as though he
could have wished the earth to gape and hide him from the object of his
apprehensions. He stood trembling, speechless, pale as ashes, expecting
immediate and condign punishment. So suddenly this change was wrought
that the spectators fancied it to be some direct interposition from
heaven; concluding that he was smitten for the sacreligious and profane
hand he had dared to stretch toward this holy man. Yet was the change
not so sudden but that a quick-eyed observer, if such were there, might
have seen the hermit's outer garment loosened for a moment, and a
significant whisper which the other evidently heard with such visible
tokens of alarm.

Ulphilas immediately retired to his cell, and from that hour the
castellan discharged his official duties evidently under the control of
some overmastering influence or apprehension.

Not long afterwards it was rumoured abroad that tidings had been heard
from Roger de Fitz-Eustace, who was supposed either to be in captivity
or to have fallen at the siege of Ascalon.

The king was still detained in prison by the Emperor Henry VI., and it
was only through the remonstrance of the German princes, and a threat of
excommunication from the Pope, that Henry, finding he could no longer
hold him in durance, concluded a treaty for his ransom at the exorbitant
sum of 150,000 marks, about L300,000 of our money; of which sum
two-thirds were to be paid before he received his liberty, and
sixty-seven hostages delivered for the remainder. The captivity of the
superior lord was one of those cases provided for by the feudal tenures,
and all vassals were, in that event, obliged to contribute towards his
ransom. Twenty shillings were therefore levied on each knight's fee
throughout England; but as this money came in slowly, and was not
sufficient for the intended purpose, the voluntary zeal of the people
readily supplied the deficiency.

The churches and monasteries melted down their plate to the amount of
30,000 marks; the bishops, abbots, and nobles paid a fourth of their
yearly rent; the parochial clergy contributed a tenth of their tithes;
and the requisite sum being thus collected, the queen-mother and Walter,
Archbishop of Rouen, set out with it to Germany, paid the money to the
emperor and the Duke of Austria at Mentz, delivered to them hostages for
the remainder, and freed Richard from captivity.[52]

During these important negotiations two messengers arrived at Clitheroe,
who