This, however, was not likely at present, for although there were days now and then when Miles was free to do as he pleased, because his master was staying at Greenwich, or some other of the royal palaces, with the King, still there was no telling but he might be summoned to follow by special messenger, and so he seldom left his rooms in York House for more than a few hours, in case he should be wanted. Still, he was very pleased with his father's cordial letter, and sent to say that he would gladly visit them once more, but his duty and his fortune lay in London with the Cardinal now, yet whenever he should visit Oxford—which, it was expected, he would do—then Miles would certainly journey to Woodstock to visit his mother and sister once more.
He sent this letter by special messenger, who also carried presents to mother, father, and sister; and he sent a letter to Margery, asking her to tell him all the home news, and whether any further changes had been made in the estate.
Miles would have been pleased to pay a visit to his old home, but he was very happy in London now. He had made friends, both in the Cardinal's household and also among some of the wealthy citizens of London, and some of the King's household also, for, in his attendance on the Cardinal, he often went to one or other of the royal palaces, and so the Controller of the Royal Household, Sir Harry Guildford, often had to provide him with a lodging.
This was not always easy, especially when they had extra guests; for the Cardinal's retainers had many of them caught some of their master's pride, and would by no means be satisfied with anything short of the best.
But Miles had learned to carry out his New Testament lessons in the small details of every-day life, and so, seeing how troubled Sir Harry was sometimes to lodge all his guests suitably, he had come to the rescue one day by suggesting that a lodging should be found for him in some other wing of the palace than that claimed by the Cardinal and his attendants.
The gentleman looked at him as if scarcely able to credit his ears, and said, "Well if you will be content to lodge in mine own house to-night, I will see that all is made comfortable for you, and it will spare me some trouble and much grumbling, for I know not how to find suitable lodging for all here."
So Miles went and spent the evening with the Controller's family, and a very pleasant friendship was then commenced; and now, whenever he could spare the time, he was warmly welcomed at Greenwich. For he was specially drawn to Mistress Cicely Guildford as being like his sister Margery.
One day in the summer of this year—1523—he had gone down the river by barge with the Cardinal and a few of his gentlemen; but as he was not required to be in immediate attendance upon the Cardinal, he was going to spend the day with Sir Harry Guildford.
The Controller met him with more than his usual cordiality, as they met near the landing stairs of the Palace Garden. "You are very welcome to-day, Master Miles Paton," he said, "For I have a grave gentleman come to stay with me, recommended to my notice by my friend Sir John Walsh of Little Sodbury in Gloucestershire. Now he is said to be a great scholar in Greek, and I would have you see some of these productions of Master William Tyndale's, before I speak for him to the Bishop of London when he comes hither."
"Does he come from Oxford?" asked Miles eagerly, thinking he should hear some news of his beloved University.