ys were
full of armed men.

But at each door of the church of Saint Mary stood a row of men armed
with axes, and when any came, meaning to go into the church, the two
first of these would hold their axes (whose helves were about four
feet long) over his head, and would ask him, "Who went over the moon
last night?" then if he answered nothing or at random they would bid
him turn back, which he for the more part would be ready enough to do;
but some, striving to get through that row of men, were slain
outright; but if he were one of those that were friends to the House
of the Lilies he would answer to that question, "Mary and John."

By the time the mass began the whole church was full, and in the nave
and transept thereof were three thousand men, all of our house and all
armed. But Arnald and myself, and Squire Hugh, and some others sat
under a gold-fringed canopy near the choir; and the abbot said mass,
having his mitre on his head. Yet, as I watched him, it seemed to me
that he must have something on beneath his priest's vestments, for he
looked much fatter than usual, being really a tall lithe man.

Now, as they sung the "Kyrie," some one shouted from the other end of
the church, "My lord Arnld, they are slaying our people without;" for,
indeed, all the square about the church was full of our people, who
for the press had not been able to enter, and were standing there in
no small dread of what might come to pass.

Then the abbot turned round from the altar, and began to fidget with
the fastenings of his rich robes. And they made a lane for us up to
the west door; then I put on my helm and we began to go up the nave,
then suddenly the singing of the monks and all stopped. I heard a
clinking and a buzz of voices in the choir. I turned, and saw that the
bright noon sun was shining on the gold of the priest's vestments, as
they lay on the floor, and on the mail that the priests carried.

So we stopped, the choir gates swung open, and the abbot marched out
at the head of his men, all fully armed, and began to strike up the
psalm "Exsurgat Deus."

When we got to the west door, there was indeed a tumult, but as yet no
slaying; the square was all a-flicker with steel, and we beheld a
great body of knights, at the head of them Red Harald and the king,
standing over against us; but our people, pressed against the houses,
and into the comers of the square, were, some striving to enter the
doors, some beside themselves wi