Page:Walter Scott - The Monastery (Henry Frowde, 1912).djvu/443

RV 375 (Rh) Lord James may take on him to dispone upon the goods and lands of the halidome at his pleasure, because, doubtless, but for the protection of God, and the baronage which yet remain faithful to their creed, he may despoil us of them by force; but while they are the property of the community, we may not take steadings from ancient and faithful vassals, to gratify the covetousness of those who serve God only from the lucre of gain.'

'By the mass,' said Christie, 'it is well talking, sir priest; but when ye consider that Gilbert has but two half-starved cowardly peasants to follow him, and only an auld jaded aver to ride upon, fitter for the plough than for manly service; and that the Baron of Avenel never rides with fewer than ten jackmen at his back, and oftener with fifty, bodin in all that effeirs to war as if they were to do battle for a kingdom, and mounted on nags that nicker at the clash of the sword as if it were the clank of the lid of a corn-chest—I say, when ye have computed all this, ye may guess what course will best serve your monastery.'

'Friend,' said the monk, 'I would willingly purchase thy master's assistance on his own terms, since times leave us no better means of defence against the sacrilegious spoliation of heresy; but to take from a poor man his patrimony'

'For that matter,' said the rider, 'his seat would scarce be a soft one, if my master thought that Gilbert's interest stood betwixt him and what he wishes. The halidome has land enough, and Gilbert may be quartered elsewhere.'

'We will consider the possibility of so disposing the matter,' said the monk, 'and will expect inconsequence your master's most active assistance, with all the followers he can make, to join in the defence of the halidome, against any force by which it may be threatened.'

'A man's hand and a mailed glove on that,'$n$ said the jackman. 'They call us marauders, thieves, and what not; but the side we take we hold by. And I will be blithe when my baron comes to a point which side he will take, for the castle is a kind of hell (Our Lady forgive me for naming such a word in this place!) while he is in I his mood, studying how he may best advantage himself. I And now, Heaven be praised! we are in the open valley, and