of your house are built upon a basis too broad and firm to be blown
down by the disorderly breaths of lackeys and trencher-scrapers.
Pardon me, if in my zeal I apply ignominious terms to your enemies."

"There be those to be ranked in that category who yet in no wise
deserve such epithets," answered the generous Governor. "Were
opposition to come only from so base a quarter, little should I heed,
and rather consider it an incitement to keener action; but there are
also choice spirits, elect vessels, pillars of the congregation, men
inspired with godly zeal, who are persuaded themselves, and would
persuade others, that I am lukewarm in the cause, and bear the sword
in vain."

"If the peevish captiousness of these persons is greatly to influence,
I will not say over-awe you, noble sir," said Sir Christopher, "I
tremble lest the errand of mercy whereon I come should fail of its
purpose."

"Ever true to the principle of the [Greek: Melissa]," said the
Governor, smiling "what can the Knight of the Golden Melice crave
which John Winthrop can deny?"

The Knight of the Golden [Greek: Melissa], or Melice, as he was
commonly called, meaning thereby the Knight of the Golden Honey-Bee,
and who, by wearing conspicuously about his person the device or badge
adopted when he received the order of knighthood, only complied with
the fantastic notions of the times, gazed a moment at the figure of
the bee on the handle of his sword, before replying:

"The golden bee does indeed remind me," he said, "that even as he, in