Monks passed upward, monks passed downward; they saw by the way the
swain with monk's clothes; the hood hanged down as if he hid his
crown; they all weened that it were their brother, who there sate so
sorry in the speech-house, in the daylight, among all the knights.
They came to their abbot, and greeted him in God's name: "Lord,
benedicite, we are come before thee, for strange it seemeth to us what
Vortiger thinketh in our speech-house, where he holdeth discourse,
throughout this day no monk may come therein, except Constance alone,
and the knights all clean. Sore we dread, that they him miscounsel."
Then answered the abbot; "Nay, but they counsel him good; they bid him
hold his hood (holy order), for now is his father dead." Vortiger
there abode the while Constance away rode. Vortiger up arose, from the
monastery departed, and all his knight out went forth-right.
The monks there ran thither anon, they weened to find Constance; when
they saw the clothes lie by the walls, then each to other lamented
their brother. The abbot leapt on horse, and after Vortiger rode, and
soon gan overtake the Earl Vortiger.
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