ect to such
further infliction as might still seem wanting to assuage their lord's
displeasure. Now this was a grievous disaster to the unhappy vassals,
seeing that none could safely or truly accuse his neighbour. All were
agreed that human agency had no share in the work. The wiser part threw
out a shrewd suspicion, that the old deities whom their forefathers had
worshipped, and whose altars had been thrown down and their sacrifices
forbidden, had burst the thraldom in which they were aforetime held by
the Christian priests, and were now brooding a fearful revenge for the
many insults they had endured. But the decree from the lord was hasty,
and the command urgent; so that a council was holden for the devising of
some plan for their relief.

Hugh de Chadwycke and John de Spotland were subordinate lords, or
feudatories, holding fortified dwellings, castelets, or peels, in the
manor of Rochdale; the former had builded his rude mansion of massive
timber, for the double purpose of habitation and defence, on a bold
eminence, forming a steep bank of the river, about a mile from the
Thane's castle. Claiming a relationship to the lord, he was in some
measure privileged above his friend De Spotland, yet was the latter a
personage of considerable power and influence at the manor court. To
these men when their aid was necessary, either as counsellors or
intercessors, did the inhabitants generally repair.

Hugh de Chadwycke was a man of mild and grave deportment, but politic
withal, and wary of counsel. John de Spotland was of a more bold and
open temper. De Chadwycke suggested a submissive application to the
Thane, with a pledge that all possible diligence should be used for the
fulfilment of his demands. John urged the removal of the materials with
all expedition to their original site, a watch being set to discover the
delinquents, should they again presume to lay hands on the stuff. The
wisdom and propriety of the latter precaution was undisputed; but no one
seemed willing to undergo the terrible ordeal, each declining the office
in deference to his more privileged neighbour. No wonder at their
reluctance to so unequal a contest. To be strangled or torn limb from
limb was the slightest punishment that could be expected for this daring
profanation; yet, unless they had witnesses, bodily, to these diabolical
exploits, it were needless to attempt excusing themselves before the
haughty chieftain. He would visit with fearful sever