e entreated that they might
hasten from the city.

"Alas! my wife, I fear, that though we proceed onwards, we may meet with
similar scenes till we are beyond the boundaries of the country. And
now we have a Popish sovereign on the throne of England, I know not what
events may there take place."

"Surely the Princess Mary has herself not escaped suffering, and has
been so exemplary in her conduct, that she would not permit such deeds
to be done as we hear of in this country."

"Her training has been that of the Emperor Charles. She has been
brought up, as he was, by the priests of Rome; and the same training
will in most instances produce the same results," answered the merchant.
"But let us be wise, my wife, and not speak of these things where any
eavesdropper may overhear them. Now that I have lost my firm friend and
patron, the Duke of Northumberland, I feel much uncertainty as to my own
position. There are those who hate me, both because I am a Protestant,
and because they are jealous of my success. The old Marquis of
Winchester has ever turned a green eye towards me, and is even now
plotting to do me ill. He, I doubt not, has been the chief cause of my
recall."

Ernst heard these remarks, though he did not give much heed to them at
the time, but still it left the impression on his mind that his kind
patron was in danger.

Calais was at length reached, and the party once more found themselves
under the protection of the British flag. While waiting for the rise of
the tide to float the vessel out of the river, Master Gresham took a
walk round the fortifications; and he saw enough to convince him that
they had been allowed to go to decay, and were not in a condition to
enable them to resist any sudden attack of the enemy. Although England
was at that time at peace with France, yet at any moment war might be
declared between the rival powers; and any simple man might know, as
well as the most experienced general, that Calais would be the first
place attacked. Master Gresham determined to make this important fact
known to the Queen's Council on his arrival in England.

Ernst now for the first time saw the open sea rolling up through that
narrow passage, across which England and France can gaze on each other.
Ernst heard Master Gresham remark that, long time as they had taken to
accomplish the journey, it was his wont when riding post, with relays of
fleet horses along the road, to perform it in three days