Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/110

 88 THE CECILS

towards my son " and expressing a wish that he " were out of Germany, and might see Italy, and pass by the Helvetians, and to Geneva. Marry, I wish you to have good regard to pass as unknown as you may, because of the malice that I know the papists owe me ; and could be content to avenge the same in my son. My meaning is that, since my son is abroad, he should see all things requisite, for I do mean at his return to move him to marry, and then to plant him at home." Windebank, how- ever, thought that Italy would be dangerous, " by reason of the enticements to pleasure and wanton- ness there," and thought it better to pass the winter at Strasburg, where poor Thomas's " daily exer- cise" was to hear a sermon in the French church, that he " might profit in the French tongue and in goodness also."

By this time they were both longing to be home : Thomas bored beyond measure, and begging to be allowed to return and " see the war, which would be most agreeable to him " ; and his tutor urging that " for qualities commonly com- mended in gentlemen, Germany is not the place to obtain them." At last Windebank, moved by the state of Thomas's health, which was far from satisfactory, and by the dangers to which he was exposed owing to the " looseness in religion with corruption of manners that reign in those parts," decided in consultation with Henry Knollys, who was with them, to come home, whether he had permission or not. What reception Thomas met with from his father we do not know, but the

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