“Maude, is not somewhat spoken in the Evangel, touching the taking up on us of His cross?”
“Ay, dear my Lady:—‘He that berith not his cross and cometh after Me, may not be My disciple.’ And moreover:—‘He that takith not his cross and sueth (followeth) Me is not worthi to Me.’”
“I can never be worthy to Him!” she said, with a new, strange lowliness which touched Maude deeply. “But hitherto I have but lain charing under the cross—I have not taken ne borne it, neither sued Him any whither. I will essay now to take it on me, humbly submitting me, and endeavouring myself to come after Him.”
“Methinks, Lady mine, that so doing, ye shall find that He beareth the heavier end. At the least, He shall bear you, and He must needs bear your burden with you. Yet in very sooth there is some gear we must needs get by rote ere we be witful enough to conceive the use thereof. The littlemaster (a schoolmaster) witteth what he doth in setting the task to his scholar. How much rather the great Master of all things?”
“Me feareth I shall be slow scholar, Maude. And I have all to learn!”
“Nor loved any yet the learning of letters, Madam. Yet meseemeth, an’ I speak not too boldly, that beside the lessons which be especial, that He only learneth (teaches), all this world is God’s great picture-book to help His children at their tasks. Our Lord likeneth Him unto all manner of gear—easy, common matter at our very hands—for to aid our slow wits. He is Bread of Life, and Water for cleansing, and Raiment to put on, and Staff for leaning upon, and Shepherd, and Comforter.”
“Enough, now,” said Custance, with that strange gentleness which seemed so unlike her old bright, wilful self. “Leave me learn that lesson ere I crave a new one.”
Note 1. The Earl of Northumberland, to induce King Richard to place himself in the power of his cousin Henry.