penny, which each householder is by law bound to pay for cutting
down the Convent grain! Richer people pretend that it is
commuted, that it is this and the other; that, in short, they
will not pay it. Our _Cellerarius_ gives up calling on the rich.
In the houses of the poor, our _Cellerarius_ finding, in like
manner, neither penny nor good promise, snatches, without
ceremony, what _vadium_ (pledge, _wad_) he can come at: a joint-
stool, kettle, nay the very house-door, _'hostium;'_ and old
women, thus exposed to the unfeeling gaze of the public, rush out
after him with their distaffs and the angriest shrieks:
_'vetulae exibant cum colis suis,'_ says Jocelin, 'minantes
et exprobrantes.'_

What a historical picture, glowing visible, as St. Edmund's
Shrine by night, after Seven long Centuries or so! _Vetulae cum
colis:_ My venerable ancient spinning grandmothers,--ah, and ye
too have to shriek, and rush out with your distaffs; and become
Female Chartists, and scold all evening with void doorway;--and
in old Saxon, as we in modern, would fain demand some Five-point
Charter, could it be fallen in with, the Earth being too
tyrannous!--Wise Lord Abbots, hearing of such phenomena, did in
time abolish or commute the reap-penny, and one nuisance was
abated. But the image of these justly offended old women, in
their old wool costumes, with their angry features, and spindles
brandished, lives forever in the historical memory. Thanks to
thee, Jocelin Boswell. Jerusalem was taken by the Crusaders, and
again lost by them; and Richard Coeur-de-Lion 'veiled his face'
as he passed in sight of it: but how many other things went on,
the while!