Death! can no other hangmen be found?
ha!" "Of a surety, my lord; but all have an aversion to the office, and hold it opprobrious, especially to put churchmen to death," replied the officer.
"Opprobrious or not, it must be done," replied the earl.

"See that fitting persons are provided." At this moment Hal o' Nabs stepped forward.
"Ey'm willing t' ondertake t' job, my lord, an' t' hong t' abbut, without fee or rewort," he said.
"Thou bears't him a grudge, I suppose, good fellow," replied the earl, laughing at the rustic's uncouth appearance; "but thou seem'st a stout fellow, and one not likely to flinch, and may discharge the office as well as another.

If no better man can be found, let him do it," he added to the officer.
"Ey humbly thonk your lortship," replied Hal, inwardly rejoicing at the success of his scheme.

But his countenance fell when he perceived Demdike advance from behind the others.
"This man is not to be trusted, my lord," said Demdike, coming forward; "he has some mischievous design in making the request.

So far from bearing enmity to the abbot, it was he who assisted him in his attempt to escape last night." "What!" exclaimed the earl, "is this a new trick?
Bring the fellow forward, that I may examine him." But Hal was gone.