Blanquerna

OF MEEKNESS

The Bishop Blanquerna gave the office of meekness to a certain Canon, the which Canon was to preach meekness and to be himself meek, that his sermons might have the greater truth. The remaining offices he divided among the remaining canons whom he set apart for the service of the Beatitudes, and for his own he kept the office of peace. It came to pass one day that the overseer of the Archdeacon had bought meat and hens and partridges ; and the Canon of Poverty, going with a great company of poor folk through the ftreets, met the overseer of the Archdeacon, who passed with two men that were laden with flesh. The Canon and the poor folk cried out: “Thieves, thieves I See, the Archdeacon is taking meat from the poor of Jesus Chrifl 1 ” Great scandal and wrath had the overseer thereat, and more wrathful flill was the Archdeacon when the overseer told him of it. So great was his wrath that he desired to ftrike the Canon of Poverty, but the Canon of Meekness reminded him how that Our Lord Jesus Chrifl was meek upon the Cross, whereon He suffered Himself to be nailed, and tortured, and wounded, and put to death, albeit He had done no sin. Where¬ fore, since the Archdeacon had sinned, how great should be his patience, for the Canon of Poverty accused him according to juflice, and reproved him for the harm which he did to the poor, who had been commended to the Canon of Poverty, through the will of the Bishop and of all the chapter. So devoutly and with such humble words did the Canon of Meekness speak in this wise to the Archdeacon that the Archdeacon took knowledge of his sins, and had patience, and refrained rom wrath and ill-will, and begged forgiveness of the Canon of Poverty.

selves more vehemently in their words than do they that have no sin. Now while the two disputed thus, the Canon, who was preaching, spake these words: "Wrongly was

BLANQUERNA

Jesus Chrift accused when they said that He was possessed and had a devil, and humbly and devoutly and with few words did He answer, saying that He was neither possessed nor yet had a devil. Wherefore, he that excuses himself more vehemently than did Jesus Chrift would make it to appear by his words that he can neither go aftray nor

4. While the Canon spake these words a slate fell from a roof and struck the Canon on the head and wounded him sorely; and the Canon had patience, and bore the wound in peace, and spake words that were humble and devout. While they led the Canon to the surgeon two men began to quarrel, and the one endeavoured to ilrikc the other with a knife, and he Struck the Canon of Meekness in the arm, and wounded him sorely; and the Canon with meekness begged for him the pardon of God, and praised and blessed God, Whose will it was that he should have patience and speak words of meekness. Greatly did the words of the Canon edify all them that were with him, and especially him that excused himself so vehemently concerning the charge of theft.

5. After some time the Canon was healed of his wounds. Now the Prince of that land disendowed the Church, and did to it many wrongs; for that Prince was not a good Christian, neither desired he to obey the Bishop Blanquerna as concerning that which he commanded him by virtue of his office. To the Pope came knowledge of the wrong which that Prince did to the Church, and the Holy

" Not long is it since the clergy were proud and spake evil. Whence comes it that thou do£l speak such devout and humble words? Can the time have come when humility and devotion have agreement within you clergy, and when we that are laymen may take example from you ? I beg and conjure you by God to speak to me concerning the eflate of the Bishop and of thy companions; for there is in thee some new virtue, that in such a case as this they have sent to me a man like thyself.”

9. So the Canon related to him the hiftory of the Bishop Blanquerna, and how he was aforetime Abbot, and how he had been elefted Bishop, and how he had ordered his diocese, and how he himself was one of the eight com¬ panions that by their lives were to give example of the eight Beatitudes that Jesus Chrifl promised to the Apoftles and to such as followed them. Then the Divine Light warmed the heart of the Prince with heavenly love, and he spake these words: “ It behoves not that such a Bishop or his companions should be disobeyed in aught." So the Prince and the Canon of Meekness went to the Bishop Blanquerna, and the Prince begged forgiveness and made satisfaction, and took leave of the Bishop and of the chapter with their grace and blessing.