And then she went on discussing Milton; this led to Wickliffe and
Cranmer; and she spoke of the Roman Catholic superstitions.
“O, so odd! Can it signify to God Almighty if I eat a piece of fish or
a piece of meat? And one of the Queen of France's sisters wears the
heel of her shoe before for a penance; as if God Almighty could care for
that!”
“It is supposing in Him the caprice of a fine lady.”
“Yes, just so. Yet it is amusing, and pretty too, how sincere the lower
people are, of the Catholics. I was with my mother at--a Catholic town,
and there was a lady we knew, had a very bad tooth-ache; she suffered
night and day, and we were very sorry. But, over the river there was a
Virgin Mary of great fame for miracles, and, one morning, when I wanted
to get up, our maid did not come, and nobody knew where she was, and she
could not be found. At last she came back with a large bouquet, which
she had carried over the river in the night and got it blessed, and gave
it to the lady to cure her tooth-ache. But we have Protestant nunneries
in Germany. I belonged to one which was under the Imperial protection;
there is one for royal families--one for the noblesse,--the candidates'
coats of arms are put up several weeks to be examined, and if any flaw
is found, they are not elected. These nunneries are intended for young
ladies of little fortunes and high birth. There is great licence in
them. They have balls, not at home, but next door; and there is no
restriction but to go to prayers at eight, at nine, and at night,--that
is very little, you know,--and wear black or white, The dress consists
of three caps, one over the forehead, one for the back, one up high, and
one lower, for the veil; very pretty; and the gown is a vest, and the
skirt has I don't know how many hundred plaits. I had the cross and
order, but I believe I gave it away when I came to England--for you may
transfer; so I gave it to the Countess of a friend of mine.”