He rode to the august
structure of retributive Themis, as the French call a gallows,
in all the pride and pomp of shrievalty, and with a splendid
retinue of well-equipped knaves and varlets, as our ancestors
called honest serving-men.
Young Gamwell was brought forth with his arms pinioned behind him;
his sister Alice and his father, Sir Guy, attending him in disconsolate mood.
He had rejected the confessor provided by the sheriff, and had insisted on
the privilege of choosing his own, whom Little John had promised to bring.
Little John, however, had not made his appearance when the fatal
procession began its march; but when they reached the place of execution,
Little John appeared, accompanied by a ghostly friar.
"Sheriff," said young Gamwell, "let me not die with my hands pinioned:
give me a sword, and set any odds of your men against me, and let
me die the death of a man, like the descendant of a noble house,
which has never yet been stained with ignominy."
"No, no," said the sheriff; "I have had enough of setting odds against you.
I have sworn you shall be hanged, and hanged you shall be."
"Then God have mercy on me," said young Gamwell; "and now, holy friar,
shrive my sinful soul."
The friar approached.
"Let me see this friar," said the sheriff: "if he be the friar
of the bridge, I had as lief have the devil in Nottingham;
but he shall find me too much for him here.
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