He inspected them gravely, but was not invited
to touch them. Then his host touched him on the breast with one finger,
and recoiled, smiling.
"This is my magic," he said. "John here does not like it; neither did
poor Mr. Fenton when he was here; but I hold there is no harm in such
things if one does but observe caution."
"What do you do with them, sir?" inquired the priest curiously, for he
was not sure whether the man was serious.
"Well, sir, I hold that God has written His will in the stars, and in
the burning of herbs, and in the shining of the sun, and such things.
There is no black magic here. But, just as we read in the sky at
morning, if it be red or yellow, whether it will be foul or fair, so I
hold that God has written other secrets of His in other things; and that
by observing them and judging rightly we may guess what He has in store.
I knew that a prince was to die last year before ever it happened. I
knew that a fleet of ships will come to England this year, before ever
an anchor is weighed. And I would have you notice that here are Mr.
FitzHerbert and your Reverence, too, fleeing for your lives; and here
sit I safe at home; and all, as I hold, because I have been able to
observe by my magic what is to come to pass."
"But that strikes at the doctrine of free-will," cried the priest.
"No, sir; I think it does not. God's foreknowledge doth not hinder the
use of our free-will (which is a mystery, no doubt, yet none the less
true).
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