The Two Confessions by John Whitbourn (good books to read for adults .TXT) 📕

The Two Confessions

JohnWhitbourn

'All is lost.  Monks!  Monks! Monks!'

(Dying words of King Henry Tudor 'VIII-and-last')

Published 2013 by Spark Furnace Books, animprint of Fabled Lands LLP.

www.sparkfurnace.com

The right of John Whitbourn to be identifiedas the author of this book has been asserted by him in accordance with theUnited Kingdom Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This is a work of fiction and any supposedresemblance to persons living, dead, or in-between is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy,adaptation or transmission of this work may be made in any form with thewritten permission of the publisher. Any person who violates the Copyright Actin regard to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civilclaims for damages.

Copyright© 2013 John Whitbourn

All rightsreserved.

ISBN:1909905992

ISBN-13:978-1909905993

ALSO BY JOHN WHITBOURN

 

A DANGEROUS ENERGY

POPES & PHANTOMS

TO BUILD JERUSALEM

THE BINSCOMBE TALES: Vol.1. Sinister Saxon Stories

THE BINSCOMBE TALES: Vol.2. Sinister Sutangli Stories

THE ROYAL CHANGELING

DOWNS-LORD DAWN

DOWNS-LORD DAY

DOWNS-LORD DOOMSDAY

FRANKENSTEIN’S LEGIONS

FORTHCOMING

BABYLONdon

AMY FAITH & THESTRONGHOLD

AMY FAITH& THE ENEMY OF CALM

PRAISE FOR JOHN WHITBOURN

 

A DANGEROUS ENERGY

 

‘JohnWhitbourn’s first novel… is a humdinger. … a terrifying story, marvellously inventive and written with greatpower and conviction.’

The Times.

‘A workof brilliance.  Never was a prize morerichly deserved.’

Starburst magazine.

 

POPES & PHANTOMS

 

‘Terrific,cynical fun.’

The Times.

 

THE ROYAL CHANGELING

 

‘This is alternativehistory/fantasy at its very best – sort of C17th meets the X-Files… Anexcellent read, well-imagined, intriguingly constructed and extremely wellwritten with a rich vein of underlying humour.’

Historical Novels Review.

‘Alternativehistory pulled off with panache and no small amount of humour.  Whitbourn’s wit is both unforced andsplendidly droll.’

The Daily Express.

‘Gutsy,witty and time-twisting.’

The Daily Telegraph.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JOHNWHITBOURN has had ten novels published since winning the BBCBookshelf & Victor Gollancz Ltd. 'Fantasy Novel Prize’ with 'A DangerousEnergy' in 1991. Most recently they include his 'Downs-Lord' trilogyconcerning the establishment of empire in an alternative, monster-riddenEngland; and ‘Frankenstein’s Legions’, an extrapolation of MaryShelley’s classic gothic tale. Whitbourn's works have received favourablereviews in The Times, Telegraph, and Guardian, amongst others.

A rare press interview with Whitbourn in 2000 wasrevealingly entitled ‘Confessions of a Counter-Reformation GreenAnarcho-Jacobite’.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Honourand gratitude alike dictate that the author acknowledges his mountainous debtsto the following:

Twoparents:

JoanWhitbourn (1917-2000) and Albert Whitbourn (1912-2008).

‘Wekissed and parted. I humbly hope to meet again, and to part no more.’ (SamuelJohnson, 1767).

Twowriters:

Dave& Roz Morris.

Twodoctors:

DrAmy Faith Ludwin. For cardiology treatment.

DrSmudge Whitbourn, PhD (London School of Economics, 2011, £25. ‘Towards aTypology of Libyan Sticks & Squeaky Toys, 1911-2011’). Forphysiotherapy treatment.

 

 

DEDICATION

Thisconclusion of ‘The Pevensey Trilogy’ is dedicated to:

MissCaroline Elizabeth Gale.

