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borne into the nave of Blythburgh church and there laid in the grave
which had been made ready for them。 Till now their corpses had been
kept above ground in the hope that the body of John Clavering the
younger might be added to their number。 But search as they would upon
seashore and river…bank； nothing of him was ever seen again。 This
funeral was celebrated in the darkness； since neither Sir John nor
Acour desired that all men should see three bodies that had been slain
by one archer； aided by a merchant's lad； standing alone against a
score； and know； to say naught of the wounded； that there was yet
another to be added to the tale。 Therefore they interred them by night
with no notice of the ceremony。
It was a melancholy scene。 The nave of the great church； lighted only
with the torches borne by the six monks of the black Augustines from
the neighbouring priory of St。 Osyth； the candles； little stars of
light； burning far away upon the altar； the bearers of the household
of the Claverings and the uncoffined corpses lying on their biers by
the edge of the yawning graves； the mourners in their mail； the low
voice of the celebrating priest； a Frenchman； Father Nicholas；
chaplain to Acour； who hurried through the Latin service as though he
wished to be done with it； the deep shadows of the groined roof
whereon the rain patteredsuch were the features of this interment。
It was done at last； and the poor dead； but a few days before so full
of vigour and of passion； were left to their last sleep in the
unremembered grave。 Then the mourners marched back to the manor across
the Middle Marsh and sought their beds in a sad silence。
Shortly after daybreak they were called from them again by the news
that those who had followed Hugh de Cressi had returned。 Quickly they
rose； thinking that these came back with tidings of accomplished
vengeance； to find themselves face to face with seven starved and
miserable men who； all their horses being dead； had walked hither from
Dunwich。
The wretched story was learned at length； and then followed that
violent scene； which has been told already； when Acour cursed his
followers as cowards； and Clavering； sobered perhaps by the sadness of
the midnight burial or by the memory of Arnold's words； reproved him。
Lastly； stung by the taunts that were heaped upon them； Sir Pierre de
la Roche gave Hugh's messagethat if they lifted hand against his
love or his House he would kill them like ravening wolves； 〃which I
think he certainly will do； for none can conquer him and his
henchman；〃 he added shortly。
Then Sir John's rage flared up again like fire when fresh fuel is
thrown on ashes。 He cursed Hugh and Grey Dick； he cursed his daughter；
he even cursed Acour and asked for the second time how it came about
that he who had brought all this trouble on him was given the evil
name of traitor。
〃I know not；〃 answered Sir Edmund fiercely； and laying his hand upon
his sword； 〃but this I know； that you or any man will do well not to
repeat it if you value life。〃
〃Do you threaten me？〃 asked Sir John。 〃Because； if so； you will do
well to begone out of this house of shame and woe lest you be borne
out feet first。 Nay； nay； I forgot；〃 he added slowly； clasping his
head in his hands； 〃you are my daughter's affianced； are you not； and
will give her high place and many famous titles； and her son shall be
called Clavering； that the old name may not die but be great in
England； in France； and in Italy。 You must bide to marry her； lest
that cuckoo； Hugh de Cressi； that cuckoo with the sharp bill； should
creep into my nest。 I'll not be worsted by a stripling clad in
merchant's cloth who slew my only son。 Take not my words ill； noble
Noyon； for I am overdone with grief for the past and fear for the
future。 You must bide to marry her by fair means or by foul。 Draw her
from the sanctuary and marry her whether she say you yea or nay。 You
have my leave； noble Noyon；〃 and so speaking he swayed and fell prone
upon the floor。
At first they thought that he was dead。 But the chaplain； Nicholas；
who was a leech； bled him； and he came to himself again； although he
still wandered in his talk and lay abed。
Then Acour and Nicholas took counsel together。
〃What is to be done？〃 said Sir Edmund； 〃for I am on fire for this
maid； and all her scorn and hate do but fan my flame。 Moreover； she is
now very rich； for that old hot…head cannot live long。 His violent
humours will kill him； and； as you know； Father； although I have great
possessions； my costs are large and I have still greater debts。
