and all her affection for him,
to prevail upon her to dispense with the priestly blessing. However,
there was no alternative, if they meant to be married before their
departure; and the circumstances of their situation and mutual
inclination were persuasive arguments. Voyages, too, were not then as
safe as now; and to the romantic girl contemplating the dangers of the
sea, there was something sweet and even fascinating in the thought,
that if she perished, she should die in the arms of her husband. This
last consideration, above all, prevailed to overcome her scruples, and
the uncanonical marriage was accordingly determined upon.

At length the day arrived for the hearing of Sir Christopher, and,
attended by Arundel, he presented himself before the Council. It is
unnecessary to enter into details. The result is all that need be
stated. The accusations contained in the letters, though denied by the
Knight, (who vehemently protested against the liberties taken with
those addressed to himself, on which latter was founded the charge of
being in correspondence with Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the most dreaded
enemy of the colony,) obtained credence with his judges. Winthrop
blushed when reproached with the violation of the letters; but the
rough Dudley justified and commended the act, as fidelity to public
interests. There was a settled conviction in the minds of all of the
Assistants, that the Lady Geraldine was other than she seemed; and the
conclusion they had arrived at concerning her were not of a nature to
operate favorably for the Knight. The memorandum in the note-book was
also considered weighty evidence. It was recollected, that long before
suspicions were conceived concerning Sir Christopher, and when he
stood highest in the favor of the principal inhabitants, he had, in
speaking of his travels in foreign parts, mentioned that he was at the
very place where, and at the time when the scapula was assumed; and
his ascribing the reference to another, was regarded as only an
awkward attempt at deception. It was thought plainly to betray him as
a member of a religious order among the Roman Catholics. Winthrop
himself was of that opinion, and that, without more, was sufficient to
support an unfavorable decision. The idea of having covert Papists
lurking in their midst was not to be tolerated, and, by whatever
means, they were to be got rid of. Allusion was made to his embassy to
the Taranteens, and services rendered on that