ches. "For inasmuch as Aldam, Abbot of Kirkstall
Abbey, has aided and abetted the enemies of his lawful Sovereign and
has furthered and assisted the abductors of the Countess of Clare,
Maid-in-waiting to Her Majesty; now, I, Aymer de Lacy, Knight of the
Body, under the authority vested in me by this signet and in the name
of the King, do hereby publicly degrade and remove the said Aldam from
his office and do absolve and release every and all of you from any
obligation or duty to him. And further, whosoever shall offer him
comfort or sustenance shall be deemed and held traitor and shall suffer
death. Heed and obey."

The Prior sprang to the front of the dais.

"Long live the King!" he shouted.

And the monks, wild with joy at release from their hard master, jumped
on the benches crying:

"Long live the Royal Richard! Long live the King!"

XXIV

"WHEN YOU HAVE TOPPED THESE STAIRS"

For an hour Raynor Royk and his men searched every nook and corner of
the Abbey, sounding walls and floors and making a confusion such as the
stately establishment had never known. But they found neither the
Countess nor the Abbot. He had either escaped by one of the passages
through which he introduced his frail companions, or he was hiding in
some secret chamber--whence he would take good care not to issue until
the Knights had departed.

And to provide for just such contingency De Lacy, on the morrow when
the march was resumed, detailed five of the royal men-at-arms to remain
at Kirkstall. The armed retainers of the Abbey, who had been made
prisoners the instant De Bury and he entered the place, he now relieved
from service there and enrolled them among his own following. They
were sturdy soldiers enough, albeit they had little to do but to wax
fat and sluggish by inaction and much food and, occasionally, to escort
the Abbot when he went abroad. Yet they were glad to be admitted to
the service of one who wore the Boar and they donned corselet and
casquetel with eagerness and haste--as willing now to fight against the
Cistercian as, an hour since, they were ready to defend him.

The Castle of Roxford lay some four leagues northwest of the Abbey. It
had been the seat of the Lords of Darby for two centuries and more; and
while in no way comparable with the huge Pontefract, in either size or
strength, yet it was deemed a formidable fortress and one, when
properly garrisoned and defended, well able to withstand attack.