the Church that her Head may not, at any time, when he runneth counter to those that would assault her, be by base treachery removed?"

"Leave the event, my son, to GOD, and the means to us. It waxeth near the hour wherein we appointed to celebrate Mass in this church. Wherefore see that all fitting preparations thereto be made with convenient speed; that we may, as it were, prepare ourselves, should GoD so order it, to be a sacrifice in which He may delight, by offering up That great Sacrifice for Whose sake He is propitious unto us."

The Sub-prior left the apartment, and the Archbishop was left alone to meditate on the behaviour which would befit him in his approaching time of trial.

CHAPTER IV.

HIGH Mass was said in the Priory church; and the Archbishop, bearing in his hand the blessed Sacrament, descended from the Altar. That day he had chosen, as knowing the grand contest to which he was to be called, to officiate in his most precious vestments. The rich jewelled sandals, the thick gold fringes of the silken tunic and dalmatic, the green velvet chasuble, wrought round the collar with rubies, and inwrought with many an ihc and ma of small pearls; the fringed ends of the stole appearing between the tunic and dalmatic; the maniple studded with gems, the pall fastened on to the chasuble with golden pins, and symbolising the archiepiscopal dignity of the wearer, -made at Rome of the finest wool, from lambs shorn on S. Agnes' day, and blessed by the Pope himself; the golden mitre, and rich gloves; these were the armour which he then put on.

The

The scene and the spectators were well worthy of the drama about to be acted before them. King and the Nobles were assembled in the great hall at Northampton; the Bishops in their glorious vestments, the Barons and Knights had taken their seats; esquires and retainers were in waiting; and all eyes were turned to the door where the Archbishop was expected to make his entrance. Word was in the meanwhile brought of the manner in which he was advancing; of the robes which he wore, as a Bishop who had just been celebrating the Holy Mysteries, and of the Host which he carried in his hand. Astonished and indignant that the Primate ventured thus to approach his tribunal, the King arose, and commanded the Bishops and Barons to accompany him into an inner room. Here a fearful scene of turbulence and clamour ensued: the King denouncing the Primate as a traitor; the Barons demanding his immediate punishment, and that with such hideous outcries, that Roger, Archbishop of York, fearing that the Archbishop would have been murdered on the spot, hastily withdrew.

Becket meanwhile, attended by Warel and a few of his retainers, entered the great hall, which was almost deserted, and took his seat, patiently abiding the issue; prepared for the worst result, and seeing from the downcast looks and secret whispers of his attendants that they expected it. Nothing terrified by the dark scowls of the retainers who were left in the hall, he kept up a conversation with those imme

diately around him. Spite of the massy stone walls which divided the council-chambers, and the enormous portals of oak, clamped with iron and studded with nails, or rather sharpened bolts, the clamour from the interior when it swelled loudest was distinctly audible by the occupiers of the exterior

room.

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Holy Father," said Warel at length, "surely thou hast now given sufficient proof of thy readiness to meet what accusation soever may be preferred against thee; and to defend, as a good champion, the Church over which thou hast been made overPeradventure GOD giveth thee this breathing time, that thou mayest therein make thy escape from these blood-thirsty men, inasmuch as He hath further need of thy ministry hereafter."

seer.

"If it be His will, my son, that I should serve Him in time to come, He can deliver me now; if He hath no need of me, right willing am I to be offered up for His Name. But mark you, my son, how the wicked flee when no man pursueth; note well how an unarmed Christian Bishop putteth a host of armed knights, yea, and a king himself, to Hight; so shalt thou learn how less than feeble is the strength and the wisdom and the confidence which pertain to this world and the prince of its power, when they be weighed against the unseen might which holy Church hath in herself, and bestoweth on her true sons."

As Becket spoke, the door opened, and the Bishop

of Exeter made his appearance alone.

Coming straight to the Primate, he fell on his knees before him, and in a voice broken with tears said—

"I beseech thee, most holy Father, by all the love that thou bearest to those who have been born again unto salvation in the same waters with thyself, who have been accounted worthy to offer the same Venerable Sacrifice, who are CHRIST'S vicars in the same Church, that thou wilt have pity upon us, who on thy account suffer such miseries as those thou seest. The King is furious, the Barons threaten, the Bishops are timorous, the Church is in danger; and that because thou, her chief pastor, rather considerest that which is taught in the schools as strictly just, than that which is practised among men as honourable and expedient. As God shall hereafter judge me, I do from my soul believe that thou art innocent in this sum which our master layeth to thy charge. But as things now be, thy innocence will rather turn to thy detriment than thy profit: for they who judge thee will make thee guilty whether thou art or not. This is not the season, venerable Father, to say that the rights of holy Church extend over the great men of this world; neither canst thou appeal to our lord the Pope with expectation of profit thereby accruing; for how should he dare to offend so mighty a Prince, when he might thereby throw off his rule, and acknowledge, as the emperor doth, the Antipope, his rival? Yield then, Father, to the necessity of the times; resign thy Arch