``Nay，’’saidtheFriar，``ifthoudostretractvowsmadeinfavourofholyChurch，thoumustdopenance。’’
　　Accordingly，heraisedhishalberd，andwouldhavelaidthestaffofitlustilyontheJew’sshoulders，hadnottheBlackKnightstoppedtheblow，andtherebytransferredtheHolyClerk’sresentmenttohimself。
　　``BySaintThomasofKent，’’saidhe，``anI
　　buckletomygear，Iwillteachthee，sirlazylover，tomellwiththineownmatters，maugrethineironcasethere！’’
　　``Nay，benotwrothwithme，’’saidtheKnight；
　　``thouknowestIamthyswornfriendandcomrade。’’
　　``Iknownosuchthing，’’answeredtheFriar；
　　``anddefytheeforameddlingcoxcomb！’’
　　``Nay，but，’’saidtheKnight，whoseemedtotakeapleasureinprovokinghisquondamhost，``hastthouforgottenhow，thatformysakeforI
　　saynothingofthetemptationoftheflagonandthepastythoudidstbreakthyvowoffastandvigil?’’
　　``Truly，friend，’’saidtheFriar，clenchinghishugefist，``Iwillbestowabuffetonthee。’’
　　``Iacceptofnosuchpresents，’’saidtheKnight；
　　``Iamcontenttotakethycuff*asaloan，butIwill*NoteG。RichardCur-de-Lion。
　　repaytheewithusuryasdeepaseverthyprisonerthereexactedinhistraffic。’’
　　``Iwillprovethatpresently，’’saidtheFriar。
　　``Hola！’’criedtheCaptain，``whatartthouafter，madFriar?brawlingbeneathourTrysting-tree?’’
　　``Nobrawling，’’saidtheKnight，``itisbutafriendlyinterchangeofcourtesy——Friar，strikeanthoudarest——Iwillstandthyblow，ifthouwiltstandmine。’’
　　``Thouhasttheadvantagewiththatironpotonthyhead，’’saidthechurchman；``buthaveatthee——Downthougoest，anthouwertGoliathofGathinhisbrazenhelmet。’’
　　TheFriarbaredhisbrawnyarmuptotheelbow，andputtinghisfullstrengthtotheblow，gavetheKnightabuffetthatmighthavefelledanox。Buthisadversarystoodfirmasarock。Aloudshoutwasutteredbyalltheyeomenaround；fortheClerk’scuffwasproverbialamongstthem，andtherewerefewwho，injestorearnest，hadnothadtheoccasiontoknowitsvigour。
　　``Now，Priest，’’said，theKnight，pullingoffhisgauntlet，``ifIhadvantageonmyhead，Iwillhavenoneonmyhand——standfastasatrueman。’’
　　``_Genammeamdedivapulatori_——Ihavegivenmycheektothesmiter，’’saidthePriest；``anthoucanststirmefromthespot，fellow，IwillfreelybestowontheetheJew’sransom。’’
　　SospoketheburlyPriest，assuming，onhispart，highdefiance。Butwhomayresisthisfate?ThebuffetoftheKnightwasgivenwithsuchstrengthandgood-will，thattheFriarrolledheadoverheelsupontheplain，tothegreatamazementofallthespectators。Buthearoseneitherangrynorcrestfallen。
　　``Brother，’’saidhetotheKnight，``thoushouldsthaveusedthystrengthwithmorediscretion。Ihadmumbledbutalamemassanthouhadstbrokenmyjaw，forthepiperplaysillthatwantsthenetherchops。Nevertheless，thereismyhand，infriendlywitness，thatIwillexchangenomorecuffswiththee，havingbeenaloserbythebarter。Endnowallunkindness。LetusputtheJewtoransom，sincetheleopardwillnotchangehisspots，andaJewhewillcontinuetobe。’’
　　``ThePriest，’’saidClement，``isnothavesoconfidentoftheJew’sconversion，sincehereceivedthatbuffetontheear。’’
　　``Goto，knave，whatpratestthouofconversions?——
　　what，istherenorespect?——allmastersandnomen?——Itellthee，fellow，IwassomewhattottywhenIreceivedthegoodknight’sblow，orIhadkeptmygroundunderit。Butanthougibestmoreofit，thoushaltlearnIcangiveaswellastake。’’
　　``Peaceall！’’saidtheCaptain。``Andthou，Jew，thinkofthyransom；thouneedestnottobetoldthatthyraceareheldtobeaccursedinallChristiancommunities，andtrustmethatwecannotendurethypresenceamongus。Think，therefore，ofanoffer，whileIexamineaprisonerofanothercast。’’
　　``WeremanyofFront-de-Buf’smentaken?’’
　　demandedtheBlackKnight。
　　``Noneofnoteenoughtobeputtoransom，’’answeredtheCaptain；``asetofhildingfellowstherewere，whomwedismissedtofindthemanewmaster——
　　enoughhadbeendoneforrevengeandprofit；
　　thebunchofthemwerenotworthacardecu。TheprisonerIspeakofisbetterbooty——ajollymonkridingtovisithisleman，anImayjudgebyhishorse-gearandwearingapparel——Herecomeththeworthyprelate，aspertasapyet。’’And，betweentwoyeomen，wasbroughtbeforethesilvanthroneoftheoutlawChief，ouroldfriend，PriorAymerofJorvaulx。
　　CHAPTERXXXIII——
　　Flowerofwarriors，Howis’twithTitusLartius?
