Brenda Rickman Vantrease

“You said we would go on a sea quest. What are we questing for? Why, fair winds, my pretty Kate, fair winds and wine-dark seas.”

“I know my husband. He died with God's name on his lips if anybody's. He always loved his work more than me." (Kate) "Then he was a fool," the captain said with such bitterness that she felt sorry for him, too. "No. He was not a fool," she said. "And he loved me. I know he did. He just belonged to God. I only borrowed him for a time." (p.383)”

“He could not go to God with hatred in his heart. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Even he was surprised that his voice could ring so clearly with no hint of the trembling he felt inside...."Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," Andrew's voice behind John shouted. The flames caught their garments. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God," John answered. "Blessed are they-" But the heat and smoke stole his breath away and he could answer no more. He felt Andrew's hand go limp in his and he was glad. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," a voice in the crowd shouted. But John did not hear.”

“But with all their mocking they had only hardened his resolve. And the odd thing was, they took a perverse pleasure in it, as though they really didn't want him to recant. He could see the excitement in their faces, and he almost pitied them their devilish obsession. Their souls were in more peril than his. His body might burn, but their souls were being consumed by the fires of their hatred. (p. 365-366)”

“He was alone and shackled by his neck to the wall. And he had no hope. How did a man live without hope? [You hope is in Jesus Christ. Pray to your Father in that name and he will ease your pain or shorten it]. That's what Tyndale had said in his last letter. And that's what John tried to do, though he could not kneel or even bow his head from his fixed position on the wall. (p. 365)”

“You can't help a man who won't be helped. (p. 364)”

“I think your husband has that something about him that defines honor very narrowly. I fear he is the stuff of which martyrs are made." (Tom Lasser, p. 358)”

“He is a good man, and I don't like Thomas More and his band of heretic hunters. A man should have a right to believe what a man wants to believe. (p. 337)”

“She is happy, Kate thought. Even in her circumstance, she is happy. Kate almost envied the wounded woman that contentment. Was that what suffering did? she wondered. Place you in such pain that with its lessening, contentment came more easily. (p. 180)”

“If a man's not content in his soul it really doesn't matter where he lives. p. 131)”

“We are more than pawns, Kate. We are free to make our own choices. Kings and bishops shall not forever determine the fate of free men." (Frith) "You're fleeing the wrath of a bishop, aren't you, and the king's soldiers? How can you be anything but a pawn in a dangerous game?" (Kate) "My choice, Kate. My choice not to play by the bishop's rules. A man whose spirit is free will never be a pawn in somebody else's game no matter what the consequences of his choice." (John) (p. 121)”

“I see you have prepared the chessboard." He grinned a devilish grin. "I thought we could play for it. I win, you marry me. You win, I marry you. That way we both win" (p.120)”

“God had saved him from the fish cellar and that could only mean one thing. He had more work to do. (John Frith, p.64)”