one
thence, for that it was desired to make a judgment within there, that
might not be made so long as he were there. The King departed, that
would willingly have remained there, and so returned back into the
little house, and sate him down on a seat whereon the hermit wont to
sir. And he heareth the strife and the noise begin again within the
chapel, and the ones he heareth speaking high and the others low, and
he knoweth well by the voices, that the ones are angels and the others
devils. And he heareth that the devils are distraining on the hermit's
soul, and that judgment will presently be given in their favour,
whereof make they great joy. King Arthur is grieved in his heart when
he heareth that the angels' voices are stilled. The King is so heavy,
that no desire hath he neither to eat nor to drink. And while he
sitteth thus, stooping his head toward the ground, full of vexation and
discontent, he heareth in the chapel the voice of a Lady that spake so
sweet and clear, that no man in this earthly world, were his grief and
heaviness never so sore, but and he had heard the sweet voice of her
pleading would again have been in joy. She saith to the devils:
"Begone from hence, for no right have ye over the soul of this good
man, whatsoever he may have done aforetime, for in my Son's service and
mine own is he taken, and his penance hath he done in this hermitage of
the sins that he hath done."

"True, Lady," say the devils, "But longer had he served us than he hath
served you and your Son. For forty years or more hath he been a
murderer and robber in this forest, whereas in this hermitage but five
years hath he been. And now you Wish to thieve him from us."

"I do not. No wish have I to take him from you by theft, for had he
been taken in your service in suchwise as he hath been taken in mine,
yours would he have been, all quit."

The devils go their way all discomfit and aggrieved; and the sweet
Mother of our Lord God taketh the soul of the hermit, that was departed
of his body, and so commendeth it to the angels and archangels that
they make present thereof to Her dear Son in Paradise. And the angels
take it and begin to sing for joy "Te Deum laudamus". And the Holy
Lady leadeth them and goeth her way along with them. Josephus maketh
remembrance of this history and telleth us that this worthy man was
named Calixtus.

VI.

King Arthur was in the little house beside the chapel, and had heard
the voic