THE MARTYRS 173 



quarrelling with the bishops, one of whom they mur- 

 dered in the turbulent times that prevailed during 

 Jack Cade's rel^ellion. Bishop Ayscough was that 

 unfortunate prelate. He had cautiously retired to 

 Edington, but a furious body of Salisbury malcontents 

 marched out across the Plain, and dragging him from 

 the altar of the church, where he was saying Mass, 

 took him to an adjacent hill-top, and slew him with 

 the utmost barbarity. It was for the benefit of these 

 unruly citizens that one of Jack Cade's quarters was 

 consigned from London to Salisbury and elevated 

 there on a pole, as a preliminary warning. Full 

 punishment followed a little later. 



XXVI 



It is really too great a task to follow the history 

 of Salisbury through the centuries to the present 

 time ; nor, indeed, since the city and the cathedral 

 are from our present point of view but incidents 

 along the Exeter Koad, would it be desirable to 

 dwell very long on their story, which, as may have 

 been judged from what has already been said, is an 

 exceedingly turbulent one. The fearful martyrdoms 

 carried out in Fisherton Fields by the bloody hell- 

 hounds of the Marian Persecution still stain the 

 records of the Church ; nor, although the very read- 

 ing of them turn l)rain and body sick, and make 

 even the architectural enthusiast almost turn away 

 in disgust from that lovely cathedral, may God grant 



