since Bradford had left. They had, therefore, much to talk over, both with respect to the past and the future. The account which William de Birch gave of the dissolution of the Priory did not seem to affect his companion very much, who, it must be confessed, had adopted, in a great measure, the new opinions, and was disposed to go all lengths without duly considering whether in so doing he was religiously right or not.

"And so, friend William," said he abruptly, "thou dost still persist in thy desire to wear the priest's vestments, although the monk's cowl be forbidden thee? I marvel thou continuest so steadfast, seeing that to destroy the nests of these rooks and jackdaws and tumble down their idolatrous mass-houses is grown so much the fashion.”

"Fie on thee, old schoolfellow," replied his companion, seriously displeased; "fie on thee, to speak with such vulgar and flippant jest on such a subject! I grieve to see thou hast so soon lost all respect for those of whom thou gottest thy learning."

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Marry, my gettings in that way hath not been such as to overburthen me, for I ever loved my pastime out of doors better than my horn-book within."

"Ah, John Bradford!" said his friend sorrowfully, "thou wert ever the frackest youth in the monastery, and thy course of life will be no mean one for good or evil. I had hoped thou would'st have turned thy mind as myself hath done, and offered thyself to stand in the gap for GoD and His Church; but I fear me thou hast taken up with wild opinions, which will lead thee thou knowest not whither, unless by GOD's grace thy course is checked."

"I tell thee what, good William, I have no mind for such juggling tricks as men say are practised by priests and friars. I am for gayer scenes and braver doings. To-morrow se'nnight I depart for the fair fields of France, in the train of the noble Sir John Harrington, who has made me his private secretary. A man of action has better chance to win honour and

riches, I trow, in such service than in the frock of a shaveling priest."

"Alas!" replied his friend, with, as it should seem, a something of prophetic foreboding of the future, "hast thou forgotten the saying of the wise king, 'He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.' Take heed the words be not fulfilled in thee, for temptation will beset thee on the right hand and on the eft."

"Good thanks for thy good caution, my friend; for, sooth to say, the age in which we live is not overscrupulous in its interpretation of the doctrine of meum and tuum, and I pretend not to greater niceness in such matters than my neighbours. But a truce to these banterings! I would ask thee, in sober earnest, dear William, for I know thy honesty of heart, dost thou not think that the foul practices which have come to light in these now suppressed monasteries are entirely disgraceful to the inmates, and that they richly deserve the fate they have met?"

"I would also ask thee one thing, dear John Bradford, dost thou believe all these scandalous tales? If thou dost, how dost thou account for the fact, that these unclean abbots and priors have many of them been made bishops, and others had pensions awarded them, or have been advanced to higher dignities in the Church, who, if they were indeed guilty, ought to have been deprived of their spiritual office? Truly it doth seem marvellous to me, that if all these abominations hath been practised as people say, the doers should be thought worthy not only to remain priests of God's Church, but to be advanced to higher dignities and more responsible stations than heretofore.'

"Well, I know not how this may be; but the doctrines, what sayest thou to these, image worship, the adoration of the Virgin Mary, indulgences, purgatory, and the rest of the Popish trumpery?"

66 say, it is not for such as thou and I, dear John, to take upon us to fix what shall or what shall not be

the creeds of the Church. It is too grave a matter to be canvassed by such young heads as ours, and must be left to those who are of age and wisdom to enable them to judge, and who have been lawfully called to the awfully responsible station of rulers in GOD'S Church. It is not for us of the laity presumptuously to put forth our hand to the ark of GOD, even though we may fancy it is tottering to the fall, neither have we authority to pronounce on matters of faith; and to speak with levity on such matters, if it shews nothing else, shews a lack of knowledge and grace, and I pray, dear John, that thou may'st not be found among such, for it doth appear to me unseemly for such as we are to speak lightly on any doctrine held by holy Church."

