and ought to be placed in the same den of ignorance and darkness, from whence sprang Thor and Balder, Kiord, Tyr, and Hiemdal, and all the Valkeries."

"Take breath, holy father," said Rob-of-theRaven's-roost, "and look out, lest some of these skull-emptiers should appear, like the wolf Fenris in the old ballad, and carry you off to Niflheim; which I hold to be a dry spot, and not half so well stocked with good cheer as your own larder, if report says true; and all the saints forbid that it should belie such holy men!"

"By the true Lord!" exclaimed another, "their larder may well be stocked. It was but two moons since that Zachary of Linbye was ill at ease, when some of the lazy drones and holy gluttons from the priory, persuaded him to leave all he possessed for their use, to save his soul, at the expense of ruining his own family. His daughter, too, because she chanced to have a pair of black eyes, they have frightened into a nunnery; where it is doubtless intended to set her apart for Heaven, should she not chance to find her way into the priory before that time, where she will be sure to be kept as secret as the relics of the saints."

While matters were thus proceeding with Father Clement, Cardinal Langton, mounted on a superb charger, and arrayed in his robe of office, entered the market-place; followed by the Prior of Newstead, and a long train of friars. Without pausing to address any one, he rode up to the ancient cross in the centre, and resigning his rein to an attendant, ascended the steps. The prior also alighted, and took his stand below the cardinal, while several of the friars occupied the lowest step. Bell, book, and candle, were held by an attendant, high enough for the assembled crowd to witness, and many a smile fled the merriest face when they beheld these solemn preparations, for cursing and excommunicating those who dared to disobey the mandates of the powerful pope.

The haughty cardinal stood with one arm extended, and waved his rude audience into a sudden silence without uttering a word; while, with the other hand, he grasped the folds of his crimson mantle, with a dignity that might have become a Cæsar. Behind him, arose the grey and weather-beaten cross, the holy sign of humility and salvation. The proud churchman that stood beside it, wore but little

on his countenance that corresponded with the sacred symbol, but seemed more like a haughty chieftain, stationed beside his banner, and looking defiance, upon the assembled multitude.

around him.

Tabors and cymbals, rebecks, and rotas were all mute, and even the dancing dogs ceased their capering, and crept beside the rude stool, on which their crest-fallen master was seated. The conjuror sat with mouth agape as he saw his audience one by one depart, and gather around the old cross; the bear also got rid of his tormentors; and a bull which had been brought in to bait, as if he smelt that his papal namesake was at hand, rushed down a lane which led to the forest, and was allowed to escape. The swarthy smith leaned on the huge hammer which he was about to heave, and the sinewy wrestlers were left without a ring of spectators to witness or applaud their feats; even the drinking horns were piled in each other beside the round ale-butts, and the remains of the roasted oxen left for the dogs to devour. One or two there were, however, who still ventured to pitch the bar, but this was done out of mere bravado, and soon ceased.

Scarcely a sound was heard in the whole market-place, where but a few minutes before, mirth and music resounded; the very growling of the hounds was audible as they tore the halfdressed meat from the bones.

After having cast an angry glance upon those who came last, and with seeming reluctance, the offended prelate thus spoke :

"What deeds have mine eyes witnessed! Is this meet conduct for men who are within a step of destruction? Can it be that ye have again fallen back into the heathenism of your forefathers, such as reigned over this land when the blessed Saint Augustine, piloted by the hand of the Highest, breasted the stormy deep, and weighed all danger as light beside your salvation? Know ye not, that the finger of Heaven is pointed against the land, and that unless by heavy penance and deep contrition ye repent, every living soul within this island will be banished from the pale of the church, and from the glory and happiness of heaven. Is this then a time for merry-making, when the servants of God have betaken themselves to fasting and prayer, that they may avert the terrible doom pending over the land? Or have ye gone back

to the worship of strange gods, to kneel before the sun and moon, fire and rivers, fountains, rocks and trees; to practise witchcraft, to murder by magic and firebrands, to invoke the grave for vengeance, and call upon the dead to answer? Are ye, again, believers in the aspect of the sky, the voices and flight of birds, the language of the wind, and the entrails of the beasts ye consume for food? Will ye, again, stab one another, and throwing the body into the water, draw your infernal prophecies from the forms which the blood assumes; or place all your faith and hope upon the incantations of Wiglaer and Wicca, and the stormy songs which your fancies hear in the sound of the tempest, the roaring of the ocean, and the rattling of trees? If so, I marvel not at your thus openly rebelling against the holy father of the church.

"Ye have this day done those things which would doom you to eternal torment, were it not that the holy church, like an indulgent mother, intercedeth for the forgiveness of your transgressions, and taketh your crimes to herself, and were it not that I can trace this flow of iniquity and heresy to its corrupt source,