, but not unkindly, after what had been ordered, but they found nothing beneath the white kirtle save the white skin, and nothing in the

led Quinte Essence," sai

oison, so he was forced t

hich is the most perfect part of our being

tilled, and he told them what marvels it wrought by God's grace; how it would draw out the virtues and properties of things, a

d have it when the King had done talking with him. Then they went out and l

es. There was a round table in the midst of the floor, and a chair on this side and that; and there was an image of Christ

racted by all that he had seen, until he had said ad sextam, and then he was quieter, and sat down bef

*

eave him (except at one time), in spite of all that happened to him, for he told me so himself. Yet, save for the little wound upon his head, he was clean of all injury at

ddenly through from his parlour, but he wa

ess, and folks said that the clothing he would have liked best to wear was a monk's cowl or a friar's frock (and I doubt not that there be many a monk and friar,

h as priests wear. He had the collar of Sanctus Spiritus over his shoulders, his cap on his head, with a peak to it, and little plain round shoes (not like those pointe

chairs beside one another, so that half their faces were in shadow and half in ligh

softly, but with an appearance of observing him very close

the King, "what is this

ayed at my lord's coming: he had

r grace, that I was bidden to

King, a little stiffly, and my lord smiled to

efore, and of the dryness that fell on him when he strove to put away his thoughts, and of his words with me who was his priest, and his coming to London and an

s hand and his elbow on the table, and my lord, who had be

erior silence as is the interior silence that came to him in contemplation. There appeared no movement anywhere, neither in the room, nor t

for a full minute without any words, then he t

aid to you, sir?" he asked softl

n at the ruddy prelate's face that seemed very

gain that kingdom you must suffer a passion, such as that which Jesu suffered, and this is the tidings that He sends to you. He bids you make ready for it. It shall be a longer passion than His, but I know not how long. Yet you must not go apart, as you desire. You must go this way and that at all men's will, ever within your portans stigmata Domini Jesu. ['Bearing the marks of the Lord Jesu' (from Gal. vi. 17.)] And the end of it shall be even as His, and as His apostles' was who now rules Christend

*

speaking by him. But he was aware that my lord cardinal was standing up with his hand outstretched and an appearance of great anger on his face. For indeed those were terrible thin

ill the other was done; but when Master Richard went back a ste

back he observed my lord's face, red with passion, turning now to him, now to the King, who sat still in his place; his whit

was silence again for

e breathing of one in

ntently upon the young man, and still without speakin

r the door into the King's parlour was now shut again), he turned to the other d

thing Master Richard had heard just now, b

said Master Richard,

ng?" asked

ord are gone back

the fellow let him past, and he went down the gallery a

Richard stayed to listen. (I had almost said that it had been better if he had not stayed, but made his way out qu

man-at-arms that had kept the door. The lad cried out shrilly when he saw him standing there, and came down the steps four at a leap, with his hands outstretched to either wall. Master Richard thought that he would fall, and s

nd at others who were following as swiftly as they could. In the court outside, too, there were footsteps and the sound of talking, and presently the door was darkened by half a dozen others, who

ken by the m

that gathered every moment on the stairs and in the court. So he asked one that hel

rown and white dress, and his face bruised and torn, to await when the King should come ou

nd speaking with his Gra

ondito faciei tuae: a

ecret of Thy face: from the d