Page:Maid Marian - Peacock (1822).djvu/20

 At length, through the midst of the internal confusion, the earl by the help of his good sword, the staunch valour of his men, and the blessing of the Virgin, fought his way to the chapel-gate: his bowmen closed him in: he vaulted into his saddle, clapped spurs to his horse, rallied his men on the first eminence, and exchanged his sword for a bow and arrow, with which he did old execution among the pursuers; who at last thought it most expedient to desist from offensive warfare, and to retreat into the abbey, where, in the king's name, they broached a pipe of the best wine and attached all the venison in the larder, having first carefully unpacked the tuft of friars, and set the fallen abbot on his legs.

The friars, it may be well supposed, and such of the king's men as escaped unhurt from the affray, found their spirits a cup too low,