y the Jewess. We can cast no doubt she was dark.
Whence then come all these fair-complexioned pictures? We might take
it, in all likelihood, from the fancy of the painters, that did account
a fair woman to be of better favour than a dark. But search you into
past history, and you shall find it not thus. These fair-favoured
pictures be all of another than Mary; to wit, of that ancient goddess,
in her original of the Babylonians, that was worshipped under divers
names all over the world,--in Egypt as Isis; in Greece, as Athene,
Artemis, and Aphrodite; in Rome as Juno, Diana, and Venus: truly, every
goddess was but a diversity of this one. [Note 4.] These, then, be no
pictures of the Maid of Nazareth. And 'tis the like of other images,--
they be christened idols. The famed Saint Peter, in his church at Rome
is but a christened Jupiter. Wit you how Paganism was got rid of? It
was by receiving of it into the very bosom of the Roman Church. The
ceremonies of the Pagans were but turned,--from Ceres, Cybele, Isis, or
Aphrodite, unto Mary--from Apollo, Bacchus, Osiris, Tammuz, unto Christ.
Thus, when these Pagans found that they did in very deed worship the
same god, and with the same observances, as of old--for the change was
in nothing save the name only--they became Christians by handfuls;--yea,
by cityfuls. What marvel, I pray you? But how shall we call this
Church of Rome, that thus bewrayed her trust, and sold her Lord again
like Judas? An idolatrous Christianity--nay, rather a baptised
idolatry! God hath writ her name, Mistress Blanche, on the last page of
His Word; and it is, Babylon, Mother of all Abominations."

"I do marvel, Master Tremayne," said Blanche a little indignantly,
though in a constrained voice, "how you dare bring such ill charges
against the Papistical Church. Do they not set great store by holiness,
I pray you? Yea, have they not monks and nuns, and a celibate
priesthood, consecrate to greater holiness than other? How can you
charge them with wickedness and abomination?"

"Poor child!" murmured the Rector, as if to himself,--"she little wist
what manner of life idolaters term holiness! Mistress Blanche, yonder
cloak of professed holiness hideth worser matter than you can so much as
think on. 'Tis not I that set that name on the Papistical Church. It
was God Himself. Will you tell me, moreover, an' it like you,--What is
holiness?"

"Goodness--right-doing."

"Those be unclear word