cups. But even in this I heard a voice exclaim, 'Friar Clement, remember that thou art no more than man!' and were it not for these failings, and the cravings of my stomach during fasts, I fear me that my horn would become exalted, and I should imagine myself a saint. Once have I risen in my pride, even when I addressed the assembled multitude who were disobeying the holy interdict. But the very blow that the smith struck with his hammer, when he immersed me into the malt liquor, even that sound said, ' Friar Clement, thou art no more than man!""

Lay not this flattering hope to thy soul, brother," said Father Nicholas, "nor thus seek to cover thy failings. How canst thou thank Heaven that thou art only a drunkard and a glutton? May not the murderer console himself by the same rule, and thank Heaven that he hath not robbed the holy church; or the usurer thank the saints that he is not guilty of gluttony; or the felon bless himself for having paid the prior his dues; the covet

ous man console himself by never having plundered a widow; the slanderer return thanks for never having robbed a man in the king's highway; the hypocrite boast that he hath never neglected to say his paternosters daily; and the miser sooth himself with the thought that he oweth no man a silver penny. Believe me, good brother, that the Evil-one never permitteth us to halt long, if we want to throw a cloak over our own failings, but is ever ready with the shadow of his wing, to darken what we would fain conceal."

"Thou strikest somewhat heavily, Father Nicholas," said the friar, " and, excepting when thou art interpreting holy writ, makest thy arguments to tell. But I hold it good that we should have a faith within ourselves, and somewhat of a just appreciation of our merits as well as failings. Faith, my brother, I hold to be the key which unlocks the gate of our hopes, even as Lance unlocketh the larder. Nor does the food found therein bear far from the realization of our hopes hereafter; for, in this wise,

hunger begetteth an appetite, which is faithwe reach the larder, which is hope. Lance bringeth forth the key, which is charity; and we enter therein, and partake of the reward which faith, hope, and charity held out to us."

"I would fain persuade thee, brother," said Father Nicholas, "to draw thy reasons from the works of the holy fathers, instead of the larder. Thy metaphors savour of the meatmarket, and thy comparisons smack of the ale-cup. Wouldst thou, in addressing thy flock, draw such inferences as these, and hold up virtue as consisting in an abstinence from venison, or make self-denial to exist in refraining from the wine-flask. No, brother, it would be like wearing the sackcloth, and shirt of scourging hair over the gaberdine when we do penance, and not where they would bite through the very skin."

"The cold night-air is gnawing at my stomach, worthy father," said the hungry friar, "and unless appeased will keep up a rumbling within my frail tenement, which will break my

slumbers worse than the howling of a dog. I will argue this matter with thee on the morrow" so saying, he departed from the chapel, and was speedily followed by the few remaining friars.

CHAPTER VII.

What shall he have that killed the deer?
As you like it.

THE eventful morning, appointed for the trial of Hereward, at length arrived, and the inhabitants of the forest seemed to have caught the sad aspect of the sky, which was dull, heavy, and overcast with masses of lowering clouds. The drizzling showers, which beat in at the grated window where the brave Saxon was imprisoned, together with the leaden and weary appearance of the heavens, threw a painful and melancholy sadness over his feelings, of which he in vain attempted to rid himself.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of