With a malicious smile, cruel as the triumph of the fiend at the torments of his victim, did this mysterious foe exhibit to him the toils that had been, during his unsuspecting security, wound about him.

“Thine only hope is from his grace; go with me, and thou mayest yet dwell in safety, and thine house be established.”

Paslew saw with dismay the dark gulf which yawned on either hand, and the net so craftily prepared to entangle him.  His only hope of security, however, was a prompt acquiescence in the plan pointed out by the stranger, who accordingly engaged to conduct him without delay to the appointed rendezvous.

Passing over the difficulties of the journey, the accidents by the way, the slips and damages of sumpter-horses, and their often trackless march over the hills, let us behold Paslew, after some narrow escapes from the royalist forces, taking up his quarters at an obscure lodging hard by the town of Doncaster, and nigh to the cantonments of the rebel chiefs, whose forces were once more in formidable array, occupying a conspicuous position on the left bank of the river Don.

The left wing of the royalist troops was flanked by a deep morass, called Potterie Car; and their right protected by the walls of the town.

The morning that followed Paslew’s arrival was the time appointed for a general attack by the rebels, who considerably outnumbered the more disciplined but less zealous army of their sovereign, D’Arcy and his associates intending to cross the river by daybreak, with the utmost secrecy, hoping to take the royalist forces by surprise.

Paslew arrived alone, just as the consultation of the chiefs was breaking up.  His companion, Ralph, had left him some hours before, and galloped on at full speed, first giving directions as to the course he should take, and the measures he was to adopt on his arrival.  Conducted in due form to the archbishop’s presence, Paslew found his grace at supper.  The repast was sumptuous, and served up in great state.  This high dignitary seldom stirred but with his kitchen-furniture and service for the table, which last was of massy silver, beautifully wrought and embellished.  His servants were apparelled in all the pomp and insignia of office; but he affected great plainness and simplicity, both of dress and demeanour.  At his right hand sat a stout, muscular figure, whom Paslew immediately recognised, with unequivocal demonstrations of surprise, to be his umquhile prisoner Ralph Newcome, now habited in a plain suit of velvet, and looking like a country gentleman of some rank and importance.  His manner was, however, coarse and abrupt; and he still seemed nothing loth to sustain his full complement of liquor.  On the left of the archbishop sat his nameless visitor at the abbey, whose personal accomplishments he had good cause to remember.  Below them sat several chiefs of the confederacy, apparently of an inferior rank.

“Abbot Paslew,” said his grace, “thou art a tardy, and it may be undutiful son.  Thine homage to the Church has not been either freely or faithfully rendered; yet does she now welcome thee to her embrace, with the promise of a free and unconditional forgiveness.”