as
to bring the light of the Gospel to shine on their minds through his
addresses and writings. In Valladolid and the surrounding towns and
villages, men of talent and eminence were equally zealous in spreading
Protestant opinions. They were embraced by the greater part of the nuns
of Santa Clara and of the Sistercian order of San Belem, and converts
were found among the class of devout women, called in Spain _beatas_,
who are bound by no particular rule, but addict themselves to works of
charity. One of the most active propagators of the reformed doctrines
in the surrounding country was Don Carlos de Seso, who had for important
services been held in high honour by Charles the Fifth, and had married
Dona Isabella de Castilla, a descendant of the royal family of Castile
and Leon. These few examples are sufficient to show the progress made
by the Reformation at that time among the highest and most intelligent
classes of the community in Spain--made, too, in spite of the
ever-watchful eyes of the officers of the Inquisition, and
notwithstanding the almost certain death with torture, and by fire,
which would be the lot of any denounced by its familiars.

In Spain, in those days, as at present, it was the custom for ladies of
rank to receive guests at their houses on certain days of the week.
Dona Mercia de Cisneros was holding such a reception one evening.
Guests of all opinions came. There were a large number of Protestants;
they knew each other to be Protestants, but to the rest of the guests
their opinions were unknown. Among the guests were two young men who,
though apparently strangers to each other, were attracted by the same
object--admiration for Dona Leonor, the youthful daughter of the house.
Don Francisco de Vivers, the elder of the two, was an inhabitant of
Seville, of considerable wealth and excellent family. He was considered
amiable and generous; and was, moreover, handsome and agreeable in his
manners, dressed well, and possessed a house and equipages surpassed by
few. He was not at all insensible of his own qualifications for winning
a young lady's heart, and was, therefore, greatly puzzled at discovering
that Dona Leonor seemed insensible to them. Don Francisco loved the
world and his wealth far too much to give his heart to God; and Dona
Leonor had resolved not to marry any one who would not make up his mind
to do so. Possibly too, he might scarcely have heard of the reformed
doctrines; he was