But the hypocrites--for such they are--joined with the other fraternities in accusing their preacher Clement, when, passing from censuring the crimes of the state, he began to display the pride, ignorance, and luxury of the churchmen themselves--their thirst of power, their usurpation over men's consciences, and their desire to augment their worldly wealth." "For God's sake, Catharine," said her father, "speak within doors: your voice rises in tone and your speech in bitterness, your eyes sparkle.
It is owing to this zeal in what concerns you no more than others that malicious persons fix upon you the odious and dangerous name of a heretic." "You know I speak no more than what is truth," said Catharine, "and which you yourself have avouched often." "By needle and buckskin, no!" answered the glover, hastily.

"Wouldst thou have me avouch what might cost me life and limb, land and goods?
For a full commission hath been granted for taking and trying heretics, upon whom is laid the cause of all late tumults and miscarriages; wherefore, few words are best, wench.

I am ever of mind with the old maker: "Since word is thrall and thought is free, Keep well thy tongue, I counsel thee." "The counsel comes too late, father," answered Catharine, sinking down on a chair by her father's bedside.

"The words have been spoken and heard; and it is indited against Simon Glover, burgess in Perth, that he hath spoken irreverent discourses of the doctrines of Holy Church." "As I live by knife and needle," interrupted Simon, "it is a lie! I never was so silly as to speak of what I understood not." "And hath slandered the anointed of the church, both regular and secular," continued Catharine.
"Nay, I will never deny the truth," said the glover: "an idle word I may have spoken at the ale bench, or over a pottle pot of wine, or in right sure company; but else, my tongue is not one to run my head into peril." "So you think, my dearest father; but your slightest language has been espied, your best meaning phrases have been perverted, and you are in dittay as a gross railer against church and churchmen, and for holding discourse against them with loose and profligate persons, such as the deceased Oliver Proudfute, the smith Henry of the Wynd, and others, set forth as commending the doctrines of Father Clement, whom they charge with seven rank heresies, and seek for with staff and spear, to try him to the death.

But that," said Catharine, kneeling, and looking upwards with the aspect of one of those beauteous saints whom the Catholics have given to the fine arts--"that they shall never do.