Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17


at liberty to go, when the loud
voice of the sunmoner broke in upon
the silence:
IF it please you, holy father Abbot" cried
the voice. this decision of yours is indeed secnndun
legem and intrd vsres so far as the civil suit
is concerned which lies between this person and the
Abbey. That is your affair; but it is l. Joseph the
summoner who have been grievously and GRIM
nally mishandled, my writs, papers and indentures
destroyed my authority houted and my person
dragged through bog, quagmire or morass, that
my velvet gabardine and silver badge of office
lost and are l verify believe, in the morass,
quagmire or bog aforementioned, which is the
bog, morass-"
"Enoughi' cried the Abbot stern1y. LAY aside
this foolish fashion of speech and say straitly what
you desire
Holy father, l have been the officer of the
Kings law no less than the servant of Holy Church.
and l have been let, hindered and assaulted in the
performance of my lawful and proper duties whilst
my papers, drawn in the Kings name, have been
shended and rended and cast to the wind. There
fore, demand justice upon this in the Abbey
court, the said assault having been committed
within the baneue of the Abbeys jurisdiction
What have you to say to this, brother sacrist2"
asked the Abbot in some perplexity
Il would say, father, that it is within our power
to deal gently and chartably with all that concerns
ourselves but that where the Kings officer is con-
cerned we are wanting in duty if give him
less than the protection that he demands. would
remind you also, holy father that this is not the
first of this mans violence but that he has before
now beaten our servants, defied authority, and
put pike in the Abbot's own fsh-pond"
The prelate's heavy cheeks flushed with anger as
this old grievance fresh into his mind His
eyes hardened he looked at the prisoner. Tell
me, Squire Nigel, did you indeed put pike in the
pond?"
The young drew himself proudly up ERE
i answer such a question, father Abbot, do you
answer one from me, and tell what the monks
of Waverley have done for me that l
should hold my hand when I could injure them?"
low murmur round the room, partly won
der at his frankness and partly anger his holiness
The Abbot settled down in his seat as one who
has made up his mind. LET the case of the
sumnoner be laid before me-" said he Justice
shall be done, and the offender shall be punished
be he noble simple Let the plant be brought
before the court"
The tale of the summoner. though rambling and
filled with endless legal reiteration was only too
clear in its essence. Red Swire with his angry
face framed in white bristes, led in, and con-
fessed to his ill treatment of the official A second
cuprt, a little wiry nut-brown archer from Churt
had aided and abetted in the deed. Both of them
were ready to declare that young Squire Nigel
Lor1ng knew nothing of the matter. But then
there was the awkward incident of the tearing of
the writs. Nigel, to whom lie was an impossible
lty, had to admit that with his hands he had
shredded those august documents. AS to an excuse
or an explanation he was too proud to advance
any cloud gathered over the brow of the Abbot
prisoner, while solemn hush fell over the chapter
house the case ended and only Judgment re-
manned.
Squire Nigel" said the Abbot, lit was for you
who are, all men know of ancient lineage in this
land, to give fair example by which others should