ts strength and its estimation, lay among the burgher
craft of the better class, which I received as comfortable doctrine, and
creditable to the town. And if he preached other than right doctrine,
wherefore did his superiors in the Carthusian convent permit it? If the
shepherds turn a wolf in sheep's clothing into the flock, they should
not blame the sheep for being worried."

"They endured his preaching, nay, they encouraged it," said Catharine,
"while the vices of the laity, the contentions of the nobles, and
the oppression of the poor were the subject of his censure, and they
rejoiced in the crowds who, attracted to the Carthusian church,
forsook those of the other convents. But the hypocrites--for such they
are--joined with the other fraternities in accusing their preacher
Clement, when, passing from censuring the crimes of the state, he
began to display the pride, ignorance, and luxury of the churchmen
themselves--their thirst of power, their usurpation over men's
consciences, and their desire to augment their worldly wealth."

"For God's sake, Catharine," said her father, "speak within doors: your
voice rises in tone and your speech in bitterness, your eyes sparkle.
It is owing to this zeal in what concerns you no more than others
that malicious persons fix upon you the odious and dangerous name of a
heretic."

"You know I speak no more than what is truth," said Catharine, "and
which you yourself have avouched often."

"By needle and buckskin, no!" answered the glover, hastily. "Wouldst
thou have me avouch what might cost me life and limb, land and goods?
For a full commission hath been granted for taking and trying heretics,
upon whom is laid the cause of all late tumults and miscarriages;
wherefore, few words are best, wench. I am ever of mind with the old
maker:

"Since word is thrall and thought is free, Keep well thy tongue, I
counsel thee."

"The counsel comes too late, father," answered Catharine, sinking down
on a chair by her father's bedside. "The words have been spoken and
heard; and it is indited against Simon Glover, burgess in Perth, that he
hath spoken irreverent discourses of the doctrines of Holy Church."

"As I live by knife and needle," interrupted Simon, "it is a lie! I
never was so silly as to speak of what I understood not."

"And hath slandered the anointed of the church, both regular and
secular," continued Catharine.

"Nay, I will never deny the truth," said the glover: "an idle