Lastly； shall de Noyon and his knights be worsted by a wool…merchant's
younger son； a mere 'prentice lad； and his henchman； a common archer
of the fens？ Show me how to get her； Nicholas； and I'll make an abbot
of you yet。 This sanctuary； now？ will it hold？ If we stormed the place
and took her； would the Holy Father give us absolution； do you think？〃
〃No； my lord；〃 answered the fox…faced Nicholas。 〃The Church is great
because the Church is one； and what the priest does the Pope upholds；
especially when that priest is no mean man。 This holy monk； Sir Andrew
Arnold； has reputation throughout Europe； and； though he seems so
humble； because of his wisdom is in the counsel of many great men
whose fathers or grandfathers were guided by him long ago。 Commit what
crime you will； dip yourself to the lips in blood； and you may find
forgiveness； but touch not an ancient and acknowledged sanctuary of
the Church； since for this offence there will be none。〃
〃What then； Nicholas？ Must I give up the chase and fly？ To speak
truth； things seem to threaten me。 Why has that Hugh twice called me
traitor？ Have any of my letters fallen into strange hands； think you？
I have written several； and you know my mission here。〃
〃It is possible； lord； all things are possible； but I think not。 I
think that he only draws the bow at a hazard； which is more than Grey
Dick does；〃 he added with a chuckle。 〃These brute English hate us
French； whom they know to be their masters in all that makes a man；
and traitor to their fool king is the least of the words they throw at
us。〃
〃Well； priest； my mother was English； as my wife will be。 Therefore
stay your tongue on that matter and tell me how I am to make her my
wife；〃 answered Acour haughtily。
The chaplain cringed and bowed； rubbing his thin hands together。
〃I thought you wished to speak of the English； my lord； otherwise I
should not have venturedbut as to the lady Eve； something comes to
me。 Why does she stay in sanctuary who herself has committed no crime？
Is it not； such is her madness； because she would be out of reach of
you and your endearments？ Now if she believed you gone far enough
away； let us say to France； and knew that her father lay ill； why
then〃 and he paused。
〃You mean that she might come out of sanctuary of her own accord？〃
〃Yes； lord； and we might set a springe to catch this bird so rare and
shy； and though she'd flutter； flutter； flutter； and peck； peck； peck；
what could she do when you smoothed her plumage with your loving hand；
and a priest was waiting to say the word that should cause her to
forget her doubts and that merchant bumpkin？〃
〃Ah； Nicholas； you have a good wit； and if all goes well you shall
certainly be an abbot。 But would her father； do you think〃
〃Lord； that beef…eating knight is in such a rage that he would do
anything。 What did he say just before the stroke took him？ That you
were to marry her by fair means or by foul。 Yes； and he told me an
hour ago that if only he knew she was your wife； he would die happy。
Oh； you have his warrant for anything you do to bring about this end。
Still there is no need to tell him too much lest it should cause his
good name to be aspersed by the vulgar。 Many； it seems； love this Red
Eve for her high spirit； and are friends to the de Cressis； an open…
handed race who know how to bind folk to them。 Listen how it must be
done。〃
That day it was given out that Sir Edmund Acour； those of his knights
who remained alive and all his following were about to leave for
London and lay their cause before the King； having learned that Hugh
de Cressi had gone thither to prejudice his Grace on his own behalf。
It was added； moreover； that they would not return to Suffolk； but
proposed when they had found justice or the promise of it； to take
ship at Dover for France。 Next morning； accordingly； they rode away
from Blythburgh Manor and passed through Dunwich with much pomp； where
the citizens of that town； who were friends of the de Cressis； stared
at them with no kind eyes。 Indeed； one of these as they crossed the
market…place called to them to be careful not to meet Hugh de Cressi
and Grey Dick upon their journey； lest there should be more midnight
burials and men…at…arms turned into foot…soldiers； whereat all about
him laughed rudely。
But Acour did not laugh。 He ground his teeth and said into the ear of
Nicholas：
〃Register this vow for me； priest； that in payment for that jest I'll
sack and burn Dunwich when our army comes； and give its men and
children to the sword and its women to the soldiers。〃
〃It shall be done； lord；〃 a