arrival at Seville on ecclesiastical business, paid the visit which has
been described to Dona Mercia de Cisneros, he was considerably startled
at hearing her young daughter utter expressions which showed that she
had been taught doctrines of a heretical character. The whole family
were in his power. He had once loved Dona Mercia; she had rejected him.
How should he now use that power? Tumultuous feelings agitated his
bosom as he mounted the richly-caparisoned mule which stood ready to
convey him to the convent where he lodged.

This was not the only visit he paid to Dona Mercia; but, though
courteous to her guest, she was ever on her guard, and carefully kept
Leonor out of his way. For once in his life he was baffled. Whenever
he paid his visits the same caution was observed. At length he was
compelled to take his departure from Seville. Years rolled on, but he
never forgot the remarks made to him by the young Leonor de Cisneros.
He had hated her father, he had been rejected by her mother. It is
difficult to describe the feelings with which he regarded the daughter,
still less those which he had entertained for the mother. Were they
holy and pure? The lives of thousands of cardinals, bishops, and
priests of all degrees, is the best answer to the question.

Don Gonzales Munebrega was rising in the Church. He had become
Archbishop of Tarragona. His heart had become harder and harder; in
reality an infidel--an alien from God--a hater of all that was pure and
holy, he thought that he was becoming devout. He was resolved that if
he was not on the right way to heaven, no one else should get there by
any other. The war was now to begin against heresy and schism--terms
abused, especially the latter, at the present day almost as much as in
the darker days of Popish supremacy. There are to be found clergymen of
the Church of England who can, unconcernedly, see many of their flock
going over to the Church of Rome, whom they have possibly led half-way
there; and yet should any of the rest of their congregation, disgusted
with their Ritualistic practices, or fearing the effect of their false
teaching on their children, strive to set up an independent place of
worship, or to join any already established body of Christians,
anathemas are hurled at their heads, and they are told that they are
guilty of the heinous crime of schism--schism, in the sense they give
it, a figment of sacerdotalism, priestcraft, and imposture.