y forsakes us,[518] leaving uncompleted, at this point, the most
vivid picture which remains to us of a fraction of English life in the
reign of Henry VIII. If the curtain fell finally on the little group of
students, this narrative alone would furnish us with rare insight into the
circumstances under which the Protestants fought their way. The story,
however, can be carried something further, and the strangest incident
connected with it remains to be told.

Dalaber breaks off on Sunday at noon. The same day, or early the following
morning, he was submitted once more to examination: this time, for the
discovery of his own offences, and to induce him to give up his
confederates. With respect to the latter he proved "marvellous obstinate."
"All that was gotten of him was with much difficulty;" nor would he confess
to any names as connected with heresy or heretics except that of Clark,
which was already known. About himself he was more open. He wrote his "book
of heresy," that is, his confession of faith, "with his own hand"--his
evening's occupation, perhaps, in the stocks in the rector of Lincoln's
house; and the next day he was transferred to prison.[519]

This offender being thus disposed of, and strict secrecy being observed to
prevent the spread of alarm, a rapid search was set on foot for books in
all suspected quarters. The fear of the authorities was that "the infect
persons would flee," and "convey" their poison "away with them."[520] The
officials, once on the scent of heresy, were skilful in running down the
game. No time was lost, and by Monday evening many of "the brethren" had
been arrested, their rooms examined, and their forbidden treasures
discovered and rifled. Dalaber's store was found "hid with marvellous
secresy;" and in one student's desk a duplicate of Garret's list--the
titles of the volumes with which the first "Religious Tract Society" set
themselves to convert England.

Information of all this was conveyed in haste by Dr. London to the Bishop
of Lincoln, as the ordinary of the university; and the warden told his
story with much self-congratulation. On one point, however, the news which
he had to communicate was less satisfactory. Garret himself was
gone--utterly gone. Dalaber was obstinate, and no clue to the track of the
fugitive could be discovered. The police were at fault; neither bribes nor
threats could elicit anything; and in these desperate circumstances, as he
told the bishop, the thre