AFTER THE SERVICE n
and his sons, and to chastise their children, and to see they learnt
to labour well and truly while there was yet time, and further tq^"*
think how best to labour for their souls as well as their bodies.
All this was listened to in comparative quiet, although a few
took but little notice of the discourse, and kept up a desultory
conversation among themselves; and throughout the nave there
was more whispering and occasional chatter than Sir William
liked to hear, but he was powerless to stop it, for no one could
remember when a little talking or even joking in church had been
forbidden. When the sermon was ended he went back to the
altar, and the service continued. Ere long the ringing of the bell
called even the most inattentive to their devotions, since the
great moment of the Mass had now come. Paternoster, Ave and
Creed were all that John could say, but these he repeated again
and again; and later, when he heard the priest intoning the Pater-
noster, he joined in heartily. Then, while Sir William was
rinsing his holy vessels, he prayed silently again until the service
came to an end with its Ite, missa est, and after the priest had re-
tired, he too rose to leave. Many " sons of Belial" had not waited
so long, and had hurried off, as soon as the consecration had been
finished, as if they had seen not God but the Devil, for some
wanted to get to their work agair^ while others were only con-
cerned to cross the green to the ale-house where they might
refresh themselves and gossip at their ease.
Once out in the churchyard again John stopped to talk with
his neighbours. One group was looking with interest at the
platform, which was as yet but half-erected, at the one end of the
churchyard. Here, in a week's time, they would see the actors
from the neighbouring town, as well as some of their own folk
performing in the Miracle Plays. Hubert, the parish clerk, was
particularly skilful, and all remembered his performance as
Herod, "that moody King;>, two years before, and also how
masterful it had been. Besides this, however, there had been
much to amuse them in the rough boisterous performances of
many of the actors. They hoped to see Cain bullying his boy at