Enter DUNSTAN solus, clad in sackcloth, with ashes on his head and a missal in his hand. The foremost of the crowd fall upon their knees and bow their heads as he approaches.

Fear ye

and tremble, ye

DUNSTAN.

that love the Church,

For wolves are round about her. Watch and pray.

SIDROC.

[Exit.

Pass on, pass on; the benches will be thronged.
Stick close to me, good father. God ha' mercy!
Sir, I beseech you to remit your elbow.

FIRST DEPUTY.

Keep order, constables! what a fray is here!

SIDROC.

Could we but pass this friar, all were won.
St. Hilda! what a mountain of a friar!

Sir, pray you die and do the Church some service;
You'd choke the way to Hell.-Now is the time ;
Come, father, come; stick close to me; here, here.
Knock down that chorister. I thank you, Sir.

[Exeunt.

M

SCENE VIII.

THE SYNODIAL CHAMBER.

All who passed through in the preceding Scene, are present in this. The Shrine of St. Augustin is discovered at the upper end, and there is a crucifix of large dimensions affixed to the wall above it. A Band of Monks in the Benedictine habit, with lighted tapers, are ranged in front of the Shrine, a file of them extending down each side of the Hall. At the lower end a band of Choristers are closing a service as the curtain rises.

ODO.

Friends, brethren, helpmates, councillors in Christ!
The dangers and divisions of the Church
Have called you hither. Be ye all as one.

For though the letter of citation saith
"Semotis Laicis," yet to one end

Are we assembled all,-concord and peace;
And whosoever hath God's peace at heart,
Him we rejoice to meet.

Since last I saw you here, that virtuous King,

The godly Edred, hath been hence translated,

And Edwin hath succeeded, who is young.
King Edwin, Sirs, descended of a House
Illustrious no less for piety

Than earthly honours, could not but abound
At first and by the fashioning of nature,
In Christian graces: but, Sirs, being young,
He through the easiness of youth betrayed
To bad advice, and making haste to err,
Did what was not convenient in a King.
For first from many a monastery, sown
Throughout the land in Edred's bounteous reign,
With violence and with force of arms he drave
Our Benedictine Brethren-not alone

Them that were placed by Edred in the shoes
Of Seculars that by Edred were expulsed,
But ancient men that had been there aforetime.
And next, Sirs, which is chiefly what concerns
Our present meeting,-next, Sirs, did he marry!
And whom, Sirs, did he marry? One like himself,
Though doubtless graced with many virtues, young
And erring, and in nothing more astray

Than in this marriage; being, as they are,

M 2

Cousins in the second degree and undispensed.
This marriage, Sirs, contracted by surprise,
Was scandalous, as ye know, to all good men,

And grievous to the Church; and weighing well

What evil fruit to these and after times

Might of its hasty consummation grow,

We deemed it wise that this illustrious lady
Should visit Chester, there to live recluse,

Until the assembled Church of what had chanced
Were advertized. 'Tis therefore ye are here.
Councillors in Christ, the cause ye meet to judge
Is, briefly, shall this marriage stand, or no?

SIDROC (aside to WULFSTAN).

Stop; Cumba fumbles with the folds of his alb; I think he'll speak; withhold yourself awhile.

Sirs, I await your censures.

ODO.

For myself

I humbly seek instruction, which till I glean

From worthier men, my judgment shall be dumb.

CUMBA.

Most holy Fathers and my Brethren all!

To most of you 'tis known that from my youth

I have revered the Regulars; excellent men,

Whom though to imitate had been in me,
Alas! a vain endeavour, yet to praise

Hath been my constant care. Sirs, of this praise,
And of this reverence and constant care,

I will not bate a jot; for what I was
At first, I am, and will be evermore.
But to the end unchangeable, the ways
Are various as the paths upon the sea;
And though 'tis by the stars the vessel steers,
Yet lies she with the wind. The choice of

That opens to you now, doth split itself

Into two opposites the ways of war,

ways

The ways of peace; and who betwixt the twain

Shall stand with dubious or divided heart?

When hath the Church been prosperous but in peace?

What multiplies the monasteries? Peace.

What breeds endowments, treasures, and demesnes ?

Why peace.
But if we void this marriage, peace is flown.

Then shall we not consult for

peace?

War that even now stands knocking at the gate,
Must then be bid come in; nor present blows

Shall arbitrate an end, but years unborn