Mistress Margery | Page 4

earnest, loving tone. "Who is here, good friends,"
asked he, "that loveth this blessed Lord Jesu, the Lamb that was slain?
Who is here who will give up this vile and wretched world for His sake?
Who that will sue [follow] this blessed Lamb whithersoever He goeth,
even though He lead along the sharp way called tribulation, or the
weary way called prison, or the bitter way called poverty, or even
verily through the low and dark door called death? Who is here? Is
there none I beseech you, good friends, hath Christ no souls in this
place? When the blessed angels count up the number of the purchased
ones, will ye have them leave Bostock out of their reckoning? Shall it
be worse than Sodom and Gomorrah, wherein there was one soul that
was saved? Is there not one here? Nay, brethren, I trust it is not so. I
trust ye will come, yea in numbers, yea in throngs, yea in multitudes,
and crowd on Christ to touch the hem of His blessed garment, that is
the power of His great mercy. Christ loveth to have folk crowd on Him
to cry Him mercy. I read not that ever He complained of the crowding
of the multitude. I read not that ever He turned away so much as one
poor caitiff [sinner] who came unto Him. I read not that His lips
plained ever of aught but that they came not--that they lacked faith. I
am an old man, friends, and in all likelihood shall I never come here
again; but I say unto you that I shall scan well the multitude in the
white apparel for the faces which be upturned unto me this day. I pray
you that I miss them not. I pray God that ye--yea, that every man and
woman of you, may be clothed in yon glistering and shene [bright]
raiment, and may lift up your voices to cry, `The Lamb is worthy' in the
city of God!"

That sermon was a strange thing to Margery Lovell. Never, from the
day of her birth to that day, had she heard as she now heard of the
Lamb that was slain. For above a mile of their way home Richard and
Margery kept perfect silence, which the latter was the first to break just
before they came in sight of Lovell Tower.
"Master Pynson, we have heard strange things to-day."
"We have, of a truth, Mistress Margery. I wonder whether Master
Sastre be right."
"I wish greatly," replied Margery, "that I could get the book wherein I
have heard that Master Wycliffe rendered God's Word into the vulgar
tongue. I could see then whether Master Sastre were right. I would I
knew of any man who had that book!"
"Master Carew of Marston told me some time agone," said Richard,
rather hesitatingly, "that he had the Gospel according to John the
Apostle, copied out by a feat [clever] scribe from Master Wycliffe's
rendering thereof."
"O Master Pynson!" said Margery, entreatingly, "I pray you that you
ask good Master Carew to lend me that book! Tell him that Mistress
Margery Lovell will lay her best jewels to pledge that she returneth the
book safe. I must see that book Master Pynson!"
"Softly, I pray you, good Mistress Margery," answered Richard,
smiling; "it were well to go warily to work; for wot you not that Master
Wycliffe--ay, and Master Sastre too--be accounted heretics by some?
You would not, trow, fall under the ban of Holy Church?"
"I would with a good will do aught, or bear aught," replied Margery,
earnestly, "so I might wit of a surety that I should be one of those who
wear the white apparel, and cry, `The Lamb is worthy' in the city of
God!"
"Well, Mistress Margery," said Richard, soothingly, "I will do my best
for to get you the book, but it may be some time ere I see Master

Carew."
Dame Lovell herself was standing on the steps of Lovell Tower,
apparently looking out for the riders, for as soon as they came within
hearing distance she raised her voice to say, "Richard Pynson! Sir
Geoffrey would speak with you. Come in quickly, I pray you, and leave
the handmaidens to help Mistress Margery from her pillion."
"I need no help, good mother," said Margery, as she sprang lightly from
her seat, while Richard hurried into the house to find Sir Geoffrey.
"Sir Geoffrey would send Richard Pynson to Marston," said Dame
Lovell, as she preceded Margery into the hall. "And how liked you
Master Sastre, Madge?"
"Very greatly, good mother; never heard I before a homily so brave."
"That is well," said Dame Lovell, and disappeared into the kitchen, as
Margery ran up-stairs to her own room, and brought down