CHAPTER IV.

THE GOOD CAUSE.



"And their Psalter mourneth with them
O'er the carvings and the grace,
Which axe and hammer ruin
In the fair and holy place."
Bp. CLEVELAND COXE.


When next John Kenton went into Bristol to market he tried to
discover what had become of Mr. Holworth, but could only make out
something about his being sent up to London with others of his sort
to answer for being Baal worshippers! Which, as he observed, he
could not understand.

There seemed likely to be no service at the church on Sunday, but
John thought himself bound to walk thither with his sons to see what
was going on, and they heard such a noise that they looked at each
other in amazement. It was not preaching, but shouting, laughing,
screaming, stamping, and running. The rude village children were
playing at hide-and-seek, and Jenny Oates was hidden in the pulpit.
But at Master Kenton's loud "How now, youngsters" they all were