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"By my faith, I believe thou art right as to that matter, and I intend to keep a still tongue in my head. These are not times to swagger about one's opinions in religion, for what between the Pope and the King, an honest man has but a poor chance of his life, for those who are against the Pope are burned, and those who are for him are hanged; and, therefore, I say again, I will have nought to do with priests and friars, but commend me to some ṣarsnet phrase that will satisfy both King and Pope, and keep me clear of both factions."

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Nay, I prithee, mistake me not! I meant not that thou should'st look on with indifference or aversion, for this would be to fall into the snare of the Evil one, who will tempt thee to wretchlessness of unclean living, and bring thee to destruction both of soul and body. Thou wilt keep a better mind, I trust, dear John, for all thy present bravery of speech; for I hold thee to be scarcely serious in what thou hast now said touching the matters of Holy Church, although thou hast learnt the trick of the times in speaking lightly of thy holy Mother: - credit me, the

time will come when thou wilt see that these are no matters for jesting upon, but of such grave importance

as might weigh down thy spirit as though thou hadst a mountain upon thy soul."

"A truce! a truce! Spare me thy homily, good William, and I will admit that what thou say'st is not far from truth; and if such a time as thou speakest of should arrive, I vow to thee that I will remember thy words and seek thy counsel, even for our ancient friendship's sake, for sooth to say, although I have, as thou said'st, 'learnt the trick of the times' in speaking over-free words of Mother Church, I will yet confess to thee that at times qualms will arise in spite of me, and mayhap these will one day ripen into better things, even as thou hast said. But now, dear William, as I have borne thy rebuke, and received thy caution, wilt thou listen to some words in the same tone as respects thyself?"

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Willingly; for the wise king saith, As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.””

"The words I would say to thee do scarce amount to 'reproof,' and I fear me thou wilt hardly think them wise.' I would, however, offer thee my counsel anent thy intention to enter the priesthood. Hast thou well considered the difficulty and danger to which, in these days, all are exposed who are called to the holy office? Thou knowest that worthy Bishop Latimer, and the Bishop of Sarum are imprisoned, and in daily expectation of being burnt for contempt of the King's command, and for holding the new doctrines: while, on the other hand, the Prior of thine own convent and hundreds of others have been deprived of their preferments, and are outcasts in the world, for abiding by the old doctrines; who then shall escape amid such diversity of opinion? Either way thou cans't only look for oppression and persecution."

"I admit all that thou say'st," replied his friend; "but it irks me not that difficulties and dangers abound; in humbleness and faith I would pursue the path into which as it seemeth to me God's providence

hath called me, and I seek not for excuses to avoid it because it may not turn out a smooth or an easy one it sufficeth me that it is the path of duty."

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Truly, if such be thy sentiments, dear William, thou hast already counted the cost, and I respect thy self-denial too much to attempt by any vain argument to weaken thy resolution. I pray that the course of thy life may be a happier one than the present aspects forebode. !"

"Pray that it may be a useful and a consistent one, dear John, and the happiness thereof may be as GOD pleases!"

In this strain, as they walked onwards in the sweet summer twilight,

They talked with open heart, and tongue
Affectionate and true,

A pair of Friends,

and before they separated, the dying embers of their old friendship were rekindled and fanned into a warmer glow than ever; each seemed to be drawn to the other by some mysterious agency, - and each felt a foreboding that in coming years circumstances might arise which would try the stoutest heart, and that therefore it was wise to secure, if possible, the "friend which sticketh closer than a brother."

As they drew near the Green, where, as was stated in the introductory chapter, the diversions of the villagers were wont to be held, they heard the cheerful sounds of the rustics who were assembled at their evening sports, and keeping along a footpath on the east side of the Green, when they came to the stile leading into the meadows they sat down and watched, as well as the failing light of evening would allow, the different groups as they pursued their sports.

While the elder villagers were seated upon a rude seat prepared for their accommodation, some of the younger ones were dancing merrily with laughings and shoutings around the maypole, which, according to