he will suffer for it. I am sorely vexed at this, for that it will delay my long-desired interview with your honourable governor."

"Indeed, 'tis much to be regretted, my son," answered the Padre Bartolomé, regarding his companion with one of his most searching glances. "Tobias deserveth to be well censured for behaving of himself so badly. Alack! it doth make my heart ache wonderfully to observe how prone to strife are the children of one Father. What vile thing can there be in human nature that preventeth the whole world living as they ought in a universal brotherhood? I have strove early and late to destroy that hatefulness one of another which leadeth men into such riotous turmoils; yet it hath availed me but little. In vain preached, in vain prayed for the removing of their quarrelsomeness. Ever have I gone amongst them on missions of peace and charity, yet have I seen of my labours no better ending than war and bloodshed. Oh, Madre de Dios!" continued the priest, lifting up his brilliant eyes to the ceiling, and raising of his voice to a tone of greater excitement. " Pluck from our sinful hearts these hateful passions, that with one accord men of all nations and conditions whatsoever, may bow down in thy worship, and glorify thy name with natures attuned by thy sweet influence unto everlasting harmony and love."

"Amen!" exclaimed his companion reverently.

"Much pleased am I to hear of such sentiments; and doubt I not that if they were common, and were acted on by the different ministers of religion, one faith would soon pervade the world, and one feeling of love unite all mankind in a bond of peace that should never be sundered."

"Ah, my son !" cried the padre with increased fervour. "How earnestly would I strive to bring about so good a work. There are multitudes of my brethren who hold that a man cannot be saved unless he be of the Catholic church; but my heart cannot consign to perdition so many of my fellowcreatures. Among Protestants I have met with a very many who without doubt were truly excellent Christians. They led good lives; they gave bountifully to the poor; they worshipped their Creator in a”. ratitude and sincerity; and that such are to be rewded with the torments of the damned, seemeth me incredible."

Sir Walter Raleigh now had some doubt that his companion was of the sort he had suspected. Ideas so liberal he had not met with before in any Catholic, much less a priest: and he could never have expected them in a jesuit.

"I am afraid, padre, the superiors of your order would but little approve of such opinions as you have just expressed," said he. "Yet I am wonderfully delighted with your liberality, and shall have

VOL. II.

M

better thoughts of your religion for producing such."

"Indeed, my son, I speak but as I think," replied the ecclesiastic, with a look of very convincing earnestness. "It is true that many of us are not so tolerant; but the cell and the cloister are the last places from which ideas enlarged and charitable should be expected to come. It hath been my good hap to travel much. I have seen with mine own eyes. I have taken my opinion of men from themselves, and not from another party who may be either ignorant or prejudiced, and like enough give false testimony. The result of this thou dost behold. I can respect a man for all that he be of a nation with which mine is at enmity. I can believe in his worth for all that he followeth a religion which mine declareth to be damnation. I am not to be cheated out of my admiration of honourable conduct in deference to any unjust judgment of another, though he should be my spiritual chief and director in all matters of conscience."

"O' my life, well said!" exclaimed the other, diligently scrutinizing the features of his companion to detect aught of insincerity. Finding that the benevolence of his aspect altered not a jot, he was beginning to think more and more every minute he had been too hasty in what he had done.

"And so you have travelled, padre?" continued

he.

"Certes, there can be nothing like travel for the liberalizing of the mind. Have you ever been in England?"

"I have, my son, but 'tis many years since.”

66

My secretary doth imagine that he hath met with you."

66.

Indeed!” cried the padre in some surprise, then added with more indifference, "It can scarce be, for I left England when I was but a boy."

"I thought he had been mistaken," observed Sir Walter. Then there followed a silence of some few minutes, in which each was busily engaged with thoughts of the other.

“Have you resided long in this island?" enquired Raleigh.

"For some years, my son," replied the jesuit. "Doubtless then you must be well acquainted with the natives, their dispositions and habits?"

Methinks there are but few who know them better. I ventured here, under the favour of the Virgin, in the hope of converting of these heathens to the true faith. I have laboured hard, and not without some success. Still I must in friendliness acquaint thee that they are in no way to be depended on. They are thoroughly treacherous and false at heart. Mayhap if thou hast speech with them they shall tell thee the most moving stories concerning of cruelty and oppression suffered of

the Spaniards, whereof there shall be no sort of truth: their only object being to create a confidence by the which they may better be able to rob and murder those who put their trust in them.”

"They must be a bad set indeed if that be the case, padre, " answered Sir Walter. "Nevertheless, it seemeth strange to me that none of them should come on board."

"Fearing of some mischief," said the priest, "I did exert my influence with the commandant to stop them from leaving the shore, knowing how inveterate they be against foreigners, and, worst of all, against thy worthy countrymen the English."

"Then am I under much obligation to you," replied his companion: yet still he had his doubts upon the matter.

"Mention it not, my son. I am happy that I have the power of doing a service to one of a nation I have ever had such excellent good cause to respect. I hope thou wilt tarry amongst us some time?"

"I know not how long my stay may be, padre." "Hast thou any more ships besides these, my son ?"

"I have; but their sailing with me has been delayed.

"Perchance they shall overtake thee ere long?" "'Tis like enough some of them may.”

"Be they ships of a force like unto this, my son ?"