The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-01-30


assumed the victory, then came the trial ol
patience. Efiigies Of the cardinals were
hurled into the stream amidst the shouts
and derisIons Of the mob. At each plunge
erosns issued from his tortured breast. i,
was in vain that Emilia cluns TO his arms,
and inplored him, by every fear to restrain
himself His religious zeal overcame his
prudence; and when, at last, the figure OF
the pope, dressed in his poniificial robrs,
Was hurried into the tide, the loud excla-
nation of agony pnd horror burst from his
lips, Oh monstrous inpiety of an aceur-
sed and sacriIegious king !" sounded loud
~ above the din of the mob.
1t was enough; the unhappy n,erclmn,
was Immediately consigned over to the sec
uiar arm.
Oh, sad were those prison hours! The
girl told her bcads--the father prayed to all
the saints-and then came the vain csnso-
lalions by which each cndeavored to cheat
the other. They thought of their own sun
ny land, its baImy air, its living beauty and
that thought was home.
November came with all its gloom--lhe
month that should have been the grave of
the year, coming as it does with shroud and
cerecloh, fogey, dark, aud dreary; the
fathers brow numbered more wrinkles, the
once black hair was more nearly bleached,
the features more attenuated.
And the daughter--sh youth is the
transparent lamp Of hope-but in her the
light was dim. -
In fear and trembling the unhappy for
eignep waited the day of doom. The
merchants offence was one little likely to
meet with mercy. lIenr, was Jealous Of his
title of head Of the church. lie had drawn
up a code Of articles Of belief, which his
subjects were desired to subscribe to, and
he had instituted u court, Of which he had
made Lord Cromwell vicar. general, for the
express trial Of :hose whose orthodoxy in the
kings creed was called in question. Neith-
er could the unhappy merchant hope TO
hnd invor with tho judge, for il wns known
that Cromwell was strongly attached TO the
growing feformsiion; aud from the nets Of
severity with which he had lately visited
some Of the adhcrents Of The Romish creed
IN hrs new character Of vicar general, it wa.
scarcely probably that he would show mer
cy 10 one attached by Lineage, aud love, to
pnpal Rome. Strangers as they were, poor
unknowing what had they not to fear, and
wha, was left for hopcl
The morning of trial came. The fogs
of that dismal month spread like dark veil
over The earth. There was no beauty in
The landscape, no light in the heavens, aud
no hope in their hearts.
The judges took their places a crowd
of wretched delinquents. came to receive
their doom. We suppose it to he refine.
ment of modern days, that men arc not
punished for their crimes, but Only {, deter
others from committing them. This court
Of Hcnry's seemed to think otherwise +, there
WAS all the array Of human passion in the
Judges as well ms IN the judged. On one
hand, recreant fear ndjured his creed on
another, heroism braved all contingencies
cour,ing the pile and the stake, with even
passionate desire, aud the pile and the stake
were given with stern and nnrelcnring cru
city. ...
Al length there stood at the bar an aged
mnn and youthful girl; the long white
hair of the one fell loosely over his shoul-
deTs, aud left unsba ded face wrinkIed ns
much by care as by age, the dark locks Of
the other were braided over countenance
clouded by sorrow, and wet with tears.
The mockery oftrial went on. Ii was
easy to prove what even the criminal did
not attempt to gainsay. The aged merchant,
avowed his fidelity to the pope as true son
ofihe church, denied the supremacy of Hen
ry over any part Of The fold, and thus sealed
his doom.
There was an swful stiffness through
the cour-s,Ill as the precursor Of doom
broken only by the sobs Of the weeping girl,
as she clung to her fathers arm. liowbeit,
the expected sentence wns intercepted /;
there came a sudden rush, fresh attendance
ihronged the cour. Room for Lord
Cromwell room for Lord Cromwell I" aud
the vicar general came ia his pon,p aud his
state with all the insignia of office, tn Ms
sumo his place IF pre-eminence at that iri-
bunal. Notes OF the proceedings were laid
before Lord Cromwell. lie was told Of the
intended sentence, aud he made gesture
Of appreciation. A CLEAN Of hope had
davned upon the mud of the Italian girl rs
Lord Cromwell entered. She watched his
couniensoce while he read it was sero,
Indicative Of calm determination {; but there
were lines in il that spoke more Of n,istak-
en duty ihan innate cruelty. Yet, when
the wear general gave his token Of assent,
the steel entered Emilia's soul, aud a sob,
the veriest accent Of despair, rang through
that court, and where il met with q human
heart, pierced through al the cruelty and
oppress,os that armed it, aud struck upon
some Of the natural feelings ihs, divide men
from monsien That sound struck upon
Lord Cromweifs ear. his eye sought the
place whence II proceeded: IL rested on E.
mill. and her father. A strange emotion
passed over the face Of the stern iudse-s
perfect stiffness followed.