New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-10
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for DECEMBER 10. IYO5
s / r n I @ Z l.
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such as me and transfer, carry or convey
us into a bog or mOrass. Such one Is
this graceless old man with the AK
whom | have seen already this day
There are also those who tear, destroy
or scatter the papers of the law, OF which
this Young man is the chief Therefore,
| would rede you, dame, not to rail
against us, but to understand that we
are the Kings men on the Kings own
service"
What then is your GRAND in this
house at this hour of the night"
The summoner cleared his throat
pompously, and turning his parchment
to the light of the Cressets he read out
long document in Norman-French,
couched in such a style and such
language that the most involved and
foolish of our forms were simplicity itself
compared to those by which the men of
the long gown made a mystery of that
which of ali things on earth should be
the plainest and. the most simple. Despair
fell cold upon Nigers heart and blanched
the face of the old dame as they listened
to the dread catalogue of claims and
suits and issues, questions OF Peccary
and turbary, of house-bote and tire-bote,
which ended by a demand for all the
lands Entertainments, tenements, mes
suages and curtilages, which made up
their worldly all.
Nigel, still bound, had been placed
with his back against the iron Golfer,
whence he heard with dry lips and moist
brow this doom of his house. Now he
broke in on the recital with a vehemence
which made the summOner jump:
You shall rue what you have done
this night" he cried. Poor as we are,
we have our friends who will not see us
wronged, and l will plead my cause
before the Kings own majesty at Wind
sor, that he, who saw the father die, may
know what things are done in his royal
name against the son. But these mat
tiers are to be settled in course of law IN
the Kings courts, and how will you
excuse yourself for this assault upon my
house and person?
Nay, that is another matter" said /
the socrist THE question of debt may |
indeed be an affair of a civil court. But |
it is a crime against the law and an act |
of the Devil which comes within the /
jurisdiction of the Abbey Court of /
Waverley when you dare to lay hands |
upon the surnmOner or his papers.
Indeed, he speaks truth cried the
official Il know no blacker sin
Therefore, said the stern monk, 1T |
is the order of the holy father Abbot .
that you sleep this night in the Abbey /
cell, and that tomorrow you be brought |
before him at the court held in the
chapter-house so that you receive the fit
punishment for this and the many other
violent and froward deeds which you
have wrought upon the servants of Holy
Church. Enough is now said, worthy
master summOner. Archers, remove your
prisoner
As Nigel was lifted up by four stout
archers, the Dame Ermyntrude would
have rushed to his aid, but the sacrist
thrust her back.
Stand off, proud woman! Let the
law take its course, and learn to humble |
your heart before the power of Holy
Church. Has your life not taught its
lesson, you, whose horn was exalted |
among the highest and will soon not
have a roof above your gray hairs? |