not to sacrifice a conscience enlightened by the Word of God, and remember that in many circumstances you should rather obey God than man, as you know already. (Acts v.: 29.)

"I leave this place commending you to God and to the word of His Grace, which may God grant to serve to your edification, and at last may He give you an inheritance together with His Saints. Pray for me. I am going to a distant land, trusting that the Lord will show me where I should take my abode. Perhaps we shall not see each other again in this world, but we shall be united in the world that is to come, when we shall behold our God face to face, without any veil, when we shall be led by the Lamb into His pastures, and to the living fountains of water, when God shall wipe away every tear. (Rev. vii.: 17.) Unto Him be the blessing, honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. The mercy of God the Father, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

"Your brother in the Lord,

"Wesleyan Magazine."

"P. Guicciardini."

The Count Piero Guicciardini, who wrote the above remarkable letter, was one of a noble band who, in the year 1851, was banished into exile from the fair City of Florence because he would read and study the pure Word of God and give testimony of Jesus Christ only from the Scriptures. It may be of interest to my readers to give this extract from the proceedings of the civic and ecclesiastical Council of Florence, sitting on the 15th of May, 1851

"Whereas it is proven that on the evening of the 7th day of this month Fidele Zetti, the Count Piero

Guicciardini, Cæsar Magrin, Angiolo Guarducci, Charles Salaine, Sabatino Boosero, and Joseph Guerra were seated around a table in the house of the said Fidele, and whereas it appears from the confession of the accused themselves that at the same moment the Count Guicciardini was reading and commenting on a chapter of the Gospel of St. John in the Italian translation attributed to Jean Diodati, therefore, in consideration of the second article of the decree of the 25th April, the Council adjudges imprisonment for six months to all these men for this crime"-the crime of reading the New Testament!!!

The prisons, we are told, were situated in the malarial districts, and, in consequence of the popular outcry at home and abroad against this iniquitous selection, the sentence was changed into banishment to foreign lands. We are told, too, of the heartbroken sobs that prevailed as the exiles had to tear themselves away from the embraces of their wives and little ones. "Could it ever have been possible?" I cried. I could not credit it; again I cried, "My God, my God." As I read that account through, it brought back many a similar scene that I witnessed on the quays at the North Wall in Dublin, when, owing to the harshness of the landlords and the sufferings induced by the inefficient land laws then operating in Ireland, not only whole families were split up and separated for ever, but also whole villages and countrysides. The agonies of the breadwinners departing, combined with the wailings of the children and aged remaining, formed scenes the memories of which haunt me to this very hour and still elicit my sobs. Then for the third time I cried out, but this tims my cry was, "It is possible; I can believe it now." But the Count and his band of disciples made their way to England, where they worshipped their God without fear of molestation, according to the dictates

of their consciences. It was on the eve of this banishment from his native land that the Count wrote this memorable confession, and left it to be a source of comfort and strength to his Scriptural compatriots remaining behind. It has since dazed and dazzled several of my old Colleagues in the Faith, when, sitting in my library, I have put it into their hands.

I remember that at the time I was anxious to re-read this Confession at greater length and with less danger of disturbance, so, placing the book under my mantle, I retired to a rarely-frequented rustic seat in one corner of the Monastery grounds, near unto the famous Cherry Orchard, and looking down towards the City of Goulburn.

As I sat, my mind flew back to those innocent, those happy days, when I, in my spare time, erected this selfsame rustic seat, and several others, for the convenience of the "Brethren," little dreaming that, in after years, resting upon it, my life-long Roman Catholic faith should there receive its "quietus," and be laid respectfully to rest for ever in the tomb of my memory.

As I so rested, I lingered before I opened my book. I thought of one dear companion student, Monk, Priest and Missioner friend, who, with me, facetiously and for obvious reasons, bestowed upon this rustic seat and its surroundings the modestly suggestive and sarcastic title of the "Oyster Saloon."

Poor old Brother-old, not in years, but in brotherly confidence and Monastic afflictions-I ofttimes wonder how it is with him to-day. Is he happier than when I left him, or is he less happy? Has any change come over the scene with him, too? Is he still resolved to "play the game" upon the lines he selected many years ago on a certain bright but disappointing afternoon when first we met in the great garden of the Monastery and inaugurated a "chumship" that still lives,

freely and fondly, I feel, deep down in the recesses of our hearts, and where no human eye dare penetrate? I wonder much, indeed. What a friend he has in me still! But, ah! what a "greater Friend in Jesus!" Poor Brother! Poor Brothers!

Then I turned once again to the Confession, and studied it as before, searchingly. Whilst there were a few theological points I could not agree with the Count upon, yet on the whole I felt convinced that I too, could accept the major portion of that Confession as my own; begin my life anew with it. With it as my Vade mecum, relying upon its sincerity and genuineness, I would never fear to meet my God in judgment and render an account of my stewardship, "when I could be a steward no longer."

Hidden among the shrubs and trees all round, I slipped down on my knees, almost in touch with the simple little burial ground of the deceased "Brethren," Fathers Ildephonsus, the amiable, and Vincent, who "entered" me for the Order, and John the Brilliant. I thanked my God for the wondrous blessing of the "Great Light" which was almost blinding my soul; I prayed Him to nerve me for the coming ordeal, the very thought of which paled my heart and drove out the beads of perspiration upon my forehead: I felt that this was indeed my "Gethsemane," that I must endure it, if I would "enter in," and later on be a living witness for the Light which had come. I endured it. Christ's words were mine-"Thy will be done."

As I rose my eyes fell upon my sandalled feet, which, for sixteen and a half years had trodden the "Monastic Way," and again I pleaded that, as for so long a time He had preserved me on that Way unsullied, so would He deign to preserve unto the end

as unsullied and as honourable the "Gospel Path” which the self-same feet were now about to tread.

Returning to the Monastery by a bye-path and through a side gate, I felt truly not elated, truly not depressed, but very calm; the scenes around and within were fraught with deepest moment. The Compline Bells were ringing as I passed through the Oratory door. I took my accustomed seat among the "Brethren" and murmured "The die is cast; God help me now in these last days. Be very near unto me; the way is dark still."

LAST WORDS.

As I put the finishing touches to these pages I look at the almanac, and I find that it will be twelve years next 11th September since-"convicted and convinced" of the untenability of the position of the "Church of Fathers"-I for ever withdrew, not only in tears, but also in peace.

my

My last prayer in the Old Monastery was "God help me now," and He has most wonderfully helped me ever since; all praise to His Holy Name.

"And God said, Let there be Light; and there was Light. And God saw the Light that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness." (Gen. i.: 3, 4.)

And Rome knew me no more!!

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