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Beware! beware! of the black Friar, He still retains his sway, For he is yet the Church's heir by right, Whoever may be the lay. Amundeville is lord by day, But the monk is lord by night, Nor wine nor wassel could raise a vassal To question that friar's right. Don Juan, CANTO XVII. The minstrel made no vain boast of the skill which he possessed in the use of pen and ink.
"And whether for good, or whether for ill, It is not mine to say; But still to the house of Amundeville He abideth night and day. By the marriage bed of their lords, 'tis said, He flits on the bridal eve; And 'tis held as faith, to their bed of death, He comes but not to grieve.
Ghostly memories cling yet around these old missions. "When the lord of the hill, Amundeville, Made Norman church his prey, And expelled the friars, one friar still Would not be driven away." So here the sacred glebe was held by a faithful sentinel. His gravestone flashed a white protest against violence.
"But beware! beware of the Black Friar, He still retains his sway, For he is yet the church's heir, Whoever may be the lay. Amundeville is lord by day, But the monk is lord by night, Nor wine nor wassail could raise a vassal To question that friar's right. "Say nought to him as he walks the hall, And he'll say nought to you; He sweeps along in his dusky pall, As o'er the grass the dew.
"Beware! beware! of the Black Friar, Who sitteth by Norman stone, For he mutters his prayers in the midnight air, And his mass of the days that are gone. When the Lord of the Hill, Amundeville, Made Norman Church his prey, And expell'd the friars, one friar still Would not be driven away.
You know no, you don't know the verse in the ballad: 'Amundeville may be lord by day, But the monk is lord by night; Nor wine nor wassail would stir a vassal To question that friar's right." He went away then without another word beyond the ordinary adieu. Royston had a way of repeating poetry peculiar to himself rather monotonous, perhaps, but effective from the depth and volume of his voice.