The menace., 1917-07-21
Synopsis of The Battle-Born

The leading characters IN this powerful
historical romance of the Reformation Ferl-
cd are Sir Percy Heatherly. the hero, known
as the White knight, who though an ardent
upholder of the papscy, in a royal tourna-
ment defends Lady Klare Wentworth VINO
had been charged with heresy. Sir Percy
trumphs and Lady Klare for the moment
was thus vindicated. Cardinal Wosey' wno
aspires to be the pope, is leader OF the ultra
papal forces both in the crusade to stamp OUT
heresy and also for the rigid maintenance oil
the dogma that the pope Is supreme ana aooVe
all earthly kings,--a theory which has become
distastefui to King Henry VIII, who Is RAPID
ly approaching a rupture with the molly see.
The Abbot of the Wood, the Black knight;
and Lord Fitzhugh. ardently support IarqsnA' Ti,A
Wolsey's reactionary position. Lord rtI- ,
hugh. though an ardent papist. is suisor 20,
for the hand of Lady Klare Wentworth, or or
John Dudley is an intimate friend OF oiI
Percy Heatherly, and appears to lean sngnsy
toward the Protestants. Lady klare Wens
worth is considered one of the most beau.i-
full. pure-hearted and gifted women Of the
court of Henry VIII, but according 10 Gr WI
sey and others, she is at heart a hereVic;
Lord Gotham, a descendant of the martyr ~, VI
that name, is suspected of heresy, but s'N'
enjoys the favor Of King Henry.
Lady Elizabeth Chester is another court
beauty, a rival of Lady klare of whom she 70
intensely jealous. She is a fanaticai roman,
ist, confdant of Queen Mary and Cardina'
Wolsey and one of the leaders In the pend
Ing proposed campaign to crush heresy
throughout England by the methods oi tne
Spanish inquisition. In furtherance OF tn's
diabolical plan of Cardinal Wolsey and queen
Mary. Father Solero has been imported from
Spaip at the head of band of inquisitors'
After a vivid description Of a royal tourna-
ment with which the story opens-a tourha-
ment In which the White knight detends
Lady Kare and unhorses and defeats 'ne
Black knight. Star Chamber couhcn n
held to consider the rapid spread oil heresy'
especially on the continent of Europe. where
the Protestant Reformation Is spreading IN
some sections like wild Are. Heresy Is aIso
spreading rapidly in England
After the Star Chamber meeting Cardinal
Wolsey induces Sir Percy iIeatherly to promise
10 go to Germany and compass the deatn OF
Martin Luther. insisting that in this way
alone could the spread of heresy be checked
But before the knight sets out for the CON
tinent Lady Klare has long interview with
him, during which she eloquently pleads the
cause of Professionalism. Her knowledge o,
The Bible, her keen reasoning powers ano
brilliant intellectual setting forth OF th'
rause of religious freedom and human rights
have an almost compelling influence on th'
knight--an influence which was probably
somewhat enhanced by the charm, the beauty
and the obvious sincerity of Lady hlare
There are reasons to believe that the con
las been overheard by one of the spies o
Wolsey.
the cardinal fearing the spell OF Lad!
Klare over Sir Percy contrives to bring tn
Knight into close association with Lad!
Chester who adroitly fires anew his intens'
religious bigotry and Quickens his determine
ton to devote his life TO the fuytherance o
the cause of the pope and the cardinal.
Cardinal Wolsey urges Sir Percy to max
haste and go to Germany on his grim mis-
sion. but ere he caves he is summoned on
right by Dona Maria, favorite of Queer
Mary, to confer with Lady Chester abou
the pending campaign to exterminate here's
in England.
From these two representatives of tn
queens party Sir Percy Is made acquante
with the extensive program that has bee
marked out and which is about to be in
Rugurated and which includes the destruction
Of all the leading heretics of the nation afte
the approved manner of the Spanish inquisl
tion. The taking Of the Bible absolutely fror
the common people, the burning of Al
heretical books; in word, the wholesale dc
struction of the work of Wycliffe and otbs
leformers in a manner as sweeping an
savage as that which under the direction q
the Roman Catholic inquisition opened tn
veins of Spain and let out all her best bloc