understood what Thomas Bolle had meant by his cry of, "In the King's
name!"



CHAPTER XIII

THE MESSENGER

"Who makes all this tumult?" shouted the Commissioner. "Why do I see
blood and wounds and dead men? And how were you about to handle these
women, one of whom by her mien is of no low degree?" and he stared at
Cicely.

"The tumult," answered the Abbot, "was caused by yonder fool, Thomas
Bolle, a lay-brother of my monastery, who rushed among us armed and
shouting 'In the King's name, stay.'"

"Then why did you not stay, Sir Abbot? Is the King's name one to be
mocked at? Know that I sent on the man."

"He had no warrant, Sir Commissioner, unless his bull's voice and great
axe are a warrant, and I did not stay because we were doing justice upon
the three foulest witches in the realm."

"Doing justice? Whose justice and what justice? Say, had you a warrant
for your justice? If so, show it me."

"These witches have been condemned by a Court Ecclesiastic, the judges
being a bishop, a prior and myself, and in pursuance of that judgment