"Natheless," said Richard, "I have heard mine uncle, the Duke, say that the people do not feel these hardships, for that they know naught else."
"Think you I feel, O my lord?" Calote answered him. "Yet I am of these people. 'T is to-day the first day ever I sat on a cushion."
"But thou shalt hereafter," he said. "Etienne will clothe thee in silk, and feed thee dainties. I will give thee a girdle with a blue stone in it."
"Nay, not so!" she cried. "How can I take mine ease if the people suffer? Oh, sweet child, wilt thou walk in silk, and the half of thy kingdom go naked? 'T is for thee they suffer. The white bread thou dost eat, the people harvested. They gathered it into thy barns. And yet thou wilt let them go hungry."
"No, surely I will not when I am King," he answered with trouble in his voice.
"Hearken!" said Calote; and mindful only that he was a little child who must be made to pity and to love, she took his two hands in her own and so compelled his eyes to hers. "Didst mark, that day thou wentest to the Abbey, how the people cheered thee, and blessed thee, and smiled on thee?"
"And didst mark how they that were nighest the great Duke in that throng were silent, or else they muttered?"
"He hath beggared the people, this man. 'T was he gave leave to that thief Richard Lyons and the Lord Latimer to buy away all victual they might lay hand to. And then, what think you, did they give this to the poor? Nay! But they set it forth at such price that no poor man could buy. In the midst of plenty there was famine. 'T is several years gone now, yet I mind me how I sat in our lane and chewed the stems of the rank grass. Our neighbour had a little babe,--and she could not give it suck. So it died. Was no flesh o' the bones at all, only skin."
Richard's eyes were fixed upon her face with horror. His little hands were cold.
"I hate mine uncle, John of Gaunt," he said.
"Sweet Prince, waste no time hating. Christ the King, He hated no man, but He was Leech of Love. Learn thou of Him!"
"But I will not love mine uncle," cried the child.
"Love the people! Love us poor! If Christ is King, and He our brother, art not thou likewise little brother to every man in England? Hearken to Holy Church in the Vision:--