looked up at the shadowy cone of the spire, shot across by bars of
light from the dormers.

And the thunder of Mary was caught up by the wind and carried through
all the country; and when the good man heard it, he said goodbye to
wife and child, slung his shield behind his back, and set forward with
his spear sloped over his shoulder, and many a time, as he walked
toward the good town, he tightened the belt that went about his waist,
that he might stride the faster, so long and furiously did Mary toll.

And before the great bell, Mary, had ceased ringing, all the ways were
full of armed men.

But at each door of the church of Saint Mary stood a row of men armed
with axes, and when any came, meaning to go into the church, the two
first of these would hold their axes (whose helves were about four
feet long) over his head, and would ask him, "Who went over the moon
last night?" then if he answered nothing or at random they would bid
him turn back, which he for the more part would be ready enough to do;
but some, striving to get through that row of men, were slain
outright; but if he were one of those that were friends to the House
of the Lilies he would answer to that question, "Mary and John."

By the time the mass began the whole church was full, and in the nave
and transept thereof were three thousand men, all of our house and all
armed. But Arnald and myself, and Squire Hugh, and some others sat
under a gold-fringed canopy near the choir; and the abbot said mass,
having his mitre on his head. Yet, as I watched him, it seemed to me
that he must have something on beneath his priest's vestments, for he
looked much fatter than usual, being really a tall lithe man.