ber, no fountain of earthly honour, no great breath nor
acclamation of trumpets, nor bearing of swords naked, nor chrism, nor
broad seal, nor homage, nor fealty done, is worth that doom of the Lord
to a man; saying, I was naked (Christ is naked!) and ye clothed Me; I
was anhungered (Christ is hungry!) and ye gave Me meat; I was in prison
(so is Christ!) and ye visited Me. Therefore again I say unto you,
Kings, by the spirit of the Lord which is in me, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem. Awake, do on your panoplies, shake your sceptres over the
armied earth! So Hierusalem, that bride among brides, that exalted
virgin, that elect lady crowned with stars, shall sit no longer wasted
in the brothel of the heathen: Amen!

'I said; and a great silence fell on all the length and breadth of the
church. King Richard sat up stiff as a tree, staring at the Holy Rood as
though he had a vision of something at work. King Philip of France,
moody, was watching his greater brother. Count John of Mortain had his
head sunk to his breast-bone, his thin hands not at rest, but one finger
picking ever at another. Even the Duke of Burgundy, the burly eater, was
moved, as could be seen by the working of his cheek-bones. Two nuns were
carried out for dead. All this I saw between my hands as I knelt in
prayer. But much more I saw: it seems that I had called down testimony
from on high. I saw Countess Jehane, half-risen from her seat, white in
the face, open-mouthed, gaping at the Cross. "Saviour, the Rood! the
Rood!" she cried out, choking, then fell back and lay quite still. Many
rose to their feet, some dropped to their knees; all looked.

'We saw the great painted Christ on the Rood stoop His head forward
thrice. At the first and second times, amid cries of wonder, men looked
to see whither He bent His head. But at the third time all with one
consent fell upon their faces, except only Richard King of England. He,
indeed, rose up and stood to his full height. I saw his blue eyes shine
like sapphires as he began to speak to the Christ. Though he spoke
measuredly and low, you could mark the exultation singing behind his
tones.

'"Ah, now, my Lord God," said he, "I perceive that Thou hast singled me
out of all these peers for a work of Thine; which is a thing so glorious
for me that, if I glory in it, I am justified, since the work is
glorious. I take it upon me, my Lord, and shall not falter in it nor be
slow. Enough said: Thou askest not words o