THE FITZWILLIAMS. 



' How dared you, Master Fitzwilliam, receive in your 

 house so great an enemy to the State ? ' 



' May it please your Highness, his Excellency the Car- 

 dinal hath ever been my good friend and benefactor. All 

 that I have and am owe I to his favour and interest, and 

 I had surely been less than man had I refused lodging 

 and welcome to him when wandering in misfortune.' 



' And you would, then, risk your King's displeasure to 

 do a service to his greatest enemy ? 



' Nay, your Highness, I meant no contempt for your 

 Highness, but only gratitude and good service to him 

 from whose hand I have had so many benefits and who 

 surely needed the offices of a friend more than ever in 

 his misfortune and disgrace.' 



' By my faith, Master Fitzwilliam, I would that / 

 had servants as loyal and faithful to me as thou hast 

 been to my lord Cardinal. Kneel down, Master Fitz- 

 william.' 



The honest merchant went on his knees, and when 

 he rose it was as Sir William Fitzwilliam, Knight. 



The king whose displeasure he had braved was Henry 

 the Eighth. The Cardinal whom he had welcomed 

 under his roof at Milton Manor, Northamptonshire, was 

 the great Thomas Wolsey, then banished from Court in 



