The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

THE MAETYEDOM. 115
clotlied in black gowns, with cords round
their waists and black cowls over their
faces, disclosing only their glistening eyes.
The spectacle was such as might have
appalled the leader of a forlorn hope,
and the officer who was on guard involun-
tarily trembled as he surveyed the fearful
armoury of the Apostolic Church. It was,
of a truth, the Church Militant here on
earth. "The weapons of our warfare,"
said Paul, "are not carnal," but the Church
of Rome has had later revelations. In the
catalogue of this "whole armour" of the
Church were thumb-screws to adjust the
conscience, a set of pulleys and cords to
enlighten the understanding, which might
be darkened by this phase of Lutheranism.
Iron shoes were ready to be heated that the
converts might be " shod with the prepa-
ration of the gospel of peace," while a ma-
chine called the rack made the most tender
appeals to the affections of those whose
malady was some subtle taint of Calvinism.