‘When the Devil shall hear I am gone to Sir John’s,’ continued the Doctor, ‘he will fly hither at great pace, and for the protection of my soul, and of the Holy Church and of thy dwelling-house, I do most heartily beseech you, worthy gentlemen, that ye will therefore watch here to-morrow night by my man of straw, and assist me with thy continual prayers, stirring no jot nor ceasing from your holy occupation, no matter what strange and belike unearthly noises ye do hear from the Church.’ The Bailiff’s jaw dropped, and the Parson stirred uneasily. ‘Methinks,’ said Sir John, ‘the Devil is but a simple soul after all, and would be deceived without our prayers.’ ‘Worthy, worthy gentlemen,’ said the Doctor, ‘as ye love God, grant me my boon. If your prayers be lacking, there is no telling what the Devil may do in this, thine house, Master Parson.’ ‘I should not like the house destroyed,’ said Sir John. ‘If ye only pray,’ said the Doctor, ‘it can suffer no harm, nor ye yourselves in your bodies or souls, for I have heard the Devil himself say, times out of mind, that there is nothing he feareth more than a good man’s prayers.’ The Bailiff shook his head. The Parson took a deep draught of warm ale, heaved a deep sigh, and gazed into the fire. ‘Master Doctor,’ he said at length, ‘I have always tried to do my duty as it behoveth a Christian man and a priest, nor am I conscious of any mortal sin upon my conscience. It shall never be said that I, Sir John, Master of Arts in the University of Oxford and priest of this parish, was ever afeard of a devil. I will pray by thy man of straw, and mine honest Churchwarden shall pray with me.’ The Bailiff started and drew back suddenly, ‘Nay, nay,’ he cried. ‘May the Holy Virgin bless thee,’ cried the Doctor. ‘I warrant thee the Devil cannot harm such men as be of clean life.’ ‘Art afeard, Master Bailiff?’ asked Sir John. ‘Nay, nay, not afeard,’ said the Bailiff, ‘but I would to God I were a man of better life.’ ‘Nay, thou art a godly layman,’ said Sir John. ‘Wilt thou leave the Shepherd to fight the Devil alone?’ ‘I have been Churchwarden these ten years,’ said the Bailiff. ‘Thou knowest, Sir John, I have done what I might for Holy Church. But to meet the Devil face to face----’ ‘Thou shalt not be weary in well-doing,’ cried the Parson. ‘Do thou but pray with me to-morrow night and I warrant thee it shall win thee many indulgences.’ ‘Many, didst thou say, Sir John, many? Thou persuadest me overmuch, but of my conscience, I----’ ‘Marry then, it is agreed,’ cried the Parson. ‘Do thou, Master Doctor, lock thyself in the Church and give thyself up to continual prayer before the sanctuary, and the good Bailiff and I shall cease not importuning the Saints for thee, here by thy man of straw.’