FATHER WESTON'S NARRATIVE
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the walls of the prison , where my friends could meet and welcome me . When dinner was over, after my fifth year in the fortress , the seventeenth of my whole imprisonment , I went out in the midst of a great company, not however free, but under a triple guard as far as Calais. Meanwhile a ship had been made ready and awaited us in the river Thames, which flows just under the walls of the Tower. A vast crowd gathered to the spectacle. So I was led out of custody . There were not wanting some Catholics in presence of that crowd to fall at my knees and ask my blessing. With many Catholics accompanying me, I was placed in a neighbouring house till thehour came for sailing. Coming in, I found the house packed with a great multitude of lookers - on. Many Catholics had come to salute and congratulate me after so many years of prison and solitude. Others sent me money by messengers. One thrust into my hands a casket , so full that it would scarcely shut. I think it must have admired his profuse contained pretty nearly his whole substance. need liberality, but suspecting the man's poverty refused the gift. say no more of the ready good will of these people. It needed almost violence to repel their offers. I only took so much as thought would be necessary for the expenses of my journey . After two hours we said good-bye to our friends , and went aboard ship, they returning home. We travelled to Dover , partly by water, partly by the more direct road overland . We had to pass through Canterbury , where, as we stayed at the inn , I received a visit from an acquaintance of mine, an inhabitant of that city. While we were talking privately together in the separate part of the room where we were , mine hostess , coming gradually from a distance, approached. Seizing at length her opportunity, she comes nearer, and Pray , sir, she said, have you a wife? Yes, I said, and a large family. She suddenly became silent. also held my peace for a little, and then I added : Not as you suppose, since I am a priest and it is not lawful for us to touch woman ; and as for the children said had, they are spiritual children , born of the seed of orthodox faith and sound doctrine ," and a few other things to the same effect. She was much struck with my words and pleased and glad at heart ; and, shaking my hand, she said : Truly, I call you blessed men who do so ; for as for our ministers , ( knaves, I almost think she called them) they are much given the other way ; nothing will do for them but they must feed and dress their wives like so many ladies ; their daughters too they bring up quite above their state , teaching them to think so much of themselvesthat they are not content with ordinary husbands, and blush not to seek to marry nobleSo she said, a woman who , I dare say, had never seen men. a priest or spoken to a Catholic . I relate this fact and these words to show how beautiful and attractive, except to very corrupt minds, is the doctrine and practice of the Catholic faith, once it is made known, even to heretical ears ; and how disposed that nation is to take up the faith , could it be freely preached. We set out from
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