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green stage of England； the scenery； hill； plain and river even as
now； the actors in much our very selves； in much also so changed
in thought and act that they might be dwellers in another world to
ours。
II。 HOW THE DEVIL CAME TO WAVERLEY
The day was the first of May； which was the Festival of the
Blessed Apostles Philip and James。 The year was the 1；349th from
man's salvation。
》From tierce to sext； and then again from sext to nones； Abbot John
of the House of Waverley had been seated in his study while he
conducted the many high duties of his office。 All around for many
a mile on every side stretched the fertile and flourishing estate
of which he was the master。 In the center lay the broad Abbey
buildings； with church and cloisters； hospitium； chapter…house and
frater…house； all buzzing with a busy life。 Through the open
window came the low hum of the voices of the brethren as they
walked in pious converse in the ambulatory below。 From across the
cloister there rolled the distant rise and fall of a Gregorian
chant； where the precentor was hard at work upon the choir； while
down in the chapter…house sounded the strident voice of Brother
Peter； expounding the rule of Saint Bernard to the novices。
Abbot John rose to stretch his cramped limbs。 He looked out at
the greensward of the cloister； and at the graceful line of open
Gothic arches which skirted a covered walk for the brethren
within。 Two and two in their black…and…white garb with slow step
and heads inclined； they paced round and round。 Several of the
more studious had brought their illuminating work from the
scriptorium； and sat in the warm sunshine with their little
platters of pigments and packets of gold…leaf before them； their
shoulders rounded and their faces sunk low over the white sheets
of vellum。 There too was the copper…worker with his burin and
graver。 Learning and art were not traditions with the Cistercians
as with the parent Order of the Benedictines； and yet the library
of Waverley was well filled both with precious books and with
pious students。
But the true glory of the Cistercian lay in his outdoor work； and
so ever and anon there passed through the cloister some sunburned
monk； soiled mattock or shovel in hand； with his gown looped to
his knee； fresh from the fields or the garden。 The lush green
water…meadows speckled with the heavy…fleeced sheep； the acres of
corn…land reclaimed from heather and bracken； the vineyards on the
southern slope of Crooksbury Hill； the rows of Hankley fish…ponds；
the Frensham marshes drained and sown with vegetables； the
spacious pigeon…cotes； all circled the great Abbey round with the
visible labors of the Order。
The Abbot's full and florid face shone with a quiet content as he
looked out at his huge but well…ordered household。 Like every
head of a prosperous Abbey； Abbot John； the fourth of the name；
was a man of various accomplishments。 Through his own chosen
instruments he had to minister a great estate and to keep order
and decorum among a large body of men living a celibate life。 He
was a rigid disciplinarian toward all beneath him； a supple
diplomatist to all above。 He held high debate with neighboring
abbots and lords； with bishops； with papal legates； and even on
occasion with the King's majesty himself。 Many were the subjects
with which he must be conversant。 Questions of doctrine；
questions of building； points of forestry； of agriculture； of
drainage； of feudal law； all came to the Abbot for settlement。 He
held the scales of justice in all the Abbey banlieue which
stretched over many a mile of Hampshire and of Surrey。 To the
monks his displeasure might mean fasting； exile to some sterner
community； or even imprisonment in chains。 Over the layman also
he could hold any punishment save only corporeal death； instead of
which he had in hand the far more dreadful weapon of spiritual
excommunication。
Such were the powers of the Abbot； and it is no wonder that there
were masterful lines in the ruddy features of Abbot John； or that
the brethren； glancing up； should put on an even meeker carriage
and more demure expression as they saw the watchful face in the
window above them。
A knock at the door of his studio recalled the Abbot to his
immediate duties； and he returned to his desk。 Already he had
spoken with his cellarer and prior； almoner； chaplain and lector；
but now in the tall and gaunt monk who obeyed his summons to enter
he recognized the most important and also the most importunate of
his agents； Brother Samuel the sacrist； whose office；
corresponding to that of the layman's bailiff； placed the material
interests of the monastery and its dealings with the outer world
entirely under his control； subject only to the check of the
Abbot。 Brother Samuel was a gnarled and stringy old monk whose
stern and sharp…featured face reflected no light from above but
only that sordid workaday world toward which it was forever
turned。 A huge book of accounts was tucked under one of his arms；
while a great bunch of keys hung from the other hand； a badge of
his office； and also on occasion of impatience a weapon of
offense； as many a scarred head among rustics and lay brothers
could testify。
The Abbot sighed wearily； for he suffered much at the hands of his
strenuous agent。 〃Well； Brother Samuel； what is your will？〃 he
asked。
〃Holy father； I have to report that I have sold the wool to Master
Baldwin of Winchester at two shillings a bale more than it fetched
last year； for the murrain among the sheep has raised the price。〃
〃You have done well； brother。〃
〃I have also to tell you that I have distrained Wat the warrener
from his cottage； for his Christmas rent is still unpaid； nor the
hen…rents of last year。〃
〃He has a wife and four children； brother。〃 He was a good； easy
man； the Abbot； though liable to be overborne by his sterner
subordinate。
〃It is true； holy father； but if I should pass him； then how am I
to ask the rent of the foresters of Puttenham； or the hinds in the
village？ Such a thing spreads from house to house； and where then
is the wealth of Waverley？〃
〃What else； Brother Samuel？〃
〃There is the matter of the fish…ponds。〃
The Abbot's face brightened。 It was a subject upon which he was
an authority。 If the rule of his Order had robbed him of the
softer joys of life； he had the keener； zest for those which
remained。
〃How have the char prospered； brother？〃
〃They have done well； holy father； but the carp have died in the
Abbot's pond。〃
〃Carp prosper only upon a gravel bottom。 They must be put in also
in their due proportion； three milters to one spawner； brother
sacrist； and the spot must be free from wind； stony and sandy； an
ell deep； with willows and grass upon the banks。 Mud for tench；
brother； gravel for carp。〃
The sacrist leaned forward with the face of one who bears tidings
of woe。 〃There are pike in the Abbot's pond；〃 said he。
〃Pike！〃 cried the Abbot in horror。 〃As well shut up a wolf in our
sheepfold。 How came a pike in the pond？ There were no pike last
year； and a pike does not fall with the rain nor rise in the
sp