"Why, is not Master Hewet Sheriff?" quod Tomkins, "and doth he not ride a gray Horse and wear a velvet Coat and a Jewel in his Cap? Sure, you must be steeped in Wassail and Feasting."
"Ah," quod I, "there's little real Mirth in it. Seldom do we see a Smile now on Master Hewet's Face ... Mistress Anne is in the Country; Mistress Fraunces does the Honours with all Grace, many People come and go, new Servants wait, many fine Dishes are cooked and eaten; but the Times are so bad, there is little Hilarity with it all."
"Aye?" quod he, lowering his Voice, "is't e'en so?" Then changing his Manner altogether, he rose, sate by the Fire, and pointed me to a Seat over-against him.
"Ned," saith he, "what is to be looked for, when the very Heavens above, though without articulate Voice or Sound, proclaim coming Judgment? Two Suns shining at once i' the Firmament! The Bow of Mercy, not indeed withdrawn, but reversed; the Bow turned downward and the two Ends standing upward! Didst see it?"
I said, I did; it had puzzled the Wise and affrighted the Weak.
"Well might it do either or both," quod he. "Well! ... we shall see what comes of it. These Foreshadows are sometimes sent in Mercy, that thoughtful People may prepare. 'Fearful Sights and great Signs shall there be from Heaven.' 'And when these Things begin to come to pass, lift up your Heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh.' 'And he that endureth unto the End, the same shall be saved.' 'Settle it therefore in your Hearts not to meditate beforehand what ye shall answer; for I will give you a Mouth and Wisdom that all your Adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.' 'In your patience possess ye your Souls.'"
"Tomkins!" cried I, filled with sudden Admiration, "thou couldst not always have thus quoted and applied the Bible!"
"Lad," quod he, "Times are altered. I don't suppose there was ever a quiet, fair-spoken Man nearer the Edge of the Pit of Destruction than I was, a few Years back. Just as I was trifling on the Brink, a Child's Voice called me back. Ned! 'twas thine. I had known, for Months and Years, what 'twas to lie down with a Heart ill at Peace with God. He that is very glad to get into a good and safe Covert, will not waste his Time in dallying with too curious Subtleties. Since I have gone the Way I should, Years have seemed like Days! I have tasted the Life of Life: yet never was more ready to lay it down at my Master's Feet! 'Tis all I have to give him!"
"I hope," said I, after a Pause, "there will be no Need."
"But what have we to expect?" quod he. "Here's the Mass and all its Mummery revived on every Hand, Mass Priests set in the Place of godly Preachers, and good Men deprived and cast into Prison. Philip of Spain and Cardinal Pole will presently sweep all before them, and make a clear House on 't! Do you remember—but, peradventure 'twas before thy Time—Master Chester coming to Master Hewet, and putting it to him what he should do with a 'Prentice Lad of his, one Lawrence Saunders, whom he had overheard hard wrestling in Prayer, and found wholly given to spiritual Contemplation and the reading of godly Books? Master Hewet advised his cancelling his Indentures and sending him to Cambridge, which he did; and the good Youth did no small Credit to his kind and enlightened Master. But, last October, Ned, he preached a Sermon in All-hallows' Church, the pure Doctrine whereof brought him into Trouble; for Bonner and the Chancellor called him a frenzy Fool and committed him to Prison, where he hath lain, in great hardness, ever since; nor will come forth, I fear me, except to be burned. Then there's good Bishop Hooper—"