ed to a mercer in Cheapside. He had grown
into a big lad. As he had been somewhat daring and fond of excitement
as a boy, he was, as may be supposed, not unwilling to find himself in a
turmoil, where a pair of stout fists or a thick cudgel would serve him
in good stead. I had somewhat lost my taste for such things during the
courtly life I had lately led. He laughed at my effeminacy, and urged
me to arouse myself, and to practise the old English sports, which would
fit me for the rough life I might be destined to go through. He
promised to call for me whenever he could, and, as he had a good deal of
liberty, his visits were not unfrequent.

A'Dale entertained as strong a dislike to the mass as I did, and we had
agreed that, in spite of the risk we ran of being accused of heresy,
nothing should compel us to attend it. One evening we were proceeding
through the streets, when we found ourselves pressed in by a crowd,
which was hurrying up to see a procession of priests pass along. There
walked Bishop Bonner under a golden canopy supported on poles by four
priests, all richly arrayed. A vast crucifix was carried before him,
and other priests bore banners with various devices. There came also a
priest, under another canopy, bearing the host, before which numbers
fell down, and worshipped as if it were some idol. Those who did not so
were frowned at by the priests. Some were buffeted and told that they
were heretics, and fit only for the fires of Smithfield. There were
also bands of men in various disguises, and there were figures of saints
and other devices, before which the people were made to bow, albeit the
saints, being badly carved, some of them looking most unsaintly and
unbeautiful, were jeered at, and laughed at by those at a distance,
those near being compelled to bow down as they did to the host. And
then followed bands of waits playing all sorts of instruments. On
either side marched men with burning torches, lighting up the streets as
if it were day.

"Alas! there is no true worship here. The souls of these people, even
if they desire to be fed, are sent away empty," I said to myself.
A'Dale and I, who had been forced in with the crowd, now attempted to
make our escape. As we were doing so, I found a hand placed on my
shoulder.

"What, my young friend, have you become a follower of the true faith? I
thought you had been a heretic," said a person, whose voice was that of
a stranger.

I looked