THE CHRONICLE OF CLEMENDY
square cap, together with the Rolls and the Requests wagging their heads and looking solemn; and lastly all the commonalty of the town and country from the Mayor to the wild shepherds from the mountain. Thus was Dom. Maria's work hallowed in the presence of a great multitude, yet it was noted that after the consecration, after Sir Jenkin, his battle-axe and bells had been sprinkled with holy water, the Freemason who had cut the stone-work, craved leave to go up and set his mark thereon, saying that he had by some mischance forgotten to do this before. Which leave was given him, and it is alleged that when he had come down again, and had vanished back into the crowd he was heard to laugh indecently and full scornfully, and the Burgavennians assert that this Freemason was no more than one of Hell's Commissioners, who by that mark he set upon the stone undid all that the holy water and benedictions had effected, and in fine, was the author of all the mischief that came to pass. They say also that the Baron hearing how the fellow had laughed, was willing to have spoken with him in his castle (or may be under it) and bade a man-at-arms attach his person; but to no effect, since there was no Freemason to be seen, either then or afterwards in all the coasts of Gwent.
But nobody thought very much about him at the time, for they had plenty of other things to take up their thoughts, namely feasting and drinking; for never was there such a festival at Abergavenny as that of St. Petronilla de Clochasterio, as this lady (virgo non m'ra) was called by the monks ever after. For first of all there
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