The monks remained in the hope of preventing any violence.

Presently the halberdiers came up.
"That is the ringleader," cried the officer, who proved to be Richard Assheton, pointing out Ashbead; "seize him!" "Naw mon shall lay honts o' meh," cried Cuthbert.
And as the guard pushed past the monks to execute their leader's order, he sprang forward, and, wresting a halbert from the foremost of them, stood upon his defence.
"Seize him, I say!" shouted Assheton, irritated at the resistance offered.
"Keep off," cried Ashbead; "yo'd best.

Loike a stag at bey ey'm dawngerous.

Waar horns! waar horns! ey sey." The arquebussiers looked irresolute.

It was evident Ashbead would only be taken with life, and they were not sure that it was their leader's purpose to destroy him.
"Put down thy weapon, Cuthbert," interposed the prior; "it will avail thee nothing against odds like these." "Mey be, 'oly prior," rejoined Ashbead, flourishing the pike: "boh ey'st ony yield wi' loife." "I will disarm him," cried Demdike, stepping forward.
"Theaw!" retorted Ashbead, with a scornful laugh, "Cum on, then.