abbot, and desired him to send for the gentlemen who had wounded
him: the abbot so doing, the gentlemen came, and the hermit, being
very sick and weak, said unto them, 'I am sure to die of those
wounds you have given me.' The abbot answered, 'They shall as
surely die for the same;' but the hermit answered, 'Not so, for I
will freely forgive them my death, if they will be contented to be
enjoined this penance for the safeguard of their souls.' The
gentlemen being present, and terrified with the fear of death, bade
him enjoin what penance he would, so that he would but save their
lives. Then said the hermit, 'You and yours shall hold your lands
of the Abbot of Whitby and his successors in this manner: That upon
Ascension Eve, you or some of you shall come to the woods of the
Strag Heads, which is in Eskdale-side, the same day at sun-rising,
and there shall the abbot's officer blow his horn, to the intent
that you may know how to find him; and he shall deliver unto you,
William de Bruce, ten stakes, eleven strut-towers, and eleven
yethers, to be cut by you or some for you, with a knife of one penny
price; and you, Ralph de Perci, shall take twenty and one of each
sort, to be cut in the same manner; and you, Allatson, shall take
nine of each sort, to be cut as aforesaid, and to be taken on your
backs, and carried to the town of Whitby, and to be there before
nine of the clock the same day before-mentioned; at the same hour of
nine of the clock (if it be full sea) your labour or service shall
cease; but if it be not full sea, each of you shall set your stakes
at the brim, each stake one yard from the other, and so yether them
on each side of your yethers, and so stake on each side with your
strut-towers, that they may stand three tides without removing by
the force thereof: each of you shall do, make, and execute the said
service at that very hour every year, except it shall be full sea at
that hour: but when it shall so fall out, this service shall cease.