sir nigel-第9部分

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worth　than　all　your　thrall　and　caitiff　bodies？〃

〃Nay；　not　so　fast；　dame；　not　so　fast；　I　pray　you！〃　cried　the　stout
summoner；　whose　face　had　resumed　its　natural　color；　now　that　he
had　a　woman　to　deal　with。　　〃There　is　a　law　of　England；　mark　you；
and　there　are　those　who　serve　and　uphold　it；　who　are　the　true　men
and　the　King's　own　lieges。　　Such　a　one　am　I。　　Then　again；　there
are　those　who　take　such　as　me　and　transfer；　carry　or　convey　us
into　a　bog　or　morass。　　Such　a　one　is　this　graceless　old　man　with
the　ax；　whom　I　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；　I　would　rede　you；　dame；　not　to
rail　against　us；　but　to　understand　that　we　are　the　King's　men　on
the　King's　own　service。〃

〃What　then　is　your　errand　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　a　long　document
in　Norman…French；　couched　in　such　a　style　and　such　a　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　all　things　on　earth　should　be　the　plainest　and
the　most　simple。　　Despair　fell　cold　upon　Nigel's　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　fire…bote；　which　ended　by　a　demand　for
all　the　lands；　hereditaments；　tenements；　messuages　and　curtilages；
which　made　up　their　worldly　all。

Nigel；　still　bound；　had　been　placed　with　his　back　against　the　iron
coffer；　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　I
will　plead　my　cause　before　the　King's　own　majesty　at　Windsor；　that
he；　who　saw　the　father　die；　may　know　what　things　are　done　in　his
royal　name　against　the　son。　　But　these　matters　are　to　be　settled
in　course　of　law　in　the　King's　courts；　and　how　will　you　excuse
yourself　for　this　assault　upon　my　house　and　person？〃

〃Nay；　that　is　another　matter；〃　said　the　sacrist。　　〃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　summoner　or　his　papers。〃

〃Indeed；　he　speaks　truth；〃　cried　the　official。　　〃I　know　no　blacker
sin。〃

〃Therefore；〃　said　the　stern　monk；　〃it　is　the　order　of　the　holy
father　Abbot　that　you　sleep　this　night　in　the　Abbey　cell；　and　that
to…morrow　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？
Stand　back；　I　say；　lest　I　lay　a　curse　upon　you！〃

The　old　dame　flamed　suddenly　into　white　wrath　as　she　stood　before
the　angry　monk：　〃Listen　to　me　while　I　lay　a　curse　upon　you　and
yours！〃　she　cried　as　she　raised　her　shriveled　arms　and　blighted
him　with　her　flashing　eyes

〃As　you　have　done　to　the　house　of　Loring；　so　may　God　do　to　you；
until　your　power　is　swept　from　the　land　of　England；　and　of　your
great　Abbey　of　Waverley　there　is　nothing　left　but　a　pile　of　gray
stones　in　a　green　meadow！　　I　see　it！　　I　see　it！　　With　my　old　eyes
I　see　it！　　From　scullion　to　Abbot　and　from　cellar　to　tower；　may
Waverley　and　all　within　it　droop　and　wither　from　this　night　on！〃

The　monk；　hard　as　he　was；　quailed　before　the　frantic　figure　and
the　bitter；　burning　words。　　Already　the　summoner　and　the　archers
with　their　prisoner　were　clear　of　the　house。　　He　turned　and　with　a
clang　he　shut　the　heavy　door　behind　him。



V。　　HOW　NIGEL　WAS　TRIED　BY　THE　ABBOT　OF　WAVERLEY


The　law　of　the　Middle　Ages；　shrouded　as　it　was　in　old
Norman…French　dialect；　and　abounding　in　uncouth　and
incomprehensible　terms；　in　deodands　and　heriots；　in　infang　and
outfang；　was　a　fearsome　weapon　in　the　hands　of　those　who　knew　how
to　use　it。　　It　was　not　for　nothing　that　the　first　act　of　the　rebel
commoners　was　to　hew　off　the　head　of　the　Lord　Chancellor。　　In　an
age　when　few　knew　how　to　read　or　to　write；　these　mystic　phrases
and　intricate　forms；　with　the　parchments　and　seals　which　were
their　outward　expression；　struck　cold　terror　into　hearts　which
were　steeled　against　mere　physical　danger。

Even　young　Nigel　Loring's　blithe　and　elastic　spirit　was　chilled　as
he　lay　that　night　in　the　penal　cell　of　Waverley　and　pondered　over
the　absolute　ruin　which　threatened　his　house　from　a　source　against
which　all　his　courage　was　of　no　avail。　　As　well　take　up　sword　and
shield　to　defend　himself　against　the　black　death；　as　against　this
blight　of　Holy　Church。　　He　was　powerless　in　the　grip　of　the　Abbey。
Already　they　had　shorn　off　a　field　here　and　a　grove　there；　and　now
in　one　sweep　they　would　take　in　the　rest；　and　where　then　was　the
home　of　the　Lorings；　and　where　should　Lady　Ermyntrude　lay　her　aged
head；　or　his　old　retainers；　broken　and　spent；　eke　out　the　balance
of　their　days？　　He　shivered　as　he　thought　of　it。

