Mrs Cosin, the landlady of the White Hart, prepared a very good supper
for the Commissioners. These gentlemen did not fare badly. First, they
had a dish of the oysters for which the town was famous, then some roast
beef and a big venison pasty, then some boiled pigeons, then two or
three puddings, a raspberry pie, curds and whey, cheese, with a good
deal of Malmsey wine and old sack, finishing up with cherries and sweet
biscuits.
They had reached the cherry stage before they began to talk beyond mere
passing remarks. Then the priest said:--
"I am somewhat feared, Master Commissioners, you shall reckon Colchester
an infected place, seeing there be here so many touched with the poison
of heresy."
"It all comes of self-conceit," said Sir John.
"Nay," answered Dr Chedsey. "Self-conceit is scarce wont to bring a
man to the stake. It were more like to save him from it."
"Well, but why can't they let things alone?" inquired Sir John, helping
himself to a biscuit. "They know well enough what they shall come to if
they meddle with matters of religion. Why don't they leave the priest
to think for them?"
Dr Chedsey was silent: not because he did not know the answer. The
time was when he, too, had been one of those now despised and condemned
Gospellers. In Edward the Sixth's day, he had preached the full, rich
Gospel of the grace of God: and now he was a deserter to the enemy.
Some of such men--perhaps most--grew very hard and stony, and seemed to
take positive pleasure in persecuting those who were more faithful than
themselves: but there were a few with whom the Spirit of God continued
to strive, who now and then remembered from whence they had fallen, and
to whom that remembrance brought poignant anguish when it came upon
them. Dr Chedsey appears to have been one of this type. Let us hope
that these wandering sheep came home at last in the arms of the Good
Shepherd who sought them with such preserving tenderness. But the sad
truth is that we scarcely know with certainty of one who did so. On the
accession of Elizabeth, when we might have expected them to come forward
and declare their repentance if it were sincere, they did no such thing:
they simply dropped into oblivion, and we lose them there.
It is a hard and bitter thing to depart from God: how hard, and how
bitter, only those know in this world who try to turn round and come
back. It will be known fully in that other world whence there is no
coming back.
Dr Chedsey, then, was silent: not because he did not understand the
matter, but because he knew it too well. Sir John had said the
Protestants "knew what they would come to": that was the stake and the
fire. But those who persecuted Christ in the person of His elect--what
were they going to come to? It was not pleasant to think about that.
Dr Chedsey was very glad that it was just then announced that a woman
begged leave to speak with their Worships.
"It shall be yon woman that would fain take the children, I cast no
doubt," said Sir John: "and we have had no talk thereupon. Shall she
have them or no?"
"What say you, Father Tye?"
"Truly, that I have not over much trust in Felstede's wife. She was
wont of old time to have Bible-readings and prayer-meetings at her
house; and though she feigneth now to be reconciled and Catholic, yet I
doubt her repentance is but skin deep. The children were better a deal
with the Black Nuns. Yet--there may be some time ere we can despatch
them thither, and if you thought good, Felstede's wife might have them
till then."
"Good!" said Sir John. "Call the woman in."
Ursula Felstede was called in, and stood courtesying at the door. Sir
John put on his stern and pompous manner in speaking to her.
"It seemeth best to the Queen's Grace's Commission," said he, "that
these children were sent in the keeping of the Sisters of Hedingham: yet
as time may elapse ere the Prioress cometh to town, we leave them in thy
charge until she send for them. Thou shalt keep them well, learn them
to be good Catholics, and deliver them to the Black Nuns when they
demand it."