“Madam, under your Ladyship’s good leave, there is a thing I would fain ask at you.”
“Ask freely, my maid,” was the kindly answer.
“Might it like you to arede me, Madam, of your grace—in what regard, and to what greatness, the Lollards do differ from the Catholics?”
The Dowager smiled, but she looked a little surprised.
“A short question, forsooth, my maid, the which to answer shortly should lack sharper wit than mine. But I will give thee to wit so far as I can. We do believe that all things which be needful for a Christian man to know, be founden in God’s Word, yclept Holy Scripture: so that all other our differences take root in this one. For the which encheson (reason) we do deny the Pope to have right and rule over this our Church of England, which lieth not in his diocese, neither find we in Holy Scripture that the Bishop of Rome should wield rule over other Bishops; but that in every realm the King thereof should be highest in estate over the priests as over any other of his subjects. Wherefore likewise we call not upon the saints, seeing that Holy Scripture saith ‘oo God and a Mediatour is of God and of men, a man, Crist Jesu:’ neither may we allow the holy bread of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar to be the very carnal flesh of our Saviour Christ, there bodily present, seeing both that Paul sayeth of it ‘this breed’ after that it be consecrate, and moreover that our own very bodily senses do deny it to be any other matter. So neither will any of us use swearing, which is utterly forbid in God’s Word; neither hold we good the right of sanctuary, ne the power of the Pope’s indulgence, ne virginity of the priesthood—seeing that no one of all these be bidden by Holy Scripture.”
The old lady paused, and cut off her loose threads before she continued, in a rather more constrained voice.
“Beyond all these,” she then added, “there be other matters wherein certain of us do differ from other. To wit, some of us do love to sing unto symphony (music) the praise and laud of God; the which othersome (of whom am I myself) do account to be but a vain indulgence of the flesh, and a thing unmeet for its vanity to be done of God’s servants dwelling in this evil world. Some do hold that childre ought not to be baptised, but only them that be of age to perceive the signification of that holy rite: herein I see not with them. Likewise there be othersome that would have the old prayers for to abide, being but a form of words; while other (of whom be I) do understand such forms to be but things dead and dry, and we rather would pray unto our Lord with such words as He in the instant moment shall show unto us—the which (nowise contaking (reproaching) other) we do nathless judge to be more agreeable with Holy Scripture. But wherefore wouldst know all this, my maid?”
Maude’s answer was not a reply according to grammar, but it showed her thoughts plainly enough. She had been carefully comparing her own inward convictions with the catalogue as it proceeded. She certainly could see no harm either in infant baptism or sacred music: as to the question of forms of prayer, she had never considered it. But on all the other points, though to her own dismay, she found herself exactly in agreement with the description given by the Dowager.
“Then I am a Lollard, I account!” she said at last, with a sigh.
“And what if so, my maid?” quietly asked the old lady.