"I have in my possession letters proving all this and more. I must not
keep them. Who knows what may happen to me on my homeward journey? I now
give this packet to thy care, O saintly Palmer! Bring them safe to the
hands of Wolsey, that he may give them to the King, and for this deed
there will be prayers offered for thee while I live. Why! What ailest
thou? Speak!"

As he took the packet, he was shaken by strong emotion, but before he
could reply, the Abbess shrieked, "What is here? Look at yon City
Cross!"

"Then on its battlements they saw
A vision, passing Nature's law."

Figures seemed to rise and die, to advance and to flee, and from the
midst of the spectre throng this awful summons came:--"Prince, prelate,
potentate and peer, I summon one and all to answer at my tribunal."

"Then thunder'd forth a roll of names:
The first was thine, unhappy James!
Then all thy nobles came;
Crawford, Glencairn, Montrose, Argyle,
Ross, Bothwell, Forbes, Lennox, Lyle,
Why should I tell their separate style?
Each chief of birth and fame,
Of Lowland, Highland, Border, Isle,
Foredoomed to Flodden's carnage pile,
Was cited there by name;
And Marmion, Lord of Fontenaye.