The Golden Grasshopper

The Golden Grasshopper, by
W.H.G. Kingston

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Title: The Golden Grasshopper A story of the days of Sir Thomas
Gresham
Author: W.H.G. Kingston
Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21390]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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GOLDEN GRASSHOPPER ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

The Golden Grasshopper; a story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham,
by W.H.G. Kingston.
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This book was originally published in 1870, under the title of "The
Royal Merchant". As there were sundry things that needed changing,
the book was edited and re-issued under the title of "The Golden
Grasshopper". Kingston, the author, was in the last few months of his
life while this was being done, so the work was done by some of his
various ghosts, but with Kingston's approval.
The tale is told through the eyes of a Dutch boy, Ernst Verner, whose
parents had been put to death in Holland for their Protestant faith.
It was a difficult time in England, for, between the Protestant
sovereigns, Edward the Sixth, and Elizabeth, there were a few years
under the Catholic Queen, Mary, during which very many people were
put to death for their Protestantism. Most people did their best to pay
lip service to whoever was the current ruler, while keeping their own
beliefs to themselves.
The boy, Ernst has a recommendation to the great Sir Thomas
Gresham, a merchant so important at the time that many of his
initiatives persist to this day. He is sent to Saint Paul's School, which
still exists, though not now in the centre of the City of London.
He makes friends with another boy, A'Dale. From here on the story
becomes very convoluted, either because the boys are trying to do
things they have been ordered to do by Sir Thomas, or because they are
being pursued by a Romish priest, who had taken a major dislike to
them as they were not paying due attention while he was saying Mass
at Saint Paul's Cathedral. We realise what a major barrier the English
Channel was in those days, with the short distance sometimes taking
but a few hours, and at other times several days, perhaps even with loss
of life.
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THE GOLDEN GRASSHOPPER, A STORY OF THE DAYS OF SIR

THOMAS GRESHAM, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON.
CHAPTER ONE.
PERSECUTION.
In the year of Grace 1551, Antwerp was not only the chief city of the
Netherlands, but the commercial capital of the world. Its public
buildings were also celebrated for the elaborate carving of their
exteriors, for their richly-furnished interiors, and for their general
architectural beauty.
In one of the principal streets of that city there stood a handsome house,
the property of that wealthy and highly-esteemed merchant--Jasper
Schetz. In a private room, the walls richly adorned with carving and
tapestry, sat at a dark oak writing table a gentleman in a black velvet
suit, having a black cap of the same material on his head. On a
high-backed chair near him hung his cloak and rapier, while at his side
he had a short dagger, with a jewelled hilt, ready for use. He was still
young, but his features were grave, and his brow full of thought. His
figure was tall and slight, though perhaps somewhat too stiff to be
graceful. He was evidently a person of note, one more accustomed to
guide men by his counsels, perhaps, than to command them in the
field-- rather a financier or diplomatist than a military commander.
Another person was in the room, standing at a high desk at a little
distance. He was a somewhat older man than the former, shorter in
figure, and more strongly built. His countenance also exhibited a
considerable amount of intelligence, as well as firmness and decision of
character.
"Write to their lordships, Master Clough, that I have secured a loan
from Lazarus Tucker of 10,000 pounds for six months, with interest at
the rate of 14 per cent, per annum. Acknowledge that the rate is
somewhat high, but the loan could not be procured for less. Say I have
paid over to our good friends Schetz Brothers the sum of 1,000 pounds,
according to the command of the King, as an acknowledgment to them
for the last loan which they obtained for his Majesty."

The gentleman first described continued dictating to the latter, his
secretary, for some time, much in the same style. He then branched