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singing hymns and flogging themselves till the blood ran down to their
heels； while the passers…by prostrated themselves before them。 These
were the forerunners of the 〃Mad Dancers〃 of the following year。
In a field outside of this city they came upon even a more dreadful
sight。 Here forty or fifty frenzied people； most of them drunk； were
engaged in burning a poor Jew； his wife and two children upon a great
fire made of the staves of wine…casks； which they had plundered from
some neighbouring cellars。 When Hugh and his companions came upon the
scene the Jew had already burned and this crowd of devils were
preparing to cast his wife and children into the flames； which they
had been forced to see devour their husband and father。 Indeed； with
yells of brutal laughter； they were thrusting the children into two
great casks ere they rolled them into the heart of the fire； while the
wretched mother stood by and shrieked。
〃What do you； sirs？〃 asked Hugh； riding up to them。
〃We burn wizards and their spawn； Sir Knight；〃 answered the
ringleader。 〃Know that these accursed Jews have poisoned the wells of
our townwe have witnesses who saw them do itand thus brought the
plague upon us。 Moreover； she；〃 and he pointed to the woman〃was seen
talking not fourteen days ago to the devil in a yellow cap； who
appears everywhere before the Death begins。 Now； roll them in； roll
them in！〃
Hugh drew his sword； for this sight was more than his English flesh
and blood could bear。 Dick also unsheathed the black bow； while young
David produced a great knife which he carried。
〃Free those children！〃 said Hugh to the man with whom he had spoken； a
fat fellow； with rolling； bloodshot eyes。
〃Get you to hell； stranger；〃 he answered； 〃or we'll throw you on the
fire also as a Jew in knight's dress。〃
〃Free those children！〃 said Hugh again in a terrible voice； 〃or I send
you before them。 Be warned！ I speak truth。〃
〃Be you warned； stranger； for I speak truth also；〃 replied the man；
mimicking him。 〃Now friends；〃 he added； 〃tuck up the devil's brats in
their warm bed。〃
They were his last words； for Hugh thrust with his sword and down he
went。
Now a furious clamour arose。 The mob snatched up burning staves；
bludgeons； knives or whatever they had at hand； and prepared to kill
the three。 Without waiting for orders； Dick began to shoot。 David； a
bold young man； rushed at one of the most violent and stabbed him； and
Hugh； who had leapt from his horse； set himself back to back with the
other two。 Thrice Dick shot； and at the third deadly arrow these
drunken fellows grew sober enough to understand that they wished no
more of them。
Suddenly； acting on a common impulse； they fled away； every one； only
leaving behind them those who had fallen beneath the arrows and the
sword。 But some who were so full of wine that they could not run；
tumbled headlong and lay there helpless。
〃Woman；〃 said Hugh when they had departed； 〃your husband is lost； but
you and your children are saved。 Now go your ways and thank whatever
God you worship for His small mercies。〃
〃Alas！ Sir Knight；〃 the poor creature； a still young and not
unhandsome Jewess； wailed in answer； 〃whither shall I go？ If I return
to that town those Christian men will surely murder me and my children
as they have already murdered my husband。 Kill us now by the sword or
the bowit will be a kindnessbut leave us not here to be tortured
by the Christian men according to their fashion with us poor Jews。〃
〃Are you willing to go to Avignon？〃 asked Hugh； after thinking awhile。
〃Ay； Sir Knight； or anywhere away from these Christians。 Indeed； at
Avignon I have a brother who perchance will protect us。〃
〃Then mount my horse；〃 said Hugh。 〃Dick and David； draw those two
youngsters from the tubs and set them on your beasts； we can walk。〃
So the children； two comely little girls of eight and six years of
age； or thereabout； were dragged out of their dreadful prisons and
lifted to the saddle。 The wretched widow； running to the bonfire；
snatched from it her husband's burnt…off hand and hid it in the bosom
of her filthy robe。 Then she took some of the white ashes and threw
them toward that city； muttering curses as she did so。
〃What do you？〃 asked Hugh curiously。
〃I pray； sir； to Jehovah； the God of the Jews； that for every grain of
these ashes He may take a life in payment for that of my murdered
husband； and I think that He will listen。〃
〃Like enough；〃 answered Hugh； crossing himself； 〃but； woman； can you
wonder that we Christians hold you sorcerers when we hear such prayers
