"It hath been revealed to me, beloved," said the Duke seeking to turn the subject, and snuffling in his voice to imitate the Puritans, "that the kitchen-house" (meaning the Commons) "hath obtained proof that the arch-traitor Laud is seeking for himself and friends the carnal dignities of red hats and stockings, and other vain ornaments of the great Babylonish harlot." Then dropping the snuffle, he added, "I take it we are nearly all Papists, out of homage to our lovely Queen. Let us hear what hope Laud has of plastering up the ugly schism of the Reformation, and of making our nation respectable again in Europe.”

To this challenge Laud replied, "Notwithstanding the old motto, 'Nec in ludis seria interveniunto,' I will try to satisfy his Grace's question. Rome will come more than half-way toward us. Let us but be firm,-bribe the ablest men opposed to us, and crush extreme praters; not by burning, for the smoke spreads heresy, but by using the pillory, scourge, and brand, with a few ears cropped and noses slit. Before such terrors their courage will ooze away. I will answer for religious submission, but I must have the power."

"Yes, Laud," interposed the monarch with his most serious and earnest manner, "I agree with you—all Divine right of royal majesty rests upon religion. If we cannot have that nobler, older religion which gives it the most solid support, we must still preserve such religion as is left us in the somewhat deteriorate Church of this realm. But the State stands or falls with the Church. My father's maxim, 'No bishop, no king,' was profound. Sooner will I lose my crown, or my head, than the authority of the Church shall be touched."

"I am not so sure," rejoined Her Majesty, "of your success, Charles, mon ami, for in France these folk have survived a good deal of scourging and cropping. . . . But this is sad and evil talk. Ladies, give us some madrigals." Very lovely was the music which soon thrilled the air

from some of the Italian, French, and even English masters, admirably executed in several parts. The Lady Gabrielle had a flexible and cultivated voice, with a delicious expressiveness. To the Fleming this was the only really delightful part of this Court appearance. He stood riveted by inspiration as the gently rising and falling waves of modulation thrilled his soul, and specially as he followed with an inner spirit-tie the flowing trill of one voice which dominated the

rest.

The party now began to break up, and the gentlemen paid their final compliments to the ladies.

The Fleming seized an opportunity to address his lady,"Gabrielle, have you forgotten Brussels, and our childhood ?"

"It will be always a charming childish romance, Philip; but it is far behind; and, alas! now I am but a courtier enamoured of the pleasures of Egypt."

“But you cannot like this life?”

"Not all of it, my friend; but I am fit for no other. Rank and riches are essential to me."

"You may pay too dear even for them,” said the Fleming. "But we shall always be friends?" she said, engagingly. "Always," replied he, with a quiet face lit up by a flash of sunshine.

All the Queen's company having retired, she turned round on Van Diense with the command, "Now my trusty messenger and man of affairs, have you French despatches— news from my dear Paris, for which I have been dying? And have you fresh patterns of your wonderful cloth-vestures? Donnez-les moi vite? The Fleming knelt, and handed a large packet of letters, which he waited for Her Majesty to open. This she did with characteristic haste, and read them commenting aloud on their contents. "Vraiment ! scoldings for letting my husband go to war! Why, I went on my knees and wept !-I, a Medici! Good-I thought so: Rochelle must fall, in spite of Steenie and Soubise.

Gustavus Adolphus is driven back by ours-marchons ; and the Pope has had a Te Deum-wish I had been there. Sister Anne has had a bad time-ora pro nobis. Yes, I am to do all the priests tell me, and never listen to heresy. Would I were back in France!-only the KingCharles-he surely begins to love. I too begin-ah, well!" -and with a sigh not wholly sad she closed her perusal. Rapidly changing her mood, she exclaimed, "Now for the braveries! Ladies, come and see! Tremouille shall be umpire, Gabrielle be the defendant's counsel." Then were

unfolded, amid screams of delight and surprise, some of the new effects in woven patterns of arras and tapestry. Some time elapsed in admiration and judgment, while many large orders were given. At last it was time for the Queen to dress. 66 'Farewell," said she, " Master Dutchman ;-be sure you return again ere long with still finer things, for we are soon to have money and peace."

Suddenly she stopped near the door, and, stamping her foot, cried out, "Thou'rt sure, fellow, that these wares of yours have never been seen in Paris or Madrid?—else our orders are null and void."

"Your Majesty," replied the Fleming, "may be very sure I would never affront you with the leavings of other Courts." The Queen extended her hand for him to kiss, as token of reconciliation, and he quitted her rooms with his obeisance.

The Fleming found that the Ambassador had been compelled to leave. He put on a large Spanish cloak, and drawing the hood over his head, prepared to make his way on foot. The night was stormy, but he sped on, chiefly thinking of his lady-love-of her fair looks and graceful movements, of the sweet accents of her singing, and of her last friendly words. Suddenly he was seized from behind, and, in spite of all his resistance, was dragged into a chariot which drove rapidly away.

OME time after those events in Norwich which were last narrated, the good Rector of St. George's was seated in his study preparing for

his morning work. He had despatched various callers, who were often sore hindrance to his literary habits, and looked fondly round on the select stock of large heavy volumes-chiefly folios-which formed his library. A Fellow of Emmanuel College would be sure to have the chief classics of the Greek and Latin tongues: there were also many of the works of the Church Fathers-Justin, Chrysostom, Origen, Eusebius, and Augustine,-all well read and turned over. Nor were the reasoners and mystics of the medieval schoolmen wanting. Of the Reformers were included the works of Luther and Calvin, Erasmus, Wycliffe, Tyndale, Latimer, and the divines of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth. There were also copies of Shakspeare, Spenser,

Chaucer, More's Utopia, and more modern volumes-sacred and secular. These were the friends of his quiet hours. Before the Rector there lay on his writing-desk the sheets of a work which he was preparing on "The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Natural Impossibilities," a work with a long and grave title, but full of holy maxims, illustrated in quaint and fitting figures, and capable of excellent application in any age. [This work has survived to our day, having been commended by a preface from the illustrious Countess of Huntingdon, and being now republished by one of our modern literary and religious societies under the title "Bridge on Faith."-Editor's note.] In this book Bridge expounds the faith of Abraham, showing how "God first sets the seal of death on the blessing, and on all natural ways of obtaining it, and then calls His children, nevertheless, to trust in Him, and to seek it,—whereupon true saving faith carries the soul through all difficulties." Such a faith was indeed needful in those times for himself and those who acted with him; and very nobly they proved their possession of it.

As our Rector was gravely finishing a paragraph of his work, Alice appeared at the door to read her morning lesson with her father, who guided her chief studies.

"Well, my love, is your lesson ready ?" said her father, with a smile which her presence always elicited. 'Are Cæsar's sentences very hard and tough to-day? You know you made him cut off his own head in yesterday's translation."

Alice was too preoccupied to laugh, but with seriousness said, “Father, do you know that the Bishop has posted on all the church doors an order to have only one sermon on Sundays, and to put an end to all our pleasant lectures? "

"Indeed, my darling, is it so? I feared it would come. We must obey, and leave the issue to God."

"But, father, Ann says this is not the end, since Will Barnard told her that the men who put up the notice joked