Shrieks of agony, cries of despair, hideous,
brutal slaughter, blood flowing down the doorsteps of every house,
flames bursting forth from amid those once festive halls!

Ernst was sorry when Sir John De Leigh took his departure. The boy had
gained a powerful friend, though he was not aware of it. Little more
need be said for the present of Ernst Verner's life at that time. He
was treated with the greatest kindness and consideration by Master
Gresham and his lady. Indeed, there was no difference in the care they
bestowed on him and on their little Richard. More than one journey was
made by Master Gresham to England and back, while his family remained at
the house of Caspar Schetz. The Baron Grobbendonck, for that was his
title, who was at that time one of the greatest merchants of Antwerp,
and the chief supporter of the Bourse, was one of the four brothers who
formed an influential mercantile establishment.

Once more Master Gresham returned to Antwerp. At length news came from
England. It was observed that he looked more serious than was his wont.

The young Protestant King Edward the Sixth was very sick. There would
probably be disturbances in England, for he had set aside the devise of
Henry the Eighth to his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and had given the
Crown to the heirs of the Lady Frances, the Duchess of Suffolk, she
herself being passed over. The Lady Jane Grey was the eldest of her
three daughters; she had no male heir. Fifteen Lords of the Council,
nine judges, and other officers had signed a paper, agreeing to maintain
the succession contained in the King's notes delivered to the judges.
Master Gresham observed that he feared greatly that this arrangement
would cause disturbances in England. Shortly after this, another
dispatch arrived. It contained the news that King Edward had died on
the 6th of July, twenty-two days after he had thus solemnly excluded his
sisters from the throne.

He acted undoubtedly from right motives, believing this arrangement to
be the best, in order to secure a Protestant ruler and a Protestant
faith to England.

Already had the Reformed faith made great progress. The last prayer of
the young King showed his earnest and abiding love of that faith: "O
Lord God! save Thy chosen people of England. O my Lord God! defend this
realm from papistry, and maintain Thy true religion!" were almost his
dying words.

Master Gresham's anticipations of evil were too soon fulf