eighbouring convent, that they conspired together to accuse him of
necromancy and other terrible crimes.

Saint James boldly refuted the accusations, and offered, once more, to
try his lance against any friar among them who was man enough to put on
armour and meet him in single combat; but they all declined the honour,
though they did not the less hurl their invectives against him, and seek
opportunities for his destruction.

At length, he and some of his more pious fellow-worshippers were caught
one day inside their chapel. The doors were closed upon them, and the
wicked monks, hiring a band of Pagan mercenaries, had them all shot to
death by poisoned arrows. In spite of the pain they suffered, the Saint
and his companions continued singing their hymns to the last, while a
bright silvery light burst forth in the chapel--(so says the ancient
chronicler)--which continued burning glorious as ever; and when, at
length, the chapel was opened, the body of Saint James and the bodies of
his companions were found to be perfectly embalmed. Then they were
placed in marble tombs with silver lids; and, to the present day, Saint
James, by all real Spaniards, is held in the highest esteem and
reverence.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

THE DEATH OF SAINT ANTHONY.

About the same time that his brother knights ended their martial career,
Saint Anthony, with his faithful follower, Niccolo, likewise, for the
same reason, resolved to turn his face homewards. Rome was the city of
his birth, and to Rome he went.

Rome was a Christian city, but there were still many Pagans in the
neighbourhood, and many of the shrines had as yet scarcely been
accommodated to the new faith, so that the pious Saint Anthony had
considerable difficulty in distinguishing one from the other. This very
much grieved his heart. Even when he went among the priests he could
not always make out to which faith they belonged. They made him long
harangues, and assured him that their great wish was to develop their
ancient and time-honoured institutions into whatever form was likely to
prove most popular.

Saint Anthony, who was a simple-minded man, was sorely puzzled by all
this; so, after vainly endeavouring to comprehend the state of things in
the ancient capital of the world, he retired to a hermitage, where he
lived for the remainder of his days; nor would he ever again enter Rome.

Thus, in the fragrant odour of sanctity, he died at a green old age.

CHAP