xburgh, and rode hither, his
spirits have greatly failed him."

"I will arrange that with the abbot," Hotspur said; "but tell him that,
while he is here, he must continue to wear his robe. His face is too
well known for him to pass as a man-at-arms, without being recognized
by half the garrison. The Lord Abbot would well object to one of his
monks turning into a swaggering man-at-arms, at his very door.

"At any rate, I shall tell the abbot that, if he will consent quietly
to the monk's unfrocking himself, until he can obtain for him release
from his vows; I will scud him away to one of the other castles, whence
I can fetch him, if you need him to accompany you on any errand, and
where he can form part of the regular garrison. But the knave must be
informed that it were best that he say nought about his former
profession, and that he comport himself as quietly as is in his nature.

"I will give him a small command, as soon as may be; for although a
very bad monk, he has proved himself to be a good soldier."

"I thank you greatly, my lord," Oswald said; "and will talk seriously
to the monk, who will be delighted when he hears that the abbot will
take steps to allow him to lay aside his gown."

Roger was, indeed, delighted when he heard the news; and still more so
when, three days later, Oswald informed him that Hotspur had obtained,
from the abbot, what was practically a release from his vows. The good
abbot said that he felt that harm, rather than good, would ensue from
keeping the monk a member of the monastery.

"He infects the lay brothers, with his talk," he said. "He is a good
instructor in arms, but he teaches not as one who feels that it is a
dire necessity to carry arms, but as one who delights in it. Moreover,
he causes scandals by his drinking bouts, and does not add to the
harmony of the place. At a time like this, when the Scots may, at any
moment, fall across the border, such a fellow may do good service to
his country; and it is surely better that a man should be a good
soldier, than that he should be a bad monk. Therefore I will let him
go, my lord; but keep him away from here. It would be a grave scandal,
were he to be brawling in the town where he is known. Therefore, I pray
you, take him elsewhere. I have striven long to make him a worthy
member of his order, but I feel that it is beyond me; and it would be
best, therefore, that he should go his own way. He may come to be a
worthy soldier, and so