Chapter 33 - Page 2

again
solicited his orders respecting the reformed preacher, Henry Warden,
and again the worthy monk laboured to reconcile in his own mind the
compassion and esteem which, almost in spite of him, he could not help
feeling for his former companion, with the duty which he owed to the
Church. The unexpected resolution of Edward had removed, he thought,
the chief objection to his being left at Glendearg.

"If I carry this Well-wood, or Warden, to the Monastery." he thought,
"he must die--die in his heresy--perish body and soul. And though such
a measure was once thought advisable, to strike terror into the
heretics, yet such is now their daily increasing strength, that it may
rather rouse them to fury and to revenge. True, he refuses to pledge
himself to abstain from sowing his tares among the wheat; but the
ground here is too barren to receive them. I fear not his making
impression on these poor women, the vassals of the Church, and bred up
in due obedience to her behests. The keen, searching, inquiring, and
bold disposition of Edward, might have afforded fuel to the fire; but
that is removed, and there is nothing left which the flame may catch
to.--Thus shall he have no power to spread his evil doctrines abroad,
and yet his life shall be preserved, and it may be his soul rescued as
a prey from the fowler's net. I will myself contend with him in
argument; for when we studied in common, I yielded not to him, and
surely the cause for which I struggle will support me, were I yet more
weak than I deem myself. Were this man reclaimed from his errors, an
hundred-fold more advantage would arise to the Church from his
spiritual regeneration, than from his temporal death."

Having finished these meditations, in which there was at once goodness
of disposition and narrowness of principle, a considerable portion of
self-opinion, and no small degree of self-delusion, the Sub-Prior
commanded the prisoner to be brought into his presence.

"Henry," he said, "whatever a rigid sense of duty may demand of me,
ancient friendship and Christian compassion forbid me to lead thee to
assured death. Thou wert wont to be generous, though stern and
stubborn in thy resolves; let not thy sense of what thine own thoughts
term duty, draw thee farther than mine have done. Remember, that every
sheep whom thou shalt here lead astray from the fold, will be demanded
in time and through eternity of him who hath left thee the liberty of
doing such evil. I ask no engagement of thee, save that thou remain a
prisoner on thy word at this tower, and wilt appear when summoned."

"Thou hast found an invention to bind my hands," replied the preacher,
"more sure than would have been the