The Golden Grasshopper | Page 7

Vain efforts! The
seed of religious truth, scattered far and wide, was springing up and
bearing fruit--sometimes bitter enough, it must be owned--but such as
was not to be destroyed by Roman Pontiff or Spanish King.
CHAPTER THREE.
NEWS FROM ENGLAND.
For several days the young Ernst did not recover from the effects of the
dreadful scene he had witnessed. No smile ever beamed on his
countenance, his cheeks were pale, his eyes dim. His kind protectors
began to fear that he had received a blow which might cast a gloom
over his life, if it did not quickly shorten it. Even Sir John De Leigh,
the philosopher, the man of the world, who declared that no
circumstances of life, no human suffering, should produce any effect on
the mind of a man of sense, compassionated the orphan boy. He even
condescended to call the child to him, to tell him of the scenes he had
witnessed in foreign lands--how he had seen the Grand Bashaw and the
Great Mogul,--the splendour of their palaces, and the obedience of their
subjects; how he himself had ridden under a silken canopy on the back
of a huge elephant, and traversed the burning desert, placed between
the humps of a swift dromedary. By degrees he won back the boy to
take an interest in what was going on around him, though often little
Ernst would start, and burst forth again into bitter tears.
The boy and his young companion were, for a large portion of each day,
with the Lady Anne, who took a pleasure in instructing him. Already he
could read without difficulty, and she now placed paper and pen in his
hand, and instructed him in the art of writing, an art very soon to stand
him in good stead, and to enable him to serve his generous patron,
Master Gresham.
Of that kind patron some account ought now to be given.
Master Thomas Gresham came, so Ernst believed, of a line of

honourable merchants. Sir Richard Gresham, his father, of whom he
was the youngest son, died some three years before this, having been
some time Lord Mayor of London. Sir Richard had a brother, Sir John
Gresham, who was employed as Royal agent to King Henry the Eighth
in Flanders, a post to which the patron of Ernst Verner afterwards
succeeded. Sir Richard's eldest son was named after his uncle, and
became Sir John Gresham. Sir Richard had two daughters, the eldest of
whom married the wealthy Sir John Thynne, of Longleat, in Wiltshire.
Although it was not customary for merchants to send their sons to
college, so much talent was exhibited by Thomas Gresham, that his
father determined to give him the advantage of a University education.
When only three years old he was deprived of his mother's care, a loss
he ever bewailed. According to his father's purpose, he was sent to
Cambridge, and admitted a pensioner at Gonville and Caius College.
He there undoubtedly imbibed that attachment to the Protestant faith
for which he was ever afterwards conspicuous, and for which his Hall
was at that time distinguished. He there also gained a taste for literature,
and a respect for learned men, for which he was noted throughout life,
and which none of the subsequent cares of business were ever able to
extinguish in him.
Expediency probably, rather than inclination, made him a merchant; at
the same time the advantages to be derived from foreign commerce
were then so considerable, that, with the splendid examples of his
father and of his uncle before him, it can be no matter of surprise, that
he forsook the quiet walk of life which his college might have afforded,
for one of honour and emolument. Before going to college he had been
bound apprentice to his uncle, Sir John Gresham, in consequence of
which he was, in 1543, admitted a member of the Mercers' Company,
being then in the twenty-fifth year of his age.
He had at the time the event here described occurred, for some time
been holding the post of Royal agent at Antwerp, greatly to the
satisfaction of the King and their lordships.
In consequence of the maritime position of Antwerp, it far surpassed, in
size and wealth, Brussels, and every other Flemish town. Its population

was estimated at 100,000 souls. Its internal splendour was unequalled,
the wealth of its merchants unsurpassed. They attracted hither traders of
all nations--English, French, Germans, Danes, Osterlings, Italians,
Spaniards and Portuguese. Of these the Spaniards were by far the most
numerous. For many years, the city exhibited the uncommon spectacle
of a multitude of nations, living together like one large family, where
each used its own customs, and spoke its own language. The
inhabitants were talented, and noted for their hospitality. The ladies