“This, please your grace, I deny; and I would know mine accusers, and what they allege against me.”

“Now this is a brave answer, truly,” replied the Justice.  “These rogues be all of one tale, pretending that they have done nothing amiss, and desiring to know, poor innocents! of what they are accused, as though they were ignorant of their own lives and conversation hitherto.  Tush! it were a needless and an unthrifty throwing out of words to argue the matter—­for they are wiser in their own eyes than seven men who can render a reason.  Do thou question him, and urge him to the test,” said Sir Roger, turning to his conscience-keeper.

“What art thou?” said the priest, leaning forward for the purpose of a more strict examination.

“I am a minister,” said Marsh.  “It is but a short time agone since I served a cure hereabouts.”

“Who gave thee orders?  Or hast thou indeed received any?”

“The Bishops of London and Lincoln, after that I had diligently studied and kept terms aforetime at Cambridge.”

“Humph!” said Sir Roger.  “These bishops be of the reformed sect; and, I have a notion, will some day or another answer for it before the Queen’s council.”

“What knowledge hast thou of these men?”

“I never saw them but at the time I received ordination.”

After a few more questions of little moment, the priest threw out the usual net with which his fraternity were wont to entangle those of heretical opinions.[17]

“What is thy belief respecting the sacrament?”

“That is a question of too general and multifarious a nature for a plain and faithful answer.”

“Are the bread and wine, by virtue of the words pronounced by the priest, changed into the body and blood of Christ?  And is the sacrament, whether reserved or received, the very body and blood of Christ?”

“I am not careful to answer such inquiries, seeing that I am but unskilled and unlearned in scholastic disputes.  Why do ye ask me these hard and unprofitable questions, to bring my body in danger of death, and to suck my blood?”

“We are not blood-suckers, and intend none other than to make thee a better man and a good Christian,” said the priest, mightily offended.  Whereat Roger Wrinstone, in his great zeal and affection for the Holy Church, smote Marsh a lusty blow on the mouth, saying—­

“Answerest thou the priest so?  By your worship’s leave I will mend his ill manners.”

The little girl at this rebuke fell a-crying, and her grief became so loud that Sir Roger was fain to pacify her by ordering Wrinstone to stand farther apart.  With red and glistening eyes she looked up and smiled at the suffering martyr, who, remembering his own dear babes, could scarce refrain from embracing her as she clung about him, to the great displeasure of Sir Roger.

“Answer this reverend and spiritual admonisher, to the true purport and bearing of his question,” said Sir Roger, with a mighty affectation of sagacity.