held out his hand, which both Agnes and her mother kissed, and sat
down on one of the forms by the table. Every priest was then looked
upon as a most holy person. Some of them were a long way from holiness.
But there were some who really deserved the title, and few deserved it
so well as Robert Copley, Bishop of Lincoln, whom, according to the
fashion of that day, people called Grosteste, or Great-head.

For surnames were then only just beginning to grow, and very few people
had them--I mean, very few had received any from their fathers. They
had, therefore, to bear some name given to them. Sometimes a man was
named from his father--he was Robert John-son, or John Wil-son.
Sometimes it was from his trade; he was Robert the Smith, or John the
Carter. Sometimes it was from the place where he lived; he was Robert
at the Mill, or John by the Brook. But sometimes it was from something
about himself, either as concerned his person or his ways; he was Robert
Red-nose, or John White-hood, or William Turn-again. This is the way in
which all surnames have grown. Now, as Bishop Copley's soul lodged well
(as Queen Elizabeth said of Lord Bacon), in a large head and massive
brow, people took to calling him Great-head or Grosteste; and it is as
Bishop Grosteste, not as Bishop Copley, that he has been known down to
the present day.

I have said that he was a peculiar man. He was much more peculiar, at
the time when he lived, than he would have been if he had lived now.
Saint Peter told bishops that they were not to be lords over God's
heritage, but to be ensamples to the flock; but when Bishop Grosteste
lived, most bishops were very great lords, and very poor examples.
Bishops, and clergymen too, were fond of going about in gay clothes of
all colours, playing at games, and even drinking at ale-houses. Many of
them were positively not respectable men. But Bishop Grosteste and his
chaplain were dressed in plain black, and they were of the few who walk
not according to the course of this world. To them, "I like" was of no
moment, and "I ought" was of great importance. And what other people
would say, or what other people might be going to do, was a matter of no
consequence whatever.

Such men are scarce in this follow-my-leader world. If you are so
fortunate as to be related to one of them, take care you make much of
him, for you may go a long way before you see another. With most people
"I like" comes up at the top; and