Solemn and sweet rose the chanting voices growing ever more loud, where paced the black-robed priests.  First came acolytes swinging censers, and next, others bearing divers symbolic flags and standards, and after these again, in goodly chair borne on the shoulders of brawny monks, a portly figure rode, bedight in full canonicals, a very solid cleric he, and mightily round; moreover his nose was bulbous and he had a drooping lip.

Slow and solemn the procession advanced, and ever as they came the choristers chanted full melodiously what time the white-robed acolytes swung their censers to and fro; and ever as they came, the folk of Belsaye, from wall and turret, eyed these slow-pacing, sweet-singing monks with fearful looks and hearts cold and full of dire misgiving.  Beyond the moat over against the main gate, the procession halted, the chair with its portly burden was set down, and lifting up a white, be-ringed hand, the haughty cleric spake thus, in voice high-pitched, mellifluous and sweet: 

“Whereas it hath pleased ye, O rebellious people of Belsaye, to deny, to cast off and wantonly repudiate your rightful allegiance to your most just, most merciful and most august lord—­Ivo, Duke of Pentavalon (whom God and the saints defend—­amen!) and whereas ye have moreover made captive and most barbarously entreated certain of your lord Duke his ambassadors unto you sent; now therefore—­and let all ears be opened to my pronouncements, since Holy Church doth speak ye, one and all, each and every through humble avenue of these my lips—­list, list, O list, rebellious people, and mark me well.  For inasmuch as I, Prior of Holy Cross within Pentavalon City, do voice unto ye, one and all, each and every, the most sacred charge of Holy Church, her strict command or enactment, mandate or caveat, her holy decree, senatus consultum, her writ, edict, precept or decretal, namely and to wit:  That ye shall one and all, each and every, return to your rightful allegiance, bowing humbly, each and every, to the will of your lawful lord the Duke (whom God and the saints defend) and shall forthwith make full and instant surrender of this his ancient city of Belsaye unto your lord the Duke (whom God and the saints defend—­amen!) Failing the which, I, in the name of Holy Church, by power of papal bull new come from Rome—­will, here and now, pronounce this most rebellious city (and all that therein be) damned and excommunicate!”

Now hereupon, from all the townsfolk crowding wall and turret a groan went up and full many a ruddy cheek grew pale at this dire threat.  Whereupon the Prior, having drawn breath, spake on in voice more stern and more peremptory: 

“Let now your gates unbar!  Yield ye unto your lord Duke his mercy!  Let the gates unbar, I say, lest I blast this wicked city with the most dread and awful ban and curse of Holy Church—­woe, woe in this life, and, in the life to come, torment and everlasting fire!  Let the gates unbar!”