When he saw that he made haste to cast them off again upon Him who alone can carry them and live, and to cry upon His Name; and he understood in that moment, he said, as never before, something of that passion and of the meaning of those five wounds that he had adored so long in ignorance. But what it was that he saw, and how it was that our Lord shewed Himself, whether on the rood, or as a child with the world in His hands, or as crowned with sharp-thorned roses, or who was with Him, if any were; I do not know. It was then that he said "_Secretum mihi._" And when Master Richard had said that, he added "_Vere languores nostros ipse tulit; et dolores nostros ipse portavit._" ["Surely He hath borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows" (Is. liii. 4.)] * * * * * He lay silent a good while after that, and I did not speak to him. When he spoke again, it was to bring to my mind the masses that were to be said, and then he spoke of the Quinte Essence, and said that it was to be mine if I wished for it; and all other things of his were to be mine to do as I pleased with them, for he had no kin in the world. And after he had spoken of these things the King came in timidly from the parlour, and stood by the door; I could see the pallour of his face against the hangings. "Come in, my lord King," said Master Richard very faintly. "I have done what was to be done, and there now is nothing but to make an end." The King knelt down at the further side of the bed. "Is it the priest you want, Master Hermit?" he asked. "Sir John will read the prayers presently," said Master Richard. I heard the King swallow in his throat before he spoke again. "And you will remember us all," he said, "before God's Majesty, and in particular my poor soul in its passion." "How could I forget that?" asked Master Richard, and by his voice I knew that he laughed merrily to himself. I asked him whether he would have lights. "No, my father," he said, "there will be light enough." * * * * * It would be an hour later, I should suppose, after Master Blytchett was come back, when he put out his hand again, and I knew that he wished for the prayers. Now there was only starlight, for he would have no candles, and the moon was not yet risen. So I went across to the parlour door, and as I went through I could see that the chamber was full of persons all silent, but it was too dark to see who they were. I asked one for a candle, and presently one was brought, and I saw that my lord cardinal was there, and ... and ... [The names are omitted as usual. This discreet scribe is very tiresome.] and many others. It was such a death-bed as a king might have. So I read the appointed prayers, kneeling on my knees in the doorway, and I was answered by those behind me. When I had done that, I stood up to go back, and my lord cardinal caught me by the sleeve. "For the love of Jesu," he said, "ask if we may come in."