"
"Surely, my son, they have known you too long and too well not to
respect your motives, and know that conscience is first with you."
"Scarce may such confidence be looked for, mother, from the most
part, who esteem every man a traitor to the cause if he defend it not
precisely in the fashion of their own party. But I hear that the
King of France has offered himself as an ally, and that Dr. Luther,
together with others of our best divines, have thereby been startled
into doubts of the lawfulness of the League."
"And what think you of doing, my son?"
"I shall endeavour to wait until such time as the much-needed General
Council may proclaim the ancient truth, and enable us to avouch it
without disunion. Into schism I WILL not be drawn. I have held
truth all my life in the Church, nor will I part from her now. If
intrigues again should prevail, then, Heaven help us! Meantime,
mother, the best we can, as has ever been your war-cry."
"And much has been won for us. Here are the little maidens, who,
save Vittoria, would never have been scholars, reading the Holy Word
daily in their own tongue.
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