The Knight Of The Golden Melice, John Turvill Adams [the reading list TXT] 📗

I Understand, There Is Little Difference Of

Opinion Among Us, Although A Report Hath Of Late Reached My Ears, That

Certain Men In High Position, Even Elders, Having Become Addicted To

The Use Thereof, Are Beating About For Reasons To Excuse Their

Backsliding."

 

 

"A Calumny, Doubtless," Said Winthrop. "But Touching The Principle

Involved In Matters Of Government, I Will Deliver My Opinion. Of

Things Coming Within The Scope Of Government, I Judge There Are Two

Classes; Whereof, The One Class May Be Said To Consist Of Things _Mala

In Se_--That Is, Of Those Which, By An Inner Quality Or Essence, Are

Evil; And The Other, Of Such As Are _Mala Ab Extero_, Or What May Be

Connected With Them And Made Evil Only By A Positive Law Of The State,

In Which Is Vested The Duty Of Watching Over The Common Good. The

Fantastic Notions Of Certain Libertines, Who, Setting At Naught The

Experience Of The World, And Fondly Imagining That Wisdom Will Die

With Themselves, Have Insinuated A Doubt Of The Rightful Power Of The

Law-Giver In This Latter Particular, I Condemn, And See Not How

Government Can Exist Without It. Now, As For Things Embraced In The

Former Category--Such, For Example, As Those Prohibited In The

Decalogue--There Can Be No Doubt Of The Duty Of Every Christian State

To See That The Prohibition Be Sustained And Enforced Even By Extreme

Penalties, If Otherwise The End Cannot Be Reached. But As For Those

Contained In The Latter Category, A Wide Latitude Of Opinion May And

Doth Exist Among Brethren With Regard To The Extent Whereunto The

Sovereign Power Should Go In Imposing Restraint. Some, With Queasy

Consciences, Are For Making Most Of The Duties Of Life To Be

Practised, Whether Of A Civil Or Religious Nature, And Also The Vices

To Be Avoided, Matters Of Public Enactment; While Others As Honestly

Hold, That The Cause Of Virtue Is Not Thereby Promoted, But That,

Contrariwise, The Very Prohibition, When Not Based Either On The Law

Of God Or The Plain And Unequivocal Reason Of The Thing, Doth Act

Oft-Times As A Stimulus Or Uneasy Incitement To The Breach Of Law,

Besides Making Men Hypocrites And Time-Servers. I May Not Dilate, But

Merely Hint This Much, Not Doubting That Your Quick-Conceiving Minds

Have Already Sounded The Depths Of The Subject. And Now, Touching The

Matter More Immediately In Hand, Which Is The Proposition Of Master

Endicott Concerning Apparel, And Also The Expediency Of Females

Wearing Veils In The Congregation, It Seems To Me To Belong Plainly To

Things Indifferent, And Not To Be Of Instant Or Pressing Importance,

Requiring Present Action; And As There Is A Difference Of Opinion In

The Council Respecting It, I Propose That It Be Postponed, And

Meanwhile Referred To The Grave Judgments Of The Elders, More

Especially As The Wearing Of Veils Is A Thing Connected With The

Assembling Together Of The Congregation In The Lord's House."

 

 

 "We Are Content That It Should Take That Course," Cried Several

Voices. And Such, Accordingly, Was The Disposition Made Of Master

Endicott's Sumptuary Motion.

 

 

"Time Doth Wear," Said Sir Richard Saltonstall. "Were It Not Well To

Proceed To The Examination Of The Woman?"

 

 

 

"If No Objection Be Offered, I Will Consider Such To Be Your Minds,"

Said The Governor. A Silence Following, The Servitor Was Ordered To

Conduct The Person Calling Herself Lady Geraldine De Vaux To The

Presence.

 

 

 While Awaiting Her Arrival, The Conversation Re-Commenced Upon A

Subject Which Seemed To Possess Peculiar Interest For Endicott.

