* * * * *

Now I will tell you all that Master Richard did; it was his custom when
he was at home, and he observed it here too.

He first poured water upon his hands, saying the psalm _lavabo_, and he
dried them upon the sleeves of his habit, for he had no napkin; then he
set the second stool before him, and broke the bread upon it into five
parts, in memory of the five wounds, setting two portions here and two
there, and the fifth in the middle. Then he blessed the food, looking
upon it a great while, and seeing with the eyes of his soul his
Saviour's body stretched upon the rood. Then he began to eat, dipping
each morsel into its proper wound, so that it tasted to him sweet as
wine, and last of all he ate that which lay in the middle, thinking on
the heart that was pierced for love of him. Then he drank water, blessed
himself, and gave thanks to God, and last of all poured water once more
upon his hands.

Master Richard has often told me that there is no such sweet food to be
found anywhere--(save only the sacrament of the altar)--as that which is
so blessed and so eaten, and indeed I have found it so myself, when I
have had patience to do so with it. [Sir John makes here a few rather
trite remarks upon holy bread and ashes and upon various methods of
devotion. His words are quite irrelevant, therefore I omit them. He is
careful, however, to warn his flock that not every form of devotion is
equally suitable for every soul.]....

Now God was preparing three trials for Master Richard, and the first
came on the following morning very early.