Pabo, the Priest: A NovelBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Pabo, the Priest: A Novel
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Great Britain -- History -- Henry I, 1100-1135 -- Fiction; Priests -- Fiction; Wales -- Fiction
Simultaneously arrived a number of armed men, retainers of the bishop,
under the command of his brother, with the chaplain Cadell in their
midst, accompanied by the Dean of Llandeilo and his deacon. Rogier had
recovered the use of his arm, which was, however, still somewhat stiff
in the joint from the blow he had received.
Their arrival disturbed the procession, for the newcomers rode through
the train of wailers manifesting supreme indifference with regard to the
proceedings.
"Put down yon bier!" ordered Rogier; and then, because none comprehended
his words, he made imperious gestures that could not be mistaken. He was
obeyed by the bearers, and the mourners parted and stood back, while the
armed men filled in about the chaplain and their leader.
Cadell rose in his stirrups and called in Welsh for silence, that he
might be heard.
Then, addressing the inhabitants in loud tones, he said: "It is well
that ye are present, assembled, without my having to call you together.
Ye shall hear what has been decreed. Proceed with the interment of the
dead after that. Draw around and give ear."
All obeyed, though slowly, reluctantly.
When Cadell saw that all those of Caio who were gathered to the funeral
were within earshot and attention, he said, speaking articulately, in
sharp, distinct sentences, raising himself in his stirrups: "His
fatherliness, the Bishop of St. David's, by the grace of God and the
favor of Henry King of England and Lord Paramount over Wales, in
consideration of the disloyal and irreligious conduct of the people
inhabiting the so-called Sanctuary of David in Caio, but forming an
integral portion of the patrimony of the see when he, their father and
their lord, visited the place but recently, and above all, because the
Archpriest did resist him, and further, did not shun to lift up his
sacrilegious hand against him, his father in God, and inasmuch as in the
divine law communicated to man from Sinai, it is commanded that he who
smiteth his father shall surely be put to death, therefore he, their
Lord and Bishop, in exercise of his just and legal rights, doth require
_imprimis_: That the said Archpriest, Pabo by name, shall surrender his
person to be tried and sentenced by the Court ecclesiastical, then to be
handed over to the secular court for execution; and, further, that he be
esteemed _ipso facto_ and from this present inhibited from the discharge
of any sacred office, and shall be destituted of all and singular
benefices that he may hold in the Menevian diocese, and that he be
formally degraded from his sacerdotal character, by virtue of the
authority hereby committed to me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account