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

Christian women dressed all in blue and white and theirmenfolk abstained from them and gave them flowers. He hadn't thought to stillbe here to behold that. It would pain him. He'd always loved that day in Lewes,making special devotions in preparation, and saving his pennies for blooms tolay before the Orphanage's plain but beloved plaster Virgin. Last year he'd hadfunds and opportunity and the desire to bestow expensive hothouse roses on bothMary and Melissa. Now, for different reasons, he'd be neglecting both women. SoSamuel didn't want to be still in Exeter then, to have the measure of hisdefeats held before him.

Butothers... they were quite happy to transfer his humiliating 'pension', thatinsultingly sufficient dole, from St Nectan's to the Cathedral bursar for ever.It 'kept him out of mischief': Samuel could almost hear the Abbot sayingit. By keeping on, by having faith, he could well be co-operating with themneutering him. Best betrayal of all, his cussedness might their chief ally,delivering him, legs apart, to the castrating knife.

Arrivingat the west-gate, Trevan looked at the incoming people going about theirpressing business - and he wished with all his heart to get into powerful 'mischief'.All he had ever wanted was one or two little things, but apparently that wastoo much to ask. Other people didn't get mucked around like that: witness theuntroubled mugs all around. So, either he could join them - as was only fair -or maybe they should try a taste of his world....

Abovethe city-wall Samuel saw the marble crowned heads of the 'Three Liberators',supposedly the largest depictions of the human form in England, bar St Josephatop Glastonbury Tor. Incongruous amidst Exeter's industrial area, they loomedover the workshops and mill-leats, high above the serried cloth-drying racksextending out to Shilhay Island. A falconer paid by the Joint Guilds Councilstrove ceaselessly to save those from the gulls' visiting cards, and as aby-product prevented the statues turning white too.

Unbesmirchedtherefore, Athelstan, Edward I and Oliver Cromwell shared an artificial hilland stared challengingly out towards Cornwall. They'd each prevailed in theirtime, pushing England's frontier further west and rescuing Saxons from a harshyoke, until the third named won lasting victory. The Cornish were expelled outof Exeter and back over the Tamar, setting the border for good. The ambitionsof the independent Cornish 'Dukes', hitherto intent on reviving 'Dumnonia',were refashioned into hopes of mere survival. Accordingly, the 'Lord Protector'was much revered in these parts and even the returning Church Universal chosenot to quarrel with that. Over the centuries She had acquired the wisdom ofwhen to leave well alone and the confidence to treat local cults with generousspirit. So, though She might have had her quarrels with the man himself (beforehis conversion), it was reasoned that true Christians suffered less from hisrule than under many a true-anointed King. Thus, when at the fervent height oftheir crusade the 'United Englanders' wished to honour him, no objection wasraised. Cromwell rose again after two centuries absence, and took his placebeside other heroes of the English.

Suchwise moderation, this calculated meekness, bound the Church to the people,allowing it to sink in and meld to the very sinews of the society it served. Itcould not removed again without fatal surgery.

Samuelapproved of the monument and what it symbolised. There was no hint ofconciliation here, but a bold statement of dispute. That was the way to dothings, instead of shrouding them in false compromise. It was right to stepstraight up to the enemy and tell them what was what.

‘Theenemy’? The enemy! A noun leading to a notion, a corner portion in thejigsaw, a half glimpse of a door opening in the maze.

‘Now,there's a thought!’ Trevan told the puzzled crowd.

U[U[U[U[U[U[U

cHAPTER 22

'Originaldocuments appertaining to the Reformation-Devastation in the South-westpeninsula' - compiled, together with a cross-referencing index and full notesand commentary, by Monsignor Anthony Rawlinson S.J., Seminary of St CharlesLwanga Press, Plymouth, Wessex, England. 1888.

GreatWestern House of Wisdom, Exeter. Ref: 4102/89. Vol. 23, Folio 97.

'A true and perfect accompte of items taken by y G*dly arm of Hismajestie from y sundry parishes of Bradworthy, Clovelly, Welcoome andHartlande, for the putting away of the popish mass and suppression of feignedmiracles, idolatry and superstition. Being namely a certifcat and extract ofany golde and precious stuffe from the anciente tainted drosse other-wyseutterly disposed and sundered or putte to flames.

Sworn in the name of Jesus Christ our saviour without mediation, byThomas Polwerran, Knight and Commissioner-Extraordinary under the authority ofour most Holy and Protestant King Edward y VI.

ITEM : 2nd and 3rd chalices of silver without adornment, from theimpious chantry-hyse formerly at Darnehole Point.

ITEM : 1 pyx and 1 monstrance of plated golde from the church at Stoke,Hartlande that was burnt in the cleansing of it.

ITEM : 2 silver cruets like-wise, one loaned from All Saints, Clovelly.

ITEM : A holy water bockett fr y so-called our Ladye help of Christians chappelat Markadon. Like-wise one each of a censer, chrismatory, communion spoon andpaten all of silver. I state that this hse was a most profitable hse and wellworthy of being reformed, for it escaped earlier visitations by its obscurityeand armed hostility of y deluded congregation. His Majestie's Allemagnesoldiery did disperse them but are suspect of also secreting some choicepieces. We are few and reliant and so cannot alltimes restrain their bloodyarrogance. The Church is nowe bare and seemly.

ITEM : A processional cross set with good gems, and also a chasulbethicke with thread-of-golde, taken from papist hiding at a private house inWembsworthy.

ITEM : A chalice of flemmisch glass and chassed-golde, disguised as aprofane goblet from y Church of St Nectan (saint that never was) Welcoome.

Y Gospell of John, 2, 10 - 'the best wine is kept till last': ITEM : achalice, well anciente, of thick and softe old golde, kept privilly by thestubborn abbotte of y dissolved monk-ish hse of St Nectan, Hartlande, (whospente five fingernails and gained racke-inches in his wicked wishe to keepeit). It has four good gems sunk within and a golde placke of new-make attached,whereon the latin verse, I now render into good plain englyshhe:

 

Solesad survivor am I

rescuedfrom the suddeyn fall of night.

Insharing bread and