第66章

``Truly，reverendfather，’’saidtheFriar，``I

knowbutonemodeinwhichthoumaystescape。

ThisisSaintAndrew’sdaywithus，wearetakingourtithes。’’

``Butnotofthechurch，then，Itrust，mygoodbrother?’’saidthePrior。

``Ofchurchandlay，’’saidtheFriar；``andtherefore，SirPrior_facitevobisamicosdeMammoneiniquitatis_——makeyourselvesfriendsoftheMammonofunrighteousness，fornootherfriendshipisliketoserveyourturn。’’

``Iloveajollywoodsmanatheart，’’saidthePrior，softeninghistone；``come，yemustnotdealtoohardwithme——Icanwellofwoodcraft，andcanwindahornclearandlustily，andhollotilleveryoakringsagain——Come，yemustnotdealtoohardwithme。’’

``Givehimahorn，’’saidtheOutlaw；``wewillprovetheskillheboastsof。’’

ThePriorAymerwindedablastaccordingly。

TheCaptainshookhishead。

``SirPrior，’’hesaid，``thoublowestamerrynote，butitmaynotransomthee——wecannotafford，asthelegendonagoodknight’sshieldhathit，tosettheefreeforablast。Moreover，Ihavefoundthee——thouartoneofthose，who，withnewFrenchgracesandTra-li-ras，disturbtheancientEnglishbuglenotes——Prior，thatlastflourishontherecheathathaddedfiftycrownstothyransom，forcorruptingthetrueoldmanlyblastsofvenerie。’’

``Well，friend，’’saidtheAbbot，peevishly，``thouartilltopleasewiththywoodcraft。Ipraytheebemoreconformableinthismatterofmyransom。

Ataword——sinceImustneeds，foronce，holdacandletothedevil——whatransomamItopayforwalkingonWatling-street，withouthavingfiftymenatmyback?’’

``Wereitnotwell，’’saidtheLieutenantofthegangaparttotheCaptain，``thatthePriorshouldnametheJew’sransom，andtheJewnamethePrior’s?’’

``Thouartamadknave，’’saidtheCaptain，``butthyplantranscends！——Here，Jew，stepforth——

LookatthatholyFatherAymer，PrioroftherichAbbeyofJorvaulx，andtellusatwhatransomweshouldholdhim?——Thouknowesttheincomeofhisconvent，Iwarrantthee。’’

``O，assuredly，’’saidIsaac。``Ihavetraffickedwiththegoodfathers，andboughtwheatandbarley，andfruitsoftheearth，andalsomuchwool。

O，itisarichabbey-stede，andtheydoliveuponthefat，anddrinkthesweetwinesuponthelees，thesegoodfathersofJorvaulx。Ah，ifanoutcastlikemehadsuchahometogoto，andsuchincomingsbytheyearandbythemonth，Iwouldpaymuchgoldandsilvertoredeemmycaptivity。’’

``HoundofaJew！’’exclaimedthePrior，``nooneknowsbetterthanthyowncursedself，thatourholyhouseofGodisindebtedforthefinishingofourchancel——’’

``AndforthestoringofyourcellarsinthelastseasonwiththedueallowanceofGasconwine，’’interruptedtheJew；``butthat——thatissmallmatters。’’

``Heartheinfideldog！’’saidthechurchman；

hejanglesasifourholycommunitydidcomeunderdebtsforthewineswehavealicensetodrink，_propternecessitatem，etadfrigusdepellendum_。Thecircumcisedvillainblasphemeththeholychurch，andChristianmenlistenandrebukehimnot！’’

``Allthishelpsnothing，’’saidtheleader——

``Isaac，pronouncewhatbemaypay，withoutflayingbothhideandhair。’’

``Ansixhundredcrowns，’’saidIsaac，``thegoodPriormightwellpaytoyourhonouredvalours，andneversitlesssoftinhisstall。’’

``Sixhundredcrowns，’’saidtheleader，gravely；

``Iamcontented——thouhastwellspoken，Isaa