258 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX.

• the doctors of divinity of both the Prelates, yet the

'decision was as ye shall hear. Coming forth (or 'going in, all is one), at the queir-door' {choir-door) ' of Glasgow Kirk begins a striving for state betwixt

• the two croce-bearers, so that from glooming they
• come to shouldering ; from shouldering they go to
• buffets, and from dry blaws by neffis and neffelling,*

{fists and fisticuffing) ; * and then for charity's sake,

• they cry Dispersit dedit pauper ihiis ; and assay which
• of the croces was finest metal, which staff was^

'strongest, and which bearer could best defend his- ' maister's pre-eminence, and that there should be no-

• superiority in that behalf, to the ground goes both
• the croces. And then began no little fray, but yet

' a merry game ; for rockets ' [rochets) * were rent,.

• tippets were torn, crowns were knapped * (cracked),
• and side ' {long) * gowns micht have been seen wan-
• tonly wag from the one wall to the other. — Many of

'them lacked beards and that was the more pity; 'and therefore could not buckle other' {each other) 'by the byrse' {hristJeSy — hair or heard), 'as bold

• men would have done. But fy on the jackmen that
• did not their duty ; for had the one part of them