They amuse us occasionally; and sometimes they pain us, for
naturally we grieve for the backslidings of refractory brethren. We
regret the clamourings of ignorance which arise from a strong
personal desire for notoriety. That passage in the Revelation of St.
John, has been quoted scores of times as being applicable to Rome,
though as a matter of fact it distinctly mentions Babylon." Here he
smiled suavely. "And thanks to the workings of an All-wise
Influence, Rome was never more powerful than she is at the present
moment. Her ramifications are everywhere; and in England she has
obtained a firm footing. Your good English Queen has never uttered
one word of reproach against the spread of our Holy Religion among
her subjects! Our prayers for the conversion of England will yet be
granted!"
"Not while I live!" said Aubrey firmly, "Not while I can hold back
but a handful from such a disaster, and that handful shall hold back
yet another handful! The hand of Roman priestcraft shall never weigh
on England while there are any honest men left in it! The conversion
of England! The retrogression of England! Do you think such a thing
is likely to happen because a few misguided clerics choose to appeal
to the silly sentimentality of hysterical women with such church
tricks and rags of paganism as incense and candles! Bah! Do not
judge the English inward heart by its small outward follies,
Monsignor! There are more honest, brave, and sensible folk in the
British Islands than you think.
Pages:
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472