied some time. It seemed as if the
Bishop and his vile myrmidons took pleasure in prolonging the torment of
their victims. Fierce words were spoken to the priests in loud tones.
Though we could not hear the words, we knew this by the gestures and by
the occasional sounds which reached our ears.

At length, one by one, the martyrs were led down again from the platform
towards the stakes to which they were to be secured for burning.

Again they were asked if they would recant.

Their reply was a stern refusal to give up what they knew to be the
truth. Having stirred up the people round us, A'Dale and I, knowing
full well the risk we ran, worked our way up still nearer to the
platform, waiting here and there to ascertain the temper of the
multitude. As far as we could judge, they were all in the same mood;
all equally hating Rome and its fearful proceedings. As we got nearer,
we had no longer any doubts as to who were the intended victims. In one
of the priests I recognised my friend Overton; in the other, Friar
Roger, whom I had wrongfully suspected; and there too stood with the
females our little Aveline. She seemed perfectly undismayed. Her eyes