ubmission to the authority of the Church in all points
in which she is clearly guided by Holy Scripture," answered Herezuelo,
who still clung, as did many of the Protestants of those days, to the
false idea that there exists only one sole visible Church on earth; and
believing that such a Church does exist, supposed it to be, in spite of
all its errors, the Church of Rome.

"Then, heretic, you dare to say that the Bible is above the Church?"
exclaimed the Inquisitor. "Why, fool, it is through the Church that you
have a Bible; but it is not fit that the laity should possess it, for
they can only, as we have evidence that you and others have done, make a
most improper use of it. Therefore it is a prohibited book, and yet you
dare to acknowledge that you have both possessed one and studied it.
Ay, you have done so, and to your own utter destruction of body and
soul."

"To the salvation of my soul," said Antonio, boldly. "Our blessed Lord
Himself appealed to Scripture on many occasions, and to Scripture I
appeal and trust."

"Then you reject the traditions of the Church?" said the Inquisitor,
looking towards the secretary, who was busily noting down all the
questions he put, and the answers made by the prisoner.

"By tradition we may be deceived. Scripture is a sure guide, which,
through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, will lead us infallibly
aright," answered Herezuelo.

"Oh, what abominable--what terrible heresy!" exclaimed the Inquisitor.
"You deny, too, that the Blessed Virgin should be adored and honoured
above Christ, as, being His mother, and, from being a woman, more ready
to hear the prayers of the faithful than He can be?"

"The Virgin Mary was blessed in that she became the earthly mother of
Jesus, and thus she was peculiarly honoured among women; but I find
nowhere in Scripture that prayers should be made to her; on the
contrary, at the marriage feast of Cana of Galilee, our Lord says,
`Woman, what have I to do with thee?' when she ventured to interfere in
a matter she was incapable of understanding. Saint Mark tells us of the
remark made by our Lord when told that His mother and His brethren
waited without: `Who is My mother or My brethren? Whosoever shall do
the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.'
When hanging on the cross, too, and looking down on Mary and His beloved
disciple John, He said, `Woman, behold thy son!' and then, addressing
His disciple, He said, `Behold