At the same time , the music in the street sounded a loud and doleful summons . The eyes of Sir William Howe and his guests being directed to the staircase , there appeared on the uppermost landing-place , that was discernible from the bottom , several personages descending toward the door . The foremost was a man of stern visage , wearing a steeple-crowned hat and a skull-cap beneath it , a dark cloak and huge wrinkled boots that came halfway up his legs . Under his arm was a rolled-up banner which seemed to be the banner of England , but strangely rent and torn ; he had a sword in his right hand and grasped a Bible in his left . The next figure was of milder aspect , yet full of dignity , wearing a broad ruff , over which descended a beard , a gown of wrought velvet and a doublet and hose of black satin ; he carried a roll of manuscript in his hand . Close behind these two came a young man of very striking countenance and demeanor with deep thought and contemplation on his brow , and perhaps a flash of enthusiasm in his eye ; his garb , like that of his predecessors , was of an antique fashion , and there was a stain of blood upon his ruff . In the same group with these were three or four others , all men of dignity and evident command , and bearing themselves like personages who were accustomed to the gaze of the multitude . It was the idea of the beholders that these figures went to join the mysterious funeral that had halted in front of the province-house , yet that supposition seemed to be contradicted by the air of triumph with which they waved their hands as they crossed the threshold and vanished through the portal . `` In the devil 's name , what is this ? '' muttered Sir William Howe to a gentleman beside him . `` A procession of the regicide judges of King Charles the martyr ? '' `` These , '' said Colonel Joliffe , breaking silence almost for the first time that evening -- `` these , if I interpret them aright , are the Puritan governors , the rulers of the old original democracy of Massachusetts -- Endicott with the banner from which he had torn the symbol of subjection , and Winthrop and Sir Henry Vane and Dudley , Haynes , Bellingham and Leverett . '' `` Why had that young man a stain of blood upon his ruff ? '' asked Miss Joliffe . `` Because in after-years , '' answered her grandfather , `` he laid down the wisest head in England upon the block for the principles of liberty . '' `` Will not Your Excellency order out the guard ? '' whispered Lord Percy , who , with other British officers , had now assembled round the general . `` There may be a plot under this mummery . '' `` Tush ! we have nothing to fear , '' carelessly replied Sir William Howe .
`` There can be no worse treason in the matter than a jest , and XXXXX somewhat of the dullest .
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