Therefore a party among the common people was easily roused to take up sticks and stones against the insulting mischief-makers, who were thus at last driven away from the city with great tumult.
It was the very day following this riot that the offensive adventure in the cathedral, which we have just related, occurred. As no doubt existed in the minds of the clergy assembled in the chapter-room that the extraordinary person, who had just committed so gross and indecent an outrage in a place of public worship, was, in some measure, connected with the disturbance of the preceding day, they resolved to make an immediate complaint to the Mayor of Wells, that the obnoxious individual might be taken up, and committed to prison, or otherwise punished for his offence.
Some little time had been lost in their consultations; and they came forth from the cathedral in a body, with the intention of despatching two of the prebends, already deputed for that purpose, to wait upon the mayor, when, to their surprise and mortification, they saw the object of their anger approaching them on horseback. As he drew near, it was evident that the opportunity of arresting him was already lost. He rode a very powerful young horse of generous breed and fine action--and he sat upon him as on a throne.
"Look ye," said he, as he drew up close to the astonished group,--"Look ye, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites!--ye love greetings in the market-place--take mine:--the time is come to set your houses in order--even now the decree is gone forth--the sword is now sharpening that shall pass through the land:--it glitters, look ye." So saying, with a grim smile he drew the blade of his own half out of the scabbard, and let it fall again with a forcible rattle.
The dean, who was a bold and athletic man, disregarding this fierce action, made an active effort to seize the bridle of the Puritan's steed; but the wary rider with a jerk of the reins threw up the animal's head, and at the same moment touching his flank with the spur made him give a plunge forward that scattered the frightened priests a few yards on either side. Nevertheless, the dean remonstrated in very angry terms against his insulting abuse; as did others, who were, like himself, courageous. They did not, however, succeed either in stopping the fanatic or in driving him away:--a small mob was gathering in the cathedral yard, and the fiery zealot continued his address.