 

 

 I Cannot Abide It," Said He To His Next Neighbor.

  

 

"May I Inquire What Excites Your Indignation, Master Endicott?" Said

Winthrop.

 

 

"The Detestable Fashion Of Wearing Long Hair, After The Manner Of

Ruffians And Barbarous Indians, Which Is Beginning To Invade Our

Canaan, Contrary To The Rule Of God's Word, Which Says That It Is A

Shame For A Man To Wear Long Hair, And Contrary Also To The

Commendable Custom Generally Of All The Godly Of Our Nation, Until

Within These Few Years."

 

 

 "You Have Flushed A New Covey," Said Winthrop, With A Smile.

 

 

 "Nay; It Is A Chicken Of The Same Brood," Said An Assistant.

 

  

"Call It What You Will," Answered Endicott. "It May Be A Chicken, If

You Please, Or A Hawk, Or Whatever Else Your Learnings May Call It,

But I Do Declare And Manifest My Dislike And Detestation Of Such

Wearing Of Long Hair, As Against A Thing Uncivil And Unmanly, Whereby

Men Deform Themselves, And Offend Sober And Modest Persons, And

Corrupt Good Manners."

 

 

"This Is But A Thing Indifferent," Broke In Dudley. "It Will Be Time

Enough To Think Thereof, When No Business Of Moment Is Before Us."

 

 

 Call You That A Thing Indifferent," Demanded Endicott, "Which Is

Plainly Reprobated In Scripture?"

 

  

"I Would Have You Notice," Answered The Deputy, "That The Custom Is

Nowhere Prohibited. The Apostle Doth Merely Speak Of It As Of

Something Contrary To Usage In His Days."

 

  

"Brother Dudley--Brother Dudley," Said Endicott, "I Read Not So The

Epistle Of Paul. Thus Speaks He: 'Doth Not Nature Itself Teach You

That If A Man Have Long Hair It Is A Shame Unto Him?'"

 

 

 "Spoke Paul In This Wise," Inquired Dudley, "As Paul The Inspired

Messenger, Or As Paul The Fallible Man?"

 

  

"Have A Care, Brother Dudley," Said Endicott. "These Be Dangerous

Distinctions. What Is Written Is Written For Our Learning, And I Will

Not Curiously Inquire Into The Amount Of Inspiration Therein, Having

No Gauge Whereby To Determine Its Measure."

 

 

The Conversation, Much To The Relief Of Dudley, Who Found Himself,

Somehow Or Other, Speaking In Opposition To Endicott In A Matter

Wherein The Opinions And Feelings Of The Two Did Not After All

Materially Differ, Was Here Interrupted By The Opening Of A Door And

The Introduction Of The Lady. She Was Clothed Entirely In Black, With

A Veil Of The Same Color Covering Her Head, And Falling So Low As

Completely To Conceal Her Features. With A Modest Mien She Followed

The Servitor, And, At A Courteous Wave Of The Hand And Inclination Of

The Body From Winthrop, Took A Seat Near The Secretary, A Little Aback

From The Table.

 

 

 "She Is Attired," Said An Assistant To Another, "As If She Did Divine

The Thoughts Of Endicott. For The Sake Of Her Veil She Ought To Find

Favor In His Eyes."

  

 

"Yet See How He Doth Eye Her, As If His Fiery Glances Longed To Burn

Up The Envious Screen. He Would Tell Us, I Fancy, That He Confines His

Rule To Meetings Of The Congregation, And Would Consider It An

Invasion Of His Christian Liberty To Be Denied The Sight Of Beauty

Elsewhere, To Compensate His Self-Denial."

 

 

 "Madam," Said Winthrop, "It Pains Me And Every Member Of The Council

That We Meet Under These Circumstances. Let Me Trust That You Will Be

Able To Dispel Certain Suspicions, And That The Frankness Of Your

Answers To The Questions To Be Propounded Will Lighten For You And

Make Less Onerous For Us The Sad Duty We Are Performing."

