32 ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S EVE

occur I am sure you will avail yourself of them, as one should
do who comes of good stock on both sides; for although we
Fletchers have been but yeomen from generation to genera-
tion, we have been ever ready to take and give our share of
hard blows when they were going; and there have been few
battles fought since William the Norman came over that a
Fletcher has not fought in the English ranks, whether in
France, in Scotland, or in our own troubles.

“Therefore it seems to me but natural that for many rea-
sons you should desire at your age to take part in the fighting ;
as an Englishman, because Englishmen fought six years ago
under the banner of Condé; as a Protestant, on behalf of our
persecuted brethren; as a Frenchman by your mother’s side,
because you have kinsfolk engaged, and because it is the Pope
and Philip of Spain, as well as the Guises, who are in fact
battling to stamp out French liberty. Of one thing I am sure,
my boy, you will disgrace neither an honest English name nor
the French blood in your veins, nor your profession as a Chris-
tian and a Protestant. There are Engishmen gaining credit
on the Spanish Main under Drake and Hawkins, there are
Englishmen fighting manfully by the side of the Dutch, there
are others in the armies of the Protestant princes of Germany,
and in none of these matters are they so deeply concerned as
you are in the affairs of France and religion. :

“T shall miss you, of course, Philip, and that sorely; but I
have long seen that this would probably be the upshot of your
training, and since I can myself take no share in adventure
beyond the walls of this house, I shall feel that I am living
again in you. But, lad, never forget that you are English.
You are Philip Fletcher, come of an old Kentish stock, and
though you may be living with French kinsfolk and friends,
always keep uppermost the fact that you are an Englishman
who sympathizes with France, and not a Frenchman with
some English blood in your veins. I have given you up
greatly to your French relations here; but if you win credit
and honour I would have it won by my son, Philip Fletcher,
born in England of an English father, and who will one day
be a gentleman and land-owner in the county of Kent.”

“J sha’n’t forget that, father,” Philip said earnestly. “TI