nd spoke in a loud voice with great
severity to them, threatening them with condign punishment for their
irreverent behaviour. As, however, he did not proceed further than
words, they had reason to hope that he did not consider them guilty of
any very atrocious crime. As soon as the priest had taken his
departure, they were allowed to return to their seats, with an
admonition, that in future, whatever they might think of such matters,
not to express their thoughts by their gestures.
It may be supposed, though, that the masters were not personally
favourable to the re-introduction of the Popish forms and ceremonies
which was then taking place throughout the country. There was more to
come out of this than the boys thought.
CHAPTER FIVE.
AN INSURRECTION.
Queen Mary had been for some months seated on the throne. The nation
was becoming uneasy. The Protestant Bishop Latimer was committed to the
Tower on the 13th of November, and Archbishop Cranmer was sent there on
the 14th, while, at the same time, deprived Bishops, among whom were
Bonner, Bishop of London, and Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, were
restored to their sees, both well-known for their virulent hatred of the
Reformation. And now the intended match of the Queen with Philip of
Spain, the son of Charles the Fifth, was openly talked of. It was known
in a short time that the Queen had herself selected him. This was
further confirmed by a statement, that on the 30th of October, having
sent for the Spanish Ambassador into her chamber, the Queen repeated the
_Veni Creator_, and kneeling before the host, gave him her sacred
promise that she would marry no other man than Philip.
The Queen thus hoped, with a Popish husband, and with the aid of Spain,
that she might restore within the realm the faith of Rome to which she
clung. A secret agent had arrived from Rome--Francis Commendone by
name. At first he was unable to gain access to the Queen, but, being
well-known to Sir John De Leigh, the knight arranged his introduction.
To him the Queen expressed her desire to re-establish the Romish Church
in the country. She sent letters also by him to the Pope, which it is
said were so acceptable to Julius the Third, that he wept for joy, in
the belief that his pontificate would be honoured by the restoration of
England to its ancient obedience. These facts becoming known, and many
more statements being made which were untrue, the hatred of the people
to th
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