 

 

 The Lady Said Something In Reply, But Either On Account Of The The Low

Tone In Which She Spoke, Or Of The Interposition Of The Veil, The

Words Were Inaudible.

 

 

"I Hear Not What She Says," Cried Dudley. "Let Her Throw Back Her

Veil. Master Endicott," He Added, Turning To The Ex-Governor Of Salem,

"Here Hast Thou Evidence That Thy Rule Is Not Of Universal

Application."

 

 

 

Endicott Turned His Steady Eyes Upon The Deputy, And Began To Caress

His Chin Beard With His Hand, But, Before He Could Speak, Winthrop's

Voice Was Heard.

 

 

"Do Us The Favor, Madam," He Said, "To Remove The Covering From Your

Face."

  

 

"Allow Me," Said The Lady, With A Voice Which Trembled A Little, "To

Keep Hid A Face Which Ye Would Cover With Shame."

 

  

"Think Not So Evil Of Us," Answered Winthrop. "Nought Would More Glad

Our Hearts Than Your Innocence."

 

 

He Waited An Instant, As If To See Whether She Would Comply With His

Request, And, Upon Her Failing To Do So, Added, "For Myself, I Will

Not Press What I See Is Unpleasant."

 

  

But This Concession Appeared Not To Meet With General Approval.

Murmurs Circulated About The Table, And Presently Dudley Spoke.

 

  

"It Is Contrary To The Custom Of Every Civilized Court," He Said, "To

Permit A Witness Or An Accused Person To Conceal His Features. The

Reason Thereof Is Too Patent To Need Explication."

 

 

 We Do Entreat You, Madam," Said Sir Richard, "To Pleasure Us Thus

Far, And To Believe That No Want Of Consideration Is Designed."

 

  

Again A Pause Followed, Which Was Broken By The Impatient Dudley.

 

  

"It Were Painful," He Said, Looking Sternly At The Lady, "To Use

Force."

 

 

 "It Shall Not Need," She Replied, With A Tremulous Voice, Which,

However, Acquired Steadiness As She Proceeded. "I Am In Your Power,

And Will Obey Your Commands."

 

 

 So Saying, Without Raising Her Eyes, She Withdrew The Veil, And

Exposed Her Pale Face To View. It Was Seen For The First Time By Most

Of The Assistants, And It Was Obvious, From The Whispered Comments,

That No Unfavorable Impression Had Been Made.

 

  

"A Modest Looking Gentlewoman Enough," Quoth Sir Richard.

 

 

"Discreet In Her Bearing," Said Another.

 

  

"All Is Not Gold That Glitters," Said Dudley. "The Beautiful Skin Of

The Snake Covers, After All, A Snake."

  

 

"For Shame, Master Deputy," Said Bradstreet.

 

  

"We Desire To Learn Of You Your Knowledge Of The Person Calling

Himself Sir Christopher Gardiner," Said Winthrop. "Know You By What

Right He Doth Assume The Title?"

 

  

"I Will Answer Your Question," Replied The Lady, "Protesting Against

The Coercion Exercised Over Me. He Is A Worthy And Honorable Gentleman

Of My Own Personal Knowledge, And Of The Family Of The Gardiners, Of

Whom Stephen Gardiner, Bishop Of Winchester, Was An Illustrious

Scion."

 

 

"How Know You Of The Relationship?" Inquired Winthrop.

 

  

"Sir Christopher Hath Himself Told Me So," Answered The Lady.

 

 

"A Manifest Invention," Said Endicott, In A Low Voice To Dudley, "To

Raise Himself In The Estimation Of His Paramour."

 

  

"Our Minds Do Meet In The Same Conclusion," Said Dudley, In A Like

Tone. "Hear, Too, The Boasting Manner In Which She Rolls The Word

'Bishop' Over Her Tongue."

