him to kindness, but, on the contrary, it attracted his attention to the giver.  He looked at the silver coin, and then turning his solemn gaze upon me, eyed me insolently from head to foot.  While doing so a look of profound disgust spread over his mournful countenance.  After a calm survey of my person, which to me was uncomfortably long, he turned to the bystanders, and in the same high-pitched, lugubrious voice which he had used when exhorting, said:—­

“Brethren, here behold ye the type of anti-Christ,” and he waved his thin hand toward me much to my amusement and annoyance.  “Here,” said he, “we find the leading strings to all that is iniquitous—­vanity.  It is betokened in his velvets, satins, and laces.  Think ye, young man,” he said, turning to me, “that such vanities are not an abomination in the eyes of the God of Israel?”

“I believe that the God of Israel cares nothing about my apparel,” I replied, more amused than angered.  He paid no attention to my remark.

“And this young woman,” he continued, pointing to Madge, “this young woman, daughter of the Roman harlot, no doubt, she also is arrayed in silks, taffetas, and fine cloth.  Look ye, friends, upon this abominable collar of Satan; this ruff of fine linen, all smeared in the devil’s own liquor, starch.  Her vanity is an offence in the nostrils of God’s people.”

As he spoke he stretched forth his hand and caught in his clawlike grasp the dainty white ruff that encircled Madge’s neck.  When I saw his act, my first impulse was to run him through, and I drew my sword half from its scabbard with that purpose.  But he was not the sort of a man upon whom I could use my blade.  He was hardly more than a boy—­a wild, half-crazed fanatic, whose reason, if he had ever possessed any, had been lost in the Charybdis of his zeal.  He honestly thought it was his duty to insult persons who apparently disagreed with him.  Such a method of proselyting is really a powerful means of persuasion among certain classes, and it has always been used by men who have successfully founded permanent religious sects.  To plant successfully a religious thought or system requires more violent aggression than to conquer a nation.

Since I could not run the fellow through, I drew back my arm, and striking as lightly as possible, I laid our zealous friend sprawling on his back.  Thus had I the honor of knocking down the founder of the Brownists.

If I mistake not, the time will come, if these men are allowed to harangue the populace, when the kings of England will be unable to accomplish the feat of knocking down Brown’s followers.  Heresies, like noxious weeds, grow without cultivation, and thrive best on barren soil.  Or shall I say that, like the goodly vine, they bear better fruit when pruned?  I cannot fully decide this question for myself; but I admire these sturdy fanatics who so passionately love their own faith, and so bitterly hate all others, and I am almost prepared to say that each new heresy brings to the world a better orthodoxy.