AndLucy too.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

THE FIRST CONFESSION

THE SECOND CONFESSION

EPILOGUE

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PROLOGUE FOR THE NEWCOMER:‘RANDOM HERALDS OF CHANGE’

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A TRUEaccounting of the order for the Reception & SOLEMN ANOINTING of:CHARLESSTUART-OGLETHORPE, by Grace of G*D

CHARLESV

KING of UNITEDENGLAND, and WALES, and CORNWALL; PROTECTOR of SCOTLAND-SECUNDA, DALRIADA& THE ISLES; PROTECTOR OF MANNIN; PATRON OF THE JAFFA & JERUSALEMCITADELS; DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.

 

StGUY'S CATHEDRAL, WESTMINSTER, St Dismas' Day, the 25th day of March, the yearof our Salvation in Christ, 2014.

[Published in both theLatin and English tongues, by Mr Daniel Soutar's Ephemeralia Press, Croydon,Wessex, England. 2½ d. Paper covers ].

 

...the Papal Dragoons and Palatine Musketeers, preceding the King's Own Troop ofhorse and Chosen Schiltron of Pikemen of the Corporation of London.

...As His Majestye processes the nave, the choir will sing:

Rex et virtutum opifex, pastor bone in populo, sic plauisti Domino.

[O King doer of good deeds, O shepherd good to thy people, thus hast thoupleased the Lord ].

Accompaniment:'Luther, lift thy eyes from torment.' Trad. arranged Henry Purcell.Schola Cantorum of Westminster and Caer-diff Cathedrals.

...Turning left the procession shall then make obeisance to the Blessed Sacramentin the Chapel of Blessed Mary III 'Restorationist'. The familiares,sword-bearers, and Chamberlains of the Noble Secret Antechamber will remainoutside, beyond the grille.

...When all are in their places before the High Altar and have made fullprostration, the Cardinal-Archbishop shall arise and approach the supine King.He will sing:

Protector noster aspice Deus. [ O G*d, our protector behold ].

Salvum fact servum tuum. [ Save thy servant ].

Deus meus sperantem in te. [ Who hopeth in Thee, my G*d ].

...[ Cardinal-Archbishop ]: Do you accept the proconsulship of G*d and His HolyChurch, to rule under His direction, this land?

[King ]: [ I do ].

[C-A ]: Do you undertake and avowe before that same G*d and your people, toserve Him and them, to the oblivion of self?

[K ]: [ I do ].

[C-A ]: Do you spurn heresy and cleave to the narrow gate to salvation?

[K ]: [ I do ].

[C-A ]: How speak you of those here before: the Tudors-save-Mary?

[K ]: [ I abominate their memory forever ].

[C-A ]: Have you the power of thaumaturgy?

[K ]: [ I have not ].

[C-A ]: If such should descend on you, will you declare same and submit yourselfto the will of the Church: Universal, Roman & Catholick?

[K ]: [ I will ].

[C-A ]: Do you renounce the guidance or counsel of sorcerers, save those in theservice of Mother Church and licensed by proper authority?

[K ]: [ I do ].

...the Cardinal-Archbishop will then be handed the fiery-flail, signifying thewrath of G*d, and dissemble the scourging of the King, to show his fate, inthis world and the next, should he fail in duty or obedience.

...If the Cardinal-Archbishop consents then the King shall arise and a suitable crownshall be placed on his head. His Majestye may then leave the House of G*d...

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From:'THE BOOK OF CEREMONIAL MAGIC'

BySir Arthur Waite.

PublishedLondon, Auto-da-fé Press, 1911.

Chapter36 : 'Social Etiquette for Sorcerers'

'...in the stubborn souls of the uninstructed, suspicions of the grimmest sortattach still to those whom Almighty G*d has seen fit to gift with thethaumaturgic art. That certain minds are so strong, so capable ofself-convincing, that they may mould reality, seems forever unacceptable tomany. Vulgar prejudice, proof against all persuasion over the ages, prefers theidea that sorcerers derive their powers from dark forces, holding perpetualcommunion with them. Or else we are held a sinister brotherhood, biding ourtime, and conspiring to rule over mundane humanity.

Fromthese fears came the early persecutions, the terrible murders and tortures, yeaeven the infanticide of innocent babes, which the great Charlemagne himself wasunable to suppress. Happily, Mother Church, of her apostolic kindness, decreedin our favour and the more violent