was rotten with dreams and superstition. Ecclesiasticism had corrupted
genuine human life, and national sanity could not be restored except by
a violent process. Innocent persons would no doubt suffer--innocent
according to conscience, but guilty against the commonwealth. Every
great movement towards good was bound to be attended by individual
catastrophes; but it was the part of a strong man to carry out
principles and despise details.

The work had to be done; it was better then that there should be at
least one respectable workman. Of course such a work needed coarse men
to carry it out; it was bound to be accompanied by some brutality; and
his own presence there might do something to keep the brutality within
limits.

* * * * *

And as for Beatrice--well, Beatrice did not yet understand. If she
understood all as he did, she would sympathise, for she was strong too.
Besides--he had held her in his arms just now, and he knew that love was
king.

But he sat for ten minutes more in silence, staring with unseeing eyes
at the huddled roofs opposite and the clear sky over them; and the point
of the quill in his fingers was split and cracked when Mr. Morris looked
in to see if his master wanted anything.

CHAPTER II

THE BEGINNING OF THE VISITATION

It was on a wet foggy morning in October that Ralph set out with Mr.
Morris and a couple more servants to join Dr. Layton in the Sussex
visitation. He rode alone in front; and considered as he went.

* * * * *

The Visitation itself, Cromwell had told him almost explicitly, was in
pursuance of the King's policy to get the Religious Houses, which were
considered to be the strongholds of the papal power in England, under
the authority of the Crown; and also to obtain from them reinforcements
of the royal funds which were running sorely low. The crops were most
disappointing this year, and the King's tenants were wholly unable to
pay their rents; and it had been thought wiser to make up the deficit
from ecclesiastical wealth rather than to exasperate the Commons by a
direct call upon their resources.

So far, he knew very well, the attempt to get the Religious Houses into
the King's power had only partially succeeded. Bishop Fisher's influence
had availed to stave off the fulfilment of the royal intentions up to
the present; and the oath of supremacy, in which to a large extent the
key of the situa