It　was　very　well　for　him　to　threaten　to　carry　the　matter　before
the　King；　but　it　was　years　since　royal　Edward　had　heard　the　name
of　Loring；　and　Nigel　knew　that　the　memory　of　princes　was　a　short
one。　　Besides；　the　Church　was　the　ruling　power　in　the　palace　as
well　as　in　the　cottage；　and　it　was　only　for　very　good　cause　that　a
King　could　be　expected　to　cross　the　purposes　of　so　high　a　prelate
as　the　Abbot　of　Waverley；　as　long　as　they　came　within　the　scope　of
the　law。　　Where　then　was　he　to　look　for　help？　　With　the　simple　and
practical　piety　of　the　age；　he　prayed　for　the　aid　of　his　own
particular　saints：　of　Saint　Paul；　whose　adventures　by　land　and
sea；　had　always　endeared　him；　of　Saint　George；　who　had　gained　much
honorable　advancement　from　the　Dragon；　and　of　Saint　Thomas；　who
was　a　gentleman　of　coat…armor；　who　would　understand　and　help　a
person　of　gentle　blood。　　Then；　much　comforted　by　his　naive　orisons
he　enjoyed　the　sleep　of　youth　and　health　until　the　entrance　of　the
lay　brother　with　the　bread　and　small　beer；　which　served　as
breakfast；　in　the　morning。

The　Abbey　court　sat　in　the　chapter…house　at　the　canonical　hour　of
tierce；　which　was　nine　in　the　forenoon。　　At　all　times　the　function
was　a　solemn　one；　even　when　the　culprit　might　be　a　villain　who　was
taken　poaching　on　the　Abbey　estate；　or　a　chapman　who　had　given
false　measure　from　his　biased　scales。　　But　now；　when　a　man　of
noble　birth　was　to　be　tried；　the　whole　legal　and　ecclesiastical
ceremony　was　carried　out　with　every　detail；　grotesque　or
impressive；　which　the　full　ritual　prescribed。　　The　distant　roll　of
church　music　and　the　slow　tolling　of　the　Abbey　bell；　the　white…
robed　brethren；　two　and　two；　walked　thrice　round　the　hall　singing
the　〃Benedicite〃　and　the　〃Veni；　Creator〃　before　they　settled　in
their　places　at　the　desks　on　either　side。　　Then　in　turn　each　high
officer　of　the　Abbey　from　below　upward；　the　almoner；　the　lector；
the　chaplain；　the　subprior　and　the　prior；　swept　to　their　wonted
places。

Finally　there　came　the　grim　sacrist；　with　demure　triumph　upon　his
downcast　features；　and　at　his　heels　Abbot　John　himself；　slow　and
dignified；　with　pompous　walk　and　solemn；　composed　face；　his
iron…beaded　rosary　swinging　from　his　waist；　his　breviary　in　his
hand；　and　his　lips　muttering　as　he　hurried　through　his　office　for
the　day。　　He　knelt　at　his　high　pre…dieu；　the　brethren；　at　a　signal
from　the　prior；　prostrated　themselves　upon　the　floor；　and　the　low
deep　voices　rolled　in　prayer；　echoed　back　from　the　arched　and
vaulted　roof　like　the　wash　of　waves　from　an　ocean　cavern。　　Finally
the　monks　resumed　their　seats；　there　entered　clerks　in　seemly
black　with　pens　and　parchment；　the　red…velveted　summoner　appeared
to　tell　his　tale；　Nigel　was　led　in　with　archers　pressing　close
around　him；　and　then；　with　much　calling　of　old　French　and　much
legal　incantation　and　mystery；　the　court　of　the　Abbey　was　open　for
business。

It　was　the　sacrist　who　first　advanced　to　the　oaken　desk　reserved
for　the　witnesses　and　expounded　in　hard；　dry；　mechanical　fashion
the　many　claims　which　the　House；　of　Waverley　had　against　the
family　of　Loring。　　Some　generations　back　in　return　for　money
advanced　or　for　spiritual　favor　received　the　Loring　of　the　day　had
admitted　that　his　estate　had　certain　feudal　duties　toward　the
Abbey。　　The　sacrist　held　up　the　crackling　yellow　parchment　with
swinging　leaden　seals　on　which　the　claim　was　based。　　Amid　the
obligations　was　that　of　escuage；　by　which　the　price　of　a　knight's
fee　should　be　paid　every　year。　　No　such　price　had　been　paid；　nor
had　any　service　been　done。　　The　accumulated　years　came　now　to　a
greater　sum　than　the　fee　simple　of　the　estate。　　There　were　other
claims　also。　　The　sacrist　called　for　his　books；　and　with　thin；
eager　forefinger　he　tracked　them　down：　dues　for　this；　and　tailage
for　that；　so　many　shillings　this　year；　and　so　many　marks　that　one。
Some　of　it　occurred　before　Nigel　was　born；　some　of　it　when　he　was
but　a　child。　　The　accounts　had　been　checked　and　certified　by　the
sergeant　of　the　law。

Nigel　listened　to　the　dread　recital；　and　felt　like　some　young　stag
who　stands　at　bay　with　brave　pose　and　heart　of　fire；　but　who　sees
himself　compassed　round　and　knows　clearly　that　there　is　no　escape。
With　his　bold　young　face；　his　steady　blue　eyes；　and　the　proud
poise　of　his　head；　he　was　a　worthy　scion　of　the　old　house；　and　the
sun；　shining　through　the　high　oriel　window；　and　showing　up　the
stained　and　th