Mistress Margery | Page 9

which reason also they would
allow the lay folk to drink Christ's blood. Moreover, they say that the
blessed angels and God's saints be not to be worshipped, but only to be
held in reverence and kindly memory. Also, they give to the common
people the Scriptures of God's Word for to read, which we wot well is
only fit for priests. And in all things which they do, I find not that these
evil wretches do hold any true thing as taught by Holy Church, but one,
which is masses for souls departed. I wis not much concerning them,
for they move mine anger."
"I pray your good Lordship," asked Sir Geoffrey, "can you tell me
whether these men be in great force in London or thereabouts at this
time? Find they any favour in the Court?"
"They be ever increasing," said Lord Marnell "so much so that the
King's council have seen good to prepare some orders against
them--forbidding of their assemblages, and such like--for to present
unto the Parliament. These orders provide, as my good friend holy
Abbot Bilson did tell me, that all convicted to be Lollards shall suffer
close prison, for longer or shorter time, as pleaseth the King's Grace. I
trow they find not favour at Court with many, but the few that look
well on them be unhaply of the highest. I have heard say that some in

the Duke of Lancaster's palace show them favour, and it is no news that
the Queen--whose soul God pardon!--did lean that way. In all open
hours she was reading of Scripture in the vulgar tongue. Master Sastre,
the priest, who my fair cousin telleth me was a-preaching in Bostock
Church yestermorn, is, I take it, one of their chief men, and did learn of
Master Wycliffe himself. I trow he will find it go hard with him if ever
he cometh near London again. He goeth a-preaching of his doctrines up
and down the realm, and perverting from the faith evilly-disposed men
and sely [simple, unlearned] damsels who lack something to set their
tongues running."
Sir Ralph here made a remark which turned the conversation; for this
Margery was sorry, as it had interested her extremely. Lord Marnell's
remarks taught her more about the Lollards than she had ever known
before. So the Queen read the Bible in English! thought she. Why
should not I do the same? She sat wrapped in her own thoughts for a
long time, and when she roused herself from them, she noticed that
Dame Lovell had quitted the room, and that Sir Ralph and Sir Geoffrey
were talking politics, wherein they were occupied in proving, to the
unqualified satisfaction of each, that there was "something rotten in the
State," and that England could not last very long, her only business
being to demolish France. And Margery, finding the conversation now
extremely dull--though had she for an instant suspected the turn it
would take in her absence, she certainly would never have
gone--slipped out, and joined the more noisy party in the kitchen,
where she found Dame Lovell seated in the chimney-corner and
inveighing fervently against late hours.
"An it be not three of the clock already," said that angry lady, "I am a
heathen Jew, and no Christian! Time to prepare supper for Christian
folk--but when that great hulk of a man, that can do nothing in this
world but eat, thinks to sup, I wis not! Marry, I trow that nought more
will go down his throat until evensong! I marvel if our grandsons will
be as great fools as we be!"
"More, Dame," answered Mistress Katherine, sententiously. She was a
woman who very seldom spoke, and when she did, compressed all her

ideas into as few words as would serve the purpose.
"Nay, Saint Christopher! I hope not," said Dame Lovell. "And what am
I for to do now? Madge, lass, open the door and bid hither Richard
Pynson."
Margery softly opened the door into the hall; and as softly called the
person who answered to that name. He rose, and came to her, and Sir
Geoffrey and Lord Marnell, who were in low-toned, earnest
conversation, suddenly stopped as she appeared.
"Richard," said Dame Lovell, in what she doubtlessly intended for a
whisper, "I pray thee, good youth, to go in softly, and privily demand
of Sir Ralph what time he list to sup."
Richard executed the order, and, returning, closed the door behind him.
"Sir Ralph saith, good mistress mine, that the Lord Marnell when at
home suppeth not afore six of the clock; but he prayeth you for to sup
when you will, to the which he will without doubt accommodate
himself."
"Six of the clock!" cried Dame Lovell, in amazement. "Richard, art
sure thou heardest aright?"