The Knight of the Golden Melice / A Historical Romance

ne so learned

Angelo, have

rossly, both in

empered judgm

e for

edger, whose pages were open, and surrounded by the articles of his traffic, for he was a merchant, largely engaged in the purchase and sale of the products of the country, from which he had drawn substantial gains. Quintals of dried fish were piled up in one part of the store-room, in another,

e man, and passing his fingers through the short, thick red hair that

Golden Melice, though I know not what it means, with the Governor this mor

the Commonwealth and of the congregation merits and s

ake me believe that the Governor, at the prayer of the

"Art sure you heard aright?

onduct of Winthrop, here went into a detail of his discove

n, which was interlarded with protestat

rding to the promptings of our own conscience, but it doth become every one to keep his lamp trimmed and burning, and to watch, lest the lion leap into the fold. I misdoubt me much, that this same Sir Christopher Gardiner, as he calls himself, or this Knight of the Golden Melice, as some have it, meaning thereby, doubtless,

d turned away, to intimate that the conference

pikeman. "I bethink me that but a little time re

inquired Ephraim. "Shall they who work

h a very ill grace, a well filled leathern purse, and taking from it a silver piece, which he offe

"The princely Governor would give m

be content. Reflect that you are one of the congregation

worship," he added, glancing disdainfully at the money, "to offer one, who, on your account, risks the

eman; "but I am a ruined man if thou require so much, Ephraim Pike. Bu

ece, and his features relaxe

rt, speak by inspiration when he declared-'Never saw

g attained his object, and observing the

be-a kind of smile played around his lips, his eyes sparkled, his color was heightened, and a slight moisture exuded from the corners of his mouth-he was uglier and more repulsive than before. He bent over, and on a piece of paper which lay before him, wrote with a hand that trembled a little-"How fair and how pleasant, art thou O love, for delights." This sentence he scrawled several times, and then taking up the piece of paper, he tore it into small fragments, and scat

elders, "alleging their tenderness of the church's liberty, as if such a precedent might enthrall them to the civil power, and as if it would cast a blemish upon the elders, which would remain to posterity; that they should need to be regulated by the civil magistrate, and also raise an ill savor of the people's coldness, that would complain of much preaching, &c, whereas liberty for the ordinances was the main end professed of our coming hither." They were social beings, and loved stimulus like the rest of mankind, and had no public amusements. These causes are sufficient to account for the fondness for the weekly lecture; but if to them be superadded the peculiarity of their civil and religious polity, which inculcated an extraordina

p, or coif; a white vandyke neckerchief falling over the shoulders, and rising high in the neck; long-waisted bodice of velvet or silk, open in front, and laced down to a point, on which was placed a rosette, with voluminous fardingale of like material, gathered up in folds behind, and supplying, though with more modesty and less bad taste, the place of the more modern "bishop," now happily banished these regions. Behind came the sons and daughters, attired like their parents, and imitating them in gravity of demea

d to his house, where, entering the room used by the family as a sitting apartment, he hung up his hat and took a seat. But his agitation did not permit him to remain still, and almost immediately he arose and began to pace the floor. Hearing prese

f my hair refuse to keep their place, and so I delay thee unreasonably, as thou sayest, though it is all to honor thee; for would it not be unbeseeming for the help-meet of a worshipful Assistant to appear like a comm

would be a sinful neglect of privileges. I feel not well myself, and must, therefore, for thy sake, as well as my own, deny myself t

ts purpose, and she persisted, with some pertinacity, in a determination to

first made, and then Eve; and I will pray for thee, dear heart, in the congregation, tha

ience pricked him at the moment, but h

n, now, for it would ill-become the wife of my bosom to lag in attendance on the lecture.

houlder-a look that contained as much of suspicion as of affection. He must be, indeed, a paragon of hypocrisy who can conc

le, indicating thereby that the services had commenced, and the streets were bare of the last loiterer. Spikeman then resumed his seat, listening and glancing occasionally at the door, as if he was expecting some one to enter. At last, as if tired of waiting, he rose, and going to the door, called softly, "Prudence." No answer was returned, and in tones a little raised he called again. This time a voice replied, "I am coming, your worship," and the Assistant returned to his seat. Perhaps five minutes longer passed, and he was becoming more impatient, and

aid the Assistant, advancing toward her, "for there

"but an I remember right, you said you had some tidings of Ph

an; "but first would I rather speak of one who doth interest me

ighbors, and acquainted in dear old England-a cousin," she added, telli

, which we have turned our backs upon forever? Was it not because of the yoke she sought to put upon our necks that we abandoned her, here to enjoy a wider liberty? Believe me, beautiful Prudence, there

ng about Philip? Have you entreated the Governor, as

ed therein. If the soldier be imprisoned there a few days longer, he is no b

ed about to sink upon the floor. Spikeman took her hand, which she no longer withdrew, but yielde

These worldly distinctions are but the inventions of men to suit a purpose, and there are times when they a

er to which the soldier was exposed, and her mind so confused by the unusual language of her master, that she was as much in a

ous than orient pearls," sighed Spikeman. "Ask of me any other

vent her, and kneeling at his feet, "I have no other favor to ask; but if you are

raining her to his bosom before he replaced her on the sofa. "Nay, kneel not again," he added, seeing that

u please. If you speak to the Governor again, he will let Philip out. I am

regard for thee, I will risk losing his favor for thy sake. But

; I will be your slave; I will wor

y with me. Thy prayers, though rising like morning incense, I need not. I would rather be thy slave than have t

lt as if they had left behind a mark to betray her, and she shuddered with aversion; but she believed the fate of the soldier to be in his hands, and dared not to offend him. Besides, she was no delicate lady, but st

g forbid by the elders an

andal of the wicked; but not to the elect and discreet, who can use their liberty as not abusing it. Therefore, let me kiss thee with the kisses of my mouth, for thy love is better

t, "save the voice of my beloved. O, speak, and say unto me, 'rise up, my love, and come away, for lo, the winter is past

he quick ears of Prudence had detected became more and more distinct, and persons on foot and on horseback were seen in the street returning from the lecture. Without difficulty