"
"It may be," said the Abbot, "that Foster will wait for Murray, whose
purpose hitherward is but delayed for a short space."
"By the rood, he will not," said the Sub-Prior; "we know this Sir John
Foster--a pestilent heretic, he will long to destroy the church--born
a Borderer, he will thirst to plunder her of her wealth--a
Border-warden, he will be eager to ride in Scotland. There are too
many causes to urge him on. If he joins with Murray, he will have at
best but an auxiliary's share of the spoil--if he comes hither before
him, he will reckon on the whole harvest of depredation as his own.
Julian Avenel also has, as I have heard, some spite against Sir John
Foster; they will fight, when they meet, with double determination.--
Sacristan, send for our bailiff.--Where is the roll of fencible men
liable to do suit and service to the Halidome?--Send off to the Baron
of Meigallot; he can raise threescore horse and better--Say to him the
Monastery will compound with him for the customs of his bridge, which
have been in controversy, if he will show himself a friend at such a
point.--And now, my lord, let us compute our possible numbers, and
those of the enemy, that human blood be not spilled in vain--Let us
therefore calculate----"
"My brain is dizzied with the emergency," said the poor Abbot--"I am
not, I think, more a coward than others, so far as my own person is
concerned; but speak to me of marching and collecting soldiers, and
calculating forces, and you may as well tell of it to the youngest
novice of a nunnery.
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