from your lips？〃
She turned with a tragic motion； and； pointing to the bones of her
husband smouldering in the fire； answered：
〃And can you wonder； sir； that we wretched creatures utter such
prayers when you； our masters； do such deeds as this？〃
〃No；〃 answered Hugh； 〃I cannot。 Let us be going from this shambles。〃
So they went； a melancholy procession if ever there one was seen upon
this earth。 As the three Englishmen marched behind the horses with
their weeping burdens Grey Dick reflected aloud after his fashion。
〃Jew and Christian！〃 he said。 〃The Jews killed one Man who chanced to
be a God； though they knew it not； and ever since the Christians have
killed thousands of the Jews。 Now； which is the most wicked； those
Jews who killed the Man Who was a God； because He said He was a God；
or those Christians who throw a man into a fire to burn before his
wife's and children's eyes？ A man who never said that he was a god；
but who； they said； put poison into their wells； which he did not do；
but which they believed he did because he was one of the race that
thirteen hundred years ago killed their God？ Ah； well！ Jew and
Christian； I think the same devil dwells in them all； but Murgh alone
knows the truth of the matter。 If ever we meet again； I'll ask him of
it。 Meanwhile； we go to Avignon in strange company； whereof all the
holy priests yonder； if any of them still live； to say nothing of the
people； may demand an account of us。〃
So spoke Dick as one who seeks an answer； but neither of his
companions gave him any。
On they went through the ruined land unpursued； although they had just
brought sundry men to their deaths。 For now neither law nor justice
was left and those killed who could and those died who must； unwept
and unavenged。 Only certain travellers； flying they knew not whither；
flying from doom to doom； eyed them with hate and loathing because of
their companions。 Those who consorted with Jews must； they thought； be
the enemies of every Christian soul。
Well was it for them perhaps that the early winter night was closing
in when they reached the wonderful bridge of St。 B閚閦et； now quite
unguarded； since a worse foe reigned in Avignon than any that it could
fear from without。 They crossed it； unnoted； for here none lingered in
the gloom and rain save one poor woman； who called out to them that
all she loved were dead and that she went to seek them。 Then； before
they could interfere； she scrambled to the parapet of the bridge and
with a wild cry leapt into the foaming waters that rushed beneath。
〃God forgive and rest her！〃 muttered Hugh； crossing himself。 The
others only shrugged their shoulders。 Such dreadful sights fed their
eyes daily till they learned to take little note of them。
In a deserted place on the farther side of the bridge they halted； and
Hugh said to the Jewish widow：
〃Woman； here is Avignon； where you tell us there are those who will
befriend you； so now let us part。 We have done what we can for you and
it is not safe either for you or for us that we should be seen
together in this Christian city。〃
〃Sir； you speak well；〃 she answered。 〃Be pleased ere we separate； to
meet no more perchance； to tell me your names that I may remember them
and hand them down among my people from generation to generation。〃
So he told her； and thrust onto her a gift of money and the most of
such food as remained to them。 Then the poor woman lifted up her arms
and said：
〃I； Rebecca； daughter of Onias and wife of Nathan； call down on you；
Hugh de Cressi； Richard Archer and David Day； and on your children
forever； the blessings of Jehovah； because you have rescued the widow
and her children from the fire and avenged the murder of the husband
and the father。 O God of my people； as Thou didst save Lot and his
house from the flames of Sodom； so save these true…hearted and
merciful men！ Turn from them the sword of Thy wrath when it smites the
sinful cities！ Cast the cloak of Thy protection about them and all
they love！ Prosper their handiwork in peace and in war； fulfil their
desire upon their enemies； and at last let them die full of years and
honour and so be gathered into Thy eternal bosom！ Thus prayeth
Rebecca； the daughter of Onias； and thus shall it be。〃
Then； leading her children； she turned and vanished into the darkness。
〃Now；〃 said Dick when she had gone； 〃although they were spoken by a
Jew whom men call accursed because their forefathers； fulfilling
prophecy； or some few of them； wrought a great crime when the world
was young and thereby brought about the salvation of mankind； as