CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
STOPPED ON THE WAY.
Nicholas Clere was a man of one idea at once; and people of that sort doa great deal of good when they get hold of the right idea, and a greatdeal of harm when a wrong idea gets hold of them. Once let notion getinto the head of Nicholas, and no reasoning nor persuasion would driveit out. He made no allowances and permitted no excuses. If a thinglooked wrong, then wrong it must be, and it was of no use to talk to himabout it. That he should have found Elizabeth, who had been ordered tocome home at eight o'clock, running in the opposite direction athalf-past eight, was in his eyes an enormity which admitted of noexplanations. That she either had been in mischief, or was then on herway to it, were the only two alternatives possible to the mind of hermaster.
And circumstances were especially awkward for Elizabeth, since she couldnot give any explanation of her proceedings which would clear her in theeyes of her employers. Nicholas Clere, like many other people ofprejudiced minds and fixed opinions, had a mind totally unfixed in theone matter of religion. His religion was whatever he found it to hisworldly advantage to be. During King Edward's reign, it was polite andfashionable to be a Protestant; now, under Queen Mary, the only way tomake a man's fortune was to be a Roman Catholic. And though Nicholasdid not say even to himself that it was better to have plenty of moneythan to go to Heaven when he died, yet he lived exactly as if he thoughtso. During the last few years, therefore, Nicholas had gradually beengrowing more and more of a Papist, and especially during the last fewweeks. First, he left off attending the Protestant meetings at theKing's Head; then he dropped family prayer. Papists, whether they bethe genuine article or only the imitation, always dislike family prayer.They say that a church is the proper place to pray in, though ourLord's bidding is, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and whenthou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." Thethird step which Nicholas took was to go to mass, and command all hishousehold to follow him. This had Elizabeth hitherto, but quiterespectfully, declined to do. She was ready to obey all orders of herearthly master which did not interfere with her higher duty to GodAlmighty. But His holy Word--not her fancy, nor the traditions of men--forbade her to bow down to graven images; or to give His glory to anyperson or thing but Himself.
And Elizabeth knew that she could not attend mass without doing that. Apiece of consecrated bread would be held up, and she would be requiredto worship it as God. And it was not God: it could neither see, norhear, nor speak; it was not even as like God as a man is. To worship abit of bread because Christ likened His body to bread, would be as sillyas to worship a stone because the Bible says, "That _Rock_ was Christ."It was evident that He was speaking figuratively, just as He spoke whenHe said, "I am the door of the sheep," and "I am the Morning Star." Whoin his senses would suppose that Christ meant to say that He was awooden door? It is important that we should have true ideas about this,because there are just now plenty of foolish people who will try topersuade us to believe that that poor, powerless piece of bread is GodHimself. It is insulting the Lord God Almighty to say such a thing.Look at the 115th Psalm, from the fifth verse to the eight, and you willsee how God describes an idol, which He forbids to be worshipped: andthen look at the 26th and 27th verses of the 24th chapter of SaintMatthew, and you will see that the Lord Jesus distinctly says that youare not to believe anybody who tells you that He is come before you seeHim. When He really does come, nobody will want any telling; we shallall see Him for ourselves. So we find from His own words in every waythat the bread and wine in the Sacrament are just bread and wine, andnothing more, which we eat and drink "in remembrance of Him," just asyou might keep and value your mother's photograph in remembrance of her.But I am sure you never would be so silly as to think that thephotograph was her own real self!
This was the reason why Elizabeth Foulkes would not go to mass. EverySunday morning Mrs Clere ordered her to go, and Elizabeth quietly,respectfully, but firmly, told her that she could not do so. Elizabethhad God's Word to uphold her; God forbade her to worship idols. It wasnot simply that she did not like it, nor that somebody else had told hernot to do it. Nothing can excuse us if we break the laws of ourcountry, unless the law of our country has broken God's law; andElizabeth would have done very wrong to disobey her mistress, exceptwhen her mistress told her to disobey God. What God said must be herrule; not what she thought.
Generally speaking, Mrs Clere called Elizabeth some ugly names, andthen let her do as she liked. Up to this time her master had notinterfered with her, but she was constantly expecting that he would.She was not afraid of answering for herself; but she was terribly afraidfor her poor friends. To tell him that she was on her way to warn themof danger, and beg them to escape, would be the very means of preventingtheir escape, for what he was likely to do was to go at once and tellthe priests, in order to win their favour for himself.
"Hussy, what goest thou about?" came sternly from Nicholas Clere, as heheld her fast.
"Master, I cry you mercy. I was on my way home, and I was turned out ofit by one that prayed me to take a word of grave import to a friend."
Elizabeth thought she might safely say so much as that.
"I believe thee not," answered Nicholas. "All young maids be idlegadabouts, if they be not looked to sharply, and thou art no better thanthe rest. Whither wert thou going?"
"I have told all I may, Master, and I pray you ask no further. Thesecret is not mine, but theirs that sent me and should have received mymessage."
In those days, nothing was more usual than for secret messages to besent from one person to another. It was not safe then, as it is now,for people to speak openly. Freedom always goes hand in hand withProtestantism. If England should ever again become a Roman Catholiccountry--which many people are trying hard to make her--Englishmen willbe no longer free.
Nicholas Clere hesitated a moment. Elizabeth's defence was not at allunlikely to be true. But he had made up his mind that she was in fault,and probabilities must not be allowed to interfere with it.
"Rubbish!" said he. "What man, having his eyes in his head, shouldtrust a silly maid with any matter of import? Women can never keep asecret, much less a young jade like to thee. Tell no more lies,prithee."
And he began to walk towards Balcon Lane, still firmly holding Elizabethby the arm.
"Master, I beseech you, let me go on my way!" she pleaded earnestly. "Iwill tarry up all night, if it be your pleasure, to make up for onehalf-hour now. Truly as I am an honest maid, I have told you the truth,and I am about nothing ill."
"Tush, jade! Hold thy tongue. Thou goest with me, and if notpeaceably, then by force."
"Will you, of your grace, Master, let me leave my message with someother to take instead of me? May I have leave to speak, but one moment,with Mistress Wade, of the King's Head? She would find a trustymessenger to go forward."
"Tell me thy message, and if it be truly of any weight, then shall it besent," answered Nicholas, still coldly, but less angrily than before.
Could she tell him the message? Would it not go straight to the priest,and all hope of escape be thus cut off? Like Nehemiah, Elizabeth criedfor wisdom.
"Master, I cry you mercy yet again, but I may not tell the message."
"Yet thou wouldst fain tell Mistress Wade! Thou wicked hussy, thoucanst be after no good. What message is this, which thou canst tellMistress Wade, but mayest not tell me? I crede thee not a word. Haveforward, and thy mistress shall deal with thee."
The King's Daughters Page 14