PERSECUTION 57 



but doubtful entertainment ; yet the cat organ was 

 so widely appreciated that German humourists un- 

 dertook to alter and improve it ; and after a time a 

 choice variety of instruments were constructed, in 

 all of which cats were induced by some well applied 

 torture to furnish forth the necessary music. The 

 same ingenuity was revealed in forcing Pussy to 

 play other prominent but reluctant parts in public 

 celebrations or rejoicings, especially when these 

 were of a religious character ; for then the people 

 naturally felt that the cruelty which so pleased 

 their hearts was sanctified and devout, — at once a 

 protest against the shortcomings of their neighbours, 

 and an illustration of their own superior piety. In 

 an entertaining old book called " Twenty Lookes 

 over all the Round-heads in the World," which was 

 published in England in 1643, we find related with 

 honest pride an incident designed to show the zeal 

 of the London populace for the principles of the 

 Reformation. 



" In the Reigne of Queene Mary (at which time 

 Popery was much exalted), then were the Round- 

 heads " — i. e., the monks and friars — " so odious 

 to the people, that in derision of them was a Cat 

 taken on a Sabbath day, with her head shorne as a 

 Fryer's, and the likenesse of a vestment cast over 

 her, with her feet tied together, and a round piece 

 of paper like a singing Cake between them ; and 



