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"I am never without the Word of God."

"And I read it daily in the Parish Church as by law commanded . . ."

He broke off suddenly, then said in a different voice:

"Let's not reason and wrangle, for I came here to tell some news that I hope will sadden you. I can't take the oath, so I'm leaving Leasan Parsonage."

"Leaving? . . . What oath?"

"The oath of allegiance—the same that I took to King Charles when first I was made Vicar of Leasan and that when he died I took to King James."

"What! You're never a Jacobite."

"Jacobite forsooth! I'm no Jacobite, as they say in their new impudent, fleering fashion. I'm no Jacobite and I welcome a Protestant hero to save the liberties of England. But I believe in the divine right of kings and the high doctrine of the Lord's anointed. I've sworn allegiance to King James and I can't swear to any other king."

"You would have had the King stay?"

"No—I was all for their sending for the Prince of Orange, but as Regent, not as King. I'm for the Protestant religion at any cost, but not for two kings."