"
"Verily," replied the martyr, "life, children, brethren, and friends,
with all the other delights and comforts of this present state, are as
dear and sweet unto me as unto any other man, and I would be as loath to
lose them if I might hold them with a good conscience. But seeing I
cannot do that, I trust God will strengthen me with His Holy Spirit so
that I may lose all for His sake. For I now hold myself but as a sheep
appointed to be slain, and patiently to suffer whatsoever cross it may
please my most merciful Father to lay upon me. But, as God is my
witness!"--he seemed to speak with a prophetic denunciation, "from these
vile ashes shall a fire-brand come that shall consume and destroy
utterly these bloody men and persecutors of God's inheritance!"
So astonished were the bystanders at his audacity, that they did not so
much as attempt to stay his tongue or to lay hands upon him, whilst he
continued, raising his arm in a threatening attitude--
"Ye killers of the prophets, and destroyers of them whom God hath sent
unto you!--Because we reproach you with your evil deeds, and"--
"Blasphemy?" cried out Sir Roger, who was the first to recover his
speech: "we will have thy tongue bored for its offence.
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