Smoothing his locks and trimming down his garments, the boy departed.  It was long or ere the audience was granted; in the meantime, they stood trembling and oppressed with an evil foreboding for the result, the known hasty and impetuous temper of the Saxon rendering it a matter of some doubt, and no small hazard, as to what might be the issue of their conference.  Suddenly was heard the clanking of armour, and the tramp of nailed feet, announcing his approach; the heavy arras was uplifted, and Gamel the Thane stood before them.  He was richly attired in a loose coat reaching down to his ankles; over this was a long robe, fastened over both shoulders and on the breast with a silver buckle.  The edges were trimmed with gold and knots of flowers interwoven with pearls and rare stones.  On his head he wore a coronet, or rim of gold, enriched with jewels; and his bushy hair and grizzled beard looked still more grim and forbidding beneath these glittering ornaments.  His eyes were quick and piercing; his cheeks pale and slightly furrowed.  A narrow and retreating mouth, firmly drawn in, showed the bent of his disposition to be fierce and choleric, and his wrath not easily turned aside.  He was accompanied by his billmen, together with some half-dozen attendants, clad in shirts of chain mail and helmets fitting close to the head.  These bore lances after the Norman fashion then prevailing over the ruder customs of their Saxon predecessors.

The more polished manners of the Norman’s court had early pervaded the ranks of the nobles; and even the few hereditary Saxon chiefs left in possession of their ancient sovereignties, thought their domains cheaply purchased by this obsequious show of homage to their king.

The Thane’s chief henchman occupied the post of honour, whilst a little footpage stood by his master’s elbow.

The villains prostrated themselves.

“How now!—­Where are the caitiffs I commanded of ye?  I vow to the Virgin and St Chadde, your own necks shall swing from the tower in their stead, should ye fail in that which I require at your hands.”

The trembling hearers were, afraid to answer—­their lips quivered, and each tongue seemed to refuse its office.  Gamel proceeded:——­

“What! come ye to fawn and whine out my purpose?  Now will I make your chastisement ten times hotter for this intent.  Lodge these knaves, Nicholas, i’ the further dungeon, till they be reprieved by the rogues who are yet at large and defying our power:—­they hold it somewhat cheap, methinks, when they value it less than the pampering of their own wantonness and sport.”

Nicholas was herald, bedellus, or chief crier, to the lord of the manor, his office being to make proclamations at the court and the cross, where the use of his capacious lungs was oft in request.  He was hangman, too, upon occasion, being never so well pleased as when employed in the due chastisement of his master’s lieges.  He was, moreover, a man of infinite humour, generally consoling his dear unfortunates under their visitations by some coarse and galling jest.