s of
the Church: Let him that likes enter; let him that dares come
forward!" Emphatic words, which created a sensation round the
woolsack. For the Justiciaries of the _Scaccarium_ answered,
'with oaths, each for himself: "I won't come forward, for my
share; nor will I, nor I! The distant and absent who offended
him, Saint Edmund has been known to punish fearfully; much more
will he those close by, who lay violent hands on his coat, and
would strip it off!" These things being said, the Shrine was not
meddled with, nor any ransom levied for it.

For Lords of the Treasury have in all times their impassable
limits, be it by 'force of public opinion' or otherwise; and in
those days a Heavenly Awe overshadowed and encompassed, as it
still ought and must, all earthly Business whatsoever.

Chapter XIV

Henry of Essex

Of St. Edmund's fearful avengements have they not the
remarkablest instance still before their eyes? He that will go
to Reading Monastery may find there, now tonsured into a mournful
penitent Monk, the once proud Henry Earl of Essex; and discern
how St. Edmund punishes terribly, yet with mercy! This Narrative
is too significant to be omitted as a document of the Time. Our
Lord Abbot, once on a visit at Reading, heard the particulars
from Henry's own mouth; and thereupon charged one of his monks
to write it down;--as accordingly the Monk has done, in ambitious
rhetorical Latin; inserting the same, as episode, among
Jocelin's garrulous leaves. Read it here; with ancient yet with
modern eyes.

Henry Earl of Essex, standard-bearer of England, had high places
and emoluments; had a haughty high soul, yet with various flaws,
or rather with one many-branched flaw and crack, running through
the texture of it. For example, did he not treat Gilbert de
Cereville in the most shocking manner? He cast Gilbert into
prison; and, with chains and slow torments, wore the life out of
him there. And Gilbert's crime was understood to be only that of
innocent Joseph: the Lady Essex was a Potiphar's Wife, and had
accused poor Gilbert! Other cracks, and branches of that
widespread flaw in the Standard-bearer's soul we could point out:
but indeed the main stem and trunk of all is too visible in this,
That he had no right reverence for the Heavenly in Man,--that far
from shewing due reverence to St. Edmund, he did not even shew
him common justice. While others in the Eastern Counties were
adorning