　　_Marcius_。Aswithamanbusiedaboutdecrees，Condemningsometodeathandsometoexile，Ransominghimorpitying，threateningtheother。
　　_Coriolanus_
　　ThecaptiveAbbot’sfeaturesandmannersexhibitedawhimsicalmixtureofoffendedpride，andderangedfopperyandbodilyterror。
　　``Why，hownow，mymasters?’’saidhe，withavoiceinwhichallthreeemotionswereblended。
　　``Whatorderisthisamongye?BeyeTurksorChristians，thathandleachurchman?——Knowyewhatitis，_manusimponereinservosDomini_?Yehaveplunderedmymails——tornmycopeofcuriouscutlace，whichmighthaveservedacardinal！——
　　Anotherinmyplacewouldhavebeenathis_excommunicabovos_；butIamplacible，andifyeorderforthmypalfreys，releasemybrethren，andrestoremymails，telldownwithallspeedanhundredcrownstobeexpendedinmassesatthehighaltarofJorvaulxAbbey，andmakeyourvowtoeatnovenisonuntilnextPentecost，itmaybeyoushallhearlittlemoreofthismadfrolic。’’
　　``HolyFather，’’saidthechiefOutlaw，``itgrievesmetothinkthatyouhavemetwithsuchusagefromanyofmyfollowers，ascallsforyourfatherlyreprehension。’’
　　``Usage！’’echoedthepriest，encouragedbythemildtoneofthesilvanleader；``itwereusagefitfornohoundofgoodrace——muchlessforaChristian——farlessforapriest——andleastofallforthePrioroftheholycommunityofJorvaulx。Hereisaprofaneanddrunkenminstrel，calledAllan-a-Dale——_nebuloquidam_——whohasmenacedmewithcorporalpunishment——nay，withdeathitself，anI
　　paynotdownfourhundredcrownsofransom，tothebootofallthetreasurehehathalreadyrobbedmeof——goldchainsandgymmalringstoanunknownvalue；besideswhatisbrokenandspoiledamongtheirrudehands，suchasmypouncer-boxandsilvercrisping-tongs。’’
　　``ItisimpossiblethatAllan-a-Dalecanhavethustreatedamanofyourreverendbearing，’’repliedtheCaptain。
　　``ItistrueasthegospelofSaintNicodemus，’’
　　saidthePrior；``heswore，withmanyacruelnorth-countryoath，thathewouldhangmeuponthehighesttreeinthegreenwood。’’
　　``Didhesoinverydeed?Nay，then，reverendfather，Ithinkyouhadbettercomplywithhisdemands——forAllan-a-Daleistheverymantoabidebyhiswordwhenhehassopledgedit。’’*
　　*Acommissaryissaidtohavereceivedsimilarconsolation*fromacertainCommander-in-chief，towhomhecomplained*thatageneralofficerhadusedsomesuchthreattowardshimas*thatinthetext。
　　``Youdobutjestwithme，’’saidtheastoundedPrior，withaforcedlaugh；``andIloveagoodjestwithallmyheart。But，ha！ha！ha！whenthemirthhaslastedthelivelongnight，itistimetobegraveinthemorning。’’
　　``AndIamasgraveasafatherconfessor，’’repliedtheOutlaw；``youmustpayaroundransom，SirPrior，oryourconventislikelytobecalledtoanewelection；foryourplacewillknowyounomore。’’
　　``AreyeChristians，’’saidthePrior，``andholdthislanguagetoachurchman?’’
　　``Christians！ay，marryarewe，andhavedivinityamongustoboot，’’answeredtheOutlaw。
　　``Letourbuxomchaplainstandforth，andexpoundtothisreverendfatherthetextswhichconcernthismatter。’’
　　TheFriar，half-drunk，half-sober，hadhuddledafriar’sfrockoverhisgreencassock，andnowsummoningtogetherwhateverscrapsoflearninghehadacquiredbyroteinformerdays，``Holyfather，’’saidhe，``_Deusfaciatsalvambenignitatemvestram_——
　　Youarewelcometothegreenwood。’’
　　``Whatprofanemummeryisthis?’’saidthePrior。``Friend，ifthoubestindeedofthechurch，itwereabetterdeedtoshowmehowImayescapefromthesemen’shands，thantostandduckingandgrinningherelikeamorris-dancer。’’