 

  

"When And Where Became You First Acquainted With The Knight?" Inquired

Winthrop.

 

  

"From Early Youth, At Boirdly, In Salopshire, England."

 

  

"Know You When He Was Knighted?"

 

 

 I Know Not," Answered The Lady.

 

  

"What Is The Relation," Inquired Winthrop, With Some Hesitation,

"Wherein You Stand To Him?"

 

  

"I Apprehend Not The Meaning Of Your Question."

 

 

"Hath He Not Been Your Protector Since Leaving England?"

 

  

"He Hath," Answered The Lady.

  

 

A Look Of Intelligence Passed Between Dudley And Endicott At The

Answer.

 

  

"For What Purpose Came Ye Into These Parts?"

 

  

"Am I At A Confessional," Demanded The Lady, "That I Am Bound To

Expose The Secrets Of My Soul?"

 

 

 

"If, Madam," Said Endicott, "You Are Familiar With The Popish Device,

Practice Will Enable You To Answer The More Glibly."

 

  

"Have Pity Upon Me, Gentlemen," Said The Lady. "I Am Quite Deject And

Wretched. Take Not Advantage Of Your Power To Humiliate Me Into The

Dust."

  

 

"The Question Doth Still Remain Unanswered," Exclaimed Dudley, Looking

At Winthrop.

 

 

 "Be Not Hasty, Master Deputy," Said Winthrop. "Give The Gentlewoman

Time To Frame Her Answers."

  

 

"I Ever Liked A Quick And Unpremeditated Response," Said Endicott. "It

Is More Like To Savor Of The Truth."

 

 

 "Madam," Said Winthrop, "We Await Your Reply."

 

  

"How Can I Make Answer Thereto?" She Said; "For What Know I Of The

Private Motions Of The Mind Of Sir Christopher?"

 

 

 At Least, You Can Tell The Purpose Wherefor You Came?"

 

 

 

"It Was With No Evil Intent. I Had No Motive Wherefor I Need Be

Ashamed Before God Or Man."

 

 

 Then Why Hesitate To Avow It?"

  

 

"I Came Influenced By Like Motives To Those Which Have Brought Others

To This Land." 

 

 

"Know You Aught Of A Report That The Father Of This Sir Christopher

Did Disinherit Him, By Reason Of His Long-Continued Travels In Various

Parts Of Europe?"

 

  

"Supposing Him To Be Dead," Said The Lady; "I Cannot Deny It, And

Therefore Will Not."

 

 

"What Know You Of Any Wife Or Wives He May Have Had?"

 

 

 "I Know Nothing Of Them."

 

  

"What!" Interrupted Dudley: "Hath He Not Confessed Unto Thee That He

Married A Wife On His Travels, From Whom He Was Divorced, And That She

Is Long Since Dead?"

 

  

"Ye Do Strive To Put Words Into My Mouth, And To Entangle Me In My

Talk," Said The Lady. "Call You This Justice?"

 

 

"We Are The Interrogators, Madam," Said Dudley. Looking At Winthrop,

He Saw That The Governor Had Fallen Back In His Seat, With His Eyes

Cast Upon The Floor, And Was Silent, As If Tired Of His Part Of The

Examination, And Willing To Relinquish It To Others. Observing This,

The Deputy Proceeded.

 

 

"May It Please You, Madam, To Answer The Question?"

 

  

"Heaven Help Me," She Said. "My Poor Brain Is So Bewildered That I

Hardly Know What It Is."

 

  

"Thou Hast A Treacherous Memory," Answered Dudley; "But I Will Repeat

It. It Was Concerning Certain Confessions About This Gardiner's Wife."

 

  

"What Confessions?" Said The Lady.

 

  

"Prevaricate Not, Nor Think To Blind Me," He Answered. "The Facts Are

Of Public Notoriety, And It Will Not Profit To Deny Them."

 

 

 

"If I