awaken, even before the market folks were astir, Frederick led
forth his band intent upon a new sort of mischief. Some of the
number carried pots of red paint in their hands, and others pots of
white paint.

Up and down the empty streets paraded these worthies, pausing here
and there at the door of some citizen that presented a tempting
surface. One of their number would paint upon it the ominous red
cross, whilst another who had skill enough (for writing was not the
accomplishment of every citizen even then) would add in staring
white letters the legend, "Lord, have mercy upon us!"

It was a brutal jest at such a time, when the dread visitor had
actually appeared as it were in their midst, and all sober men were
in fear of what might betide, and of the methods already spoken of
for the suppression of the distemper. But it was its very
wickedness which gave it its charm in the opinion of the
perpetrators, and as they went from street to street, Frederick
suddenly exclaimed:

"Ha! we are close to Allhallowes. Let us adorn the door of the old
madwoman, Lady Scrope. They say she lives quite alone, and that her
servants come in the morning and leave at night. Sure they will
none of them have courage to pass the threshold when that sign
adorns it, and the old hag will have to come forth herself to seek
them. An excellent joke! I will watch the house, and give her a
kiss as she comes forth."

Whereupon the whole crew burst into shouts of drunken laughter, and
made a rush to the door, which stood flush in a grim-looking wall