and weakness, durst not thrust themselves into the throng amongst the rest, but kneeled down quietly before the high altar, committing themselves and their lives unto the Sacrament.
The others, who were younger and stronger, ran up and down through the press, marvelling at the incivility of men; and waxed angry with the unmannerly multitude that would give no room unto the Doctors, Bachelors, Masters, and other Graduates and Regent Masters. But as the terror and fear was common unto all men, so was there no difference made of persons or degrees; every man scrambling for himself. The violet cap, or purple gown, did there nothing avail the Doctor; neither the Master's hood, nor the monk's cowl, were there respected. Yea, if the King or Queen had been there at that present and in that perplexity; they had been no better than a common man.
After they had long striven and essayed all manner of ways, and saw no remedy, neither by force nor authority to prevail: they fell to entreating and offering of rewards; one offering twenty pounds [of good money], another his scarlet gown, so that any man would pull him out, though it were by the ears!
Some stood close unto the pillars, thinking themselves safe under the vaults of stone from the dropping of the lead: others, being without money, and unprovided of all shifts, knew not which way to turn them. One, being a President of a certain College (whose name I need not here to utter), pulling a board out from the pews, covered his head and shoulders therewith against the scalding lead; which they feared much more than the fall of the church. Now what a laughter would this have ministered unto DEMOCRITUS amongst other things, to behold there a certain grand paunch; who, seeing the doors stopped and every way closed up, thought, by another compendious means, to get out through a glass window, if it might be by any shift? But here the iron grates letted [hindered] him; notwithstanding his greedy mind would needs attempt, if he could haply bring his purpose to pass. When he had broken the glass, and was come to the space between the grates where he should creep out; first he thrust in his head with the one shoulder, and it went through well enough. Then he laboured to get the
