he news that reached Lewes from time to time during the winter and
spring sent the hearts of all that heard it through the whole gamut of
emotions. At one time fierce hope, then despair, then rising confidence,
then again blank hopelessness--each in turn tore the souls of the monks;
and misery reached its climax in the summer at the news of the execution
at Tyburn of the Abbots of Jervaulx and Fountains, with other monks and
gentlemen.

The final recital of the whole tragedy was delivered to them at the
mouth of a Religious from the Benedictine cell at Middlesborough who had
been released by the Visitors at his own request, but who had afterwards
repented and joined the rising soon after the outset; he had been
through most of the incidents, and then when failure was assured had
fled south in terror for his life, and was now on his way to the
Continent to take up his monastic vocation once more.

The Prior was away on one of the journeys that he so frequently
undertook at this time, no man knew whither, or the ex-monk and rebel
would have been refused admittance; but the sub-Prior was persuaded to
take him in for a night, and he sat long in one of the parlours that
evening telling his story.

Chris leaned against the wall and watched him as he talked with the
candle-light on his face. He was a stout middle-aged man in layman's
dress, for he was not yet out of peril; he sat forward in his chair,
making preacher's gestures as he spoke, and using well-chosen vivid
words.

"They were gathered already when I joined them on their way to York;
there were nearly ten thousand of them on the road, with Aske at their
head. I have never set eyes on such a company! There was a troop of
gentlemen and their sons riding with Aske in front, all in armour; and
then the rabble behind with gentlemen again to their officers. The
common folk had pikes and hooks only; and some were in leather harness,
and some without; but they marched well and kept good order. They were
of all sorts: hairy men and boys; and miners from the North. There were
monks, too, and friars, I know not how many, that went with the army to
encourage them; and everywhere we went the women ran out of their homes
with food and drink, and prayed God to bless us; and the bells were rung
in the village churches. We slept as we could, some in houses, some in
churchyards and by the wayside, and as many of us as could get into the
churches heard mass each day. As many too as