His own convictions had been of gradual growth, and he still felt and would always feel a certain loving loyalty towards the Church of his childhood.
Still, he was increasingly convinced of the fact that it was not within that fold that he himself could ever find true peace and conviction of soul; and though no ardent theologian, and by no means given over to controversy and dogmatism, he had reached a steady conclusion as to his own faith, and one that was little likely to be shaken.
At the same time he was kindly disposed to those of his countrymen who were still beneath the Papal yoke, and were suffering for their old allegiance.

He honoured their constancy, and felt even a boyish sense of shame in having, as it were, deserted the weaker side when it was in trouble and undergoing persecution.

He felt a qualm of uneasiness when he thought of this, and would gladly have shared the perils if he could have shared the convictions of those who had striven to make him their friend.

Cuthbert was a little in advance of his times in the facility with which he set aside matters of opinion in the choosing of his friends.

Those were days in which men were seldom able to do this.