"
"Lord Fitzwater," cried one, "take heed how you resist lawful authority:
we will prove ourselves----"
"You will prove yourselves arrant knaves, I doubt not," answered the baron;
"but, villains, you shall be more grievously bruised by me than ever was
the sheriff by my daughter (a pretty tale truly!), if you do not forthwith
avoid my territory."
By this time the baron's men had flocked to the battlements,
with long-bows and cross-bows, slings and stones,
and Matilda with her bow and quiver at their head.
The assailants, finding the castle so well defended, deemed it
expedient to withdraw till they could return in greater force,
and rode off to Rubygill Abbey, where they made known their
errand to the father abbot, who, having satisfied himself
of their legitimacy, and conned over the allegations,
said that doubtless brother Michael had heinously offended;
but it was not for the civil law to take cognizance of the misdoings
of a holy friar; that he would summon a chapter of monks,
and pass on the offender a sentence proportionate to his offence.
The ministers of civil justice said that would not do.
The abbot said it would do and should; and bade them not
provoke the meekness of his catholic charity to lay them under
the curse of Rome. This threat had its effect, and the party
rode off to Gamwell-Hall, where they found the Gamwells
and their men just sitting down to dinner, which they saved
them the trouble of eating by consuming it in the king's
name themselves, having first seized and bound young Gamwell;
all which they accomplished by dint of superior numbers,
in despite of a most vigorous stand made by the Gamwellites
in defence of their young master and their provisions.
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