to
fear ever, lest when one cannot avoid them, one should afterwards
happen ceaselessly to endure them." He then pointed out that this Day of
the Lord was put in the porch, so that those who entered to ask for
their needs should not forget "the highest and greatest need of all,
pardon for sins," which they might ask and have and be free from pains
and glad with eternal joys. John seized the bishop's hand and shewed the
kings on the right. "Nay, lord bishop, you should rather shew us these,"
he said "whose example and society we pray to follow and attain." For a
few days he seemed exceedingly submissive in deed and speech. The
beggars who wished him well he thanked with bows. The ragged old women
who saluted him he replied to most gently. But after three days he
changed his tune and dashed the hopes which had begun to spring. Easter
Sunday came, and the bishop was at Mass and John's chamberlain slipped
twelve gold pieces into his hand, the usual royal offering. He was
standing (they always stand at Mass) surrounded by a throng of barons
before the bishop and gloated upon the gold, tossed it in his hand and
delayed so long to offer it, that everybody stared. At last the bishop,
angry at such behaviour, then and there said, "Why gaze like that?" John
replied, "Truly I am having a look at those gold coins of yours and
thinking that if I had held them a few days ago, I should not offer them
to you but pop them in my own purse. Still, all the same, take them."
The angry bishop blushed for the king, drew back his arm, would not
touch such money nor suffer his hand to be kissed; shook his head at him
in fury. "Put down there what you hold," he said, "and go." The king
cast his money into the silver basin and slunk away. John's insult was
all the greater because out of Lincoln none of the bishop's people was
ever allowed to nibble one crumb of the alms. That day the bishop had
preached upon the conduct and future prospects of princes. John neither
liked the duration nor the direction of the sermon, and sent thrice to
the preacher to stop his talk and get on with the Mass so that he might
go to his victuals. But not a bit of it. The preacher talked louder and
longer until all applauded and some wept, and he told them how worthily
they ought to partake of the true Sacramental Bread, who came from
heaven and gives life to the world. John shared neither in the word nor
the Sacrament. Neither then nor on Ascension Day, when he was mad