post of household confessor to the Palace; and a new
confessor had been appointed in his stead.

"And who is the new priest?" asked Bertram. "One Sir Marmaduke de
Tyneworth." [A fictitious person.]

"And what manner of man is he?"

"A right honest man and a proper [a fitting, satisfactory man], say they
who have confessed unto him; more kindly and courteous than Father
Dominic."

"He hath then not yet confessed thee?"

"I never confess," said Hugh quietly. The impression made upon
Bertram's feelings by this statement was very much that which would be
left on ours, if we heard a man with a high reputation for piety calmly
remark that he never prayed.

"Never confess!" he repeated in astonished tones. "Not to men. I
confess unto God only."

"But how canst, other than by the priest?"

"What hardship, trow? Can I not speak save by the priest?"

"But thou canst receive no absolving!"

"No can I? Ay verily, friend, I can!"

"But--" Bertram stopped, with a puzzled look.

"Come, out with all thy _buts_," said Hugh, smilingly.

"Why, methinks--and holy Church saith it--that this is God's means
whereby men shall approach unto Him: nor hath He given unto us other."

"Holy Church saith it? Ay so. But where saith God such a thing?"

Bertram was by no means ignorant of Wycliffe's Bible, and he searched
his memory for authority or precedent.

"Well, thou wist that the man which had leprosy was bidden to show him
unto the priest, the which was to declare if his malady were true
leprosy or no."

"The priest being therein an emblem or mystery of Christ, which is true
Healer of the malady of sin."

"Ah!" said Bertram triumphantly, "but lo' thou, when our Lord Himself
did heal one that had leprosy, what quoth He? `Show thyself to the
priest,' saith He: not, `I am the true Priest, and therefore thou mayest
slack to show thee to yon other priest, which is but the emblem of Me.'"

"Because," replied Hugh, "He did fulfil the law, and made it honourable.
Therefore saith He, `Show thyself to the priest.' The law held good
until He should have fulfilled the same."

"But mind thou," urged Bertram eagerly, "it was but the lither [wicked,
abandoned] Pharisees which did speak like unto thee. What said they
save the very thing thou wouldst fain utter--to wit, `Who may forgyve
synnes but God aloone?' And alway our Lord did snyb and rebuke these
ill fawtors."

"Friend, countest thou that the Jew which had leprosy,