en acted, by affording him her utmost support, showed that
she was well aware of their purpose, and that she was resolved to take
the responsibility on her own shoulders. Thus it was by the wisdom and
firmness of these two illustrious persons that that fearful storm was
weathered, and England saved from Papal tyranny.

Soon after this, news reached us of the illness of Master Richard
Clough, and in another week came the sad intelligence of his death. He
had ever been a faithful servant of Sir Thomas Gresham, and one of
those, who had enabled him to build up his fortunes.

His last will and testament was sent over from Hamburg. It was to the
effect, that having made all his money in the service of Sir Thomas
Gresham, he freely gave to his said master all his moveable goods, his
lands only excepted, that Sir Thomas might do his pleasure therewith,
adding that he would leave it to him whether he would suffer his wife,
children, and friends to enjoy them or any parcel thereof, according to
his previous will and testament. The paper concluded with the following
words:

"Oh! my master, do unto my poor wife and children as you would I
should do unto yours, if you were in the same place, for they have no
one to trust to but to you; and therefore I bid you and my lady
farewell, till it please God to bid us a meeting.

"Your old servant--

"Richard Clough."

I suspect that this letter was written in order that our friend Richard
Clough might show his confidence in his old master. It was not
misplaced, as Sir Thomas renounced the power given to him, when the
earlier will was proved. I should say that Sir Richard Clough, to show
his love of his native town, Denbigh, sought to bestow on its future
inhabitants the blessing of education, by leaving 100 pounds towards the
founding of a free school--a very considerable sum, let it be
understood.

I was now very anxious no longer to delay my marriage with Aveline,
especially as Captain Radford was in England, and purposed shortly
making another voyage to some distant part of the world. The spirit of
adventure had increased on him, and he could with difficulty remain
quietly in England without employment. I expressed my wishes to Sir
Thomas.

"I am sorry to hear this," he said, "because I was about to propose to
you to go to Antwerp on important business. There is no one I would so
willingly employ in it as yourself; and you will be conferring a favour
on m